Chapter 19 – Turning Point

7 April 2010

Mia's Townhouse

New York City, NY

Hermione Granger

When I wake after my fainting spell, I'm laying on the couch with a cool cloth on my head and my feet elevated. I open my eyes and I see Malfoy on the end of the couch. With my feet in his lap. He's not touching me, but looks stressed.

I sit up, "I haven't fainted since I was thirteen. It was the first time I ever disapparated by side along. If you'll excuse me a few minutes. I'll be right back."

He smiles, "Of course, take your time."

I take the stairs to the third floor and go to my loo. I wash my face and try to process the information I just received.

First, Ophelia Dagworth-Granger is my grandmother. I can't deny what I saw in those memories. She loved us. Watching those memories through a second time with my friends helped me see things I missed the first time. The love in her eyes when she first held me. The genuine friendly banter between her and my dad. The way he trusted her to take care of him and mom. How she loved my father so much, she didn't fight him when he asked her to make a sacrifice for him. I need to find out more, I need to watch more memories.

Then there is Malfoy. He is still single. How did I not pick up on this? Harry and I had a conversation two years ago about some classmates. My curiosity got the better of me. He told me Zabini was expecting twins. It's my fault. I never wanted news of Malfoy, it just hurt my heart every time I thought about him. I couldn't tolerate the thought of him marrying Astoria fucking Greengrass. It was easier to not hear about it. In January, this year, when Daphne let it slip about her nephews, it was a stab in the heart. Fuck! I've been so stubborn!

I've dated over the years and even was slightly heartbroken a time or two, but I always held everyone an arm's length away. It was just easier for me. I never wanted to feel the pain I did when Malfoy destroyed me. The devastating, gut-wrenching, soul destroying pain that took me years to stop feeling. I used my schooling as an excuse when I first arrived, and then used my company as an excuse later, but I never allowed myself to get truly close to another man.

When I first moved to America, I was determined to isolate myself. Friends meant pain for me. As much as I loved Harry, I could never depend on him. Harry wanted a family more than anything in the world. The Weasley's gave him that. They were big and accepting of both of us at first. Molly always kept her distance from me and I'm not sure why. I'm wondering if it ultimately had to do with Ophelia. In a memory we viewed, she mentioned the Prewett twins. I don't know. Mrs. Weasley always seemed to truly love Harry. It just made sense for me to leave. He would have his family with Ginny and the Weasleys. Other than Teddy, I had nothing left there. He didn't really need me either, he had Harry.

My friends were my solace after I left England. Sasha, God, she kind of frightened me a first. She's much taller than any woman I encountered and has a personality bigger than Hagrid. I was in a coffee shop the week before school started, and she sat down to join me. She talked, and talked, and talked. I didn't know what to make of her. She was just this bigger than life, happy person. I didn't know what to make of someone so fucking happy. She's what all of us should have been if there was no war. I wanted to hate her. I wanted to hex her. I wanted to feel an ounce of that happiness. We, of course, had a few classes together and within two weeks she had introduced me to Mychaelia and Kelly. Then came Amanda, Colton, Jason, Mike, and Joshua. They all went to Ilvermory and had known each other for years. Their dynamic reminded me of Eighth Year and the friends that had become so important to me. Within a month I caved, and excepted their friendship. Before I knew it, the group expanded to a few people from Salem. I still used the time-turner to study like mad, but I learned to carve out time for fun. They taught me to have fun.

Harvard Library is quite advanced, but the Magical Library had none of the technology the No-Maj did. It was quite frustrating, so I contacted James Wulff who was the I.C.W's American Representative to ask him if he could help me apply and get accepted to Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Because I was enrolled in a Magical University, I technically could attend two universities. So I did. It took some juggling, but I managed to do both. I earned five magical masteries, in Transfiguration, Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, Charms with a specialty in a abjuration, and Curse Breaking. The technology degree was very challenging, but once I started to really understand everything, I breezed through it. The Master's degree was needed because I just felt I needed to know more, but I had fun learning how I could apply it with magic.

Enchantex is my baby. I have all control over the company. When we became a household name within three months, I asked my friends, who were the top executives of the company, if I could name them as co-founders for the press. I really just didn't want the publicity focused on me. I created an advisory board, but they hold no power over the company. Mostly it's just the top 12 executives and I that run the company. The 8 from Ilvermory, 1 squib I met at M.I.T., and 3 from Salem. There are about 35 million magical people who live in North America and I have 18,000 working for me.

When I first moved to America I was astounded at the number of magicals here. There have been so many European wizen that have fled to America in the last couple of centuries. It just seemed high, but it is only about 9% of the population. Which is par for the entire world other than the United Kingdom.

All my friend's great-great grandparents are still alive. Sasha has a many greats-grandmother that is 234 years old. (Her name is Aponi and she called me a 'Red Coat' for the first two years I knew Sasha.) The population is so much higher in all parts of the world because wizarding people really do live longer than no-majs. They don't kill the elderly off like they did in the United Kingdom during wizarding wars for having a strong knowledge of magic.

I'm not sure how to process Malfoy right now. Obviously, I can't keep being mean to him, but I don't necessarily want him close. I still can't trust him. He ruined me.

(A/N: Footnote 1.)

16 July 1999

Mia's Flat

London, England

Hermione Granger

Our final day at Hogwarts was 18th of June. It was bittersweet leaving, but it feels great to put a close on that chapter. I found a great flat three blocks away from The Leaky Cauldron on the muggle side of London. It is two bedrooms with decent sized sitting room and kitchen. I use the second bedroom as my library. I bought a new plasma tele that hangs on the wall. It's so much different than the tele my parents had. This tele has only been on the market a couple of years. It's so amazing. I have introduced Draco to movies. He can't seem to get enough of them.

Draco has been having to spend some time at Malfoy Manor this week. He had dinner with his mother this past Sunday. After the dinner, he came over, and just held me. I hate to think how much he's been traumatized being back in a place he witnessed so much evil. All week he has been going back there and seems to be distant when he comes over. I think I'll talk to him about it when he arrives. I worry about him, he hasn't been himself all week.

I should have talked to him about his behavior before now, but I haven't had time. I've been so busy researching. On graduation day, Kingsley asked to speak to me and offered me the Deputy Chair position in the Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. It was a dream job to be able to help so many creatures obtain the rights they deserve. I was excited. I was supposed to start on 12 July, but fucking Dolores Umbridge filed a complaint with the Wizengamot. I have to appear before the Wizengamot on 28 July. There is an archaic law that states muggle-borns cannot hold above a Level 2 position at the Ministry. A level two position is basically low-level Administrative Support. I received 12 N.E.W.Ts. I received an 'O' in all 11 subjects that matter and an 'E' in Divination. That proves the class is absolute rubbish since I hadn't taken the class since Third Year.

I'm frustrated with it all. I don't understand why Death Eaters are only receiving a maximum of a two year sentence. The act of treason is life imprisonment according to muggle law in the UK. It makes no sense the Wizengamot is letting Death Eaters have such a minimum sentence. Yet, I, a war hero, with eleven Outstanding N.E.W.Ts can't have a Level 6 job. Why would they hold true those highly bigoted laws? It just doesn't make sense. What was the point of the war? What was the point of losing people like the Lupins and Sirius Black? What did I spend so much time fighting for, if they aren't going to change anything?

I am still considering Muggle Uni. I could still be a doctor. Possibly after I get my degree, I could use both muggle and magical healing methods. There are so many technology advances in muggle medicine that surely would improve magical medical practices, as well. The archaic beliefs of the wizarding world really frustrate me.

I look at the time and it's almost 7PM. Draco should have been back by now. He hasn't decided the direction he is going to take as far as a career. He says he is expected to take over Malfoy Industries. I'm not even sure what they do. He just says they have interests in many businesses. He told me for example they invested a great deal of money with Nimbus. The brooms I accused him of using to buy his way into the quidditch team in Second Year, more than likely didn't cost the Malfoys a single galleon.

Draco enters the flat. I smile at him and greet him. He starts to pace. He finally says, "Mia we need to talk. It's important."

I take a seat on the sofa and ask, "Is everything, alright, Draco? You look really upset."

He just shakes his head and continues pacing. He does this for several minutes. Finally he sits down on the couch on the opposite side I'm sitting and faces me.

"Last Sunday, when I had dinner with my mother, it just wasn't with her. She had invited the Greengrasses. My father signed a betrothal contract last month and I'm expected to marry Astoria Greengrass next July."

I shake my head, "I don't understand. There has to be a way out, or is this what you want. God Draco, is this what you want?"

"Mia, of course I don't want this. I love you. I have been meeting with barristers all week trying to find a loophole. I went to Azkaban to speak with my father. I tried to reason with Hyperion Greengrass. If I don't fulfill my end of the contract, or break it, the whole of the Malfoy fortune is forfeited to the Greengrasses."

I look at him and ask, "What do you mean fulfill your end of the contract?"

He sighs. "This weekend an announcement of the engagement will be released in The Daily Prophet. I have to openly court Astoria and if I am seen with another woman it breaks the contract."

No, no, no, no, "You're breaking up with me?"

"I don't have any other choice. Once we are married, there is no fidelity clause, but while courting I have to appear earnest in my intentions."

I feel the tears forming, "Is this what you want? You want to be with Astoria? Is that it?"

He gets up and starts pacing again. "No this isn't what I want! I want you! I love you! We can be together in a year when I'm married."

I take in a deep breath, "I'm not going to be your mistress! Draco I have quite a bit of money. I have an equivalent of fifteen million galleons in muggle money, that doesn't include what is in my vault. I can take care of us. Fuck, I can take care of your parents. I don't understand why you have to do this. We love each other. You're everything to me, can't we look at alternatives?"

He glares at me, "You don't understand, my whole life I was groomed to take this role as the Malfoy heir. I can't turn my back on everything that has been expected of me!"

I feel my heart breaking, "You were groomed to hate muggle-borns too. Draco, are you saying you suddenly hate me because you were fucking groomed to do so?"

He looks aghast, "FUCK! NO, MIA! I'VE BEEN GIVEN AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE!"

I get up at grab his shoulders so he is forced to look me in the eyes, "You always say you are given impossible choices, but you have a choice and I'm standing in front of you begging you to choose me! You don't have to do this, Draco. You don't have to marry her to make your parents happy. You said you loved ME! Why would you ever turn your back on what we have, to fulfill a duty you don't even want?"

He closes his eyes, and when he opens them, my heart breaks into a billion pieces, "I'm so sorry, Mia. I can't. I'll try to figure something out, but I can't let my mother suffer in anyway."

I just nod, "You better go."

"Mia…"

"NO! Draco, GO! May you and Astoria have the life you deserve together." I turn from him until I hear the door click shut.

7 April 2010

Mia's Townhouse

New York City, NY

Hermione

That Sunday the engagement was announced in The Daily Prophet. It was an entire spread of pictures of them together along with the fucking fakest story ever printed in the paper. They really did look like the perfect couple. It killed me.

The next week was the worst week of my life. The Daily Prophet and Witch Weekly ran articles about my sad attempt to snag the Malfoy heir. They painted me as a gold digger and a whore. I didn't really read the articles, it was clear my and Draco's love story was reduced to a mere affair.

I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep, and I couldn't focus. By the time my hearing came on 28 of July, I had no fight left in me. I warded my apartment and didn't leave until the day of the hearing. I dressed in robes, fixed my hair, and glamoured my face. I gave my half-arsed arguments, but the Wizengamot said they were too busy with Death Eater trials to revisit old laws at this time and ruled in favor of Umbridge.

Harry cornered me after the trial and begged me to attend his birthday party at Grimmauld Place on Saturday. After thinking about it, I decided to go.

31 July 1999

Twelve Grimmauld Place

Borough of Islington

London, England

Hermione

I arrive at Grimmauld Place at 5PM that evening. Harry wanted an all day party, by the time I arrived most people were well into their cups. I avoided most people, but found Neville, Hannah, and Susan outside in the back garden. They handed me a large glass of firewhiskey, and gave me hugs.

Hannah hugs me tight to her and says, "I've tried to owl you, I'm so furious for you, Hermione. That bastard never deserved you!"

I fake a smile, "I'm fine Hannah. It was just a school girl romance, I'll get over it. It's not like we made plans or anything."

Hannah frowns, she knows I'm lying. "Well let's have some fun! Neville, our resident Herbology guru has discovered a neat little illegal plant that makes you feel amazing when you smoke it. Come on, let's get smashed!"

Fuck it! I smile, "Let's do this!"

We did. I never smoked anything before, and after coughing up a lung and trying it again, it got easier. We smoked about half his bag and I drank about half a bottle of firewhiskey and about five butterbeers. Harry, Dean Thomas, and Seamus Finnegan joined us for a while. We ate all the Shepard's Pie that was supplied on the buffet.

Around 8:30 PM we found ourselves in the sitting room. We had all just eaten Harry's birthday cake and were talking. Harry sat down next to me and put his arm around me. "'Mione, are you going to be ok?

I look down and think for a moment. "I will be eventually. I don't even care about not getting the job, not really. I have plenty of money on my own. I don't need to work. Maybe I should just travel for a while. I used to travel all over the world with my parents. We've been to Australia, all over Europe, when I was eight they took me America to Disneyworld. We spent a couple of weeks in Bali. We went on an African safari when I was ten. Those memories and experiences, I loved them and are some of my favorite memories. It'd be nice to experience the magical attractions of the world. I don't know Harry. I miss them so much and staying here just makes me sad. Why would I want to stay here when all those Death Eaters are going to be released starting next year? Nothing fucking changes here."

Harry squeezes my shoulder and I look up at him. "Things will change 'Mione. They are just prioritizing the Death Eater trials. It's time to put it all behind us and just carry on."

I shake my head. 'Keep Calm, and Carry On.' What fucking bullshite! "I can't just forget. We fought a war and the prejudice bullshite that I thought I was fighting to eradicate is still there. Secondary school is suppose to be such an amazing time in our lives. My mom loved her days in secondary school. I didn't have time for fun. Sometimes I just wish we would have really stayed in the woods and grew old."

"WHAT THE FUCK DOES THAT MEAN, YOU FUCKING WHORE? WHAT? YOU COULDN'T EVEN GET YOUR DEATH EATER TO GIVE A SHITE ABOUT YOU ENOUGH TO STAY WITH YOU! ARE YOU'RE TRYING TO GET MY BOYFRIEND, NOW?

I didn't even notice Ginny sitting there. She stood up and started yelling at me.

I sigh, "Ginny, I didn't mean anything by it. How many times do I have to tell you, Harry and I are just friends? I think of him as a brother. You are taking something said between Harry and I a long time ago and blowing it out of context."

"YOU ALWAYS ACT LIKE YOU'RE FUCKING BETTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE. YOU THINK YOUR SO SMART. YOUR BRAINS DIDN'T SAVE FRED. YOUR BRAINS DIDN'T SAVE YOUR PARENTS. YOUR BRAINS COULDN'T KEEP YOUR DEATH EATER BOYFRIEND INTERESTED IN YOU. YOUR BRAINS COULDN'T KEEP MY FAMILY CARING WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU! RON WHO WAS A TRUE FRIEND TO YOU FOR FUCKING YEARS MADE ONE MISTAKE AND YOU COULDN'T FORGIVE HIM! YOU COULD HAVE SUPPORTED THE FAMILY THAT WELCOMED YOU AND HELPED YOU IN THIS WORLD, BUT YOU WERE TOO FUCKING SELFISH WORRYING ABOUT YOURSELF!"

I stand up and back her up to the middle of the room, I'm so infuriated right now, I can't think straight. "Ginny, HOW DARE YOU! I lost my parents and your mother placed the blame for Fred on me when I didn't make the choice for him to fight, in the first place. Soldiers fucking die, and we were all given impossible choices that meant we live or we die! You lost a brother, I lost both my parents! I'm allowed time to mourn my family, the family that loved me and gave me everything!"

She sneers and laughs, "FRED WAS A WIZARD WHO WAS SUPPOSE TO BE YOUR FRIEND! YOU DIDN'T GIVE A FUCK ABOUT HIM! YOUR PARENTS WERE JUST FUCKING MUGGLES!"

I can't fucking believe she said that to me. I can't believe she, who was once my friend, could ever say that to me. I take a look around the room and Hannah and Susan are being held back by Neville. I see George looking apologetic, and shaking his head, he knows how much Fred meant to me. Most faces are shocked, but behind Ginny is Lavender Brown and Ronald Weasley smirking behind her.

During the Battle of Hogwarts. I saw Greyback attack Lavender and I blasted him off of her. I sent a slicing hex to cut his jugular, and just to be safe I Avada'd him. I then magically sutured her wounds so she could live another day. I look to Ron. I saved his arse the whole battle, not to mention the countless times I did so beforehand. My losses don't matter to anyone because my parents were muggles. Seriously?! It's never going to fucking change and before I can have a true rational thought I blast everyone in the room away from me.

I scream, "HOW FUCKING DARE YOU! I HAVE JUST AS MUCH FUCKING RIGHT TO MOURN MY FAMILY AS YOU DID! FUCK YOU! THEY ARE JUST MUGGLES! MUGGLES! ARE YOU SERIOUS RIGHT NOW, YOU BIGOTED FUCKING CUNT? I SAVED EVERY PERSON IN THIS ROOM IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER! I SACRIFICED EVERYTHING! NONE OF YOU WOULD HAVE SURVIVED IF I HADN'T MADE SURE HARRY TAUGHT EACH OF YOU HOW TO FUCKING DEFEND YOURSELVES! DUMBELDORE'S ARMY WAS MY IDEA. IT WAS MY LESSON PLANNING, MY SPELLS. MINE!"

Before I know it, I'm a sobbing heap on the floor, it was just too fucking much! I can't look at anyone any longer, so I stand up and apparate home. I take five minutes to collect my self, and drink a sober up potion.

I am so sick of the degrading of people based on blood. I'm done trying to prove my place in a society that doesn't want me. I'm done with England, forever.

I notified Kings and left England by that Tuesday.

7 April 2010

Mia's Townhouse

New York City, NY

Hermione Granger

Draco Malfoy wasn't the only reason I left England. I was just so depressed, and felt so much guilt for people I couldn't save. I had other friends, I had Andromeda and Teddy, I had options. I just didn't care at the time. I didn't want to be in the same hemisphere as the fucking happy Malfoy couple. I didn't want to have to fight one more day for my basic human rights.

I never told Draco what Ophelia said to me about us being soulmates. I wasn't sure I believed it. When he left my flat that night, I thought it wasn't true. A soulmate wouldn't chose someone else. It took me years to get a resemblance of normalcy. When Harry found me in '04, I was finally healed enough that my heart felt pieced together enough to move on. I didn't want to know how happy he was, or if he was miserable. My heart couldn't bear any mention of him.

I splash water in my face and square my shoulders. I may not ever trust him again, but maybe I can learn to forgive him. Maybe I can let go of the anger. Maybe we can reach a turning point. Maybe, possibly at least, be acquaintances, maybe even friends. ' What if I want to be your best friend?' Fuck! I walk downstairs and he's sitting on the couch with a glass of wine in his hand.

I walk over to him and take a seat. He looks pensive, like he's lost in a memory, and looks over at me and smirks, I ask, "C-can you stay a little longer while I go through more memories, Draco?"

His face changes and he smiles that beautiful genuine smile, and says, "It would be my pleasure, Mia."