Coming Home

Coming Home

Chapter 2

By: FayeValentine00

"So... it wasn't supposed to be like this. I was only going to take a short trip to find myself. After that I'd come home and move on with my life like everyone else." Harry laughed under his breath which caught me of guard.

"It's not that easy, Hermione and I know it. You're preaching to the choir."

Giving Harry another tight squeeze, I smiled. "I know."

"I didn't even know where I was going when I left. I just wanted to get away. I don't even think Mars would have been far enough away but I settled on America. At first I found a wizarding village in New York City but people recognized me from stories in the paper of our adventures against Voldemort and it scared the hell out of me. I had left to get away from those kind of memories and 6 months in New York City showed me that another Wizarding village wasn't far enough away."

"By that point, I was sick of the magic community and magic itself. I realized the only way to truly get away was to go somewhere that no one would know me. I needed a place where no one had ever heard of Voldemort or curses or anything like that. I ended up in Santa Monica, California. I got a Muggle apartment and put away all my magical items. I even stashed away my wand. I didn't touch it again for 5 years."

At this point, I pulled away and looked at Harry. "This is where I wonder if you'll forgive me. I gave up magic and I had no intention of ever coming back. I knew that you would probably worry about me but I was too selfish. I knew that if I contacted you or Ron or the others, I'd be dragged back into a world that I no longer desired to be a part of. I started to hate magic. I felt like it ruined my life."

I couldn't read Harry's expression when he asked, "If you really felt that way, why did you come back?"

"I promise to get to that, Harry. I've learned a lot over the last few years."

"I ended up making some Muggle friends and got a job as a waitress of all things. I was so bitter at how things had turned out that I didn't even want a teaching job. I just wanted to be 'normal' and waitressing was as close as I could get.

"Life was pretty bland but no one recognized me and no one around me was dying or being attacked so it felt like a blessing. Then, about 2 years ago, I met a man. He seemed perfect. His name was Chris. He was tall, handsome and smart. He had a good job and really cared about me. We dated for a short while and then I moved in with him. He treated me like an angel and for the first time since I was very small, I felt protected. I felt safe. I felt like I was finally where I belonged. About a year ago, Chris asked me to marry him and I accepted but that was when things started to get hard.

"I started to realize that I did miss some things about the Wizarding world. When I was finally happy with my life again, I realized how much I missed everyone and how much I missed magic. It was like a very slow awakening that never should have taken as long as it did. I realized that I had to tell Chris the truth. I'd never mentioned magic to him or told him what I was. In the beginning of our relationship, it didn't seem to matter and even after our engagement, I put off telling him. It was when I realized that I was pregnant with Alicia that I knew I had to tell him. I couldn't wait until a letter came when Alicia was eleven for him to find out the truth. That wouldn't be fair to him or Alicia. I honestly thought that it would be okay. I knew Chris would be shocked but I never expected what would happen."

Hermione, 3 months ago - Santa Monica, CA

"Chris, can we talk for a moment?" I asked, taking his hand and pulling him towards me.

"What's on your mind?" he asked in a sexy tone, wrapping his arms around my pregnant belly and pulling me in for a tender embrace.

I kissed him softly and then pulled out of his embrace. "This is serious. There is something I need to tell you. Something I probably should have told you a long time ago."

I could tell immediately that he was unsure but he nodded and sat down next to me at the kitchen table. I took his hand in mine, took a deep breath and said the words I'd hoped to never have to say. "Before our child is born, I have to tell you something.... something about my past."

"What is it, 'Mione?" He asked, looking really concerned now but I tried my best to smile.

"Chris, I am a witch." I said it as gently as I could but he laughed in my face.

"Come on, Hermione. Stop kidding around. What do you really have to tell me?"

When I didn't laugh along with him, he looked confused. "Seriously, I am a witch. I know I told you that I graduated from a school called Hogwarts but what I didn't tell you is that the full name of the school. I went to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I found out I was a witch when I was eleven years old."

"Stop kidding, Hermione. You and I both know there is no such thing as witchcraft or magic. Now really... tell me the truth." This time he looked more serious, more concerned and I knew I'd have to prove it to him so I got up, crossed the room, and got my wand out of it's hiding place.

"Chris, I'm not joking." With the flick of the wrist, I lit all the candles on the table with a simple spell. Once Chris realized what I'd done, I put them out again. When that sank in, I transfigured my teacup into a cat and then turned it back again. Instantly, Chris wore an expression of horror and I knew I'd done enough. In fact, I began to think that maybe I'd done too much.

"Chris, I love you but I wanted you to know the truth. I also wanted you to know that there is a good chance that our child could also be a wizard and I thought it only fair that you learn the truth now."

He didn't say a word for a long time. Chris' blue eyes were wide with shock and when I tried to take a step towards him, he leapt from his chair, out of my reach. "D-Don't touch me."

"What?!" I was in shock. I loved Chris with all my heart. I knew finding out about magic and learning that I was a witch on the same day was a big shock but he looked horrified. No, closer to the truth, he looked sick and my heart sank. Even before our conversation was over, I could tell I'd lost him.

"D-don't touch me," he said again, taking another step backwards.

"Why? Nothing has changed, Chris. I am still the same person that I was ten minutes ago. The only difference is that I can do a few magic tricks, ok?" I tried to take another step forward but stopped. He looked like he might run at any second. "This is stupid. It's not a big deal. Honestly."

"How do I know you haven't put some kind of spell on me?!" he asked, near panic in his voice.

"Don't be stupid. I would never do that." I said trying to make light if the situation. "Besides, it is against the law."

"There are magic laws?! " I kept thinking to myself that if I could just explain things to Chris then he'd come around so I kept talking.

"Yes, there are wizarding communities all over the world. Most of the people I know are in England but there are loads of magical people and creatures everywhere."

"You're l-lying."

"It's true, Chris. Wizards make it a point to keep their existence a secret from Muggles..." Realizing I said just another word he didn't understand, I quickly caught myself. "Muggles are humans that can not do magic. We keep the truth a secret because we don't want to cause panic."

"If you are a witch, why did you leave England?"

I took a deep breath. I had been expecting to tell Chris the story of Voldemort from the start but now I realized that it would do no good. It would only make things worse so I told a half truth. "I left to find myself. I didn't know who I was anymore. I just needed to get away."

"Well, you - you should have stayed there."

My heart sunk. "You don't mean that," I said quickly taking another step closer.

"Stay away, Hermione. I don't know you anymore."

"Chris, stop it. Don't say that. I am the same woman you've always known." Panic was obvious in my voice as tears started to roll down my cheeks. "I should never have kept it a secret but I'm sorry. Chris, I love you."

"Stop it, Hermione. Just stop," he said, crossing the room and pulling a jacket out of the closet. "I can't handle this. I am sorry but I can't. I'm leaving."

"Don't do this. Please, Chris! What about your child?" I was sobbing as I watched the man who just minutes ago had held me lovingly, now looked at me like I had the plague.

"I'm sorry, Hermione. I just - I just can't deal with this. I'm leaving."

"Please don't do this," I repeated, sinking onto the couch.

"The lease is up in a few months. After that, you're on your own. Go back to England. That's were you belong." Before walking out the front door, he looked me in the eye and I saw a hint of sadness. "I'm sorry, Hermione."

Hermione, present time on Harry's couch

"After that he walked out the door. Alicia was born about a month later and I waited. I kept hoping that Chris would walk back through that door and forgive me. I wanted him to tell me that being a witch was okay. More than anything, I wanted him to accept his child but he never came back. Three days ago, my lease was up in Santa Monica and I knew I had to come home."