A/N: This is a story about Hermione, lies, and fear. It takes place during and after the events in DH, ignoring the epilogue and allowing certain characters to live. This story has several implied themes including, but not limited to: rape, non-con, mental manipulation, BDSM, and phobias. If you feel that these may offend you, I recommend you seek out a different story. Rated for later chapters.
Agoraphobia – The abnormal fear of being helpless in a situation from which escape may be difficult that is characterized initially by panic or anxiety and finally by avoidance of open or public places. As a result, severe suffers of agoraphobia may become confined to their homes, experiencing difficulty traveling from this "safe place."
A/N: In case you live under a rock, Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling. Chapter title is from 'Pretty Hate Machine,' Nine Inch Nails.
"Professor Potter, I see you made it back from your meeting. How did things go?"
"Good, Headmistress. I believe she will be an excellent student," Harry told his old Head of House. "There is something I wanted to discuss with you, if you have a moment."
"Of course. We can go to my office and have some tea while we talk."
Harry followed her up the spiraling staircase and into her office. They sat in the wingback chairs in front of the fireplace.
"Well, Harry, what is it you wished to discuss," she asked, passing him a cup of tea.
"Perdita Randall."
"The student you met with today."
"Yes. When I was going through her file before the meeting, I noticed that her tuition was already paid for."
Minerva did not say anything. She merely raised her eyebrows in surprise. Harry looked at his old professor before continuing.
"I began wondering how it could be paid for if no one from her family was magical. I checked the ministry records, and there was no information regarding her birth in the magical records.
"I did something I do not normally do. I questioned her parents regarding their heritage."
Minerva frowned at this. It was an unspoken agreement when dealing with the families of the new Muggle-born students not to question their family tree.
"Continue Mr. Potter," she said, the scolding tone present in her voice.
Harry knew that she was not pleased by what he had done when she reverted to treating him like a troublesome fourth-year.
"The girl could not be any more the opposite of her parents. She is tall with dark hair and eyes. The Randalls are very… uh, how to put it, very robust with fair skin and hair.
"It turns out that Peri was adopted by the Muggles shortly after her birth. The Randalls never really wanted children. They were both in their early forties when they decided to go to the orphanage. They both said it was a spur of the moment decision.
"They told me that the biological parents were young and that was why they chose to give her up. The only thing was the child had to keep her given name.
"I admit I was curious and began to wonder if she had magical parents. But as I had already checked the record, I knew this was not the case. I just feel as if I am missing something here.
"Even if the child was born at home, the Ministry would have records, would it not?" His questioning eyes looked to the Headmistress.
"I would like to say yes, but it has happened in the past, a young witch or wizard being born to a magical family and the Ministry not having records of it. It was before my time as headmistress. I only know because Albus had been working on a new way of record-keeping in his spare time."
"Spare time. You mean in between saving the world from Grindelwald and Voldemort," Harry said with a smile.
A smile crossed the old witch's face, "Yes, he always had several little projects going to keep himself busy during the down time."
"Do you think his records would show the name of the parents?"
"I am not sure if he ever completed the project. Even if he did, it is not likely to matter. He had a theory that all magical children had to have magical genes somewhere in their family. As it turned out, he was partially correct. Many of our Muggle-born students had grandparents or great-grandparents that were magical on at least one side. He started the project as a way to confirm magical births of children in order to save them from some of the ridicule by purebloods. As this is less likely to happen nowadays, I didn't see the importance of continuing it.
"Even his records had the occasional glitch in them. As I recall, Miss Granger was never registered by the Ministry or Albus. She did not show up on any records until her first burst of accidental magic at the age of four."
Harry nodded. For a moment, he was lost in the memories of the past, before continuing.
"It's just… It seems strange, and there is something about her. I feel like I have met her somewhere before, like I should know who she is."
"Very well, I will look through some of Albus' things and see if I can find his books."
"Thank you, Headmistress."
A few weeks later, Harry Potter arrived at the Randall residence. He had come to escort Peri on her first visit to Diagon Alley. His inquiries into her birth parents had not given him any more information. He didn't know why he felt consumed with the need to find out. He was sure that it was important.
He knocked on the door and waited for it to be answered. The door opened, and he saw Mrs. Randall standing there to greet him.
"Good morning, Mr. Potter."
"Hello, Mrs. Randall. How are you this morning?" Harry asked. He had noticed that she looked tired.
"Please, call me Lynne," she said. "I would have tried to reschedule our trip, but I was unsure how to contact you."
Harry immediately became concerned.
"Is everything okay?"
"Mr. Randal has taken ill. I do not believe he will be up to the adventure today. He should be up and around in a few days. I'm afraid that Peri is rather angry with me as well. She was so looking forward to going to this Diagonal Alley."
Harry suppressed his laughter before speaking again.
"If it is alright with you, I can still escort Peri today, and then possibly next week, I can take you and your husband along, so that you may see it for yourselves."
"I wouldn't want to inconvenience you."
"Oh, no. I would be happy to do it. I can remember my first trip there. I am sure she has been bubbling with excitement all week."
A smile crossed Lynne's face.
"Yes, she has been rather anxious. I suppose it would be fine." She turned and called down the hall, "Peri, Mr. Potter is here."
A few moments later, the young girl came out into the sitting room.
"Hello, Professor." There was a slight tinge of sadness in her voice.
"Peri," her mother started, "Mr. Potter would still like to take you today, if you would like."
Her face light up and a large smile crossed it.
"Yes, very much so."
"Good, run along and grab your jacket and your things, and we can get on our way."
When Peri returned, her mother handed her some money and kissed her before pushing them out the door. As they made their way to the stairs, Harry heard her call from behind them, "Behave, Peri, and have a good time."
They made their way to the alley as Harry explained Apparition to her.
"Just hold on tightly to my arm, and you might want to close your eyes."
She nodded and squeezed her eyes shut as Harry turned to Apparate them to the Leaky Cauldron.
Hermione was starting to feel more herself. She no longer jumped at every loud noise. The fear that she had been found and was going to be killed was slowly ebbing. She had just finished her morning shower and thought that, since the weather was nice, she would venture out to the courtyard today.
She was still a little apprehensive of leaving the safety of her flat, but the sunshine just seemed to call to her.
The memories of a few weeks ago still haunted her. She was so sure that the sound she had heard was a witch or wizard Apparating.
With a deep breath, she summoned all of her courage and opened her front door. Taking her first steps beyond the threshold in weeks, she made her way downstairs.
Once outside, the bright sunlight vastly improved her mood. The timidity she had felt earlier was beginning to evaporate.
She stood in the sunshine for a few minutes, eyes closed, face pointed to the sky, enjoying the feel of the warmth. Then she made her way to her favorite lounge chair by the back gate. It was under a large tree that provided ample amounts of shade and sunshine.
Relaxed for the first time in weeks, she began to read the book she had brought outside with her. After a few hours, her eyes began to feel heavy, and she drifted off into a light sleep.
Harry and Peri spent several hours exploring all of the wonders of Diagon Alley. He loved this part of his job. It allowed him to remember his first memories of this magical place. The first years he had spent in the magical world had been the best of his young life. He had found the first place he had ever called home. He had made friends, some of the best anyone could have asked for.
Ron was his first friend. They'd met on their first day and had been close ever since. Harry had even married Ron's sister and began a family of his own. Their friendship had grown stronger after the Battle of Hogwarts and the loss of their friend Hermione Granger.
As his thoughts lingered on Hermione, Harry's eyes began to show the sadness within. Peri glanced at him and wondered why he was so sad all of a sudden. She thought maybe she should ask him, but she didn't really know him that well, so she just gazed into the store with all of the owls on display.
Shaking his head to clear the memories, Harry turned to look at the young girl beside him.
"You know, Peri, it may be best if we get you an owl of your own. That way you can keep in contact with your parents."
"Oh, yes. Can we?"
"Most certainly," he replied while holding open the door for her to enter.
After spending an hour browsing the many different types of owls, Peri settled on a Northern Hawk Owl. She liked that it looked so much like a hawk. She also explained to Harry that it was diurnal.
With a smile, Harry was once again reminded of his clever lost friend.
Once they finished up their purchases, the two of them made their way to the Leaky Cauldron for lunch.
A/N: My thanks to Sempra for reading through this, time and time again, until I got it all right.