'Are you certain?' asked Hermione. 'It's all right to back out.'
'No, I can do this,' said Ryan with conviction.
'Shall we review the protocol one last time?'
He smiled. 'It's not complicated. As needed: shoes off and feet touching under the table, hand on leg if necessary. I love that skirt, by the way,' he said, admiring the miniskirt Hermione had purchased for the occasion. 'You're welcome to wear that anytime you like.'
'Noted. And our safe word?'
'Puffskein. In which case you'll spirit me into another room until I can regain my composure.'
'Yes, and there's a fireplace next to the table, so you can always leave in a hurry.'
Ryan looked fondly at her and started playing with one of her ringlets. 'Hermione, I think you're over-planning this. I really don't anticipate a problem. You'll be right next to me, and I can't imagine letting another witch distract me, let alone a fourteen year-old. I didn't have trouble with the Veela at the World Cup when I was seventeen.'
'They weren't pubescent, and you weren't in a small cottage with them.'
'Fine. I'm doomed. I think my only hope is advance fortification,' he said with a gleam in his eye.
'No, we're at my parents' house, and it's nearly time to leave anyway, assuming you want to walk around first.'
'Yes, it sounds beautiful, and I want to pay my respects to ... Dubby?'
'Dobby,' she said, her expression soft. 'All right, take my hand.' He did, and she turned on her heel.
They were still holding hands when they arrived, and Hermione automatically turned towards Ryan to see his reaction to the view. 'Oh, Hermione, this is breathtaking.' The wind was strong, and it blew Hermione's ringlets all around her head. 'What I wouldn't do right now for a wizarding camera—I'd love a photograph of you as you are right now.'
'My hair is all over the place!'
'That's why it's so wonderful! A still photograph wouldn't do it justice, but a wizarding photograph would capture your hair as it dances. We'll have to bring one next time.'
They stood together for a while and looked out over the ocean. His arm was around her and they didn't speak, listening instead to the roaring waves. Hermione's eyes teared up a little, and she didn't know whether it was from the overwhelming beauty of the moment or just the wind.
He turned to her and said, 'I couldn't possibly have eyes for anyone but you, Hermione.' He bent down and kissed her, and a small part of her registered that this was probably the most romantic moment of her life.
She led him by the hand to the bluff where Dobby was buried, and they stood there in silence. Hermione began crying in earnest, and Ryan put his arm around her again. 'He gave his life for us,' she said. 'He was killed by the same cursed knife that gave me my scars. Harry dug the grave with a shovel and his own two hands, even though he was underfed and we'd only just escaped capture. He used his wand only to carve the tombstone.'
'"Here Lies Dobby, a Free Elf,"' recited Ryan. 'Thank you, Dobby.'
'We spent a month here recovering and, more importantly, planning the Gringotts break-in. It should have felt like a holiday compared to the forest, and I suppose it did. But we were so tired and uncertain how to proceed, except for Harry, who was single-minded to the point of mania. I imagine you see an echo of that person when he flies into you and the other Chasers.'
'I probably do,' said Ryan. 'And yes, it's disconcerting. Even if other Seekers start copying him, I doubt they'll have the same effect Harry does. He has an unflinching quality I've never seen in another flyer. I wouldn't even call it courage, because that implies overcoming fear. It's more like a total lack of fear, based on absolute certainty.'
'Yes, that's it exactly.' She looked at her wristwatch and said, 'We should go inside. Are you ready, or do you need a last-minute booster shot?'
'I'll never say no to that,' he replied, and they kissed once more. 'Remember—whatever happens in there, it's only you I want. You're the one I care about.'
She beamed at him, and with their hands still linked they walked to the cottage and she knocked on the door. Bill ushered them in. 'Welcome, come inside,' he said, and Hermione dropped Ryan's hand to give Bill a quick embrace.
'Thank you for having us. Bill, this is Ryan. Ryan, Bill Weasley.'
The two men shook hands and everyone walked through the entry into the kitchen. Ryan immediately grabbed Hermione's hand again, and Fleur looked up from the table, which she had just finished arranging. 'Hermione,' she said, approaching her, 'you have spent too much time outside in the wind. Your hair, it is a désastre.' She kissed Hermione once on either cheek before turning to Ryan. 'You must be Ryan. It is good to meet you.'
Hermione introduced Ryan to her, and she felt him relax, the first challenge complete. 'It's lovely to meet you Mrs Weasley. Thank you for inviting us.'
'Pfft,' she said. 'It is nothing. Gabrielle! Ils sont arrivés.'
When Gabrielle entered the room, Hermione understood why Fleur had been preparing herself for her younger sister's arrival. Gabrielle was no more beautiful than Fleur, but even Hermione could feel the force of her allure.
'Hermione,' said Gabrielle in somewhat improved English, 'I am glad to see you. Thank you for coming to visit.' She kissed Hermione on each cheek, just as Fleur had done, and then approached Ryan to do the same. Ryan flinched and scooted closer to Hermione with a desperate glance.
'Gabrielle, allow me to introduce my boyfriend Ryan. He plays Chaser for the Chudley Cannons and turns twenty-three next month,' she said in precise tones. 'Ryan, Gabrielle recently turned fourteen and is visiting from France.' She put a particular emphasis on their ages.
When they were seated, Ryan immediately put his hand on Hermione's exposed thigh, and she felt him surreptitiously remove a shoe. She kicked off her sandal and laid her foot atop his, which helped him relax.
'This is a beautiful setting,' he said in his normal voice. 'Hermione and I spent some time outdoors before coming inside. I wish I had a camera to photograph her in the wind.'
'You should borrow ours after dinner,' said Bill. 'The light will be better then, and I'm certain it'll still be windy.'
'Fleur, do you need any help serving?' asked Hermione, but Ryan gripped her leg more tightly and very subtly shook his head.
'No,' said Fleur. 'Bill can help me.'
Soup was served, which Ryan was able to eat one-handed, and conversation flowed smoothly enough. Everyone had questions for Ryan about his family and the Cannons, and they enjoyed a lively discussion comparing Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Widgington.
After Bill cleared the soup bowls, Fleur served coq au vin, which unfortunately required two hands to eat. Ryan dropped his napkin, and while he was picking it up he rolled his left trouser leg, allowing greater physical contact with Hermione under the table.
'I am very much looking forward to Harry's party,' said Gabrielle. 'He is much more handsome without his glasses.' This resulted in a long discussion of all things Potter, during which Hermione felt Ryan relax more and more, to the point where he only needed their feet touching.
'You're doing brilliantly,' she whispered as Bill and Fleur removed the plates.
'Thanks. You should wear miniskirts more often.'
'Only if you wear your football shorts as well.'
During dessert, Gabrielle described her earlier visit to Diagon Alley. 'I went to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes and met the most horrible portrait. She called me a detestable creature unfit for a wizard, and when I told her I intended to marry Harry Potter she said he will never marry because he is too much a séducteur. Is this true?'
Hermione and Ryan both laughed. 'I don't recommend setting your sights on Harry right now,' said Hermione. 'He has a girlfriend, for one thing, and he's too old for you.'
'Pfft, I know that. He can have his other witches until I finish Beauxbatons, and then I will be ready for him.'
'No, Gabrielle,' said Fleur decisively. 'Harry is not for you. You will find a wizard of your own.'
'C'est pas juste!' cried Gabrielle, sounding very much her age. 'He rescued me from the merpeople! It is destiny!'
Ryan was completely at ease by this point, and Hermione got the sense that he was only holding her thigh and rubbing her foot because he wanted to. He offered to help serve dessert, and after dinner he and Hermione cleared the table without incident, even though Gabrielle was still present.
Bill fetched the camera, and everyone went outside for photographs. Ryan was disappointed the wind had died down, but he was nevertheless happy to pose with Hermione in the fading light.
Fleur took Hermione aside before they left and said, 'Your bel ami, he is very devoted to you. Nobody has done so well around Gabrielle this week, except for Bill of course.'
'Do you think she'll be all right at the party?'
'No,' said Fleur. 'It is a terrible idea to bring her there, but Bill mentioned it without thinking and now she insists on going. He will bring her for ten minutes and then leave.'
Hermione and Ryan returned to his flat, where she immediately gave him a big hug. 'You were right,' she said. 'I should have believed in you.'
'I'll admit I got hit a few times near the start, but having you pressed up to me was infinitely more appealing. Might I suggest we do that every time we're out together?
'Grope each other, you mean?'
'I was going to phrase it more romantically, but yes.'
'I don't know ... the next time we see each other will be for dinner with all of our parents. My father likes you, but you shouldn't push your luck.'
'Fair enough. Perhaps now would be a better time for groping?'
'Yes, definitely,' she said, smiling.
She had to wait two excruciating days before seeing him again. Quidditch practice on Thursday ran late, which meant Hermione was unable to see him before her meeting with Bill and Minerva to plan their revisions to the Hogwarts wards. They invited Professor Babbling as well, and the Runes master was as appalled as Minerva had been. Together they devised a plan using the Pensieve to walk them through the steps for identifying and removing the interfering wards from the Hogwarts anchor stones.
On Friday night, Hermione stood in front of her parents' fireplace, waiting to leave for dinner with the Bellamys. She knew her parents didn't like Floo travel, which they'd previously used to visit the Burrow, but they'd agreed to it because driving would take too long.
Daniel and Emily entered, and Hermione surprised them each with a big hug. 'Thanks ever so much for doing this. I know you'll get along brilliantly with Walter and Lucinda, and Ryan as well.'
'I'm looking forward to meeting them,' said Daniel. 'It'll be a new experience to talk magic with someone who understands where we're coming from, and who doesn't treat us like we're simple-minded.'
Emily admonished him. 'Minerva McGonagall never treated us that way, and Hermione's friends certainly don't.'
'No, but I'll never forget the time Arthur insisted that aeroplanes were actually designed by wizards out of compassion for Muggles, to reduce travel times. He refused to believe that aerodynamics are what make flight possible, and then he glazed over when I explained to him how a jet engine works.'
'In all fairness, so did I,' said Emily, and she smirked when he glared at her.
Hermione told them the Floo address for Ryan's parents house, and she allowed them to go first in case of problems. When Hermione arrived, her parents both looked slightly green, and Walter was offering them glasses of ginger ale.
'It was ages before Walter finally convinced me that Floo travel was harder for non-magicals,' said Lucinda. 'He had to drag me to an amusement park to prove he could handle even the most disorientating rides without the slightest discomfort. He did better than I did, to be honest.'
'I'm relieved to hear it,' said Daniel. 'Wizards always tell me it's just a matter of getting used to Floo travel, and that I'd get the knack of it soon enough. Emily handles it somewhat better than I do—I'm convinced she's the one Hermione got her magical DNA from.'
'I don't think anyone really understands how Muggle-borns occur,' said Lucinda. 'Mendelian inheritance certainly doesn't explain it.'
Emily turned to her daughter and said, 'Hermione, I'm already impressed—I've never heard a wizard speak so competently about science.' She stood and extended her hand. 'I'm Emily Granger, and clearly you're Lucinda and Walter. It's a pleasure to meet you.'
Greetings were exchanged, and Hermione and Ryan shared a chaste kiss and stood together hand in hand. They were in the lounge, which Hermione had only passed through on her previous visit. The room looked perfectly ordinary, but she suspected the house was still in Muggle mode.
'Now that you're here I can add you to the wards,' said Lucinda. 'That will allow you to see both versions of the house. Just give me a moment.' She performed several incantations and asked Emily and Daniel to press their hands against a smooth, polished stone that had runes carved along the edges.
When she'd finished, Lucinda faced them again and said, 'All right, I'll make the switch now.' She muttered the same incantation Ryan had used, and the lounge transformed before their eyes. The front blinds closed automatically, and the artwork on the walls, which was modern, started moving in interesting ways. Some, but not all, of the framed photographs on the shelves also started moving—Hermione assumed the others were of Ryan's muggle relations. She noticed a picture of Ryan, aged twelve perhaps and sunburnt, with an older couple who looked like Ryan's father, and the same couple appeared in other photographs as well.
The television and stereo remained, but a thin curtain had fallen around them, presumably to shield them from the surrounding magic. A wizarding radio had appeared, and Hermione was certain the room had expanded in size.
Daniel and Emily were clearly amazed. 'You did all of this with just one spell?' asked Daniel.
'She uses a single incantation to trigger it,' said Walter, 'but there's actually a cascade of underlying charms and transfigurations. We worked them out together—obviously there are parts I can't do myself, but the sequencing logic was right up my street.'
'Am I mistaken or is the room larger than before?' asked Emily.
'It's about twenty-five percent larger, yes.'
She turned to Daniel and said, 'We've always needed more closet space. I wonder if we couldn't do something like this in the master bedroom, and also in the front hall closet.'
'What happens to the contents when the room goes back to normal size?' asked Daniel. 'We couldn't very well let your mum open the front closet and discover we're hiding a TARDIS or a gateway to Narnia, though I suppose we've been culturally primed for just that.'
'We've done something similar with our closets,' said Lucinda, 'and I've a method for handling that. I have charmed hangers for the clothes that don't need to be visible at first viewing. I use them to switch between my winter and summer wardrobes, for example.'
'Is that something you could show Hermione how to do?' asked Emily. Hermione was clamping her mouth shut and squeezing Ryan's hand excitedly.
'She was the brains of the outfit, wasn't she?' said Lucinda. 'I should think so.'
'I'd love that,' said Hermione. 'Now that I'm no longer in school I don't get to perform as much advanced magic as I'd like.'
'Yes, it's nothing but day-in-day-out charms and transfigurations once you hit the real world. My mind would have seized up if that's all I'd done since I finished school,' said Lucinda.
Ryan's parents showed Daniel and Emily the kitchen and dining room, and Emily exclaimed over the back garden. 'This is better than Giverny,' she said rapturously, referring to Claude Monet's famous gardens in France.
'Surely you're exaggerating,' said Lucinda. 'Though I'll admit I was inspired by it.'
'There are quite a few of magical plants as well,' said Hermione quietly, not wanting the neighbours to hear.
'Yes, and herbs,' said Walter. 'Lucinda uses them in her potions.'
'The apothecaries charge a fortune,' said Lucinda. 'They're shamelessly taking advantage of how idle most wizards are—can't be bothered to water a few plants.'
'My mother has strong opinions on idleness,' said Ryan. 'She forced me to play every sport she could sign me up for.'
'Don't blame me,' said Lucinda. 'You needed an outlet, otherwise you would have destroyed the house or possibly the entire neighbourhood.' They were back inside and the conversation turned towards accidental magic. 'Ryan was absolutely impossible as a child. Couldn't sit still, and if we tried to make him stay in one place he'd force everything else to run around for him.'
'Heavens!' said Emily. 'How did you manage that with Walter's relations? We had a few incidents with Hermione, but she was considerably more restrained.'
'I'm afraid I had to alter their memories,' said Lucinda. 'It made me sick to do it, but the alternative was just to move away and raise Ryan in a wizarding bubble, which was the last thing we wanted. Walter and I would have liked to have another child, but I couldn't go through it again. We started filling out paperwork to adopt, but it was clear there would be too many enquiries into my past, so we gave it up. Luckily we have nieces and nephews on both sides, and I've made a name for myself as the quirky aunt.'
Hermione looked at a spot on the floor when Lucinda mentioned memory modification. She didn't see whether her parents had glanced at her.
'I don't know whether Hermione's magic played a role in why we didn't have more children,' said Emily. 'It probably did unconsciously, but at the time I told myself I wanted to return to work. We couldn't send her to day nursery, as you can imagine, unless they'd kept the books under lock and key.'
'That wouldn't have stopped her,' said Daniel.
'Did you play sports as well,' asked Lucinda, and Hermione's parents both laughed.
'No, she hadn't the slightest interest,' said Daniel. 'We tried getting her on a horse one summer, thinking she might enjoy something with literary associations and that didn't involve running, but it was an exercise in futility.'
'I like skiing,' said Hermione. 'And I'm not bad at it either.'
'True, but we couldn't exactly take you skiing at the weekends,' said Emily.
'You need to find something you like,' said Lucinda. 'Otherwise you'll be old before your time. Wizards have longer lifespans, but they don't stay young any longer than Muggles do. It's normally just a long, creaky middle age, and then an interminable old age.'
'You're probably right,' said Hermione. 'I climbed a lot of stairs at Hogwarts, but I'm already feeling the lack of it, and it's hardly been a month since I left.'
'I'm certain there's a fortune to be made in wizarding gymnasiums,' said Walter. 'The trick is that someone would have to confiscate wands at the door, otherwise the patrons would charm the barbells weightless and have the bicycles pedal themselves.'
'Wizards are absolutely useless when it comes to exercise,' said Lucinda. 'I'm still not convinced Quidditch is a proper sport.'
'Mother, I can assure you it is. She's been like this my whole life,' he said. 'Admittedly flying relies primarily on core strength, rather than speed and agility like football, but it's not the same as just sitting on a motorcycle.'
They eventually sat at the dining table, which had been fully cleared of books and projects. Dinner was served and smaller conversations formed—Daniel and Walter talked about music, and they stood at one point to interact with the charmed piano. Lucinda and Emily covered a number of topics, but Hermione stopped listening when she overheard Lucinda sharing her blistering opinions about Hogwarts.
'I should probably be terrified of the fallout,' said Hermione to Ryan, 'but I'm just so pleased to see everyone getting along. It was never like this with Ron's parents.'
'I know what you mean. When they met one of my other girlfriends' parents, my father was almost entirely excluded from the conversation. My mother kept trying to bring him into it, but they'd respond only to her.'
'That's awful. You'd think wizards would at least learn basic manners.'
'Yes, you would.'
In a more serious tone, she said, 'Your mother mentioned you once brought home a witch who turned out to have Death Eater sympathies. Do you mind my asking what happened?'
He sighed. 'No, I don't mind. I met her through a former teammate—this was about two years ago, just before the Ministry fell. We'd been dating for a little over a month, and we hadn't really talked politics. I suppose that summer was the calm before the storm. She knew about my father, of course, and she acted like it was no big deal. But I think the reality of it set in when I brought her home. She seemed shocked that my parents were on such equal footing ... I think she expected him to be more of a worshiper than a partner.'
'Oh dear, that sounds awkward.'
'It was. She did the thing where she'd only talk to Mum and not to him, and of course my mother said something about it.'
'Of course she did,' said Hermione fondly.
'Maria—that was her name—asked my mother flat out why she'd risked having a child, though she was diplomatic enough to say she was glad that I'd resulted. Mum challenged her and asked if she thought a person's magical ability was the most important thing about them, and Maria said it was. Mum didn't like that, naturally, and she asked Maria if she thought wizards were superior to Muggles, and Maria said of course they were, wasn't it obvious?'
'How did your father react to all this?' asked Hermione.
'He was less upset than my mother, to be honest. He was accustomed to wizards treating him that way—the only difference was that Maria was being open about it.'
'I suppose she was. What did your mother do next?'
'She asked about politics, and specifically what Maria thought about wizard-Muggle relations.'
'And?'
'She didn't think Muggles should be tortured—I like to think I'm a better judge of character than that—but she didn't object to subjugating them in one way or another. She disagreed with the Statute of Secrecy because it hampered wizards from achieving their full potential.'
'I'm feeling tense just hearing about the conversation. What was it like for you?'
'Excruciating. I felt like I was in Nazi Germany or something. Here was someone I'd been ... intimate with, and it turned out she was practically the enemy. We broke up later that night.'
'Ugh, I'm sorry your Blood Status didn't protect you from that. Mine certainly has.'
'Actually, I don't think it was a question of Blood Status. After dinner Maria tried to argue that I was fine because I was magical. She didn't care that I had a Muggle father, and I don't think she was concerned we'd have a non-magical child, even though we were nowhere near marriage at that point. But she couldn't understand why I didn't consider myself superior to my father.'
Hermione realised she could see Maria's point, which made her a little uncomfortable. 'Wouldn't you at least agree that being magical is an advantage?'
'Of course it's an advantage, just the same as height or strength are advantages. But they don't confer superiority.'
She relaxed and said, 'Yes, well put.'
'I felt bad because she was actually heartbroken, from the appearance of things. But I knew it could never work between us—the illusion had been shattered. And I can't imagine what it would have been like once the war began in earnest just a few weeks later.'
'Did you hear from her again? Do you know which side she took?'
'Ironically her mother was Muggle-born, so she had some difficulties in that arena.'
'Really, someone that close to Muggles was able to hold an opinion like that?'
'I'm afraid so. Apparently she had no contact with her Muggle grandparents or relations.'
Hermione felt uncomfortable again. If she'd married Ron, her children might have run that risk. They'd have known Hermione's parents, of course, but probably none of her other relations.
The dinner conversation broadened again, and Hermione's parents asked Ryan more questions. Hermione was pleased to see how well they got along, and it was clear her parents had a high opinion of him. He talked about his academic ambitions, and how he'd longed to attend university growing up near Cambridge.
'Unfortunately university isn't in the cards, unless I want to take my A levels and all the rest, which doesn't seem like the best use of my time. I've heard of Knockturn Alley operations that will generate fake credentials for you, but I could never go that route. The good news is that I'm fascinated by wizarding topics, so I won't feel constrained in my future studies. I just won't get the particular life experience that university imparts.'
'I suppose not,' said Emily. 'But surely you've had different life experiences, playing for the Cannons and all the rest.'
'Yes, I can't imagine a lot of Cambridge students have played league Quidditch, and I wouldn't trade that for the world.'
'You could have done without playing during the war,' said Lucinda.
Ryan sighed. 'I certainly could have done.' He explained to Hermione and her parents what had happened.
'That's horrible,' said Daniel. 'It reminds me of the prisoner orchestras they had at Nazi concentration camps.'
'It wasn't that bad,' said Ryan. 'None of us were on the chopping block, for one thing.'
'It wasn't that bad?' said Lucinda. 'For all you knew, you were playing for the same people who killed your grandparents.'
Daniel and Emily looked up in horror, and Walter explained. 'A year ago January my parents were murdered, by wizards apparently.'
'Apparently? They left a Dark Mark over the house,' said Lucinda. 'Death Eaters killed them.'
'I'm so sorry,' said Emily. 'That's simply awful.'
'Yes, it was. We had to scramble to protect the rest of Walter's relations. Ryan essentially had a second job at night, setting up protective wards on their houses and so forth, until we could get them into a government protection programme. Muggle government, of course.'
'How did you manage that?' asked Daniel.
'Confunding, False Memory Charms, you name it,' she said, shaking her head in disgust. 'It'll haunt me until my dying day, but what else could I do?'
This time Hermione saw her parents looking at her, but she didn't say anything. 'Yes, we've some history with that as well,' said Emily.
Hermione's eyes shot open—she never imagined her parents would bring this up at dinner.
Emily continued, 'Hermione modified our memories the summer before last and sent us to Australia for safekeeping. It was the only thing she could come up with to keep us safe, and free her up to help Harry.'
'My word,' exclaimed Walter. 'And how long were you there?'
'She collected us last June, so it was nearly eleven months in total.'
'Was it hard to put your lives back together?'
'Not as hard as you'd expect,' said Emily. 'Our house was paid for, thanks to an inheritance from Daniel's parents, so Hermione only needed to keep up the taxes and insurance, which she did from our bank account. And she also modified our business partners' memories, so they wouldn't think we'd just scarpered. It was a harder for my parents, though—Hermione couldn't make them forget they'd ever had a daughter, like she did with us. She just had to make them believe we'd run off, which means we've had some bridges to rebuild.'
Hermione felt sick, hearing everything laid out like that. She appreciated that her mother left out the part where it was nonconsensual, and how she'd lied to them for years.
Lucinda turned to Hermione and said, 'I can only imagine how hard that was for you—for all of you. I wish we'd done something similar to protect Walter's parents, awful as it would have been.'
It may have been wishful thinking, but Hermione thought she saw her parents' expressions soften just a little. She knew they hadn't entirely forgiven her—perhaps this would help.
'I hope you realise,' continued Lucinda, 'how grateful we all are to Hermione, and to Harry Potter of course. Rumour has it there was a prophecy that only Potter could stop Voldemort.' She looked at Hermione, who nodded. 'It's a scandal that none of the adults in his life were any use, and that he had to rely on two classmates. But when I consider the world we'd be living in if they hadn't been there to help him ...' She shook her head.
'We're very proud of Hermione,' said Daniel. 'It was our worst nightmare realised to find out our daughter was basically a child soldier, but when we learnt how resourceful and determined she'd been ... it was humbling, to say the least.'
'I'm just relieved to have her back,' said Emily, a little tearful. 'It's been wonderful to have her living at home again, particularly after all those years at Hogwarts.' Turning towards Hermione and Ryan, she added, 'Don't shack up too quickly, you two!'
'Mum!' cried Hermione, and all the parents laughed.
The rest of the evening continued on a lighter note, and the parents turned a blind eye when Hermione and Ryan disappeared into another room to say goodbye privately. 'Good luck during the match tomorrow,' she said.
'You'll be in the stands watching,' he said. 'That's all the luck I need.'
'Don't let Harry crash into you—I like you in one piece.'
'Not to worry. We practised hard this week and I don't think we'll have as many near misses as last time. Although, to be honest, I was rather proud of my Sloth Grip Roll.'
'It was impressive,' she said admiringly.
After they said goodbye, Hermione returned to the lounge, where her parents were thanking Walter and Lucinda. 'It's been a pleasure,' said Emily. 'And I'm holding you to your word that you'll teach Hermione those closet expansion techniques.'
Hermione and her parents returned home, and she quickly made them ginger tea to settle their stomachs again, using her wand to hasten the process.
'Thanks,' said Daniel, who was next to Emily on the sofa. 'And thanks for introducing us to them so early on. I know you and Ryan only just started dating, but I'm glad you were brave enough to bring us together this soon.'
'Lucinda is nothing like any of the magicals I've met previously, though I can't say I've met very many,' said Emily.
'I've met heaps of magicals,' said Hermione. 'She's definitely unique.'
'That house is a marvel,' said Emily. 'I know you've little use for television, but you and I might have to watch some home improvement shows together to see what we can come up with. It never occurred to me we could get more space without remodelling.'
'Could I have a potions lab, then?' asked Hermione. 'I'm just joking—Harry's lab is fine.'
'You'd increase our resale market, if we ever decide to move. We could list the house with a wizarding estate agent as well as a regular one,' joked Daniel. 'But then we'd get tangled in that rat's nest of a magical economy, which I'd just as soon avoid.'
'So much for increased home equity,' said Emily. 'But I'll settle for closet space, and perhaps a slightly less cramped lounge. I've been coveting one of those enormous armchairs. How much bigger do you think we could make it before people notice something's off?'
'I don't know,' said Hermione, trying to hide her delight. 'Maybe ten percent? We could experiment a bit, and use Dad as the test subject.' Emily and Daniel continued sipping their tea, and Hermione said, 'Thanks for not telling them the whole story about the memory modification.'
Emily nodded. 'It wasn't relevant to the conversation, and I didn't want to make anyone uncomfortable by airing dirty linen. That said, they gave me some perspective on the matter. How dreadful, what happened to Walter's parents.'
'I should have trusted you enough to include you on the decision,' said Hermione.
'I can't say whether that would have helped. I'd never have agreed to let you fight a war and make us forget you'd ever existed. Or willingly abandon my parents like that.'
Hermione sighed. 'Is there anything I can do to help fix things with Nan and Grandpa?'
'Not modify their memories, surely,' said Daniel.
'No,' said Hermione, blushing. 'I meant by visiting, or something similar.'
'What would you even tell them about your life? You can't very well say you're working on diplomacy among magical species, when you ought to be at university.'
'What do you tell them now?' asked Hermione, who had always avoided the topic of her grandparents.
'They don't ask any longer. At their age, they have their share of friends with children and grandchildren you don't ask about.'
Hermione sighed. It was ironic that she'd been awarded the Order of Merlin, First Class, and yet her grandparents assumed she was one of those kids who'd got hooked on drugs or something. 'I'm so sorry I put you in this position.'
'I appreciate hearing that,' said Emily. 'Really, thank you.'
'Ryan has managed to stay close with his Muggle relations. It's required some dishonesty, but he feels it's better than the alternative.'
'This, you mean?' asked Emily.
Hermione nodded.
Emily was quiet a moment. 'I suspect we can come up with something. I know how disappointed they are, particularly given how promising you were as a little girl. They were so proud of how clever you were. I know they'd be glad to have you back, one way or another.'
'I'd like that. I miss them too. When Ryan told me about his grandparents, I realised I'd lost mine as well, only they're still alive.'
'You have a birthday coming up,' said Daniel. 'Maybe we can get things sorted before then.'
'I hope so ... I'm so sorry.' They made room for her between them on the sofa, and she allowed herself to feel their love and forgiveness.