Unexpected Links

The atmosphere at "The Magic Goblet" bar was tranquil, not too crowded despite it being a Sunday night, but the group of friends occupying one of the tables liked it that way. Ginny's laughter echoed throughout the place after George tried a new invention on Ron. The poor guy ended up bald after eating some magical sweets that made his hair fall out.

"This isn't funny. Supposedly we're partners, but I always end up as the guinea pig," the boy said, crossing his arms in an offended manner.

"Oh, come on, don't exaggerate. I gave you the antidote and your hair grew back," his older brother replied.

"You have to improve it. I grew hair all over my body. It was so hard to get rid of that annoying beard," Ron added.

"If you keep it, you could compete with Hagrid's," Harry mentioned.

Hermione suppressed a laugh as she held her butterbeer mug. She loved being surrounded by her friends, enjoying those moments of camaraderie.

"How's work going, Harry?" Neville asked as he returned with another round of butterbeers.

"Horribly exhausting," he replied with a sigh. "We've lost track of Rodolphus again. We had a lead that he was seen in Moscow, so we sent Terry and Corman to investigate. Unfortunately, they arrived too late and there was no trace of him."

Rodolphus had managed to escape after the battle, eluding capture and being sent to Azkaban. For all these years, he had remained inactive until a few months ago when he was spotted in Scotland. However, he always vanished before they could investigate further, only to reappear in another country.

"And how about you, Mione?" Ron's question snapped Hermione out of her thoughts.

"Oh, I've recently had a lot of success with the cursed jewelry that was found," Hermione replied. Knowing she couldn't take all the credit, she took advantage of Luna not having arrived at the meeting yet to bring up the topic of conversation she had been eagerly anticipating. "In fact, I was able to solve it thanks to Theo."

"Theodore Nott?" Harry's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"Yes, exactly," Hermione confirmed. "I wrote a letter to Luna asking for Theo's help since there were records of a cursed ring that belonged to his mother and was handed over to the Ministry. He gave me full freedom to seek some assistance in his library."

"And he just agreed? Without asking for anything in return?" Ginny asked, doubt evident in her voice.

Hermione nodded with a smile. "Yes, surprisingly. Theo was very willing to collaborate. He said he was interested in breaking away from some bad associations from his past and that helping me was a way to redeem himself."

The group exchanged looks of surprise and admiration. Although Theodore Nott didn't have the best reputation in the past, it seemed like he was willing to change and use his knowledge for positive purposes.

"I hope this is the beginning of a new direction for him," Hermione remarked. "And I'm grateful to have had his help, because without it, I wouldn't have solved the mystery of the cursed jewelry."

"How un-Slytherin of him," Ron commented as he took a long sip of his beer.

"In fact, he was very kind to me, and he's not like his father. I feel quite embarrassed towards Luna because we never gave Theo a chance to formally introduce himself," Hermione said, her brow furrowed.

"Well... He was a Slytherin, you know..." Neville responded uncomfortably, not finishing his sentence.

"Slytherin, Gryffindor... that's in the past. We're adults now," she said firmly. "And I must remind you all that Theo had no involvement in the war, he wasn't even a Death Eater."

"He wouldn't have helped anyway," Seamus said indignantly.

"How was he supposed to help? By turning against his own family? Would you be able to point a wand at your mother?" Hermione continued, her brow furrowed and her voice scolding, causing everyone to shrink back.

Seamus, reddening with embarrassment, decided to stay silent, and an awkward silence settled over the table. It was Ginny who found the courage to break it.

"Luna isn't the most rational person to talk to. Sometimes we don't understand her ramblings, but one thing that can't be denied is her ability to read people and see through them. If she chose Theo, I agree that we should trust her judgment. And if she's wrong, we'll be here as friends to support her."
Everyone nodded in silence, skeptical. Hermione assumed she had at least made some progress with her group. She expected more resistance to the mention of Theodore Nott. Hanna, wanting to lighten the mood, decided to change the subject.

"Ginny, how's your new job as a sports editor going?" Hanna asked.

"It's fine. It's not as exciting as playing Quidditch, but I guess it was time to have my feet on the ground," Ginny replied.

"In fact, we have something to tell you," Harry said with a smile as he took his wife's hand.

"I'm pregnant!" Ginny exclaimed. The table went from momentary astonishment to effusive congratulations. Hermione noticed that her friend was only having pumpkin juice tonight when she would normally be the first at the bar for drinks.

"Well, Ginny, are you trying to compete with Mum?" George joked as he hugged her.

"Not in a million years. This is the last one, right, Harry Potter?" Ginny gave her husband a warning look, who just shrugged and happily took a big sip of his drink.

"Surely James and Albus will be thrilled with the news," Hermione commented.

"Oh, we haven't told them yet," Ginny replied.

Although she was very happy for the couple, Hermione also felt a slight pang of envy. The Potters were expecting their third child, the others were married or in relationships. Across the table, Ron looked at her with understanding, raised his beer mug towards her, and offered an encouraging smile, to which she responded. Luna appeared behind Ginny with a smile.

"Sorry for the delay, I had a problem with the Niffler at Theo's mansion. It always takes my sun earrings. Oh, Ginny, did you tell them you're pregnant? It's so adorable!"

"And how did you know? Harry and I kept it a secret."

"Oh, I just had a feeling. Your aura had changed," the blonde replied with a smile, moving her hands around her friend's head.

The rest of the night passed with anecdotes and laughter, until gradually each member of the group began to say their goodbyes.

"We need to find the Weasley boys. See you at the Ministry, Mione," Harry and Ginny bid farewell with a hug.

"Mione, fancy a walk to the Apparition point?"

"Sure."

The night was cold, and Hermione cast a heating spell around herself. However, she could still feel the cool breeze brushing her cheeks.

"Ginny's announcement left you quieter. That's not like you," her friend remarked softly.

"It was quite surprising. I'm genuinely happy for your sister," she replied sincerely.

"You don't have to pretend, Mione. I know how you feel. We share the same sentiment," Ron added with complicity.

"I increasingly feel more excluded in the group seeing them in couples or with families. It shouldn't bother me, yet it does," Hermione confessed with a hint of sadness in her voice.

"Well, we can always make Mum happy and get married," Ron joked, giving her a little nudge. They both laughed.

"What if we reach thirty-five and still single, we pick up our relationship again and get married?" Hermione playfully suggested.

"Is that a threat? I need to find a girlfriend in six years to save myself from your wrath, Mione," the redhead responded with a smile.

"Forget it, die alone."

"Don't be disheartened, Hermione. You're beautiful and incredibly smart. Any man with an ounce of sense can see that. You have a strong character, but I know there are masochists out there who enjoy being challenged. Don't worry," Ron said, trying to console her.

"And here I was thinking of listing your qualities, Ronald Weasley. After that attempt at comfort, forget it," Hermione replied with a sarcastic smile.

"Forget that I have the sensitivity of a rock," he joked as they embraced in farewell. Then, each of them Disapparated into the deserted alley.

Hermione materialized in her living room, startling her old cat. She quickly undressed, leaving behind the day's news, and stepped into the bathroom. Closing the door behind her, she immersed herself in the warm embrace of the water. The relaxing jets caressed her skin, dissipating any built-up tension. She turned off the tap, wrapped herself in a towel, and walked to her bedroom, lying down on her bed. She felt so relaxed that she could meld into her bed, dressed in her sleepwear, she slid between the sheets, letting the softness of the bed embrace her.

The next morning, she prepared to head to her parents' home for a family lunch. Before leaving her apartment, she affectionately bid Crookshanks goodbye with a kiss. She decided to walk to the nearest Apparition point, not feeling up to calling a taxi. She appreciated the perks of being a witch, especially in moments like this, as her parents lived away from London.

Without worrying about being seen by any curious neighbors, she Apparated to a corner of the backyard of her parents' house. She had cast a Muggle-Repelling Charm in that area to ensure her presence remained hidden from non-magical eyes. With a steady step, she made her way to the front porch and reached out to ring the doorbell. Just a few seconds later, the door opened, revealing her father's warm smile.

"Hello, Dad," she greeted enthusiastically as she embraced her father.

"How have you been, sweetheart? You've arrived just in time. Your mother is in the kitchen getting the food out of the oven," he said with an affectionate smile.

She walked through the halls of her childhood home, reminiscing about the journey she had taken after the war and her trip to Australia in search of her parents. It had been a challenging and full of obstacles to recover her lost memories. There were still small mental gaps, occasions where she forgot names or had vague memories. She had to explain to her parents why she had to erase their memories, which had angered them considerably. The thought that they could have lost their daughter forever and wouldn't remember her had caused them profound pain. It took them several weeks to accept what she had done, but they eventually understood that it had been a protective measure.

After that episode, they returned to England and managed to reclaim their old home. Hermione had stored all the family belongings in a secure house, so they hadn't lost anything in the process. Each dusted-off item and rediscovered corner reminded them of the happy moments they had shared.

She found her mother focused in the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on the food tray. Hermione had inherited her mother's perfectionism. The delicious aroma of home-cooked food filled the air, and a smile spread across her face.

"That smells delicious."

"Oh, Hermione dear, you've arrived," her mother said with a smile, gently caressing her daughter's face with her hands. "Are you eating well? How's work going? Are you brushing your teeth properly? I know you have spells and potions for these things, but it doesn't hurt to worry."

"Don't worry, Mom, everything is perfect. Besides, even though I have potions, I always use my toothbrush," Hermione reassured her.

"Alright, lunch is ready. Help your father set the table," her mother instructed.

In the dining room, her father was arranging the glasses, using his wand from his pocket to levitate each plate and utensil to its proper place. Hermione noticed an uncomfortable look on her father's face at the sight of magic.

"Hermione, we've talked about using magic inside the house. Aren't you forbidden to do it in front of... what do you call non-magical people?" her father queried.

"Muggles... Yes, I'm forbidden to do it, but you're my family, and that's an exception," Hermione replied, feeling like a scolded child. Since her parents had regained their memories, they had shown some caution regarding her magic.

They decided not to dwell on the topic further, as the last thing Hermione wanted was to engage in arguments with her parents. She understood perfectly the fear surrounding everything related to magic. However, deep down, she longed for the day when her parents could trust in magic again, in her magic. After all, she was a witch and couldn't deny or suppress that part of her identity.

The lunch unfolded as expected. She didn't offer many details about her work but assured her parents that things were going quite well, which left them satisfied with her response.

"And... how are your friends?" her father asked.

"Quite well, actually. Harry and Ginny are expecting their third baby," she replied.

"Oh, how fantastic," Mrs. Granger exclaimed. "A baby is undoubtedly a gift. I bet the Weasleys will be thrilled with another grandchild. That family just keeps growing; they must never get bored of being grandparents with so many adorable children keeping them company."

"Well, when you have many children, it's normal to also end up with many grandchildren," she commented as she took a sip of wine and averted her gaze, feeling uncomfortable. It didn't take Legilimency to know what was going through her mother's mind at that moment. But it was her own fault for opening Pandora's box.

"And how are things with Ron?" her mother asked. At that moment, her illusion of having a peaceful lunch vanished.

"I suppose they're fine... you know, we're friends," she responded while toying with her food on her plate. She had lost her appetite.

"And have you been on a date recently?" now her father also joined the interrogation.

"No, I haven't had the time. You know I'm very busy with work and my books," she explained.

"Don't you feel alone darling?"

She let out a long sigh and shrugged in her seat. She no longer wanted to continue with this. "I have Crookshanks," she replied, and her parents exchanged a look of concern.

"You know... your father is working with a new assistant in his office," her mother mentioned.

"Oh, yes. His name is Anthony Jones." She knew where this conversation was heading.

"He's a nice and very attractive guy," her mother offered with a smile. "We could invite him for tea so you two can get to know each other."

"I appreciate your interest in my personal life, truly, but I'm not going to date a... Muggle. You know how complicated the Statute of Secrecy is. I've tried it before, and it's very difficult to maintain a double life," Hermione explained.

"What if you didn't live a double life, Hermione?" her father's tone turned serious. "Why can't you leave the magical world? You've done enough for them in that war. Why don't you want a normal life?"

"Normal? Do I seem abnormal to you?" she responded, offended.

"No, dear," her mother tried to calm the situation. "What your father wants to say is that we miss you a lot. You don't come very often because of your work, but besides that, there's nothing that ties you completely to that world. We know your friends are like a family to you, and that's very beautiful, but you're smart, Hermione, and you've realized that most of them have already started their own family. Where do you fit into all of this, dear?"

"I'm a witch, my place is in the magical world. Living here would be suppressing who I am, and I can't do that. The magical world is where I belong, where I can use my skills and knowledge to make a difference," Hermione explained with determination.

Her mother sighed and gave her a compassionate look. "Hermione, we know how much you love magic and how brilliant you are in that realm. But we also want you to find happiness and satisfaction in other aspects of life. We don't want you to feel limited or lonely."

Her father took on a softer tone. "Daughter, we just want you to consider all your options. We know you've been through a lot and have sacrificed a great deal for others. But you also deserve to have a life."

Upon arriving home, Hermione once again immersed herself in reflections on the past few days. Everything that had happened left her with an uncomfortable feeling, a discomfort that clung to her being. She had always been an independent and strong person, capable of facing life's challenges without needing to depend on anyone else. However, at that moment, the notion that her surroundings could notice her loneliness made her feel vulnerable and insecure.