Brave
How where they expected to support their daughter when she going on such a reckless, foolhardy mission to save the country from that evil wizard Lord whatever-it-was?
They were parents. Not very overly affectionate, but they did their best, considering their erratic hours. They hadn't raised their daughter badly, so why was she so intent on leaving them to save the lives of people who discriminate her based off her heritage and her blood?
But she was stubborn, and they knew it, so they did their best to not complain about it to her, but it was the topic of many a discussion between them, whenever their daughter was away.
One night, in the middle of August, Mrs – Dr, actually – Granger decided a talk with the young teenager was long, long overdue.
"Hermione," she knocked thrice on the door, taking the grunt from the girl as permission to enter. "I want to speak with you, now."
Tired and bushy haired, Hermione sat up. "Yes...?" She expected it, and the only surprise was that her mother had waited so long to do this.
"This mission you're going on. Are you absolutely sure you-?"
"Want to go? Have to go? Mum," she interrupted and sighed, attempting to be clear but not patronising, "I need to do this. Not only for Harry and the Weasleys and us, but for everyone else – especially others like me. The muggle borns, the mudbloods. If we let Voldemort," Hermione grinned at the lack of flinch from her mother, whereas the Weasleys did it all too often, "win, we will die. I promise you, he is relentless."
"But why you?" Her mother nigh on pleaded. "Couldn't it be Harry and Ron and that's it? Why do you have to go as well? Excluding your personal determination..."
"Mum, please. They wouldn't last a day without me. The three of us are like a third of the same puzzle, so to say. Only when we're together will you see how great the picture is. Don't you understand? Harry is the soul, Ron is the heart and I'm the brains..." She trailed off, "anyways, it's better with three – believe me."
Her mother didn't look too reassured, but seemed more understanding of her cause. She was glad, as her father was always the more stubborn one, and it would've been much harder to win him over.
"Remember what you used to tell me, mum, when we read some of those stories when I was younger?"
"You're still young... But yes, the bravery of fools-"she began.
"-is bravery nonetheless." Hermione chuckled weakly, "I guess this fits us. We're fools for risking ourselves this way, when it all seems so uncertain."
"But you're all Gryffindors, through and through. Just make sure you're not too reckless – I want you to come back alive, I'll accept cuts and bruises, but no more," her mother scolded her lightly, and she laughed.
"I'm scared, but I will do it. I'm set on it. I just hope I know enough protective spells. There are so many, but some are too hard to learn quickly, and some need two or multiple casters and Harry and Ron won't have time to learn them and-"
"Stop. Calm down; take a deep breath and go to sleep. Rest up, and tomorrow you will feel a bit better. Drink some milk, clear your mind. You can't get so insecure now – I'm positive what you know will be more than enough." Her mother kissed her forehead and left silently, leaving Hermione feeling as if it was all too sudden a change from the worried mother she'd been convincing half a minute before.
...
"This is not good; her anxiety is acting up again. I had to stop her before she got too nervous and her heart got too fast." Mrs Granger told her husband. "We need to call Madam Pomfrey, now, so she can give Hermione what she needs."
An hour later and that same nurse was giving them instructions on what to do for Hermione, until Mr – Dr – Granger interrupted her. "She's going to be away, on a mission, for goodness knows how long. What then?"
Poppy thought on it for a while, "we could administer a longer lasting version of the medication to her, inserting it into her bloodstream at separate parts of her body, but it will last almost a year, and she will have to be careful not to get injured badly. A loss of blood larger than a minor cut or scrape and the potion would stop taking effect. After that, the outcome could be just about anything."
It only took a look to know both Grangers agreed with doing that, and while Hermione was set under a modified sleeping charm, she was given the required medication.
Perhaps a bit too much of it, Madam Pomfrey then realised, but it wouldn't hurt her. It was only a bit.
...
Not really a cliffhanger, but turns out there'll be a third part. Who would've thunk it?
Anyways, quote The bravery of fools is bravery nonetheless is for the challenge
Doctor Who Quote Challenge
By Isilarma on the HPFC forum. Hip hip for everyone who likes DOCTOR WHO.
Words: 817
Posted: 9th May 2013