Summer of Change (GxG) - A Hermione Fanfic

Chapter 12

A week passed, and I felt lighter than I had before.

It was like the weight that had kept me down was coming off one-by-one.

The first time it happened was when I had talked to Andy for the first time in months. I had broken down and apologized for failing her daughter. It was when Andy forgave me that I felt the first proverbial weight lift from my shoulders.

The second and most recent was with Molly.

I had again broken down and apologized for failing my best friends. For not doing more for them. Molly embraced me and said I had nothing to be sorry for. She said I did what I could and that was what mattered. That was when I felt lighter again. Her words resounded in my heart and gave me some peace of mind towards their deaths.

I was going to still keep mourning Dora, Harry, and Ron, but...

I didn't feel the crushing weight of their deaths nearly as much as I did as before.

Right now, I was on Andy's doorstep.

I wasn't too keen on the idea of coming here, but Molly gently pushed me to see Andy. Molly said that I needed to get out of the house, and seeing Andy face-to-face would solve that issue quite nicely. She had an understanding and warm smile when she said that, so I relented.

Nervously, I looked around, and all I could see was a plain muggle neighborhood, a lawn that looked freshly mowed, flowerbeds near the house that were well taken care of, and a sky that was partly cloudy.

I let out a big sigh and tried to steady my nerves.

"Bloody hell..." I whispered as I looked at my shaking hands.

Talking to Andy was one thing.

Seeing Andy in the flesh was another...

I loved Andy like another mother, but it became hard to face the older witch after my torture. Andy looked so much like Bellatrix. They could have been twins if it weren't for Andy's brown hair. I tried to tell my brain that they weren't the same, but it was like my body remembered.

Not just my mind.

But my body remembered what that vile woman did to us, and every time I saw Andy, it went into fight-or-flight mode.

It pained me to have such violent reactions for a woman I loved. It reminded me that Bellatrix's actions had more impact on me than she had probably accounted for. Bellatrix did know I was dating Dora, though. She had asked me where her contaminated niece was, but didn't give her one iota of information. She had rambled about how she could end this cycle of Black's going down the wrong path with me.

Said she would rui-

Before I could finish that thought, the front door swung open, and Andy stood there with a pensive look on her face.

I froze.

This was the first time I had seen Andy, and she looked...

Knackered.

I couldn't help but let my eyes roam over her familiar features. A strong jawline, high cheekbones, a lithe figure, brown eyes...

That's where the similarities to Bellatrix ended.

Andy had brown wavy hair that went to the middle of her chest; she wore muggle clothing, her posture wasn't rigid and instead was relaxed, and her eyes may have been the same color, but they didn't look at me like I was an insect. Her eyes didn't look wild and unfocused but sure and steady.

I'm sure I looked like a skittish cat, but Andy looked nervous as well.

We were both eyeing each other.

Looking for...

Something.

I knew what I was looking for, but what was Andy looking for?

Andy's words pulled me from my thoughts.

"Are you going to stand their all-day love? I don't want all the cold air to get out, so come on." Andy said as she motioned for me to follow her into the house.

I blinked and stood there a moment before shaking my head.

"Why just me? She stood there too..." I grumbled under my breath while I started walking toward the front door.

Andy had gone inside, so I followed her and closed the door behind me.

I didn't make it further than that before I stopped. My body rooted to the floor, and my breath seized. I felt myself quickly start to lose control. If I weren't careful, then I would have a full-on panic attack.

Coming here again when Dora was no longer alive felt wrong.

Seeing Dora's photos on the walls.

I saw one in particular where it was Dora and me confirming our love on her birthday.

Smelling Dora's scent in the air.

I remembered Dora used to trip on the coat hanger and stumble into the house, but act like nothing ever happened.

Hearing Dora's laughter that was no longer there.

One time Dora had used her Metamorphmagus abilities to turn into Narcissa and scared the shite out of Andy. Dora was such a git, but her laugh was contagious that evening.

It was all so...

Heartbreaking.

"Mione?" Andy called out.

Apparently, Andy had gone to the kitchen to get some refreshments and was expecting me to be sitting on the couch.

Not still standing near the bloody door.

Andy's face showed deep concern. Her eyebrows were furrowed, and her lips were pulled into a frown. Her eyes pierced mine, and it felt like she was looking right through me, seeing the things I wanted to hide. She had always been able to do that. I had loved that she could, but it now made me nervous.

I swallowed roughly.

"Yes?" I croaked.

"Are you- are you ok?" Andy asked softly as she walked towards me.

"I..." I said but trailed off.

No, no I wasn't okay...

I should have been happy to see Andy, but all I could think about was Dora and how I failed the woman I loved.

How I didn't deserve Andy's forgiveness.

How I-

"Mione?" Andy called again.

I looked up and Andy was much closer to me than she had been before. I could see the concern burning in her eyes. I wanted to run to her, jump into her arms and cry for what we had both lost, but I was frozen in my own fear and uncertainty.

"I... do you... r-really forgive m-me?" I whispered, head down.

Andy suddenly rushed towards me - and I, thinking that she was going to slap me for what I said - had closed my eyes and waited for the impending sting on my cheek.

But... it never came.

Instead, strong arms encircled me and pulled me close. It startled me, but not in a bad way. I resisted at first, not thinking I was deserving, but ended up melting into her arms and sobbing out my grief.

Andy held me through it all.

And then everything went black.