Unofficial Portkey Archive

Title: Forever a Secret (09)
Author name: LittleWitch
Author email: littlewitch_br@hotmail.com
Category: Angst
Sub Category: Romance
Keywords: Book 5 AU
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: SS/PS, CoS, PoA, GoF, OoTP
Summary: "It is dark in here since he's gone; since it's all gone. I think the worst part is knowing --knowing what you'd rather forget -- But you chose to remember. Because although it hurts, you need those memories…Just to remember why you are still breathing..."
DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. Also, I don't own the movie titles nor the lyrics of the following songs:

Scene XII - Circle Of Life performed by Elton John.

Scene XIII - Freedom Fighter performed by Creed.

Scene XIV - Bigger Than My Body performed by John Mayer.

Scene XV - Answer performed by Sarah McLachlan.

Scene XVI - Crash And Burn performed by Savage Garden.

Scene XVII - Waiting performed by Green Day.

Scene XVIII - Hero performed by Mariah Carey.

Scene XIX - When You Wish Upon A Star performed by Nat King Cole.

***************************************

To Truxy

Chapter 9: Scenes (Part II)

"Man is never honestly the fatalist, nor even the stoic. He fights his fate, often desperately. He is forever entering bold exceptions to the rulings of the bench of gods. This fighting, no doubt, makes for human progress, for it favors the strong and the brave. It also makes for beauty, for lesser men try to escape from a hopeless and intolerable world by creating a more lovely one of their own."

H.L. Mencken

****************************************************************************************

Scene XII. Gone With the Wind

From the day we arrive on the planet

And blinking, step into the sun

There's more to be seen than can ever be seen

More to do than can ever be done

"Is today some kind of house-elves holiday that no one told me about?"

Ron Weasley stared bewildered at the empty scenario of that scene. The Hogwarts' kitchen, usually full of working house-elves, looked forsaken.

In the sink was a real heap of plates waiting to be washed up. Fridges, pans, bowls and trays containing what should have been the students meal were knocked down on the stone floor…In the middle of the table was a half sugar-coated cake, still waiting to be finished.

"They actually prefer to be called only elves now," said Harry as he learned down to collect broken pieces of china.

Some say eat or be eaten

In the middle of such an action, Harry James Potter stopped and sighed sadly; the absence of the elves was just another aggravation to the crisis that threatened the Wizarding World and even the Muggle one. It was like Percy told him this morning; the magical creatures were turning their backs on them. All fellowships were broken. They were alone to face whatever it was that was coming. And whatever it was, Harry was sure it wouldn't be pretty, if even the elves -- even Dobby was letting him down.

"They do? Since when?" Ron glanced at Harry, eyebrows raised in a question. Then, not waiting for an answer, he lifted the lid of the cauldron that was left in the fireplace.

Ron made an ugly face at it, closing it back very fast.

Some say live and let live

"Since they are free," Harry replied, resuming his collecting job.

But all are agreed as they join the stampede

Harry knew that he had to do something. He had to be what people expect him to be: The heir of Gryffindor; The Boy Who Lived. He had to be what he was -- what they needed him to be: Their warrior; their hero. The only problem was that Harry didn't really feel like being any of that on the moment.

You should never take more than you give

Part of him, wished Ron hadn't found him. He wished to be back in the Room of Requirement…trying to find himself…trying to find that Harry that he knew lay somewhere within him. He wanted to be in front of the Mirror of Erised again. It was so scary that his heart desire was a black void, a hollowness…but still there was something so comforting in the nothing he desires…the emptiness of feelings…the peace of soul. It was like in that pool of darkness was the truth that he had been, silently, screaming for to be revealed. The secret kept forever within his heart.

In the circle of life

It's the wheel of fortune

It's the leap of faith

It's the band of hope

Till we find our place

On the path unwinding

In the circle, the circle of life

"Yeah, how could I forget…" Ron voice erupted between Harry's thoughts. Harry glanced at his famished best friend as he fingered the cake on the table, stealing a little of the glace, then liking his lips. "…living with Hermione and all…"

Harry had to suppress the will to laugh of his friend's face. Only Ron would have the power to make him laugh at a time like that. Only Ron would make him stop in the kitchen to eat something at a time like that - when everything around them was falling apart. However, Harry knew better than to take a Ronald Weasley with an empty stomach to the battlefield.

Some of us fall by the wayside

And then again, Ron had brought their other best friend into the conversation. That was enough to stop Harry from laughing. "She did a good thing, Ron," not liking what was implicit in Ron's words. What Hermione had done for the elves was really a good thing. The elves had now their freedom thanks to her stubbornness on the matter. She had never given up on them, even when it seemed that the elves themselves had; even when everybody laughed at the S.P.E.W project.

Ron groaned. "Sure…but now I have to wash my own underwear."

Again Harry would have laughed but he couldn't. Hermione was still on his mind. He had agreed with Ron when he had said that it was a good thing their other best friend was not there -- after all, she was probably safer in the Muggle World than she would be there, at least for the time being -- then, there was the whole fact that her office was destroyed and he still couldn't even think how he was going to break that news to her, knowing all too well that to Hermione her work is one of the most important things of her life. But even then, even with all of this, he couldn't stop thinking how he wished Hermione were there. He missed his best friend already; he missed his conscience; his guide through all the dark times. If she was there, she would be probably lecturing him for doing Ron's wishes instead of running immediately to the HQ of the Order and take control of things. Of course, then he would know what to do to take control of things, or better Hermione would know, and would have enlightened him with a brilliant plan of her own…The truth was that without her, the Wizarding World was screwed because he had no idea what to do.

He had no plan A, B or C. Of course, he knew he had to find Sirius and the rest of the Order that he was supposed to lead, than figured out what was going on, so he can save the day. That had been his plan when he left the Room of Requirement in Ron's company but as soon as he'd thought that, he realized that he had no idea how to do it. So, yeah, he would go from the kitchen right to the dungeons were he would find a bunch of trainees more lost than himself and what would he do then? Give them instantaneous promotions, turning them into official Members of the Order and then send them to some near death experience. Yeah, right. He sure hoped Sirius and the others had a better plan - at least, he hoped they were still alive…Where was Dumbledore when you needed him? How much long could this Sabbath of his last? Until the end of time it seemed.

And some of us soar to the stars

Harry cut himself with a piece of a broken cup and sighed wearily while the cut instantly healed itself. Losing his patience, he flicked his wrists, restoring all the china and levitating them back to the cupboards.

"Anyway", Ron went on while he placed a slice of the cake on a plate and sat at the table so he could eat it, "House elves -- elves…Hogwarts is paying them, right? So, where are they? Who is cooking for these kids?"

Harry grabbed an apple from the fruit basket. "Apparently no one," he answered, matter-of-factly, taking a bite of his apple.

This revelation let Ron in shock. He swallowed the wrong way. * Cough* *Cough*

"What? Do you mean they won't be serving meals at Hogwarts? Man, this is really the end of the world, isn't it?"

And some of us sail through our troubles

Harry had to ask himself what was wrong with his friend. Hermione's office was burned down. He himself had apparently been on fire and couldn't remember. The entire Order of the Phoenix -- less himself and a bunch of trainees - was missing. Elves, ghosts…magical creatures of all kind were deserting them or, in the worst cases, attacking them. And they were clearly under some kind of spell that was messing up with their minds so…How could Ron joke like that?

"This is serious, Ron. This is not about who is going to prepare the students meal, or the fact that they won't have Care of Magical Creatures classes tomorrow because there's no creatures left for them to study. This is about our future, Ron. About tomorrow; is there going to be one? This is not about Hogwarts private chaos. This is affecting the whole Wizarding World. Sirius, your family and our friends are out there, Ron, facing Dragons and Merlin's knows what more. The Unspeakables were very vague…somehow I think Percy just called me there to give Sirius and your parents the time they needed to act behind my back, for which I don't think I can't really blame them if as you told me, I don't seem to have control over myself if just this morning I was burning myself up. And I still have to wonder what exactly happened in Hermione's office, why would anyone wanted to destroy the H.R.H and who was that man pretending to be Moody and… I don't even remember how I ended up in the Room of Requirement, in the first place. I'm utterly confused here. I have no idea of what is going on out there -- Fawkes disappeared, too, which means I can't see a thing through the Phoenix's Tears. So, I don't know what to do. I'm Harry Potter, I'm the bloody savior of this world and I have no idea how to save it."

And some have to live with the scars

Ron, who had been eating, was open-mouthed, the fork stopped in the middle air while he stared with eyes wide open at his friend.

Harry stared back.

"I'm sorry, Harry. I know this is no time for jokes but I don't know what to do, either. What I saw earlier Harry… You have no idea of the bizarre thoughts that crossed through my mind. I thought you were really not you. I thought you were dead. I thought Hermione would kill me if I let something happened to you while she was not here. And then you were alive and you didn't remember anything and for a moment I believed it was all just a bloody nightmare. But it wasn't, Harry. And now I have this nagging feeling, telling me something is wrong; telling me that what is now is not what it should be, but then again…I don't know how it was supposed to be…and then you told me what happened to Charlie…and I can just guess my parents are with him…I couldn't find Fred, George. Bill is probably with the Order, too. Well, at least, I know Percy and Ginny are okay. And Hermione is far away which is a great relief …I don't know, Harry. What else can I do? I'm lost here….this situation is just so crazy…I mean what's wrong with all those creatures? What are they doing? "

"Well, those who aren't trying to kill us, are actually leaving the Wizarding World," answered Harry, taking another bite o his apple.

"And going where?"

"To another world," Harry said, shortly.

"You mean the Muggle one, because that wouldn't make any sense."

"No, I'm not talking about the Muggle World. In the end, The Muggle World and The Wizarding World are connecting. It's just one world, after all."

"Then which world are you talking about?" Ron asked confused.

Harry just shrugged.

"Whatever…Still, why are they leaving?"

"Because they are scared."

"Scared of what, mate?"

"I don't know. Guess we'll find out when it strike us."

"Strike us?" Ron wore a frightened look then. "Great. Can't we just leave like the Elves then? Can't we just choose not to fight this time and go to this other world, too? Can't we just run away?"

Harry shook his head, thoughtful. "We can't."

Their eyes met. "Why not?"

"Because we've forgotten how to reach it." said Harry, throwing an apple from the basket to Ron, "a long time ago."

Ron caught the apple and stared blankly at it. "What do you me--"

There's far too much to take in here

More to find than can ever be found

But the sun rolling high through the sapphire sky

Keeps great and small on the endless round

A gentle wind carrying a wave of magic passed quickly though the kitchen, extinguishing the fire of the torches that were illuminating the room.

For a moment, they were in the dark.

"Lumos," Ron's husky voice echoed and then a snap was heard. "Ouch!" Another echo; the sound of thin wood, rolling in a stone floor.

"Lumos." This time Harry's powerful voice was heard.

And the torches were lit again.

Ron and Harry's eyes met again.

"What the hell was that?" Ron was exasperated.

"Magic," Harry whispered absently, staring at his own hands, lost in thoughts.

"Yeah, I know that, mate, thanks," Ron snorted. He got down and took his wand, observing it. "No, it's not broken. So, why did it snap on me?" He glanced at Harry. "Harry?" No answer. "Harry!" Still no answer.

Approaching his friend, Ron grabbed his shoulder and shook him. "Harry?"

"Huh?" Harry stared at Ron, still in a daze. He rubbed his eyes. "The magical balance…It's getting worst, Ron," he finally said, staring at Ron's wand. "The H.R.H… We've got to hurry."

In the circle of life

It's the wheel of fortune

It's the leap of faith

It's the band of hope

Till we find our place

On the path unwinding

In the circle, the circle of life

**************************************

Scene XIII. The Mummy

"Flipendo!"

Many enchantments cut the thin air of the desert.

"Petrificus Totalus!"

The mouths of envious
Always find another door
While at the gates of paradise they
beat us down some more

Inside a pyramid, the hexes aimed to stop the living-dead mummies radiated the dark Egyptian chambers.

"Expecto Mortis!"

The Indigo Team was having a hard time to control the situation. Their curses seemed to be of no effect - the mummies staggered a little when hit by them but that seemed to be all.

"Incendio!"

But our mission's set in stone
'Cause the writing's on the wall
I'll scream it from the mountain tops
pride comes before a fall

On the other hand, the mummy's attacks were very effective - some of their worn out bandages moved loosely around them, hitting the wizards like whips, tiding them like chains and hanging them like ropes.

"Bandardium Reversosa!"

So many thoughts to share
All this energy to give
Unlike those who hide the truth
I tell it like it is
If the truth will set you free
I feel sorry for your soul
Can't you hear the ringing 'cause
for you the bell tolls

In one corner a wizard had his back pushing against the cover of a sarcophagus, trying to hold a mummy there. He looked around him and saw his team and friends fighting to get free of the bandages, casting charm after charm with no success. They wouldn't hold much longer. They needed backup. They needed the Black Team.

His line of thought was interrupted as the cover of the sarcophagus was abruptly opened, shoving him off on the ground. Next, he felt a bandage around his neck and choked. His indigo hood feel and his long red mane detached from all the violet of his robes.

Bill Weasley flipped his wand, he stared at the mummy he had been trying to hold on the sarcophagus and then pointed his wand at it.

I'm just a freedom fighter
No remorse
Raging on in holy war
Soon there'll come a day
When you're face to face with me
Face to face with me

"Impe --"

But before he could say it, a breeze blew in the Egyptian chamber. And when he tried to hex the mummy no magic came out of his wand. His eyes went wide.

The hexes were no longer radiating all over the chamber. Not a single spark of magic was coming out of any of the thirty-five wands in that pyramid. The mummies just looked at themselves and shared that all too well known sinister smile the bad guys always shared when they were about to kill the good guys.

You know someday the bad guys will realize that if they didn't just do the evil laugh thing or didn't just stop to explain their whole plan to their enemies, they might have a chance to really win from the good guys. But until then we should be thankful for their stupidity and highly self-centered minds, and also be thankful for the good guys lucky -- because something always happened on the last minute to save the day.

On that case, what saved Bill's was a dazzling yellow aura that covered the place.

Can't you hear us coming?
People marching all around
Can't you see we're coming?
Close your eyes it's over now
Can't you hear us coming?
The fight has only just begun
Can't you see we're coming?

*************************************************************************

Scene XIV - The Little Giant

This is a call to the color-blind
This is an IOU
I'm stranded behind a horizon line
Tried to be something true

"So care to explain to me what is this H.R.H all about anyway?" Ron asked as he tries to keep with Harry as the latter ran though Hogwarts long corridors.

"Do you really not know?" Harry turned to the left.

"Would I be asking if I did?"

"It's Hermione's --" Harry's words stopped abruptly. They came face to face with a wall. "Codswallop! What's wrong with this castle today?"

"You tell me. It took me hours to find you."

"Yeah and five minutes to find the kitchen," Harry said, in a bad mood. He started punching the stone wall; hard.

Yes, I'm grounded
Got my wings clipped
I'm surrounded (by)
All this pavement
Guess I'll circle
While I'm waiting
For my fears to dry

"Ouch! What can I say I was hungry and -- oh just forget; nothing is making sense anymore. Ouch!" Ron frowned. "Stop doing this, Harry. You are only going to hurt yourself", he said, hearing the sound of broken knuckles, "you can't break a magical wall with your bare hand--"

The wall started cracking until it fell down.

"Or perhaps you can," said Ron in disbelief, staring at another long corridor ahead. Next, he gazed in wonder at Harry's hand and saw the blood disappearing slowly and the odd sound of broken knuckles restoring themselves.

Someday I'll fly
Someday I'll soar
Someday I'll be something much more
Cause I'm bigger than my body gives me credit for

Harry looked back at Ron and seeing his strange face, asked, "What?"

"How come you can still use magic when I can't?"

"But you can, Ron," said Harry as he walked down the new corridor.

"What are you talking about? I can't. I couldn't even perform a simple lumos."

Why is it not the time?
What is there more to learn?
I've shed this skin that I've been chipping at
And I've never quite returned

"The broken balance doesn't mean that your magic is over, Ron. Magic will never be over. It's a part of you that it can never cease to exist, not even when you die. That's how we have ghosts, paintings and moving photographs, because our magic stays. However, if for some reason the magic balance is broken, magic around us got a little wilder than usual...it become very unstable…very hard to control…very dangerous…but that doesn't mean that you can't use your own magic, it just means that you need to concentrate more and… be careful."

"Well, this broken balance is obvious not affecting you. So, why doesn't you just Apparate us out of here?"

Yes, I'm grounded
Got my wings clipped
I'm surrounded (by)
All this pavement
Guess I'll circle
While I'm waiting
For my fears to dry

Harry stopped and looked back at his friend. "Is that what you think, that this is not affecting me? Well, you never been so wrong in your entirely life, my dear friend… Of course I can still perform magic; it's been years since the last time I used a wand -- ever since I lost mine… Wandless magic is not an easy thing; it requires a lot of concentration. You had to feel magic in another level; you have to be magic…But after all this years it had become a second nature for me, although this doesn't mean that the broken balance doesn't affect me. On the contrary, it affects me like no one other, I can feel it in every cell of my body…I can feel it changing and it's like I'm changing with it." He paused briefly. "As to Apparating, I'm not willing to take the risk - when you Apparate for a blink of second you are pure magic interacting with the environment's magic - In this condition, God knows what could happen."

Someday I'll fly
Someday I'll soar
Someday I'll be something much more
Cause I'm bigger than my body gives me credit for
Cause I'm bigger than my body now

"Yeah, okay, I got the picture. But I'm still confused here. And you still didn't answer my question: what is the H.R.H? What it has to do with all that is happening?

"It's Hermio--"

"Yeah, yeah. I got that, too. It's Hermione's big project, which obviously isn't a novel - so what is it? Some weapon of mass destruction?"

"Kind of." Harry said turning his back to Ron and walking away.

"Kind of? Wait there, Harry! Come on, what is it?" Ron had jogged a little until he got into step with Harry.

"I still can't believe you don't know. Hermione went though this with us like a zillion of times…sometimes I think it's all she talks about…all those spells and potions and - Don't you ever listen to her?"

"Of course I do. All the time. I mean, almost all the time. Oooh, okay so Fred and George taught me this little boring-conversation-blocking charm... I might have used it once or twice...Okay...I used it a lot." Harry stopped and glared at Ron. "Oh, come on, mate. Don't do this with me. You know that I love her to death...I'm not saying she is boring...I'm just saying her lectures are boring...very boring."

Harry was not happy, at all. "I'll just pretend I didn't hear you, for the benefit of our friendship and", he said coolly, "because of the current circumstances I don't have the time to kick your ass. But if we live through this, just remind me to do it, alright?"

Maybe I'll tangle in the power lines
And it might be over in a second's time
But I'll gladly go down in a flame
If the flame's what it takes to remember my name

"Sure. I guess I deserve it. Now are you going to tell me what it is or not?"

"Alright. I don't think that I can explain it as well as Hermione but just make sure you pay attention this time. The H.R.H... Harry, Ron and Hermione....It's a very complicated magical system..."

Yes, I'm grounded
Got my wings clipped
I'm surrounded (by)
All this pavement
Guess I'll circle
While I'm waiting
For my fears to dry
Wait for my fears to dry

And Harry began to explain to Ron all he knew as they both walked on through the corridors, trying to find their way.

Someday I'll fly
Someday I'll soar
Someday I'll be something much more
Cause I'm bigger than my body
I'm bigger than my body
I'm bigger than my body now

***********************************************

Scene XV - Cast Away

I will be the answer

At the end of the line

I will be there for you

While you take the time

Little stains of ink on the tip of her fingers. The scratching of her quill. Old books and parchments floating around her. Pages turning and being turned. She was completely absorbed by all the letters, numbers and symbols.

It was more than just research. It was more than a project. It was her life.

The H.R.H.

She had been working on it ever since her seventh-year as a Hogwarts' pupil -- ever since Dumbledore had told them about the so called spell; ever since he had given her happiness an ultimatum.

An ultimatum that she and Harry decided to ignore that night at the lake…

Harry had taken his practices to another level - a non-human level to be exact. And she…

In the burning of uncertainty

I will be your solid ground

I will hold the balance

If you can't look down

She had spent hours in the Hogwarts' library looking for another way to stop You-Know-Who - another solution that would not be as costly. To complete this tough task, Hermione had the support of teachers and friends.

Professor McGonagall lent her the time turner again. Neville had covered for her many times, when she just didn't have the time to keep on with her Head Girl duties. Professor Snape taught to her all sort of illegal potions. Madam Pince gave her free access to the restricted section. Ron had used his Animagus-spy abilities and stolen - I mean 'borrowed' some very useful magical items from the Department of Mysteries. Firenze had told her stories about the old times -- the times before Merlin and before a magical law was settled -- he had told her about myths forgotten by wizards…myths which were more real than the human kind could ever think of. "After all, for many, I'm only a myth, too." The centaur had told to her years ago.

And it was researching that forgotten past -- something that she had already been doing since her sixth-year, with the help of Dobby, for completely different reasons -- that she had the idea for the H.R.H.

Wandless Magic. That was what the H.R.H was all about.

You see, before the wizards, before humans, before dinosaurs…There was magic. And magic had been everywhere -- it still was. Creatures like the elves, fairies and so many others lived in harmony with magic…they didn't need wands or anything else to canalize their magic. They were magic on its own. The truth is that wandless magic was more powerful and more pure… And it would be very simple really if it was not so complicated.

The truth is that somewhere down the road came the humans… And there were a lot of theories about that. Some said that all humans could control any kind of magic in the beginning, before a wrong step created chaos in the cosmos and infuriated THE ONES WHO WATCH, who cursed the mankind to a life without magic and it took millennia for men to retrieve some of their lost magic back. Some others said that in the beginning, humans had no magic at all, that they stole or earned it as gift from some other beings like unicorns and dragons. And there were still some others that spoke about the varied theories from how the human race was gifted with The Power They Know Not to how men slowly developed their own way to use the earth's natural magic, creating the first potions using magical plants and using phoenix's feathers and unicorn's hair fastened in sticks and so on…

All humans could do magic. It was in them. Even in the non-magical ones - the difference was in the level of magic that they possessed. Anyways, humans being couldn't just do wandless magic. I mean, they could -- but their human bodies were fragile things, therefore this kind of magic could be fatal as they could wind up draining all their energies…

Hermione had seen how powerful wandless magic could be. Harry had showed them. But then again, Harry was not like the other wizards…he was unique.

The thing was that they needed this kind of powerful magic to stop Voldemort - a magic to replace Harry's, therefore releasing him from the spell without any disastrous consequence. So, that was what she would have to find out. That was what she was still trying to do with the H.R.H.

If it takes my whole life

I won't break, I won't bend

It will all be worth it

Worth it in the end

H.R.H. Harry. Ron. Hermione. That was how it began. That was the label she used in her WIR reports. H.R.H. The Dream Team. The Trio of Wonder. One couldn't very well function without the other. That was what the H.R.H consisted of: Teamwork. Well, not exactly team work, but one step of the H.R.H depended on the other. Harry. Ron. Hermione. A potion. A transfiguration. A charm. Three elements of magic put together. Wandless magic. Another level of magic. The use of their own magic. Effects ten times and possibly even hundreds of times more powerful than any spell cast with a wand. Again, it would be very simple if it weren't so complicated.

The idea was simple, really. A small flask of potion. You transfigure it into pure energy, concentrating your own magic in it. Then you chant a charm and it is all done.

The only problem was that the potions were not like the common ones... she had to study ancient magic and illegal potions to come up with potions that could be transfigured and still have its essential magical nature, that would project the right kind of effect. As it was, the potion used for an incedio spell couldn't be the same one used for an Avada Kedrava and so on -- she had lost count of the hours spent with Professor Snape trying to find the right potions for each spell.

Next, there was the fact that transfiguring a potion into energy wasn't as easy as transfiguring an teacup into a mouse - it required a lot of concentration and the slight mistake could be very dangerous; it was something similar to apparating, really.

Then, there were the charms…that were not even in their language or Latin or any troll language for what matters. It was a very ancient language…so ancient that no one really knew it… it was like an unspoken language, something not even possible if you consider the linguistic studies…

But there were symbols, lot of symbols... Symbols that Harry had seen in his dreams and drawn for her… Symbols Hagrid found at The Dragon's cave. Symbols in books that Ron had stolen from You Know Who and parchments he borrowed from the Ministry…The same symbols that were carved into the cemetery soil by the Death Eaters. Hermione had been trying to hold the pieces together and link all the symbols trying to transcribe them. She knew if she could just translate them she could write the charm she needed to unleash a magic that was able to end You Know Who for once and all.

But she had not been able to transcribe or translate it. She couldn't understand them. So she had tried a new line of work. She had researched all about charms and old spells, she had read all about how words are in truth a magical melody…and how the Sonorus waves you produced carried a little of your magic that interacted with the natural magic in the air, combining to cause a greater effect than simply the sum of the parts. The combining went unseen to human eyes…she had learned all she could and in the end created her own charms.

The charms she created were effective and the H.R.H worked. Unfortunately, they weren't as nearly as powerful as the real thing. It didn't even come close to the intensity of the spell Harry had cast.

'Cause I can only tell you what I know

That I need you in my life

And when the stars have all gone out

You'll still be burning so bright

It was still not enough. She needed to find the right spell, the right words.

H.R.H. Harry Remembers Hermione. That was how it would end. That was what she secretly called her project. That had been her life for the past years: a constant search for the answer; one that could bring her love back.

Hermione let out a breath. She closed the book. Slowly, the three capital letters faded away. The pages no longer had strange symbols, progress reports, potions ingredients or pieces of a history never to been told.

Cast me gently

Into morning

For the night has been unkind

Take me to a

A place so holy

That I can wash this from my mind

The memory of choosing not to fight

All you could read now was Hogwarts: a History. A very interesting book, Hermione would say. One of her favorites. Whoever knew her wouldn't really think strange the fact that she was always reading that book. Always carrying it with her.

That was why she had enchanted the book. It was the perfect cover up. No one besides her could see through her charm. For all curious eyes, the book would only show what it always had: pages and more pages of the history of the magical castle that she knew by heart. And so, all her work would be saved. Her own history; a page apart.

If it takes my whole life

I won't break, I won't bend

It will all be worth it

Worth it in the end

What Hermione could say about her History? It should probably start with: Once upon a time…

Her first year at Hogwarts had been bizarre; a door to a new world full of magic, adventures, friendship. It was really all very strange, but as she had said to Harry all those years ago, after all that had happened she had never been better; she couldn't wait to come back for her next year.

Second year was scary and…short, considering the time she had spent petrified.

Third year was a long year…if you consider all the plus time she lived because of the time turner. But, in truth, it had been a year full of tribulations, misunderstandings and revelations, considering the Sirius X Scrab episode.

Fourth year had been a year to worry about…In every single Triwizard Task Harry had to pass through, she had the clearly felt the pain and anxiety of Harry's trials, like someone had his hand inside her chest and was holding her heart, compressing it so hard that all the air was being sucked from her lungs. And in the end of the last task…her heart was in pieces…Fourth year was a year to cry for.

Her fifth year had not been an easy one, fourth year's events were like a ghost wandering in their minds, haunting their dreams...than it came The Order of Phoenix, Harry's trial, Umbridge, all those articles about Harry and last but not least; Cho Chang. Harry had been just so lost and confused in that year. Dealing with Emotional Hurricane Harry was not easy but Hermione had been there for him. She had tried to put some reason in his head…She had given him something to occupy his mind with the Dumbledore's Army and at the same time prepare himself and others for what was coming. She had made a deal with Rita Skeeter and solved the articles problems…She had given him advice concerning his relationship with Cho Chang. She followed him even when she knew deep inside that was the wrong decision to make…

Sixth year had been a year to fear. You Know Who's constant attacks… Harry's incessant nightmares…Harry's running away from Hogwarts' in the middle of night all alone to face Voldemort…The fear of losing him…Harry's wand merging with Voldemort's, leaving Harry wandless… A new truth revealed about Harry… A realization…

Seventh year had been a year of losses. They lost battles, friends, dreams… they lost forever.

And funny -- and sadly at the same time - those had been the best years of her life. And even more sadly - and awkward -- that her last year at Hogwarts was the one she cherished most. Because in spite of its beginning, middle and end. That was just this moment in between when she was with him; when they were happy together - kissing, holding hands or just looking at each other. Precious moments. Memories that she wouldn't let anyone take from her. Memories that she would, someday, share with him again.

'Cause I can only tell you what I know

That I need you in my life

And when the stars have all burned out

You'll still be burning so bright

That was her history -- their history. No happy ending so far.

She still had no answers.

Cast me gently

Into morning

For the night has been unkind

****************

Scene XVI - The Lost Boys

They were in front of another stone wall.

When you feel all alone

And the world has turned it's back on you

Give me a moment please to tame your wild wild heart

I know you feel like the walls are closing in on you

It's hard to find relief and people can be so cold

When darkness is upon your door

And you feel like you can't take anymore

"Blimey! It's like the castle is against us."

Harry just a looked at wall, with a distant look. "It's not the castle. It's us."

"What do you mean with us?"

Harry sighed. "Nothing. Just step back," he said, already punching that new barrier in their way.

Stones flew everywhere -- only this time at the other end there wasn't a new long corridor for them to follow, but at least fifty frightened faces staring at them.

How they had wound up in the Hufflepuff dorms - considering they were heading to the dungeons -- was beyond them.

"Professor Potter?"

Let me be the one you call

If you jump I'll break your fall

Lift you up and fly away with you into the night

If you need to fall apart

I can mend a broken heart

If you need to crash then crash and burn

You're not alone

Harry stared at the students, then at Ron, then at the hole behind them, then finally back at the students. He laughed nervously, completely embarrassed. "Hello there."

The Hufflepuff pupils began to ask a lot of questions simultaneously. "What are you doing here?" "What's going on?" "Where is Professor McGonagall?" "What's wrong with the House's portraits? Where are them?" "What's wrong with our magic?" "Have you seen my owl?" "Are we going to die?" "When is dinner going to be served?"

Harry rubbed his scar as the kids' questions came in a flurry. At some point their questions led to arguments between the oldsters -- "Don't be stupid. We are not going to die." "Who are you calling stupid, you stupid?" -- and tears between the first years. -- "I don't want to die. I want my mummy."

Harry just stared blankly at the kids… Kids… was that right to call them kids? After all, some of his students were seventeen; eighteen… some of them had already been at Hogwarts when Harry himself was still a student. Oh, Merlin, had he ever been that young? It didn't feel like he had…I mean, it had been only little more than three years…he was after all still young…But still at the time he felt a great deal older compared to those kids…and he felt even older now…Perhaps because the burden he had to carry ever since he stepped on those grounds…even since the day he was born.

So he just stared at the Hogwarts' students, not knowing what to say to them. They were frightened and lost and to be honest, so was he. So, what could he probably say? He could tell them that everything was okay and that they better start to write that essay he asked for the next month. No, that wouldn't be right. He had already been in their shoes. He remembered how it was to be left questioning what was going on. He remembered how not knowing causes you to wonder -- and usually you always think the worst. He remembered breaking all the school rules to find out for yourself what was going on and ending up facing evil by himself just because a teacher wanted to spare you from all those problems. Merlin knew how life would have been a lot more boring for him if Dumbledore were a more talkative person.

But then again what was he supposed to say? Tell them the whole truth; all he knew so far -- which wasn't that much, mind you - and then finish his dramatic and wise speech with something encouraging like: Well, just see in this away, you are not going to have to do your homework…ever again.

Nah, not likely.

Harry sighed and then looked at Ron. Perhaps his friend knew what they should do or say but the terrified look Ron wore -- like he was afraid of the crying students as much as he was from giant spiders - was disheartening.

Nah, wrong best friend.

When you feel all alone

And a loyal friend is hard to find

You're caught in a one way street

With the monsters in your head

When hopes and dreams are far away and

You feel like you can't face the day

Harry took his glasses for a moment, rubbing his eyes. And for that slight moment he could swear he heard Hermione's voice, but he couldn't get what she was saying.

Harry put his glasses back and blinked behind the lens, thinking to himself that he was just too tired, just imagining things.

It was then that Harry noticed something weirder than him hearing voices.

He was not hearing anything.

Silence. No interrogatory. No yelling. No crying. The students were quiet. He stared at them as they all gazed at him, stupefied. Harry turned to Ron, who was gazing at him with the same intensity as the Hogwarts' students.

"What?" Harry asked him.

"D- didn't you see it? You - You just sort of glowed," was Ron confused and confusing reply.

"Sort of glowed?"

Ron just shrugged, not knowing what else to say.

Let me be the one you call

If you jump I'll break your fall

Lift you up and fly away with you into the night

If you need to fall apart

I can mend a broken heart

If you need to crash then crash and burn

You're not alone

Harry scratched his head and finally decided to give up on understanding anything anymore on that eventful day. He stared back at the students and taking a deep breath he finally said, "Alright. Here is the deal. I'm not going to lie to you and say that everything is okay because it obviously isn't. I had once been in your place and I just hated how the teachers treated me like a kid. But if you guys don't want to be treated like kids, don't act like one," Harry said staring from the fifth -year prefects to above, in particular to the group of older boys who had been engaged in a fight.

"Arguments and fights won't take you anywhere. You need to be united now. You need to work together. You need to orient the youngsters and calm them down, not scare them more that they already are. Can I expect that from you for now on?"

They students nodded.

"Good," Harry said to them. Next, he sat between some first years, wiping the tears of one little girl away. He spoken softly, then, "Now, I know that you are all scared. I'm pretty much scared myself."

"But you are Harry Potter…" A little boy exclaimed, not understanding how 'Harry Potter' and the adjective 'scared' could be together in a same sentence.

"Yes, I am." Harry grinned at him. "One more reason why I should be more scared than all of you," he said, ruffling the boys' hair.

"Why?" questioned the girl at his side.

"Because I know that in the end of the day it will be me out there facing a very big and very ugly monster."

All the students laughed. The tension was broken and even their fears diminished as the students of all ages and years approached their DADA teacher, listening with rapt attention to his words. Some more questions were asked, but this time one at time and Harry tried to explain the situation as best he could without entering in too much details…without alarming them more they were.

And there has always been heartache and pain

And when it's over you'll breathe again

You'll breath again

Ron watched this scene amazed, thinking that his friend was really one of a kind…The way he drew attention, the way he was respected for all. There was a time when Ron believed that kind of things to be linked to the scar; it was just a reflex to wizards and witches when they heard Harry Potter's name. But that was before he knew Harry - no, not right away in their first ride to Hogwarts. - It took years of friendship to Ron to know Harry. To know that even without a scar, even without being the most powerful wizard since Merlin - perhaps even bigger than Merlin- the plain Harry Potter would still be great, because these kids, like everybody else, didn't listen Harry just only because of his scar. They listened to him when he showed them himself and treated them like equals. Not a teacher, but a former student. Not a hero, but someone who was just as scared as they were. - And that was Harry; he drew attention because he gave attention. He was respected because he respected.

Ron knew Harry. But he was quite sure he would never fully understand his friend. His reasons. His choices. His life.

Harry could have left this life of hero behind, like he and Hermione had. But no, after all that this life had already taken from him - he was still willing to sacrifice his own life for all the faceless masses of humanity. That Ron couldn't understand. Why did he do that? Why?

Harry was famous but he could be even more if he wanted. He could be a Quidditch Superstar. He was the best seeker ever. He used to love Quidditch. He used to love to fly. But he never had the time for the game or the fun anymore. He was always too busy trying to save the world or correcting some DADA essays…He could never understand how Harry preferred to be a teacher than a professional Quidditch player…Why?

Harry was rich - Ron had already been in his vault and wow - Harry was really rich. He could buy his own cloud. He could live it up in a castle bigger than Hogwarts, where he could have all the ostentation and luxury that anyone could dream. He could give the best parties; eat in the best places and travel around the world. And still, he chose to live in a small Muggle flat with him and Hermione, where the only reason they could all have their own tiny little room was because Hermione had magically expanded it. - Why Harry liked to live like a Muggle was beyond him. Now he had often wondered why he put up with Harry and Hermione's eccentricities. It still was a mystery to Ron.

So Harry was a hero, was famous and rich. And because of that he could have every witch he wanted-he could have a different witch for each hour of the day. But no… he was always so reluctant to take advantage of that…Always the gentleman. Always looking for his one true love. Ron could almost understand that one. Because of what he himself felt for Hermione. But even then Ron couldn't understand why Harry couldn't see that there was true love and there was fun, and one has nothing to do with the other.

Ron would never understand Harry. But he knew him and respected the person he was. He cared a lot about his friend - his sixth brother. And that was why he too was scared, that was why he didn't laugh when the kids did. Because he knew the truth behind Harry's joke. Yes, in the end it will be Harry out there facing all the danger. It was his bad karma. Only this time, there was something very wrong with Harry. For a moment Ron had almost forgotten but when just a moment ago Harry just glowed in that jade green of his again…For a moment Ron really thought Harry would self-immolate again and that freaked the hell out of him. He had to keep both his eyes on Harry, so he could help his friend, but he had no idea of what to do if Harry just lost it again.

Sighing, Ron turned his attention back at what Harry was saying.

When you feel all alone

And the world has turned it's back on you

Give me a moment please

To tame your wild wild heart

"I don't really know what is causing the breaking of the magical balance; all I know is that…"

"The magical balance…What was it that Harry said to him? He said this affected him like no one else…he said it was changing him…Was that why these strange things were happening to Harry?" Ron thought to himself.

"In the meanwhile I want you all to stay here and no matter what don't try to use magic…"

"The question is: Are these things happening with Harry because of the unbalanced magic or was the magic unbalanced because of what is going on with Harry?"

Let me be the one you call

If you jump I'll break your fall

Lift you up and fly away with you into the night

If you need to fall apart

I can mend a broken heart

If you need to crash then crash and burn

You're not alone

"… and no one is going to get hurt --"

"HELP!HELP! SOMEONE, PLEASE! HELP!"

Through the hole Harry had made on the wall, came in running a crying brunette. She was wearing the Ravenclaw robes and using the Head-girl bandage.

All eyes were on her. "There is a girl down the hall. I - I think she is dead."

The first thought that crossed Ron's mind was, "Ginny..."

*******************************************************************

Scene XVII - The Lord of the RING - The Return of NEVILLE.

I've been waiting a long time

For this moment to come

I'm destined

For anything...at all

A wave of magic blew in the air.

BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!

The heat of fire. The suffocating breathe. The sharpened claws. The dangerous wings. Golden Galleons flying everywhere. A rain of stones, girders and marble.

BAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!

The denizen dragons of Gringotts emerged. From the depths of the vaults to the cloudy sky that surrounded Diagonal Alley. There was nothing left of the traditional Wizarding bank, it was reduced to rubble.

SMAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Luckily, it was a Sunday evening, which meant that the bank had been closed -- actually, even if it wasn't a Sunday I believe that the bank wouldn't be opened for its clients considering the fact that the goblins were miles away from Diagonal Alley and London, heading to the west: to the Nadir Gates.

ROOOOOAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!

But again - luckily -- Diagonal Alley was deserted. All the shops were closed. Well actually they were more like burning into ashes but hey at least no one got hurt…

OUCH!

Or maybe someone had gotten hurt.

Some stones rolled and a hand appeared in the middle of the debris of what once was Gringotts. Then an arm. Then a head. Then -- Wait?! Wasn't that Neville Longbottom?

Downtown lights will be shining

On me like a new diamond

Ring out under the midnight hour

No one can touch me now

And I can't turn my back

It's too late ready or not at all

Neville stood up, coughing hard because of the dust cloud that covered him. He dusted his robes, taking a small red velvet box from his pocket.

I'm so much closer than

I have ever known...

Wake up

The group of Dragons stopped what they were doing - which consisted of massive destruction -- and turned their complete attention back at our dear friend. Feeling the intense gaze on his back, Neville turned around and nervously waved to the dragons.

Dawning of a new era

Calling...don't let it catch you falling

Ready or not at all

So close enough to taste it

Almost...I can embrace this

Feeling....on the tip of my tongue

"Er…" Neville quickly returned the small box to his pocket. He looked at the mess the dragons made, a goofy smile on his face. "Hey, you know that was not really nice of you, guys. You almost killed me back there. Not to say that I had an account on this bank and - Ah Merlin, I really liked that shop, you know, where am going to buy my brooms now?"

I'm so much closer than

I have ever known...

Wake up

Better thank your lucky stars....

The dragons flew high into the sky, creating a circle around him. Neville saw fireballs coming into his direction -- from all the corners. His goofy expression disappeared. He didn't even have a wand on his hand.

I've been waiting for a long time

For this moment to come

I'm destined for anything at all

Not that a wand would work out anyway.

Dumbstruck

Colour me stupid

Good luck

You're gonna need it

Where I'm going if I get there...

At all....

Wake up

Better thank your lucky stars....

***************************************************************

Scene XVIII -- Labyrinth

There were no barriers in their way; just a corridor.

Their steps sound like thunder breaking Hogwarts' silence.

To Ron, every second was an eternity; every step seemed so far away. He could see a glimpse of a figure lying on the ground. A body? Her body…No he doesn't want to see. It couldn't be…

The corridor seemed longer now. He was falling behind. Harry and the Head Girl were so far ahead…he couldn't reach them….He could see a stone wall rising between him and them.

"Ron!" Harry grabbed the red-headed arms, shaking him of his thoughts. Ron stared at his friend who had a steady look. "Don't think. Just walk."

And before Ron could process any other information, they were beside the lying figure.

He sighed, relieved. It was not Ginny.

"It's Anne Smith," said Harry, getting on his knees and brushing her dark hair out of her face. "She is a Gryffindor…third-year…she is a very smart girl…" Harry closed his eyes, taking the girls little hands on his.

Suddenly, Ron felt very bad for being relieved. "Is she --" Ron stopped middle-sentenced, noticing the little green sparks that seemed to be leaving Harry's hand and crossing the girls body…then Ron noticed another thing he didn't notice before because he had been too busy being relieved. The girls' body was rigid like a stone. Her eyes were wide open. Her face was a picture of pure fear.

"She is petrified," Ron concluded.

"Petrified?" The Head Girl replied, confused.

Harry opened his eyes. He looked up at Ron. "I can't undo it. Her own magic is blocking mine. We need to take her to the Hospital Wing."

"Harry I doubt I can find the kitchen again, much less the Hospital Wing."

There's a hero

If look inside your heart

You Don't have to be afraid

Of what you are

There's an answer

If you reach into your soul

And the sorrow that you know

Will melt away

Harry stood up. He stared at the window. He saw himself reflected on it and further he saw the reflection of the petrified girl. He frowned. He stretched his arm and in a magical blink, the Gryffindor Sword appeared in his hand.

The Head Girl gasped. Ron raised an enquiring eyebrow at Harry. One day he had to ask his friend where he kept that sword anyway.

And then a hero comes along

With the strength to carry on

And you cast your fears aside

And you know you can survive

So When you feel like hope is gone

Look inside you and be strong

And you'll finally see the truth

That a hero lies in you

Harry turned, walking to the opposite wall. For moments, he just stood there, facing it. Until his sword was covered by a green aura and its lamina became pure energy. One slight movement. A bright light. A huge hole in the wall. The Hospital Wing.

Madam Pomfrey, Professor Flitwick and some injured students stared open-mouthed at the hole in the wall. At the other side, Ron and the Head Girl looked just as shocked.

The sword blinked away, disappearing of Harry's hand, who with a wave of his hand levitated the petrified girl to one of the Hospital Wing's bed.

"She was petrified. Do you think you can take care of her?" Harry asked to Madam Pomfrey.

"Huh? Petrified, you said?" asked Madam Pomfrey coming out of her dazed state and going to the kid's side, starting checking her state.

Harry nodded.

"How did this happen, Mr. Potter?" Professor Flitwick questioned, approaching Harry, who, in return, just stared at him, a look that answered it all. "No. No. That can't be…" Professor Flitwick kept shaking his head.

"We need to protect the students. We need to evacuate Hogwarts." It was Harry's only answer.

It's a long road

When you face the world alone

No one reaches out a hand

For you to hold

You can find love

If you search within yourself

And the emptiness you felt

Will disappear

Professor Flitwick shared a concerned look with Madam Pomfrey. It had been not an easy day for the Hogwarts staff. Sirius Black, Mr. Weasley and his son Percy, speaking for the Ministry, had warned them of the danger that was coming. It had all started at dawn when they realized the elves, ghosts, portraits, armors, the giant squid and every other magical creature were gone - however, those things they could handle. The kids become a little agitated with the whole situation and started asking a lot of questions - however, those things they could handle. But at dusk came more problems: Hogwarts was a place full of magic and when magic became the issue - well, let us just say that Hogwarts was not the most reliable place to be. It was almost impossible to walk in the castle. They could barely reach the dorms. The kids were getting lost in the hallways - trapped in the library and in the astronomy tower. Most classrooms were disappearing. Madam Hooch was outside trying to stop the brooms that apparently just decided to fly around the Quidditch Pitch on their own. Filch and Mrs. Norris were busy trying to find all the lost kids through the corridors. Professor Sprout was also busy at the Greenhouse trying to stop an ever-growing Devil's Snare. All other staff members were trying to overcome some bizarre situation, except for Professor Binns, who had disappeared with all the other ghosts, and Professor Snape, Trelawney and the Headmistress, who had not been seen since last night - They could only hope all of them were well and alive and hopefully would apparently show up to help them because they sure couldn't handle this situation much longer...If things were bad earlier, what about now with a Basilisk on the loose. "Sirius said we shouldn't leave. That no matter how bad things got, Hogwarts would still be safe. I guess he didn't know we weren't alone. We should have left while we could; now it's too late."

"What do you mean?" asked Harry.

Madam Pomfrey sighed. "We can't evacuate, Mr. Potter. There's no way out of Hogwarts now. We can't Apparate, and using a Portkey would be just as dangerous -- with the magic unbalanced, we could disintegrate or end up inside a volcano. The brooms are out of control which means that we can't fly away."

"What about floo?" Harry suggested.

"The Hogwarts floo network has been down for hours," replied Professor Flitwick. "We've tried to owl the Minister but the owls didn't come back. I'm not even sure if they arrived there."

"Can't we use the secret passage to Hogsmeade?" Ron questioned, then noticing the elders had no idea what he was talking about, he faced only Harry. "From there we can take the Knight Bus. That's how Ginny and I got here."

"I don't know what passage you are talking about Mr. Weasley. But you and your sister arrived here hours ago when things were not so chaotic; I mean, at least, not this much. And even if you can manage to find this secret passage of yours -- which I doubt -- we don't know what is Hogsmeade recently situation. Things can be worse out there than they look in here. Truth to be told, we don't even know if Hogsmeade is still there."

"What are you talking about?" Ron looked confused at his former professor. "Of course, it is there, isn't it?" He looked at Harry, looking for some reassuring and found none.

And then a hero comes along

With the strength to carry on

And you cast your fears aside

And you know you can survive

So When you feel like hope is gone

Look inside you and be strong

And you'll finally see the truth

That a hero lies in you

"Nothing more could surprise me today, Ron."

"But I had been there and everything looked normal."

"It's magic we are talking about, Ron. All can change in a blink. Look around us. Hogwarts is more like a prison than a school. Things didn't look this messed up when we arrived here this morning."

"Yeah, until you decided to self-combust." Weary, Ron muttered to himself.

Lord knows

Dreams are hard to follow

But Don't let anyone

Tear them away

Hold on

There will be tomorrow

In time You'll find the way

"What did you say?"

"Nothing… So, we are trapped. And there's a Basi --" Ron stopped as he read the warning in Harry's eyes. He glanced at the Head Girl and the injured students on the hospital beds who were carefully observing all this exchange between Ron and the three members of the staff. No need to put the students in panic. They already looked pretty frightened, that was. "…And we are not alone. So, what are going to do?"

Harry smiled sadly at his friend of so many adventures. "We are going to do what we always do." He stretched his right arm to the side and the Gryffindor sword appeared once more. "Look for trouble."

And then a hero comes along

With the strength to carry on

And you cast your fears aside

And you know you can survive

So When you feel like hope is gone

Look inside you and be strong

And you'll finally see the truth

That a hero lies in you

*************************************************************************

Scene XIX - Star Wars ( Fighting against destiny)

"Hermione? Sweetheart?" Helen Anne Granger approached her daughter who was sat on a swinging bench in the middle of the garden.

Helen had woken from an anguished nightmare about her daughter and decided to check on her. She was so worried about her. She had seen through the strong façade her daughter held all day. She had seen the sad shadow that crossed her eyes. She had been at Hermione's room and for a moment her world stopped revolving around the sun when she saw that her daughter wasn't there -- her bed untouched and books scattered everywhere. She was about to run back to her room and wake her husband when passing through the window, something outside had gotten her attention and she let out a relieved sighed. "Hermione, darling, what's wrong?"

Hermione looked up and smiled weakly at her mother. "There's nothing wrong, mum. I just needed some fresh air to, you know, help me think, just think."

"And what could you probably be thinking at two in the morning that let you so unhappy like this?"

"Oh, I didn't even notice it was this late…And honestly, mum. Don't look at me like this. I'm not unhappy…I'm just, you know, thoughtful…Thinking about, you know, a lot of things and nothing at the same time."

Hermione's mother gave her a sympathetic look. "Are you sure of that?"

"Yes. I'm fine, don't worry."

"Alright. Can I just sit with you then? I had a bad dream."

Hermione just smiled to her mother, sliding to the left side of the bench, so her mother could sit on the right one.

Mother and daughter just stayed silently for a while feeling the slowly movement of the swing.

"It's a beautiful night, isn't it?" Helen Anne Granger said, looking up to the starry sky.

When you wish upon a star

Makes no difference who you are

Anything your heart desires

Will come to you

"Mm-mm," nodded Hermione, looking up, too.

More silence.

"Mum?"

"Mm?"

"Do you think we can change our destinies?"

Helen stared at her daughter. She was so concerned with her. If only she knew what was going on, perhaps she and her husband could help. However, she knew her daughter; knew her daughter kept many secrets. She was always so reserved. She sure was living up to her name…And now, now she was talking about destiny; about changing destiny. She would like to know why she was asking her that; ask her since when she started believing in destiny...

She could just close her eyes and remember like it was happening now -- she on the doorframe watching her husband reading fairy tales' books to a little Hermione - Hermione loved the fairy tales -- in the beginning. Then as the years were passing she started to ask a lot of questions. She wanted to know why and how. How could the prince love the sleeping beauty if he had never even known her? The same went to Snow White and Cinderella - oh, she never accepted the fact that the shoes didn't fit in anyone else, saying that if her shoes where the same size of mostly of her kindergarten friends, sure there must be someone with the same size of Cinderella's. - Another constant question was how a mere stable boy could be the future king of Camelot? What made him different from the other stable boys? Albert, her husband, was always trying to explain that it was the destiny of that specific boy to be the king. 'Destiny?' the little Hermione would ask. And for more than once, her husband tried to explain to her the concept but she kept asking 'But why?' and after spending days trying to answer all those questions, her husband tried a new method - not very recommended. He told her the truth. 'It's just a fairy tale, darling, there was never a King Arthur or a princess that slept too much. They are just dreams, parts of our imagination. Things we like to hear and tell. Stories that teach us about love, friendship, loyalty. Stories that teach us that bad is bad and good is good. Stories to give us mere mortals hope. To make all of us believe that we, too, can be kings or princess.'

"So it's all a lie," little Hermione asked sadly, almost crying, because she -- as any other kid -- believed in those worlds, in that princess, in that dreams - she was a clever child so, of course, she did a lot of questions because she had a thirsty for knowledge and had a very keen mind to her age, but still she was only a child who believed in Santa Claus and the Bogey Man. "There was no Snow White, no Camelot, no Merlin, no Lancelot, no dragons, no witches, no magic," the little Hermione asked tearfully.

Her husband had looked at her for help. No matter what, men never knew what to do when they see a girl crying, even when the girl in question, was their own daughter.

"Oh, pumpkin. Come here." She had picked Hermione on her arms.

"Is it true, mummy? Is daddy right?"

"Shsh…don't cry. Ah, pumpkin, you are still so young. There are so many things that you still have to learn. But these things come with time. What you daddy meant was that -- Well…was that fairy tales are stories."

Hermione started to cry harder.

"Shsh, let me finish. Fairy tales are stories…that can be true if you believe in them."

Little Hermione had given her a beautiful smile, even if she was a tooth short at the time. "Really, Mummy?"

"Mmm. All you have to do is close your eyes like this and think about it…think very strongly… and then you'll be in the fairy tales' land and you'll see the Beauty and the Beast in a corner, and Mary and John near a house made of delicious candies and a knight in a white horse riding fast in your direction…"

"Yeah, I'm there, mummy. I'm on the fairy tales' land, mummy. I can see it…He is flying…"

"Who, darling? Peter Pan?"

"No. There's a dragon. A huge one and there's a boy flying on a broom."

She glanced down at her husband, and the two smiled. She placed Hermione back in her bed and covered her. Hermione looked at he mother.

"Can I do magic, mummy?"

"You can do anything, pumpkin."

"Can you buy me a magical wand, daddy?" Hermione looked at his father.

Albert smiled. "Of course, sweet. This Halloween daddy is going to buy you the most beautiful fairy costume with a shining magical wand."

"And I'm going to be the Fairy Princess Hermione. And I'm going to make all Daddy's and Mummy's wishes come true. What are you going to wish for, Mummy?"

"I'll wish that you're happy."

The little Hermione smiled at her, the front tooth still missing.

That was what Helen wished back then. That was what she still wished.

Strange things had happened in that Halloween. Sometimes just the thought of it made she shiver all over. And as the time passed by more and more strange things happened. Sometimes it was just little things that she easily waved off like being nothing…but other times there were things that she couldn't deny… Sometimes she had to ask if her husband was seeing the same as her just to guarantee her sanity -her husband usually nodded.

They were called to a lot of school meetings (strange if you consider that Hermione always had the best grades in everything, but strangeness was really about how her teachers described her behavior.) She and her husband didn't know what to do…they even looked for some professional help, but they didn't go on with any kind of treatment. They didn't want their daughter to be treated like a freak...so they did what they could; they treated her like they always did - with a lot of love.

They prayed a lot during that time.

"Mummy, why do the other kids don't like me? Is it because I'm a freak?"

"What?! Who told you that?"

"A boy from my school."

"Look at me, Hermione. You are not a freak. Understand? Never, ever, let anyone tell you differently."

"So, what am I, Mummy?"

"You are my pumpkin. My very special pumpkin."

And of course, they took her from that school.

And in the new school there were no more complaints…Oh, they were called to some meetings. But in those meetings the teachers didn't talk about bizarre situations, they just said that Hermione was an excellent student but she almost didn't talk with the other kids and she spent all the breaks in the library alone. Probably, a strange behavior for the school psychologist, but considering that no one was being levitated and nothing was exploding she and her husband were relieved.

But not that relieved... they were happy that the strange things stopped happening around Hermione but… it was like with the strange things gone, part of her joy had gone too. Hermione had always loved books, even when she could not read, she just passed through the pages and invented stories, had they drawings from where she could base herself or not. They thought it was wonderful that she was exploring that love like that, but also they wouldn't like Hermione to use that love as an escape from the real world, from the problems ahead.

Her lack of friends really worried them. All kids needed friends. Everybody needed friends. But they also understood her fears. She was afraid of being called a freak again. What if she was with the other kids and something happened again?

So, they made what they could. They were the best friends a child could ask. They cut some hours of work. Refuse most social invitations and when they couldn't refuse, they took her with them. They played with her, talked with her, read with her, watched cartoons with her and she watched the news with them. They took her to the cinema, to the theater, to museums. They took her to McDonald's and to the Elizabethan Banquet. They took her to spend holidays with the both sides of the family. They took her to travel around the world - in a cruise seeing that Hermione hated to fly -- Hermione did take ballet classes, tennis classes, swimming classes, piano classes, flute, violin, singing, poetry, painting. She learned Latin, French, Spanish, Italian and some Japanese. They had bought to her all the books she wanted.

Oh, well, yes, they spoiled her a little. *But just a little.*

The point was that during those years Hermione was happy again. Once in a while, a strange thing happened but it was so little that Hermione didn't even seem to notice. She started to hang out with other kids again and she even made some friends in school but…

But then that letter came. She and Albert thought it was some kind of bad joke, probably some prat from Hermione's old school; Probably the same one who called Hermione a freak, so they threw it out. But then another came. And another -- Till one of them ended up in Hermione's hand. Helen would never forget the look on her daughters face…it was a mixture of so many different emotions…recognition, happiness, longing, hope, fear…

"I, this symbol seems familiar." Hermione had said pointing to the Hogwarts' frame. "Hogwarts…" Hermione's voice trailed off. She looked at her parents, confused. "School of Wizardry and Witchcraft?"

"Hermione, darling, this is nothing. It's probably some stupid--"

KNOCK. KNOCK.

Someone was on their door. It was the same one that had sent the letter. Her name was Professor McGonagall. And that was that.

If your heart is in a dream

No request is too extreme

When you wish upon a star

Your dreams come true

Helen left her memories behind as her attention focused on the question before her. She knew Hermione was waiting for an answer. But how exactly could she answer to that question? She knew that her daughter was no longer a little infant; that a 'you can do anything, pumpkin' wouldn't work this time. So she said the only thing she could...

"Don't you think you should first ask me if I believe in destiny?"

She frowned. She would really want to ask Hermione is when did her daughter start to believe in destiny? And from where did such a question come from? Why is she thinking about changing destiny? What is that crazy world of wizards and witches doing with her? She had tried to read some of Hermione's books once, tried to understand a little more of her daughters' world but the pages had been all blank…

"Do you?" Hermione asked her.

Sometimes she just wished she hadn't let her husband convince her to let Hermione go to that school…to go into that world… She knew that this train of thought was crazy because her daughter loved that world and her friends and her magic - Oh, how Hermione used to talk about magic, trolls, unicorns and giants during their summers together, she tried to explain to them how to do potions with strange names and said it was really a pity that she was under age and she still couldn't show them all spells she had learned. She couldn't deny how that school had been good for her daughter…the glow in her eyes as she read her books, her smiles as she talked about some strange adventures she had had with Ron and Harry. Her daughter had been very happy in that world, in that school; 'had been' being the magic word . Something had changed during her last year there…she hadn't smiled that summer…she didn't talk non-stop about what she had learned; when she was of age to finally show them her magic tricks, she didn't even bother…she just woke up one day and said she was moving away…she would live with Harry and Ron…And when Helen had demanded a reason for such a abrupt decision, the only answer her daughter had given her was, 'I have to be near him.' She would never understand what her daughter saw on Ronald Weasley anyway…

"You know the answer to that question. You used to share the same opinion with me."

"A lot has changed since then, Mum. I'm not a Mug --" Hermione bit her lower lip. "I mean, I'm not only a non-magical person anymore. I'm a witch. I live surrounded by things that I once thought couldn't to exist. I'm a part of a world where prophecies come true and destinies must be fulfilled."

"I see. So now that you know you are not a *muggle* you believe in destiny."

"No, that's not it. I don't -- I mean…I don't know in what to believe anymore. I'm so lost, mum. It's like I'm in the most important examination of my life and I don't know any answers." Hermione laid her head on her mother's lap.

"Oh, Hermione." Helen started caressing her head. "I know how it feels, but some questions just don't have an answer, sometimes there's no right or wrong. The truth is there's no difference whether you believe in destiny or not. The question is not if we can change destiny. The question here is whether you believe you can or cannot change your life, be it the life you were destined for, or the life you once chose to live. Because even when you believe you have a choice, you might end up living the wrong one. And sometimes it's hard to step back, to admit that you were wrong and try to fix things own your own. It's easier to believe that there's a destiny, that things will magically work out in the end because that's the way it was once written. And if things didn't work out, you can always blame destiny and say those six typical words; 'It was not meant to be'..."

Fate is kind

She brings to those who love

The sweet fulfillment of

Their secret longing

Hermione just nodded in her mother's lap, relishing in the safety she always found there.

"I'm here, Hermione. And your father is here, too. We are both always here for you, you know that, don't you? Oh, pumpkin, let us help you. Why don't you tell us what is happening so we can help you?"

"I told you, mum, there's nothing wrong. Nothing to worry about."

"Don't lie to me, Hermione. I'm a mother, and a mother always knows. You keep saying that there's nothing wrong yet I keep seeing you fading away…Little by little, you are becoming a shadow of what you once were. Your smiles don't reach your eyes anymore. That glow in your eyes that showed every time you opened a book; every time you learned something new, is gone. You are so distant from us... You are here physically, but your mind is somewhere else...When I insisted you to come with us was because I thought this could be good for you... to be in our world without crazy creatures and situations...to be with your family, people who don't understand a word about magic but love you so much...but it's been impossible to reach you, Hermione. I don't know what more I can do or say to you...I still want my wish, Hermione. I want you to be happy, darling."

Hermione lift up her head from her mother lap and stared at her, a trail of tears crossing her face. "I'm sorry, mum. I'm so sorry. If only - I wish I could tell you the truth but I --"

"You can tell me, Hermione. You can tell me anything."

Hermione stared into her mother's eyes. "I love you, Mummy. And Daddy, too. Very much. I love nanny and grandpa, Uncle John and Aunt Mary, Michael and ... I love you all, Mum. You are my family. And that will never change. The magic factor can't intervene here. Someone told me it doesn't matter if I'm a witch, non-magical or something in between; I am what I am. I am Hermione Granger. I'm your daughter. And I'm happy to be here with all of you. I'm happy to know that you are all fine and safe; that the sacrifice we made wasn't in vain."

Helen's eyes went wide. "Sacrifice? What are you talking about, darling?"

Hermione sat up straight, trying to wipe her tears away. She tried to smooth her wild hair, pushing it behind her the ear. Looking at her mother, she bit her lip. "I remember that summer between my sixth and seventh. I remember the kitchen; the tea; our talks. We talked about him and we imagined how many ways Daddy would torture him before finally accepting that his little girl was no longer so little, and then we laughed about how many grandchildren you would like to have." Hermione laughed bitterly. "One year later, you couldn't remember a thing. No one could. I was back from Hogwarts, I was devastated and it was worst because I couldn't share any of that with you. I couldn't tell you all what I felt - because I felt it, mum. I felt so loved. It was so beautiful. But when he was gone, part of me was gone with him." She couldn't stop her sobs.

Mrs. Granger just looked at her daughter; astonished; open-mouthed; confused. She couldn't very well register her daughter's words. It was all so hazy. Him? Who was him? Tea…She remembered the sweet aroma of tea…She could hears laughs…What were they talking about? Gone…was he dead? There was green fog in her way - she couldn't hear what the two of them were laughing about…But wait the fog was thinning…Hermione was saying how much she loved him…how much she loved…

"Harry Potter?" Helen whispered, looking like she had just come out of a trance.

It was Hermione's turn to look at her mother astonished; open-mouthed; confused. She saw the sparks of recognition in her mother's eyes and for a split moment, she let herself believe that the spell was broken and - But before she could even have the time to think about all the implications of her wishful thought, she saw a blinding green glow of energy, which engulfed her mother but never had the chance to come very close to Hermione, as a pink aura of energy flashed around Hermione, protecting her from the spell - the same pink aura who repealed the spell from her when it had been cast.

When it was over, Hermione called her mother, "Mummy?"

Hermione's mother blinked. "Oh. Hermione. Sorry. I guess I spaced out there for a moment. What were we talking about?"

Hermione had to use all her strength to just not start sobbing again. "Stars," Hermione said, averting her gaze from her mothers' eyes and looking upon the sky.

Like a bolt out on the blue

Fate steps in and sees you through

When you wish upon a star

Your dreams come true

"Oh, yes. It's beautiful, isn't it?"

"Come on, mum. I'm getting cold here. Let's get inside."

"Yes, we should better try and get some sleep," her mother said yawing. "With all the shopping your grandma is planning for tomorrow - I mean, today - something tells me we are going to need all the rest we can still get."

And mother and daughter walked away; arms crossed together, leaning into one another.

****************************************

Author note: As you all can see I decided to split the chapter up. I'll post the other part when ready. ( If you have no idea what I'm talking about read what I posted here.)

Thanks to Anne and Ness for beta-ing this and thank you all for reading.