Hermione injected the medicine in Missy's vein as Narscissa hold her still. Missy was a brave girl. She neither cried, nor flinched. She simply endured.
This was the last of the three doses that Keepling prepared for her. And the medicine was working.
Since the first administration of the drug, her body stabilized substantially. Keepling felt that the bone marrow transplantation was still necessary but now Hermione brought the needed time. Three years.
Keepling estimated atleast three year's gap before the decomposition started again but if things were right, Hermione would have another child way before that. They could simply use the Umbilical Chord extracts to do the necessary procedures.
Hermionie took her daughter from Narcissa and carried her to the nursery.The medicine made the kid drowsy. She would rest for atleast half a day after each medication.
Hermione sighed.
What she chose for her child was questionable. Would any other mother do that? She didn't know.
But she did what she felt was right to do.
And she didn't regret her choice.
A little bit of guilt surged in her heart now and then but she understood one simple thing. Worship worthy people are not born, they are created and such creations demand hardship.
As she hummed a lullaby absent mindedly, Hermionie's mind took her almost a decade back.
Ronald had made the perfect dinner arrangement at home that night. It was supposedly their 3rd Anniversary. 2nd of May, 2001. Roasted chicken, smashed potatoes, cake and wine. He lit her favorite lavender candles and had set a sexy dress on the bed for her. Hermione was working on the Mudblood Curse's cure with the help of Keepling. Ronald knew, she would succeed soon. What he didn't know was, she had already succeeded two years back. The set up was supposed to be a surprise but little did the red head knew, Hermione too had planned a surprise for him. That night Hermionie didn't come to visit Ron. But Jewel dropped by. And that's how it started. The beginning of the end for the then famous couple ROMIONE.
The worst part?
Hermione and Jewel were friends.
And Ron walked straight into a trap designed carefully for months. A trap to make him fall for Jewel.
But that secret would live and die with Hermionie and Jewel.
When Hermionie started seeing Ronald, it stemmed from years old friendship. But the moment she took it to the next level, she knew she had taken a bad decision. She and Ronald was an impossible combination. He was a nice guy. But dumb. Harry would have been somewhat a better choice but he was already with Ginny. So he was out of league.
Hermione was never too eager to have a partner but after her three years of disaster with Ron she decided one thing, either a suitable partner or none. She couldn't fit into the world of lovey dovey romance. She needed brains... razor sharp brains. That's what turned her on.
Hermionie looked at the sleeping child as she slowly untangled herself from her daughter.
She has to be the strongest and the brightest, she has to carry on her mother's legacy, she has to prove that having muggle blood is not a sin.
She has to be strong.
She couldn't really let Missy cling to her like an average kid. She had plans for her daughter. Really big plans.
Slowly she walked to her own study and took out her personal diary. Hermionie preferred the muggle way of keeping records but not in English. She had her own language and symbols and she maintained her notes in her own scripts.
Seeing Ronald in the hospital made her upset . He was a good man. And he didn't deserve this. She was feeling a bit nostalgic. And she met Jewel after almost a years. She wanted to stop and greet her but she couldn't. She was no more Jewel Augustine. She was Jewel Weasley. It would have been awkward greeting her in public.
Hermionie smiled.
Jewel Augustine.
The girl as free as wind, nice, sweet and friendly. And yes. Definitely smart. It was hard to believe they thought she was a bimbo. She wasn't. The Augustine British Branch of Jewellery was handled by her and she was earning in Trillions. God knows how people thought she was dumb. She only had one flaw. She liked Ronald Weasley. That aside, Jewel was simply perfect.
Her lips curled up in a smile as Hermionie looked at one entry from January 2001.
17.01.2001.
It is hard to believe but I had one of the best girl's night out with Jewel. She is the 2nd coolest girl I have ever met, after Ginny.I don't care if she is a princess but she is definitely the best thing that ever happened to me after Ron, Harry and Ginny. I couldn't believe she knows so much about the British Ministry of Magic and about Hogwarts too. She has read Hogwarts : A History seven times!!! Unbelievable.
But the best thing tonight was her confession about her crush on Ronald. Thankfully she thought we are no more together. Well, it was a bit awkward but I convinced her that it was over and Ronald needed a girl to divert her attention. She was more than elated to receive my consent. Now I just need to go back and wait until she arrives in London for opening their new outlet there. She will be the ticket to my freedom.
Hermionie closed the diary as nostalgia hit her stronger . She met Jewel when she went to Austria for a two month long exchange program. She was already done with Mungro's curriculum and wanted to enroll in some Muggle medicine course. But her professors opined that it would be too stressful for her and the British Ministry denied her to get a fake Muggle graduation degree.This is where Jewel came to her aid. And the bond continued to grow till society broke them apart. Not technically but publicly. They were still close in secret.
Jewel was a sensitive girl.
She started seeing Ronald under the impression that he and Hermionie were over long back. But she never realized that Hermione was over with him while Ronald was still waiting for her to break free from the so called mudblood curse. And to make things worse, people almost worshipped the concept of ROMIONE. The dumb boy gets the brightest witch alive.For the mass, it was a fairy tale ending. It was by creating bytes on things like Romione and other bull shits Ebony Skeeter rose to prominence. Oh... she was one witch Hermionie detasted from within. Like sisters.... those shitty Skeeters.
It was hard convincing Jewel, but thankfully she understood the situation and slowly replaced Hermionie. That lady did a marvelous job as a friend and as a wife. She could have blown Hermionie's cover. But she didn't. Jewel was such a Jewel...
Hermione opened a fresh page and started making an entry when she heard the tapping on the door.
Come in, she shouted and moments later a casually dressed Malfoy walked in.
He smelled good.
That was the first thing that Hermione noticed. The smell. And then those blue eyes.
May be it was the nostalgia, but suddenly Hermione remembered those few weeks with him as Amanda. He was actually a worthy partner. Just that, he was Draco Malfoy. That killed her buzz.
She toughened her gaze and looked at him,
Yes, Malfoy.
The man looked irritated.
We have our bonding tomorrow. I came here to talk to you about certain things.
Hermione was in no mood to talk to him.
She scoffed, What is there to talk about? They have given time, we go, we get the deal sealed. And once thats done, we try out for baby. Simple.
Malfoy kept his annoyed expression intact.
Granger. I know, you are up to no good. And an owl gave me a letter by mistake, a letter from Jewel Weasley. The letter starts as....
Hermione knew she is screwed.
Massively screwed.
You are not supposed to read my letters Ferret.... I will sue you... How dare you intercept my owl...!!!!!
And how did you even break the code?
You nosy, bossy...
Malfoy took a step closer and whispered....
Why does she think Ron was hit by a Curse given by you?
Either you talk or I shall give this letter to the Ministry.
They may take a bit more time to break the code. But you know Love, eventually they will break it. Its not so tough...
Hermione took a step back and stumbled against the desk.
There was no escape from Malfoy.
May be he will understand.
She signalled him to walk to the sofa in the study. She made herself comfortable and so did Malfoy.
It will be a long night Ferret.
Draco smiled.
I AM ALL EARS LOVE.