Prompt: Meeting the other's parents

Chapter 15: Irreparable

Harry watched helplessly as Hermione paced in circles around the small waiting room. He lost count on how many laps she'd done since the healers led them to the private space. He wanted to stop her but understood the constant movement channeled some of her anxiety. If she forced herself to sit it would all be redirected to the guilt she felt over obliviating her parents.

"I could have told them to just move here. Why did I wipe their entire memories?" she asked.

It wasn't a question he was expected to answer. He could remind her it was the only way to keep them safe. He secretly believed she did it in case she was killed to spare them the pain of losing their only child. That cut a little deeper now for him, he didn't want to bring it up and make her pain even worse by making her think of Shiloh in a time like this. Her attempt to restore their memories had resulted in her dad calling the police on them to report a home invasion.

The Australian ministry had to be notified to clear up the situation only to find their normal method of handling such problems would be to obliviate the muggles. The cruel irony of the problem wasn't lost on Harry. The ministry officials were more accommodating than Harry had anticipated and he wondered if Kingsley had already notified his counterpart that this might be a complication. They were quick to explain to Wendell and Monica Wilkins that there was a possible viral exposure at their dental practice and they needed to get tested. The explanation had them calm down enough to put them to sleep and transport them to the magical hospital.

Finally Hermione stopped. She just stopped in the middle of her lap and searched for Harry. "What if they can't be fixed? What if they never remember me?"

Jumping up from his perch on a window bench, he met her where she was at, took both her hands in his. "We can't think like that yet. Let's wait and see what the obliviators say." He tried to stay optimistic for her. Silently he thought that would be worse than death. To know they exist but they don't know she does. It would be like the Longbottoms. Some terrible perpetual mourning. The difference would be her loss had been taken by her own hand. A sound at the door had them both turning as one. He dropped one of her hands, squeezed the other tightly.

"Miss Granger," the obliviator, Hestor Dale, offered a sympathetic smile, motioned for them all to sit.

Harry knew that wasn't a good sign. If they had been able to restore the Grangers, surely they'd be led to their rooms for a happy reunion. Hermione sat stiffly, clinging to his hand.

"We think we can restore most of your father's memories, but I'm afraid your mother's is well and firmly convinced she is Monica Wilkins. If we push too hard, she may never have or make another memory."

Tears sprung to Hermione's eyes, she covered her mouth with her hand to quiet the sob. "Is this my fault? Did I perform the spell wrong?"

Hestor was quick to shake her head. "No dear. We see this happen when the person is happy. She's just very happy with her life. Challenging that will shatter everything she thinks she knows."

She was happy. That should be a comforting thought. Except that happiness had no room for Hermione. Harry felt a pain in his chest for her. "You fixed her dad?"

"No. Not yet. We merely assessed the conditions. This is a very difficult situation. We can restore your father and then allow him the choice. To go back to his life, or live as Wendell, knowing he's not."

"You can't," Hermione whispered. "You can't do that. To either of them. They're both happy?"

"Very. They're both living fulfilling lives. It's not the worst outcome we've seen; however, I understand how this can be upsetting for you."

Hermione sat. She processed. "They'll never know me?"

"We can modify their memories. I'm afraid I wouldn't recommend inserting you into this life as a child. It would be too disruptive. Especially for your father who could start to unravel if he has any remnants left. We can make it so you're very close friends from England. That would be the least complicated. They don't think they have any other family. Making it too complicated is dangerous," Hestor outlined the options.

"Close friends," Hermione repeated.

Was that worse? Harry wondered. A clean break seemed simpler, if there could be a simple answer in such a terrible situation. He studied Hermione.

She turned to him. "I don't know what to do."

Why was there still so much heartbreak from the war? It didn't seem fair. "What do you think they'd want you to do?" he asked.

"I think… I think they'd still want to know me. Still want to be a part of our life," she told him with a underlying tone of uncertainty.

Harry's heart swelled at the use of our life. He wanted to know her parents. Of course he met them at Diagon Alley but he never really knew them. Now, that she was making plans for her life… for their life together, it would have been even more important to include them.

"There is the added issue that they're muggles. They were allowed to know about magic on account of your connection. The memories we'd include would need to be muggle in nature," Hestor added cautiously.

Hermione nodded her understanding. She was much more understanding than he would be. She was already giving up so much, what little part of their memory she'd have left wouldn't even be about the real Hermione. "I'm starting a position as a legal aid. Harry's going to be a professor. Maybe… maybe they knew my parents? Fellow dentists. Henry and Madeline Granger?"

"I think that's perfect. We have their complete profile. I can make the changes and bring you back to make sure they took?" the older witch stood and left Harry and Hermione alone again.

Hermione leaned her head on his shoulder. It was like she was his Aunt Marge when she got deflated. All tension was gone and she was defeated. Harry rubbed absent circles on her back trying to comfort her with his presence. There were no words that felt adequate.

They weren't waiting long. The door opened again. Hermione stood hesitantly and then led Harry back with Hestor. Her parents were sitting next to each other on an exam table giggling like they were school kids sharing an inside joke.

"You two have visitors," Hestor said, getting their attention and hung back to observe the interaction.

"Oh! Oh my. Hermione. Harry. What a surprise. They said you were here. What are you doing in Perth?" Monica said, genuinely thrilled to see her. She jumped up and hugged her tightly. "I was so sorry to hear about your parents."

Harry looked nervously to the obliviator. Of course they'd need to have passed away. He wished Hermione had been prepared because she broke down in body racking sobs at the words. Harry moved to comfort her but the Wilkins were on it. Gathering her up together, holding her and rocking her. No words were needed here either.

Harry stepped back and left the room with Hestor to give Hermione privacy. As they stood there he shot a look at the witch. "You could have warned her they'd think the Grangers were dead."

A flash of regret crossed her face. "I assumed she'd know. I'm sorry if that was a shock. This isn't the worst outcome," Hestor repeated her earlier assessment. "They think you were in town on vacation and stopped by their house just as we left to bring them here. I'd recommend you both spend some time with them and if anything seems off or if there are contradictions that need to be corrected, we can address them right away. I am sorry. The Wilkins are a lovely couple. You should get to know them."

Harry watched through the window as they had Hermione wiping tears away and laughing again. They were a lovely couple.