Chapter 13--Family
"Head between your knees," Hannah commanded Hermione's father. She had quickly moved around to the other side of the table and gently pushed his head down. Ben and Janie were quiet, both knowing something unusual was going on, however, it didn't last long though as everyone began talking at once. Hermione gently lifted Janie out of her booster seat as she began crying, murmuring comforting words to calm her down. At the same time, Ben cried to get down distracting Janie for a moment. Gently, she herded them to the stairs and asked them to go to their rooms as Grandpa wasn't feeling well. A bit scared to ignore his mother's request, Ben took Janie's hand and together they climbed the stairs…the patter of running feet could be heard over head until they reached Ben's room.
Hermione turned back to her father and sat back down. "Dad? Why do you think you know Charles?"
"He knows me?" Charles asked looking up from Mr. Granger's side. Worried, he had come around to the other side of the table with Hannah.
"I think so. Just…give me a minute." Mr. Granger took a deep breath and let it out slowly, running his hands through his salt and pepper hair at the same time.
"Surely, you aren't thinking…," Mrs. Granger began hesitantly then stopped as she shook her head seemingly answering her own question.
"Precisely what I was doing…," Mr. Granger responded as he sat back in his chair slowly. Just as slowly Charles and Hannah walked to the other side and sat down in their chairs next to Harry.
Charles eyed Hermione's father with interest. "Why do you think you know me? I don't believe we've met before."
"We have I believe, although you were just an infant so you wouldn't remember," Mr. Granger started then paused to take a sip of water.
"You're not a pediatric dentist, why would you see an infant?" Hermione observed, frowning a bit at how pale her father was still.
"No, not in the professional capacity; that's not how I think I know him."
"Do you really think…?" Mrs. Granger muttered to her husband privately but it didn't escape Hermione's ears.
"Think what?" Hermione demanded her eyes roaming between Charles, Harry and her father.
Mr. Granger's eyes shifted over his wife's face as he addressed her instead of his daughter.
"His middle name is Brentwood, Lynn! Brent---wood. How common of a middle name is that?" Hermione's mother looked at Charles a bit more closely, her lips pursed together as if she refused to acknowledge what her husband thoughts were.
"Mr. Granger, can you tell us what you're thinking?" Harry finally asked, eyes resting on Hermione for a moment. She wasn't paying any attention to him; he could see her assessing her father's health while also bursting at the seams wanting to yell at him to get on with his story.
"Well, to make a long story short, I think he may be Hermione's cousin."
Silence rang through the kitchen until Charles cleared his throat.
"I think I'd like the long story on that one," he said quietly. Hermione pushed her full glass of water towards her father and waited for him to take another sip, watching the color return to his cheeks.
"Well, Hermione had only one uncle as Lynn is an only child. Her Uncle Brent was my younger brother. He died four months before Hermione was born, in a drunk driving accident. It was his fault and he was only 19 at the time." He stopped and looked down at the fork he was fiddling with as if gathering his thoughts.
"Valerie…," Mrs. Granger prompted. This name meant nothing to Hermione who gazed quizzically hat her parents.
"Valerie was Brent's girlfriend of six months when he got her pregnant. My parents were furious saying that he was too young to be a father and refused to support him seeing Brent was in between jobs. He had trouble holding them down because he'd get bored and not want to do the work. However, Valerie's parents were very rich and well to do and thought that all this was Brent's fault. Valerie was only 18, had just graduated from some boarding school so they forced her to give the child up for adoption. Lynn was only two months pregnant with Hermione at this point. We were married, finishing Dental School and both of us were 22 and we barely had enough money to live on. We couldn't help Brent and tried not to interfere. The pregnancy went well; Valerie went into the hospital on March 16, 1979 and gave birth to a boy the following day." At this point everyone was looking at Charles who was now sitting back in his chair, looking just as pale as Hermione's father.
"Is that your birthday?" Hannah asked quietly and Charles nodded slightly.
His nod didn't go unnoticed by Mr. Granger who forged ahead.
"Before Valerie gave him to the people who were going to adopt him she told us that she asked them have his middle name be "Brentwood" after my brother and her last name at the time. Lynn, myself, Brent and Valerie only saw their son for a few hours. Brent and Valerie broke up due to the pressure of her parents and soon Brent started drinking. Nothing we said stopped him from drinking well into the night, until he got into the car one evening and drove off the road into the Thames."
He stopped abruptly and Hermione just stared at him, feeling sick to her stomach. She knew her Uncle had died in a drunk driving accident but knew nothing of the cousin that was born in March only six months before she was born.
"Well," Harry started calmly, breaking the silence, "that explains why I kept thinking I knew him and
heard his laugh somewhere. He sounds like you, Mr. Granger, when he laughs."
Mr. Granger nodded soberly. His eyes, the same shade as Hermione's (and now, as everyone could see, the same shade as Charles') were still fixed on Charles.
"I'd bet my eye teeth you are Brent's son. You have the same facial features, yet Valerie's blond hair."
"I need a moment," was all Charles said and he stood up and walked from the kitchen. Hannah glanced at Hermione who tilted her head in the direction Charles left. Soon, it was just four of them left.
"I wish you would've told me that I had a cousin, even if it's not him."
"It's him."
"You need to be sure, dad. A blood test should tell us that, especially from Grandpa as it's his grandchild."
"I don't know if I could tell him this. He's almost 80…this might give him a heart attack."
"Before we go announcing to anyone that Hermione may have a cousin in this house, I think she's right. It needs to be proved and it can be done the Muggle way with a blood test or you can go into St. Mungo's, along with Charles, and get your blood and genes analyzed there in a matter of a few hours." Harry took over the conversation, now walking around to where Hermione was still sitting still as stone. She wasn't sure if her legs would even support her at this point so she stayed seated. She was thankful Harry had enough reasoning left to say what she should have.
"Hannah can do it…discreetly," Hermione suddenly said, holding Harry's hand tightly between her own. "I can ask Molly to take you two to the hospital sometime next week. Charles is working there every day."
"Shouldn't we ask him first?" Mrs. Granger asked quietly. "Shouldn't you, John?"
Her husband nodded silently as his gaze stayed fixed on the fruit bowl in the center of the table. Lynn's hand covered her husbands and a moment of silence descended over the table. A thump from one of the children brought everyone back to the present, with Lynn speaking first.
"Well, Hermione! All sorts of surprises for us today. We find out you're living and going out with Harry and then we find out you've bee friends with your own cousin. How're you doing with all this?" her mother reached out and patted Hermione knee.
"I think I'm going to go put the kids down for nap. I'll be down in a few," Hermione suddenly said
feeling the need to escape the confines of the kitchen.
"You okay?" Harry whispered holding her hands tightly for a moment. She nodded, not trusting her voice and headed upstairs to settle the kids down for naptime.
---
"Hermione?"
"Yes."
"You okay?"
Hermione sighed and rolled over to face Harry in bed. It had been a long afternoon and one that wasn't very relaxing. Obviously, Charles was too distracted to check-up on Janie and instead had talked with John and Lynn Granger about their potential relationship. Hannah, to Hermione's intense relief, had stayed and played with Ben and Janie, who refused to nap giving everyone else some time to talk. Hannah had left with some books from Hermione's personal library with promises to keep and eye on Charles at work.
Ben and Janie had both fallen asleep at the dinner table, pizza all over their face. Harry and Hermione hadn't even
bothered to change them into pajamas and had just taken them up to their beds after a quick wipe down.
Even though it was early, both Hermione and Harry were worn out, but awake, as they lay in Harry's bed staring at the ceiling, hands clasped between them.
"I think so."
"I can throw another wrench into things if you want."
"Why the hell not?" Hermione half laughed.
"What if he's Oliver Wood's cousin, too?"
"I had that same thought actually. After mum and dad left I was thinking through all the information. Valerie could've had an older brother who was married and had a child at the time. Charles being the only wizard in his adoptive family would help in that theory. He said his older sisters are all Muggles, as are his parents. And my father said that Valerie went to "a boarding school"; she could've been a witch."
"You know how easy it would be to ask Oliver if he has an Aunt Valerie, find out where she is and boom, Charles could meet his birth mother."
"If she IS Charles' mother."
"Oh, come on Hermione," Harry glanced at her. "I may wear glasses, but from day one I knew he was familiar. I recognized his laugh as being one I had heard before, plus you two think the same way, have a love of books, and now that I can look for familial similarities, you have the same eyes. He can even be a bit bossy sometimes," Harry joked lightening the mood just a bit.
"Yeah, I can see that too," Hermione gave him a tired smile. "I can't think anymore, I need to sleep." She yawned and Harry watched her shut her eyes and immediately relax, falling into a sleep that took him a bit longer to get too.
He wasn't sure how long he had been asleep when he heard the crying. He struggled up from the depths of his Quidditch playing dream while hearing the distant cries of "Mummy" echoing through the house.
"What?" Hermione mumbled turning over, then became fully alert as she heard Ben start crying down the hall.
"Janie," Harry mumbled swinging his legs over the side of the bed and was soon running down the hall to her room. There was nothing that caused Harry more anguish than not being able to calm his daughter. She was sitting up in bed, crying and screaming for her mother. Her eyes were wide and she looked right at him as if she was terrified, pushing him away when he bent to pick her up.
"NO! MUMMY! I WANT MUMMY!" Janie screamed then jumped as one of her toys fell off the shelf in response to her outrage at not being listened to.
"Janie, shush…it's me, daddy!" Harry sat down on the edge of her bed and she retreated up against the head board shaking her head and asking for her mother again. Harry hadn't heard her cry like this in about three months and was at a loss of what he could do. She obviously didn't want him touching and trying to console her.
"What's wrong?" Hermione's sleepy voice cut through the Janie's cries. Harry looked over his shoulder feeling frustration mount inside him and found Ben cradled in Hermione's arms, sniffing back tears.
"She wants her mother…what am I supposed say? She won't even let me touch her!"
"Here, take Ben…I can try," Hermione shifted Ben from her to Harry. He switched places with Hermione, feeling Ben's arms go around his neck. He was much heavier and taller than Janie so Harry had to shift him around a bit to find a comfortable position. Janie seemed to be listening to Hermione's soft voice who was telling her she was fine, safe at home with her, daddy and Ben. Harry could feel Ben's tears against his neck and realized he was upset seeing Janie so out of sorts.
"Are you okay here? I think he's scared so I'm going to take him to my…our…room," Harry saw Hermione nod and he reluctantly left Janie in Hermione's care. It was strange to have someone else there to calm her, but also a relief too, seeing as Janie responded better to Hermione than him at the moment.
Harry stretched out on his bed, holding Ben against his chest who buried his face in Harry's neck.
"It's okay, Ben. Janie just had a bad dream. You can stay here with me until you fall asleep," Harry explained calmly, rubbing his hand over the small back, feeling him relax, begin to breathe evenly and finally felt those tell-tale muscle flickers of someone who was truly asleep. He could faintly hear Hermione talking to Janie, and heard his daughter's voice respond. Closing his eyes, he mentally thanked a higher being for having Hermione with him…he was sure it would be another long night if she wasn't there to calm Janie.
A noise startled Harry who quickly snapped awake, realizing that Ben was still asleep curled up on his chest. Hermione was stretched out next to him, Janie tucked up against her; both of them fast asleep. He couldn't help but stare in wonderment at how natural it looked to see Janie's head resting on Hermione's chest, her face totally relaxed and her small mouth loosely wrapped around her thumb. Ben usually wasn't a child that wanted to be hugged, cuddled and loved too much. He was always running around, bringing Hermione things to look at, books to read, or clutching her hand to drag her to his latest building made of blocks. He wasn't like Janie who sometimes just wanted to be held.
Another realization struck him when he noticed that Janie looked more like Hermione in coloring than her own mother. Janie's hair was a few shades lighter than her father's and matched Hermione's natural color perfectly. Ginny had freckles while Janie's skin was still flawless. His eyes moved from the small form of his daughter to Hermione's face and he watched her slowly come awake, stirring slightly then stopping as she remembered she wasn't alone. When her eyes finally opened all the way, he was the first thing she saw and for a moment their gazes locked as if melded together.
Tightening his hand on Ben's back, as he turned his head against Harry's chest still deeply asleep, Harry decided to try something new. For the first time, he let himself probe Hermione's thoughts watching her eyes widen as he let her know of his presence in her thoughts. Ginny had never mastered the art of Occlumency or Legilimens, while Hermione had worked hard in private during the battle to find Voldemort and in the month's after, only to refine her skills when she became an Auror.
Together, their thoughts mingled around each others, seeing what this scene looked liked from the other's perspective. It was a dance unlike Harry had ever danced as Hermione's sleepy thoughts poured over his, only to be swept up and mingled with his own.
This is how it's supposed to be, isn't it? What is? All Janie wanted was her mother, and I couldn't even give her that. She's okay now, it was that magic build-up again but we worked it out…I taught her to squirt water from her wand, just to warn you. That'll be useful when Ben starts a fire with something down the road. (Harry saw a hint of a smile touch her eyes). I wonder how Charles is doing? Not sure, you could owl him and ask. I should probably talk to my parents too… Ben must be heavy for you. We're both very comfortable, as you seem with Janie. I'm not used to a child so loving, it's rather nice. I didn't know I've wanted this...This, what? A family that isn't fragmented or haunted by the loss of a parent; you, us, more moments like these...these…
A loud yawn and a crack under his chin brought Harry back to the present as he blinked against the pain of Ben's head hitting him.
"Hungry!" Ben announced deftly sliding off of Harry and sitting between the adults.
"Just like his father always was," Harry murmured as rubbed his chin then stretched bringing feeling back into his upper torso while trying to put his thoughts back in order. Having such an intimate moment with Hermione and her feelings left him with a sense of longing…a longing for something he couldn't name, yet.
Hermione's response came a beat later, she seemed a bit incoherent like Harry for a few seconds.. "Yes, I guess some things will never change."
Harry made sure that he and Janie worked with Uncle Ron's wand that morning. She demonstrated she could fill up the sink with the spell Hermione showed her and had fun accioing Ben's stuffed animals to him then covering him up much to his delight.
She still couldn't get the Wingardium Leviosa spell down so Harry decided to stop trying. Hermione seemed to have found one that worked for her and he was grateful to have her support. Besides talking a bit about his first day of work tomorrow, their day was relaxing, with a lot of reflection on Charles and what he must be thinking about his new found (more than likely) family.
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