Harry Potter

After the War

Chapter 3

The house they stood in front of looked no different than any other house in Kennington, Oxfordshire. It was fairly big, the perfect size for a family, with ordinary brick walls and white framed windows. A chimney stack rose from the roof and there was a red wooden door with the number 19 printed in gold lettering near the top. Hermione dropped Harry's hand as she took a step towards her home, keeping Ron's tightly gripped in her left palm.

"Are you alright, Hermione?" Harry asked gently. It felt weird for him to be the supporting role in this particular drama, but he found he didn't care, instead feeling relieved. Hermione didn't reply, instead, continuing to stare at the house where she grew up.

Ron looked concerned, "Are you sure you want to do this? We can go a do it for you, if you want?" Harry nodded in agreement. She shook out of her daze and Hermione kissed Ron on the cheek.

"I'm fine. Really I am!" she added at Harry and Ron's sceptical expression. "I just, I haven't been here in such a long time. It's just a little bit of a shock, that's all," She was returning to her old, confident self, more so then since the plan was agreed upon. She began walking towards the house, Ron being towed by Hermione with Harry following them. When she opened the picket gate, Harry noticed the slight caress of familiarity and the slight smile of memories long forgotten. Ron noticed too and squeezed her hand gently. She looked at him and they shared a smile. Harry looked away at the private moment. They continued up the path until they reached the ominous red door.

"They bought this house because of me, you know," Hermione said. Harry and Ron looked at each other as if asking if they knew what she meant. Neither of them did. "It was the number," she continued, "19. Because,"

"The 19th is your birthday." Ron interrupted, "Your parents bought the house because they said that number was made lucky by having you." Hermione stared at him in amazement. "What?" Ron asked.

"How...I...how do you remember that?"

He shrugged, "I remember most things you say."

"Yes, but I told you that four years ago?" he shrugged again. She shook her head in amazement and turned back to the door. She reached into to her bag then paused. "I really should organise this better," She pulled out her wand, looked around for any witnesses and whispered, "Accio key." Immediately a silver house key jumped into her hand. She turned to put the key in the lock but her hand was shaking too much.

"Here," Harry said, taking the key from her "Let me do it." Hermione nodded and stepped back into Ron's arms. Harry placed the key in the lock, looked quickly and turned. They heard a click and the door was released from its frame. Harry stepped back to let Hermione pass but she didn't. Instead, she sniffed.

"Something's wrong," she said she moved forward and sniffed again, a worried crease forming on her brow.

"Why are you smelling the air like Fang at dinner time?" Ron asked her. She ignored him and pulled out her wand.

"Homenum Revelio!" she cast. Green sparks flew from the tip of her wand and snuck through the crack of the open door.

"Why did you do that?" Harry asked.

"It smells wrong." She replied. Ron looked blankly at her then indicated for Harry to ask another question.

Harry rolled his eyes but asked anyway, his curiosity getting the better of him, "What do you mean 'it smells wrong'?" he sniffed the air, "I can't smell anything. The green sparks rushed back through the door and re-entered Hermione's wand.

"Exactly," she replied, her expression sad, "You can't smell anything." She pushed the door open and stepped into a barren hallway. The furniture was covered with white sheets and all possessions that once cluttered the shelves were gone. "They're gone."

"How did you know?" Ron asked, drawing Hermione into a hug as tear ran down her cheeks.

"It should have smelt like peppermint." She crushed her face into Ron's chest, "It always smells of peppermint." Ron looked thoughtfully over her head. Suddenly it came to him. 'Dentists' he mouthed at Harry. Harry sighed.

"We should look around." He suggested, "Maybe they left something telling us where they went?" Hermione wiped her eyes and sniffed.

"Maybe." She said hopefully, "Ron and I will start down here. Harry could you look upstairs?" Harry nodded and turned towards the staircase. If they wanted privacy, Harry was fine with giving them some, he grinned to himself, as long as Ron did the same for him and Ginny. As Harry reached the top step, he noticed something odd about the way the rooms had been left. There were five in total. Four of the doors were open, revealing a bathroom, an obvious office space and two bedrooms. One of the bedrooms was completely empty without any trace of being lived in. The other still had a bed and the word 'guest' inscribed on the door. The last door was blank and closed. Harry walked over and tried the door knob. It wouldn't unlock. Harry pulled out his wand and sighed in contentment. Ever since he'd fixed his wand, he'd appreciated how much it was a part of him. The feel of holly in his palm relaxed him, he was complete again.

Harry raised the wand to the door lock and said the incantation, "Alohomora." The door clicked and opened slightly. He pushed it gently and was blinded by the stark contrast between this room and the rest of the house. It had lilac walls and a soft white carpet. The room, though seeming as if had not been used for a while, was full with furniture and belongings. Harry took a step inside and looked around. Hogwarts memorabilia were in organised processions around the room, as well as each and every book they had used over their studies, excepting the ones they needed when they went on the run. On the desk were photo frames with pictures of scenery or people who looked as if the picture was missing something. Harry picked up a badge that had been propped up against one of the frames. It was Hermione's prefect badge from their sixth year at Hogwarts. Harry stepped into the doorway and called down the stairs, "Ron? Hermione? I think you should come up here." A few seconds later he heard footsteps getting closer and they arrived in the doorway with him. Ron looked curiously around whilst Hermione stood dumbfounded. "It's your room, right?" Harry asked.

"Yes," Hermione breathed, "But I...I thought it would all just...go." Hermione walked over to one of the pictures. "How come I vanished in these but all my stuff is still here?" Ron picked up the frame. He squinted at it and opened his mouth to talk but shut it again.

"What?" Harry asked him.

Ron shook his head, "Nothing, it's just...mate? Can you see it, too?" he shoved the picture under Harry's nose. It was a photograph of Thomas and Jean Granger, or as they believed, Wendell and Monica Wilkins, in the Forest of Dean. They were touching each other's shoulder but looked as if someone should have been in the middle of the two. Harry glanced at Hermione who was sitting on her bed, holding a battered teddy bear with an eye missing. He looked back at the picture.

"Ron? What am I supposed to be looking for?" Ron silently pointed to the empty space. Harry stared at the space until his eyes began to water. He blinked and suddenly, "Hermione!"

She jumped out of her daze and looked at him, "What?" Harry held out the picture frame and she took it from him, "I know I'm not in it anymore. So?"

He shook his head, "Look closely, here," Harry ordered, pointing to the blank spot. She concentrated her gaze on the photo. A few seconds later, she screamed. Harry yanked the frame out of her hands before she dropped it. Hermione clapped her hands over her mouth and stared at the two boys.

"The photo, it's, I'm, I mean there's..." she drifted off. Ron sat down on the bed with her and put his arms around her waist.

"There's no way your outline could still be there if they didn't remember you?" Ron finished her sentence. She nodded. "But it is there, so that means they do remember you."

"Ron's right," Harry told her, "Maybe the spell didn't work or something."

"Maybe your wand picked up on your feelings and didn't work as good as usual?" Hermione and Harry stared at Ron. "What? Stupid idea? Nevermind. Maybe...?" Ron looked at them, a confused expression blanketing his face. "Seriously, what? Do I have something on my face?"

"Hermione, do you think...?" Harry asked.

"I don't know...we could ask Ollivander, but..." Hermione started smiling. Ron looked back and forth between the two.

"Could someone please explain what is happening?" Ron was starting to feel left out. "Oh, you! My stupid genius!" Hermione grabbed his face in her hands and kissed him. Ron's face grew as red as his hair. Harry grinned at him. He loved the fact Ron still found it amazing that Hermione was his girlfriend. Hermione pulled back and jumped up to hug Harry.

"So now we have something to go on!" she confirmed.

"Urm, I have no idea what's going on here, but..." Ron pointed to his watch. The dial had no numbers but words instead. At this moment, the hand was pointing to 'A storm is brewing'.

"Oh, no!" Hermione exclaimed, "The wedding! Molly's going to be furious if we miss it." Harry nodded and put the picture back on her desk. "Wait!" She took it from him, "I'm going to take a few things with us."

Ron nodded, "As long as you hurry up." Hermione opened her bag and put the photo in.

"Can you grab some clothes for me, Ron?" she asked as she turned to her desk, "and Harry, can you get my pillow and things off the bed. Harry moved to the bed as Ron began his own task. He stripped of the duvet and bundled it into Hermione's bead bag. He reached for the pillow and as he picked it up, a piece of folded paper was left sitting on the bed. He picked it up and turned it over. On the top were the words 'To my daughter'. Harry began speaking but was cut off by Ron's watch screaming, "Ronald Weasley! How dare you!" Harry looked at Ron who shrugged.

"I got the idea from that howler I got in our second year. Hun? We gotta go."

Hermione turned back to her bag and emptied her arms into it, "I know, I'm ready." Harry, letter forgotten, shoved the pillow and paper into her bag and pulled the strings together.

They left the house, locking it on their way out. Hermione took one last glance before taking hold of Ron and Harry's hands, "We can come back." She told herself. They disapparted to the Burrow, with just over an hour to compose themselves in time for the wedding of Percy Weasley.