Pen Name

Chapter 2

The two got ready for the day. Jeans and sweaters with a light shirt underneath for both, considering the temperature. It was a typical fall afternoon in Edinburgh; slightly overcast with a small wind chill. When they were fed, dressed, and everything was brushed, Hermione apparated them to the outskirts of the Burrow where Harry and Ginny were living with the rest of the Weasley bunch. Molly had up a warming spell around the home as usual, so the children were outside playing in the fields and the adults were enjoying their morning tea on the porch. Young James Potter was the first to notice the women walking up.

“Aunt Hermione!” James ran over to Hermione and jumped into her arms. They walked to where the adults were with James in the arms of Hermione. When Albus saw his aunt, he followed in the same actions as his brother. “Aunty ‘Mione!!!”

“Hey guys! Oomph!” She now had a crowd of children jumping on her. Fred Weasley JR attached himself onto Hermione’s leg and refused to let go. “Careful guys!” There was laughing from the children and the adults alike. More hugs, including some from the adults who decided to join in on the love. “Oh you guys are killing me. Okay okay, I love you guys too! Kids go play!” Hermione finally managed to get free of all of her family.

Molly already had a cup of tea poured for her. “Here you are deary. How have you been?”

“I'm alright, I guess.” Hermione sipped at her tea and looked at the ground.

“Oh dear. What’s wrong?”

Hermione took a deep breath, “Jessica found my journal where I write about the war and the flashbacks and the nightmares. She asked me what a horcrux was this morning.” Everyone there had similar symptoms as Hermione, and since they all shared the experience together, they were the only ones Hermione was comfortable opening up to. Ginny gasped and the rest froze, putting down their drinks. Harry was the first to speak up.

“What did you tell her?”

“The truth. What else was I supposed to do? I know she's young and too young to know about all of that stuff but obviously she knows more than she lets on if she's reading my journal. You should have heard her this morning. I tried to tell her no and that I would tell her everything when the time was ready but she used her dad against me and the promise I made her when he left.” A lump formed in her throat and tears welled up in her eyes. She never talked about Ron and when she did, the same thing would happen. He left when Jessica was an infant and it still hurt to talk about. She hasn't even dated since he left.

“Oh love.” Ginny gave Hermione a hug. “I don't know why my idiot brother left you or Jessica, but he is a real git for it. ‘Mione, you can't beat yourself up for it. You did nothing wrong.”

Hermione wiped her eyes. “Thank you Gin. So you guys don't think I’m a bad mother for tell Jessica the truth?”

“A bad mother?! Are you kidding me? No of course not! You told her the truth. You know just as well as the rest of us, if you didn't tell her, she would have figured it one way or another. She's just as knowledge hungry as you are.”

“Thank you Ginny. Really.” The women hugged for a moment before breaking apart. “Jessica also said something crazy this morning and I've been thinking about it all morning. She suggested that I write a book about everything.”

“A book? About the war? Bloody hell that’s a lot to write. But everyone already knows everything about the war.” George chimed in.

“Yeah but they don't know everything, everything. I mean, Quirrell and Lockheart and Sirius and what really happened during the tournament. Even Snape. There is a lot of details that most wizards don't know. Like leading up to the big battle at the school. A lot of wizards think they know what happened because of Rita Skeeter. Maybe they should know the truth. All of the adventures we went on during school.” Hermione looked at Harry.