Someday by Ivesia19

Rating: PG13
Genres: Angst, Romance
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 7
Published: 12/08/2007
Last Updated: 12/08/2007
Status: Completed

Rose Weasley has developed an interest in Legilimency and the truth about her mother’s
relationship with Harry Potter.




1. Someday
----------

Someday

Authors Note: There may be inconsistencies with DH. I didn’t go back and check anything in the
epilogue, mostly because I couldn’t force myself to do that. DH may disagree with my saying that
Rose looks like Hermione or the children’s ages. For the sake of this story, ignore that. Like you
weren’t ignoring the epilogue anyways…

Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Harry Potter. If I did, it would be much
different.

Summary: Rose Weasley has developed an interest in Legilimency and the truth about her mother’s
relationship with Harry Potter.

* * *

Rose Weasley loved to learn. Just like her mother, she never shied away from the library nor
opted to under load on her classes.

Therefore, it was only natural that when her Uncle Harry told her that in his 5th
year at Hogwarts he studied Occlumency and Legilimency she became curious, even though her mother
did say that Harry never really devoted himself to it.

The mind had always fascinated her, especially since her own was always churning. There was so
much she already knew that the idea that she could learn even the unspoken was appealing.

Needless to say, Rose devoted much of her own 5th year at Hogwarts School of
Witchcraft and Wizardry to the study of Legilimency. She figured that since she didn’t have a need
to close her mind to external sources Rose only focused on Legilimency in order to pierce the
blockades of those around her.

As her skills grew, Rose surpassed just the simple preliminaries of learning the theories and
became able to see into the minds of others. She had to be careful, she knew. If she tried
Legilimency on someone who was fully awake or aware they would undoubtedly notice her intrusion. As
a result, slumbering unsuspecting students and professors became her favorite forms of
practice.

At times what she saw amused her. Professor Longbottom, who she practiced on while he was dozing
during one of Professor McGonagal’s monthly speeches, seemed to have a recurring memory of chasing
after a particularly finicky toad in the corridors of the Hogwarts Express.

Being a typical teenage girl, Rose couldn’t resist peaking into the minds of those she found
more interesting and appealing. For example, the mind of Scorpious Malfoy was always of particular
interest to the young Weasley.

At times, when peering into his mind, mixed in with the snippets of luxurious backgrounds she
distinctly saw her own self flashing in his mind, and not always in the most appropriate
situations, something that both excited and incited her.

Rose had been practicing her newfound skills for several months in secret, and was looking
forward to her time at home during Christmas…

* * *

Christmas had always been Rose’s favorite part of the year. Not only was it a time that she got
to spend with her family, but Uncle Harry, Aunt Ginny and her cousins always came over to their
house for Christmas Eve. Christmas itself was always spent over at Grandma Weasleys complete with a
big feast.

“Rose!” her mother’s voice carried up the stairs, “Come downstairs, please. Harry’s here.”

Rose immediately jumped off her bed and ran down the stairs.

There was always something about Harry.

Of course, Rose loved her father, but somehow she always felt closer to Harry. He understood her
more. Probably because she was just like her mother, as so many people had told her. It always
seemed to Rose that Harry was more attuned to her mother than her father.

Closer than friends. Something her father coined ‘honorary siblingship’. Rose didn’t have the
heart to tell her father that ‘siblingship’ was hardly a real word.

As she entered the kitchen Rose saw her mother and Harry in a deep embrace, her mother’s mouth
close to his ear, murmuring something to him.

Seeing Rose staring, Hermione moved away from Harry.

Harry turned and spotted Rose. “Rose! It’s been way too long!” Harry enveloped Rose in a hug and
kissed the top of her head. “Merlin, you look more and more like your mother every time I see
you.”

Rose smiled, “Except I have this horribly bushy hair and there’s never a stray hair on moms
head.” Rose tossed her hair around, proving her point and she hit Harry right in the face with all
her bushy hair, tickling him and causing him to sneeze.

“Told ya.” Rose laughed after she blessed Harry’s sneeze.

Stepping back, Harry appraised both sets of hair in question. “Actually,” Harry began, leaning
closer to Rose as if it were a secret, “when we were younger your mother was quite the
frizzball.”

Hermione frowned, but Harry smiled and continued, “But me, I loved her hair. She was beautiful.
She’s never been anything but.”

Rose saw her mother’s face soften. “Just like you.” Harry said as he ruffled her hair.

“Oh, Harry!” You’re such a charmer.” Hermione lightly berated as she ran a hand through her
straight and frizz-less hair. “I must say though, I don’t miss that hair one bit.”

She turned to Rose, “Your hair is perfect.”

Rose blushed slightly, and wanting to get the attention off of her hair asked Harry where the
rest of his family was.

“They’re coming. Don’t you worry. I just came early to spend some time with my favorite girls,
especially since I knew that Hugo and your father would be running around buying last minute
presents.”

Hermione shook her head in annoyance. “I really had hoped that Hugo would be more
responsible.”

Harry laughed. “With Ron as his father? I don’t really see responsibility passing down from his
end.”

“Stop it, Harry” Hermione laughed in response.

“So Rose, how’s Hogwarts treating you?” Harry asked as he missed Hermione’s dismal attempts to
swat at him.

“It’s good. We’ve been learning the most fascinating things in Ancient Runes.” Rose’s voice sped
up in excitement; she just loved to talk about things that intrigued her. “I have been having
trouble, however, distinguishing between the symbols for friendship and love. They’re so similar,
sometimes I mix them up. It’s hard to tell the difference, it’s really all the matter of one single
small line.”

“I agree. It’s often confused.” Harry added.

Rose caught Harry glance at her mother. Although she couldn’t fully tell because she was
standing slightly behind Harry she was sure that his eyes portrayed a message.

Hermione bit her lip. “Rose, why don’t you go work on your holiday work a little bit. Get it out
of the way for tonight.”

Rose began to protest but Hermione cut her off. “You’ll be able to see plenty of Harry
later.”

Harry seemed to think that Rose going upstairs was a bad idea as well. Maybe he just didn’t want
to deal with what Rose was sure Hermione was about to chastise him about.

“Don’t make her go! I haven’t seen her in months, I miss my little Rose. Come on, Rose, if you
give her a pouty face you won’t be able to resist.” Harry stuck his own lip out in a pout as Rose
followed suit.

“Oh, no, Harry James. Don’t you dare start teaching her your tricks. It’s bad enough that I can
never say no to you!” Hermione laughed. “Rose, you really are quite good at that pout, but not good
enough. Homework. Upstairs.”

Rose frowned at her mother, but agreed to go upstairs. “Your mother always was such a hardass”
Harry smirked.

Rose laughed “Always.”

“Very funny, you two. I just want you to stay on track while you’re home, Rose. Besides, I would
like to talk to Harry alone for a little.”

Again, a meaningful glance passed between Hermione and Harry, though this time Rose saw it.

“I’ll just go do my homework then.” Rose turned and walked out of the kitchen, closing the door
behind her.

However, she did not go upstairs. Instead, Rose pressed her ear, careful not to nudge the door,
and listened intently.

“You shouldn’t have said that. I thought we agreed about what needed to be done.” Rose heard her
mother say.

“Hermione,” Harry said, “I don’t know if this is enough for me anymore. It’s too hard. You must
know how hard this is for me, you must, isn’t it hard for you?”

“Of course it is! You and I –” Hermione paused. “Just to be safe – MUFFLIATO!”

All of the sounds from the kitchen ceased, leaving only white noise. Rose cursed her clever
mother.

She couldn’t help but wonder what that had all been about. If there was one thing Rose couldn’t
stand, it was not knowing the answers to something. She had to find out.

* * *

Christmas Eve dinner had been a fun and festive affair. With all of her cousins, along with her
parents, brother, and Ginny and Harry, the table was never lacking for conversation. Rose easily
started up a conversation with James about his strategy to beat Slytherin at the next Quidditch
game.

After everyone had been fed and watered, sleep seemed to overtake most of the Weasleys and
Potters. Seeing that everyone was going to the Burrow tomorrow, Harry and his family decided to
spend the night to make things easier to leave in the morning.

After a quick game of exploding snaps, all of Rose’s cousins and Hugo went off to sleep, no
doubt Hugo dreaming of all the food he would be eating the next day.

Ginny, always one to turn in early, especially after a fair amount of wine, kissed Harry rather
sloppily on the cheek and headed towards the guest room.

Ron, tired from a long day of last minute shopping, followed suit and headed off to his own
bed.

Hermione, always the night owl, stayed up and began to thoroughly clean the kitchen, trying to
get the hardened gravy smudges off of the table by hand. Her mother thought that it was lazy to use
a wand for everything.

Rose sat with her mother in the kitchen, watching her scrub the table.

“Need any help with that?” Rose turned towards the voice and saw that it came from Harry.

“Sure, you can help me put away the leftovers.” Hermione answered, smiling as she finally got
the table clean.

Harry started to load mounds of turkey and potatoes into plastic containers, and put them in the
refrigerator.

“Not the pumpkin pie” Hermione quickly said as Harry picked it up.

Harry smiled, “I wouldn’t dream of it. You and I both know how much you love pumpkin pie. I was
just going to cut us all some pieces.”

“Oh, good.” Hermione got out three glasses and poured milk into them. She set one down in front
of Rose, who was already sitting at the head of the table, and placed two others down one both
sides of her.

Harry, Hermione, and Rose made easy conversation as they ate their pie. Rose couldn’t help but
notice how conversation never seemed to lag between the two friends. It wasn’t as if her parent’s
had awkward moments, but usually the conversation would quickly turn into petty arguments or
insensitive jabs at each other.

Life was always more serene with Harry here. Not only was he fun to be around, but he was so
used to mitigating Ron and Hermione’s fights, that things ran smoother.

“How’s work, Hermione?” Rose was pulled from her thoughts as Harry addressed her mother.

“I’m actually up for a promotion.” Hermione smiled, obviously happy at this recent event.

Harry reached across the table and took Hermione’s hands into his own, rubbing his thumb softly
in circles over her skin. “That’s just great. You really deserve it. You do so much for the
Ministry.”

“I just do my job” Hermione said sheepishly.

“My ass you do!”

“Harry!” Hermione interjected, pointedly staring from Harry to Rose, indicating that due to the
present company, such language was not acceptable.

“Seriously, mom” Rose piped up, “it’s not like I haven’t heard that word before. I do go to
school with a bunch of teenagers, you know. Also, dad swears all the bloody time.”

Harry laughed deeply as Hermione frowned, “Obviously it’s rubbing off on you.”

“Hermione, give her a break. Rose is a wonderful girl, and I frankly don’t see any of Ron in her
at all.” Harry stopped at Hermione’s glare. “Anyways, we’re getting off topic. As I was saying, you
do more than you should for the Ministry, for the world in general.”

“This coming from the guy that killed Voldemort.” Hermione said with a smile playing on her
mouth, she knew how much Harry hated the reminder of his fame.

Harry scoffed, “Thanks to you, house elves actually have a half-way decent existence. More than
half-way decent for those who you have found paying jobs for. You have a lot to be proud of. I know
I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks, Harry. That means a lot to me. I never knew you felt so strongly about what I do.”

“Of course I do.” Surprisingly, Harry looked away, not making eye contact with either Rose or
Hermione. “It’s really stupid, but I’ve always felt that you were doing all this stuff…” Harry
struggled with his words, “not necessarily because of me, or anything. Mostly, because of Dobby. I
mean, he was always important to me, and when he died, I always thought that I should have taken up
his cause. But, I couldn’t, not really.”

“After all of the stuff with Voldemort, life just got so hectic. It was like everyone wanted a
piece of me. I just kind of lost focus on what was really important. I never told you, but I always
respected what you did with SPEW, even if I made fun of it with Ron.” Harry said.

Hermione smiled at Harry kindly, “I always suspected. You did set Dobby free after all.”

There was that look again. Rose lost count of how many times she saw her mother and Harry send
each other messages through their eyes.

Rose cleared her throat. Both Harry and Hermione turned, apparently forgetting that she was
there. “I think I’ll go up to bed now.” Rose yawned for a sense of realism. “So sleepy.”

Rose got up from the table, and after putting both her empty plate and glass in the sink, kissed
both Hermione and Harry on their cheeks. “Goodnight.”

Harry stood up to give her a tight hug. “Night, Rosie.”

“See you in the morning, honey.” Hermione said as she fondly ran her fingers through Rose’s
hair.

Rose left the kitchen, glancing back as Harry moved from his seat into the one that Rose had
only moments before been occupying, closer to Hermione.

There was definitely more to their relationship than they let on.

* * *

Rose waited until she heard her mother climb the stairs to her room before she took action.

An hour later, assuming that everyone was asleep, Rose crept out of her bedroom and silently
climbed the stairs downstairs. As she expected, Harry had fallen asleep on the couch as he always
did at their house, the television still on.

Harry was quite the couch potato, and seeing that Ginny was wary of anything muggle, the Potter
family did not own one. Ron, of course, after discovering the wonders of television, insisted that
they get one.

Whenever Harry was over at their house he would sit himself down in front of the television
until he would eventually fall asleep in light blue glow.

Rose felt slightly guilty about what she intended to do. Sure, she often peaked into people’s
mind at Hogwarts, but those ganders were mostly innocent, done for the purpose of helping her learn
more about Legilimency and just occasionally because of curiosity.

This was completely different.

Not only was this due to curiosity, but she was definitely crossing a line here. Rose was
intending to look into the mind of Harry Potter to understand his relationship with her mother.

When Rose thought about that, she couldn’t help but think that she was messed up.

Still, even the brief thoughts of burning in hell for her immorality could not deter Rose.

She pulled her wand out of her pajama pocket and concentrated. Rose had known that Harry was
practiced in Occlumency, so she expected more of a resistance. To her great surprise, Rose got into
Harry’s mind fairly easily.

Her mother must have been correct, Harry never did really commit himself to learning to block
outside intrusion into his mind.

Rose was pushed directly into Harry’s dream. This was unsurprising, often when she intruded on
sleeping people’s minds she was greeted by their dreams. More concentration had to be used to break
past Harry’s dream into his memories, his subconscious.

Soon the strange visions of a house elf with large green eyes petting a serene looking
hippogriff faded and Rose entered Harry’s memories.

Flashes of Harry’s past played before Roses eyes.

A young Harry stood in front of a large snake tank as a particularly big snake slithered past
him, leaving Harry staring open mouthed after it.

Ron and Harry ran into platform 9 ¾, bounced off of the wall and fell to the ground.

Rose frowned, trying to concentrate harder and find memories of Harry and her mother. Memories
materialized.

Hermione kneeled next to Harry, both of them clearly young. Rose could here fragment of words
“Friendship….bravery….Oh, Harry”. Hermione threw herself into a fierce hug, nearly knocking Harry
down.

Harry peered down at the petrified form of Hermione, stroking her marble-like hand softly while
Ron sat in a chair across the room.

“You better hold on to me.” Harry took Hermione’s hands and pulled her arms to wrap around him
as the hippogriff flew higher and higher.

The hulking figure of Viktor Krum came into focus. “…talks of you often.” Viktor said
accusingly, looking down at Harry. “We’re friends…..”

“But I don’t think you’re ugly.” Harry said, almost absentmindedly, like Hermione should know
this as he obviously knew.

“You’re more fanciful than ever” Hermione said as Harry blushed a deep crimson.

A haggard looking Hermione crossed a slightly moldy looking tent to run her hand through Harry’s
hair.

Rose saw flashes of Hermione and Harry, holding hands, talking in confidence, finding comfort in
each other. One particular scene caught her mind and Rose decided that this was the memory in which
she would fully devote herself to.

Concentrating, Rose entered the memory. Unlike the other fragments, Rose entered this memory as
if she were actually there with Harry and Hermione, sitting next to them in what appeared to be her
very own living room.

Rose had read about this. It was very rare to have such concentration and practice as to
manifest a memory in such a way. Unlike most other types of Legilimency, this almost mirrored
entering a pensive, totally engaging in the past.

Her living room was very different from how it was now, and the way her mother was wearing her
hair and how young she looked told Rose that this had happened quite some time ago.

Harry and Hermione were sitting next to each other, a fire roaring just a few feet in front of
them. Rose sat down on the chair next to the couch, listening intently.

“Reminds me of Hogwarts” Harry said, gesturing to the fire with his chin and smiling softly.

Hermione’s eyes shone, “We certainly did spend many nights like this. I think that was my
favorite part of Hogwarts. Those nights with you. Just us, in front of the fire.”

“I don’t know” Harry said jokingly, “I really enjoyed all those Defense Against the Dark Arts
lessons with Umbridge.”

Hermione laughed.

“But no, seriously. I always enjoyed those nights.” Harry turned to Hermione, his face suddenly
losing lingers of the smile brought on by memories by Umbridge. “You’ve always been there for me.
Not even Ron could say that. When things got too tough…” Harry trailed off.

“Not that I blame him. It was never his fight. Or yours, really. You guys could walk away at any
time.”

Hermione shook her head. “I never would have done that.”

“I know.” Harry said quickly. “I don’t regret it.”

“Regret what?” Hermione creased her eyebrows in confusion.

“That you stayed. In the tent. Even though it was putting you in danger, I never wished that you
would have left. I needed you too much.”

Hermione reached over and grabbed Harry’s hand. It seemed to Rose that this was a common
practice between them, handholding. “I needed you too. You were my first real friend. The first
person I could turn to. The first person I-”

She stopped herself.

“The first person you what?” Harry asked.

Hermione took a deep breath, steadying her voice with the extra intake of air. She turned fully
to face Harry on the couch and looked him straight in the eyes. Her voice was strong and full of
determination. “The first person I loved.”

Hermione bit her lip, searching Harry’s eyes with her own. “You were mine too.”

“What? But, Ginny. She was… she was yours.”

Harry shook his head. “Even when we were dating, I loved you. It’s always been there, since
before I even knew about it.”

“In 6th year, I never loved Ginny. I liked her, sure” Harry was talking quickly,
trying to make himself not look away from Hermione, trying to be brave. “She was always just lust
then. I was sixteen. I thought I was going to die.”

Hermione interrupted. “But, I loved you then. I loved you since first year! We could have been
together. If you had known that you loved me then-”

“You don’t get it” Harry said. “I need to explain.” He stopped, clearly thinking of how to put
this right. “I loved you. But, you must understand, I really thought I was going to die. I had just
found out about the prophecy. I felt I needed to experience everything, but I couldn’t let myself
put you in that position. You deserved more than a hurried attempt at a relationship. You deserved
forever.”

“There was also the factor that I thought that you didn’t think about me like that.”

Hermione’s eyes all but popped out. “You must have known. Everyone knew. Viktor, Rita, Cho! The
whole world knew. I just thought that you were too nice to come out and tell me to get over it. I
never thought you were clueless.”

Hermione lowered her voice, almost to a whisper. “I wish it had been me. Instead of Ginny, I
wish I could have been yours.”

Harry glanced down to their interlocked hands. “You always have been.”

“But, after the war, you went right back to Ginny. You never even told me about your
feelings.”

“You were with Ron! You kissed him right in front of me during the battle. You couldn’t have
made your feelings more obvious!” Harry let go of her hands. “You have no idea how much that hurt
me. I always thought that if I survived, you and I would just happen. It would all fall into place.
Instead, it all fell apart.”

Hermione reached over and grabbed Harry’s hand again. He let her. “It sounds awful” Hermione
began. “Ron was my rebound. My get-over-Harry-Potter guy. I knew he liked me. You were with Ginny”
Hermione’s eyes implored him to understand. “I didn’t want to be alone. I needed someone to help me
keep my mind off of you.”

Harry sighed. “We really fucked things up big time, didn’t we?”

Hermione laughed slightly, but with a sardonic edge to the tone. “We certainly did. All that
time, we both had feelings. Some Gryffindors we turned out to be.”

“Hermione, if I tell you something, do you promise not to get mad?”

Hermione nodded, “Of course, you know you can tell me anything. I think tonight proves that we
can handle almost everything.”

“I’ve never stopped loving you. You’re it for me.” Hermione was silent and lowered her head,
avoiding Harry’s eyes. “I love my family. I do love Ginny, in a way; I’ve been with her for such a
long time. But you, my love for you is just so natural, so right.”

Hermione raised her head up and looked Harry in the eyes once more. Rose could easily see that
her mother was crying. “Oh, Harry. What can we do? It was so much easier living all these years
thinking that you didn’t love me back!”

Harry’s ears seemed to perk up upon hearing her words, “Does that mean that you still love me
too?”

“Of course, I do!” Hermione said through her tears. “I loved you then, I love you now, I’ll
probably love you forever!”

Harry leaned in close to Hermione and wiped the tears off her face. “Don’t cry. This is
wonderful.”

“Don’t you understand what this means for us!? We can’t be together, Harry. You have a family.
I’m married to Ron. Our families are intertwined. There’s no way that we could escape them. We
would hurt so many.” By this time, Rose had figured out that this conversation must have been right
after Ginny and Harry had their first child. Right before her.

“I know that. I know that it would be hard. But, Hermione. I need you. I love you. I want to be
with you.” Harry leaned in and closed the space between them.

It was strange for Rose to see Harry kissing her mother, especially when Hermione wrapped her
arms around is neck, drawing him closer.

As if sensing her daughter’s unseen presence in the room, Hermione broke away from Harry. “No.
Not like this. I love you too much for this. I love our families too much.”

Hermione scooted away from Harry on the couch. Harry followed. “I don’t know what to do. I can’t
pretend anymore. It’s all out in the open now.”

“It’s too difficult! Do you want me to tell you that I’ve always loved you the most? That you’ve
always been the man in my life?” Hermione was almost yelling hysterically now. “Is that what you
want to hear? It’s the truth! Ron has never had my heart like you have! You’re my Harry. I love you
more than I thought I could love anyone. There’s nothing more I would like than for you and I to be
together, but we can’t. We have to think of the future of our families.”

Hermione stood, distancing herself even further from Harry. “I really do love you. If thing were
different, I would have given you everything.”

Harry looked up, his green eyes shining brightly with emotion, “I’m still willing to.”

“You just had a son, Harry. I’m not going to let you give up your happiness. You’ve always
wanted a family.”

“I still do. Why can’t it be me and you and James? Why can’t we have it all? Don’t we deserve
it?” Harry, who obviously knew how selfish he was sounding, pouted a bit. He pulled back a little.
“It just kills me that I settled when I could have had you.”

Hermione’s mask cracked, and she sat down on the couch once more next to Harry. “Oh, Harry.”
Hermione wrapped her arms around Harry and pulled him into a hug. “No matter what, you’ll always
have me.” She leaned in and kissed him softly on the lips.

Rose suddenly felt herself being pulled back, quickly yanked from Harry’s memories.

She was slightly disoriented, but as her focus came back to her, Rose could see her mother
standing right in front of her, wand out, and a strange expression on her face.

“You know, it’s very rude to invade on people’s thoughts. I thought that I taught you better
than that.” It was clear that Hermione was not amused.

Rose braced herself for her mother’s anger. She figured a logical explanation would be the best
approach. “I know that what I did was wrong, but I’m not sorry that I did it. I had to know what
was going on between you and Uncle Harry.”

Hermione’s brow creased. “What do you mean? Harry and I are friends, that’s all there is to
know.” Although Hermione spoke these words almost as if it was programmed within her, as if she
said it countless times a day, the truth of it did not show in her eyes. She was clearly more
worried about what her daughter saw now that she knew her intentions.

Rose backpedaled. “It’s just that lately, and actually when I think about it, always, you and
Harry seem to be… Well, I don’t know. Indefinable. That’s why I was so curious.”

“What did you see?” From the way her mother asked the question, Rose knew that she was preparing
herself for Rose to yell at her.

“I just want you to know,” Rose said, carefully picking her words, “I understand. Well, not
really, but I see why it is the way it is. The truth is I always felt that you and Harry *fit*
better.”

The confusion on Hermione’s face was easily readable. Rose knew that she wasn’t saying what she
meant to very well. “You’re happier with Harry. He listens to you, respects you. I love dad, I
really do, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t want you to be happy.”

“Just so you know I wouldn’t hate you if you left him, if you and Harry tried to make it work. I
know that you still love him. After all that I saw, it’s obvious – it’s right.”

Hermione finally spoke up, “Oh, honey. I’m so sorry that you had to find out like this, to find
out at all. It was never something I wanted you to get involved in. It’s really nothing.” She
glanced quickly at Harry, still slumbering deeply, unaware of the conversation happening. “What did
you see?”

The question broke in her throat. It was a fight between not wanting to put herself through all
the hurt and needing desperately to know the soul of the man who she loved more than anything.

Rose could see how strange her situation was. Relaying messages to her mother about a man, not
her father, who loved her more. Despite all this, Rose really felt no anger towards either party
involved. They were her family. She loved them, why should she hate that they felt the same way
towards each other?

“I looked for it. For memories of you within him.” Rose raised her head to look her mother in
the eyes. “I saw you throughout the years. You loved him from the beginning, didn’t you?”

Seeing no point in covering up anything anymore, Hermione nodded.

“I saw him stay with you when you were petrified. I saw you two always be there for each other.
You stayed during the hunt for Voldemort. Even when dad left.” Rose frowned, “You never told me
that.”

“We all agreed that it would be better for everyone if we didn’t linger on the bad spots in our
histories. Some topics are still sore.” Hermione hesitated, “I think a part of Harry will never
forgive your father for that. I know I haven’t.”

Rose swallowed, trying to push back thoughts of how really, her father was a coward. “Then, I
saw a conversation. I heard it, was there for it. Right after James was born.”

Hermione’s expression changed, she apparently knew exactly which conversation Rose was speaking
of. “How much did you stay for?” Her face was etched in worry.

“Right after you told him you would never leave him. You kissed him. Then you pulled me
out.”

Hermione seemed slightly relieved by this answer. “That was a very personal conversation,
Rose.”

“I know. But, I had to know. He loved you so much! He still does. He was willing to give
everything up for you - ”

Hermione cut her off. “If you heard the conversation then you know why I couldn’t allow that. He
had a family. You came along not long after.”

“That’s another thing I need to know.” Rose took in a deep breath, bracing herself. She had been
wondering about this for a long time, and what she had just witnessed added fuel to her suspicions.
“I know I left the memory after the kiss. I don’t really know… I don’t really know how to ask
this.” She paused.

“I’ve always felt close to Harry. Like he was more than just my Uncle…” Rose knew from the look
in her mother’s eyes that she understood exactly what was being insinuated.

Hermione sighed. “It’s not like we weren’t going to tell you, Harry and I. We were, just when
you could understand, when you could keep it quiet.”

“So he knows.”

“Of course Harry knows, he named you. Ron had no idea, just agreed that Rose was a pretty name.”
Hermione smiled in spite of herself, no doubt at Ron’s ignorance and easy acceptance.

Rose was confused, “Wait, what does my name have to do with anything?”

“Harry named you after his mother.”

Rose shook her head. “No, Lily is named after Harry’s mother.”

“Ginny named her that,” Hermione explained. “Harry never wanted to name his children directly
after his parents. Maybe a middle name or something. I think he finds it rather unsettling that his
children are named after his dead parents.” Hermione said. “You’re named in honor of her. The Evans
family was keen on flowers, you see. Lily actually had a sister named Petunia. You carried on the
tradition.”

“Does dad know?” Rose asked, but she assumed that he didn’t.

“No. Our families are too interwoven to cause such a big scandal. We love you so much, darling,
but you must understand that if it gets out that you’re the daughter of Harry Potter… It will hurt
so many people.” Hermione’s eyes started to water.

“We never wanted it to be like this.”

Rose reached out and hugged her mother. “I’m not mad. I think a part of me always knew. I still
love you, and I love Harry. I just wish that you could have had the life that you deserve.”

Hermione pulled back from her daughter and glanced down at Harry. His sleeping face was turned
upward in a slight grin. “Sometimes, life just turns out in such a way that you have to be thankful
for everything you do have. Maybe someday we can have that life, when I’m less of a coward. More
than anything, I just don’t want you and your brother to hate us. And of course, Harry’s children.
Maybe someday it will be easy..”

Rose was filled with a deep sadness for her mother. Someday was probably far off, if it was
there at all. She followed Hermione’s glance down to her father. Now that she knew the truth she
could see that while she most definitely looked like her mother, parts of Harry could be found
within her self.

“Yeah, maybe someday.”

Hermione ran her fingers through Rose’s hair. “You really are a remarkable girl. I never thought
that you would be so understanding about all of this. It’s quite a lot to handle.”

“All I know is that I love you, and I love Harry. And you love Harry, and he loves you. When
there’s that much love, it can’t be anything to be upset about. I’m your daughter, and just like
you, I would never abandon those I love.”

Hermione smiled. “If anything, you’re like your father. You have the biggest heart I’ve ever
seen.”

* * *

The next morning, as her brother and cousins eagerly ripped open the presents that were piled up
under the tree; Rose looked over to see Harry and Hermione sitting next to each other, watching
their children while speaking softly to each other.

Ron and Ginny were both opening their own presents, almost as impatiently as their children.
Ginny squealed as she admired her new diamond tennis bracelet while Ron tried out his newest
present, something Rose thought was more suited for a 13 year old, but obviously appealed to
Ron.

Ron went over to thank Hermione for the noisy contraption. Hermione simply nodded, and turned
back to her conversation with Harry. Rose was surprised when Ron said nothing, and just dove back
into his piles of presents.

She wondered if no one else could see. Didn’t anyone else notice Harry’s hand on Hermione’s
knee? Or the way that their faces lit up when they were around each other? Couldn’t anyone else see
that they were in love?

As she was staring, Harry caught her eye. She smiled at him. Her father. Harry smiled back, his
eyes sending her a silent message, one like Rose saw her mother so often receive. *‘I know, it’s
okay. I love you’.*

Rose decided that it didn’t matter if no one else could see the truth, could see their love. She
could see their love. She could see their future, she could see the someday.



