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Harry Potter and the End of Illusions	By : Christina_Potter_09 Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Harry/Hermione Views: 11159 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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- CHAPTER FOUR -

The Reunion of the Grangers

After Hermione’s and Ron’s fight the Burrow fell in the silence of the last days. Ron remained in his bedroom for the rest of the day. Ginny was always with George in his bedroom and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley kept trying to change Hermione’s and Harry’s minds about the trip. The two young people didn’t listen and when the two older Weasleys stopped trying Harry and Hermione moved in the backyard of the Burrow when the reporters had left for the day and Harry called Kreacher. The elf showed up and made a low bow.

‘Kreacher, please give me the money I asked you to take.’ Harry said and the elf conjured two purses from thin air and gave them to Harry along with the keys of the vaults. Hermione took hers from the elf and Harry did the same. The elf made another bow, satisfied with the execution of his masters’ orders.

‘Thank you, Kreacher, we don’t need you anymore, you can return in Grimmauld.’ Hermione said softly at the little elf it responded with another bow before leave with a loud crack. The two young friends looked at each other and smiled. They had both distanced themselves from the ones they supposedly wanted and now were ready to leave for another mission.

‘When you think we should go?’ Harry asked Hermione as they both put their purses in their cloaks’ pockets.

‘The sooner, the better.’ Hermione replied, they started walking around the backyard and silently decided to move up the small hill they had made their plan two days before. They sat down and caught their breaths, then Harry spoke first.

‘What about tomorrow? We can pack tonight.’ He suggested, Hermione looked at him, thinking for awhile and then nodded.

‘Sounds good to me, I have left many things in the Burrow which I didn’t carry with me, but I can pack everything tonight.’ She said and Harry nodded with his turn.

‘We can apparate to a muggle place or Heathrow straightly, take the next plane for Sydney and then go and find your parents in the addresses Kingsley gave to us. What you think?’ Harry asked and Hermione nodded again.

‘I think it’s a very good plan.’ Hermione replied shortly again and Harry knew she was nervous about the reunion with her parents.

‘I’m sure, they will be thrilled to see their only daughter again, Hermione, don’t worry.’ He said and Hermione looked at him a bit surprised, maybe because this time it was as he read her thoughts. She smiled a bit and nodded her head again.

Harry thought of Hermione’s parents and how he would feel if his child had changed his memory and sent him in another continent and then another question rose in his mind and felt his mind with guilt and embarrassment.

‘Hermione, what’s your parents’ true names? You never mentioned them.’ Harry said and Hermione looked at him even more surprised.

‘My father’s name is Edward and my mom’s Jane, I have my middle name after her.’ Hermione replied and sighted at the memory of her parents. ‘I haven’t called their names aloud in almost a year.’ She added and Harry reached and rubbed her back, trying to sooth her pain. A pain which soon would be over. ‘I’m happy the spells are still working on them, I don’t want them back as Grangers, all alone in Australia because their witch daughter changed their universe a year before.’ Hermione said and Harry could recognize the relief in her voice.

‘Of course the charms are still working, they have been cast by a brilliant witch.’ Harry said, making her smile and blush.

‘Thank you, Harry.’ Hermione said with a small smile. Harry returned it.

After a little more chat, just planning small details the two decided to return in the house and pack up everything they could need. Harry entered the room and to his bigger relief, Ron wasn’t there anymore. He moved close to his old track and opened it, thank Merlin, he had cleared up what he wanted a year before back in Privet Drive No 4 so now he had just to put his stuff inside with much more care.

He emptied it and immediately realized that something was missing, Hermione’s gift for his seventeenth was there, a sneakscope, Hagrid’s gifts were there but Harry realized the broken mirror of his Godfather, Sirius wasn’t in his belongings. He hadn’t threw it, he was sure. Frustrated he tried to remember where it could be, the second mirror was in Hog’s Head, but where was the first? He looked between his belongings again but it wasn’t there. He tried to ignore the sadness he felt because of the loss of his Godfather’s gift and picked everything back in his track, trying not to care about an old, broken mirror.

In his things he found Ron’s gift for his previous birthday. Twelve Fail-Safe Ways to Charm a Witch. He never read that book, he wasn’t good with books and as he realized he wasn’t that good with witches either so he shrugged and put the book in his track, mentally noting to read it one time, just to see what he’s doing wrong.

After a good hour of packing, Harry had packed everything up, clothes, quills, Dumbledore’s small golden Snitch, some old books he had kept. But his mind was still in the mirror. He couldn’t understand. He had it with him all the previous year. He had thought he was seeing Dumbledore through it even if this was his brother but he couldn’t remember throwing it or something. He sighted and decided to forget it for now. He changed his clothes and laid on his bed, not wanting to take dinner and face the Weasleys again. A tough day was ahead anyway and he needed to rest.

Some hours after. Harry was awake again, standing, trying to pick his last things silently as Ron was asleep as Harry could understand by his snores. He lifted his track and took it out of the room, closing the door with a small ache in his heart as he saw once more Hedwig’s cage on Ron’s tabletop. Being there for almost a year. The entire house was silent as everyone was asleep, it was very early but Harry wasn’t surprise when he saw Hermione sitting on a chair in the kitchen. Her own track and the purse she used the months during the Horcrux hunt close to her.

‘Good Morning,’ Harry murmured quietly not wanting to make noise. Hermione gasped in surprise but smiled and conjured a cup of tea, similar to her own in her hands.

‘Good Morning, Harry, I thought you were still sleeping.’ Hermione said as Harry sat close to her and took his cup, nodding his thanks.

‘I couldn’t sleep allot, I have nightmares to accompany me the nights.’ He said truthfully and Hermione smiled sympathetically.

‘I know what you mean.’ She said quietly and looked at her cup. Harry was sure Hermione had nightmares as well, probably of her torture in the Malfoy manor or the Hogwarts’ Battle.

‘So, we’ll apparate in Heathrow?’ Harry asked, wanting to change the subject. Hermione nodded.

‘I will apparate us, you can’t yet.’ Hermione pointed out a bit teasingly and Harry nodded smiling. They finished their tea with a small chat. Hermione cleaned the cups with a spell and then conjured a quill and a piece of parchment. Harry knew she would leave a kind of note to the Weasleys. She wrote the note and let it on the table, Harry looked at it and read the small note.

Thank you very much for everything.

We’ll be back as soon as possible.

Love

Harry Hermione

Hermione moved close to her belongings and made her track in pocket size and put it in her purse, she then did the same for Harry’s track and added it in her purse. In silence, they moved in the backyard, reporters weren’t there yet in Harry’s relief. Hermione looked around and then turned at him.

‘Hold on me very tight, it’s early for me and I don’t want to hurt us both.’ She said and Harry nodded, trusting her. He moved closer to her and wrapped his arms around hers, giving her space to do the aparation rightly. He immediately felt the familiar sensation of being squeezed through a pile and then landed on a hard floor with Hermione half on him, half on the floor. A cracking sound was heard and then Hermione groaned.

‘Why I’m packing them in my purse so carefully when I know they will screwed up in aparation.’ Hermione complained, referring her purse’s stuff.

Harry laughed and helped her on her feet. They looked around and found that they were very close to the airport, as Hermione said. Harry had never been there but he was sure Hermione knew better as she and her parents were traveling in France the last years.

They finally reached the huge building and entered it, they were both dressed as muggles so none gave attention at them. Harry partly enjoyed it. They moved close to the ticket-counter and bought two tickets for the next plane for Sydney which luckily was in twenty minutes. They waited as they looked around the airport, making sure none had recognized them. After the twenty minutes of waiting they moved with the rest of the passengers in the plane and found their seats with the help of an air-hostess in the “business class”. They ordered a more proper breakfast and started eating, talking about what they should do, trying not to mention words like “magic”, “spell” and “Death Eaters” in their chat.

After some more hours in their seats, Hermione was fast asleep with her head resting on Harry’s shoulders. He was silent as he knew his friend needed sleep as he did. He didn’t want to sleep thought. It was his first time in a plane and he wanted to enjoy the trip. He looked out of the window next to his seat. The sky up there, so many feet from the ground had white, blue and yellow colors. Harry looked at the sun and the clouds around it. How much he had missed his Firebolt, the feeling of happiness and freedom on it. Quidditch, a game he loved since he was a boy. Harry’s mind moved back in Hogwarts, did he want to return there? If not, what he wanted to do? He hadn’t asked what Hermione and Ron would do. Well, he was sure Mrs. Weasley would want Ron and Ginny finish their school but he didn’t know if Hermione wanted to leave her parents just months after the restore of their memories. But most of all, he didn’t know what he wanted, he didn’t want to go and live in Grimmauld, he also didn’t want to live in a flat alone or something. He had used to be accompanied by Ron and Hermione. But now, he didn’t know what damage this trip had made on his and Ron’s already fragile friendship and what Hermione’s plans were.

‘What are you thinking about?’ Hermione asked, he gasped and looked at her, her head was still on his shoulder but her eyes were open and focused on his.

‘The future.’ Harry answered and Hermione nodded against his body. ‘Hermione, what are you going to do after the summer?’ Harry added and felt Hermione sighting.

‘I will return in Hogwarts, I need to finish my education so I can decide about my profession. My parents will understand, I hope. They know how much my education means to me, but I won’t lose more time away from them. I’ll spend my holidays with them and of course the rest of the summer. I need to explain to them to catch up with their lives and vice versa.’ Hermione said quietly and Harry nodded his agreement and understanding.

‘I think I’ll return in Hogwarts too, I still want to be an Auror.’ Harry said and Hermione smiled.

‘You do?’ she asked.

‘Yes, I do, why?’ Harry asked back.

‘Well, being an Auror is a possibility in my list…’ Hermione commented and Harry sat and looked at her.

‘Really?’ he asked surprised but happy. He knew she could be a great Auror.

‘Yeah, it’s not final but I’m considering about it or being a Healer.’ She said a bit blushed. Harry smiled.

‘I’m sure you’ll be great in anything you decide.’ Harry commented and Hermione smiled and thanked him even more blushed.

After more hours in the same seats, chatting, sleeping, eating and planning. They were finally in Sydney. The weather there wasn’t the chilly summer they had left in England. Here is was very cold like in England during winter. Hermione looked at the address of her parents’ café and with harry moved in a small corner of the airport. Like before she apparated both of them. They were now standing right in front of a cozy café, filled with people. Harry looked at Hermione and squeezed her arm, showing her he was by her side. Hermione smiled weakly and together started walking closer.

They opened the door and the first who greeted them was Crookshanks who ran close to Hermione and jumped on her hug. Hermione hugged her pet and kissed his head as she started caressing the back of his neck and head. The cat looked at Harry and purred his welcome. Harry looked around and heard Hermione gasping as a woman in her forties, with curly not so bushy after time hair and warm beautiful eyes approached them surprised.

‘He never been so thrilled with some costumer.’ Mrs. Granger said, pointing at the cat. Harry looked at Hermione who was shocked at the sight of her mother after a whole year away from her. Harry knew she wanted to hug her mother but couldn’t yet. Harry nudged her arm softly and Hermione jumped on her feet with the cat still in her arms.

‘Uhmm- yeah, can we have two hot coffees, please?’ Harry asked as Hermione didn’t seem ready to talk to her mother. Mrs. Granger nodded smiling and gestured them to seat on the closest table. Harry drugged Hermione with him and helped her on a chair. “Caffeine will help us, we first have to wait until everyone leaves and then do what we have to do.’ Harry said but Hermione was looking at the bar. A tall man with brown and a bit grey hair and honey eyes was talking with another man and laughed at something. Hermione turned her head and smiled nervously at Harry, they seemed happy and Harry knew Hermione was scared to change all that. ‘Everything will be fine.’ He said and Hermione nodded reaching for his hand.

‘Thank you for being here, Harry.’ Hermione said smiling, a small tear escaping her right eye. Harry squeezed her hand and leaned and kissed her cheek, taking the lonely tear, returning the kiss she had gave him back at the end of their fourth year in King’s Cross.

‘Thank you for wanting me next to you.’ Harry replied, Hermione even taken aback smiled and nodded her head.

They stood there for long, waiting. When the last costumers where finally gone and Hermione’s parents were cleaning around, Harry and Hermione stood up and approached the bar. Mr. Granger smiled at the young people, probably thinking they would finally pay and leave. Mrs. Granger moved closer and looked at them smiling as well. Hermione looked at them nervously and then spoke.

‘Can I talk to you for some minutes?’ she asked and the couple nodded, Hermione nodded at Harry and he, with a wave of his wand behind his back locked the door of the café. Hermione took out her wand and before her parents have the time to react she started the complicate movement of her hand and released the spell. Both Harry and Hermione looked unsure the couple as they stood there with a blind expression on their faces. Then, slowly they turned and looked at their child. Crookshanks was watching with interest.

‘Hermione?’ Both Edward and Jane Granger said. Hermione nodded and her mother wrapped her arms around her child, Mr. Granger left the bar and moved close to his wife and daughter, joining the hug. Harry remained silent, giving time to the family, without realizing it, he was smiling, maybe for the first time in weeks, he was truly smiling. The Grangers left of each other after some long minutes. Hermione’s parents looked at her concerned.

‘I can explain you everything, I swear, I will.’ Hermione only said and her parents nodded. They all left the café and moved walking in a house close to the coastline. The Grangers’ house. They all moved inside and Hermione made tea for the four with her wand, Crookshanks sat close to her. With Harry, they started explaining what have happened the last year. The Grangers remained silent with the exception of Mrs. Granger trying to comfort her daughter when Hermione was loosing her self-control and left some tears to leave her eyes.

After more than four hours of explaining, apologizing and re-explaining, Harry and Hermione had finally said everything to Hermione’s parents at five o’clock in the morning. The couple looked at each other and then at Harry. He knew they had every right to be mad at him. Mr. Granger spoke first.

‘Well, I knew you were important in Hermione’s life. She was always talking for you when she was back at summers.’ He commented and Harry smiled at the blushed Hermione.

‘Without your daughter I wouldn’t be able to make it.’ Harry said and the couple nodded smiling proudly. After a few minutes in silence, Harry decided to leave the family alone for awhile. He excused him self and left the house, he moved to the sandy coastline and moved close to the water. The weather was much better and Harry realized he hadn’t seen the sea like this. He just stood there for awhile thinking and looking at first rays of sun’s lighting the sky.

It was true, without Hermione he would have never make it. Without Hermione, he wouldn’t be able to fulfill his destiny, to survive. His thoughts were interrupted by a hand on his shoulder. He turned and looked at Hermione, smiling at him. He smiled as well and wrapped his arm around her shoulders as he had done back in the graveyard in Christmas.

‘So…?’ Harry asked, giving her the chance to tell him.

‘They know a man who will help them sell the café and this house in just a few days, with the money they will buy a new house and a café in England, probably in Essex. They decided to change their lives once more, Harry.’ Hermione said smiling, Harry could hear the happiness in her voice.

‘I told you, Hermione. I knew they would.’ Harry said and rubbed her shoulder. She nodded against him. she looked up at him.

‘Thank you very much, Harry.’ Hermione said and Harry looked down at her happy face.

‘Hermione, you were always there for me, that was the least I could do for you.’ Harry said smiling, she nodded. Harry didn’t want to destroy her happiness but he had to ask her.

‘When we’ll be back, will you introduce Ron to them?’ he asked and Hermione looked at him again.

‘As what? I think they remember Ron.’ she asked.

‘As your boyfriend?’ Harry half-asked, half-replied.

‘No, Harry, I broke up with Ron, it wasn’t working.’ Hermione said and Harry felt stupid of bringing that now.

‘I’m sorry.’ He said, not wanting to see her crying again.

‘It’s ok, I guess I’m still best friend with Ron. It just, I couldn’t see him as the one who would make me happy. He tried, I know he did, but I always believed he could do more and more. And he had this stupid thing with comparing himself with other people and I couldn’t always try to chance his mind. He always thinks he is coming second, after his brothers, after—‘ Hermione’s voice trailed off but Harry knew what was the continue. Ron always believed he was second after his older brothers and him. Ron may wasn’t wrong but Harry couldn’t do something about that, he was Harry Potter and Ron was Ron Weasley. He couldn’t change facts.

Harry just nodded at Hermione and hugged her tighter with his arm.

‘I just can’t see him as someone able to do many things. I know he tries and I appreciate that. But even in my eyes, he will always be trying. I feel awful for saying that but that’s the truth. I knew he would try and maybe that was the thing which made me try with him. But I can’t anymore. Neither Ron I think. He is tired as well, of trying and not making it, of pretending and of course of fighting with me over everything.’ Hermione said and then just stood in Harry’s embrace. Harry thought about the things she said and saw she was right. He always believed those things for his two best friends. He always knew Hermione was looking for perfection and Ron was strangling with his ego and image to other people because of his friendship with Harry and relation with five more males.

Harry looked at Hermione and remembered his words to her parents. ‘You know, Hermione, I meant it, if it wasn’t you, I wouldn’t have make it.’ he said, trying to take her mind from her probably sad thoughts. She looked up at him again.

‘Harry you have made more than you’re claiming you have. You are a great person. I just tried to help you, and many times I didn’t make it like back in sixth year or when I tried to stop you in fifth year.’ She said and lowered her head, looking at the sea. Harry sighted and decided to talk to her about the one thing he hadn’t talk to anyone about.

‘When I left for the forest, the battle’s night, I faced Voldemort. He used the Avada on me, again, but I didn’t die. Hermione, I was one of the Horcruxes. I was the last one. He hit me but he destroyed his part of soul and not me. The moments or minutes I was—dead. I saw Dumbledore. I was in a white light and I just sat with Dumbledore and talked about many things. I know it sounds crazy but I’m just telling you what I saw. Dumbledore talked to me about many things and one of those was how much you helped me. How you kept me on the ground when I was trying to be the hero because of my heart. He didn’t even mention, Snape, which was good as you were always trying to make me think. He didn’t mention Ron or Ginny. He mentioned you.’ Harry finished not sure why he said all that, shocked, he realized he had tears in his eyes. After all those days, he had finally opened up, he let himself free. He started crying hard, not caring of crying in front of a girl, Hermione wasn’t just a girl, he knew.

Hermione hugged him tightly and let him sat slowly on the sand. Harry knelled on the sand and kept on Hermione. Now it was his breakdown, now everything he had been through had finally be out on words. He was happy he had finally said all those things. He was happy Hermione was the one to hear them, the one person who had been with him the most. He was happy that weight had left his chest and his mind finally allowed him to cry, to grief.

He didn’t know for how long he was there, in Hermione’s arms. He hadn’t cried in Godric’s Hollow, he hadn’t cried when he saw Nymphadora and Remus dead, when he had seen their son alone. He hadn’t cried in the funerals. All the tears which hadn’t escaped then, escaped now. He finally stopped and pulled a bit away. He looked at Hermione and realized she was crying as well. He then realized as well how beautiful woman she had became. He remembered her girly face when he saved her from the troll, the older face when they saved Sirius, the even older face, full in surprise and pain when Dolohov hit her with his curse and now, her beautiful face, full of tears because of his misery. He hugged her again, not knowing why he saw all that now. He didn’t care. Hermione was always there for him.

They stood in silence again, just keeping each other like they always did when the world crumbled around them. Making a new step on healing their souls.
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Harry Potter and the End of Illusions