Edited 3/24/23

Note: Originally I had Hermione's family coming from Tanzania, but after a lot of thought, I wanted to stay true to my own Caribbean Roots and change her family roots to Barbados. As I go through the rest of the story edits I'll make sure that's fixed, but until I get there, just pretend it says "Barbados/Barbadian" until I get to them!

Thanks to RabidCommentarian for beta work. And bam2305 for alpha-ing.

Next Chapter is hereee! Next Wednesday I'll be in PORTUGAL (on a vacation with my Mom, so I'll try to get this up earlier than that, maybe Tuesday?)

August-September 1999

Theo

August turned to September with gusto. George had come to apologise to Hermione, who waved off his apology, stating that it wasn't his fault that his mother was an absolute cunt. Potter continued to hold Ginevra at arms length, not giving in to her false apologies.

One night, a few weeks before Hermione's birthday, Harry, George, Theo and Hermione were sprawled in Andromeda's living room, drinking an Elf wine that George had acquired. "Alright, Potter, Weasley," drawled Theo, "I think it's time to tell our dear Mia exactly what went down between the Weasley women and nearly everyone else in the Order."

Harry grimaced and threw back the rest of his wine. "Bloody hell, Theo," he said, groaning. Theo pointedly ignored Hermione as she looked through her lashes at the three men who seemed to be having a silent battle of wills. Theo smirked at the other two when George threw his hands up in the air.

"Alright," he said, turning to look at Hermione, "After her outburst, Dad dragged Mum to one of the other Safe Houses. Gin and Harry followed after Andromeda told Harry that you needed some space."

"Brilliant woman, that Andi!" cut in Theo with a wistful look.

"As he was saying," Harry continued with an eye roll. "We got to the safehouse and honestly I've never seen Arthur look so disappointed in my life. He didn't say anything, just walked away, Ginny looked, well smug."

"What a bint," Theo added with a scoff. Harry just rolled his eyes yet again.

"I was upset is probably the nicest way I can explain it," Harry said, rubbing the back of his neck. "'Mrs. Weasley,' I said, 'you were out of line, Hermione has been through a lot, and I…'

"Then he sort of petered out and collapsed into a chair," said George with a grin, "Gin looked shocked that he would even say anything."

Ginny sneered at Harry in a very unflattering way, her face going a shade of dark pink Harry had never seen before. "I can't believe you'd stand up for that absolute slag!" she said with a shriek. "Mum has been struggling and that goodie-two-shoes has you all convinced that she's the victim. What a load of rubbish. I never knew what you and Ron saw in her."

Harry's jaw dropped. "She's like a bloody sister to me! You've always been jealous of her, don't deny it!" he cut in when she tried to refute it. "You always wished that we'd take you along on our adventures. I think Hermione was right, the Weasley's need to get their priorities straight."

George looked between the Weasley women and Harry. "Not all of us, mate. I'm with you and Hermione. Until these two sort out whatever their problem is, I'm with them."

The two men left the Weasley safehouse and returned to Headquarters. George went to the lab and worked on their potions, realising that Hermione needed some space, and Harry started to pester Andromeda and Theo until Hermione finally agreed to see him.

The rest of the Order was still holding Molly at an arm's length. Andromeda and Minerva refused to even look at Molly. Ginny was constantly trying to get Harry alone to talk to him, but between George, Theo, and Remus he was never left alone.

Hermione bit back a sob. It felt nice that everyone saw her for who she was.

"That all goes to say," said Theo, "I think you need to get out of your room. George and I have been keeping the potions stocked when everyone's been going out on missions and honestly we've been a right mess without you, Mia."

Hermione nodded thoughtfully, "I think that can be arranged."

Without a second's notice, George tackled her in a hug. "Thank Merlin!" he shouted, scooping up Hermione and spinning her around. "I thought you were never going to leave this bloody room and all the work I've been doing for your Birthday present would go to waste!"

Hermione giggled as he set her down. "Well, what is it then?"

"Oh, my dear dear Mia, you know I would never ruin a surprise! We still have another week to prepare!"

Sunday, September 19, 1999

Theo bounced out of bed as early as he physically could. He knew that Mia would have been up for hours already, but it was not in his nature to be a morning person. He'd been up well into the night with Potter decorating the parlour for her surprise party. There was a strict "No Weasley Women" policy in place, no one would ruin Mia's big day.

When he'd barreled down the stairs, he saw Mia holding Teddy, whispering something, probably a potions recipe, he thought with a fond grin, to him. Remus was sipping his tea, while George was bustling around doing dishes.

"You're up early," Hermione said with a chuckle.

"Well, it's not everyday your girl turns 20!" she blushed and he placed a wet kiss on her cheek, which she promptly wiped off, making a face at a giggling Teddy.

Theo plopped into the seat next to Hermione and threw his legs on the table. "LEGS OFF THE TABLE, YOUNG MAN!" said Andromeda sternly as she swept into the room. "Happy birthday, dear girl!" she said, squeezing Hermione's shoulder as she passed.

Theo took his legs off the table, grumbling. George levitated plates to Theo and Andromeda, the former digging in with gusto, the latter looking at him sceptically as she took a bite of the food.

Hermione, Theo and George made their way to the Order Headquarters and the Potion's lab to set to work on their potions for the day. They were working on a hybrid potion that would help disguise the wearer for an extended period of time. It was based off of Teddy's Metamorphmagus powers. They didn't want to look like someone, just be able to adjust their physical appearance without having to expend the magical energy on holding a Transfiguration.

After a rushed lunch they'd gone to work on the Grimoires. He always knew that Hermione was a swot, but honestly he was impressed to see just how much she was putting into the tome. He was hoping to bring her to the Manor soon so that he could take Lordship of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Nott and give Hermione access to the Nott Grimoire.

When the clock in the lab showed six pm, Theo clapped his hands. "That is the end of the day! It's time for someone's birthday dinner!" he pulled Hermione up and toward the door, when she tried to turn back to her books, George scooped her up and threw her over his shoulder.

"George!" she shrieked as he carried her out of the lab and pushed her through the floo to Tonks Cottage.

Hermione

"Finally! I didn't think you'd ever be done!" said Andromeda from behind her. Hermione whipped around. Andromeda held out a dress to Hermione. "Shower, and put this on, I'll help with your hair when you're done."

Hermione found herself in the bathroom before she could bat an eye. She stepped into her shower, she knew she didn't have time for her whole routine, so she did her abbreviated hair routine, just the conditioner. She used her favourite soap which had a warm amber scent. When she stepped out of the shower, she stepped into the light blue dress that Andromeda had handed her, she walked back into her room, towel wrapped around her shoulders to prevent her hair dripping everywhere.

Andromeda had a chair in front of her and gestured for Hermione to sit. She spent the next half an hour pointing her wand at Hermione's head and muttering spells, most that Hermione had never heard of. She could feel her hair drying, worrying that she'd be greeted by a gigantic puffy mess.

Andromeda then came around to her front and started using more charms on Hermione's face. She became even more worried about how long it took her to glamour her face. She didn't want to look like some stranger..

"I'm not sure if you've ever learned some of these, but I'd be happy to write some down for you, Dora was never all that interested, especially when she was able to control her abilities…" she trailed off and held up a mirror.

Hermione blinked at herself. She had never looked this put together. She threw her arms around Andromeda. "Thank you, Andi! I-" she squealed, grinning, "I'd-I'd love to learn!"

Andromeda nodded and blushed prettily. "I have one other thing for you," she said, clearing her throat. "I don't know if you knew, but traditionally for a wizard's 17th birthday, he would get a watch, and witches are supposed to get a necklace passed down from their mother. Well I'm not sure if your parents ever got you one, but I never see you wearing a necklace, and now that Dora is gone, I won't have an opportunity to pass along something to her daughters, I've saved some in case Teddy has daughters, but I would be honoured to give you a necklace for the Granger Clan to start their collection," she broke off.

Hermione felt the tears pooling in her eyes, "Andi, I-I couldn't accept-"

"I insist," she said firmly, holding out a small key necklace covered in diamonds and sapphire. She came around Hermione's back and placed the chain around her neck. "You of course don't have to of course, but I was thinking it could serve as the key to your grimoire when you fini-"

Hermione threw her arms around the older woman again, truly sobbing now. "Andi, I'm honoured, I never- never imagined…" she couldn't even get her sentence out before both the women were holding each other and sobbing.

When they had finally gotten themselves back together, Andromeda fixed both of their hair and makeup, it was nearly 7:30. They made their way out of her bedroom, Hermione fingering her new key, Andromeda with her arm wrapped around the younger witch. They made their way into the dining room, where Hermione saw many of the Order gathered around the table. Theo held his arm out, and escorted her to the head of the table, pushing in her chair like a gentleman.

"I like the ice, Mia," he whispered in her ear, "and the hair. You look lovely."

She looked at the table and the tears threatened to overflow again. The centre of the table was taken up by a gigantic plate of Flying Fish and cou cou, her mother's staple Barbadian dishes. The spices permeated the entire room, she looked around the table and saw everyone beaming at her.

The entire group dug into the meal with gusto, Theo told the story of how he, Harry, and Andromeda had gone to a Barbadian restaurant in London and begged the owner to teach them how to make the fish.

"Mia, this woman refused, point blank. We had to spin the most wild tale about how your grandmother had always made this for your birthday, and how Andromeda was your mother, and your father was gone, and how grandmother had died, and had never taught you the recipe. Then Andi pulled out some tears and explained how the two of you were almost all you had left and she just wanted to make your day," he took a deep breath.

"Mate, you talk so much," muttered Neville, as he continued to chew his food.

Theo stuck his tongue out at his cousin. "Finally we saw her crack. But she insisted that we had to learn there. Andi has been disappearing for hours to learn this recipe," we've had so much Barbadian food, I'm really not sure how we British Colonizers have the blandest food, when we've been all over the world like we have…" he trailed off pensively.

When the dinner was wrapped up, George carried out a gigantic cake. She blew out the candles. I wish we could find an end to this war. She wished silently.

When the table had been cleared and everyone had something to drink in front of them, the presents started coming. Neville and Augusta handed her a journal about some of the lesser known magical plants and some of the more original cures that could be crafted from them. Minerva gave her a wand carrier that couldn't be severed that attached to her right arm.

George handed her a pile of gifts, "This is from Bill and Fleur," he said, handing her A Curse Breakers Guide to Breaking Curses. She grinned, "Tell them I said thanks and that I'll look forward to reading it."

"This is from Charlie 'to protect her against naysayers.'" Hermione opened a set of earrings that seemed to match Andromeda's necklace. "They have a patented charm on them, that allows you to hear when others are speaking ill against you within twenty feet," added George helpfully.

"This one is Percy and Dad," he said, handing her a series of notebooks, quills, and Muggle pens.

Remus stood and cleared his throat. "The last one is from George and I," he pulled at the collar of his shirt. George was bouncing on the balls of his feet. He handed her an oddly shaped package. When Hermione opened it, it was a large wad of fur.

She looked up at the two of them in shock. "Is this-" when Remus nodded, she threw her arms around him. "Thank you Remus! George, did you harvest this?" when he nodded she wrapped her other arm around his neck. "You two! I don't know how I can ever show my appreciation."

She settled back down. Harry handed her the Potter Grimoire and a poorly wrapped gift. "This one is from Remus and I," he said with a grin. Inside was a handbound book entitled A Marauder & Son's Guide to Creating Your Very Own Marauder's Map.

Hermione laughed heartily. "Thank you both!"

Theo cleared his throat. "Hermione, I'd like to take you to Nott Manor," she looked at him strangely. "I need to change the wards over to me, and I figured it would be a good safehouse to have, and honestly the library would shock you, plus I have a Wiggentree on my property and I was wondering," he looked down, uncharacteristically bashful, "if you'd like to use some of the bark to create the pulp for your Grimoire's pages."

The only time she'd had a better birthday was when her parents had taken her to visit her aunts and uncles in Barbados when she was eight. She looked around the table, recognizing that although her parents and Ron were gone, she was surrounded by family.

Definitely still looking for an Alpha/Beta if you're interested in this one (or any of my other fics!). Please let me know what you think!