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Me: Hi J.K. Rowling, can I be you?
J.K. Rowling: o.O . . No . .
A/N: Back again! So, recap. Rosie was looking through Hermione's trunk found a picture. Turns out he was her brother. Now she learns of what happened to him. Dun dun dun. . .
Rosie gasped. She couldn't believe it. Never would she have that she has an older brother. She was so used to having just a little brother. A little brother to take care of, to watch over. She was always jealous of her cousin Lily. Lily had two older brothers to watch over her. Rose wanted to feel their irrational overprotectiveness. She did feel that with her older male cousins, but she knew it wasn't the same. Rose began to get really peeved. So, her parents have kept her brother away from her all this time?
"What do you mean?" she said in a small voice, "How can I have a brother and not know about it? And, why haven't you two told me about him?"
Her eyes grew wide and Rosie started to get a just a little hysterical. "Well? I'd really like to know! Where the bloody hell is my brother!?"
"Now, young lady, watch your language," Ron said sharply.
"Then tell me," sniffed Rose, "Why have I never met my own brother?"
"Honey," Hermione slowly said, "You haven't met your brother because . . . he isn't alive."
Rose paled. Realization hit her. She should have known. Her parents aren't cold-hearted people. They wouldn't keep a secret like that from her. She stood there for a moment, thinking. Wondering what had come about of her brother. Why is he not alive is what bugged her.
"What happened to him?" the small words escaped from her mouth, "Why did he . . . die? How did it happen? Was I even born yet?"
"No," Hermione said softly, "You weren't born yet." Hermione began to breathe a bit heavier. She bit her bottom lip and began again. "H-he wasn't even born yet. I . . . didn't even get to see him. I went through too much physical trauma for me to give birth at the time. He was a stillborn." Hermione began to cry again. Tears poured down as she hung her head.
"What – why did that happen? What was wrong?" Rose asked curiously because she was really confused. What was the physical trauma her mother had gone through? She doesn't remember anything like that ever happening.
"Remember the stories we told you a long time ago? The ones from the Dark Era; when your Uncle Harry, Aunt Ginny, Mum, and I had fought in the Second War?" Ron said.
"Mhmm. I remember." Rose's eyes began to gleam with pride for her parents. "You all fought so bravely. You practically went through a hell just make things how they are now."
"Yes, well, Mum went through a bit more then we all did." Ron quietly said. He looked depressed.
"Ron don't!" Hermione exclaimed in a very high pitched, "Why must you insist on her knowing about this. She's much too young. I suppose you can tell her when she's older, but I'd prefer she not know about it at all!"
"Hermione," Ron said sharply, "You can't go on protecting her from everything. Rose is headed off to Hogwarts in a little while. She's bound to learn things anyways, or even worse. She has to grow up sometime."
"And I always thought Dad would be the one who would have troubles letting me grow up." Rose muttered to herself. Then out loud she said, "Well? Mum, what exactly is it that you went through? And what exactly did you go through to make you lose. . . Angel?"
"Well, Rosie, before I tell you anything, I want you to know that no matter what you are going to hear, I do not want you to hold any grudges, okay?" said Hermione.
Rose's eyebrow lifted. "Sure. . . But what do you mean 'grudges'?"
"You'll see, Rosie. You'll see." Ron said.
"Well," Hermione began, "You remember the story of how your Uncle Harry, Dad, and I had fought Voldemort and had to go searching for the horcruxes, right?"
"Yes. I remember you telling what horcruxes are and how Voldemort had created seven. I also remember you telling me about the time you three rode the dragon from Gringotts!"
"Rosie. . . I never told you that certain part of the story." Hermione looked towards Ron and raised an eyebrow.
Ron smiled sheepishly. "Heh, whoops. I think it –ahem– may have told her a little about that."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Well yes, we did go on that little adventure. But before that," Hermione hesitated, "We were at the Malfoy's."
Rose thought for a moment. Malfoys? I heard about them in the Daily Prophet. Something about Death Eaters gone good. "Malfoy, Mum? That man who was said to be a Death Eater but who's own mother had actually helped Uncle Harry survive?"
"Yes. But when we were at the Malfoy Manor, it was before Narcissa Malfoy had helped your Uncle Harry. They didn't care if any of us lived or died. All they wanted was to be Voldemort's good side again. Well, more like all Bellatrix Lestrange wanted to be on his good side."
"Urgg. I know the story! You told me billions of times! You were there, freed Miss Luna and Mr. Dean and Mr. Olivander and the Goblin. Then you went to Uncle Bill and Aunt Fleur's home at Shell Cottage. I didn't forget anything you know." Rose sighed in exasperation.
"Well, Missy, you don't know the entire story," Hermione retorted.
"Oh? So what exactly are the parts I am missing of the story, dear Mother?" Rosie said in an unnatural innocent tone.
Ron smiled. He rather enjoyed it when Hermione and Rose got into these little fights. No, he wasn't some sick twisted person, he just loved how sometimes it can turn into a battle of wits; it always amused him. Unfortunately, this time, Hermione didn't have a response. All that happened was that she got unusually quiet. Normally, she would say something that would tease Rose, but this time? This time she just sat there, not saying a word. Rose was indeed confused; her eyebrows furrowed together.
"Mum?" Rose asked uncertainly, "You alright?"
"The part you don't know of the story. . . Well, I was cursed; tortured more like, either way, it was tormenting. And I'd prefer you not know about it." Hermione said, rather crossly.
"Well, why not?!" Rosie exclaimed, "God, you'd think I'm still a little child, but I'm not. But what is it you mean that you were tortured? I figured that all of you were basically tortured; especially with having to give up your childhood so quickly and going to war."
"Rose, this is exactly why I don't want you to know yet. You don't understand. I wasn't mentally tortured, I was physically tortured." Hermione sighed in defeat.
"Ph-physically?" Rose gasped in disbelief. Her eyes widened in shock. My Mum was tortured PHYSICALLY? She thought. No wonder she didn't want to tell me. How horrible! "As in," Rose lowered her voice it was barely audible, "the Cruciatus Curse? You went through that? That; that terrible curse?" Rose's eyes began to glisten. Never would she have thought that her own dearest mother would have gone through THAT kind of cruelty.
"Yes, and it tore me apart; literally and mentally. The Cruciatus Curse is like having hundreds of hot knives stabbing at your body at once; like having that sudden feeling that all your bones are being crushed. Well, since you now know what the curse is like," Hermione hesitated, "I might as well tell you the entire story."
Rose's eyes widened, "There's more to it? Wasn't being cursed like that hard enough? Mum, I know you're strong, but how did you possible handle more than that?" Rose was completely amazed. No wonder she looked up to her mother so much; her mother is so brave. So powerful.
"Honey," Hermione said, "That wasn't even the story. That was just what the curse is. Now, I don't think I'd be able to tell you the story so –"
"WHAT? Wait just a moment! You said that I do get to hear it! Mother, I'm not an innocent little girl anymore! I'm ready to hear what you went through!" Rose said, and quite sharply too.
"Rose, honey, I meant that I'm going to show you rather than tell you." Hermione said patiently.
"Oh."
"Huh. . And I actually did think you weren't gonna tell her." Ron said rather shocked.
"Honestly Ronald?" sighed Hermione.
Hermione then stood up and went to her private library; which just so happened to be connected to her and Ron's room. She came back with a Pensieve and a small bottle with a white misty looking liquid in it.
"What's that Mum?" Rose inquired. She knew what the Pensieve was, but she was curious as to what was in the little bottle.
"The past. You wanted to see it? Well here you go. I'm sorry honey, but for me to go through all that again. . . It's just too much. I never wanted you to see this, but I guess you deserve to. So Daddy will take you instead, okay?" Hermione said.
"No," Rose whispered, "I want to do this alone."
"Rosie," Ron questioned, "What do you mean by that? Of course I'll come with you."
"No." Rose said, quite defiantly, "I want to see this by myself. You guys have already gone through this once, I'm not about to let you go through with it again." Rose was determined. She was like her Aunt Ginny in a way; if she wants something, she'll eventually get it, no matter what.
Hermione sighed in defeat. "Very well. But just so you know, this is a collection of memories, so you'll be seeing more than one of them before it's finished." Hermione poured the liquid like substance in the Pensieve. "Alright, ready?"
Rose nodded. She then plunged into the memories. Ron and Hermione stared after her.
"I hope she'll be okay." Ron said, looking a bit worried.
"She's in my memories," Hermione replied, "She'll be fine."
A/N: Well? How was it? Review pleaseeeee!
Also, I'd like to thank my first reviewer,but unfortunately, it was anonymous, so I can't thank you properly! And I'd also like to thank my second reviewer: Soraya the All Speaker. Thanks for reviewing! (:
Lol okay, the next few chapters will mostly be flashbacks, okay? Ahaha. Oh. . . And Rose seemed a bit. . too hysterical in the beginning . . . Hehe, well, let's hope the next chapter will be good.