Hermione was so confused and so conflicted that she did not even have it in her to visit Orion. Even after a week, Orion doesn't wake up, upon asking Madam Pomfrey, she learns that Orion is just sleeping, he exhausted too much magic and recovering that magic is taking too much time.
That's totally fine, as soon as his magic recovers, he will wake up on his own. She was more worried about Orion's left hand. It was entirely burned and wasn't healing.
Both Rose and Daphne were there. Hermione wanted to say something but had no idea what could she say in this situation. Orion was there to save her didn't he, and what she did. Acted to him like he was a total stranger.
The guilt was slowly eating her away.
Although she did tell Nick when they talked, more like her shouting at him, that tomorrow she would talk with him but that never came to pass. She kept on delaying the talking until she could understand what kind of memories were in her head and her feelings towards Nick.
Thus another week passed by before finally Orion woke up, Hermione wanted to go there and meet him but then he remembered the kind of betrayed face she had shown her.
"I don't need saving."
She remembers saying this in her hurry. Only now did she realise just how insensitive that came out to be. And all that becuase of these darn memories and feelings. So after finally he woke up and was moved to St Mungo's to check on his arm, Hermione made her decision. To have the talk with Nick.
.
.
.
Hermione's footsteps echoed through the corridor of Hogwarts as she walked to meet Nick and finally found what was dire that he tried to kill both Rose and Orion. Internally she knew that there is no reason which could be enough to make her believe that what he did was right, but she at least wanted to give Nick one chance.
"Hermione," Nick's voice called out, breaking the silence. Hermione turned to face him, her expression a mixture of frustration and curiosity.
"As I said that I will come, now talk?" she said, her tone softened by the lingering remnants of her anger.
Nick hesitated, the weight of his words evident in the air between them. "Before I tell you the truth, please tell me what do you learn from the memories. I know that you have many questions. Those memories bring yours but at the same time not being yours, you know what I mean," he said as he looked into Hermione's eyes, he needed to know, did Hermione remember everything or they just memories which she didn't care about?
"Why does that even matter, I am here to listen to why you try to kill Rose and Orion, I have nothing to answer you," Hermione remained stubuned.
"I know, I know. Hermione even you know that this is all connected. If not then no matter what memories you wouldn't have saved me from Orion back in the chamber.
You feel it, don't you? Those are not just Memories. Someone as smart as you should be aware that no magic can change human feelings permanently.
I am sure that by now you have already checked out every possible reason why you would have felt like this. Don't you?
I bet you didn't find any results. And you won't find it either becuase although the memories are something which injected in your brain they are real memories and your feelings are also real.
You know why! becuase no one can recreate memories with feelings in them. They can only be passed...
You passed those memories to me, Hermione. I know inside somewhere you can feel it that I am not lying. Those are your memories which you gave me." Nick said, trying desperately to make Hermione believe in him.
Hermione raised an eyebrow, She indeed did much research about it to find out whether Nick changed her feelings or something similar. But she didn't find anything wrong with her, besides those memories from other Hermione. She is completely natural, not under the influence of any magic or spell. "I... I do."
"I don't believe you at all, but yes... I do believe that this memories are real. And you will tell me now how you even have these memories.
Who is this other Hermione? What is this other world shit?
Who are you really?
You will tell me." Hermione clenches her fist, once again wondering why she is even bothering to talk with him but no matter how many sound reasons she gives herself. Her mind kept on coming back to Nick.
Nick took a deep breath. At least she is ready to listen to them. "Those memories are real. I have them because Hermione you gave them to me. The other world version of you. I am Nick Iron only in this world Hermione but before that, I was the boy who lived. Before I died in my world, but somehow with a quite complicated backstory attached to it, I was resurrected here in this one. But it is not like you don't know that, you just can't figure it out with your memories all jumbled up. You really have to go through them to understand Hermione. Locking them up will not answer any of your questions." he confessed, his voice tinged with a mixture of sorrow and resignation.
Hermione's eyes widened in surprise, the revelation catching her off guard. "That...That's why you taught me Occulumency." She almost shouted as she started to see a pattern there.
"No, just for you to see this memory. But also to guard them from other prying minds. They are dangerous Hermione. Only we two know what happened. Others shouldn't know this," Nick immediately added.
"You mean only you know. I am still in the dark here,"
"Only until you go through them, Hermione. Only until you go through them. It will be a billion times easier for me to just show you if I had a pensieve.
You have to see them yourself for the answers," Nick said with a firm tone.
Hermione didn't say anything then. After some time when she was done contemplating, she finally said.
"Tell me who you are. And this time your real name."
Sigh.
"I am Harry,"
"HARRY POTTER."
xxx
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