Disclaimer: don't own.
That's what happened so far:
"Mum, look, I've found that on our doorstep!" a small voice said…
On with the story…
THTHTH
Hermione looked at her younger daughter. She was holding a small parcel in her hands. "It's addressed to Tom." Hermione said, looking at the brown package. "Go on, Mum, open it." Angelique said with a grin on her face.
Hermione gave her daughter a shushing look. "Look, I am NOT allowed to open it. It is addressed to your father." Hermione smiled at her.
"But I wanna know what's in it." Angelique gave a pout.
"No, it's your father's." Hermione said and put the package onto Tom's part of the table. She had been a goody-goody Gryffindor at all.
"Look, Doxy will take care of you. I have to go to work. Gringotts has banned the possibility to apparate there. I'll have to take the Knight Bus." Hermione scowled. "Poor Mom." Angelique said sympathetically.
"I'll survive it." Hermione said in a strained voice. She absolutely hated travelling by Knight Bus.
She had just finished getting ready.
Her breath stopped.
What WAS her daughter doing? Hadn't she taught them any manners?
"Angelique! What do you THINK you are doing?" Hermione screeched, glaring at her daughter.
"Oops." Angelique went beet-red and let the parcel fall. She looked guiltily at her mother.
"It's your fathers. Why did you open it?" Hermione was really furious.
"I wanted to know what was in it. I was curious." Her daughter had such a guilty look on her face that Hermione almost had to laugh out loud.
"Never do that again in the future!" she said to her daughter.
But then she saw the content of the parcel.
Hermione gasped. A shudder ran down her spine. And she thought she would faint.
She quickly grabbed the small black leather-bound book and set fire to it.
"Hey!" Angelique squeaked indignantly when she saw that there were only smouldering black ashes on the kitchen table.
"It was better! For his sake." Hermione said still shakily.
THTHTH
Hermione arrived at Gringotts a bit later than expected. She was still in shock.
She had just destroyed Tom Riddle's Diary.
And she knew one thing. She would never let it happen. No Horcrux. Not even the temptation. For that she loved him too much.
This morning, she was sitting behind the counter, when a mother with two girls walked inside. One of the girls had long, curly black hair and the other one pale skin, and long white blonde hair. They reminded Hermione of someone, but she couldn't quite place them.
"Good morning." the lady said in a bored tone.
"Good morning. How can I help you?" Hermione asked friendlily.
"I would like to make a withdrawal." the lady said, pulling out a key of her pocket.
"Mum, I don't wanna go down there. I hate these rides." the little black-haired girl cried. "Nonsense, you'll come with me." the lady said strictly. "But they always make me sick. I can't stand them." the girl pouted.
"It's no problem." Hermione said as she handed the goblin (who took the customers to their vaults) their key. "She can stay with me while you are down there."
"Thank you so much!" the lady smiled for the first time and she and her other daughter were ushered away by the goblin.
The little girl smiled at Hermione gratefully. "Thank you, Madam." she said in a small voice. "No problem at all. I hate those vaults myself." Hermione smiled.
"Would you like anything to drink? A cup of tea, perhaps?" Hermione offered. She had been about to make one for herself anyway.
"Yes please." the little girl said, her eyes alight with happiness.
"Come with me then." Hermione grinned, taking her hand.
When the two of them were sitting in the reception area, drinking their hot tea, Hermione looked at the girl – she seemed so familiar. "What's your name?" she asked her.
"Oh, where are my manners? My name is Bellatrix Black!" the girl smiled apologetically at Hermione.
Hermione didn't smile back. She was shocked. No, it couldn't be. THIS sweet little girl was going to be a cruel, vile woman who murdered hundreds of innocent lives? THIS little girl?
"Anything wrong?" Bellatrix asked, placing a small hand on Hermione's left arm.
"No no…" Hermione swallowed, putting a smile on her face.
"Okay." Bellatrix sat back in her chair, still smiling.
'She hasn't done anything yet. And since I came back, she probably will not.' Hermione reminded herself and looked considerably happier at that thought.
"So, do you attend Hogwarts?" she asked the girl.
"I will, next year!" she smiled happily. "I can't wait."
"So, you will probably go to school with my daughter. You will be in the same year!" Hermione smiled.
"Oh really? That would be so exciting. What's her name?"
"Angelique."
"That's a beautiful name." Bellatrix said in awe. "My sister also has a beautiful name… whereas mine." she sighed.
"Bellatrix IS a beautiful name." Hermione shook her head. It was true. She liked that name despite the fact that it held awful memories.
"Really?" Bellatrix asked and her eyes were alight with fire.
"Yes, of course. What's your sister's name?" Hermione asked although she already knew the answer.
"Narcissa." Bellatrix answered with a scowl on her face.
"Thank you SO much for taking care of my daughter." the mother of Bellatrix had returned.
"No problem at all." Hermione smiled.
"Mum, why don't we invite the nice for the garden dinner party on Saturday? She can bring her daughter along – she will also be attending Hogwarts." Bellatrix cried out happily.
"You've got a daughter who will be attending Hogwarts next year?" the lady asked surprised.
"Yes, she will." Hermione answered a bit uncomfortably.
"That's lovely. Why don't you come along on Saturday? You can also bring your daughter and your husband!" the lady said smiling a bit, and scribbling down her address.
THTHTH
Hermione looked at the piece of paper in awe. 'Grimmaulds Place 12'. Sirius' Home. Of course, she remembered it. And that 'awful' woman must have been his aunt – Bellatrix mum, however, seemed really pleasant at that time.
"That's what my wonderful wife does, during work – getting invitations for dinner parties – and I have to deal with this utmost incompetent new Minister – Cornelius Fudge is such an airhead." Tom shook his head.
"He is not that bad." Hermione pulled a face.
Tom gave her a quelling look. "You don't know him as well as I do."
"That's true. But don't forget that he is invited tonight as well." Hermione said as she applied mascara.
"You are kidding!" Tom looked at her in shock.
"No, I'm not. So be nice. You might even get a promotion." Hermione smiled.
"Very well." Tom grinned a planted a wet kiss on Hermione's lips who smiled back.
"Who else will be there?"
"The Malfoys, The Lestranges, and Fudges… and obviously some people we don't know YET." Hermione said.
"Good. Connections." Tom said, clapping his hands together.
"Angelique, darling, are you ready?" Hermione called upstairs for her daughter.
"Two more minutes." Angelique called back.
"Okay okay." Hermione and Tom sat down on their sofa.
"You don't know how often I have to say that – but you changed my life to the better. And I'm so glad that I've got you. And Hermione dear, I love you." Tom smiled at his wife lovingly.
"I love you too, my darling." Hermione said, kissing him deeply.
"Ewwww, that's so gross!" Angelique was standing in the doorway, making a jokingly angry face.
"Let's go." Hermione muttered, embarrassed, whereas Tom just threw back his head and laughed.
THTHTH
Hermione became good friends with Agatha, Abraxas' wife this evening and surprisingly enough Tom and Fudge got along perfectly. 'Not a Slytherin for nothing.' Hermione thought admiringly, sipping the strawberry cocktail, Mrs Black had served her.
That's how Hermione's life went on.
She had a perfect marriage with Tom. She had two sweet kids, who were both sorted into Slytherin surprisingly enough. Hermione loved her job at Gringotts. She was good friends with Mrs. Black and Mrs. Malfoy as well as with Mrs. Snape (Eileen) and they invited each other to tea one day per week.
Hermione, however, also knew that there would be a time, when she had to go back to Hogwarts and see what would have become of her – if she had still stayed in that period of time.
She knew that Lucius and Narcissa had a son, called Draco. Of course. Bellatrix married Rabastan Lestrange and unfortunately their child died only weeks after it was born. Hermione's son Aleksandr became a dragon tamer and moved to Bulgaria and married a beautiful witch called Anastasia. Their child (Hermione's and Tom's grandchild) was a little blonde-haired witch called Mascha. She went to Durmstrang and was the sweetest thing, Hermione had ever seen.
She sighed.
Her daughter, Angelique, had stayed in England, very close to them. She was a model in the muggle-world– and very successful… she had a loose relationship with another model – a muggle. But no children.
Today she would visit Hogwarts.
'Harry and Ron must be in their 4th year.' Hermione thought, looking up at the castle with apprehension. So much time had passed.
"Mrs. Riddle." Dumbledore said genially as he pushed open the doors. "Headmaster Dumbledore." Hermione inclined her head. "Would you care to have a glass of wine?" he asked, his eyes twinkling.
"Yes please." Hermione looked down at her fingers. She desperately wanted to see Harry and Ron. But they wouldn't know her.
"What about Harry and Ron? Can I see them?" she asked Dumbledore in a quavering voice. "Yes, you can." he smiled. "But they won't know me?!" she said. "They won't. But you can still talk to them."
Half an hour later, after merrily talking to Dumbledore, two young boys appeared in the headmaster's study. One with messy black hair and the other one with red flaming hair. Hermione turned around and smiled a sad smile.
"Headmaster, you wanted to see us?" Harry said a quizzical look at Hermione.
"Yes, indeed. Mr. Potter, you were interested in learning about Gringotts. This lady attended Hogwarts together with your grandfather. And YOUR grandfather, Mr. Weasley. And she worked in Gringotts afterwards." Dumbledore told them.
"Wow, you went to school with my grandfather?" Harry gasped at Hermione.
She smiled kindly at the two young boys. "Yes, I did."
"Were you good friends with my grandfather as well?" Ron asked, his mouth open.
"Actually, not really no. I didn't get along with your grandfathers. They hated everyone from Slytherin." Hermione said a bit sadly. "Oh, you were a Slytherin?" Harry asked his eyes wide.
"Yes. Harry, look, Slytherin might have a bad reputation, but it is just a house like every other. Besides, Slytherin values resourcefulness and ambition, whereas Gryffindor values bravery." she explained.
"That's true, actually. By the way, the hat almost placed me into Slytherin!" Harry said.
"Bloody Hell." Ron exclaimed, looking at Harry in awe and Hermione had to laugh out loud. Those two hadn't changed one bit…
THTHTH
"So, how was it like, seeing your old friends again?" Tom asked, bringing Hermione a cup of tea. They were sitting outside in the garden, Hermione wrapped in Tom's arms, watching the sunset.
"It was okay. But I'm glad I came back for you." she said quietly. Tom looked at her with loving eyes. "So am I." and he kissed her.
They both knew that Hermione had to make sacrifices but for the better…
And they lived happily ever after…
THTHTH
Sorry, I just had to add that last sentence ;).
I hope you liked my story. If you are interested, I am still writing another story… "A rose in frozen water." a Draco/Ginny fic.
So, that's the end then. Hope you liked it.
Ekaterina.