Days That Shape Us
21-June-1998
"Hermione! Hermione! There's a spider! Kill it! Kill it!"
Hermione bent down and picked up the sack of flour Ron dropped in his panic. "For heavens sakes, it's just dust and hair."
"It looked like a spider!"
"Death Eaters you have no problem facing, but a spider has you screaming like a girl?"
"I didn't scream."
"If it was a real spider you would have."
Ron poked Hermione in the ribs and swung an arm around her as she put the flour in to the cart he was pushing. Ginny had gotten suspicious as to why Hermione had been eating dinner at the Burrow every night rather than at her own home. It was then she decided to have dinner out or at Grimmauld Place. Hogwarts would re-open late on November first and she wondered if it was possible to continue staying there unnoticed until then.
The prospect of getting her own flat was both impractical and heart breaking to her. Impractical because she had limited funds and no job, which meant no means to support herself. Heart breaking because getting her own flat meant accepting that it was all real. Her parents had disowned her; she was on her own.
Hermione glanced sideways to the man walking along the aisles with her. No, she wasn't on her own. She had Ron. He stayed with her at Grimmauld Place every night, lied to his parents, and protected hers. He alone was making this horrible situation bearable. Not only that, he was making it enjoyable, if that was even possible. They would wake in the morning; Ron would pop in to the burrow to make an appearance before heading to the Leaky Cauldron where she would meet him. They'd have breakfast and then he'd go off to the twin's shop and she would floo to Hogsmeade and make her way to Hogwarts.
At the end of the day she and Harry would go to the Burrow, stay for a bit, and then put up the facade of going home. Ron, acting the part of a Gryffindor gentleman, would always offer to accompany her. Always making note to mention he would be staying for dinner or they would get something on the way to explain his absence. Hermione didn't know how long they would be able to keep up the act but she didn't care much because what came after was well worth any wrath they would receive about their lie.
Grimmauld Place had become their home of sorts. They would cook dinner, lay about, Ron listing to a Quidditch match while Hermione read. It felt like they were a married couple the mornings and evenings at Grimmauld place. It was a glimpse in to the future Hermione definitely wanted and she knew, as long as Ron would have her, she wouldn't give it up for anything, not even her parents.
"Where are those drinks?"
"What drinks?"
"The ones you got last time, the fizzy one."
"Soda pop?"
"Yeah!"
"Aisle 10."
"Wicked." Ron gave her a kiss on the head then turned and set off in the opposite direction. Hermione shook her head and laughed at Ron's somewhat indecent love of the Muggle drink but her laughter died when she saw none other then her parents turn in to the aisle.
"Hermione," her father said stiffly.
"Dad. Mum."
"That's a lot of groceries," her mother commented.
"Witches have to eat too."
"Do the Weasleys even like Muggle food?"
"I'm not shopping for the Weasleys, I'm shopping for me."
As her parents faces fell hers grew smug.
"You have your own place?"
Hermione just shrugged. It was better to let them assume rather than explain her odd situation. And besides, she wanted them to know she was fine.
"You can't afford to live on your own." Her father crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes.
"If that's what you think ..."
"You found a job then?"
"No, but I will after Hogwarts. I'm already getting offers for after I graduate."
"Where are you getting the money to pay for that now?"
"I came in to some money; and Ron has a job."
"Because of the Merlin Class thing?" Her mother asked.
"How do you know about that?"
"We got one of those owls with an invitation to a ball and a scroll."
"Did you read the scroll?"
"Didn't care to," Her father said airily, "The last thing your mother and I want is to attend a party about a war our daughter was almost killed in."
"Well," Hermione said squaring her shoulders. "If you bothered to read it you would know that it's not about the war. Not entirely. The ball is being held in honor of Harry, Ron and myself. You see in the world you have come to hate I'm seen as something of a hero. The entire Wizarding World is coming together to honor us. Receiving an Order of Merlin First Class is like receiving an Order of the British Empire, or Victoria Cross.
"If you would have just asked to hear the whole story rather than listen to drunken men at a party, you would know that Harry took down the Wizarding Hitler, and Ron and I helped." Hermione began walking away from them but then stopped wanting them to know one last thing. "And yes, Ron's mother did kill someone; she killed the woman who murdered and tortured dozens of people. The women who had just tried to kill her only daughter. The same woman who tortured and nearly killed your only daughter." With that Hermione walked away from her shocked parents feeling as if she had just run a mile.
A/N
1) I know I haven't been on top of replying to reviews; I have a good reason!
As some of you know, this story was originally a VERY long flashback chapter to another (Home Again) that was deleted off of FF. Some names I reconize/remember some I don't. Back in ch 1or 2 I had replyed to a PM talking about things that happened in Home Again effectively spoiling a new reader who had no idea Home Again ever existed. So now, I'm a bit hesitent to reply to reviews. I speak/type with out thinking and am to quick to hit the send button.
So juat because I haven't been replying donsn't mean i don't love and appreciate you!
To the new readers, thank you for your readership! I promise once everything in back on track you will get sick of me and my long winded replies. (that is if you stick with this that long)
To the readers who came here from Home Again- Gah! I don't even know how to thank you properly! Once Home Again was deleted you could have just given up on it, but you didn't. Home Again left off in a REALLY horribal place and I know it's been months, but here you are back at the begining with me! I just... I don't even know how to express how that makes me feel! You guys are truly amazing!
2) I know some of you have asked if I will be adding new "memories" to this story. The answer is... I don't know. My main focuse is getting everything re-betaed and up so we can get to Home Again and new chapters. Back when my computer threw a bitch fit and corrupted a lot of my files most of the deleted scenes got messed up so If I were to add it would mean I would have to re-write them. I kind of feel like that time would be better spent in finishing the little that is left of ch 14 and starting 15. If I come to a point where I feel something should be added to help the flow of "Days" I will.
As always my PM and tumblr ask box is always opened if you're cuorised as to what didn't make it in; throw around therios or just talk Harry Potter. I found both my betas that way!