For the rest of the week, Hermione told Dan she was unable to apparate work with him for various reasons, all of them false. She avoided him in the hallway at school and also successfully ducked him at home. She was too embarrassed and confused to deal with her feelings, so as she'd done for the past 10 years of her life, she denied them.
Ben knew something was up; his mother had been distracted all week and he couldn't connect with her to find out why. She's shutting me out, he thought; maybe Aunt Luna knows something. He grabbed his robe and made the quick trip over to Luna & Nevilles.
"Hey handsome, what brings you over to your old Aunt's house?" Luna said as she kissed him hello.
"You will never be old Aunt Luna, I don't care what the number on your birth certificate says."
"OK, now I know you want something- spill it."
"Well two things actually. First I need your help talking Mum into letting me go away for a weekend, and second, do you know what's been bothering her all week?"
"No I don't, but she hasn't owled me in three days so I knew something had to be up. Why, what's going on?"
"She's shut me out of our connection and she's keeping to herself. I was trying to talk to her last night about something, and when I was done I could tell she hadn't heard a word I had said."
"Hmm, I don't know what's going on but I will check into it. Now what about you going away for a weekend? Are you dreaming?" or are you finally on my plain of thought ,Luna laughed.
"I know, I know, she's going to be totally against it, that's why I need your- and Uncle Nevilles's- help. I thought you two could be there when I ask her to help peel her off the ceiling."
"You realize that I would only do this for you, sweetie. I need to borrow a dress from your Mum anyway, so how about we come over Saturday and we'll do it then?"
"OK, I'm going surfing Saturday but it will be early. I'll be home by noon at the latest. Is that OK?"
"Yeah, I want to sleep in anyway. Noon is fine."
"Thanks so much Aunt Luna, I appreciate this. See you Saturday." Ben kissed her & left feeling a bit better.
When Ben arrived home, Dan was bringing in the mail. "Oh, hey, here's your mail."
"Thanks Dan- oh , it's a good thing you picked this up and not Mum."
"Why?"
"Because inside this envelope is a booklet and application for the a placement at Annan prep ," Ben answered as he held up the thick package.
"Are you applying there?"
"Yeah, well I dunno really but I don't want Mum to know. She'll freak."
"Why?"
"It's just that she wants me to go to Hogwarts but it still holds so many memories for her and I will feel that I have to make up for what my dad was like''
"I'm not looking forward to it." I mean I never knew my dad, and I still hope he will find his way
back to us some day''…….
Dan stood there, his mind reeling a mile a minute… he was panicking how long he would be able to keep undercover and to
try and find the courage to come clean……find his Hermione again…..he had so many unanswered questions… so many years
wasted without his Mione…. But not now. Not now… even Voldemort found out the hard way……..
He prayed no one else ever got in his way of his Mione again…..
=====
Neville and Luna popped into the entranceway on Saturday at the same time Ben and Dan were stepping out of the
cottage.
"Hello boys, have a good time? Did Dan manage to get up on the board?" Luna queried.
Ben slapped Dan on the back. "Yes he did, in fact he took to it like a fish to water, pardon the pun."
"Well, I have a really good sense of balance. I think that helps a lot. But if you'll excuse me, I'd like to get in a nice hot shower now. I smell like the the black lake."
"I bet you still smell fresh," Hermione said smiling brightly at them as she came out of the door. Dan gave her a shy smile before making his exit.
Neville helped Ben unload his gear while Luna and Hermione went inside to look through dresses for Luna..Hermione was quite surpised that Luna wanted to borrow her dress…
"So Hermione, is everything all right? I didn't hear from you much this week," Luna said.
"Oh, I know, I've been so busy at school," she mumbled into the closet. "Sorry."
"Yeah, no problem. No not that one, it will make my hips look too big. Are you sure that's all? Ben is worried about you."
"He told you that?" Hermione said as she put the offending garment back.
"Yeah, he did. He said you won't let him connect with you and that you've been distracted. You know he picks up on the slightest thing when it comes to you. This wouldn't have anything to do with a certain gorgeous available tenant, would it?"
"What? Luna will you please give it a rest?" Hermione answered impatiently.
"Hermione, I see the way you two look at each other when you think no one else is looking. What is the problem here? You're both available, you obviously like each other, he is GORGEOUS, AND he reminds me of Harry & it's frightening really so what is your excuse this time?"
Hermione sighed and stopped sorting through her closet. "Luna, I can't lie to you. Yes, I like him; there, I said it. But I'm not going to do anything about it. I feel like… like I am insulting Harry's memory so … just I'm not going to do anything about it, OK?"
"You feel like you're betraying Harry?. Do you think that I didn't feel the same way about Ron when I got involved with Neville? I understand, but Hermione, it's been 10 years. You are not betraying anyone. You are living your life. You're entitled."
"I know, but I can't help it. I look at his eyes and I think of Harry. Maybe that's why I like him, who knows." She bit her lip and looked at Luna. "I dreamt of him."
"Who? Harry or Dan?"
"Harry. Well, it was Harry until the very end. Harry turned into Dan."
"What was he doing?"
Hermione flushed at the thought.
"Never mind, I can figure it out from the look on your face. So, you had a sex dream about Harry who turned into Dan at the end. You now feel like you betrayed Harry because of it. Does that about cover it?"
"Pretty much," Hermione sighed.
Just then they heard Neville and Ben laughing as they came into the house.
Luna picked up a black dress and said, "we'll finish this later" and walked out to the living room.
"Uh, Mum? Do you think I could talk to you about something?"
"Sure sweetie, what's up?"
Ben looked nervously at Neville and Luna before beginning. "Well, uh, see, Keelan's Dad has this client who gave him tickets for the Final Four."
"And I was wondering……
"No." Hermione didn't let him finish his sentence.
"Mum, please, we'll be with Keelan's dad the entire time. You've met him; he's not exactly the let's party & get wild type. We'll be watching Quidditch the whole time."
"No."
"Hermione, why not? It doesn't sound so bad to me." Ben looked gratefully towards Neville.
"No."
"Hermione, come on, at least let's discuss it. You've got to let him loose at some point," Luna prodded.
"Luna I don't have to do anything. No."
"Mum, please, will you at least talk to Keelan's dad? He'll give you all the details. Please Mum, I really, really want to do this."
He knew just how to get to her. She could never refuse him anything, and it wouldn't hurt to talk to the man because she knew she would say no anyway.
"I'll talk to him. But it's not going to matter, Ben; I don't want you going anywhere without me."
"Mum, what are you going to do when I go away to school?"
She paled at the words. So he DID want to leave her and go away to school.
"Oh oh Ben, I think you sent her into overload. Why don't you call Keelan now to see when his dad can meet with us." Luna went over and put her arm around Hermione's shoulder and said "Breathe, Hermione. This is not a big deal."
"Yes it is and you know it. I can't protect him from- from- from who- who knows what could happen to him and if I'm not there…" She was starting to panic; the thought of Ben leaving her was something she was not ready to deal with now.
Neville moved toward the two girls and put his arms around them both. "Hermione, I completely understand your fears. But the reality is that at some point in his life Ben is going to leave. It might be for a weekend, it might be for a month, it might be for good. It is going to happen. Maybe this trip would be a good way to test out the waters. We'll go with you to talk to Keelan's father. At least think about it before you say no again, OK?"
Why did Neville always have to make sense? It made it that much harder to be irrational.
============
Hermione bolted from apparition spot into the house. The meeting with Keelans's father hadn't gone well, at
least in Hermione's eyes. Ben, on the other hand, was elated.
"Mum!" He called after her as he joined her. Dan appeared levitating a bag of rubbish to the dust bin.
"Can I surmise from the look on your faces that you asked your mm about the Final ?" Ben had filled Dan in on his plans while they had been swimming.
"Yeah. We just met with my friend's dad; he laid out the whole deal to her. I can't believe she's going to let me do this."
"Look's like SHE can't believe she's going to let you do it, either," Dan said as he looked at the door she had just run through.
"Yeah, I'd better go in and make sure she's not sticking her head in the gas oven or anything." They both chuckled as Ben went in to find his mother. He found her sitting on her bed, nervously twirling her wand . "Mum, thank you so much for this. I swear I will be careful. Everything will be fine. Really."
"It's not you I worry about Ben."
// It's the unknown I worry about, she thought. I don't know if or when something- someone- will find us- find you-
Mum, what are you talking about? // He had picked up their connection and heard all of her concerns.
"Ben, there is so much that you don't know; that I didn't want to have to tell you. Believe me Ben when I tell you that just because the past 10 years have been peaceful that doesn't mean things won't change. You are the son of a very powerful wizard. A wizard who left to fight a war. What if things didn't- haven't- gone well ? What if your father's enemies find out that there is a living heir to the throne of the founders back here in Scotland You're life would be in jeopardy in an instant. You have never been exposed to any of this; I have. It's not pleasant Ben. At least if I'm with you…"
"Mum, no one is going to find out about me at a Quidditch game. I'll be doing what normal wizarding males my age do. Please Mum, don't worry, please."
"I can't not worry Ben, I'm your mother. It comes with the territory. But I promise you that I will try to deal with this in a rational manner. But you have to promise me that you will call me twice a day and that you will be careful. That you won't draw any undue attention to yourself. That if anything suspicious happens, you'll call me immediately. If you see something or someone…"
"Mum, nothing is going to happen. No one knows. It will be OK."
He was wrong. Someone did know…..
For the next two weeks she put thoughts of Ben's trip to the back of her mind. If I dwell on it I'll be ready for St Mungo'sby the time he leaves, she reasoned to herself. She was able to maintain her composure until Monday of the week he was to leave.
Each day on their way into work that week Dan noticed her increasing anxiety. On Friday morning, the day Ben was leaving, he could see she was coming undone. Upon arriving at school he immediately set out to find Neville.
"Neville, I'm glad I caught you. Have you seen Hermione? She is really upset today. I saw her walk into a door & say 'excuse me' to it."
"Yeah, we knew this was going to be very rough on her. Luna and I are coming over tonight to say goodbye to Ben and try to keep Hermione from hiding in the bottom of Bens trunk''. Look, I'm going to be late, would you keep an eye on her today? And tonight come downstairs; after he leaves we'll play some chess or do something to occupy her."
"Sure, no problem." No problem at all, he thought; watching Hermione Granger was his favorite pastime. It always was and always would be
At six o'clock Keelans's father arrived with the other boys to collect Ben. Hermione was holding on to him like she was drowning and he was a life jacket.
"OK, you'll send me an owl as soon as you get there, right?"
"Yes Mum, I promise."
"And you'll be careful? No stupid stunts, no wandering off?"
"Yes Mum, I promise."
"And you'll call me every morning? And every night?
"Yes Mum, I promise."
"And…"
"Hermione! You've gone through this three times already. He will be fine. Let him go now before you have a stroke!" Luna's words actually made logical sense, but right now, being logical was the furthest thing from her mind, which was what Hermione usually was.
Dan felt terrible for Hermione; she was so obviously beside herself he didn't think she'd live through the weekend. "Hermione, really, they seem like a nice bunch of kids, and Keelan's dad seems very responsible, I'm sure everything will be fine." He would have said or done anything to assuage her fear at that moment.
"All right, all right. Have a good time. Be careful. I love you. Be careful."
"I will Mum, I promise. I love you too. Thank you for this." Ben turned towards the three others. "Please take care of her this weekend." He kissed her and gave her a bear hug before reassembling at the portkey.
They all waved goodbye and Hermione lasted about three seconds before breaking down in tears.
"Luna! He's leaving!" was all she could choke out between her sobs. Luna wrapped her arms around Hermione and held her, simply saying "it's all right Mione, it's all right" over and over. Neville and Dan looked at each other, both feeling a bit uncomfortable at being present during her breakdown. Neville motioned to Dan to go inside with him and leave the girls to talk.
"Mione, he's going to be fine. No one there will find out about him being- well being the son of the famous boy who lived. They are just going to go to the games and hang out. He will be home before you know it,"and I'm sure the carbukled hannukrs will help him find peace while he is there'' Luna said soothingly.
No words could comfort her now, though; she just had to cry it out. After a few more minutes she collected herself a little. Not even Luna's ramblings .."Thanks Luna, as usual. Let's go inside; I could use a warm drink."
Neville was already leviosa ing a batch of butterbeers when they came in. "What's this?" Hermione asked, pointing at the table.
"Oh, Neville and I thought maybe a game of Chess would take your mind off… ah, so he had me dig out the chess board." Dan looked at her red puffy eyes and tear stained cheeks and wished he could make her feel better. "We also ordered some food from the Gryffinn, if that's OK with you."
"Yeah, that's fine. Whatever."
They passed the evening with Luna winning nearly every game. "Woo hoo! I'm making a killing here!"
Wow, is that clock right? It's almost 11:30? No wonder I'm so tired. Hermione, do you mind if we hit the road now?"
"No, go ahead, they won't even get there until sometime in the early morning. He'll call then."
"If he knows what's good for him. Oh- I have an idea- why don't the four of us go to dinner tomorrow night? One of the parents at school said he could get me a reservation at The Grange. I'm dying to go there; it's supposed to be so elegant. Come on Hermione, we'll get dressed up and get drunk in a nice place for a change."
"Luna, I don't know…"
"Sounds like a good idea to me, " Dan interjected. "Did you have plans?"
"Only to sit and stare at my phonel." Hermione had a few muggle devices and one was a cell phone….
"Well, he has your cell phone number; you made sure of that, like 57 times before he left, so there's no reason not to go. It'll be great. I've heard they make the best rack of lamb around. I'll call in the morning for the reservation, is 7 OK with everyone?" Luna was not going to allow her to refuse.
"OK, we'll meet you both up around 6:30." Neville pulled Hermione in for a hug and whispered "everything's going to be OK Mione, don't worry. Call in the middle of the night if you're upset, OK?"
"Thanks Neville; I'm sure I'll be OK. Thank you all for baby-sitting me tonight."
She hugged Luna and Neville goodbye, then began to clean up.
"Here, let me help you with that." Dan didn't want to leave her yet.
"Oh, it's OK; I'll just put them in the sink. I think I'll just have a read before I turn in
"Would you like to stay and talk for a while?" Did I just ask him to- oh, lighten up Hermione; she thought to herself. It was only a dream, over two weeks ago at that. You have enough to worry about without going completely neurotic about making conversation with someone now.
They sat close together on the couch. "It's been a good tonight", Dan remarked as he turned to smile at her. She was fighting to keep her eyes open, and she started a little at the sound of his voice. "Yeah" she mumbled before succumbing to fatigue again. Her head slowly fell to the left until it gently came down to rest on his shoulder.
At the contact fire shot through his body. He turned his head to breathe in her scent, and he slowly began to rub his cheek over the top of her head so he could feel her hair. Oh oh, he thought, I'd better get out of here now, before I do something I shouldn't. He lifted her head and eased himself off of the couch. He propped some pillows up in the corner and gently shifted her body until she was resting on them. Picking up her legs, he moved them onto the couch and removed her shoes, then he grabbed the thin cotton blanket from the back of the couch and covered her. Staring down at her, he couldn't help but smile; she looked so beautiful and innocent while she slept. I can't hold out much longer, he thought; the dam is going to break soon.