Disclaimer - I don't own Harry Potter. This story works with the headcanon of Regulus being on the spectrum and also the biological father of Hermione Granger. It's also one of my major NaNoWriMo projects for this year along with a lot of shorter stories over the course of this month such as ones written for Froday Flash Fiction challenge which won't be added to my NaNoWriMo series.
Upside Down Mirror: Granger Yet
Ashes of Normality
The morning of the twenty-fourth of June started off well enough for the Granger family, minus the presence of the eldest daughter who was currently away at boarding school, or so the Granger's told their neighbors when they asked where Hermione Jean Granger was.
Her parents would tell others their eldest daughter attended a school for the gifted. Their middle daughter, Elizabeth Jane Granger would tell those who would listen that her sister was at a school for weirdos. Their youngest daughter claimed her sister went to a school for Time Lords, which of course would cause anyone listening who didn't know her to do a double-take, yet those who knew Jules or Juliet Grace Granger found such statements a part of the norm.
Mr. Granger got up that morning and cooked breakfast while Mrs. Granger rousted the two younger girls from bed. Elizabeth stumbled over to the breakfast table muttering, "Why does Jules have to be such a ball of energy every morning?"
"That's Jules for you," Mr. Granger turned to look at his youngest, smiling while he did so. "And we love her for it."
"I don't," Elizabeth muttered, poking the toast in front of her. "Did you have to pour a can of beans on my toast?"
"I like beans on toast," Mr. Granger would reply as if he'd not grown up having beans on toast growing up.
"I do too!" Jules chorused, digging into her beans on toast with gusto.
"I know the two of you love beans on toast, but some of us would rather have a bit more variety when it comes to breakfast."
"You can decide what's for breakfast when you do the cooking," Mrs. Granger piped up, sitting down in front of her own plate just before Mr. Granger joined the rest of his family at the table.
"You wouldn't be doing this if Hermione was here," Elizabeth muttered.
"Ne likes beans on toast," Jules piped up. The words came out from around mouthfuls of beans and toast.
"Not that much."
"Hermione actually helps your father in the kitchen when she's here," Mrs. Granger stated as Jules started rapid firing off what she planned on doing once Hermione arrived home. None of the others seemed to pay what Jules said any mind, although both of her parents were careful to listen lest she gets a strange idea which might not turn out well, either resulting in someone ending up hurt or…
"I don't know how to cook."
"I can teach you, though truth be told Hermione doesn't know how to cook either. She just follows instructions," Mr. Granger stated, the smile on his face not fading.
"Where are you working today?" Elizabeth asked, her tone of voice indicating she knew the argument was over yet didn't like the outcome. "The clinic with grandma and grandpa, the dentistry with mother, or the bookstore with Grandpa Richard?"
"None of those." Mr. Granger stated, oblivious to Elizabeth's current mood. "I'm spending the day with you girls."
"Great," Elizabeth rolled her eyes.
"Elizabeth," their mother's tone of voice made Mr. Granger look up, still smiling, although a look of confusion passed over his face. "Do you have a problem with your father spending the day with you?"
"I have a problem that my dad doesn't have a normal job like everybody else's parents. Like you."
"I do have a normal job," Mr. Granger quipped. "I have multiple normal jobs and I go where the family needs me the most, and right now none of those places are super busy so I get to be my favorite role. A stay-at-home dad."
Elizabeth's vivid blue eyes widened, her mouth pushing together in disgust at what he said even though he'd said nothing wrong. Mrs. Granger poked her fork into her beans and toast before cutting it away furiously. "Elizabeth."
"I know. I know that dad and Jules…"
"Not another word," Mrs. Granger stated, her eyes narrowing.
"I'm not following," Mr. Granger's smile finally disappeared. "Is there something wrong…"
"There's nothing wrong with what you do for a living dear," Mrs. Granger stated firmly, not looking any of her family members in the eye.
Mr. Granger's mouth twisted, staring as he contemplated what was being said. A loud clink was heard as Elizabeth set down her fork, her head darting up so she glared at her mother. "You aren't at all bothered by the fact dad doesn't have a normal work schedule? I certainly am! I mean…"
"Is this about how I do a lot of the cleaning and cooking around the house?" Mr. Granger asked. "Excepting your mother too is…"
"Yes! I know it's a sexist stereotype!"
"What does sexist mean?" Jules piped up, stopping her chatter to herself regarding what kind of treats Hermione might bring home to her that she would need to hide from the eyes of their cousins, yet this suited her quite find.
"I'll tell you—and not your father—when I think you're old enough," Mrs. Granger stated.
"Promise."
"Promise."
"I'll write that down when I finish breakfast," Jules stated, which meant she would if she did indeed write down the promise, pester her mother at least once a day until she got an answer regarding what the word means.
"It means expecting girls to not watch Dr. Who because they're girls. That kind of thing," Mr. Granger piped up, his smile returning. Mrs. Granger's eyes blinked and then she smiled, relief washing over her features.
"Well, for once you didn't bungle it," Elizabeth muttered.
Mr. Granger attempted to continue to smile, looking at his middle child in confusion while Mrs. Granger leaned forward so she could lean her head into one of her hands as the frustration started getting to her.
"Elizabeth."
"This family is weird enough with a supposed witch!"
Her mother glaring while Jules' eyes looked as if they were about to pop out didn't compare to what Mr. Granger said next. "You're a witch."
The color drained from Elizabeth's face while Mrs. Granger looked away. Jules glanced at her sister, then her father before blurting out, "Do you think I'll get my Hogwart's letter?"
"I'm sure you will," Mrs. Granger smiled at Jules.
"You don't know that," Elizabeth muttered. "Hermione made it clear about the whole supposed non-magical parents thing. And I'm not a witch." Her nose wrinkled up as one might expect of a noble and she sat back. "And what's wrong with wanting my dad to have one stable job like everybody else."
"I'd rather be the husband supporting his wife's career than the husband who puts his own career first," Mr. Granger muttered.
Elizabeth's attention turned to Mr. Granger and she swallowed. Her eyes went down and one hand brushed back a lock of hair.
"Look. If you don't want to spend the day with me and want to go and spend it with your friends, that's okay. Jules and I will be fine on our own." Mr. Granger let his facial features continue to twist into a smile. "I don't want to be that kind of parent."
"Yet you don't get what kind of parent I want," Elizabeth muttered.
"Okay. The conversation is closed. Don't try to reason with her, rabbit my dear. It's a teenage thing."
Which brought a frown upon Mr. Granger's face as if he didn't quite understand what she meant by this, before shaking it off and finishing his breakfast.
From there, everyone left to do their own thing. Mrs. Granger headed to the dentistry to take care of her clientele. Elizabeth headed out to hang with some of her school friends at the local park. Jules settled herself into the living room area setting her stuffed rabbit on the futon near her while she lay on the floor coloring in her coloring book while watching the tele.
Mr. Granger proceeded in diving into the cleaning which needed to be done around the house and the morning progressed into the noontime where he made lunch for everyone and took a walk with Jules to deliver said lunch, much to Mrs. Granger's delight and Elizabeth's horror—after all, her father managed to figure out she'd decided to hang out at the local park that day.
Noontime headed into the evening which meant making dinner, with nothing out of the ordinary for the family happening.
And then, uncharacteristically, Mr. Granger dropped a plate while washing the dinner dishes, his eyes drifting down to his left forearm as he stared in horror.
His forearm burned.
His left forearm burned and Regulus knew there was only one reason his left forearm would in fact burn in such a manner. His silver eyes widened as his hand slapped over his left forearm which was covered by the long sleeves he always wore to cover up his past.
"Rabbit?"
"Dad, are you alright?"
"Daddy?"
Taking a deep breath, Regulus turned around so his back was against the counter so he might slide down, waiting for the burning sensation of Voldemort's summoning to fade away.
Once again Regulus Arcturus Black felt his entire world burn and crumble down around him, but he closed his eyes to make sense of everything.