Amnesia

            Once Harry and Hermione made their way back to their apartment, Hermione was nervous.  So this is where she lived with Harry . . . her husband.  And their daughter.  Hmmm.

            “Make yourself comfortable,” Harry said.  “Is there anything you need?”

            “A memory,” Hermione joked.

            Harry laughed.  At least joking was a good sign. 

            “Don’t worry.  We’re going to get your memory back.”  He looked at her with such love in his deep green eyes that she shuddered.

            “I love it when you do that.”

            “Do what?”

            “Get all protective like that,” she said, wondering how she knew that.

            “I gotta look out for my girls,” he said with a warm smile.  “I want you to stay right here.  I’m going to run down to the kitchen and get some food for dinner.  The elves will be happy to hear that you’re doing a little better.  Maybe I’ll get Lily while I’m out?” he asked apprehensively.

            “Yeah.  Get her.  I’d like to get to know her,” Hermione said.

            “Ok.  Take another sip of your potion.  We’ll get your memory back in no time!” Harry said as he left.

            After a family dinner, Hermione began to feel better, but still the memories were foggy. 

            Once Harry put Lily to bed, Hermione realized that it was also time for her to go to bed.  A bed that she normally shared with Harry.

            As if he could read her thoughts, Harry said, “I don’t want to make you uncomfortable, so I’ll sleep on this cot.”

            “What cot?” she asked.

            “This one,” he said as he transfigured a pillow into a small bed.  “See?  You’re not the only one good at Transfiguration.”

            “Yes, but really.  A pillow into a cot?  That’s not much of a stretch.”  Hermione wasn’t sure why she was saying that.  It just seemed to come naturally to her.

            ‘That’s my Hermione,’ Harry sighed to himself.  ‘Always correcting.’  He smiled.  “Well, I thought I would take the easy way out this time.  Next time, I’ll make it out of a tea kettle.”

            “Good, see that you do,” she said back, laughing.  It was so good to hear her laugh.

            They both lay down and talked until Harry realized that she was not responding anymore.  She had fallen asleep.  He was glad because she needed her rest.

            In the middle of the night, Hermione began to dream.  She saw the last battle with Voldemort.  The one that almost cost Harry, Hermione, Sirius and the unborn Lily their lives.

            “Harry!” she cried, still half asleep, as she sat straight up.

            “Hermione! What’s wrong?” he asked as he flew to her side.

            “I . . . I saw you.  In a forest.  Your scar was … I never even realized you had one,” she mumbled as she brushed back the hair to see the famous scar.  “Oh, Harry … it was horrible!”

            “It’s ok, Mione,” he said.  “We made it out of there.  We’re fine.”

            “It really happened?!” she cried.

            “Yes.  It did.  But we survived and we’re all fine.  The evil is gone.  Here, take another sip of the potion.”

            She took the glass and took a drink.  Then she got brave.  “Harry?”

            “Yes?”

            “Will you hold me until I fall back to sleep?”  Hermione couldn’t believe that she was asking a stranger to do this, but he wasn’t really a stranger.  She must have loved this man a lot to marry and have a baby with him.  And he had the most caring eyes she had ever seen.  And he was so good with that little girl. Hermione knew she could keep on listing Harry’s qualities, but what was the point?  Those green eyes practically had her in a trance and she didn’t really want out of it.

            “No problem,” he said as he climbed onto the bed with her.  He didn’t want to seem too eager, but he did want to show that he cared.  So he gently wrapped his arms around her and listened for her breathing to change (the sure way to know when she fell asleep).  Just as he noticed she fell asleep, he succumbed to exhaustion as well and fell asleep holding her.

            When she awoke in the morning, the heavy figure next to her startled her.  She almost screamed until she saw who it was and where they were.

            Her quick motions woke Harry, who instantly felt bad for how she found him.  “Hermione! I am so sorry!” he said as he sat up quickly.  “I must have fallen asleep too.”  His face flushed a deep crimson as he realized what happened.

            “No, Harry, it’s ok . . . I think. I mean, it must have been ok or I would have woke up sooner.  It felt kinda natural to wake up like that,” Hermione said, not knowing how she knew that.

            “You’ve always liked that,” Harry said quietly.

            Just then, there was a knock at the front door.  Harry got out of bed and ran to the door, grateful to be away from the awkward moment.

            It was Ron and Lavender Weasley. 

            “Ron! Lavender!  Great to see you,” Harry said, inviting them both in.

            “We came as soon as we heard.  How is she?” Lavender asked.

            “Getting better, but the process is slow,” Harry said sadly.

            Hermione came into the living room then, carrying Lily.

            “Good morning, princess!  Happy birthday!  Did you sleep well?” Harry said.

            “Yeah.  Mummy said we can spend the day together since it’s my birthday!”

            “Did she now?”

            “Well, I did hear you say that you’re the Headmaster, right?  So, you can cancel my classes,” Hermione said confidently as she sat down with Lily on her lap.

            “Hmmm, there are benefits from sleeping with the boss, huh?” Ron said, eliciting glares from Harry and Lavender.

            “Idiot!  Don’t bring up sex yet! She barely remembers Harry!” Lavender hissed.

            Ron blushed and turned to Hermione.  “I’m really sorry, Hermione.  I didn’t mean anything by it.  Trust me, you guys have a fairy tale romance.  A real dream come true.”

            Hermione nodded, unsure of what to say to that.

            “It doesn’t matter anyway.  Today is Halloween and all classes have been cancelled.  I know that the second year Gryffindors have double potions with the Slytherins today,” he said with a wink to Ron and Lavender.

            “Wait a second.  Halloween … Fairy tales … hmmm,” Lavender began to think out loud.  “If today is Halloween, that means that the Hogwarts Halloween costume ball is tonight.  Weren’t you guys going to go as fairy tale characters?  You could have another first date, you know, get to know each other again.”

            “Ooh!  That’s right, Mummy.  You could be like Cinderella and Prince Charming!  Or Sleeping Beauty!” Lily said with happiness.

            “But what about your birthday, Lily?” Harry asked.

            “If I can have Mummy back, I don’t want a party,” the little girl said.

            “Oh, princess, don’t you worry.  We are getting your Mummy back.  Tell you what, I’ll take Mummy to the ball tonight and then we’ll have a big birthday party for you,” he said.

            “Ok, Daddy!” Lily said with a hug.  “Are you going, Mummy?”

            “Hmm, that might not be a bad idea.  Maybe if Harry and I could have another “first date” it would break the ice with us,” Hermione thought out loud.

            “Yay! Mummy and Daddy are going to the ball!” Lily said as she jumped off her mother’s lap.

            “But I don’t have a costume,” Hermione said.

            “We never got around to making them,” Harry said.  “We were going to do it yesterday.”

            Hermione frowned.  Something else that was ruined because of her.

            “Don’t worry, Mummy.  We just need to find you a big pretty dress!” Lily said, excitement radiating from her.

            “Ooh!  Let’s raid your closet and I’ll see what I turn into a ball gown for you.  By the way, I’m Lavender Weasley (used to be Brown).  We went to Hogwarts together and I married Ron,” Lavender said as she dragged Hermione and Lily out of the room.

            Ron shook his head.  “Sorry, mate.  Looks like this will take a while.”

            “If it’ll help Hermione, I’ll wait forever,” Harry replied.

            They were startled by another knock at the door.  It was Ginny Weasley.

            “I just heard what happened!  Is she ok?” Ginny asked impatiently.

            “She’s doing pretty good.  If you want to join the party, Lavender is in there making a Cinderella costume for her.

            Ginny smiled and took off for the bedroom.

            “Well, Headmaster Potter.  What shall we do while the women are getting ready?” Ron asked.

            “Get a costume ready for me and then get some butterbeers.  I think it’s going to be a long day,” Harry replied with a sigh, knowing that Lavender would be keeping his wife occupied for some time.