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CHAPTER FOUR: The Future Erased
Harry sat in the corridor of St. Mungo's. Hermione had been in such a state that he'd felt that transporting her there by magic would send her over the edge. Instead, he'd left Mrs. Lyons to look after her while he contacted the healers by floo network, convincing them to send a Muggle vehicle – or at least something that resembled one – to pick her up. Then it had been a question of distracting her so she wouldn't notice them travelling four hundred miles in under ten minutes.
He heard running footsteps and turned to find a large group of teenagers running towards him: James, Albus, Lily, Rose, Hugo, Martin and Emily. Ron, Neville and Luna were walking behind them at a more sedate pace. "What's going on, Dad?"James asked. "What's happened to Hermione?"
"The healers are still looking at her,"Harry explained.
"But she's going to be all right, isn't she?"Lily asked, sounding desperate. "She's got to be! She can't leave us!"
"What do you mean 'us'?"Rose snapped. "She's not your mum."
"She is now!"Lily answered, close to tears.
The declaration shocked Harry, like a sucker punch to the stomach. Lily had been in her first year at Hogwarts when Ginny died, she'd had to make it through the most difficult time in a girl's life without a mother. And he'd given her another one, one who she now might lose as well.
Albus put an arm round his sister's shoulder and glared hard at Rose, while slipping his other arm round Hugo. To her credit, Rose looked contrite. "I'm sorry. I know you love her too."
"There's no point us all yelling at each other,"Albus agreed. "We're on the same side here."
"Why don't you kids go and get yourself some breakfast?"Neville suggested. "We'll tell you when there's news." There was a few murmurs of assent and the youngsters began filing in the direction of the canteen. Neville stopped Martin and Emily as they came past him. "Keep an eye on them,"he said quietly and his two children nodded in agreement.
"What happened, Harry?"Ron asked. There was a note of accusation in his tone, as if he blamed Harry for the fact that his family was being hurt again.
"Harry?"Neville prompted, more gently.
"She couldn't remember me, Neville,"Harry answered. "She couldn't even remember who she was. Nothing. She thinks we're all strangers."
"And you've no idea how it happened?"Ron persisted.
"I was asleep,"Harry said, cursing himself for the fact. One night with Hermione as his wife and he hadn't even been able to protect her that long.
Luna cocked her head on one side, looking at him closely. "You're very worried, aren't you?"
"Why do you say that?"Harry asked.
"Because you're not shouting at everyone. You'd never let Ron talk to you like that normally."
Her bluntness, and Ron's embarrassed look, almost made Harry smile. "You're probably right."
"Was it the ammites?"
Harry had no idea what she was talking about. "Probably not."
At that moment, the healer, Madame Manoharan, appeared. "Mr. Potter?"
Harry got up. "Yes?"
"You'd better come with me."
"What's wrong?"Harry asked once they were alone.
"Your wife has been subjected to one of the most extreme memory erasure spells I've ever come across. It's erased everything personal. She doesn't remember her name, her life, anyone that she's met. She doesn't even remember magic."
Harry nodded. "Hermione's muggleborn, she didn't know anything about magic until she got the letter from Hogwarts. Guess that comes under personal."
"That would explain it,"Madame Manoharan confirmed.
"So what can you do?"Harry asked.
"I'm afraid…very little. Memory erasure spells are notoriously difficult to reverse. There'd be no point casting them otherwise. Sometimes the spellcaster introduces some loophole so they personally can restore the memories. And there has been a lot of research into healing techniques but…nothing definite. Not at the moment. The only good news I have for you is that there's been no damage to the parts of her brain that form new memories. She remembers everything that's happened since you found her and should continue to do so."
"When can I see her?"
"Right now."
Harry entered the private room where Hermione was resting. She'd changed into a gown and was sat in bed. He approached her cautiously. "Hermione?"
She nodded. "It seems that is my name, yes. I'm sorry, I don't know who you are."
"I'm Harry. Harry Potter." He took a deep breath. "Your husband."
She looked surprised for a moment, then nodded. "Well, I suppose that would make sense. So that makes me…Hermione Potter?"
"Yes. Ring any bells?" Hermione shook her head. "Well, you haven't been using it for long."
Hermione was confused. "What do you mean?"
"We only got married yesterday." Harry could see she was in danger of being overwhelmed. "What about Hermione Grainger? That was your maiden name. Or Hermione Weasley, that was your first married name."
"I've been married before?"Hermione asked.
Harry nodded. "Yes. You've got two children, Rose and Hugo. I've got three children. My first wife died two years ago, around the time your marriage broke up, and we got together, we've known each other since we were at school, you were my best friend…" He stopped, seeing Hermione was on the verge of panic again. "Sorry, this is too much."
"Do you know what happened to me?"
Harry chose his words carefully. "We think you were…attacked, at our honeymoon cottage, and that's why this happened."
"Can those doctors do anything?"
"No. No. They say you might never remember."