With Oliver at work and Harry visiting Ron, with the exception of the house elves, I'm left with the castle to myself. It's not a hard to determine this solitude needs to be devoted to discovering this new life of mine, the fact I'm half in love with a man who didn't even exist yesterday speaks enough to that. Before yesterday Lysander Lovegood did not exist therefore it should be impossible to love him as I know Hermione Potter does, however before yesterday Hermione Potter herself didn't exist either. If my mere existence can create an entirely new person, it's worth finding else what else exactly my creation has catapulted into existence. My search for this new past starts in Oliver and I's closet, after all that's where most people stash away the things they'd not like the rest of the world finding out about. My search quickly turns up several photo albums, a letter addressed Hermione Potter dated the day before yesterday, and a rather mysterious locket engraved with the Potter Family Crest. Unsure of the best place to start, I ultimately decide on the locket after several moments of deliberation.
Carefully popping it open, I find two pictures tucked carefully away inside. The first doesn't surprise me, Harry isn't somebody it'd be unusual of his sister to carry a photograph of with her wherever she may go- it's the second photograph that takes me by surprise. A photograph of a way younger Lee Jordan and myself pulling funny faces at the camera. I get the feeling I'm much closer to Lee than I realize, or at least Hermione Potter is... I'm just not sure how close that may be. I clasp the locket around my neck with ease then pull the first of the three photo albums into my lap, flipping through it I find nothing more than a handful of childhood photographs of Harry and I, our Hogwarts acceptance letters, and clippings of stories done about Harry in the Prophet. Reading over the first article, I find this world to already be very different from the one I knew just yesterday. I had it all wrong, Harry hadn't competed in the Triwizard tournament in this timeline- I had; Viktor Krum had laid down his life to save my own, the life of a girl he'd never even spoken to, because Cedric had abandoned me in the Maze.
Putting that album aside for later, I grab the second one and place it gently onto the desk before me, blowing the dust away before flipping it open. From the moment I lay eyes on the first page I determine Lysander Lovegood was incredibly important to this me, and always will be, he however is not the reason I feel so hesitant to marry Oliver. She, well I, will always love Lysander for what could've been; but I've grieved his death and moved past it. I've accepted Lysander Lovegood is never coming back, he's nothing more than a very beautiful distant memory. This album is filled to the brim with all the photographs I kept of Lysander and I, however the thick coating of dust on the cover tells me it's been months since it's last seen daylight, saved for only the moments when I need it's gentle reminder most: Love cannot be forced nor forgotten, however you cannot live in the past and forget your future. Lysander set my standards, and I cannot settle with anyone less than half the man Lysander once was... which I suppose, makes Oliver the rebound; the fallback. I love Oliver I'm sure, but I'm not in love with Oliver.
The third photo album is composed with memories form my school days, photographs of myself and my friends cover the pages top to bottom. Lee appears more than most, second only to Harry. Page upon page made into a shrine of sorts for Lee, the twins, Katie Bell, Angelina Johnson, and Alicia Spinnet. I'm apparently quite the prankster if I'd fallen in so easily with Lee and the twins, one has to be to keep up with them. I quickly find my favorite photograph in the lot: Lee and I passed out at a desk, sometime during fourth of fifth year I'd assume, around a cauldron of what appears to be Polyjuice Potion- the both of us sporting Ravenclaw Robes... perhaps this is the aftermath of Hermione Potter's revenge on Cho Change over Cedric? It must be, I can't think of anything else that would so perfectly put into context the situation captured. Spending nearly an hour looking through my memories from this timeline I find the person I've chosen to become rather fascinating, Hermione Potter and Hermione Granger are quite clearly two vary different people... it's as if I'm a stranger inside my own body.
Carefully putting the photo albums back into the closet, I find myself left with nothing but the letter and the hopes it'd reveal why exactly Hermione Potter cannot be satisfied with an extravagant life as Mrs Oliver Wood. Oliver is every woman's dream; he's sweet, confidant, thoughtful, funny, great with children, and quite the excellent lover... so why do I feel unsatisfied? Opening it, I feel my eyes widen considerably at the rather large implications of the small message inked onto the parchment paper. Suddenly it all makes sense, why I am so unsatisfied with the idea of such a simple life with Oliver. He doesn't challenge me, and I will never be satisfied without a challenger to my intellect. Sure, I suppose Oliver is smart... but he is far from a challenger. I need somebody to feed my genius, rather than stroke it. It's baffling how much a single sentence has so easily put my current love life into perspective; and perhaps my professional life in this timeline as well.
The only decision left to make is which path I will decide to walk: The simple one of the quidditch wife, or the fast paced life filled to the brim with constant new opportunities to grow my abilities as both a potions master and a woman.
The answer would be determined by one thing, the thing that every decision I make in this lifetime will have to revolve around.
Harry.
With one last glance at the letter, I come to the conclusion I have some serious decision making to do before Harry returns to school... and no matter what I decide, somebody's going to get hurt.
'My lady of the stars: It is but three little
words I await to fall from your lips, then you shall finally be mine. Forever yours - The River Jordan.'
YOU ARE READING
Blood
FanfictionAfter getting hit with a nasty curse during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, Hermione Granger makes a decision that will forcibly alter the course of the war dramatically. She asks Lupin to Obliviate her parents and send them to Australia...
