The house was a mess. Hermione saw it now, in the way the dust grew thick on it all, on the boxes left in the rooms, in the slightly hastily packed away closet and the musky air. When Hermione has sent her parents away, it had been for their safety. The pain was worth them surviving longer, it had been worth it, hadn't it been? Now they would come back, no longer Monica and Wendall. They were now going to be back to Greg and Jean Granger. They would be reunited as her parents once more.
Hermione walked through the house and then into the kitchen, pausing and thinking of Molly Weasley and her cooking. After the Battle of Hogwarts, Hermione had stayed with the Weasleys, which had been about three months. There had been so much cleaning, finding people and organizing that it had been easier. Now, Hermione was home to clean up, and bring her mum and dad back.
Hermione had studied the reversal, and was almost certain she could do it. They would come back, and it would be like how it always was. Hermione was startled out of her thoughts as a hoot signaled an owl with a letter, and she opened the window, allowing the owl to fly in and land on the table, sending up a cloud of dust into to air.
Covering her mouth and waving at the air, Hermione opened it and began to read the letter, recognizing instantly Harry's familiar scrawl:
Dear Hermione,
How are you? I hope you're well. I am definitely well. Ginny and I have some important news to share with you...
Please come to the Burrow as soon as possible,
Harry.
Hermione smiled, wondering what the important news was. Harry and Ginny had dated for some time now, and she was pleased, with only a slight twinge of the pain that came with your friends moving apart from you. It was all natural though. Hermione gave the owl a treat from her pocket - something she had grown used to having just in case - and let it back out, only for another to swoop in, this one a large barn owl. Hermione took this second letter and read it too:
Dear Miss Hermione.
I'm sorry. There's lots to explain, and I hope to very soon, though for now I'll just tell you one thing. Your parents are dead.
I'm going to come in a week to meet you and get into details.
I am very sorry.
Uncle Albert Ronan Flin.
Hermione read the paper again. She had never even heard of an Uncle Albert Ronan Flin. A sick feeling in the pit of her stomach started up and began to worm into her heart as she started a response:
Dear Albert Flin,
It is very disturbing that you would send a letter to someone saying that their parents are dead. It upset me quite a bit.
I will send the address of a place to meet. Meet me there at noon the day you get this.
H. Granger
She gave it to the patiently waiting owl and left to meet Ginny for tea and coffee.
Hermione stirred her tea, hoping that it could dull her headache. She wasn't sure when the pain had started, but it was continuously gotten worse within the past four days. When Hermione heard the bell on the door ring, she was sure she had been hearing things, but when she glanced up she was wrong. For a heartbeat, her brain said a name, but she dismissed it immediately. The man who stood there was tall and wiry, with a tanned face and searching eyes, wearing a wrinkled coat and hat.
"Are you Hermione Granger?"
"Yes. You're Arnold?"
He nodded and Hermione wished she could go back. Why did I come? She thought briefly, but pushed it away. Hermione pulled out a chair. He sat. His mannerism all seemed abrupt, like he wanted the whole business over with and done.
Hermione took a sip of her tea and sighed.
"Well. Here we are."
"Yes. Here we are. As I said in my letter, I am your uncle - great-uncle on your father's side. Your grandfather and our parents didn't accept that I was magical, so I was out their lives and the family as soon as possible. When your parents died, you deserved to know, just as I did, even if I technically was disowned." Arnold smiled a bit, but it did not reach his eyes as he continued.
"I only met them once. They were so happy. Proud of their daughter, who was smart and beautiful. They were planning on fixing your teeth when you were old enough, but thought they were cute."
Hermione's head pounded painfully. "Where-" Hermione swallowed, throat dry. "Where are they?"
"I have their coffins back home." Arnold looked at her.
The pair sat for a few more moments. Finally, they both stood up.
"Well, Hermione. It's been nice to talk with you. See you soon." Hermione left some money for her tea and nodded at her great-uncle.
"Thank you for telling me all this. I'd like to meet again."