The Father's Journal

8 - A Sad Past

Harry signs and looks at Ron.

"You know, I wonder if I'm the one with Slytherin's friend instead of Hermione, will you act differently?" said Harry as a rhetorical question.

Ron continues to pout while Harry shakes his head.

**********

Hermione wipes her tears and walks on. Looking from one compartment to another. She flinches when she comes across Draco and his goons compartment. Quickly she turns and walks away, looking for Serenity.

Finally, Hermione found Serenity. She is sitting on the floor in the space that connects one train carriage to another. As expected, Serenity is reading.

"Hello" greet Hermione and take a seat on the floor beside Serenity.

"Oh? Don't tell me Mr Troll throw you out too" tease Serenity.

"No. I throw myself out" says Hermione simply.

Serenity smiled and dig into her bag. She takes out one of the second-year books and gives it to Hermione. Hermione takes the book with gladness.

"Serenity" call out Hermione.

"Em," answer Serenity while her eyes are on the book that she is currently reading.

"Why did you hate Ron?" asked Hermione.

Serenity looks up to Hermione.

"I mean, I understand why you hate Malfoy. He's vile, evil. But Ron? Yes, he's a wuss, complaints a lot, lazy......well what I mean is that Ron has lots of shortcomings, but does not deserve to hate like Malfoy" explain Hermione.

Serenity closes her book and leans back.

"When you are first to discover that you have magic, did your parents accept you as you are, Hermione?" ask Serenity slowly, while looking down at the book in her hands.

"Well, at first they were shocked. They thought that they were dreaming. But when they finally understand, they are happy. They say that I am a miracle, magical" answered Hermione with a soft smile as she remembered her parents' reaction.

A sharp pain hit Serenity's chest. Then jealousy came over her. She remembers her parents' reaction.

"A day before my fifth birthday, my real mother tell me the story at the time of my birth. My parents have been married for six years and they have been trying all that time to get a child. My real father, who is a pastor, believes that if he and my real mother continue to pray and believe in god's grace with all their heart, god will grant their wish.

Finally, god answers their prayer and I was born to them. My mother says my father shed tears as he was overjoyed with happiness. He tells my mother that once he holds me in his arm, he felt a profound peace and calmness. He felt SERENE. That is how I am SERENITY" begin Serenity slowly and downcast.

"That is wonderful but why are you making it sound bad?" asked Hermione worriedly.

"Because things turn bad during my birthday party. I and the rest of the children at my birthday are playing and climbing the tree. Since it is my birthday I want to win no matter what. I got reckless and lost footing and fall off the tree. Then something happened. 

There I was, floating in the air, almost hitting the ground. I was shocked as everyone is until I fall back to the floor. I don't understand what is going on at that time. I just get up on my feet, smiling happily at my parent, saying that I'm alright. But just like the rest of the guests at the party, my parent looks at me in fear.

But at my father's face, not just fear. I saw tremendous anger that makes me shake in fear. He grabs me roughly by the back of my beautiful pink birthday gown. I was shocked at the way my father hold me and confused when my mother did nothing when I call for her" add Serenity.