Hey everyone! Happy New Year! I am sorry to say I won't be able to post until next year (which is in a few hours) :). Also, this story has almost 20 reviews! I know it's not much compared to other stories, but it's the first time I've gotten here so I'm pretty excited in my own weird way. Thanks a lot for bearing with me this long. Enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I forgot to put one in the last chapter, but you can guess nothing is mine right? Well, except form the spell Memoriam Revocat (latin words for recorda memòria in catalan, which in english means remember memory).
Fact 8: When Hermione and Ron went to Australia, he reassured her everything would go okay.
It had been two months since the Hogwarts battle. Two horrible months full of grieving, sadness and stress. The war had ended, that was true, but the fight against the death eaters was still alive. Now that their leader had been defeated, most of them had acknowledged they had lost, but there were others who continued causing trouble. The Auror squad was doing a good job though, and they predicted they would capture the last one in a few months.
The reconstruction of the Hogwarts castle had started, and little by little the school was starting to regain its majesty. The new Headmistress, Professor McGonagall, had announced that term would start on the 15th of September, and those who were not able to attend school the past year, would be given the chance to come back. Hermione though, hadn't had time to think about that option yet. On those two months, she had had to attend more funerals than before the war even started.
She had also been planning a way to go to Australia to recover her parents as soon as possible. In fact, that's where she was now, in a hotel in Canberra with Ron, who had insisted on accompanying her. Mrs. Weasley had not been too keen on letting them go on their own, but after a talk with Mr. Weasley, she agreed. They had arrived here by plane, something which Ron had not been looking forward to, and still refused to do (especially after Hermione had explained the mechanics of flying once they arrived at their hotel room).
They had been looking for her parents for a week now, and finally, after searching for their address in more than three phone books, they had found it. Hermione had stared at it for a good ten minutes before throwing herself at Ron and starting to cry. Ron had stood frozen, because that was new, Hermione was not the kind of girl to start crying at every moment, but then again, finally having proof that her parents are alive, even if they didn't remember their daughter, was no nonsense.
"Hermione, are you okay?" He had asked while stroking her hair. She nodded and held up her head, sniffed and brushed the tears from her eyes with her t-shirt.
"Yeah… sorry. It's just that it's all so real now. They're alive Ron. For so many months I had prepared myself in case they were dead, I had started to believe they were, and now we know they aren't" She said before hugging him again. They stayed like that for some minutes before she recovered.
"Thank you for coming with me Ron" She said, walking over to the table, where the book was.
"Always" He answered.
She took a piece of paper and wrote the address on it. "I was thinking maybe we could go there tomorrow, is that okay with you?" She asked, putting it on the pocket of her jeans.
"Yeah, whatever you want" Ron answered, standing next to her. "But how do you plan on reversing the spell?"
"Well, we could knock on the door and say we are new neighbours. They will probably invite us in for tea and then I can reverse it" Hermione said, tears coming to her eyes again. She rapidly brushed them away.
"You've though of everything" Ron said, hugging her "But can we take a rest now and eat a little bit, I'm starving" He added, his stomach growling, as to prove his point. Hermione laughed and nodded, picking up her phone and asking for food.
The bus had just left, and they were standing in front of Hermione's parent's house. It was similar to the other ones on the street, but Hermione noticed little details which confirmed it was her parent's. The fence surrounding it was white with grass and flowers painted at the bottom, just like the one in England. The little garden on the front was well taken care of, no weeds, just green and glimmering grass. The door mat was shaped like a cat, with orange fur and pointy ears. The curtains on the windows where white with yellow flowers, and the front door was white, just as they had always liked it.
"Hermione?" She heard Ron ask. She turned to the left to face him "Are you okay?" He asked.
That was a tricky question. She was naturally happy that she would soon see her parents, but her fear was growing as timed passed. What if they didn't forgive her? What if she couldn't make them remember her? She shook her head slowly and took a deep breath.
"I'm scared Ron. I didn't ask them for their permission, what if they don't want me anymore?"
"Hermione, they would be dumb if they didn't forgive you. You saved their life, and they should understand that. You only erased their memories because you loved them, and they will forgive you because of that" He answered. It was weird how Ron had matured a little since the end of the war. Not much, you couldn't expect that from him, but he wasn't the same boy who would tease her for everything and she appreciated it.
"You know Ron, I think you are starting to mature a little" Hermione said with a smile.
"Well, I'm spending more time with you, what did you expect?" He responded, returning her smile.
They made their way to the front door and stopped before knocking. "Are you ready?" Ron asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be" Hermione answered, and bringing her hand to the door, she knocked.
A small woman with short brown hair and chocolate eyes opened the door. She looked at them with a smile, her eyes lingering a bit on Hermione before talking in a sweet voice.
"Hello, do you need anything?"
"Well" Ron said after a few seconds, seeing as Hermione was unable to talk "we moved into a house in this street a few days ago and we thought it would be a good idea to present ourselves to our new neighbours"
"Oh, in that case, would you want to come in to have some tea?" She said, her gaze still on Hermione, who had seemed to gain some control over her voice.
"Yes, that would be lovely" She answered "Myy name is Hermione Granger, and this is Ron Weasley, pleased to meet you" She added, extending her hand for her mother to shake.
"Monica Wilkins. I'm sorry, but have we met before? You seem familiar." Hermione's mother said, shaking her hand and looking at her with a solid gaze.
"I don't think so, we have just been here for a couple of days" Hermione answered calmly.
"Oh, excuse me then, I must have confused you for someone else" Monica said, motioning them inside "would you like some tea?" She asked once they were in the living room.
"Yes please" Hermione answered "If it is no trouble of course."
"Oh, of course it isn't. You can take a seat while I prepare it" She said, walking towards the kitchen.
"Well your mother seems like a nice person" Ron said, sitting on a beige loveseat.
"Yes, she has always been like that, but believe me, you do not want to be there when she gets angry, she has a lot of 'hidden temper' as my father always said" Hermione answered, smiling a little.
"So, when do you plan on reversing the spell?" Ron asked.
"I was hoping to do it when the both of them were together, that way it will be easier, I think" She answered, sitting next to him.
"As always, you are completely right" Ron answered, sliding his hand around her waist and kissing her cheek.
Hermione's mother appeared a few seconds later, holding a tray with three cups of steaming red tea. She placed it on the little tea table in front of them and sat on an armchair next to the beige loveseat.
"So, where are you from? How come you decided to move here?" She asked, taking one cup with her left hand and slightly blowing on it. That's definitely my mother Hermione thought.
"We are from England" Hermione answered. "We finished school a couple of months ago and thought it would be a good idea to spend some time abroad. We were just planning on staying for some weeks, but we found a good college here and decided to apply for a spot. We got accepted so be bought the house." It wasn't a very credible lie, but it would do for now, after all, she would just be talking to Monica Wilkins for a few minutes before she could talk with Jean Granger, her real mother.
"Oh, great decision then. My husband and I used to live in England too, but we decided to move to Australia about a year ago. We work as dentists and rapidly found a job here. It is a very beautiful place, sunnier and warmer than England, that's for sure." She answered, smiling politely. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. "That must be my husband. Excuse me for a minute" She said, leaving her cup on the tray and walking towards the door.
Hermione started feeling nervous, her palms were ice cold but still sweating and her heart had started beating faster. Ron noticed this and grabbed her hand, giving it a comforting squeeze.
"Hey, don't worry." He said, looking into her soft brown eyes. "You are the brightest witch of your age, a little remembering charm is nothing compared to what you can do"
"Actually, it is a quite complicated spell Ron" Hermione stated. "A lot of things could go wrong. For once, the wrist movement has to be very precise and the pr-". She wasn't able to finish though, as Ron interrupted her.
"Hermione" He said slowly. "Don't worry. You'll do it perfectly, like always. Do you want me to entertain them while you cast it, that way it'll be easier?"
Hermione nodded her head and kissed him lightly. "Thank you Ron" She said, before turning to the door, where Mr. Wilkins soon appeared, followed by his wife.
When Ron saw them, he stood up and walked towards them, a hand stretched out for Mr. Wilkins to shake. Hermione followed close behind, but moving a little bit to his right in order to get a good view and cast the spell on the right people.
"Hello, I'm Ron Weasley pleased to meet you" Ron said, his hand being shaken by Mr. Wilkins. He heard Hermione whisper Memoriam Revocat and saw as two blue rays of light appeared from her wand and made their way into her parent's heads. Their eyes closed and when they opened again, they looked lost, confused.
"Hermione?" Mrs. Granger asked once she saw her daughter. "Where are we?"
"Mom, dad. This is hard to explain. We are currently in Canberra Australia." Hermione answered, sadness present in her voice. "I had to erase your memories and send you here in order to keep you safe"
"But, from what?" Her father asked, still confused.
"It is a long story to tell dad. It will take some time".
"Well the sooner we start the sooner we'll end right?" Her mother said. She shifter her gaze form Hermione and her eyes fell on Ron. She looked surprised for a moment before recognizing who he was.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. Hello Ron, it's been a long time since we last saw each other. I believe you have accompanied Hermione here haven't you" She said, smiling a little.
"Yes ma'am. It's good to see you again" Ron answered politely. He was a bit nervous, as this was the first time he met her parents properly. He had been introduced to them briefly at Diagon Alley before his second year, but he really had been paying more attention to the broom store that day.
"Mr. Granger" He added, offering his hand yet again. "Good to see you too". Mr. Granger shook his hand and then turned to Hermione.
"So, do you want to explain this whole ordeal to us now or later Hermione?" He asked, raising his eyebrows.
"I think right now should be good" Hermione answered. They all sat down and Hermione started to talk. These are going to be some painful hours. Ron thought as he sat down next to Hermione. But if it is necessary, it has to be done.
The explanation was now finished. It had taken two hours, some tears and painful memories, but in the end it had been worth it. Hermione's parents had forgiven her without a second though, and they were now planning their trip back home. They would have to stay for a couple of weeks to sell the house and close their dentist business, but if they had waited for a year, two weeks meant nothing.
After some last comments on the best plane company, Ron and Hermione headed towards the door, where they would say goodbye to her parents. Ron though, was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and faced Mr. Granger, who was motioning at his daughter to keep going. Once she was out of the room with her mother, he started talking.
"So, Ron. Why did you accompany Hermione here?" He asked, smiling a little.
"I thought she would feel better if she didn't have to do all this on her own sir" Ron answered, fiddling with his fingers nervously.
"Good" Mr, Granger said "And you stayed with her during all this camping you went through this past year?"
Ron's mind immediately wandered to that cold and rainy night when he had left Harry and Hermione alone, guided by rage and jealousy. He could either lie and make a good impression or tell the truth. He decided on the latter.
"No. No sir. I… I left some some days before Christmas, but came back a few weeks later" He said, dropping his gaze to the ground.
"Why?" Mr. Granger asked. His tone was still friendly, if not a little bit sadder than before. This made Ron look up again, at least he wasn't angry.
"We had found a Horcrux but didn't know how to destroy it, so we took turns in keeping it. It did things to us sir, horrible things. When one of us wore it we acted angry, moody and self-centred. I think it affected me the most though. When I was wearing it, I had the feeling that neither Harry nor Hermione wanted me there, and I became jealous. One night I found them planning a way to destroy it together and got angry. That's when I left. I tried to come back the second I had apparated away, but some snatchers found me and I couldn't. When I finally got the chance to come back, they had moved to another place."
"Well, do you regret it?"
"Deeply" Ron answered without hesitation.
"Why?" Mr. Granger asked with a serious tone, even though there was a ghost of a smile on his face
"Because I left them alone. Failed them. I failed Hermione and I was so sure she would hate me if I came back. Because when I was leaving she begged me not to listen to the locket, cried for me to come back but I didn't listen, and I should have. I could have lost her forever. That's why" Ron answered. To his surprise, Mr. Granger smiled at his response and patted his shoulder.
"You are a good lad Ron. The important thing is that you deeply regret it. Tell me, have you apologised yet?" He asked, still grinning.
"Of course." Ron answered, now more at ease.
"And from what I've seen Hermione has forgiven you?" He asked. Ron just nodded his head.
"Good. Listen to me Ron. I have seen Hermione grow into the young woman she is now since she was a little baby, and my wife and I love her with all our beings. Every time she came home from this magic school of yours, she wouldn't stop talking about how great everything was, it was all Hogwarts this, Hogwarts that. But the theme of these talks started to change little by little, until between every Hogwarts this, Hogwarts that, were hundreds of Ron this, Ron that. I like you Ron, very much, and there is no question in my mind that Hermione does too, and a lot. Now, all I ask from you is not to break her heart." Mr. Granger said, his gaze and tone now serious.
"Never sir, I would never do that" Ron answered confidently.
"Well then. It's official. I think you are a great man Ron. Call me Richard" Mr. Granger said, smiling again. He started walking towards the front door again, bringing Ron with him. Once they were there, Ron stood next to Hermione and shook his hand.
"Ron, Hermione has told me you play chess. We can check out how good you are tomorrow huh?" Mr. Granger asked just as Hermione was heading outside.
"Of course" Ron answered with a grin, turning around and heading out with Hermione.
"So, what did my father talk to you about in the living room before we left?" Hermione asked as she linked her hand with his.
"Oh nothing important" He answered looking into her eyes. "Just talking about your beauty" He added, grinning. Hermione just rolled her eyes and punched him lightly on his arm while saying "Oh, shut up".
I hope you enjoyed this, and if you did, please favourite, follow or review. It really is appreciated. Have a very nice last day of the year and I hope you start 2016 with happiness and excitement. Until next time,
Au revoir ;) (I don't know why I say this if I don't really like french, but anyways, maybe if my french teacher sees this my grades will go up)