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Chapter 5: Fresh Start

Hermione allowed Aimee to stay with her in her loft until Sunday, when she would meet Harry and Katrina. It was now Saturday, and Hermione and Aimee were sitting in her kitchen running down the basics of living with Harry.

"He's been through a lot, so don't be afraid if he doesn't say much. He really is a sweet guy once you've known him." Hermione said as she was rummaging through her box of pictures. "I want you to know a little about him before you're thrown into this...ah...here he is..." She held out a picture and Aimee took it. She looked down at it and let out soft "wow". Hermione looked at her.

"This picture is moving..." Aimee said, utterly amazed at the man smiling and waving at her. "Look...he's waving at me!" Hermione cocked her head and stared at Aimee, who was proceeding to wave back at the picture.

"Um...did you say that you've had experience in childcare?" She asked, slowly taking the picture out of her hands and setting it on the table. Aimee shot her gaze towards the window.

"Well, uh, yes. I've been around babies before. I'm sure that I'll be OK." She thought that sounded convincing...After all she really wanted this job, and how much work could one baby be?

"How old are you?" Hermione asked, drawing her attention back to her face.

"Nineteen. Twenty next this November." She said, picking the picture back up and looking at it again. Amazing, she thought. There's a whole other world out there...With moving pictures!

"Well, Harry turns Twenty-Three this July, and of course Katrina will be one next June." Aimee thought for a moment.

"Isn't it only June Twenty-Seventh? When was she born?"

"June fourth. I told you she is a newborn."

"I know...but...but...I didn't really think she would be quite that young...where in heavens sake isher mother?" Aimee asked, getting a little nervous. Everything seemed to be getting real too fast, and Aimee wasn't ready. Truthfully, Aimee didn't know how old a "newborn" would be, but she was thinking atleast older than 3 weeks...

"Gone." Aimee's expression softened. "She left. Listen Aimee, Harry really needs someone to help take care of Kat. He can't do it alone." Aimee wasn't sure if she could do this. In truth she's had no experience with children. Sure there were some at the dormitories but the youngest were five to six year olds.

"I don't think I can do this." She confessed.

"But you said..."

"I know what I said...but I lied..." Hermione threw her hands up in disbelief.

"What do you mean you lied? You are a witch aren't you?"

"Listen, Hermione...I really don't know who I am..." But she didn't finish. Hermione had left the kitchen in a hurry, and she heard her fumbling for something. She returned some time later with a stick in her hand.

"Here..." She held it out. "Take it." Aimee took it from her and stood up. "If you are a witch you can do magic."

"I don't know how do magic..." Aimee began shaking her head.

"Windgardium Leviousa."

"What?" Hermione took the stick from her hand and demonstrated.

"Here, watch my movements..." Hermione made a movement with her hand, and recited the enchantment..."Windgardium Leviousa." And to Aimee's surprise, her tea cup began to rise in the air. "Now you try...here...that's right now say the enchantment..."

"Windgardium Leviousa..." Nothing happened. "See, I'm not..."

"Try again." Aimee did, and to her delight the cup began to rise in the air.

"Oh wow...that's cool..."

"Not bad...second try."

"I'm a witch! Oh my, does that mean I can fly!"

"Well why on earth would you want to? Trust me, flying is not fun."

"He likes it." Aimee said holding up the picture of Harry. "See, he's on a broom..."

"Well that's Harry's pleasures. Yes Aimee, most magical folk can fly, but others just prefer to stay on the ground. But enough of that, we've got a bigger problem to handle..." Hermione continued talking, but Aimee had stopped listening. She wanted to fly on a broom, and making things happen by waving a stick. She was certain she wanted to know more about her new life.

"...I'll have to help you...Aimee!" Hermione was talking rather fluently and Aimee had heard nothing.

"What?"

"I said, we have a big problem here. Obviously your not trained in your magic, and honestly, at this age in life you should have already mastered it. It's not like we can just ship you off to Hogwarts!" She began pacing.

"I want to take the job."

"I don't think that's a good idea anymore..."

"No! Hermione you don't understand, I really want this job. And you could help me! Every Sunday I have to myself right? Well you could teach me!"

"I don't know, I've been really busy..."

"Please Hermione...I've never in my life had anything special about me...and now I do! This proves that I'm actually somebody and not just an orphan!"

"You didn't say you were an orphan...wait...rewind...exactly what were your intentions in The Leaky Cauldron that day?"

"Exactly what I said, I was on my way to Newport...I must have gotten on the wrong bus. But it happened for a reason! I'm obviously meant to be here! Not in the fish capital of the world..."

"You said that you knew you were a witch..."

"Yes well..."

"I think we'd better sit down, and tell me who you really are."

Aimee did, and the rest of the morning and into the afternoon they spent on the couch, listening to what Aimee told.

"A fish? It couldn't have possibly been a fish...it had to have been a merman." Hermione stated, analyzing what was being said.

"You mean there are mermaids?"

"They prefer the term, mer-people, and yes they exist, as well as centaurs. But only once did I ever come across one that was decent enough to talk to humans..." Hermione faded off, leaving Aimee to her thoughts.

"Listen Aimee, I want you to write back to this Madam Alexandrine, and get more information. I think it's best to know the whole story. As for right now..."

"I'll work for Harry Potter." She stated.

"I'm not so sure..."

"Please...I know I can handle it. Give me a chance, let me take a fresh start." Hermione thought hard for a moment. She looked at Aimee, who had started to rummage through her picture box. "I want to know everything." She said.

"If anything happens, you will call me..."

"Of course."

"Well I guess I have no choice...you start tomorrow." Aimee smiled down at the man smiling and waving in the picture.

"My fresh start..."

A/N: And it starts :)