Amnesia

Disclaimer:  Nothing in here is mine and no money is being made from it.  It all belongs to the nice moviemakers, the good book publishers and the wonderful JK Rowling.

A/N: I had originally written this story as a Piper/Leo story for a Charmed fanfic, but then I thought I could work it as a Harry/Hermione story as well.  Is it possible to plagerize from yourself?  ;-)  Anyway, this is basically a sequel to “It’s Always Darkest Before the Dawn.”

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            It was just another routine night for the Potters.  Harry had finished his work early, so he picked Lily up from Hagrid’s hut and went back to his and Hermione’s apartment in Gryffindor Tower.

            “Ok, what should we have for dinner, princess?” Harry asked their almost three-year-old daughter.

            “Skeddie!” the toddler replied.

            “Spaghetti, huh?  Sounds good and even I can make that the old-fashioned way,” Harry said triumphantly.  He sat Lily down and began to find the ingredients for dinner.

            Meanwhile, as Hermione was coming back from her Transfiguration class, something terrible happened.  Some of the animals from her previous class had gotten loose.  A big white dog (previously a marshmallow) was chasing a black cat (previously a piece of coal) through the halls.  Just as Hermione reached the stairs by the entrance hall, the cat snaked through her legs and the dog knocked her down.  She took a tumble down the stairs where two students found her.

            “Quick, Sarah!  It’s Professor Potter.  Run up to the tower and get her husband,” said Tracy, a second year Gryffindor.

            Sarah, a first year Gryffindor, was horror struck at the sight, but took off as fast as she could.

            Just then, Rubeus Hagrid came through the door.  “’Ermione!” he yelled as he saw her unconscious form.  “Tracy, find Madam Pomfrey.  Professor Potter is going to need medical attention,” he said to the second year, who ran off.  “’Ermione!  Are you ok?” She wouldn’t answer.  “’Ermione, you hang on now.  ‘Arry and that little girl need you.”

            Sarah came running with Harry and Lily.  Harry dove to his knees by his wife’s side.

            “Hagrid, what happened?” he asked.

            “Headmaster Potter, we think she fell down the stairs.  Tracy and I saw her as we were leaving the Great Hall.  She’s gone to get Madam Pomfrey.”

            “Good, that’s good.  Sarah, go back to the Tower and tell the Gryffindors what happened.  Tell them not to worry, I’m going to make sure she’ll be ok.”

            Sarah nodded and walked away.  Harry passed a terrified Lily to Hagrid and conjured a stretcher.  He carefully levitated Hermione on to it.

            They met Madam Pomfrey on the way to the hospital wing.  She instructed them to get Hermione into a bed while she got some things together for a potion.  They did and then sat by her.

            All three just starred at Hermione, waiting for her to open her eyes. 

            Finally, Madam Pomfrey returned a vial of a green liquid.  “Ok, this potion is to heal her injuries from the fall.  Give it to her slowly, little baby sippies.  I’ll be back to check on her in an hour or so.”

            And with that she left, leaving Harry, Hagrid and Lily to wait and slowly give her the potion.  The little girl just stared at her mother as if willing her to open her eyes.

            “When is she going to wake up, Daddy?”

            “Hopefully soon, Lily.  Do you want to talk to her?”

            “Yeah.  I want to tell her that I love her,” Lily said with sadness in her voice.

            “Ok, but be quiet.  Don’t yell or anything.  Mummy can hear you just fine,” Harry said as he leaned closer to Hermione’s level.

            “Mummy?  Hi!  It’s Lily.  Daddy says that you need sleep, but I really want you to wake up so we can play.  I love you, Mummy.  Please don’t go see Grandma and Grandpa Potter.”

            Hagrid instantly teared up at hearing the child mention her grandparents.  Lily had never met her grandparents, but she had heard many stories and seen many pictures.  She knew that they went to be with the angels.

            “Don’t you worry, princess, Mummy is not going to be with Grandma and Grandpa,” Harry said, holding back the tears.

            “Mummy?  Please wake up,” Lily tried again.

            “Sweetie, let Mummy rest now,” Harry said as he leaned back again.

            Just then, Hermione’s eyes began to flutter open.

            “Where -- Where am I?” she muttered.

            “Mummy!” Lily cried as she leapt off her father’s lap and stretched her arms up to Hermione.  “I told them that you would wake up!  And now we can go home and play!”

            Hermione panicked and looked around.  She threw out her hands and cried, “Hold on!  Who are you people?”

            “Hermione, you don’t recognize any of us?” Harry asked with hurt in his voice.

            “No, I’m sorry.”

            “Why don’t you ‘member us?” Lily asked as she tried to climb on the bed.  Hermione still didn’t know the little girl, but she was so cute, she helped her onto the bed with her.

            “Hi there,” she told the child.

            “Hi, Mummy!  Why don’t you know us?” Lily repeated.

            “Remember, honey, I told you that Mummy might not remember us at first?  She got a bump on her head,” Harry explained.

            “Oh yeah.  Well, don’t worry, Mummy.  I know that Daddy will take really good care of you.  He loves you so much!”

            Harry blushed a little.  He knew that Hermione didn’t know him at the moment, and this was probably making her uncomfortable.

            “Um, Miss Lily, why don’t you come with me and we’ll go pick Mumma some flowers, ok?” Hagrid suggested.

            “Ooh!  Ok, let’s go!” Lily said as she ran over and took Hagrid’s hand.

            “We’ll be back soon,” Hagrid said as the child dragged him out the door.

            “Ok, so Hermione, let’s talk.  I’m sure you have a bunch of questions,” Harry said.

            “Oh yeah, you could say that.  Maybe we could start off with who are you people?”

            Just then, Madam Pomfrey came in.  “Ahh, Hermione, I see you’re finally awake!  I’m sure your husband here has been taking excellent care of you.”

            “My husband?  So I’m married?” Hermione asked as Harry blushed twelve shades of red.

            “So, you have experienced some amnesia.  I expected that, so I made you this potion.  Drink a sip every twenty minutes.  Your memory will slowly return to you.  I’m going to check on a student now.  Seems that a spell has backfired and they’re spitting up slugs.  Nasty business,” the nurse said.  Harry laughed, remembering that Ron had done the same thing in their second year, but Hermione failed to see what was so funny about throwing up slugs.  “I’ll be back, Hermione,” Pomfrey said as she left again.

            “No, wait!” Hermione said, hoping to not be left alone with the man that she guessed was her husband.  He certainly seemed nice enough, but at the moment, she knew nothing about him.

            “You don’t have to be scared of me, Hermione.  I would never hurt you,” Harry reasoned.

            “I know that.  I don’t know how, but I know that.”

            “I’m sure you have a million questions.  So, what do you want to know?”

            “Well, let’s start who these people are.  So, you’re my husband?”

            Harry nodded.

            “And that precious little girl must be our daughter?”

            “Yes, she is.  Her name is Lily and she’s the best little girl in the whole world.  She’s so worried about you.”

            “She seems very sweet.”

            “Yeah, tomorrow is her birthday.  She’ll be three,” Harry said.

            “Oh, no.  I’ve ruined her birthday!” Hermione cried.

            “No, you haven’t.  The best present we could give her would be having her Mummy back.”

            “ I guess so,” Hermione agreed sadly.  “So, who’s the giant?”

            “Half-giant,” Harry said.  Hermione gave him a questioning look.  “Um, never mind.  That’s our friend Hagrid.  He’s the groundskeeper here at Hogwarts.”

            “Hogwarts?  What the hell is that?”

            “Oh boy, this may take a while.  Ok, Hogwarts is where we both teach.  Well, I don’t teach as much now since I’m the Headmaster.  But of course, you’re Deputy Headmistress.  It’s a school for witchcraft and wizardry.”

            “Witchcraft?  What are we?”

            “Magical.  I know it’s hard to believe, but you are a witch and I’m a wizard and our little girl is a witch, too.”

            “Uh-huh.  And you really expect me to believe that?” she asked, cynically.

            ‘Oh boy, logical Hermione is kicking in,’ Harry thought.

            “Ok, well, I’ll prove it to you,” he said.  He reached into Hermione’s robes, which were on the back of his chair.  “You were always a natural at stuff like this.  Take your wand and point it at that chair.  Good,” he said as she complied.  “Now, I just want you to say ‘Wingardium Leviosa.’”

            Hermione looked at him like he was crazy, but she did it anyway.  What could it hurt?  But nothing happened.

            “Ok, now try it again with a swish and flick motion.  Like this,” he said as he used his own wand to demonstrate.

            “All right, all right.  Wingardium Leviosa,” Hermione said as she waved the wand at the chair exactly how she was taught.  It rose several inches from the ground.  “Holy cricket!  Am I doing that?”

            “Yes, dear.  You are.”

            Suddenly, the thought of what was going on hit her like a ton of bricks.  She dropped her wand and the chair fell with a clatter.  “This cannot be happening.  I cannot be a witch or a mother or a wife.  I don’t even know who I am!”   She began to bawl and Harry held her close.  She couldn’t explain why, but it felt so good to be in his arms.

            Just then, Hagrid and Lily returned with a beautiful bunch of wildflowers.

            “They’re for you, Mummy!” Lily said with happiness.

            “Why, thank you, sweetie,” Hermione replied quickly wiping the tears away.  She didn’t know why, but she lifted the little one onto the bed with her.

            “Do you ‘member anymore, Mummy?” Lily asked.

            “Bits and pieces, pumpkin.”

            “Pumpkin!  That’s what you always call me!”

            “That’s right, Miss Lily,” Hagrid added.

            Lily beamed with happiness.

            Madam Pomfrey returned again.  She noticed that none of the memory potion was gone.  “Hermione!  If you want your memory back, I suggest you begin drinking that!  I see that your injuries have healed though, so if you want to return to your own room, you may - as long as someone stays with you.  I’ll assume Harry, here.”

            “Yes, I’ll stay right with her,” Harry agreed.  “Are you ready to leave, Hermione?”

            “I guess so,” she said as she tried to stand, but her legs were still too weak and she began to stumble.  Harry caught her and swept her into his arms.

            “Do you want me to carry you?” he asked sweetly.

            Self-reliant Hermione wanted to protest, but logical Hermione prevailed.  “I don’t think I can walk yet, so, yes.  Please.”

            “Ok, well, first things first.  Take a sip of your potion.  Good.  Now, Hagrid, will you take Lily for a little bit?” Harry said as he began to leave with his wife.

            “’Course, ‘Arry.  C’mon, Lily.  I’ll tell you the story of a baby dragon named Norbert,” Hagrid said as he carried Lily happily away.

            Harry could only hope that this was going to work.