"How long do we wait?" Alastor asked after an hour, watching the space where his daughter should be, the magic invoked by the ritual meaning that she was completely hidden from view.
"I don't know," Janet murmured, "Another hour, hour and a half? Rituals often take time as well you know."
He hummed, trying not to show his unease. "Right."
They were all uneasy when there was still no movement two hours later. "Right well. I think perhaps we should see if we can break the circle." Janet announced her tone carefully even, her face revealing none of her worries. With sharp nods of agreement, both Alastor and Robert followed her, none of them giving a voice to their fears as they concentrated on mapping the circle looking for a weak point. There was none.
"Pick a point," Robert commanded, his voice far steadier than he felt. "We'll all focus on it and hopefully it'll be enough to break through."
An hour and a half later, the sweat dripping from the sheer force of the magic, all three dropped their wands in defeat.
"I think I need to contact Perenelle," Janet voiced faintly, her face carefully blank but her hands shaking from more than just exertion.
"I think that might be best," Robert agreed softly, the lines on his face standing out sharply in contrast to his parlour. Alastor merely nodded, not sure he was capable of formulating a response in the face of the overwhelming fear that was chorusing through him leaving him feeling jittery. He'd only just got her back. He couldn't lose her again. He wouldn't survive it.
The hour it took Perenelle to arrive was the longest of Alastor's life, too many scenarios running through his head, none of them good. Only his years of experience on the job kept the fear from showing on his face.
"What seems to be the issue?" Perenelle glanced around them as she stepped daintily out of the floo.
"Hermione attempted a solo ritual. It's been…it's been over five hours." Janet looked destroyed, wringing her hands as she attempted to hold herself together. "We cannot break through."
Perenelle's eyebrows shot up in surprise. She was already striding out of the house in the direction of the circle before Janet had finished her explanation. "A solo ritual for what?"
"Closure apparently." Robert muttered as they followed, his eyes trained on the place his granddaughter was hidden.
"I see," Perenelle murmured, "Can I at least know the contents of the ritual?"
"I don't know," he admitted, sounding pained. "She needed candles, a bowl, an athame and a forget me not. I think that she also mentioned blood."
Perenelle hummed, striding to the perimeter of the circle, casting as she walked around it. Half an hour later, she faced them, "I think we should call in reinforcements. Begin with family, I think, and we can take it from there."
None of them were able to hide the sheer terror that coursed through them at that announcement. Unable to do anything else, Perenelle squeezed Janet's shoulder, refusing to let her own worry show on her face.
"She's been in there for almost nine hours!" Janet shouted as Perenelle began discussing their next move. It had taken time to gather the family, and then they had tried and failed to break through the circle.
"I am aware," Perenelle replied quietly. "Minerva, can you smuggle Mr Snape from school?"
Minerva looked surprised and then thoughtful, despite the worry on her face. "Yes."
"Good."
"Alastor, acquire Mr Prewett if you please."
"What?" Alastor croaked, moving as if against a force.
"Mr Prewett. Gideon, I believe, acquired him."
"Right," he muttered.
"Does anyone know how to reach Miss Carrow?"
"Saul will," Robert muttered, "she's working in the Department."
"I'll contact him and then acquire Madam Malfoy," Perenelle replied, sweeping out of the room, leaving several concerned McGonagalls watching as she did.
"She's going to fix this isn't she?" Callum voiced hesitantly.
"Of course she is." his mother scoffed, "She has over six hundred years of knowledge! I have every faith that even if this next plan doesn't work, she'll have something else we can try."
"What in the name of Merlin were you thinking letting the lass attempt a solo situal?" Isobel enquired into the resulting silence.
"She needed it," Robert murmured, not looking away from the place he knew the circle was. "You didn't see her Ma. She was…in pieces. She's been pushing herself to breaking point with no regard for her own safety. It was…I have neve heard a noise like that come out of another human. And I never want to hear it again."
"What triggered it?" Callum asked.
"Fabian Prewett amongst other things." he grumbled, "But there is a room at Hogwarts that…I don't know. The lassies said it changes… but it was her livingroom I assume from before. There were pictures and wee knicknacks she'd obviously made as a bairn. The lassies said she took two steps in and dissolved."
None of them looked like they knew what to say to that, leaving an uncomfortable silence to fall, all of them eyeing the empty space that disguised the magic playing out inside the circle.
"What…why are we here?" Gideon eyed Perenelle warily, trying to ignore the watching crowd.
"Miss Moody has…well, we're not sure but we suspect she has ran into difficulties taking part in a solo ritual."
"Why was she attempting a solo ritual?" he demanded.
"Closure," Pandora murmured, "She's not in any danger but I imagine she'd be more comfortable in an actual bed."
"Closure?" Severus frowned.
"Oh yes, she had some people who have been desperate to speak to her again."
Gideon froze, "Who?" he croaked.
Pandora smiled slightly, "I believe the list will be longer than she expected. Which is nice for her. She is going to need us all after this."
"Right," he muttered, deciding now was not the time to work through that pronouncement. "Lets…lets go and try…something."
"Pandora you take south," Perenelle instructed. "There is no correct way to do this, just…work together as best you can."
They hummed, moving to the four points. "On three." Narcissa commanded.
To those watching it felt like time stood still as the magic pressed heavily on them. None of them dared to so much as twitch as swirling masses of white vapour poured from the four wands, converging to show a dome. At each point, a blinding light slowly began to travel up from their feet, meeting at the top, until cracks started to form down the curve of the dome. Only the look of complete concentration on the participants' faces silenced their elation that something appeared to be happening this time.
At the front of the crowd, Alastor barely dared to breathe, until the protections fell and a still Hermione could be seen sprawled in the centre, her dragon curled in the crook of her shoulder. It felt like the bottom had fallen out of his world.
"She's breathing!" Dorea's voice seemed so far away, "Alastor! She's breathing."
His head snapped up to look at her. "What?"
"She's breathing," Minerva replied for her, unable to hide the tremor in her voice. "Mr Prewett wants to know where you want her?"
"Room two doors along from the top" he mumbled, realising his daughter's limp form was now cradled in Gideon Prewett's arms. Gideon nodded, walking away from them leaving a pale-faced Severus being reassured by Pandora in his wake.
"She's breathing?"
"Yes." Minerva agreed.
Nodding once, Alastor turned on his heel following Gideon up the stairs.
"You look like shit mate," Caradoc eyed Gideon from his perch on the sofa.
All but collapsing into it, Gideon tried to decide what to say. "Hermione…"
Caradoc sat up rapidly, a concerned frown creasing his face, across from him, Fabian did the same. "What about her?"
"She's unconscious."
"What?"
"Solo ritual. Dora seems to think she'll be fine but…"
"Why the fuck did she attempt a solo ritual?" Fabian demanded, his freckles standing out sharply against his ashen face.
"Dora said closure."
"What else did Dora say?" Caradoc asked sharply.
"There was a queue of people waiting to speak to her. She…implied they were from before."
"How the fuck is that possible!"
"I don't know mate," Gideon groaned, running a hand over his face, not quite able to get the image of Hermione's lifeless body out of his head. He had been terrified and for several seconds he thought she was dead. As it was, she was completely unresponsive and that scared him just as much.
"Did Dora say when she thought she'd wake?"
"No." he whispered. At his side, Fabian looked how he felt.
Hermione woke to complete darkness. Frowning, she attempted to get her bearings, opening her palm to create fire so she could see.
"Lolly's little Mistress is awake!" Lolly cried, wringing her hands before disappearing with a sharp crack.
"Oh thank all the Gods," Alastor ran into the room seconds after Lolly's disappearance, hauling Hermione into his arms, hugging her so tightly it was painful.
"Dad!" she gasped, "Dad I can't breathe."
He loosened his hold fractionally, his shoulders shaking. It took her several seconds to understand what was happening as he sobbed into her hair. "Dad? What…what happened?"
"What happened?" he demanded, finally letting her go, tear tracks marring his face in a shocking display from her usually stoic father. "What happened? Well my lass, we had to summon Madam Flamel to break the circle, in the end she had to call in your sect, so be prepared for that interrogation. You were in there for almost twelve hours. Once we got to you we couldn't wake you or your wee beastie up. It's been four days!"
"Four days?"
"Aye! Godric Hermione," he breathed, his eyes scanning her face, "I thought….we thought…"
"Oh Dad." she murmured, reaching to hug him, ignoring Nuri's indignant squeak as she was jostled.
"Never again," he whispered, clutching her tightly, sounding so broken a wave of almost overwhelming guilt crashed over her. "I can't do that ever again."
She hummed. "I'm not allowed to do it again," she mumbled.
"Of course you're not!" he retorted before her words seemed to sink in. "Who else told you?"
"Luna," she smiled sadly.
"What?" he drew back, his eyes scanning her face as if checking for an injury they'd missed.
"I…Mum and Dad and then the twins were there. And then Gin and Ron. And…and Luna and Harry." she paused, "Then mum."
"I…I what?" he looked like someone had confounded him.
"She said that you need to redecorate, that, and I quote, you hated the vase Granny sent for the wedding so why is it still on display?" she squeezed his hand, "She also said she loved you."
He made a choked sounding wheeze. "i…Gods, truly."
"Yes. She also said the answer to the night we were attacked lies at least partially in your old case files."
"Merlin fuck, Hermione," he muttered, swiping the tears from his face."I….I…what the bloody fuck happened in that circle!"
"I…it felt like nothing for ages," she whispered, not noticing her grandparents standing at the door. "And…and then Mum and dad appeared and we…we had a chat." she felt Alastor reach for her hand, her eyes on the duvet in front of her, her tears leaving two growing dark spots. "And then Fred and George. They…they asked for a safe place for when they clash with Molly. They didn't stay overly long. And then G..Ginny, Ginny was next." she took a shuddering breath in, feeling her father move to wrap his arms around her, "And then Ron." she whispered. "He said that Dora was right that this was…bigger than all of us. And…and then…and then…"
"Hush, Mo sholas" Robert commanded, sitting down on the other side of her. "It's alright, Just breathe." Silently Janet moved to sit on the end of the bed, her hand clutching Hermione's ankle under the covers, needing to reassure herself she was truly here.
"Luna," Hermione gasped around a sob,. "Luna was there."
Alastor felt his heart crack at the raw grief on his daughter's face and he wondered just how long she had lied to herself. There was no way on this earth that she hadn't been completely in love with that witch. He wondered whether it was fate that had intervened there, or if it was a form of self-preservation in the midst of war. Whatever it had been, it clearly hadn't worked; she looked utterly shattered. Perhaps unfairly he felt a surge of rage for Fabian Prewett. His daughter had had someone who she had loved, who, if the Carrow witch was to be believed, loved her back. And now instead of that, she had a wizard who didn't have enough control of himself not to hurt her. And the other one, he supposed. The other one appeared to be shaping up to be a far more palatable prospect. Despite not wanting to consider his daughter with anyone romantically currently, he made a mental note to at least owl the boy. Surely the other Prewett had told him about the situation by now, which meant he'd want to know if she woke.
"What did she say, lass?" he checked quietly once she'd pulled herself back together slightly.
"That she loved me," she murmured, "And…and I was going to make things better for her this time. And that I had to live or she'd send nargles after me."
Janet frowned, knowing she was missing half the information, venturing hesitantly, "Hermione, hen, what in the name of all the gods is a nargle?"
Hermione gave a sob like laugh, shaking her head with a look of undisguised fondness on her face, "I have no idea," she admitted," But I know I don't want them."
"Right," Janet nodded, looking like she was concerned for her sanity.
"Was that it?" Robert probed.
She shook her head, "Harry was next. He…he said we'd succeed. And he was going to work with Gin and Lu to convince Alex to hex Fabian."
Alastor gave a startled laugh, "They can do that?"
"Apparently they were going to figure it out," she muttered. "They…they said they'd been watching. Harry especially was always close by."
She snorted when her father and grandparents looked around the room warily as if expecting Harry to materialise."Your mother was last?" Alastor ventured, ignoring the sharp inhales of his in-laws.
"Yes," Hermione smiled gently, looking at her grandmother, "she said you were right about the suitcases. And she said you," she turned to her grandfather, "Had to let go of the guilt. That she loved you all."
"My gods." Janet breathed.
"What…what's significant about the suitcases?"
She let out a startled laugh. "I accused her of having a false compartment in them to hide the clothes and letters she didn't want us to be aware of. It would appear I was correct."
Hermione's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Is it wrong that I really want to see inside those compartments?" she murmured.
"Aye good luck." Alastor smirked, "she had the damn things protected by a password."
Hermione pouted, leaning into her father's side. "I wish they were here," she murmured.
"If everything you've just said is true, they're not as far away as you suspected." he countered softly. "And Molly's already reasonably far along with the twins. it won't be long until they're here."
"It's not the same."
"No, it's not, it can't be," he agreed. "Hermione, lass, given everything that happened, surely you don't want it to be?"
"No," she agreed in a small voice. "But..it doesn't make it easier knowing I'll have all these memories, the stories, the feelings….and…and I'm the only one. I'll always be the only one. None of them will remember. And…I'll be Auntie Mya apparently but…they won't be mine, not really. And while that's good for them, Gods of course it is, it's still…they'll all be different people. And i'll still be me."
"Oh lass," Alastor sighed, "they'll still be yours. Just differently, the same as you are not the same now as you were then. Living means changes and you are no more the lass who came back to us than you are the toddler that left. You've remnants, scars, memories, behaviours, ideals….you keep those,but everything changes. And you could no more return to them the same witch than they could grow up in different circumstances and remain the same as you knew them. They'll still be them though, they won't be completely changed. They couldn't be. They're the same people."
Not sure she was able to speak around the grief, she allowed her father and grandfather to hug her, accepting the comfort in the hopes it would help.
Two days later, finally back home, Hermione squeaked as Alex hauled her to her feet and wrapped her in a hug so tightly she was sure she felt something crack. "What the fuck were you thinking!" he demanded.
Ignoring the question, she hugged him back, "Harry says he intends to reach out."
"What?" he demanded, sounding utterly bewildered, which was fair, she supposed. She'd experienced it and still, it sounded insane if she thought about it for too long.
"Harry. He has a message for you. I won't give you it. I'll wait and see if they figure it out."
"Hermione…Kitten. Talk sense!" he pleaded.
She sighed, pulling back from him, aware of her godparents eyes cataloguing her every move, "Sit down."
"In a minute, "Charlus murmured, taking Alex's place. "You scared us half to death."
"Sorry," she mumbled.
"We'll discuss it later, " Dorea dismissed taking her from her husband. Hermione felt instantly guilty, feeling the fear through her hug.
"I didn't mean to worry anyone."
"Yes well," Dorea sighed, Nuri giving a sad little croon from Hermione's neck. "What exactly happened?"
"I…ah…spoke to some people."
"Who?" Alex frowned, "You were unconscious."
"Mum and Dad and Fred and George. and..Gin and Ron and Luna and Harry….and Mum."
All three Potters blinked. "Pardon?"
"It's…well. I'm not entirely sure. Gin said they couldn't tell me how it worked." she frowned, her hands moving agitatedly. "But they ah…they had some things they wanted to say."
"Such as?" Dorea demanded.
Hermione sighed heavily. "I got a few lectures." she muttered, "And Ron said that Pandora was right and fate was involved."
"Merlin fuck." Alex muttered; it was a sigh of how stunned she was that his mother didn't reprimand him as Hermione attempted to explain what happened before allowing them to coddle her for the rest of the night, realising they needed it as much as she did.
Three days after they received news that Hermione had woken, Minerva found herself eyeing the agitated teen who had appeared in her office and tried to decide what to do. Sneaking him off the premises once had been risky. Attempting it again was foolish in the extreme. But he looked wretched, the dark circles under his eyes highlighting how little he'd slept, combined with his continuously bouncing knee that screamed his feelings in a way she had never seen from him and she could hardly blame him. If she hadn't seen her niece up and moving with her own eyes she was sure she'd be in a similar state.
"Mr Snape…I cannot…"
"She looked like she was dead!" he barked, raking a hand through his hair.
Her eyes narrowed at the interruption but she let it go, his distress far too potent for her to hold it against him. "Yes, but she is not. She is alive and recovering and she will visit shortly."
"When?" he demanded.
Minerva sighed, "Sit down."
Doing as he was told, he watched with surprise as she strode into the floo.
"There you are lass," Hermione's head jerked up looking at her aunt in surprise.
"Am I meant to be elsewhere?"
"No. You're well aware I cancelled your tutoring this week. Unfortunately I have a rather disturbed Mr Snape in my office and…well….I cannot smuggle him out twice."
"Ah." Hermione hummed, putting down her textbook slowly, "Am I to assume you wish me to accompany you back?"
"If you would."
"You get to tell Dad." she countered.
"Pardon?"
"He has quite literally only gone to the toilet. Which is about the only time he lets me out of his sight."
Pained understanding crossed Minerva's face. "Well then." she muttered completely at a loss, letting the silence fall until she could hear footfalls getting louder as someone approached.
Pushing open the door, Alastor stilled comically at the sight of her, "Minerva. Shouldn't you be teaching?"
"I'm just here to borrow your daughter."
"No." he barked.
"Alastor! An hour at most. She will not leave my office."
"Dad…next week I need to return to work and tutoring…"
"You have another fortnight off. Your godfather insisted."
Hermione bit back a growl. "Tutoring then." she returned through gritted teeth.
"It would be best…"
"If I passed my NEWTs. I agree." she interrupted briskly.
"Hermione!"
"No. Two hours today and then next week I go back to tutoring and you go back to work."
"I am not leaving you here alone."
"I won't be alone. Lolly will be there. Aunt Dorea will no doubt manufacture an excuse or six to be here, I have to visit great grandmother and the children and the Weasleys."
He frowned, clearly warring with himself. "Part time. I will return part time. And you will take Lolly with you everywhere you go."
Every instinct made her want to rebel against that directive until she saw the very real fear on his face. "Fine," she huffed, "But we'll discuss Lolly accompanying me again when I go back to work."
He nodded once. "Two hours. No more. Lolly."
"Master wants Lolly?"
"Please accompany my daughter to Hogwarts. Do not let her out of your sight."
Lolly smirked, "Lolly will tether the little Mistress to her if she has to."
"That won't be necessary," Hermione interjected quickly before the elf could make good on her threat. "Let me get shoes.
She stepped out of the floo seconds after her aunt, it was all Minerva could do to get out of the way as an utterly traumatised Severus Snape all but threw himself at Hermione, all pretence of composure gone.
"I thought you were dead. You looked like you were dead…"
"I'm not dead," she soothed, hugging him tightly, "just…elsewhere for a bit."
"What?" he demanded despite the fact he hadn't let her go.
"An explanation for later," she mused, "Pandora said the time wasn't quite right."
He pulled back slightly so he could look at her. "What?"
"Pandora. She…apparently I'll know when the time is right to explain. She believes around Ostara."
He blinked at her, completely nonplussed. "I don't understand."
"Neither do i." Hermione admitted, "But I've learned to trust her."
He hummed, pulling her back in to hug her tightly again, "I don't like it."
"I didn't think you would," she agreed. "Perhaps take comfort in the fact that an explanation is forthcoming, even if not as quickly as you'd like."
He made a scoffing noise but didn't speak again, his arms remaining banded tightly around her as he attempted to convince himself that one of the only people he truly trusted was safe. In return, Hermione allowed some of the tension to drop, Pandora's words echoing in her ears. He wouldn't replace Harry, she understood that now. There was no world in which he could, for as long as she existed, Harry would be a part of her; the little brother she hadn't known she needed as badly as it turned out she did. But that didn't mean she couldn't adopt another one, another broken boy with too many expectations weighing him down. Different ones undoubtedly, but heavy ones nonetheless. And while she couldn't fix him, a lesson she'd learned the hard way with Harry, she could love him. She could give him a safe space if he let her. Merlin, she hoped he let her.
She returned home two hours later, leaving Severus slightly placated with a promise she'd visit even if she wasn't currently permitted to resume tutoring to find Caradoc sitting in her livingroom, her father scowling at him.
"You look more alive than Gid had me believing you'd be," he quipped, despite the way his eyes scanned her, checking her over.
"I know Dad told you I was awake," she chided, debating for several seconds before kissing him swiftly, ignoring her father's shout of protest.
"Yes well, I'm rather relieved to see it." his tone turned slightly mocking, "It's a bit of an extreme way to get out of a date, you know."
She rolled her eyes in response, eyeing Alastor, "Are you intending to supervise?"
"Yes," he bit out.
"Dad! For Heaven's sake! Leave Lolly…go and…I don't know, do whatever it is you do when you're not traumatising your Aurors. Please. I promise not to leave the house."
"No." he picked up a book pointedly, making her groan.
"Great," she muttered, before turning to Caraoc apologetically. "It would appear we have a chaperone. Although if it's any consolation, Harry approves of you and Ginny thinks you need to wear jeans more often."
Caradoc froze, "Say that again?"
She gave a grimace-like smile, "I might have had a chat with some people when I was…not conscious. Harry wanted me to tell you he approved. Which is high praise to be honest, i think the only other person he approved of with me was Luna. Although he also said he was watching and if you hurt me he'd figure out how to get someone to hex you. Oh actually," she leaned forward, kissing him again, despite his surprise, he returned it with enthusiasm until Alastor sent a stinging hex at him and he yelped.
"What in the name of Morganna do you think you're doing?" Alastor thundered.
"Technically that was from Ginny," Hermione replied with manufactured innocence.
"You understand you sound insane?" Caradoc checked, eyeing Alastor's wand warily.
"Yes," she agreed.
"And ah….we're sure they were, ah…genuinely…well. I mean…"
Hermione watched him with amusement as he attempted to work out how to word it. "Am I sure it was real?"
"Well…ah…yes."
"Yes. Or as sure as I can be, I suppose. Mum had some things to say I couldn't possibly have known."
"Right," he returned slowly, blowing out a breath. "So ah…you know thats really, really fucking strange, right?"
"Yes." she agreed. "But I'll be honest, given that the twins were there and in a few weeks they'll be here and in nappies…it's not really the strangest thing happening in my life."
He grimaced, "Fair enough. How are you feeling about that?"
"Conflicted." she replied bluntly.
"Understandable," he muttered, pulling her into a hug, allowing the relief that she was alive to permeate. "Promise me you're not going to do it again?"
"I'm not allowed," she muttered, sinking into him, still not sure how to process her feelings having had a chance to say a real goodbye.
While part of her acknowledged that she had desperately needed it, seeing Luna again had brought up too many feelings to mention, like Harry, she missed her like she was missing part of herself. In some ways, she knew she was. Whatever she had wanted to believe, she now knew that Luna had held far more of her heart than she'd originally intended to give her and that as a result, part of it would always belong to that version of her. It was terrifying and freeing in equal measure. She had never admitted it to herself, never allowed herself to even consider the fact that she might just love Luna very differently from how she had always described it and in some ways, she felt better for the acknowledgement, despite the searing pain she felt. But it was also terrifying because Luna had informed her she'd be her godmother this time around and no part of her could allow her own fears to prevent that from happening. Not now she'd seen the hope on the other witch's face at the thought of a childhood that was very different from her last one. But she was scared. Terrified that she'd struggle to separate them. That she'd be watching this Luna for glimpses of her Luna. That she'd be devastated by the differences. That this version of Luna would notice, because there was no universe in which that witch would not see far more than she was supposed to and her stomach lurched at the idea of hurting her; she'd done enough of that.
"Oh?" he probed lightly.
"I got a lecture from Luna," she muttered.
"Luna," he hummed, trying to choose his words carefully as he read something in her tone. "Tell me about her."
Hermione tensed. "I…she was amazing," she finally whispered, "Like Pandora but more, I suppose."
"You loved her," he stated, not needing to feel her nod to know it was true.
"Yes," Hermione agreed, her voice so soft he had to strain to hear her, "she was…we were so very different. She was light and whimsy and believed in the unbelievable. She was…loyal. So unbelievably loyal, and when she loved you, it was more than a feeling, it was like a physical thing."
Caradoc hummed, his throat tight as he read between the lines, "She sounds wonderful."
"She really was," Hermione agreed softly.
"You know, nineteen years isn't that much…." he teased, needing her to know that she had the option.
"Nineteen years and her godmother, is most definitely a deal breaker," Hermione retorted dryly. "And I'm reliably informed she'll get her soulmate this time. There is no world in which I'd take that from her."
"Godmother?" he checked.
"Apparently," she muttered, "I don't quite know how I'm managing that."
"Merlin's tits," he cursed softly, "You don't do things by half cariad, do you?"
"Apparently not."
"When will she be here?"
"13th February, 1981."
"So you've a little while," he mused, cuddling the stubborn witch closer, slightly astonished she was allowing it. "Who's first?"
"Fred and George. They'll be born on April fools day. I have until September of 1979 for the first of us."
"Who?"
"Me. We're not sure what will happen."
"Merlin fuck," he muttered. "That's…well…what are you hoping for?"
"I hope they have a child," she admitted softly. " a regular non-magical child that they do not need to give up to a school for most of the year. A child they can keep."
Caradoc hummed, not having the faintest idea what to reply to that as he felt his heart crack slightly at the pain he heard in her voice. Across the room, Alastor was listening intently, too scared to speak lest he break the bubble they were in. "And next?"
"Next…Ron first, in March of 1980. Neville and Harry in the July. Gin will arrive in the August following Lu."
He squeezed her tightly, "Well then, it'd be tradition to wet the baby's head, so I vote for a rather large quantity of alcohol and cake."
She let out a huff of laughter that betrayed the silent tears that were soaking through the front of his robes. "Two days of cake and alcohol in July then. Numb sounds good."
"If that's what you need," he murmured.
"It won't be," a voice from the door startled them.
"Dora!"
"Hello Caradoc. I hope you don't mind my Mya but your delightful little elf showed us where to go. I do so love her look today. The spiked choker is a nice touch."
"Us?" Hermione checked faintly, untangling herself so she could look at Pandora who had moved, sitting down beside a visibly startled Alastor.
"Ah, she might have brought me too," a sheepish-looking Gideon stood in the doorway, Crookshanks cradled in his arms, purring happily.
"Ah," she murmured.
"I could cleanse your aura if you'd like?" Pandora offered suddenly, her eyes on Alastor. "It's quite tangled."
"I ah…no thank you?"
"You don't sound sure." she noted. "I think I'll take it as an agreement you're too polite to voice." she nodded once before rummaging in her bag and unearthing another bag that she began pulling plants out of, murmuring to herself, "Rosemary, I think. And Lavender and chamomile naturally. Jasmine perhaps, sage obviously, hmmm and…lemon balm."
They all watched slightly stunned as she wrapped her selected plants in a bundle, humming to herself. Finally, apparently satisfied, she lifted her head and looked at Hermione, "If you could light it, my Mya. and you Sir, you need to stand up."
Looking bewildered and leaving Gideon stifling a laugh, Alastor did as he was told as Hermione lit the bundle. Smiling her thanks, Pandora walked over to Alastor, continuing to hum as she walked around him, waving the burning florals over him in an order that seemed to make sense only to her. Ten minutes later she stepped back, extinguishing the last of the flames. "There we are." she sat back down seemingly pleased.
Alastor blinked at her. "Don't you feel more relaxed? Less anxious?" she probed.
They all watched as several expressions flitted over Alastors face. "Aye," he agreed slowly.
"Oh good. Your aura looks much less tangled so I had hoped."
"I think…I think I might leave you to your guests, lass," he said finally, sounding faintly bewildered before he all but ran.
"Well…" Gideon snorted, "who knew that all we needed to unsettle the Boss was Dora?"
With a laugh Caradoc pulled Hermione back to him, leaving Gideon rolling his eyes. Ignoring him, she curled into his side, accepting the comfort he offered. She wasn't sure what had shifted, conflicting feelings about past loves aside, she felt more settled when she was touching him. Perhaps it had been his acceptance of the insanity she had lived, perhaps it was Harry's acceptance of him, whatever it was, it wasn't something she was willing to look at too closely for the moment, not when her head felt a little clearer, her magic, a little less chaotic.
"How are you feeling?" Gideon probed finally.
"I…I don't know," she finally admitted.
"Did it help?"
"Maybe?"
Pandora tisked, "They'd be rather annoyed by your answer, my Mya," she chided. "I know your instructions were specific."
"Do you speak to her often?" Hermione pivoted.
With a look of pained understanding, Pandora rose, crouching in front of her as she took Hermione's hand in hers, "As often as I need to. She…you were not the only one who needed that ritual, my Mya." she paused, letting out an unusually despondent sigh, "And you are not the only one struggling. She loved you as much as you loved her. Harry would give anything to be here to help, they are watching. I know they told you. They are desperate to be here again, despite how different it'll be this time around. But they cannot contact you again. None of you would move on if they could, and my Mya, you all need to move on."
Caradoc's arms tightened at the shuddering sob Hermione gave, "I… I don't know if I can."
"Of course you can. They have complete faith in you. It's time you had that faith in yourself." she squeezed her hands, "One day we won't be poor substitutes.."
"You're not poor substitutes now!" Hermione protested around her tears.
"But we're not them. We do not know you as they do, any more than you know us. It is different, time will ease most of that, but we haven't had that time yet. We will. Eventually. But that doesn't help with now."
Across the room, Gideon was watching them with clear confusion, "What do you all know that I don't?"
"I told you," Pandora sighed, "My Mya had some people to speak to. She spoke to them and while I think that once she allows herself to process it it will have helped, she is still grieving."
"Some people from before?" he checked.
"Yes," she murmured.
"I…I….right," he stammered, "and…and that ah…"
"Actually happened?" Pandora supplied, "Yes."
"Right," he agreed weakly, looking utterly flummoxed.
With a sigh, Hermione attempted to explain some of what happened, watching his eyes grow ever larger as she spoke.
"Well…" he trailed off, "That's…your life is insane you know?"
Hermione sighed heavily, "Yes I had noticed."
He hummed, "They said you'd be successful."
"Yes," she agreed slowly, "They were rather convincing but I don't know if that was for my benefit or it was the truth."
"I see," he mused quietly as Nuri got bored, hopping off Hermione's shoulder to fly around the room, making little chittering noises until she got Crookshanks' attention, flying low enough to tease the kitten who began swiping at her. "What's the next step?"
"The next step is to get dad to let me out of his sight." she muttered. "And then…and then resuming tutoring I imagine, and then work eventually. We'll need to get us all together, we need a balancing ritual and we need to work out the parameters of what we can do."
"The Imbolc ritual was interesting," Pandora mused.
"What Imbolc ritual?" Gideon demanded sharply.
"Oh, we did a ritual for others to see, it was…freeing, for Severus mainly."
"And I wasn't invited?"
Hermione grimaced, "It was just after our conversation," she muttered, "And in my defence I thought it was mainly to introduce Severus to Pandora. It was Madam Flamel that included Narcissa."
He scowled, the hurt clear on his face before curiosity got the better of him. "How did it go?"
Pandora smirked, the look slightly foreign on her face, "My Mya was her dramatic self, and Severus….well. He's finally understanding that family comes in many forms."
Gideon sighed, "So when do I get to meet this Severus?"
"We could sneak him in," Pandora mused, "You're not tutoring this week."
"Fine, what days can you do?"
"Two days time?" he hedged. "I'm off."
"Meet us in Hogsmeade, I'll contact Narcissa."
"Good, now, let's make a plan for the next few weeks," Gideon sighed, "My nephews are missing you."
Hermione hummed, summoning parchment much to everyone else's amusement as they set to working out where she was slotting everything in.
"What the fuck was that for!" Fabian howled as Alex Potter stepped in on his duel with Kingsley and fired an overpowered stinging hex at him, leaving the unsettling feeling of pins and needles shooting down his leg.
Alex's face was completely blank as he stared at him, raising his wand again, "Expelliarmus." he hissed.
Stunned, Fabian moved, sending wandless spells back. He had never seen Alex like this and he had no idea why they were now allowing civilians in on training. He darted a glance towards the boss. If anything he looked amused which was slightly galling. He paid for his momentary distraction, only realising his mistake when an incantation he had never heard left him resisting the urge to screech, giant winged bogies escaping his nose, flapping around his face.
Alex smirked, turning on his heel and leaving the arena.
"How the fuck do I stop this?" he howled when a finite had no effect.
"Oi!" Alex arched a brow at Gideon. "What was that?"
"I had a strange dream," Alex mused, apparently completely seriously. "Three people came for a chat."
"What?" Gideon looked lost.
"Harry, Luna and Ginny."
Gideon froze, "What?"
"Harry warned Kitten he'd find a way to get in touch, although I don't think she believed they'd manage it," Alex continued, "He wanted your brother hexed for hurting her, he was rather annoyed truth be told and more than a little disappointed he wouldn't be able to do it himself. Luna was a little more understanding, Ginny though. Merlin that witch is vicious. She was the one who shared that delightful little hex. Apparently her eldest brother found it in an obscure book when they were younger and she mastered it. Kitten mentioned it being something of her signature move." his face softened morphing into a look of sadness, "They loved her, love her. Apparently Harry in particular is watching. He was….devastated that she'd been left to handle this without him. And Luna…Merlin that witch. I'm devastated that she's not who Kitten will end up with this time, and having met them….there are bonds there that even death hasn't severed. It makes me wonder what will happen when they're here this time."
"You think…you think they were really there?"
"Yes," he replied simply, "I do."
At that he turned, leaving Gideon gaping.