A/N: So here is another update, again far more earlier than even I could have dreamed, but for some reason the words just keep on coming to me (Only the Gods know when Harmony will start flowing for me again, but until then I'm keeping up with the Dramione current) - unfortunately the words for a title decided to evade me for this one, so please forgive than unimaginative, though direct, name for Chapter 3...three guesses what the main even in this chapter is going to be... lol
And now, enjoy :D
xBx
update: 30/08/12 - I've reposted all three chapters, changing a tiny detail concerning Harry's employment: For everyone who read the first draft, Harry was given the same job entry level as Ron - This change is thanks to a review from DawnRain (who I want to give a huge thank you to), a review which really cemented my doubts I was starting to get of my decision to put Harry as Head Auror right away.
Nothing else has really changed, I've corrected a few other minor mistakes. The next update will bring Chapter 4, and hopefully it won't be too long in coming - sorry for the delay
xBx
~ Chapter 3: The Granger's return ~
Fred's ceremony lasted a little over an hour, after which the Weasleys and their guests returned inside and drank to the memories of the fallen. As the drink flowed, and food was eaten, spirits began to lift ever so slightly, and by the end of the night everyone was riotous with remembrance, laughing at all the trouble Fred had caused when he was alive.
True to his word, Ron moved into Grimmauld Place on the weekend, and the trio spent Sunday night back at the Burrow, where Molly had laid on an excellent feast in celebration and lamentation of her youngest son flying the next.
Hermione entered the basement kitchen on Monday morning, still snuggled in her dressing gown, just in time to see Ron and Harry off on their first day of work: both looked excited, yet slightly nervous.
"Good luck, both of you." She hugged them both as they began to make their way out, "It's going to be strange having the place to myself." She commented.
"At least you'll have some peace and quiet, you can get through the rest of those Trainee Programme files." Harry said. "See you at dinner." He called over his shoulder.
Hermione spent her day doing just that, by the time the boys returned she had thoroughly read every file twice, and had a good idea of what the Ministry had to offer – now she only had to make her choice.
Hermione had made her way down to the kitchen to make herself a cup of tea when she heard the clanking of the front door announcing Harry and Ron's arrival home.
"Something smells great, Kreacher," Ron said as her entered the kitchen, "What's cooking tonight?"
"Thank you, Mr Weasley," Kreacher said as he scuttled over to take Ron and Harry's cloaks, "It's only a beef stew, we're running low in the pantry, Master Harry."
"Right," Harry said slowly, he glanced at Hermione, who shook her head and laughed,
"Don't worry about it, I'll go shopping tomorrow for you; we'll be fully stocked by the afternoon."
"Thanks 'Mione" Harry said gratefully as he sat down at the table, closely followed by Ron, who summoned three bottles of butterbeer as he went.
"So, how was your first day, boys?" Hermione asked, puting down the Daily Prophet she had been reading.
"Good," Harry nodded, "Though its mostly paperwork at the minute: we need to give a full written report of the happenings of the final battle at Hogwarts, and we need to compile a report on our escapades of the past year." Harry told her,
"When you say 'we', you mean Ron and Yourself?" Hermione clarified, Harry grinned,
"Sorry, you can't get out of this. You were just as much a part of it as we were, you need to submit to me a full report by the end of the July, so that I can hand it in with mine – Kingsley wants everyone's input."
"Seriously? But I'm not an Auror!" Hermione complained.
"No, not officially," Harry agreed, trying to placate her, "but you practically were all of last year, we all were. What we did was pretty much a covert operation, in their eyes. The ministry needs to know what we knew, what we did, they need to piece together how we destroyed him."
"They need to know where they failed, and how three teenagers could do their job better than them." Hermione countered, getting a little frustrated at the extra paperwork she now had to worry about.
Ron laughed out loud at Hermione's bluntness. "Yeah, pretty much."
Harry continued to placate Hermione: "At least you only have the past twelve months to write about, I'm going to have to write up my meetings with Dumbledore, at least the basic surmise of them, all the information he gathered about Voldemort and his horcruxes, otherwise our accounts won't make sense." He explained.
Ron jumped in, adding, "And we have to report on the order: Kingsley will be adding his own report, but we were around just as much as him, and he's asked us to write down anything we know about their efforts, I'm going to have to get a full account from Bill, at least you get out of that one. I tell you, I never thought there would be this much writing to it."
Hermione smiled at the pair of them. "Don't worry," She consoled them, "The Auror office has been mayhem the past few months, once it's back on track, you'll be able to do the fun stuff too, I'm sure. But remember, this was your first day, you're the newbies, you have to start at the bottom and work your way up."
Harry shrugged, and nodded in acknowledgement of her sense, "You're right, I mean we did get told that we'd be able to go and bring in the Death Eaters we're still looking for, as soon as we get a lead. And the trials will be starting soon, that's going to be something different: we're going to be pretty involved for new recruits, I mean their not treating us like newbies, at least we're being credited for our experience. We didn't get it so bad."
Ron laughed, "I guess not. You certainly hit the jackpot at any rate." Ron added with a grin.
Harry rolled his eyes, "Give it a rest, it's not going to happen for a long while yet." He mumbled, trying to look modest.
Hermione's eyes narrowed inquisitively, "What's going on?" she asked slowly looking from one to the other.
"Are you going to tell her, or shall I?" Grinned Ron.
"Tell me what?" pestered Hermione.
Harry seemed to struggle for the right words, so Ron went right ahead: "Harry's already gone at got himself a promotion." He said, grinning, not a hint of bitterness in his voice, genuinely happy for his best friend.
"What?!" Hermione gasped, the grin on her face widening. "How?"
Harry blushed slightly, "It's not really a promotion, not yet anyway. But I had a meeting with Kingsley and Trent this afternoon – Trent was Kingsley's deputy, so he'll be stepping up to fill Kingley's shoes now that he's minister. But Trent is wanting to retire – he's not exactly young, and he never wanted to be head Auror, but he doesn't mind doing it for now, until the department gets back on track. After that, they want to train me to take over."
Hermione gaped, "Are you serious?"
Harry nodded, "Of course this is going to be ages away, I mean we have so much to do getting the office back on track; and with the trials coming up, there's no way they can train me for the position properly until after that, and I'll need to be given a few leadership roles out in the field to prove I can command the other Aurors and lead with authority. On top of that I'll need to get my NEWT's, and sit the aptitude tests. It's going to be two years, at least, before all that is done. But, at some point down the line I'll be heading the department."
"Harry, that's fantastic!" Hermione beamed, "Congratulations."
Kreacher started setting the table for dinner, around them, and Harry finally remembered what he was supposed to say when he first arrived: "Oh, Kreacher, I forgot to say when I came in, Kingsley Shacklebolt will be joining us for dinner if that's alright?"
"Of course, Master Harry. There's plenty of dinner to go round. If the Minister is joining us, would it not be better to eat in the Dining Room? Kreacher can have it ready in an instant."
Harry looked at Ron, who shrugged his shoulders, "Couldn't hurt, he is the Minister after all."
Harry turned back to Kreacher, "If it's not too much trouble Kreacher. Sorry about the short notice."
"Not at all, Master Harry. I'll go light a fire." The elf vacated the kitchen.
"How come Kingsley is joining us?" Hermione asked. Harry and Ron looked at each other, then back at Hermione,
"He arrived back in England this afternoon, he came strait to the Ministry to meet with me," Harry explained, "Discussing my potential for promotion wasn't his only reason for seeing me, he wants to speak to you. I'll let him tell you, he knows more than me, he'll explain it better." Hermione let it drop, she figured this would have something to do with her parents – though whether it was good news, or bad, she couldn't gather from Harry's tone.
Fifteen minutes later Kingsley had arrived, and the four of them had gathered in the first floor drawing room, across the hall from the dining room.
"So, Kingsley, Harry says you need to talk to me. I take it this has something to do with my parents?" Hermione asked him, once he had been handed a drink.
Kingsley nodded, "Yes. They are alive, and they are safe. They haven't had anyone from the magical world contact them in the past year as far as we're aware-"
"You've spoken to them?" Hermione cut him off and Kingsley smiled.
"No, not yet. We've been watching them for a few days. I haven't wanted to approach them until I came to talk to you. We need to discuss the next step."
"Restoring their memories?" Hermione clarified.
"Yes, in particular, where and when this restoration should take place. It's going to be very confusing for them, would you like to be there when it happens? Do you want us to bring them back here first, before we undo the memory charms?"
Hermione was thoughtful for a few moments, she then began voicing her thoughts, "I don't know, on the one hand, trying to get them here without a thorough explanation of why they need to return – I don't think they would go for that, and using magic on them to get them here, without restoring their memories and knowledge could really freak them out. But restoring their memories over there, they would panic, wondering how they got there. And I'm sure there will be holes in there memory as well. It would probably be better for their state of mind, if their memories were restored back in the house they've lived in all their married life." Hermione became thoughtful again, so Kingsley spoke up,
"If could make a suggestion? " Kingsley asked, Hermione nodded her assent, allowing him to continue, "I think it would be advisable to restore their memory here in England, in their home. It is likely that some of the memories will be very difficult to restore – not impossible, and they will remember in time. But for a while, it's likely that they won't be able to recollect the weeks leading up to memory modification. And everything that has happened this year will be rather shady as well, if they recollect any of that at all."
Hermione nodded, "Sleeping draughts?" she suggested suddenly, and then expanded, "Would it be possible to give them sleeping draughts, covertly. Put them to sleep for a few hours, and get them back here without them knowing? Could we modify memories while they're asleep?"
"Minor memory modifications are fine in an induced sleep. But something this major, it would be safer to do it while they're awake and conscious – we don't want dreams to mix with reality. But using the sleeping draughts to ease the travel, we can do that – I was going to make that suggestion myself, but I thought it sounded a lot like kidnapping coming from me"
Hermione laughed, "Well, if we're honest, that is pretty much what we're doing. But it's a means to an end, I guess. They're still going to freak out when they wake up in the house I made them forget."
"Yes, which is why we will need to work on them quickly. Time will be important, before I return to Australia, I need to know exactly what you did, what combination of charms you used, and potions you may have used, so we can figure out exactly what we need to do before we get them here."
"Ok, I'll get some parchment, start making some notes." Hermione stood and made her way to the writing desk, Harry and Ron stood up,
"We'll leave you in peace to discuss it." Harry said, "Ron and I can make a start on our reports, we'll be up in the library. Let us know when you're ready for dinner, and we'll join you in the Dining Room."
Hermione smiled and nodded, then sat herself at the desk.
###
Draco Malfoy sat in his Library in front of a roaring fire sipping on a glass of Firewhiskey, staring into the flames. The library had always been his favourite room, maybe that was because he was the only one who ever really used it. His mother would come in there occasionally, and when he had been very young she would sit and read with him, curled up on one of the couches. But his father never used it – any books he may have needed he kept in his study. In the Library, Draco had always felt he could escape from his father and the company he kept, in which Draco had never felt truly comfortable. Now he was escaping the rest of house, which felt so empty now that his parents were no longer there: empty, dark and cold.
Draco had spent the evening trawling through a pile of books he had found on wizarding law, trying to find anything that could help his parents in their upcoming trials – his mother's was to be at the end of the week. Though, if he was truly honest with himself, he thought his parents may have been a bit of a lost cause – his father definitely, there was no way he could deny his involvement with the Death Eaters, all the wizarding world knew he was a fanatic for the cause since day one – the fact that he began to have doubts for the final two years of Voldemort's reign of terror weren't likely to be taken to heart by the Wizengamot.
His mother, however, there was a little hope for her, Draco believed. She was, after all, following where her sister and Husband led her. For a fleeting moment Draco wondered how different his life would have been if his mother had become more fond of her other sister, instead of Aunt Bella, he laughed to himself at the thought, and quickly dismissed it.
Draco was interrupted from his staring into the flames by the library door opening, and his house-elf, Tinker, entered announcing: "Master Malfoy, Mister Zabini is here to see you."
Draco glanced round, without leaving his seat, "Thanks, Tinker, send him in."
Tinker disappeared and a second later Blaise entered the room.
"Have a seat, help yourself to some Firewhiskey," Draco offered as he entered, still not raising from his seat: Draco and Blaise had been in and out of each others' houses constantly while they had been growing up, each was like a second home to the other.
Blaise took a seat next to Draco, and took up staring into the flames, after a couple of minutes he commented dryly: "Seeing anything interesting in the flames? Is this a form of fortune telling you've decided to take up?"
Draco gave a low chuckle, "Not really, I've been reading all afternoon, and now I'm bored so I'm contemplating."
"The meaning of life?" Blaise joked
"The meaning of mylife" Draco answered, seriously.
Blaise let out a long whistle, "Geez, someone's feeling deep tonight."
In response, Draco pulled out a piece of crumpled parchment from his pocket and handed it to Blaise to read:
Dear Mr Malfoy,
Due to the disruption of last years teachings, and the Failure to sit NEWT exams, all students belonging to your year have been given the opportunity to return to Hogwarts to retake your seventh year in full. Alternatively, if you attended your seventh year, and feel confident in your achievement level, you can opt for Summer School, which will run from August 1st through to August 31st and will involve an intensive recap of material needed to pass the NEWT exams. Should you opt for Summer school, exams will take place in the Final weeks of August, and results will be Owled to you the final week in September.
If you decide to return to fully repeat the year, you will be eligible for the position of Head Boy. Alternatively, you may take the option of not returning to Hogwarts, should you have another option in mind. If this happens to be the case, all of us here at Hogwarts wish you the best of luck.
Please inform us of your final decision no later than June 30th
Thank you,
Headmistress Minerva McGonagall
"Yeah, I got one the other day as well," Blaise commented after reading the letter and handing it back. "You made your decision yet?"
"I'm going to return I think, for the full year." Draco answered, without taking his eyes from the fire.
"Seriously?" Blaise asked, turning to look at Draco, "But you were there for the year, you got your studying done. Why not take the summer school option, get your NEWTs then you're free to get out into the real world."
Draco turned and faced Blaise with a patient look on his face, "My NEWTs are all well and good, but I think the wizarding world is going to need longer than a summer to forget my name and what it's known for."
Blaise nodded, "I guess you have a point there. But do you think a year will make much difference?"
Draco shrugged, "I don't know, but I need to prove to people that I'm not like my father. I figure if I keep my head down, work hard, get good grades, the ministry will have to at least consider me for a position."
The pair sat in silence for a few moments, the Draco spoke again, "Have you answered yours yet?" He asked.
Blaise shook his head, "Not yet. I was waiting to see what you were going to do. If I'm honest, going back for a full year doesn't seem like a bad idea – and doing it all again doesn't really faze me. Last year wasn't exactly great academically speaking – I mean lets be honest, those cronies of Voldemort's that took some of the teaching posts weren't exactly the brainiest people in the world."
Draco snorted, "First years could have taken those classes better than some of that lot," he agreed. "But still, the core subjects were taken by the competent teachers at least."
"True," conceded Blaise, "but, I'll be honest, I'm also tempted by the eligibility of being elected head boy – not that I'll be in with a chance mind you, that'll belong to Saint Potter, saviour of the wizarding world." Blaise joked with only the tiniest hint of bitterness.
Draco shook his head, "Not likely, he's joined the ranks of the Ministry, and so has Weasley."
"You're kidding?!"
"Nope, they're both pretty much fully fledged Aurors now. I hear Potter is even being groomed to take over as Head Auror; he'll be observing all the trials of the Death eaters they've rounded up so far. Weasley will be there at my parents' trial also, but I don't think he's required to sit through all of them, not like Potter."
"Jesus," Blaise whistled, "Bloody jammy gits, the pair of them. No doubt it's to make up for all the crap the Ministry dealt him the past few years. Not to mention the name 'Harry Potter' probably has something to do with the super-quick promotion."
Again Draco shook his head, "I don't know," he said slowly and evenly, "Shacklebolt is the one that appointed him, and he's not one for just giving things away, or holding things back, just over a name. I don't know much about him, but I know he's bloody fair – I'm very glad he's Minister, and presiding over these trials, at least I know my parents will get a fair hear-out. And, if even half the rumours are true about what Potter, Granger and Weasley got up to when they disappeared last year, it's likely he's earned his position, Weasley too."
Blaise raised an eyebrow, "Well, you've certainly changed your tune. Jumping on the Potter bandwagon already, are we?"
"No" Draco scowled, "I still don't particularly like the guy, but I'm not blind to his achievements either. I have simply come to be able to use my own mind and am no longer fully governed by my father's views and beliefs." He answered dryly, "You might consider doing the same."
Blaise laughed, "I guess you're right. You know I never thought Potter was all that bad, to be honest. I just got caught up in the Slytherin rivalry. And Weasley was pretty funny actually – never spoke to him, but I've caught a couple of his one-liners as I've passed him in the corridors over the years. And his little sister is one hot piece of ass." Blaise added as an after thought.
Draco rolled his eyes, "Are you kidding me Blaise? You've been here less than an hour and you've already steered the conversation to a sexual course, are you addicted or something? Believe it or not, there are other things going on slightly more important than the satisfaction of one's libido."
"If you think so, Drake, then you're clearly doing it wrong. Or with the wrong people." Blaise smirked, "But come on, you have to admit, that feisty red-head is hot! Especially when she's playing Quidditch, she gets real aggressive, puts up one hell of a fight, I like that, such a turn on." Blaise mused.
"Are you finished?" Draco asked, "Got it out of your system? Is that why you're really wanting to return? Hoping to do your part for the 'House Unity' crap that they'll be shoving down our throats this year, by trying to get it on with the Weaselette?"
Blaise continued, as if Draco hadn't spoken, though he did give him a glare out of the corner of his eye. "Granger could also be worth a shot, not that she'd ever go for a Slytherin, mind you. But did you see her the other week, after the battle at Hogwarts? Man, I don't know what she's been doing this past year, but she was looking good, and the muggle clothes she was wearing do wonders for her figure. Or maybe she always had that sweet body but the school robes just covered her. And even though she was covered in blood, dirt and God knows what else, she looked fierce: she's one hell of a fighter I reckon, I'd like to see her all riled up. Is she returning do you know?" He asked.
Draco stared at Blaise incredulously, "How the hell should I know?"
Blaise shrugged, "You knew about Potter and Weasley" he pointed out.
"Only because I found out through discussing my parents' trial. But Granger hasn't joined the Auror force, that's all I know. I'm assuming she would have been offered a place along with the other two, but she must have turned it down for some unknown, unintelligent, reason. Unless she's joining some other Department, I'm sure there will be no shortage of offers for the final third of the Golden Trio."
"Maybe she's turned into a pacifist." Blaise joked, though sounding slightly disappointed at the thought.
"Not likely," Draco answered shortly, "Now, are you done listing the sexual merits of the females of our Hogwarts acquaintance? Only I would like to discuss the upcoming trails of our family members – I was hoping you might be able to help me, somehow."
Blaise sighed, "Yeah, I suppose we should try and help them I guess. Though gods know, my father doesn't deserve it."
"Yeah, well, I'm not convinced my father is fit to be released, either. Truthfully I think a good long stint in Azkaban might do him some good. But my mother, she needs to be here. So," Draco said, emphatically, while summoning a pile of books, which he directed to land on Blaise's lap, "with that in mind, and for the love you bare your own mother, start reading."
###
Tuesday saw Hermione back at her parents' home, she made her way directly into the cellar and found the fuse boxes and main water pipes, turning everything back on. She then made her way through every room testing the lights, noting which bulbs needed replacing, and turning the pipes back on under all the sinks, running the taps for a couple of minutes to clear out the pipes of the stagnant water. Due to the vast expanse of the house, this task took her all morning, and the afternoon she spent re-hiring the household staff that had been given leave the previous year, asking for them to start again first thing Monday morning. She then, finally, cancelled all the automated emails that would have been sent out in one month's time, alerting all of her parents' contacts of their decision to take another year out – she had set up these emails after her parents had left for Australia, sneaking back into the house a week before going to remove Harry from Privet Drive: at the time she had no idea how long their hunt for the Horcruxes would take, she had therefore set up a series of important emails to be sent out at specific dates. The first set, intending to be sent out in four weeks time, simply detailed an extended vacation for another year, possibly two. The next sets were to be sent out a year after, again informing everyone of their delayed return for another year. The final emails were to be sent out another year after that and detailed her parents' intention of signing over the practice to the Aldens: Hermione had already drawn up the paperwork, just in case something were to happen to her – she knew that if the search was going to last longer than three years, it was nigh on impossible that she would survive, or ever return to the Muggle world.
Wednesday Hermione devoted all day to grocery shopping, making sure the entire house was fully stocked of anything her parents may need; as expected it was a mammoth task and took Hermione most of the day, but by the end of it she felt she was fully ready for her parents' return tomorrow morning. That night at dinner, Hermione was unusually quiet; starting to get butterflies in her stomach she barely ate any food at all.
"You need to eat, Hermione," Harry told her, noticing her picking away at the food in front of her. "You're going to need to be firing on all pistons tomorrow."
Hermione looked up and smiled, hearing the concern in his voice, "I know," she sighed, "I just can't believe it's all happening already, I mean what if something goes wrong?"
Harry smiled, "Don't fret. Kingsley, and his Aurors, will get them back safe and sound. And you've both made a detailed plan of how to go about restoring their memories: it's foolproof. You know this, as well as Kingsley. By this time tomorrow, you will have your parents back."
Hermione smiled again, she didn't know how he did it, but damn he was good at calming her down with only his words. Ron looked up from his plate then and asked, "What time will he be bringing them?"
"Ten O'clock. We should hopefully have their memories re-modified within the hour, then I'll have the afternoon to explain. Well, at least give some little explanation, I'll save all the heavy detail for Friday, let them rest a bit, no doubt tomorrow is going to take it's toll on them."
True to his word, Kingsley and four Aurors appeared into the entrance hall at 10am on the dot, supporting Hermione's parents between them, who were both in a deep, enchantment induced sleep. Kingsley discarded the portkey they had used with a wave of his wand, and turned to Hermione.
"Where would you like this to take place? Where would be most comfortable for them when they awake?"
Hermione chewed her lip, then decided in a moment, "We'll take them through to the library; most of the rare occasions we spent time just the three of us would be in there. Follow me." She said, turning and leading them to the back of the staircase and through to the library, deciding this route would be easier to negotiate than going through the study.
"You have a beautiful home, Hermione," Kingsley commented, fully taking in his surroundings.
"Thank you." She answered politely, ignoring the hint of surprise in Kingsley tone, and turned to the four Aurors, "Place them on the couch in front of the fire, please."
When the Grangers were gently placed into resting positions, the Aurors turned to Kingsley for their next order.
"You can return to the Ministry, start the necessary paperwork if you would. Tell Harry I'll be there in an hour or so."
The Aurors disapparated leaving only Hermione and Kingsley stood with the wands drawn. Hermione had just lit a fire in the heart to take away some of the chill, she turned to Kingsley,
"Ready when you are."
"You remember the spells? The order? Everything we agreed on?" Kingsley clarified. Hermione gave a confident, sharp nod.
"I'll take your father, you work on you mother. We'll wake them, here-" he handed her a bottle. "When I say, pour it down there throats, then wait for my command to start the spell work. We have to make sure they're fully out of slumber before we can start."
Hermione nodded again, and took the vial; together they approached the sleeping couple on the couch, tilted their heads back, and looked at each other.
Kingsley nodded, "alright, pour." He said. Hermione did as was asked, and the pair stepped back in unison, waiting for the potion to take effect.
After what felt like an hour, though in reality it was only thirty seconds, the pair began to stir. As the awoke the groggily looked across at each other, then took in their surroundings in slight confusion,
"What? …What's going on?" Hermione's father asked slowly, her mother looked around, then stared at Hermione and Kinsley,
"Where are we?" she asked, confusion slowly turning to alarm, "What's happening, who are you people?"
"Now." Commanded Kingsley, and without a seconds hesitation Hermione lifted her wand and starting muttering through the list of spells Kingsley and herself had drawn up, muttering in perfect unison with Kingsley. From the moment of the first spell the grangers became calm, almost as if they had been imperio'd to be so. For half an hour the pair worked away, until finally the last spell was complete. Hermione and Kingsley stood back and waited anxiously, the room so quiet and tense Hermione was sure everyone could hear the thumping of her heart.
Finally, after what felt like a lifetime, the Grangers seemed to be coming back into full conscious awareness, as if coming out of a long, deep sleep.
"Mum? Dad?" Hermione asked tentatively, in barely more than a whisper.
Her parents' looked at her for a few seconds, and then her mother opened her mouth.
"Hermione?" Both Kingsley and Hermione let out a huge sigh of breath, that they had been unwittingly holding. Hermione's was accompanied with a laugh of relief,
"Yes?" Hermione asked with a grin, which further confused her parents more, and prompted her father to ask:
"Hermione, what's going on, I don't remember coming into the library, nor do I remember the arrival of this gentleman." He indicated to Kingsley, and Her mother continued her husband's enquiries,
"Yes, who is this gentlemen? Do he have something to do with this plan of yours for our going into hiding?"
Hermione smiled, well, at least they remember there was a plan, that might make explanations easier, thought Hermione, as she said: "Mother, Father, allow me to introduce Kingsley Shacklebolt, he is the newly appointed Minister for Magic. Kingsley, this is my Mother, Victoria, and my Father, Anthony."
"Pleased to formally meet you at last, Mr and Mrs Granger." Kingsley replied smoothly, before turning to Hermione, "Would like me to stay with you, help you explain?"
Hermione smiled, "It's alright, you can get back to the ministry, you have your first trial this afternoon, I believe, I wouldn't want you to be late. I can take it from here. But thank you, for everything, Kingsley," Hermione added with real feeling, "Thank you so much."
Kingsley smiled, nodded and left the room, deciding to apparate from the hallway so as not to overload the Grangers with too much magic on their first moments back.
Hermione turned back to her parents, "I have a lot to tell you, a lot explain. But first, I need you to tell me the last thing you remember." Hermione said calmly.
Her parents looked at each other in slight confusion, "What do you mean?" Her mother asked.
Hermione bit her lip, wondering how best to start, "What month are we in? What did you do yesterday?" Hermione asked.
Both her parents raised their eyebrows, clearly thinking she was slowly losing her mind, but her father answered her anyway "We're about two weeks into July. Yesterday evening we had the Aldens round for dinner, we told them we were planning a long vacation and we'd be leaving in a week." Anthony frowned,
"However, I don't remember going to bed last night, nor getting up this morning," He turned to his wife, "John and I weren't drinking to the early hours were we?" he asked.
His wife shrugged, "I don't know, I remember the dinner as well, but like you I don't remember afterwards."
The turned in unison to their daughter hoping she would explain. Hermione took a deep breath, and decided to deliver the blow in one swoop:
"That dinner was a year ago. Today is Thursday, June 26th. The plan to put you into hiding was finalised two weeks after that dinner, and was a success. But to make sure it was so successful, I had to modify your memories more than I originally told you I would. For the past year you have been living in Australia, and unaware you had a daughter, or that you were Grangers." She explained.
"Everything went according to plan," Hermione continued, trying to ignore the shocked looks her parents displayed. "I did everything I said I would with regards to the business. We brought you back today, when it was safe for us to do so, as I promised, we reversed all the charms on you. We found you again a couple of weeks ago, and since then I have been taking care of the business arrangements, ready for you to jump back in, when you're ready."
Hermione paused, trying to gauge her parents' reaction to this news, after a few moments of silence Hermione spoke again.
"I know, this is a lot to take in. Just try to breath." She suggested, worrying that her parents were about to pass out from lack of oxygen – it looked as though neither had taken a proper breath in some time.
Finally Victoria spoke, "We've missed a whole year?" She asked, incredulously.
"Yes, I know it's a lot to take in." Hermione breathed out, thankful at least that they were not so far in a state of shock as to prevent speech. "But at least it's only been a year: that's far less time than I would have anticipated. By the end of the week, you can be back in your life as if you never left. I made sure you had everything taken care of before I went away. Everything is in the office, ready for you to go through it all when you're ready, to see what needs to be done: it shouldn't take you long, and it can keep until Monday."
"I need a drink." Her father said, finally breaking his silence. Hermione laughed, and went to the table behind the couch on which her parents were sitting. Pre-empting this remark, she had arrived early to decanter a bottle of scotch, pouring two good-sized measures, she handed a glass to her father, and then her mother.
After taking all this in, better than Hermione could have dreamed, her parents began asking some questions about what had happened in their absent year: Hermione told them of their alter-ego lifestyle she had set up for them in Australia, and the measures she had taken to secure the business in their absence. They discussed the finer points of the plan, which they originally knew, but because of the multitude of charms were having difficulty fully remember. Hermione told them of the next few days following their last memory, leading up to their departure, and she briefly explained everything she had done following their departure to Australia, and prior to her own departure to the Burrow. When her parents asked about their memories of the past eleven months, Hermione told them honestly that it would be highly unlikely that they would ever remember their time Down Under, at least not fully – it was possible that some memories could be triggered further in the future, though these memories would be few and far between, should it ever occur.
After a fair few hours of conversation, sometimes repeating things already gone over, and after eating a good sized lunch, drinking half a decanter of whiskey and a few pots of tea, well into the afternoon, Anthony finally asked the question she had been dreading.
"What have you been doing, while we were away? You told us what you did the week after out departure, but after that you never said? Did you return to school?"
Hermione nervously tugged down the sleeves of her top to cover her wrists; she had consciously chosen clothes that fully covered her skin, despite the warm weather, to hide the scars and some of the wounds still in the healing process – the last thing she needed were her parents to worry.
"It's really not that important," she lied, "Not right now, anyway. I didn't actually go back to Hogwarts, no. But, I don't really want to talk about it; it was quite a long year, to be honest. But what matters right now, is getting you two, and your lives, back on track."
Her parents looked at each other, recognising their daughter was keeping something big from them, but they respected her privacy as they always did, knowing she would talk when she was ready.
Her mother then finally decided to broach the subject she had been waiting to discuss for the past hour: "Have you spoken to Richard yet?" she asked Hermione her significantly.
Hermione took a deep breath, starting to get nervous at the direction the conversation was taking, though she had been expecting it to crop up eventually.
"No." Hermione answered bluntly, and then further explained, "I haven't spoken to anyone except on business terms – and by that, I mean directly involved with the day to day running of the practices, to tell them of your impending return. All friends I thought I would leave to you, I thought it would be best for you to tell them of your own return, after you've settled back in, and we've had time to create a good cover story of where you have spent the past eleven months."
"Well, I think we should call them very soon." Victoria determined. "We'll have them over to dinner. Thank goodness we've been only been gone a year, at least there's no reason to postpone the wedding. I'm sure between us we can have everything ready for the ceremony to take place mid-September. You always wanted an early autumn wedding, didn't you, Hermione? That will be the perfect time for it. What do you think?"
A/N: Another chapter done and dusted, and chapter 4 is already half written. As long as the creativity is flowing I will keep writing, so the next update probably wont be too long away.
Until then, leave me some reviews :) I love to know what you guys think, I hope you're all enjoying the piece so far
xBx