Chapter 35 – The Ones We Love the Most

18 April, 2010 10:00AM

Potter Manor

Outside Reading, Berkshire County, United Kingdom

Harry Potter

Hermione is supposed to be here any minute. Daphne and the boys went to her sister's house this morning. Daphne knows Sasha infuriates me, and tried to encourage me to talk to Hermione privately. Sasha and I got along for a couple of years after I found Hermione. She's talkative and usually easy going. She is a great friend to have in your corner which caused our initial antagonism. Sasha is fiercely protective of Hermione. I wanted Hermione to consider coming home after all laws were changed. In 2006, I pushed and begged Hermione to come Home. Sasha intervened, and since then, there has been a considerable amount of tension between Sasha and I.

I understand, Sasha was responsible for helping Hermione heal. She found her and did everything within her power to help Hermione. I am thankful for her, but at the same time, I resent Hermione for disappearing without a trace. She should have stayed and allowed her friends to take care of her. She has a surprisingly large amount of people that care for her.

I always remember it being the three of us, Hermione, Ron, and I. Now that I think about it, there were a lot of times she was talking with the twins in The Gryffindor Common Room, The Great Hall, Grimmauld Place, and even The Burrow. I remember in Fifth Year when we started D.A., Susan Bones and Hannah Abbott never left her side. I remember in Sixth Year her and Neville curled up in an alcove studying Herbology on Sundays and Tuesdays the nights before we had Herbology.

Ron was my constant during my time at Hogwarts. We talked about quidditch, and practiced together. We'd talked about girls and Ron was a terrible gossip. Ron also had a terrible temperament that was fueled by jealousy and insecurity. Though I always remember Ron being around, it was Hermione that never wavered from my side. She did everything she could to protect me and show her support of me even when I didn't appreciate it, even when it made me angry with her, like when she turned in my Firebolt to McGonagall in Third Year.

She always did the right thing, even if she broke the rules to accomplish the right thing. She broke more rules than all of us put together, but would harp on us for using bad grammar and swear words. Hell she didn't use any swear words until Fourth Year, and it didn't become natural for her to say them until she started hanging out with Malfoy in Eighth Year.

I'll never forget the second day of Eighth Year. She sat in the middle of the table and all the Slytherins came and sat with her. I sat with them because I couldn't understand why they would ever sit with her, and wanted to protect her. I watched as Theo Nott hugged her like an old friend. I didn't say anything at the time, but it did raise a lot of questions. Theo was so comfortable with her. How did he know her?

Then there was the Great Divide of Eighth Year. I sat with Ginny and Ron because they refused to sit with Slytherins. I was forced to make a choice. My girlfriend or my best friend. I chose Ginny at first, but I couldn't stand seeing Hermione sitting on Malfoy's lap. How the fuck did they get close enough that she would walk into the common room and sit on Malfoy's lap?

I knew I needed to intervene. What I wasn't expecting was how close the two of them had become. Before I knew it, they were dating. I mean how the fuck did that ever happen? Of course it didn't last. Nobody believed that would last, and I was so happy when they broke up. I knew she deserved better than Malfoy. I gave her a couple of weeks to heal. When Ginny verbally attacked her at my birthday, I was shocked into silence. I had no idea Ginny felt that way about her. I always thought Ginny understood Hermione and I were like family. I couldn't forgive Ginny after seeing that side of her. I couldn't forgive Ron for standing behind Ginny smirking at Hermione breaking down. They were supposed to be her friends.

Then Hermione disappeared. I didn't understand why she would just leave. I searched for Hermione for a couple of years before I gave up. I knew Hermione well enough to know if she wanted to be found, she would be. When I finally found her, I expected her to be sad and depressed from being away for so long. I wasn't expecting the confident, beautifully put together woman who was surrounded by friends who acted as a pack of guard dogs. It wasn't just Sasha, it was the other girls as well. Mychaelia and Kelly were just as bad. They stuck by her and when I overstepped, in their opinion, they would verbally attack me.

The blokes she befriended were just as bad, Josh in particular. They had dated for a couple of years before I found her again, but he is still in love with her. She says he isn't, but he looks at her as if she hung the stars. He's a right bastard when it comes to Hermione and I. He threatened me more than once. I have to say, Hermione has a type. Fuck, Josh is tall, has dark hair, perfect chiseled jaw, and had the brightest light blue eyes on the planet. He's cocky, hates people, and is broody. He is completely tattooed and has several visible piercings. He moves with confidence and reminds me of Malfoy before the war. I fucking hate the wanker.

Daphne says I'm jealous she moved on without me. She says she was with Hermione all of Eighth Year, and saw how broken she was. Her and Pansy grew attached to Hermione. Hermione never really had girl friends. When Hermione found out I married Daphne, she was so happy. She immediately invited her to come to America to spend time with us. Daphne adores Hermione's friends. She thinks they are loyal, thoughtful, and allow Hermione's growth as a person. Daphne thinks I'm angry she found that with other people and not me. Is she right?

I hate conflict. I've become a master at conflict avoidance over the years. Ron and Ginny were always picking fights with Hermione over the stupidest shite. I defended Hermione, but never really became involved in their arguments. I suppose, I can see how Hermione would view that as taking sides. Hermione was relentless when defending me, however. Fuck, I think I may have not defended her as I should. This could be the reason her friends have such a low threshold of tolerance where I'm concerned. Did Hermione tell them I wasn't there for her? Do her friends have the impression I don't love Hermione as my sister?

I'm interrupted from my thoughts when I hear a knock on the door. Hermione….I smile. I get up to answer the door and find the demon twin elves, Nina and Lola have already answered the door. Hermione is with the twins' mother, Hester. Hester comes by frequently and makes sure her daughters are cleaning and helps cook. She just smiles at me and tells me to mind my business when I ask her why she is here.

I hear, Nina say, "You is here! I so happy you is here to see Lola and Nina. We are honored elves. If you need anything please let Lola and Nina know."

Hermione gets on her knees and looks Nina in the eyes, "Nina, thank you for your welcome. There is something you can do for me. Harry is my oldest friend. He is kind and brave, and when Dobby was killed by Bellatrix Lestrange, Harry cried and gave him a proper burial. Hester has told me you are angry at him for Dobby's death. I would ask you to not blame Harry. We loved Dobby, he was a brave, and wonderful elf and died protecting Harry and myself."

What the fuck?

Lola bows her head, and bursts into tears, "We is sorry, Morri…Miss Granger. You is right we is angry at Harry Potter for letting Dobby die. Dobby was Lola and Nina's favorite cousin."

Hermione hugs Lola and hands her a handkerchief to dry her eyes. "Dobby would be honored by your loyalty, but he would want you to be kind to the person he took care of. Please forgive Harry for any perceived grievances. Dobby was a good elf, and Harry was a great friend to Dobby."

Nina crosses her arms and says, "We tries to forgive Harry Potter, Miss. Yous right. We didn't know how Dobby died." Nina looks at me and asks, "Would you like tea service for you and Miss Granger, Mister Potter?"

I close my mouth since it was hanging open, and simply reply with, "Uh…er, yes, please."

The three elves pop away and I look at Hermione who is looking down embarrassed. "Hello Hermione." I move in to hug her and she hugs me back. I pull away and say, "I have so many questions about what just happened."

She smiles, "Of course, Harry. I know you have a lot of questions, and I am finally free to answer them."

What? Free to answer questions? "Daphne and the kids will be at the Zabini's for the day. Where is Sasha?"

She smiles and says, "She is spending the day with Theo, and accompanying him to dinner here this evening."

We take a seat in the sitting room. It's a replica of the Eighth Year Common Room. It's decorated in Creams and brown leather. Daphne loved the common room so much, she wanted to decorate our whole house in those colours. Our home is warm and inviting all because my wife is amazing.

I look at her. She is wearing jean trousers and a multi-coloured bohemian style top. She looks beautiful. I never thought of Hermione as beautiful until I saw her in 2004. She's become an amazing woman. I ask her, "How do you know Hester?"

She smiles, "She's Ophelia's elf. She woke me up yesterday at 6:30 in the morning with a full English saying I was hers to take care of now."

Hmph. "And that with the demon twins, Lola and Nina?"

She laughs, "This morning Hester, told me Lola and Nina didn't like you. I asked her why and when she told me they thought you were responsible for Dobby's death. I knew they had it all wrong, so I made sure to clarify the misunderstanding."

"I see. How long have you known Hester?" I ask.

She hesitates, and says, "Since before Fourth Year, I'll explain in a few minutes."

Hermione and her secrets. She has always had fucking secrets. Lola and Nina pop in and serve tea with a Treacle Tart and what looks like a Banofee Pie. I thank them and they say, "We will start dinner now for Mistress and Miss Granger."

Hermione smiles and thanks them. I try to think of a change in topic.

I smile, "So Sasha and Theo Nott? You know, that doesn't surprise me at all. Whenever Theo would get well in his cups he would talk about what he wanted in a woman. It never occurred to me that I knew her all this time."

She smiles, "I was astonished. Sasha has always been very picky about men. Theo has such a kind heart behind his bravado. I like the match. Sasha said he was her soulmate and with her spiritual magic it makes sense she would know. She is still getting to know him slowly. Soulmate or not, she will take her time with him, mostly."

I shake my head. "She is powerful, I give her that. She saw me through my cloak, only Luna was able to do that."

Hermione smiles, "I really enjoyed seeing Luna. She's always been a mystery to me, but she used to sneak sugar quills to me all of Sixth Year. She just knew I was sad. I didn't understand it then, but after living with Sasha for 7 years, I understand Luna so much better now."

She was sad Sixth Year? "What do you mean you were sad in Sixth Year?"

She smiles, "I am going to tell you everything. Ophelia had me under a strong silencing charm. I have brought some things with me."

She opens her beaded bag, the same one from when we were on the run, and pulls out a box. She looks at me and says, "Before I open this box and let you see the things I'm about to share with you, I need you to understand I have complete diplomatic immunity in the United Kingdom for anything prior to 1999. I know you are an Auror, and I'm not telling my story to an Auror, but to my oldest friend. Do you understand?"

Holy fuck, what is she going to tell me? "Of course Hermione. I would never use anything against you. You're my family. I love you and I know most of our choices were taken away from us as children."

She smiles, "I have a lot to tell you." She reaches in her bag and pulls out a photo album. She shifts through the pages and pulls out a photo and hands it to me. I look and see Hermione at about 5 years old in a lavender dress next to a blond boy in a white tuxedo. I look at the boy and recognize him. "Is…is that Neville?"

She laughs and says, "Yes. Ophelia was responsible for my parents hiring a college student by the name of Claire Long. Claire is my godmother and yesterday I was reacquainted with her. She is a squib whose legal name is Claire Augusta Longbottom. She is the twin sister of Frank Longbottom. This photo was taken at Claire's wedding in 1984. I was nearly 5 and Neville had just turned 4."

She hands me a second picture of herself and a familiar woman that appeared to be in her sixties and had salt and pepper black hair and gray eyes. "This is a picture of myself and Wilhelmina Ward, our neighbor. Mina Ward was Ophelia disguised. I knew Mina my whole life and she died in 1994 the first week of Fourth Year."

She hands me another picture of her and a blond lady that appeared to be in her 30's. This is a wizarding photograph, and they appear to be laughing and talking to the person taking the picture. "This was taken in the Summer of 1994. The woman in the photo is Ophelia. She changed her name to Viola, transfigured her hair, and was one of my tutors."

Tutors. She had mentioned having tutors in the past. She said she was taught by members of the Order, but started convulsing. I take a hard look at the picture, "Hermione, is that the Mona Lisa?"

She grabs the photograph, and says, "I'm sure it's a replica. Moving on."

She hands me a fourth picture and I immediately tear up. In this picture is Hermione, Sirius, Andromeda, Viola, and Remus, and Tonks are all in the picture. It appears to be in the same house as the last picture. It's not the picture that made me tear up but the way Sirius and Remus put their arms around Hermione. They are squeezing her between them. What's more is she is dressed in holey black jeans, a Pearl Jam tee shirt and a leather jacket. Her hair is perfectly curly without any of the bushy texture she usually had. Andromeda and Tonks are surrounding Viola and they all appear to be laughing and sharing a joke. This is something I have never seen before. She slaps Sirius on his shoulder and he throws his head back in laughter. Remus whispers something in Hermione's ear, and she blushes and buries her head in Sirius' chest. I look at her. "I don't understand. Where, when was this taken, Hermione?"

She frowns, "This was taken at Dagworth Castle on my sixteenth birthday in 1995, so Fifth Year."

Wait, what? "You spent your sixteenth birthday fuming over Umbridge and trying to talk me into starting the D.A. I remember because you told me it would be the greatest birthday present to start a secret defense course."

She smiles, "That's true. I did. This was taken the first part of my day."

How in the bloody, "Hermione it's daytime in this picture. We had that discussion at lunch. Fuck, you were using the time-turner, weren't you?"

She takes in a big breath and lets it out slowly, "I was given the time-turner again the summer of Fourth Year. I used it every day until 26th of July 1997, the day I erased my parents memories."

It's all starting to come together. Her unexplainable closeness to Remus and Tonks, enough that they made her Teddy's godmother. The way Sirius would tease her and call her kitten. The way she knew things I never understood how she could have learned them. Her incredible dueling ability. Fuck. It all makes sense. I nod, "I had suspected you had the time-turner. Malfoy and I were talking and I told him you could do things I couldn't explain. After that, I visited Minerva and Molly. I knew they were hiding something. Why would you be given a time-turner from The Order?"

She sighs, "It wasn't The Order who organized any of it. It was Ophelia. She was behind it all. She made sure I specifically couldn't tell you much about it. You met her as Mina Second Year. She was waiting for us at the train station. Harry, she was a legilimens, a powerful one. She would have known you were a horcrux even then. She would have been able to tell because she could see auras and magical cores. She made me sign a paper to agree to the tutoring. In her journals she wrote there were extra spells to keep me from revealing the truth specifically to you. She knew you were compromised. She even offered Ron the same tutoring, but Molly didn't want her child taught by a werewolf and a murderer, Molly's words, not Ophelia's. Ophelia was quite angry with Molly over it."

I look at Hermione, there was so much to unload in those few sentences alone, I wasn't sure where to start. So I take another look at the picture and ask her, "What were Sirius and Remus saying to you in this picture?"

She laughs, "Right before picture was taken by Kings, Sirius grabbed me and said, 'Look the kitten is trapped between two 'ol dogs." That's when I hit him, and Remus whispers, 'Forgive him, 'Mi, we haven't had a ripe sixteen year old between us in 19 years.' So I buried my head in Sirius' chest and said, 'I hate you both." They burst out laughing, and then Viola came over and slapped the shit out of them both. They always did their best to embarrass me."

I know I'm sitting here with mouth agape. Why is it everything she says brings on more questions? "Quiet, kind Remus said that to you with Tonks right beside him?"

She laughs, "Harry, quiet, kind Remus was a façade. There is a reason he was a Marauder, he was just as bad as Sirius, if not worse. In fact your father got in more trouble because of Remus than anything else. The quiet one was your father. Remus had his act down so good, Minerva fell for it every time. Remus was behind the majority of their pranks. Your father embodied so much courage he always took the dare from Remus and Sirius, and would inevitably be caught. Sirius and James were like opposite twins. Peter was your father's best friend. That is why he didn't hesitate to make him secret keeper. Sirius didn't want the responsibility because his Occlumency was shit, whereas Pettigrew was quite talented at it. That's how he was able to fool them all."

"What?! How do you know so much about them? Why would they never tell me?" I can't believe this shite!

She tilts her head, and bites her lip, "I suppose, they thought they would always have time to tell you later."

I feel tears, "But they always said my father was relentless in pursuing my mother and would confess his love in the hallways."

She moves to sit beside me and takes my hand, "That is true. Your father was disgustingly brave. So brave he knew Lily was his and he announced it for all to hear. Being the quiet one between Sirius and Remus didn't mean he was quiet. They were all like fireworks, loud and beautiful but when two are let go at once, and then a single one after, you are more likely to remember the first two because together they were louder."

I look at her, "How, how do you know?"

She smiles brightly and reaches into her box and pulls out a small trunk. "When Remus and Sirius were teaching me about pensieves, they pulled these memories to show me. They stored them at Dagworth Castle because someday, they wanted to give them to you. Harry they loved you so much. They spoke of how much you were so much like your father, it hurt them sometimes to be near you. This chest is full of memories they have of your parents. I have another gift for you." She reaches in her beaded bag and pulls out a small tele. She sits it on the floor and enlarges it. It's humungous. "This is our Deluxe Pensivision. It's the one hundred inch model. It does work like a normal television, however this small attachment on the left is where you place the memory so you can view it on the screen she hands me a remote. These buttons change the view of the memory so you can see it from different angles."

Holy bloody hell! "You created this? Holy shite, Hermione, this is amazing!"

She smiles. "This model hasn't released yet. It's a prototype. I just wanted you to have it. I have everything we need to hang it on the wall. Americans always need bigger and better than what they currently have. These will sell like crazy in North America. I made sure this one would work in the UK."

Wow! I look at her and hug her, "Thank you Mia. Truly this means so much to me. I still have a lot of questions."

She laughs, "I know you do."

We take a seat, and I point to the tapestry on the opposite wall. "That is a Potter Family Tapestry Ophelia gifted me in 2004 after she gave me your address. You said she was a Legilimens? She gifted me a book on Occlumency and one on etiquette as well with that tapestry. The book on Occlumency was rare and after reading it, my Occlumency improved significantly. The interaction I had with her that day makes so much more sense now. It felt as if she could read my mind, and now I know why. If she offered training to Ron, I suspect she was closer to the Weasleys than Molly let on last time I visited her."

Hermione nods, "I don't know all the details. Ophelia kept very detailed journals, I haven't read them all. I only looked long enough to find what her silencing charm entailed so I could share it with you. I had a busy morning with Hester at the castle and then we went to the Manor. Sasha and I will be staying at the Manor. The Castle has too many memories for me to stay there. The Manor has three stories and about 30 guests rooms. It's much bigger than I remember."

I nod, "I went to Ophelia's funeral at the Manor. It was quite lovely. How much did you use the time turner, Hermione?"

She sighs, "Quite a lot actually. I had rules. I couldn't be in the same place at the same time. For example, in Sixth Year I would go to the Castle at five in the morning and spend the day, and into the night. Then I would use the time turner to go have dinner with my parents, or go help the twins. I would then use the time turner and go back to five in the morning and spend the day in classes. I would then study in the library until it closed with Theo Nott, Susan Bones, and Hannah Abbott. Then I'd use the time-turner again and go to the Gryffindor common room and spend time with you, Ron, and Neville."

She makes my brain hurt. "How did I never see you on the Marauders Map in a place you weren't suppose to be?"

She bites her lip and says, "Because Remus taught me how to spell the map so I wouldn't appear on it."

Wait…"How did I never notice that?"

She laughs, "Because in Sixth Year you obviously never looked for me. You were busy obsessing over Malfoy."

I sputter, "I was not obsessing over Malfoy!"

She smirks, "It's ok, Harry. Draco has always been rather beautiful."

I glare at her, "That's disgusting!"

She just laughs. "You were always looking for him on the map, Harry. It's alright, I know you suspected his nefarious activities, and you were right to suspect him."

Fucking Malfoy! "He said you two were soulmates, is that true?"

She sighs, "It's complicated, Harry, but to answer your question, yes. Luna used to make strange comments in Eighth year like your whackspurts are finally aligned. Then the one time I met Ophelia, she said the reason I could tell Draco things is because he was my soulmate. Sasha recently confirmed it, and I trust her magic more than anything."

Fucking Sasha! "Why does she hate me?"

She sighs, "Harry she doesn't hate you. She quite likes you, actually. She is cautious about you when we are together. She doesn't want to see me get hurt."

I think for a moment, "You've told her I hurt you?"

She sighs, "She knows I have severe trust issues. She knows it's from my past. She knows Draco contributed to that. BUT, I've told her everything. I told her you stood up for me when someone called me names. I told her about how you stayed neutral when Ron and Ginny picked fights with me. I told her how you didn't visit me after everything with Draco fell apart."

What? "Ginny said your flat was warded after the breakup."

She nods, "It was warded from everyone, but you. I thought you would have checked in on me, but you never did."

Fuck, fuck, fuck! "Hermione…"

She's crying, "I understand, Harry. I was a reminder to you of a fucking shitty part of your life. You wanted to forget the war, forget the hurt, and I was a flashing reminder of it all. You had systematically cut me out of your life for an entire year. The summer after the war I saw you three times. Once when you asked me to testify at Malfoy's trial, and at the trial. The third time was that awful dinner at the Weasleys. Eighth Year you didn't talk to me until the second half of the year because you couldn't stand me being with Draco. Of course you wouldn't check on me because you wouldn't be able to sympathize with me when you were glad we were over."

She's right. I wouldn't have been able to sympathize with her. He'll never deserve her. "So you told all your friends this?"

She sighs, "Harry my friends were all I had for five years. Of course I told them the things I went through as best I could. They needed to understand me. I was such an emotional wreck when we met. They were there for me, and have stuck by me through thick and thin. I never had to question why they loved me, they just did. I never had to worry if they would suddenly see me as secondary to their real best friends. They had all this history, but they took me in as their own without any reservations. I always felt your friendship was conditional. When Ron and I fought, you would leave with him 100% of the time. When I didn't agree with you, you would stop talking to me for weeks at a time. I love you, Harry. I fought with my blood, sweat, and tears to protect you. I put my feelings aside so I could always be strong for you. When Sirius died it crushed me. He became my friend. The first friend who I felt I didn't have to fight to keep. The first friend who didn't put conditions on the friendship as long as I agreed with him all the time. He encouraged me to learn instead of constantly making fun of me for being a bookworm. He allowed me to be me in the most amazingly freeing way. I had to pretend he was merely your godfather when he died as I was bleeding inside. I couldn't share my pain with anyone, but people who knew my secret and they all thought I was being overly dramatic. Maybe I was. I'm a bit emotionally stunted, but that doesn't make my pain less. For you Harry, I set everything aside so you wouldn't see my pain. I encouraged you and stuck by you through thick and thin because I love you. My friends in America listened to me, love me, but they have no idea the kind of pain we suffered. The most tragic thing they went through were a couple of their friends were killed in a car accident. I'm not minimizing their pain, but they never had to decide if a person deserves to live or die. They weren't bullied their entire school experience. They weren't discredited over prejudice. They weren't used to fight an adults war. They can never know everything I had to endure, but you are the one person who can. Up until yesterday I was unable to share with you everything I went through. I worked my ass off through Hogwarts. I did everything I could to help you. You are the only family I have in this entire world, Harry. One thing I have learned is we always hurt the ones we love the most. I know you love me, Harry. You have also hurt me more than any other person. My friends know this and yes they try to protect me just as much as I tried to protect you."

I sit back stunned. She's right. I always took Ron's side in arguments because he was less forgiving than Hermione. I would get mad at her and not speak to her for a couple of weeks. She was the one person I could direct all my anger towards and feel safe to do so. What I never considered was how much I was hurting her. Fuck! I look at her and see her for what feels like the first time. She's been my family through it all, and George was right. I don't deserve her secrets. Family is different from friends. I resented her for keeping secrets, but never appreciated her.

I take her hand, "Hermione, I'm so sorry for how I treated you. You are right. I did take my anger out on you because you were the only constant in my life. I love you so fucking much. I am sorry I have caused you so much pain."

She hugs me and bursts into tears. "I-I think you're the only person I c-could forgive of anything."

I hold her tight. She really is amazing. I should have been better to her. "I promise I will never take you for granted again."

She leans back and reaches into the box and hands me a leather jacket. We spend the rest of the day talking about the past. We set up the Pensivision and she was able to show me memories of Sirius, Remus, and Tonks. We watched a few of the memories of my parents and before I knew it Daphne and the kids were back. Hermione was lost to me over my sons. She really is the best aunt they could ever ask for. Now that I truly understand her, I'll never let her hurt again.