Journey to You

Chapter 6: The Counter-Curse

It was hot! Hotter than either of them expected. Queensland was a pretty big state, but Hermione made sure to choose a place relaxing and sunny. Sydney was too predictable for the Wizarding community if the Death Eaters or the Ministry found out. So, she gave them the incentive to go to the Queensland coast. The trouble was Queensland had a very large coast. It would take them forever, in Hermione's opinion, to find them.

They started at the bottom of the Queensland coast, Surfer's Paradise. They traveled through the entire residential area, stopping only to rest for a little while. By nightfall, Hermione started to get disheartened.

"There's no way," she whimpered. "No bloody way I can actually find them. It would have to be fate."

It suddenly dawned on Ron. "There is a way!" He grabbed Hermione's hand and ran down a few blocks.

"Why are we going back?" she demanded, but he was too excited to answer.

They arrived at a phone booth with a directory inside. Ron flipped through the pages quickly. "Do you think they kept their names?"

"I- I changed their names," she said, thinking that they had reached another setback, but Ron just shrugged. "Monica and Wendell Wilkins."

"D'you think, after all of your brilliant spell casting, that they'd still have a passion for fixing teeth?"

She paused, flabbergasted. "You mean would they still be dentists?"

"You said it's their passion, right? To own their own… their own-"

"Dentistry." Hermione's heart was beating quickly. "They've always wanted their own dentist practice together, ever since they graduated from University." She beamed, looking through the list of all the dentist offices on the Queensland coast. "Ron, you are absolutely brilliant!" She exclaimed before kissing him full on the mouth. She didn't care if it was too forward. It was a lead! And Ron helped her get there.

Ron, on the other hand, stood dumbstruck, ears red, and sporting dopey grin while Hermione continued to cipher through the directory book.

"How did you even think to come here?" she asked him.

Still red in the face and smiling, he shrugged. "I remember you talking about these books when I told you about the visitor's entrance at the Ministry."

"That was years ago…"

"I know."

There it was in black ink: Wilkins Dentistry. "Scarborough, Queensland." Hermione choked up. She found them! Well, she knew where to go. They Apparated on the spot.

It was dark. No lights were on in the small building. They were so close…

"Why don't we find a place to spend the night. I'm starving!"

Hermione couldn't help but laugh at Ron's remark. She was giddy, probably too excited to sleep. "Alright, but somewhere close by."

They went to a diner and found a small motel for the night. It was like the other day was an invitation to sleeping in the same bed again. This time, they kissed goodnight, mostly out of excitement for the day ahead of them. It was felt so comforting and familiar that neither of them experienced night terrors.

Hermione knew that convincing her parents would not be an easy task, and the next day, she set off on a new plan. Ron got them both breakfast while she brainstormed a strategy. On his way back with a bag full of food, he bumped into a woman. They both dropped their things.

"Sorry," Ron mumbled, picking up his stuff and helping with hers.

"It's quite alright there," she laughed. "In a bit of a rush as well."

She gave Ron a sweet smile, and Ron almost toppled over. "You!"

The woman, picking up the last of her items, gave Ron an inquisitive look. "Have we met?" She had a hint of an Australian accent, but Ron could tell she was British.

"Are- are you- Mrs. Granger?" he sputtered.

Her eyes glossed over, but she still kept her smile, "No, I'm sorry. You must have the wrong person."

Ron found this very odd. "Sorry," he said. "I thought you were someone I knew."

"That's quite alright," she said. She made to walk passed him. "Gooday." And she was gone.

Ron ran back to their motel room, and told her hurriedly about his encounter.

"Of course she didn't say who she was!" Hermione said exasperatedly. "She'd be a Wilkins, not a Granger!" They didn't even bother eating breakfast or finishing up a plan. They were too eager to see if Ron actually crossed paths with Hermione's mother.

They arrived back at the little dentist office, standing in the doorway. Ron took Hermione's hand and gave her a reassuring squeeze. They both smiled.

With a newfound courage, Hermione opened the door…

There was a nice receptionist at the front desk, asking them if they had an appointment.

"Erm, no," Hermione said. "We're new in town, and we are looking for a new dentist."

"New applicants, eh?" Ron and Hermione nodded. "Well, you have to fill out these forms…"

"I was wondering if I could have a word with the owners?"

The receptionist scrutinized the pair of them. "You English have the weirdest way about you." She turned in her swivel chair and headed into a back room. Hermione was controlling her breathing and shifting her weight from one side to another. Ron looked around and saw children holding thick devices that made noises and adults were reading magazines that had no moving pictures. He felt Hermione grab his arm tight and gasp. He looked at her, who had a transfixed face, almost in tears. He followed her gaze to a man and a woman walking towards them.

"I did see her this morning!" Ron whispered to Hermione quickly. "I knew it!"

"So, we meet again, eh, mate?" said Hermione's mother, smiling. "This must be a sign."

Hermione's father shook their hands. Hermione was so close to tears, Ron had to be the one to say something.

"Yeah, weird, isn't it," he smiled back. "Like we said, we're new here, and we wanted to find good erm- dentists- to have."

"Well, come on in!" said Mr. Wilkins, motioning them to follow him and his wife into their office.

The four of them sat down.

"Alright, well, we'd like to start with your names," said Mrs. Wilkins, pen in hand.

Ron looked at Hermione, but she was still unable to speak. He held her hand as he said, "Granger. I'm Ron and this is Hermione. Hermione Granger."

Both of her parents seemed to look past them with vacant smiles.

"What an interesting name," said Mrs. Wilkins.

"Does it sound familiar to you?" Ron asked.

"It wouldn't, Ron," croaked Hermione before either of the adults could respond. "Listen, Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins, you don't remember me, but we've met before."

They looked very confused. "Have we now?" said Mr. Wilkins. "But you are new to Scarborough?"

"Yes." She seemed to get her confidence back. "But we've met in England. In Heathgate, London."

The couple looked at each other for a moment. Mr. Wilkins smiled knowingly. "You must be mistaken."

"I know it sounds too bizarre to be true," Hermione continued, she took out her wand. "But you're going to have to trust me."

The Wilkins' jumped out of their seats, looking alarmed.

"Wait!" said Ron, halting everyone in their tracks. "Why don't we just calm down."

"Ron, I-"

"Hermione, I'd like to speak to Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins alone for a moment."

"But-"

Ron gave Hermione a pleading look, and after a silent stare down, Hermione finally got up and shut the door behind her.

"I'm really sorry about her," said Ron. The couple settled back down, still looking doubtful. "She hasn't been right ever since… the… accident."

Mrs. Wilkins gasped. "Oh, my!"

"It's okay, she'll live a relatively normal life," he said. His palms were sweaty, and hoped they didn't pick up that he was making all of this up as he went along. "The only thing is… well… erm, she hasn't been right in the head." He leaned forward, and whispered, "She thinks she can do magic."

"But what does this have to do with us?" said Mr. Wilkins.

"Well, it's funny you mention that. We came to Australia for a bit of sun, you know? She saw you a bunch of times and thought it was fate. That you were… her parents."

"But that's insane!" laughed Mr. Wilkins. "She travels half-way around the world and settles on us?"

"Look, she doesn't have much time to live!"

"But you just said-"

"Never mind what I said," Ron interrupted, inwardly cursing himself for making it so easy for them to catch his lies. "She found a stick in on the ground, calls it a wand. She wants to do a sort of spell. I don't know how or why, but you let her do this and we'll be out of your way forever."

He knew he was losing them.

"I don't know…"

"Please," Ron begged. All lies aside, he settled on telling the truth. After all, they wouldn't remember it anyway. "I love that crazy woman out there. And I want to be there for her, no matter what. Just, do this one thing. If not for her, then for me."

The couple looked at one another, and, to Ron's relief, tentatively agreed.

Ron let Hermione back in. "Go ahead," he said, taking her wand out of her pocket and placing it in her hand.

Hermione blinked, astonished that Ron had actually got her parents to comply. "Al-alright. Ron, close the doors and blinds."

Undoubtedly, the couple was alarmed yet again, but Ron gave them a reassuring smile. They held each others' hands, staring straight at the tip of Hermione's wand. She, closed her eyes and took a deep breath to center herself. Once she opened her eyes, there was a concentration about her, and she started the process.

Ron watched in awe at Hermione's skilled handiwork. She was mumbling words rapidly as she flicked her wrist slowly and with much precision. She didn't blink. At first, jets of light were erupting from her wand and going straight to her parents' faces, which were now in a trans-like state. Then, lights started coming from their heads and into her wand, looking like a reversal of the process. Was it even working? Ron started to panic.

"Hermione…" whispered Ron, concerned.

She held up her wandless hand to silence him, never breaking eye contact with her parents or stopping her incantations. Ron had to trust her.

He turned to her parents; their eyes were still fuzzy and unfocused. He sat down in a chair, waiting as patiently as he could. He admired Hermione's determination and magical ability. She was truly an amazing witch…

"Ron, get up," Hermione said suddenly, waking Ron from his thoughts. Her wand was still vacuuming lights from their eyes, but they looked a little more focused.

"It's working," he whispered. He smiled at her, but she was still centered.

"I need you to hold them down," she said. "There's a chance it might backfire."

"Backfire?"

"Just do it."

Ron walked around the desk and held them down by their shoulders, looking at Hermione's face. She was so beautiful and brilliant and he loved her.

"Alright, they're coming to," she whispered. "There's going to be a really bright light in a few seconds, so I need you to close your eyes."

He nodded.

"Ready?"

He closed his eyes just as the bright light came in his direction and hit the couple. He had to hold both of them down because they immediately started to jump out of their seats. It was difficult since he had to keep his eyes closed.

Someone knocked on the door now. "Is everything alright in there?"

"Everything's fine," shouted Ron. "Just a… beautiful, sunny day, isn't it?"

"Nearly finished," whispered Hermione.

Ron had to put all of his weight onto the pair of them from falling back in their chairs. Any more of this and all three of them would topple over from the magnitude of the spell. If it was at all possible, the light got brighter, so much so that Ron was scrunching his eyes as tight as he could. And then, the light was gone. He chanced opening his eyes, and saw Hermione's exhausted figure examining her parents.

"You okay?" he asked, walking around to her side.

She nodded, breathing steadily. "Relax," she whispered to herself. "Relax… relax…"

The two of them glanced at the limp pair. They looked just as exhausted as Hermione was. At last, they looked up, eyes scrunched as if they have been looking at the sun for far too long. Hermione squeezed Ron's hand as her heart quickened.

Her mother focused her eyes and looked around. She finally landed upon the two apprehensive young adults.

"Hermione?"

She gasped and ran across the room. "Mum!" she cried. She hugged her mother tight.

"Sweetheart, why are you crying?" said her father.

"Dad!" She grabbed hold of her father as well, engulfing them both in a sobbing embrace.

Ron smiled wide at the reunion, and thought of his own family. He couldn't wait until he was back home with Hermione finally happily reunited with her parents. He knew that there was a lot that they had to discuss, so he was going to give them their space. He went to open the door, but Hermione stopped him.

"Ron, I want you to meet my parents," she smiled, still crying happy tears. She knew Ron was just as important in this mission. She loved him, and she wanted him to be a part of her life forever.