Chapter 4 - The Aftermath
Hermione returned to the cottage after her appointment. Instead of taking the bus, she decided to walk home since it was a beautiful day and she needed to clear her head.
She still felt strange after leaving her parents' office. She wondered if she would ever get back the feeling of safety and comfort of being with her parents, secure in the knowledge that they loved her unconditionally and that she loved them back.
When she reached her street, she saw that Lucy was in the driveway washing her car.
Lucy looked up and waved to Hermione, so she approached her.
"Hermione, nice to see you again."
"Hi Lucy, washing your car?"
"Yeah, I like to keep it shiny. My boyfriend is due here this weekend, so I like to have it look nice for him."
"It's a nice car. I'm thinking of taking driving lessons while I'm here and renting one myself. I have a license but I haven't driven in a year or so."
"I could recommend a driving school around here - there's one in Bondi Junction, on Spring Street. I took some lessons there - they're pretty reasonable."
"Thanks for the tip, I'll check them out," Hermione replied.
"So where's Harry?" Lucy asked.
"I think he's still sleeping. I had an errand to run and I left him this morning."
"He seems like a nice guy…and not bad looking either," Lucy said, raising her eyebrows.
Hermione shrugged. "I suppose so."
"Hermione, I know I don't know you very well, and I hope you don't mind me asking, but what is the deal with you two? When I first met you the other day, I thought you guys were a couple."
"You're not the first to assume that, Lucy," Hermione replied. "People at our school often thought we were together. But we're not like that…Harry's like a brother to me."
Hermione winced inwardly as she realized she wasn't sounding very convincing.
"I bet you think that Harry would never fall for you - that's why you say that. I was like that with Ben when we first became friends. He had this girlfriend from home who was gorgeous and brilliant and I felt like a mouse next to her. But then she dumped him and then we started going out a couple of months later. "
Hermione's jaw dropped. "But you're a beautiful girl, Lucy. I don't know how you could ever think of yourself as a mouse. Harry couldn't stop staring at you."
Lucy blushed. "Thanks, Hermione. I bet you wished Harry would stare at you like that."
Hermione sighed. It was true - she did sometimes wish that Harry would look longingly at her like he did with Cho, Ginny and now Lucy.
"You know, you and I should go shopping together. I bet we could pick out some outfits that would make Harry's eyes pop out of his head!"
Hermione shook her head. "Oh, no Lucy, I don't want to wear anything that will make me feel uncomfortable. I've never liked short skirts or low cut tops. And at our school, we wore robes, so I'm used to being covered up."
"Hermione, you don't have to dress like that to get Harry's attention. We can just pick up a few outfits that will show off your figure. And maybe a bikini for the beach."
"Well, I don't know, I need to be frugal with money."
"No problem, I know a great little boutique in Bondi Junction and a girlfriend of mine works there. She would be happy to let us use her discount."
Hermione relented - she did after all need some new clothes. "Okay."
"Great - why don't we go tomorrow? Let me just call my friend to make sure she's working tomorrow. I'll give you a ring later to confirm."
"Sounds great, thanks."
Hermione continued on into the cottage. She dropped her bag on the couch and went to check up on Harry. She knocked on his bedroom door but heard no answer. She opened the door and saw that he was still asleep. She then looked at her watch, it was almost 11AM.
She decided to let him sleep some more, since technically he was on holiday and was about to close the door when she heard his groggy voice call her name.
"Hermione?"
"Yeah, it's me."
"Did you just get back?"
"Yes."
Harry reached for his glasses and turned on the light and motioned for her to sit. He was wearing a loose fitting t-shirt and boxer shorts.
Since there was nowhere else to sit but on the bed, Hermione sat down on the edge.
"So did you see your folks?"
"I saw my mum, she cleaned my teeth," Hermione said dryly.
"And that's all?"
"Pretty much," Hermione sighed. "She seems to have no idea that she is really Elizabeth Granger and that I'm her daughter. Although she did say I looked a little familiar. The story I put in their minds remains the same - they she and her husband Wendell are transplanted Brits in Australia."
Harry leaned over and squeezed Hermione's shoulder. "Well, look on the bright side, at least your memory charm has been working for a year now. Your magic is still strong."
Hermione chuckled and looked at Harry, with his trademarked crooked grin and unruly hair even wilder from bed head. He looked unbelievably sexy. She tried to shake that notion from her brain.
"I guess it worked a bit too well. I almost wish I had put a time limit on it, so it would eventually wear off." She sighed again. "Honestly, Harry, I have no idea when I can reverse the charm."
"Well, no time will be a good time. But I think the longer you wait, the worse it will be."
"I know. But I really want to see my dad, too. I wish I could make another appointment but I've already had my teeth cleaned."
"But I haven't," Harry suggested. "Why don't I make an appointment with your dad and you can come with me?"
"Harry, have you ever been to a Muggle dentist?"
"Yeah, the Dursleys used to take me. I think they took pleasure in it. Although, I never had a cavity or anything like that, unlike Dudley whose teeth were rotting from sweets. I think magic made my teeth strong."
"So you know what to expect. Going to the dentist isn't a pleasurable experience for most people."
"I know, but you want to see your dad, and I'm not really doing anything else here, so why not?"
"Okay," Hermione agreed. "Thanks for doing this."
"I'll call them and see if I can make an appointment for tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? I can't go tomorrow."
Harry raised his eyebrows. "Why, have you made plans?"
"Yeah, I ran into Lucy, and she invited me to go shopping with her. She wants to buy a new dress for when her boyfriend visits, so she asked me for help."
"So you're spending girl time together," Harry said, a bit disdainfully.
"What's wrong with that?" Hermione asked.
"Nothing, you just never struck me as the girly type who likes to go shopping and gossip with her girlfriends."
"I am not girly or gossipy, Harry!" Hermione replied indignantly. "She just wanted some company, that's all. And you're just jealous that she asked me and not you."
"Believe me I would love to spend some time with Lucy, but not on a shopping trip, that would be a little weird."
"Yeah, it would," Hermione changed the subject. "So why don't you call and make an appointment with my dad for next Monday. Tomorrow is Friday and they're closed on the weekends."
"Okay, I'll make the call this afternoon," Harry paused. "So what are we doing for the rest of the day?"
"I think I'm going to sign up for a driving lesson. Lucy recommended a driving school in Bondi Junction."
"Sounds good, I think I'll go with you. I want to sign up too, for my learners' permit. Might as well learn something while I'm here."
Hermione sighed again, thinking about her parents. She was certainly going to learn a lot in the coming weeks. Harry noticed that she looked a bit melancholy, so he moved closer and put his arm around her, giving her a gentle squeeze.
"It'll be okay, Hermione."
Hermione felt a shiver go up her spine. She was not used to Harry initiating affection - that was usually her job. But she knew that his intentions were only brotherly, at least for now.
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The following day, Hermione and Lucy went shopping at the Funky Femme, a boutique in Bondi Junction. Lucy introduced Hermione to her childhood friend Sarah, who worked there during the summer months, and offered to ring up any purchases with her employee discount.
Hermione felt ill at ease as she perused the brightly lit shop filled with trendy fashions. She was dressed in a loose fitting t-shirt, walking shorts and sneakers.
Lucy and Sarah led Hermione around the shop, all the while thinking that she thought that she would never be caught dead or alive wearing some of the clothing she saw. There were lots of tube tops, skimpy camisoles and miniskirts.
"What do you think of this, Hermione?" Lucy asked, as she held up a sundress printed with tiny cherries all over it. "I bet Harry would like this on you."
Hermione shook her head. "Oh, I don't know, Lucy."
"Just try it on, it might look great on you," Sarah urged. "If you don't like it, you don't have to buy it."
"Yeah, if you don't like it, I might buy it," Lucy said. "I do need a dress for my date with Ben tomorrow night."
"Where is he taking you?" Sarah asked.
"He said it was a surprise, but that he's taking me somewhere nice."
"So you try it on first," Hermione said. "You need it more than I do."
"No, you try it first, Hermione."
Sarah took the dress into a fitting room and then returned to where the girls were looking at some jeans.
"Oh, these jeans would look great on you," Lucy said, pointing at a pair of designer jeans in dark denim.
She continued on, playing personal shopper to Hermione and ignoring her protests. A few minutes later, the dressing room was full of outfit options to try on.
Hermione entered the dressing room with trepidation. She would've never picked out these clothes on her own. She felt silly thinking that Harry would need to see her in these trendy outfits to see her in a different way.
Hermione closed her eyes and thought about the Yule Ball, which was more than four years ago. She remembered the pleasant rush of feeling when Viktor Krum looked at her appreciatively that night in her periwinkle blue dress robes. She also remembered that Harry seemed to be watching her quite a bit that night. At the time, she thought nothing of it, perhaps brotherly concern, but maybe he was watching her because this was a new side of her hadn't seen before. Hermione wanted to feel that way again.
She tried on the cherry print dress, which actually fit her very nicely. It clung to all the right places without looking too revealing. When she exited the fitting room to show Lucy and Sarah, they both smiled approvingly.
"See, I could tell you had a nice figure, Hermione," Lucy exclaimed. "It's been hidden under these shapeless t-shirts!"
"That dress looks great on you!" Sarah agreed. "And I'm not just saying that so you will buy it."
"But I have no place to wear it," Hermione protested, half-heartedly.
"Sure you do," Lucy said. "I'm going to have a party next weekend - you and Harry are invited."
Hermione tried to visualize wearing the dress to Lucy's party and having Harry look at her appreciatively.
"Okay, I'll take it," she said.
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Later that afternoon, Lucy took Hermione to a local diner to grab a bite to eat and review their purchases.
"I can't believe I spent all that money," Hermione groaned, looking at her receipt from the Funky Femme. Even with Sarah's discount, she had spent quite a bit, more than she had ever spent on clothes before.
"But, it's worth it. You're worth it, Hermione," Lucy reminded her. "That dress was made for you and that other outfit you bought - the jeans and the lacy camisole with that jacket are adorable. And don't forget the bikini and those cute sandals."
"Do you really think Harry will like them?"
"Of course. But the important thing is that you look great in those outfits and will bring you more confidence. Harry will definitely respond to that." Lucy said. "When I buy myself a new outfit - I tell people I'm buying it for my boyfriend, but I'm really doing it for myself. I just like the way I feel when I look good, and Ben definitely appreciates that."
"Well that dress you bought was amazing on you, Lucy."
"Thanks. I'm looking forward to wearing it on our date tomorrow night. Of course if I'm lucky, I won't be wearing it for very long," Lucy said lasciviously.
Hermione blushed.
"Sorry, too much information, right?" Lucy asked, noticing Hermione's face.
Hermione shook her head. "No, it's okay." She paused and lowered her voice. "If you don't mind me asking, was Ben your first?"
Lucy shook her head. "Oh, no. I lost my virginity when I was 16, to my high school boyfriend. I wish I had waited though - I wasn't really ready. Of course at the time I thought I was, but we broke up a couple of months later and I regretted it. In fact, I wish I had waited for Ben. I'm much more prepared now, and Ben is amazing. I really think he could be the one."
"Really?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah, I just feel so comfortable around him. I can totally be myself and he accepts me, flaws and all. And I accept him, too. Ben's not perfect, but he's got a great heart and he's caring and sensitive."
"You're really lucky," Hermione sighed.
"I feel lucky and grateful. But so should you. Harry seems like a great guy."
"He is," Hermione agreed. "He's been so supportive of me lately, more than he's been in the past. You see, for almost as long as I've known him, Harry was going through a very rough time at school and he leaned on me through most of it. I always felt like I gave and gave to him, but that he took me for granted most of the time. Not that I minded, because he had a lot on his mind. But now, it's like our roles are reversed and I'm the one leaning on him."
"That sounds like a good foundation for a long lasting relationship," Lucy said. "The fact that it seems that you've been there for each other through rough times means that you have a deep bond. I'm envious of that."
"Yeah, but when you've been friends as long as Harry and I, we tend to get stuck in our perception of each other. I'm almost certain that Harry thinks of me as a sister and it's very difficult for him to see me in another way. It's only recently, that I've even allowed myself to entertain those thoughts."
"Has he had other girlfriends?"
Hermione nodded. "Yeah, he's had two. One didn't last too long, but the other was the sister of his best friend, who I briefly dated."
"Wait, you dated Harry's mate's sister?"
Hermione laughed. "Oh no, Lucy! I dated Harry's best friend, Ron. He has a younger sister named Ginny, who Harry was kind of serious with."
"The plot thickens," Lucy said. "You must've made an interesting foursome."
"It's funny, Ginny had a long standing crush on Harry since she was a kid. And then two years ago, Harry suddenly started to notice her. They were off and on for the past two years but right now they are kind of off."
"Well the fact that Harry is here with you in Australia speaks volumes to me. If he wanted to be with this Ginny girl at all, would he be here?"
"I suppose not," Hermione agreed. "I think Harry is over her - he changed a lot in the past year and I think she's still in the same place."
"Does Harry have a type?" Lucy asked. "You know, are there certain types of girls who he likes?"
"Oh yeah, girls with long shiny hair who play Quid…, I mean girls who are athletic," Hermione said, motioning towards Lucy. "I mean, Harry was immediately drawn to you....sometimes I think if I straightened my hair and started playing sports, Harry would notice me."
"But that's not who you are Hermione. You shouldn't change who you are for a guy to like you.'
Hermione snorted, "Yeah right, and didn't I just spend a couple of hundred of dollars on clothes so a boy would like me?"
Lucy laughed. "Didn't you listen to what I said before? We're not changing who you are, Hermione. We're just showing Harry a better version of you. And you liked yourself in those outfits and they didn't make you uncomfortable did they?"
Hermione shook her head. "No, I suppose not. I guess I'm just clueless when it comes to attracting the opposite sex."
"What about Ron?" Lucy asked.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Ron and I were a disaster. We've been Harry's best friends since our first year at our school. But we bickered constantly - about silly things really. Along the way, Ron started to fancy me but never knew how to treat me nicely."
"Ah - the typical boy likes girl but he pulls her hair instead of being nice?"
"Yeah, that was us. I suppose I gave him a shot because he did start being nice to me and I never thought Harry would want me, so I kissed him."
"You kissed him?" Lucy asked in surprise. "That was pretty aggressive of you."
"Well, I suppose I was caught up in the moment, and Ron was never the forward type when it came to girls, so…but it turned out that kissing Ron really was like kissing a brother."
"Well at least you found out. Does he still fancy you?"
"I think he does. We kind of had a fight before I left England. Ron seemed jealous that I was going on holiday with Harry and not him."
"Well, like I said before, it speaks volumes about your relationship if you both left your significant others behind to go on holiday together. Now all I have to do is help you and Harry get together, once and for all."
"Lucy, are you playing cupid?"
"Yes, I am. I see two great people who just need a little push in the right direction. Now you have the dress, I'll set up the party next weekend and I hope that a little magic is going to happen at the party with you and Harry. If only had a wand…."
Hermione nearly choked on her water when she heard that.
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The following week seemed to drag as Hermione waited in anticipation of Lucy's party. She tried not to focus on her growing attraction to Harry and concentrate on a strategy for restoring her parents' memories.
Harry wound up making an appointment with Hermione's father for a cleaning, which was pretty uneventful except for the fact that Dr. Wilkins seemed very interested that Harry came from England. He was missing his home country and wanted to move back.
When Harry shared this information with Hermione that evening over dinner at their cottage, she was surprised.
"My mum said that she likes it here, she enjoys the weather. I wonder if she knows how my dad feels."
"Or maybe your dad senses that something isn't right and they really don't belong here."
"Well, for a second, I thought that Dr. Wilkins recognized me. He said I looked a little familiar but couldn't place me."
"That's what my mum said, too."
"Hermione, do you have any idea yet, what you're going to do?"
"I`ve been thinking about it. First of all, I have to be present in order perform the spell. I'm lucky that it's a non-verbal, but I do need to use my wand. So I can't do it in a public place, nor do I want to do it at their office. I think I'm going to have to pay them a visit."
"What are you going to do - when they open the door, hit them with the spell?" Harry asked.
"No, of course not," Hermione replied. "I think I need to talk with them first, explain who I really am and why I'm here."
"What if they don't believe you?"
"Well, then I'll have to do the recovery spell, and they'll have to."
"I don't envy you, Hermione," Harry said patting her hand lightly. "But if anyone can do this, it's you."
"Thanks," Hermione said, sighing. She looked nervously at Harry. "So, I've been meaning to tell you, Lucy invited us to a party this weekend."
"She did? When?"
"She mentioned it a couple of days ago when we went shopping."
"Ah yes, the mysterious shopping trip, the one where you refused to show me what you bought."
"I thought you weren't into girly things, Harry."
"I'm not, it's just that you were a bit vague when I asked you how it went. So anyway, this party - what's the occasion?"
"None really, I think she just wanted to celebrate summer with her boyfriend and her friends."
"Did she say if she's inviting any girls or just the blokes she surfs with?"
"Well, I know she's inviting her friend Sarah, the one from the shop we went to, but she has a boyfriend, I think. I'm not sure who else."
"Well, I hope she invites some single girls, because frankly, I'm getting a little bored."
"Are you really bored, Harry?" Hermione asked, feeling a little offended.
"To be honest, yeah. I mean, I like sleeping `til noon, cooking and helping you out, but I'd like to have a little fun while I'm here."
"What about those driving lessons?" Hermione reminded him. "Weren't you interested in applying for a learner's permit?"
"Yeah, but don't I have to take an exam?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Yes, Harry you will have to study the driving handbook and take a test. They will not let you behind the wheel unless you pass."
"And you'll help me study, right?"
"Of course, why should anything change?" Hermione said, a bit irritably and pushed her plate away. "I think I'm going to take a walk."
Harry looked a little perplexed. "Was dinner okay?"
"It was fine, I just need some air."
"Do you want company?"
"No, that's okay, I just have a lot on my mind."
Hermione grabbed a sweater and went to take a walk. She found herself heading towards the beach. She took off her shoes and walked on the sand, which was cold in the night air. She felt tears of frustration sting her eyelids. She was getting impatient that things weren't going her way yet with Harry and her parents.
She wondered if Harry was ever going to see her as something other than his bookworm best friend, and she also wondered if she was ever going to have a great relationship with her parents again. She missed them terribly and wanted them back in her life.
Hermione was so preoccupied with her thoughts that she almost tripped over a pair of lovers making out on a blanket.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" Hermione exclaimed, embarrassed. "I didn't see you."
"Hermione?" A familiar voice said. It was Lucy and a guy Hermione presumed was her boyfriend.
"Oh, Lucy, I'm so sorry."
"No worries," Lucy said, as she adjusted her top. "Hermione, this is Ben."
"Nice to meet you," Ben said, clearly embarrassed as he hastily stood up on the blanket.
Hermione took in his appearance in the moonlight. He was tall and lean with dark hair similarly cut like Harry's (but less untidy). He was definitely good-looking but in an unassuming way. She could see why Lucy would be attracted to him.
"What are you doing out here on your own tonight?" Lucy asked.
"I needed some air." Hermione explained.
"Did you and Harry have a row?"
Hermione shook her head. "Not really, he was just getting on my nerves. Anyway, I should leave you two alone."
"Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?" Lucy asked.
Hermione shrugged uncomfortably. She really didn't want to talk about her boy troubles in front of Lucy's boyfriend, but he chimed in.
"Yeah, maybe I could help. You know, give you a guy's perspective."
Hermione sighed and sat on the blanket and Lucy and Ben followed.
"Well, it's about your party, Lucy. I don't think Harry wants to be my date. When I mentioned your party, he started asking me if there would be any single girls there. He says he's bored and wants to have some fun, preferably with a girl who isn't me."
"Hermione, did you ask Harry to be your date to the party?" Ben asked.
Hermione shook her head.
"Well that's it then. If Harry doesn't know that you're interested in him, of course he's going to be interested in other girls. You need to let him know."
"But what if he says no? Things will be very awkward between us for the rest of our holiday."
"And what makes you so sure he'll say no?" Lucy asked.
"Because - he's treating me like he always does - the bookworm who will help him with his homework. He's going for his learner's permit and wants me to help him study for his written exam."
"So what?" Ben asked. "Lucy and I study together all the time. And sometimes we actually open our textbooks!"
Hermione chuckled at Ben's comment wistfully. If only things were like that between herself and Harry.
"Seriously, Hermione." Lucy said. "What have you got to lose? Just be casual about it, don't make a big deal."
"But what if he wants to go as friends?" Hermione asked.
"Then go as friends…for now. Things can change. Remember, Ben and I were friends before we got together. And that dress will make Harry see you differently. And I'm inviting my surfer friends - they're really nice guys. Maybe if Harry sees you flirting and having fun with other guys, it might open his eyes."
"Will you be inviting any single girls?" Hermione asked. "What if Harry finds somebody he wants to flirt with?"
"Actually, I don't have any single girlfriends, Hermione…except for you of course."
Suddenly, Hermione felt a lot better.
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