“Ami can you go get the owl post for me?” Hermione said as she bit into a bagel.
“Sure mum.” an eleven year old girl with long brown kinky hair stood up and headed to the front door of number 12 Grimmauld Place. She picked up the pile of post on the doorstep. She put the newspaper under her arm and looked at the mail. There were two letters. She walked into the kitchen as she looked at the first one addressed to her
Ms. A. Carter
Smallest bedroom on the second landing
12 Grimmauld Place
London, England
Hermione looked up from her magazine and her eyes grew big.
“It can’t be.” she gasped. Ami looked at her with a quizzical expression.
“What? This? There’s one for you too mum” Hermione jumped up from her seat.
“What?” Hermione grabbed the letters from her hand and opened hers first.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmistress: Minerva McGonagall
Dear Mrs. Hermione Granger-Carter,
Hermione you were one of my favorite pupils, so I would like to make this letter a bit more personal. I am pleased to inform you that Hogwarts’ doors will reopen once again to students this year on September 1st. In order to celebrate, Hogwarts is holding a reunion for former students and staff. You are with the greatest respect invited to attend. I hope to see you there. It will be held July 31st at 8:00 p.m. I’m looking forward to speaking with you again as well as meeting your daughter. You are welcome to bring any guest you like and please bring Amoret with you.
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Headmistress
Hermione stood for a moment in utter disbelief before handing her daughter back her letter. Ami looked at the letter with hesitance.
“What is it?”
“Your acceptance letter to Hogwarts.” said Hermione not sure whether to smile or tell her she couldn’t go.
“You meant the Hogwarts where you went? I thought you said they had closed.” Hermione heard the excitement in her daughter’s voice and knew she had to let her go.
“They were. They’re reopening this year.”
“Really! Then I’m going to go to school where you did?” Hermione smiled weakly.
“If that’s what you want.”
“Of course it is!”
“Well open your letter and read it to me.” Ami ripped open the envelope and pulled out a piece of parchment.
“’Dear Ms. Amoret Carter’, Bluhch! They used my first name. ‘We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1st. We await your reply by no later then July 31st. Sincerely, signed Remus J. Lupin, Deputy Headmaster. Post script, please tell you mother I hope to see her at the reunion.’” Ami looked up at her mother. “Reunion?”
“They’re holding a reunion for former students. That’s what the letter was about. Would you like to come with me?” Hermione had decided she had no choice. She had to go and mi mind as well come with her.
“Yes, please.” Hermione sighed.
“Well give me your list and I’ll get a few of your things while I’m in London and we’ll get your robes fitted after the reunion. Okay?” Ami smiled and handed her mother the second piece of parchment from her letter.
“Thanks. Behave whilst I’m gone and don’t go in the drawing room. The doxies are back.”
“Okay mum, goodbye.” she kissed her mother on the cheek and Hermione disapparated.
She reappeared on Diagon Alley and headed down the cobblestone street of mingling people. She was just about to turn into Flourish and Blotts when she passed a joke shop that brought back a ton of memories. She seemed compelled to enter it. The store was as busy as it had been when it first opened. She made her way through isles of pranks and giggling children to the front desk. A woman stood there leafing through a catalog. Her stomach was swollen with a pregnancy and her name tag read Angelina. Hermione smiled inside herself.
“Angelina Johnson?” she looked up at Hermione and her eyes grew the size of tennis balls.
“Hermione Granger? Is that you?”
“Well I haven’t been called Granger in a long time, but yes”
“You’re married?” Hermione smiled.
“I was, killed.” Angelina’s face dropped. “So Fred or George?” Hermione asked, and Angelina blushed.
“Fred.” she answered. As she said this Fed came out of the back room, wrapped his arm around his wife, and kissed her on the cheek. Angelina smiled. “Fred, look who has paid us a visit.” He turned towards Hermione, his mouth fell open, tripped on a fake wand-rubber chicken, and fell flat on his back with a crash. Angelina and Hermione laughed. He jumped back up and stared at Hermione as if to make sure he hadn’t hit his head too hard.
“Hermione Granger, my, my.” he turned toward the back room and shouted. “George, get in here, you’re never going to believe this.” George came through the back door.
“What is it Fre . . . Hermione! We haven’t seen you in over fifteen years” Hermione smiled weakly.
“Well, things changed. Harry left, probably dead now, I moved away, got married; I lost touch with the old crowd.”
“Oh, so we’re the old crowd now? I see how it is.: George smiled at her. “You’re in town for the reunion then?”
“Yes, but I’ve lived her for nine years, I moved back with my daughter after my husband was killed.” Fred and George’s smiles disappeared.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”
“It’s quite alright. So have you talked Ron? Do you know if he’s going?” The twins laughed.
“He’s been asking the same thing about you since yesterday.” said Fred. Hermione blushed. “He’s going. Him and Roxanne are working on their fifth kid now, and he’s managed to get off work to go.” Hermione wanted to inquire more, but she was interrupted by a group of boys with some big purchases.
“Well, by Hermione, we’ll see you on Saturday and we’ll be sure to tell Ron you’re coming.”
“Oh, don’t, I want to surprise him.” Fred and George smiled and made a motion as to zip their mouths shut. “Thanks, bye Fred, George, Angelina.” and she exited the shop with the tinkle of the door.
Hermione entered the bookshop and took in the familiar scent of ink and paper. She walked about the shop collecting the books on her daughter’s list. She then proceeded to buy them and was about to leave when a sinister voice stopped her in her tracks.
“Well, well, well . . . I never thought I’d see you again mudblood.” Hermione turned and snickered.
“I can’t say the same, I knew I wouldn’t be as fortunate in my life as to not run into you again Malfoy.” he smiled maliciously.
“I thought you ran off with Potter on his Death Eater crusades.” Hermione didn’t know what he was talking about, but she wasn’t going to let him know that.
“No, sorry; I haven’t seen Harry in almost seventeen years. I’ve been back for nine writing for the Quibbler.” he laughed sardonically.
“Weasley is having litters of children, Potter has disappeared, and the perfect genius Hermione Granger is working for Loony Lovegood. My, how the mighty have fallen.” Hermione narrowed her eyes.
“Not fallen, just gone our separate ways.” Draco smirked.
“Sorry, my mistake. Well I suspect the reunion will be just like old times.” he smiled as if he knew something she didn’t and turned to leave. “I’ll see you mudblood.” and he left the bookshop.
I had lived in London in quiet seclusion for nine years. On the chance that I would meet n old classmate I would walk the other way as fast as my feet could carry me. I did in fact work for Luna who owned and edited the Quibbler, but she was the only one I had associated with in years. When she heard I was back in town she tracked me down and I wasn’t in the position to refuse her job offer.
Ami knew all the stories of the ‘Boy-Who-Lived’, but none of the stories of the true Harry Potter. I had told her about Hogwarts, but I tried hard to leave Harry out; she didn’t know how close we had really been. That confrontation with Fred and George had been a way of preparing myself for the reunion. The encounter with Malfoy had not been on purpose, but I had been looking forward to meeting him again. As Harry had put it, I missed the adrenaline. I missed the rivalry and sometimes even the conflict. When Voldemort was defeated Draco had pulled the same thing his father did. He paid off the Wizengomet, made some donations, and put some of his Death Eater pals back in Azkaban. I understood now what Harry had been faced with after Voldemort. Once he was gone he no longer had purpose of meaning, or even the capability to be close to his loved ones. I understood this now, but I still never forgave him. Now I just didn’t know why, because he ran away, or because he didn’t take me with him.
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