Hero of the Story || James Potter x Hermione Granger Fanfiction

extra 4 | darkness exists to make light truly count

Summary: Hermione offered to show them what their future might have been if she wasn't reborn as Hermione Pettigrew.
Rating: T
Warnings: Angst, Some cussing
Characters: Hermione Pettigrew-Potter, James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, Regulus Black, Lily Evans-Snape, Severus Snape, Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter, Iris Snape

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4.

darkness exists to make light truly count

(Uneven Odds by Sleeping at Last)

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July 10, 1979

"Miss Pettigrew, our scheduled attack of the basilisk is two days from now," Headmaster Dumbledore greeted when Hermione strode inside his office. "Is something the matter? For you to request to meet with me today?"

Hermione awkwardly shifted on her feet, an uncertain look now crossing her freckled face. "I promised I'd let you show my memories... Hermione Granger's memories," she explained. Dumbledore's blue eyes shone with understanding. "I came here wondering if today's the right time to start doing that."

The old wizard grew silent, weaving his fingers together to stare at Hermione with his uncomfortable, calculating gaze. "I do trust you, Hermione," he deliberately started. "I think our conversation back at Potter Manor already proved that your tale, albeit terribly bewildering, was true. Perhaps, surrendering your memories will not be necessary anymore."

The brunette sighed and plopped down on one of the couches, uninvited. "Her memories are starting to... fade," she confessed, her eyebrows meeting at the middle. "If we want to bring down Voldemort, we cannot afford to miss any important details."

Dumbledore's lips drew into a grim line. "You are intelligent, Hermione," he stated matter-of-factly. "I think you know what the consequences are when extracting memories to be viewed on the Pensive."

Hermione paled. Of course, she knew that. If she had to extract memories from her mind, she had to remember. Every detail. Which meant she had to relieve all the horrors she had undergone in the past before she found herself reborn as a different person.

"I've... I've read somewhere," she quietly said, "that to help those who are suffering from terrible nightmares, extracting memories that trigger such may be helpful."

Dumbledore sighed and wearily leaned behind his chair. "I do not wish to subject you to any more distress, Hermione," he said. "Triggering your trauma, and processing through them, maybe helpful, yes, but I'm afraid it will bring more harm than benefit to you right now. You have yet to collect the last horcrux; we haven't killed the basilisk. This may be selfish, but I am the leader of the Resistance, Hermione, and we need you."

Tears pooled in her eyes as she shakily took a deep breath. "As I said, I am starting to forget," she murmured.

The Headmaster's eyes softened. "And like I said, I trust you," he said. "I don't need your memories anymore."

She miserably slumped and tightly closed her eyes. "I just want some of the nightmares to go away." Her voice was barely a whisper, not even bothering to wipe away the tears now sliding down on her cheeks. Most of the days, she was managing, especially now that she had to focus on her horcrux hunt with the Order and subsequent destruction of the evil artefacts. But there were some days, terrible, terrible days, when hauling herself out of her bed was already difficult.