RUNNING TO HOME
CHAPTER 1: The Decision
(AN: Most of the major characters are still alive in this story. Many thanks to my beta Maui.)
Three months. It had been three months since the end of the Second War between Lord Voldemort and Harry Potter. But it had been much longer since Hermione Granger had seen her parents. One year, five months, 12 days, 4 hours, 45 minutes and 13 seconds to be exact. That was the exact moment when she sent them to live in Australia, ensuring their protection from Voldemort. Not only had she sent them to live in Australia, but she also erased any memory of the knowledge of their witch daughter. It was tearing Hermione up to know that her parents didn't even know about their daughter, but she knew that it was the best way to protect them in a war where the enemy didn't discriminate between their opponents and the innocent bystanders.
Hermione sat alone on a rock near the lake at Hogwarts. She was contemplating the end of the war and how she would tell her parents of her existence. It was a beautiful clear day, much different from that during the war. To see a day like this seemed much more amazing now that she really had time to stop and appreciate it.
Suddenly, a twig broke and Hermione's reflexes went into overdrive. She grabbed her wand and spun to face the intruder, wand pointed right in his face. It was only Harry she discovered once she took the time to look properly.
"Hey 'Mione. Sorry I scared you." Harry said softly.
"You didn't," she said quickly.
"What are you doing here?" he asked her after she dropped her wand to her side.
"Just thinking about my parents. I'm going to Australia to bring them home. I was just thinking about the best way to do it."
"Have you decided?"
"I'm going to go there by plane. I might even stay for a while. You know, to get away from everything." Hermione whispered. There was a pregnant pause before Hermione continued in an even softer voice than before. "I broke up with Ron."
"Why?"
'We just weren't working. We fight all the time. I thought that it would end with the war, but it's just gotten worse. So I told him I had had enough and I was leaving him. And you know what?"
"No. What?" Harry asked curiously.
"He laughed at me. He thought I was joking. He told me that I would never have the balls to leave him. He said that he was the only one who would have such a Know-It-All like me. That no-one else would love me but him." Hermione's voice caught in her throat.
She looked at Harry. A look of anger crossed his face before he masked it. There was silence before Harry spoke.
"It must run in the family then. Ginny said the same thing when I told her that we weren't getting back together. She's been hounding me everyday about when I was going to take her on a date. I never knew that the Weasleys' could be so controlling. I mean, it isn't just Ginny, its Molly too. She thinks Ginny and I are going to get married. Same with you and Ron. I think that she's already planning the weddings." Harry told her with an angry tone in his voice. "I think your holiday idea sounds good. God knows we deserve it."
"Then come with me, Harry. Come with me to Australia. We won't be gone long enough to worry everyone, but it will still be a break." Hermione said.
"You're brilliant you know, Hermione? I'd love to come with you." Harry said with a smile. There was another short silence before Harry spoke again.
"And you know what, Hermione?" Harry asked her.
"No, what?"
"Anybody would be extremely lucky to have you as a girlfriend." Harry said to her seriously.
"Really?"
"Really, Hermione. Anybody would be extremely lucky to have you." Harry told her.
"Oh, and would that include you by any chance?" she said jokingly.
"Yes," whispered Harry.
Hermione's eyes widened at Harry's answer. "How long?"
"Second year. When the basilisk petrified you. Fifth year just made me realize exactly how much I needed and loved you." Harry told her.
Hermione sighed, "Third year. When you tried to distract Lupin from Sirius."
"We really are blind idiots, you know." Harry said with a small laugh.
"Don't I know it. We subjected ourselves to the Weasleys' when we could have been together." Hermione said.
"I was never good at this, but does that mean we're together?" Harry asked hopefully.
"Yes." Hermione nodded, leaning forward and placing a small kiss on Harry's lips. "Hurry up and go and pack your things. Don't let anyone else know what you're doing. I don't want them to know until we are too far gone for them to stop us." Hermione told Harry.
"I'll meet you in the Entrance Hall at midnight." Harry said.
"Yes. We'll have to spend the day in Diagon Alley tomorrow. You have to let the bank know about our holiday and maybe transfer your money to an Australian bank. Just while we are there. When we leave you can just transfer it back." Hermione said.
"That sounds great. I'll be ready. See you tonight." Harry said, kissing her softly on the lips before he left to go and pack his bags.
It was ten minutes to midnight and Harry had just found his way to the Entrance Hall. He softly called out for Hermione and watched her step out from behind a statue.
"All set?" Hermione asked him.
"Yes, you?" Harry answered.
"Of course." Hermione replied. "Now we're going to have to walk out the gate that leads to Hogsmeade and Apparate from there."
"Good. Let's go." Harry replied.
Ten minutes later the couple arrived in Diagon Alley. They decided to check and see if the bank was open and to their luck it was. The pair walked through the entrance doors and to the nearest goblin-occupied desk. Harry recognized the goblin at the desk immediately.
"Good morning Griphook." Harry said.
The goblin was shocked by fact that a wizard could distinguish who the goblin was and remember his name.
"Well, well Mr. Potter. What can I do for you in the early hours of this day?" Griphook asked curiously.
"I wish to transfer the money in my vault to one in Australia for a period of time," Harry stated. "Unless there's some other method to obtain money from my vault while I'm overseas?"
"Of course there is, Mr. Potter."
"Really?" Harry said.
"Yes, Mr. Potter. The goblins have recently designed a wallet that allows a wizard to access his money from anywhere in the world. It also automatically turns wizarding money into muggle money when needed. The wallet will never empty so long as you don't run out of money. This comes to a small price to the richer customers." Griphook explained.
"Well then, I believe that I would like that. And may I compliment the goblins for such an invention." Harry said.
"Your compliment is accepted graciously. Here is your new wallet Mr. Potter. And may your travels see you well." Griphook said as he gave Harry the wallet. "The money will automatically be taken out of the vault so you are now free to go. I hope to see you when you return Mr. Potter."
Harry bid the goblin farewell and then took Hermione's hand and led her out of the bank. "Well, now we can either go to the Leaky Cauldron for the night or we can go straight to the airport. It's up to you." Harry told Hermione.
"I want to go straight to the airport. By morning, the others will have noticed that we're missing and will probably check the Leaky Cauldron for us. It's best if we leave now." Hermione said.
"Alright, let's go then." Harry said as the couple Apparated into a deserted alleyway outside the airport. An hour later, the pair were on a plane destined for Sydney airport and ready to take off.
Sometime later Harry was awoken by Hermione who was shaking his shoulder.
"We're here," was all she said, as she stood up from her seat closest to the aisle. "Let's go, sleepyhead."
"Ok. I'm up. Let's get going." Harry said with a huge yawn. "So how long will it take to get to your parents home from here?"
"Well, it's is about a two hour drive if the traffic is good." Hermione stated. "We have to take a bus to get there or we can take the train and catch a taxi. What do you prefer?" Hermione asked Harry.
"Well, I would prefer to go by train. At least then we can get up and walk around." Harry told her.
"Alright. The train station is not too far from here. We'll walk. It will be nice to stretch our legs after the flight." Hermione explained.
"Right. Well, let's get going then." Harry said.
Two hours later, Harry and Hermione were standing outside of Hermione's parents' house. It was a beautiful two-story building that was situated on top Dog Hill, which overlooked everything in a twenty-kilometer radius. The front garden was abundant in native flora with a few native fauna making guest visits to the beautiful garden. The building itself was painted a pale green with white on the windows and doors and had a chimney extending from the right side of the house.
"It looks like they're home." Hermione said.
"Yep. Are you ready to do this?" Harry asked her.
"Not really, but it has to be done."
"You're right. Let's go. There's no point putting off the inevitable." Harry told her as he took her hand and led her to the front door and knocked. Not a minute later, Mr. Granger opened the door.
"Hello, can I help you?" Mr Granger asked the couple.
"Yes, actually you can. May we come in?" Harry asked.
"Sure. Come in." Mr. Granger said.
"Is Mrs. Granger home?" Harry asked after Mr. Granger had let them in and led them into the sitting room.
"Yes, one moment, I'll go and get her." Mr. Granger responded. "In the meanwhile, please make yourself at home and I will be back momentarily."
"How am I going to tell them, Harry?" Hermione asked worriedly.
"I don't really know, Hermione. You know them best so just say what you feel they would respond to best." Harry told Hermione, giving her a little kiss on the forehead.
"Thank you." Was all she said, giving him a quick peck on the lips, which Harry quickly deepened. A cough from the door made the pair breakaway blushing.
"Don't they just remind you of us dear?" Mrs. Granger asked Mr. Granger with a smile on her face.
"Yes dear." Mr. Granger agreed. "Now, might you be kind enough to tell us who you are and what you're doing here?"
"Ok. Well there is no easy way to tell you this, so I'm just going to come right out and say it." Hermione began. "My name is Hermione Jane Granger and I'm your daughter." A long moment of silence passed before anyone spoke.
"It's not possible. We don't have a daughter." Mr. Granger said, his face turning red.
"I am your daughter, but due to certain circumstances I had to make you believe that you didn't have a daughter." Hermione told her father.
"And might I ask how you would make us forget that we had a daughter. I mean it isn't something you forget easily." Mr. Granger said gruffly.
"Well, you won't believe us, but Harry and I are magical. Harry is a wizard and I'm a witch. If you just trust me I can prove that I am what I say I am, both a witch and your daughter." Hermione said with a bit of desperation in her eyes and voice.
"Do it." Mrs. Granger said softly, speaking for the first time.
A small smile appeared on Hermione's lips as she dug her hand into the sleeve of her jumper and pulled out her wand. She pointed it at her parents and said the reversal spell from the charm she had cast the previous year. After about five minutes, Hermione's parents spoke again.
"Hermione," Mrs. Granger shouted as she ran over to hug her only daughter. "It's good to see you. I presume all went well with defeating Lord Voldemort."
"Yes mum. Everything is fine, if not better." Hermione said before her father engulfed her in a hug.
"You're all right, pumpkin," he whispered as he hugged her.
"Daddy, I'm fine." Hermione said reassuringly.
"You said that things were probably better than ever, Hermione. Does this mean that you and Ronald are no longer fighting?" her mother asked curiously.
"Absolutely not, mother. I broke up with Ronald because we were fighting more than we were during the war." Hermione explained.
"Oh, about time," Mrs. Granger said. "He was all wrong for you. Even your father could tell that he didn't appreciate you. So, is there anyone else?" Mrs. Granger asked slyly, while looking straight at Harry.
"Yes, Harry and I have started dating, if you must know." Hermione said with a small blush appearing on her face.
"Harry, I do believe that I should give you the 'you hurt my daughter, I will kill you' speech but I think that my daughter is more than capable of doing that herself, so consider this your warning. However, I know that you will take good care of our daughter, so congratulations. I had a feeling that Hermione would someday day end up with you. From what we can tell from her letters home, she really likes you, so don't screw up." Mr. Granger warned Harry in his fatherly voice that screamed 'what she doesn't do, I will'.
"There is no way I would hurt Hermione. She has been the one constant thing in my life since I was introduced to magic. I would die for her, and die before I hurt her, sir." Harry told Mr. Granger seriously, showing just how deeply he cared for Hermione.
"I know you would Harry, and congratulations. You have successfully passed the threatening test. I have a feeling that we will be welcoming you into the family very soon. You may call me Reegan and my wife's name is Taylor." Mr. Granger finished with a smile and holding his hand out to shake Harry's. As soon as Harry has shaken Reegan's hand, there was a small squeal and Hermione launched herself at her father.
"Thank you so much, daddy," she said.
"That's all right, pumpkin. I know how much he means to you." Reegan told his daughter.
"Now, where are you staying?" Taylor asked her daughter.
"If it's all right with you, I was hoping we could stay here for a week. After that, I want to take you back home to England." Hermione told her mother.
"Actually honey, your father and I won't be going back to England. We quite like it here and have decided to stay. Before you erased our memories, your father and I had been talking about moving to Australia. We were going to move here, war or no war. I'm sorry Hermione, but we won't be coming with you. You, however, are most welcome to stay here with us. Australia is a lovely country and I'm sure that you would feel quite at home here." Taylor told her daughter.
"Not coming back?" Hermione said in disbelief. "Mum, Harry and I can't stay here, no matter how much we want to. We haven't let anyone back in England know where we were going. We had only planned to be gone for a week. No, we can't stay. It is just not possible." Hermione blabbered on.
"Why not, Hermione? I necessarily don't want to go back. If not for your parents, think about how the people in England would accept our relationship, Hermione. They all believe that we were 'destined' to be the Weasleys'." Harry explained to her. "Do you really want to go back to that?"
"No, but Harry, what about you? The magical people in England will notice that you are missing." Hermione said, trying to come up with a good enough reason to return.
"Hermione, they don't need me. 'The Boy Who Lived' did as he was supposed to and saved the world. They will forget about me now that they don't need me to save them and that is a really good thing, Hermione." Harry told her. "You know I hate to be in the spotlight."
"Alright, we'll stay, on the condition that we start looking for a place immediately." Hermione said with a tone that said 'if you don't comply, you're toast."
'Done deal. I was also thinking about university courses. I really don't want to live off my parents and Sirius' money for they rest of my life, so I was thinking that we look at the courses available at the nearest university and apply there. Not to mention that we should try to get a place near the university if we decide to attend." Harry said.
"Do you really want to go to university Harry?" Hermione asked surprised.
"Yes, I really want to be a muggle police officer. I've seen some of the things that they have to do and I like it. Also, I can help to make a difference in peoples' lives and help them with their serious problems." Harry told his girlfriend.
Harry's answer startled Hermione. "I would have thought that you wouldn't want to do anything that bears resemblance to an Auror."
"Well, I wouldn't want to be an Auror because they would take me for granted. I believe that by becoming a muggle police officer, I would be more useful and not taken for granted. Not to mention the fact that they don't know who I am, so at least I'll get in on talent and not on my name." Harry told her. "What would you be interested in looking at, Hermione?"
"I want to go into medicine. I want to be a midwife. I've seen how dangerous giving birth can be and I want to help." Hermione told Harry.
"So, we need to look into the nearest university, which would be?" Harry said turning to look at Reegan and Taylor.
"Wollongong University would be the closest, but you would be hard pressed to get a place out there that isn't too expensive." Taylor explained.
"Money is no problem," Harry told his girlfriend's mother. "However, I don't want to live near the university forever. A flat would be much better if we ever decide to get married and have children, wouldn't it?"
"You want to marry and have kids with me? How sweet." Hermione said with a huge smile on her. "You honestly want to marry me?"
"If we hadn't been dating for only two days, I'd marry you right now," Harry told her with a smile. "And of course, I would have asked your father for permission to marry you first."
"And I would say yes, Harry. I can see that you really love my daughter. Despite Hermione being my only child, and any father of a teenage daughter would disagree with me, I would allow her to marry you now because I can see how much you love her and I know that you will protect her, as you have already demonstrated." Reegan told Harry in a fatherly tone.
"Thank you, sir. You have no idea of what that means to me." Harry told Reegan.
"I think that I do, Harry. I would be proud to call you family, son." Reegan told Harry.
"All right, you two, break it up before you make both us women cry. You wouldn't want two crying women on your hands, now would you?" Taylor teased to two men with a smile on her face.
"Yes dear." Reegan said in a bored tone.
"And Harry, welcome to the family." Taylor said.
(A/N: The ending is needed in the second chapter. This is the end of chapter one. Please review and let me know what you think.)