"I don't want to be in Slytherin! What if I'm in Slytherin?"
She watches the eleven year old from a distance, hair tucked inside of her coat. She wishes that the spell hadn't fallen through. She had been so happy for those first few years. Now she isn't. Now she's haunted by the memory of them, of her ex husband and her children. She watches Annica as she looks at her father worriedly.
"If you're in Slytherin we'll disown you."
She watches the look on the girl's face as she looks terrified. The brown haired woman who is following Ron and Annica frowns, and Lavender can hear her chastise the man for saying it. The party comes to a halt, and the woman kneels down in front of Annica as families bustle by, children taking their seats on the train. She watches as the woman tells Annica not to worry, that her Daddy is joking, that it won't matter if she's in Slytherin. Ron's voice reaches her ears again as she draws closer.
"You don't have to worry about it Annie. There's never been a Weasley put in anything but Gryffindor. You're safe."
Lavender watches as her daughter's face brightens, and then turns her eyes to the other two children. There's Andrew. He's about nine now. Maybe eight. Following him is another girl. She looks to be about four. This child isn't familiar, and as Lavender watches, she knows that this is the child of Ron and Hermione Weasley. She can see Hermione in the child's features. But she can see Ron too. Oh yes. All three children have red hair, but the younger girl's hair is bushier. Her nose is Hermione's. Yes, she can see the differences.
"Don't run off Andy!"
The little boy is giggling now, running toward someone he recognizes, another child. He's lost in the crowd of people, and Lavender can see the worried look on that husband stealer's face. Ron is telling her that he'll be alright. Lavender smirks to herself. They'd see, they'd all see. As Andrew passes her, she silences and stuns him. She grabs him and apparates, leaving the scene behind.
"It's okay, honey. Mummy's here now."
The little boy sitting on the bed is crying. He says he wants his Mummy. He wants to go home. He doesn't want to be here with her. He wants to see Rosie. Lavender only smiles. Oh, he'll see his sister, but not Rose. No, not Rose. Instead, Lavender will find a way to get to Annica. Annica is the only true sister he has.
"Rose is only your half sister. You two have a different Mummy."
He protests, and she laughs softly. She shows him toys. She's been building rooms for her children for three years now, ever since the memory charm stopped working. Ron has Rose. He doesn't need Annie or Andy. He didn't even want them. She looks at Andrew, he's watching her, still wary. She wants to see him smile. She says that his Mummy will be there soon. He brightens up. He plays with the toys, plays with the toy broomstick. He says he's hungry.
"Who are you? Why is my Mummy coming here?"
She looks at the boy as she walks back into the room with his sandwich. What should she tell him? She'll tell him the truth. Yes, yes, she'll tell him the truth. And tomorrow, she'll work on getting to Annica. It'll be hard to do. She's at Hogwarts. She can't go to Hogsmeade either. She's only in her first year. She'll be safer than he was. She looks at Andrew.
"I'm your Mummy. Your real Mummy."
He shakes his head. He gets upset. She hates his crying. He needs to stop. He's still crying, still screaming. Still calling out for the mother who isn't really his mother. Lavender hates it. How dare Ron take his children away and poison their minds with those lies. He took them away, and she tried to modify her memory. That's why she couldn't remember. Not until a few weeks ago. Oh, yes. She remembers now. He left her. He took the children. She hated the feeling, she modified her memory. She lived peacefully for years. And then she remembered, and she sought them out, and she waited.
"SHUT UP!"
She slaps him, he falls silent. He stares at her. She blinks. She just hit her baby. Her baby. Her baby. Her baby. He's her baby, not Hermione's. Her baby. Just like Annica is. Annica. Annica might remember her. Annica might accept it. Andrew was too young. Andrew can't remember. But Annica… Annica might remember her real mother.
"Eat your sandwich, play with your toys. In a little bit, you'll take a bath. And then you'll go to bed."
Her son nods. He eats. She sees the fear in his eyes. It excites her. He might not believe her, but oh, she'll make him believe. She's laughing hysterically when she leaves the room.