Chapter 12 – Hermione contemplates Fate

It was not an exaggeration to say Hermione almost choked on her wine. She reached for the glass of water before asking, 'What did you say?'

Marlene shrugged, 'Oh, aye, it is true. Although you don't get to be me, I get to be you. I will become Hermione, totally and completely. The thread of your life is not to be cut off so soon.'

The young woman felt a pang in her heart. 'Will I cease to be me?'

'Not as much as you think. Your memories will be intact. It is I who will lose all mine, for Marlene McKinnon died more than 20 years ago. She will live only in the memories of those who knew her.'

'I am sorry,' said Hermione.

'I am not. Actually I feel quite excited to get to live a full life.'

'And I must die,' said Hermione dejectedly. 'That is how you become an Incarnation of Immortality, isn't it?'

'Not necessarily,' answered Marlene. 'Poor Thanatos has no choice, of course. You have to die to become Death. But most of us simply step into the office.'

'You sound as if we have a choice.'

'Oh, dear, of course we have a choice. You can walk away if you don't want the office. But I am positive that not only you are the perfect person for the job but also it will be very good for you.'

'And you will be... me?'

'Completely. That is why you should be very certain that this is what you want, because there is no turning back.'

'And if I refuse?'

'No harm done. You get your life back, I shall see the other candidates.'

'Other candidates?'

'Well... There may not be as many as you think, but I have other options, though none as perfect as you.'

'But I have no idea how to use a loom!'

'That is the easiest part of it all. Because we are three, and one aspect helps the other two. We are never truly alone.'

That struck a chord with Hermione. Since Ron fell ill, Hermione felt utterly alone in the world, despite the multitude of Weasleys, Potters and Grangers. She missed company.

'Well,' said Marlene, gesturing to the other table, 'there is a gentleman over there looking pretty interested in our table. I for one am all for responding to his advances. Are you game?'

Suddenly Hermione felt as the world made a weird turn. Was Marlene suggesting what she thought? She was making a pass at the man. What a huss!

She had wit enough to think fast. 'No, thanks. Recently widowed, you know.'

'Quite right.' Marlene picked up her coat and rose up. 'Think about my offer. I'll be in touch. Don't wait for me; I'll leave a note. Enjoy your wine.'

She quickly sashayed to the other table, and Hermione had a hard time trying not to stare. Fate was a flirty girl! It probably was her night off, though. The gentleman in question welcomed Marlene and threw an inviting look to Hermione. She raised her glass to politely refuse the offer and let them be. She quickly went to her room, to consider the offer. The one about becoming Fate, not the one with the gentleman.

Hopefully, if she agreed to be Fate, it would be a while before she started flirting with strangers in country hotel resorts.

Hermione could not deny she was intrigued. It was clear that the Incarnations of Immortality did not have much of autonomy, so to speak. But still, to be Fate was a huge matter.

Even though Fate (or Marlene) didn't say, Hermione could pick up the fact that she would have to completely leave behind her present life. It was as if her entire identity would be changed.

Actually, it was exactly that. She thought of those amateur writers in the internet whose plots would involve a character seriously being sent to the past, or perhaps to a fantasy world such as Narnia or Middle Earth. That was Hermione: now in the afterlife version.

Strangely enough, Hermione was attracted to the change of life, to not having to be the brave widow of a war hero, herself being a hero. Having to abandon her child hurt. But as much as she loved Rose, she was a source of pain, for all the growing up her father would miss. And she would still have her mother, or a version of her mother. With a little bit of luck, this Hermione would be less devastated about the loss of Ron.

She could not help but think of Severus. She knew only of his dead version, for she was a baby when he took the office of Death. But Hermione knew about his love for Harry's mother, a love that compelled him to protect her son even after his death. Her love for Ron would not grant her access to him in his eternal resting place, so she might as well get used to the idea of not looking up for her dead husband.

No, that was not her motivation to accept the job. Hermione needed a new project, a new purpose in life. Raising Rose was a mighty fine one, but she needed something broader, some project that could be literally larger than life. There could hardly be anything larger than managing the fate of the planet and its inhabitants.

Also, there was a promise of the end of all loneliness. Although philosophers maintained that in the end all humans are alone, Hermione craved companionship and intimacy. Not that of a lover, nice as it was, but of a friend or maybe a confidant.

Not only would she have the other aspects of Fate as companions, but also the other Incarnations. Death was of course a friend. From what she could gather during her untimely visit, Time seemed very understanding. War was a bit on the unstable side, so that was a risky friendship. She didn't meet Nature, but she was a mother, and so they could relate. And then there were the other two.

God and Satan. Good and evil. Hermione wondered how would be a friendship with them.

Was she seriously considering the offer?

In case she accepted to be the personification of Fate, Hermione hoped there would be some sort of training involved, for she had no idea about weaving on a loom. Certainly that was not a priority at the start of the 21st century.

Still, there was a lot of doubt in her mind. Could she leave behind all that she was? Could she abandon Hermione Granger-Weasley and be Fate forever?

o0o 0o0 o0o 0o0

Next morning, Hermione was still in her hotel room, getting ready for breakfast, when she noticed a tiny spider descend from a thread right in front of her. Intrigued, she stared at the animal. With a shimmer, the insect turned into Lachesis, the middle-aged aspect of Fate.

It was by sheer dumb luck that Hermione didn't scream.

'Hello,' greeted Fate. 'Good, you are not jumpy.'

'Good morning. I am perfectly scared, thanks for asking. Will you be joining me for breakfast?'

'I appreciate the offer, but we need more privacy. When should you be back home?'

'Tomorrow afternoon I leave the hotel.'

'Not to pressure you or anything, but do you reckon you will have an answer by then?'

'Do I have to have the answer by then?'

The lady shrugged, 'It would facilitate things immensely.'

'Yes.'

'Well, then we can talk after breakfast,' she said hurriedly. 'Meet me by the walking path near the willow grove.'

And she left before Hermione had a chance to tell her the offer had already been accepted.

And that trick of turning into a web-spinning spider was really nifty, wasn't it?

o0o 0o0 o0o 0o0

Hermione really felt a bit anticlimactic when the only reaction her answer elicited was a question.

'Are you really sure about this, dear? I don't want to have you thinking you were tricked or anything.'

The two young women were alone, sitting on a bench beneath a huge tree by the side of one of the many gorgeous green paths throughout the resort. There were many options of interaction with the natural beauty of the place and walking was one of the favorite. They also offered horse riding and the all-time favorite of the American guests, golf.

Hermione was adamant. 'I thought a lot about it. I want to do this.'

But Clotho didn't look convinced. 'Tell you what: let me talk about the bad things of the job, so you can board this ship with both eyes open.'

'Sounds fair.'

'I love the girls, but the truth is that you will completely lose your privacy. In time, you will be able to realize which thought is yours or Lachesis's or Atropos's. But it can be tricky at first.'

'Will they rule my life?'

'Actually, you become a three-person person. They share the same body. So, the life is theirs, too, as much as it is yours. I am quitting the office. Five years ago, former Atropos chose to become mortal and die amongst her grandchildren. It was a bold choice, but Lachesis and I respected it. This Atropos is your fan, by the way.'

Hermione smiled, surprised. 'I have a fan?'

'She still maintains you did a stupid thing, almost dying to save your husband's life. But she could not help but admire you for exactly the same attitude.'

Hermione smiled. Clotho did not.

'There is also the no small matter of use of your body.'

'The what?'

'Well, you see, there is an arrangement with the Incarnations. I have this relationship with Chronos due to his special circumstances-'

Hermione suddenly was deaf to her arguments. She had never considered having physical relations with anyone but Ron. And she was not keen to start it at that moment.

'Wait,' she pleaded. 'Is that required?'

Clotho cringed. 'Not really. But you see, there is no one else to do that. Chronos can't have a relationship with mortal women because of the way he moves in time.'

'But he is Time!'

'And as such, he moves backwards in our timelines. It is too much confusion because he can't remember even having met the ladies. He can only manipulate the linear advance of time for short periods. It would clog the Hourglass. He can't keep up with the people who move forward in time, for he moves backwards.'

'But Fate does.'

'Fate can be more accommodating. It is rough at the very first day, because it will be his last, and even worse at the very last day, because he will be so young and vulnerable, poor guy.'

'What if I refuse?'

'You know how men are, dear. Incarnations they may be, and immortals, too, but they are still human. As such, they require such liaisons. If you refuse, he will seek out these liaisons elsewhere. The matter might take a toll on him, for demanding lovers can remove anybody's peace of mind. And then Time could go wrong. This would mess up the whole system.'

'So the whole system can be compromised because Chronos can't keep it in his pants?'

'I believe much of the world's history can be explained exactly this way. But now is not the time to wax philosophy.'

'Isn't there a way to compromise? Maybe suggest another arrangement?'

'There are other complications. The only female Incarnations are Fate and Nature, at least the major ones. And Nature is too focused on her children. Also, it is fairly safe to say she hates men. I mean, she hates them as a concept and as a group, not individually.'

'At the moment, I tend to agree,' said Hermione acidly.

'I say it is not as bad as it sounds. Besides, it is for the greater good.' Hermione made it plain clear that greater good was no consolation. 'Think of someone you love.'

'I loved my husband.'

'Don't you have a lover?'

'Of course not!'

'Do not think me low or less. I have no right to judge you if you do. You need to have more leeway in your morals to be an Incarnation. Last night was the first opportunity to feel a mortal men in a long, long time. I hope I did not shock you. A lass gotta do what a lass gotta do.'

Her Scottish accent thickened at the last sentence, and she smirked impudently. Hermione could not help but laugh.

'Can you keep a secret?'

'Of course. My memories will be wiped out, so you can tell me your darkest secrets.'

'When I was younger, I used to have a crush on... Severus.'

Marlene McKinnon was awed by the revelation. 'Thanatos? You kid me not?'

'No,' said Hermione, looking positively evil. 'I was young, and I thought he was a super spy for Dumbledore. It was so romantic and heroic!'

'Did you ever tell him?'

'Oh, goodness, no. I was so embarrassed. But he looked older and so tall, dark and mysterious.'

'Do you still feel this way?'

'No! Not after Ron, I mean. But... When I saw him... I don't know, I thought he was really good looking for a skeleton and all that. Does this sound too crazy?'

The present lncarnation of Fate stared at Hermione a few minutes before saying, 'Let me tell you something. Thanatos is a man of deep feelings. If you tell him that, I believe he will not be totally averse to your advances. But if you befriend him just for one brief dalliance, you will break that man's heart.'

Hermione lost the air of gaiety. 'You sound so serious.'

'Severus is a serious man. But I believe you would not find a better lover in the whole wide world and beyond.'

It was Hermione's turn to stare at her. She had the distinctive impression that Fate knew more than she told. But that was not the real subject. She needed to focus.

'Do you believe I could negotiate with Chronos?'

'Would pleasing him be so repulsive to you? Do you believe you could get used to it or that it would be too much?'

'Is this a deal breaker?'

'As I said, it might upset the system in which we live in, possibly with implications in mortal lives. The offices have direct impact on the mortal world. Upsetting the system might be disastrous.'

'I think I understand, but I am sure it is a pale understanding.'

'Quite right.'

'Suppose I accept the office but find the situation with Chronos unbearable. Can I give up?'

'Yes, there is a period of grace. Of course you will have your memories wiped out and be given a new life, far away from the old one. And it would be a last-minute arrangement, so there would be a lot of improvisation. Not the ideal situation.'

'Understood.'

'So do you think you could be able to handle the office?'

'If it weren't for the Chronos thing, I'd be already in.'

Marlene looked at her. 'I am not judging you. But you probably have had a pretty sheltered life until now. Voldemort notwithstanding and all.'

'I know the dangers of being young and pretty.'

'I would say you know of them. Men have certain beliefs about young women, especially if they are beautiful. And you certainly are. But you have been protected by good parents, nice friends, amazing husband and great in-laws. You probably never experienced social hardships of womanhood.'

Hermione had to be honest. She knew about oppression of women, but had never been directly subjected to it. Maybe it was a small price to pay. She could even get used to it.

Too bad it wasn't Severus. That she could get used.

Suddenly, she turned to Marlene and said, 'You told me if I refuse, my memories will be wiped out.'

'That is true.'

'So, I will pose you a question and all I ask is total honesty.'

'I have been honest so far.'

'So tell me sincerely: what are you not telling me?'

Marlene McKinnon shot a sharp look at Hermione, eyes wide. Then she smirked, 'Girl, you are good. I'd hate to see you give up the office because of the thing with Chronos.'

'So there is something afoot.' Hermione was surprised. She had not been sure there was any dirty secrets, and Marlene's confirmation was astonishing. She was still staring Hermione, more serious than ever.

'Yes. But I was not supposed to tell you. So please don't think that this information was hidden from you so you wouldn't accept the offer. It was kept from you so you wouldn't accept it for the wrong reasons. Do you understand?'

'Yes.'

'OK, then.' She sighed. 'Here it goes.'

As if she knew a bomb was about to be dropped, Hermione braced herself. She was ill-prepared for the next words, though.

'Satan might have had your husband murdered.'