Disclaimer: I don't own squat! Except Lily. And various plot twists.
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"Now dear, what is your name?"
"Lily Ann Granger."
Simultaneously two forks, three spoons, a goblet, and a plate of gravy all hit the table. The entire Weasley Clan sat gaping at Lily, who was chewing on her bottom lip. Now it was Molly Weasley's turn to burst into tears. Lily glanced around the room wondering what she did wrong.
Ginny was the first to snap out of it. She heard muffled yelling outside the window and leaped out of her chair to investigate. Outside Ginny saw a panicked woman yelling and searching around franticly. Ginny squealed and burst out on to the porch. Could it be?…
Harry snapped out of his stupor when Ginny squealed. He immediately slapped Ron and followed Ginny onto the porch, Ron came after followed by the rest of the Clan. Of course, not all of them could fit on the porch and so Ginny was shoved into the snow below, making a poof in the powder.
The poof sound caused the woman to turn to the house. She ran towards them yelling, "Have any of you seen a three-year old girl?… A woman lost her daughter."
Harry jumped down to quickly help Ginny up and ran to the woman. "Yes, she's inside. She knocked on our door. She is fine." Harry glanced around anxiously. "Where is her mother?"
"Back at the Pub. Poor dear was so distraught." Harry's first statement finally caught up her. "You have her?! The girl?!" Harry nodded. "Oh this is wonderful news! Stay here I will get the others!"
The woman vanished down the path back to the village. Harry looked at the Weasleys on the porch and shrugged. Nobody says a word as though not to jinx it.
Not more than five minutes later the woman returned with several others, one of which had been crying. She looked at Harry and whispered, "Lily?…"
"Mama!"
Charlie and Bill stepped aside as Lily ran past them and into the arms of her mother. Lily was instantly picked up into a tight squeeze. Molly stood in the background with fresh tears on her cheeks. Ginny walked to the happy pair and asked, "Would you come in for some hot chocolate?"
The woman shook her head. "Thank you for finding my little girl. But we must be going." Ginny grabbed the woman's arm, gripping it tightly. "Please." The woman looked from Ginny's begging eyes to her happy daughter to the people and the house just ahead One final look at her daughter the woman slowly nodded her head.
Ginny led the woman back to the house as everyone filed back in. Lily jumped from her mother's arms and grabbed Molly's hands. "Mama, this is the nice lady who helped me. Her name is Molly."
"Hello Molly."
All at once the woman began to cry. Lily ran back to her mother saying, "mama what's wrong?" The woman shook her head and scooped Lily into her arms. "I am sorry. We should be going."
"Hermione."
The woman turned to look at Harry. He stood his arms crossed. He repeated, " Hermione." He took a step toward her. "My friend, Hermione."
The woman laughed amid tears. "Friend? Is that what you call yourself. My friend?"
Ron smiled. "So it is you Hermione?"
The woman glared at Ron, reminding him of the spats he had with her at school. "No. It's not. From what I hear Hermione Granger died. FOUR years ago when her 'friends' left her."
"Herm-"
"SHE'S DEAD!" The woman yelled at them. "DEAD."
With that the woman stormed out of the house with Lily in her arms.
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Ooh..Somebody's in denial….
Sorry this one is short! But I promise a big juicy looong one soon. Life is...odd.
Many, many, many, many, many, many thanks to my reviewers! Pixstar036, ThE NiGht's DaRk StaR, fics-lover, udid81, iluvcowzjc, Miss Sirius, Suuz, Ingra, and Mandy-jg! You are the reason this story lives. And if you want it to live on…review!…please.