The weeks passed by pretty slow. The wait was unbearable. The Weasley family (including Harry and Hermione) didn't know what to do with all the time that they had. Hermione read a lot of books. She read every book that the Weasley's had, including all of Ron's Quidditch ones. She watched them play Quidditch. She helped Mrs. Weasley cook.
A week after everybody got their Hogwarts letters, Hermione was chopping onions while Mrs. Weasley was making pasta. It reminded Hermione of spending time with her mom. She didn't cry anymore; there were no tears left to be shed. She had decided that she needed to be happy again. Hermione needed to be healthy again. The life she was living was not healthy.
"Mrs. Weasley, what should I do with these onions?" Hermione asked. Where to put the onions? She had no idea.
"Just put them over there, darling." Mrs. Weasley said, motioning to the counter behind them. "And to you, my name is mum."
Was Hermione hearing things right? She stopped everything. She almost dropped the food.
"Dearie, nobody should have to live without their parents. You know Harry calls me mum. I know I'm not your mother, but to me you're my daughter. I have nine kids now. Not just seven."
Hermione wanted to cry. She had always viewed Mrs. Weasley as her mum. In a lot of ways, she was her mum. And she was. And Hermione did start crying. She hugged Mrs. Weasley so tight. "You have no idea how much this means to me, mum. Thank you." She breathed through her sobs.
"Of course, darling."
That was a really good day for Hermione.
A few days later Harry wanted to see Andromeda; more importantly, his godson, Teddy. He and Andromeda talked and they decided that Wednesday morning would be a good time to meet.
Hermione could see that Harry was nervous because he was trying to fix his hair, which he never did. His shirt was tucked into his jeans and he was wearing a pair of black converse.
"Are you nervous, Harry?" Hermione asked. She charmed his flat. "Don't worry; Teddy is only a few months old."
"What happens if I drop him?" he asked. "I could screw him up in so many ways." He started pacing back and forth. His black hair was already starting to poof up again, and his eyebrows were furrowed. "Andromeda says she has guests from the war staying with her. They're probably going to think I'm a freak because I don't know how to hold a baby. Do you know how to hold a baby, Hermione?"
"Harry! Shut up. You'll be fine! You're a great person and it's really easy. Just support his head, but he's a little older now! Don't worry. You're freaking out." Hermione grabbed his arm. "Let's go. Who even cares about the visitors! You're going to visit your godson."
They traveled by apparition, as they had been to the house after Remus and Tonks' funeral. Harry saw Teddy, but he didn't want to hold him. He probably would have dropped Teddy back then, as he was too grief stricken to even do anything right.
Andromeda was taking care of Teddy. Although Harry was his legal guardian, Andromeda couldn't have asked him to take Teddy in. That wasn't even a question. Harry was still trying to get back up on his feet, and he was still a teenager. Harry would probably be more of an uncle-type figure in Teddy's life.
Together, Harry and Hermione stood at a Tudor house. It was cute and neat and everything Hermione imagined it would look like. They walked up the driveway and knocked on the door. A flash of wild caramel hair and kind eyes appeared at the door.
"Harry! Hermione! Come on in! How are you guys doing today? Do you want some tea?" Andromeda was ushering them into the house. It was nicely decorated, and Hermione could see both the magical and muggle influence on the house.
"Your house is beautiful, Mrs. Tonks! And I'm actually doing well today, how are you?" Hermione asked.
"Thank you! I'm feeling lovely, dear." She turned to Harry. "And how are you, Harry? Would you like to see Teddy? Just get right to it?" Andromeda could obviously see the fear on Harry's face. "Don't worry, Harry. Why are you so scared to hold a baby? Teddy will love you."
A figured appeared holding a baby in the hallway. Hermione couldn't make out her facial features – Holy mother of – She knew this person. If the platinum hair wasn't enough of a giveaway, it had to be the steel blue eyes of this woman.
This was Narcissa Malfoy. Memories came flooding back to her. Memories that she tried so hard to push out. Memories of being tortured in the Malfoy Manor. Memories of Bellatrix carving letters into her skin.
Hermione couldn't breathe. She couldn't move. She couldn't do anything. And that was all she saw before everything went black.
Where was she? Everything was blurry. Hermione's eyes focused on a mop of curly hair, and suddenly she remembered. She sat up straight, panting. "Oh my god," she gulped. "Did I pass out?"
"Yeah, Hermione, you did." He said. He handed her a glass of water and sat down next her. "Andromeda really wants to speak to you. She wants to talk to you too, but I won't let her. I mean, how could Andromeda leave something like this out? I can't believe it. She tricked us –"
"Shut up, Harry! I want to talk to her. Both Andromeda and Narcissa." Hermione said. She had to. She knew that she had to. Narcissa obviously went to Andromeda because she had nowhere else to go. Her pureblood friends probably shunned her for something. Dear goodness. She probably left Lucius. Probably. Hermione wasn't going to make any assumptions, but she was probably right. That was the only logical answer. "How long was I out?"
"About fifteen minutes." Harry replied.
"I'm going to talk to them." Hermione said. She stood up.
"Do you want me to come with you?" Harry asked.
"No, but thank you, Harry." Hermione had to talk to them. She left the room and followed voices, which led to the kitchen.
"Narcissa, you knew they were coming over. I told you to come down after they left!" Andromeda hissed.
"Andy, I didn't know they were coming at eight in the morning! I figured I could grab some breakfast and then go back upstairs!" Narcissa cried.
"You probably ruined everything between her and me! You knew that I wanted to get to know her! She's going to be a big influence on Teddy's life, and I told you how Remus and Dora adored her. I had to meet this girl for myself!" she argued.
Well, this was going to be awkward. Hermione walked into the kitchen. This was really awkward. Hermione gave a little wave to the two women. "Um, I just wanted you guys to know that I'm alive. Harry and I could get going, this has been a very interesting morning and –"
"Oh don't leave, dear! I made some tea." Andromeda grabbed Hermione by the shoulders and sat her down at the kitchen table. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. I think I didn't drink enough water this morning." Hermione brushed off everything.
Narcissa stood up. Now, she looked awkward. "I'm just going to be going."
Hermione stared at her. Did she talk to her? Or did she not? The brave thing to do would be to talk to her. But she didn't want to. But she had to. "No. I want to talk to you." She said firmly.
"I don't think that would be a good idea." Narcissa stated plainly.
"No, Narcissa. It is a good idea. I need answers." Hermione got up now. "Why didn't you intervene while I was being tortured by your sister? Why didn't you stop it? Why didn't you help me? Your sister was carving letters into my skin, and you didn't even do anything." Hermione was screaming now. The baby. She couldn't wake him. She whimpered a little and sat back down in the chair.
"Hermione, you don't understand." Narcissa pleaded.
"I do understand, Narcissa. I do understand what it's like to be in a place where every move you make could be you last. I understand what it's like to be in fear everywhere you go, all the time. I understand. You don't understand."
"I was under the Imperius curse for fifteen years! Do you know what that is like?" Narcissa yelled. "Do you know what it's like to have your own husband abuse you every day of your life? Do you know what it's like to have him abuse your own son, and then, when you try to leave in the night, he beats you to near death? I don't think so."
"This isn't a pity party, Narcissa." Hermione spat. Hermione was sobbing now.
"You guys are worse than a bunch of preschoolers. You're acting so immature!" Andromeda said sternly. "I know you guys are dealing with a lot of things right now, but there is a baby in the house and I don't want to wake him!"
"I'm sorry, Andromeda, but I am not going to apologize for what I said." Hermione said stubbornly. She turned to Narcissa. "I'm sorry for what happened to you, and someday I might forgive you but today is certainly not the day. Thank you for having me, Andromeda. I hope that we can see each other again someday for I have still not yet seen Teddy."
Hermione wanted to die of embarrassment. She couldn't believe she just had a temper tantrum. She left the house. Harry was sitting on the front steps.
"How are you?"
And Hermione started sobbing in Harry's arms. "I can't believe I just did that!" She hiccupped. "I don't even know what possessed me to do that."
"Hermione, you have PTSD. It's not your fault. You're eighteen years old and you went through more traumatic experiences than people can imagine. It's okay to have breakdowns." Harry soothed. He rubbed her back gently, letting her stain his shirt with her tears.
"I feel as though I'm always breaking down! I just want to be normal again, Harry. I just want to be normal."
"Come on, why don't we go home? I'll make some tea?" Harry stood up and offered his hand out to Hermione.
"Your tea sucks, Harry. But it sounds perfect." Hermione grabbed his hand and they went home.
"You know, Draco is living with Andromeda and Narcissa." Harry said as he put some sugar into his tea.
"What?" Hermione nearly spat out her tea. "But I didn't see or hear him! How could he be living with them? And since when is he Draco?"
"When you were arguing with Narcissa he came outside to get the paper." Harry said. He took a sip of his tea and raised an eyebrow at Hermione. "What?"
"How did that go?" Hermione asked curiously. She really wondered how that went. Harry wasn't exactly the most patient or forgiving man in the planet, and she wondered exactly what happened because Harry was calling him Draco.
"He was really quiet." Harry started. "He just looked, tired. He came out to get the paper and then he saw me a second later. Then he said, "I'm sorry, Potter." After that he tried to go back inside, but I stopped him. I asked him what for. He said everything. And then he went back inside. It was the strangest experience of my life."
"Narcissa was under the Imperius for fifteen years." Hermione said. Could Malfoy have been under the curse too? That was a possibility.
Harry was thinking. Hermione could see the gears turning in his brain. "Does that mean…?"
"Maybe. I don't know. We can't assume things. That would be really bad." Hermione said. "But logically, it makes a lot of sense. I don't understand how no one could see it! If Malfoy had been under the curse for years then I would guess that everybody assumed that was just how Draco acted. That's awful though. His whole life was basically stolen. But we can't assume. Why don't we just start our summer homework?"
"Really, Hermione? Let's just hang out." Harry said.
And so they did.
A/N: I know I said some things would be in this chapter, but the chapter would just be way too long if I put the letters in. That will be the next chapter, which will be up tomorrow! It's almost done, but I really wanted to put something up for you guys tonight so there you are!