Chapter 12
Though Hermione Granger was a bit surprised at the last statement she didn't think much about it. She kept on welcoming the children, who were still arriving. She was about to go into her tent when she noticed an elderly lady walking around.
"May I help you?" Hermione asked her.
"Hello. You must be Hermione Granger. Nice to meet you. I have come with my granddaughter Hermione. Actually her father is very anxious about her so I'm going to check in at a hotel nearby. By the way, I'm Diana", replied Diana.
"Well, if you like you can stay here. We'll put up a tent for you. I'll also get some help in managing so many kids", said Hermione.
"That's very nice you. Thank you very much", said Diana.
The camp started the next day. There were plenty of activities for the kids. They had painting, paper craft, origami, music and plenty of games. Among wizard activities they had quidditch on toy broomsticks, demonstrations of simple spells and wizard chess. The children were enjoying themselves a lot. One of Hermione's friends, Arnold Weasley Longbottom, daughter of Ginny and Neville was also there. Diana got friendly with the people who were helping. One of them was a very funny guy called Lucas.
The two Hermiones got along very well with one another. The little one spent a lot of her free time with the older one while the other children were busy playing. They spoke a lot about Hogwarts. Hermione Granger spoke a lot about her experiences at Hogwarts. However she did not mention Harry even once. She had been trying to forget about Harry for the past nine years but hadn't been very successful. Hermione White Potter saw this as a good sign.
One night Hermione Granger was taking a walk around the campsite when she noticed the other Hermione sitting outside her tent. She had her eyes closed and seemed like talking to herself.
"Dear God, please look after Daddy. I know he is very lonely without me. Tell him not to worry about. I am all right and enjoying myself very much. Tell I'll bring back something very nice for him", the little girl was saying.
"So all prayers for Daddy and nothing for Mummy", asked Hermione Granger walking up to her.
"I don't need to pray for Mummy. She is with God himself. I'm sure God is giving her all happiness", said Hermione, picking up her mother's photo which lying besides her. Tears came to her eyes as she looked at it. Hermione Granger sat down besides her.
"I'm so sorry", she said, "I know what it feels like living without parents. My best friend in school was an orphan. He missed them so much. He…." She stopped speaking. Seeing the motherless girl had brought back Harry's memories.
"It's getting late. You should go to bed. Come on I'll put you to bed", she said to Hermione. The two of them got into the tent. The little girl got into her sleeping bag. Hermione turned to go back when she felt someone hold her hand.
"I've never seen my mother but today for the first time I'm not missing her so much. Thank you Miss Hermione. You are just like my mother. I wish you were", Hermione said softly. Hermione Granger bent down and kissed her on the forehead.
"Goodnight. Sleep well", she said. She walked back to her tent. She felt low after the night's events. She felt sorry for little Hermione though she had brought back Harry's memories. Her tent had a television. She thought she'd watch her friend Martha's show. She switched the TV on. The show was just starting.
"Hello and welcome to Martha's show. Today we come to you live from Diagon Alley. The topic for today's show is `Secret Messages'. A large crowd has gathered around me. I'll be choosing people at random who can give secret messages for anyone they want. Now the first person will……hmm…the young lady over there", said Martha.
A young girl of about twenty walked up. "Hi I'm Tina. This message is for my boyfriend, Ted. I just want to say sorry for what happened yesterday. I was too ashamed to apologize to you but I hope you'll forgive me. Bye", she said.
"Wow! I'm sure your boyfriend will accept you apology. Now the next person…", started Martha.
Hermione relaxed a bit. Shows like this always lightened her mood. She continued watching. Suddenly she saw something familiar. It was a head amongst the crowd. Though the person had his back turned on the camera Hermione could have recognized him even if she saw an inch of him. As it happened Martha called him to give his message. The person of course was Harry.
"Hi I'm Harry Potter. This message is for Hermione. I just want to tell you that I love you very much. It was very wrong of you to run away from me. Didn't you think how lonely I'd be without you? I know you are at some silly summer camp. Please come back to me Hermione. I love you very much", he said.
Hermione was stunned. She had tried very hard to get over Harry and now he had come right back into her life confessing his love for her. It was all tangled up. She didn't know what to do. Before she could think Martha spoke again.
"That was such a sentimental message Harry. May we know who this Hermione is?" she asked.
"Hermione is my eight year old daughter", he said.
Hermione got her second shock. The little girl attending her camp was Harry's daughter. And Harry was speaking about her all this while. She couldn't take it. She ran to Hermione's tent and crept in. The photo was still lying next to the sleeping figure. With trembling hands she picked it up. Sure enough it was Caroline White staring back at her. Hermione couldn't sleep that night.
Harry meanwhile reached home late. He was restless to see his daughter. Robert had refused to give him the address of the campsite. However while shuffling through some waste paper he came across the paper where Hagrid had written the address of the campsite. He decided that he would go there in the morning. In the morning after a quick breakfast he apparated straight to the campsite. He could see the camps far away. The kids were sitting together eating breakfast. Eager to meet his daughter he broke into a run.
"HERMIONE!!" he shouted joyfully.
But not one but two Hermiones looked back at him. One looked dazed while the other had a secret smile on her face.
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