Chapter 19
“It’s over,” Hermione whispered, her eyes lost in the clear summer sky draped over the Black Lake.
Theo hummed, his head pillowed in her lap, lazily leaning in her fingers caressing his curls. Their last NEWT, Potion practice, had finished an hour ago and they’d walked out of the castle straight away, eager to spend some quiet moments together before lunch and the inevitable cheers and laughter that would follow the end of exams and school in general. Hand in hand, they had wondered for a while, skirting the Forbidden Forest, tall trees slightly waving their tips in the warm breeze of June. Then, they’d reached the lake and ended up sitting under the giant oak near the banks, Hermione resting her back on the trunk, and Theo lying beside her, his head on her thigh, closing is eyes and inhaling all the sweet and sparkly scents of early summer, mixed with the deep musky smell of the water. Hermione played with the messy locks falling on his forehead, her fingertips gently twirling around the strands and accidentally grazing his skin and brows, a tingle of pleasure running down his neck at each stroke.
It was over, for real this time. Thinking that he wouldn’t be coming back in September felt odd, because Hogwarts was more home than the Manor to him and not coming home was a weird concept to process. Hogwarts had been a safe haven when his house was a dark pit of pain and despair, when he’d wished his father would die and leave him an orphan, so that he could spend summers at school as well. It had been a shelter for his heavy heart, where he didn’t feel less, or wrong. Hogwarts had taught him a lot, in many ways, and part of his guilt had been towards the castle itself. He hadn’t been there to defend those hallways, those grounds and walls, that had always looked out for him. And finally, Hogwarts was where he’d met her, pined for her, loved and kissed her in all possible ways, and Theo would be forever grateful for such a gift.
But not coming back meant also a new beginning, a jump in the darkness that held a beacon of light in the center. He knew there would be obstacles and hard work and adult stuff to face, but somehow he felt ready for it. Somehow, in the back of his mind, he knew he could do anything, that he was strong and capable of extraordinary things, if he wanted to do them. And she was, too, and Theo had been telling her over and over again, whispering in her ear in the darkness, when she was safe in his arms. He had been telling her with every touch and every kiss, looking her in the eyes, when they were alone and when they weren’t. And she had listened, at first with her brows furrowed, then with a doubtful expression, until the spark of confidence had shone in her eyes, a determined smile on her lips. They were ready, the world’d be better to be ready for them as well.
“When is the new owner moving in?” Hermione asked, shifting her gaze down to his relaxed face, a pattern of light and shadows painted on his pale skin.
“He wanted to move in this week, but I asked for a delay. I need to clear the Manor before next week,” he explained, his eyes still closed, enjoying the feel of the breeze on his forearms and neck, while she traced the contours of his cheekbones and nose.
“So, we’re leaving together, on the train?” she asked, hope written in every syllable. Theo’s lips lifted at the corners. It would be their final trip on the Hogwarts express and the only one really together. He wouldn’t miss it for the world. He cracked one eye open.
“Of course, baby.”
Hermione smiled, bright joy lighting up her eyes. Theo reached up to cup her cheek and she pressed into his palm, sighing.
“I can help with the moving, if you want,” she whispered and Theo smiled.
“There’s no need, love. I’m only keeping the books and a few other bits, the Elves are already packing everything. I only have to shrink and transfer to the Cottage, it’ll take an afternoon, tops.”
His mother had a property to her name, Rose Cottage, a pretty little place on the Dover Cliffs, with a stunning view and a lovely garden. He would bring all the stuff there and keep it as a summer house, where they could spend the holidays together if Hermione liked it. If she wanted to keep him around, that was.
“Well, I could help you arrange the books, you know? It could be tiring, with this heat,” she suggested, trying not to sound too eager. Theo chuckled.
“I could use the help, if you’re sure you don’t have other plans,” he said. He had been preparing himself to the possible distance that would creep between them, when the school was over. Hermione had friends and she would want to spend some time with them, so Theo was getting ready to give her the space she needed, even if getting away from her felt like choking on lack of oxygen.
Hermione looked at him, a bit confused. “We didn’t make any plans, did we? Or did we say something when I was madly revising non-stop and I don’t remember?”
“No, we didn’t. But…” Theo pushed up to sit and face her. “I mean, aren’t you going to the Burrow? To see the Weasleys and Potter?”
Hermione cocked her head. “Occasionally, yeah. And you are invited, didn’t you hear Ginny?”
Theo opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. His heart was beating faster, the feeling of coming first in her mind always overwhelming, always making his head spin in disbelief. When he recovered a little, he took her hand and laced their fingers together.
“Would you like to stay at the Cottage for a while? It’s nice and sunny, we could set up the library and rest a couple of days, away from everything else?” he asked, pushing his insecurity down his stomach, away from his voice. Hermione’s lips twitched up and she leaned in to kiss him.
“Let’s make it a week?” she replied on his lips. Theo smirked and kissed her back, nodding. Then he pushed back and peered into her warm eyes.
“I have something for you,” he said, never letting go of her hand, reaching inside his pocket with the other. He retrieved a square of folded parchment, a bit tattered, as if he had been carrying it for a while now.
“I might have overstepped here, and I get it if you get mad and want to slap me, but I have been thinking about it for months and…” he trailed off, handing her the parchment. Hermione frowned and took it, freeing her hand to open it up. There, scribbled with Theo’s elegant handwriting, was a name and an address.
Healer Albarath Mendlings, Mind Healer, St Waldus Sanatorium, Washington.
Hermione looked up, not understanding. “What…?”
Theo exhaled, a hand running through his hair. “When you told me about your parents, you said you’d talked to all mind healers here and in Europe. So, I wrote to my uncle in America and asked if he knew some good ones there. He is a magical attorney, but he’s well connected and knows a lot of people. That’s how we managed to hide all those fugitives during the war,” he explained, his eyes never leaving hers. “He asked around, explaining your situation, anonymously, of course. And he found a mind healer specialized in memory restoring. I’ve been exchanging letters with him this past month, asking for proofs of his works and if he had ever treated people with this severe level of obliviation and…Hermione, if someone can do this, it’s him.”
Hermione swallowed, looking back at the parchment in her trembling hands. Her heart was racing in her chest, her mind in a whirlwind of thoughts.
“Theo, I…” she croaked, tears already peaking at the corner of her eyes.
“I know, I should have asked your permission, I totally stepped over the line there, but I didn’t want to get your hopes up if it revealed to be a dead end. And I know this reopens wounds and cracks your heart open all over again, but if there is a chance that you could have your parents back, I want to give it to you, Hermione.”
She looked up into his blue oceans, a passionate storm raging in them, and a single tear rolled down her cheek.
“Theo this is huge, I need to process it,” she whispered, her lips trembling slightly. He wiped the tear with his thumb and she didn’t back away. Theo exhaled and nodded. She wasn’t mad, only overwhelmed, confused.
“I’ll give you the letters and all the material he sent me, you can make up you mind on your own,” he said, knowing the workings of her brilliant brain. Then he leaned in and pressed his forehead to hers. “Whatever you choose, I’ll be right here, beside you. As long as you want me.”
Hermione nodded, a small nervous chuckle escaping her lips, hope bubbling anew in her chest.