Fated

Chapter 3: Forgotten Promise

Disclaimer: All the characters belong to J.K Rowling & Stephenie Meyer
* * *
Summer, 1999
It’s been a year since the final battle. Hermione had just graduated with the highest score ever records on Hogwarts’ history. And after countless ball and award to celebrate the end of the darkest war of Magical Britain history, she decided that it’s time to get away for a while and try to mend the fracture bond with her parents. The two dentists understood the reason she need to erase their memories and shipped them off to another country, but the hurt is still there. Besides, she need her space now that she broke up with Ron. She was tired of their countless argument on how they should just get married straight after graduation and be a homemaker while Ron goes through his Auror training. No offense to Molly, but she refuses to be just another Molly Weasley, popping kids every year or so while sitting idly in their home. She ended them and made it clear that she would never take him back. She wants to have a career, and that’s why she tried so hard to be the best in everything she does.
So this summer, they decided to take a long holiday and travel around America. Hawaii, Florida, and some other destination before ending the last two weeks in Forks, Washington, the place where her mother's born and grow up in.
It was when they arrived that they heard about Sarah Black’s death, and her funeral would be held the next day. They agreed to go together with Charlie.
Billy Black, the family patriarch stood tall, while countless people offered their condolences. But Hermione can see the way his shoulder slouched a little, as if he’s now bearing down the weight of the world on his shoulders. His children that also involve in the accident are mostly unharmed with only a few minor injuries, so they too attended the funeral. The twins, Rachel and Rebecca are mostly crying, but it was Little Jake that makes her worried.
He looks a lot like Harry after Sirius’ death. She knows if he’s anything like Harry, brooding alone would do no good. So after the funeral, she decided to not let the kid anywhere alone. She followed him to the beach -First Beach, if she’s not mistaken-, where the boy sits on one of the wood logs. She let him sit alone for ten minutes before she approach the boy.
“Hi, may I sit here?”She asked.
The boy just looks at her briefly before watching the waves again. “I’m Hermione Granger. You’re Jake, right?”
Silence. “You know Jake, the first time I met you, you were just a toddler. You like to run around in your backyard, playing ball with your father while me, your mom and siblings watch from the porch swing.”
More silence, but she can detect a little pain on his face when she mentions the boy’s mom.
“Oookay, so you don’t want to talk, I’ll just tell you a story instead.”He doesn’t talk, but a little twitch on his ear let her know that he’s interested. It was a split decision when she decided to tell him about the magical world. He’s just a kid, anyway, so even if he told anyone about the story, everyone would think that it just kids fantasy story. “Once upon a time, there's a wizard named Harry Potter. His parents are murdered by a bad wizard named Voldemort, so Harry had to live with his Aunt, Uncle and cousin.” She told him about how cruel his relatives treat him -child-approved version, of course-, and finally how he came to know about the magical world. “On the train to the best magical school in the world, he met her two best friends, Ron Weasley and...Let just call her Hermione Granger, shall we?” She laugh at her own joke. She proceeds to tell him about her adventure with Harry and Ron on her first year.
They did it for the next seven days, a year worth story per day. Every day, she and her parents drove to La Push where they would be joined by Charlie after his shift to help the Blacks with cleaning, cooking, or even just sat there to give them company. And every day, Jake would go to the First Beach and Hermione would follow him there, telling him stories about what she named the Harry Potter’s Adventure.
“-so Harry defeated Voldemort and save the wizarding world.” She said ending her story. Since he still doesn’t talk, Hermione let the waves sound fill the silence between them. She’s closing her eyes, enjoying the calm breeze of the wind.
“That Harry guy,” a voice croaked -a sign of the rare use- at her, making her eyes snapped open instantly. ‘-he’s very brave.”
Hermione smiles. “He is, isn’t he? But you know Jake, that doesn’t mean that he’s not scared.”
The boy furrowed his eyebrow in confusion.
“Oh, he’s scared alright. He’s scared for the magical people, he’s scared for his friends, and even scared for his life. But what do you think makes him to be the bravest person he is?”
“I... I don’t know.”
“Being brave is not being fearless, but doing everything you can despite your fears. You know, Professor Dumbledore once said, there would be a time to choose between what is right, and what is easy. It would be easy to run away, Jake, but no matter how far he goes, the problem would just only following him. See, he choose what is right and face his problems, and that’s why he can beat them.”
“I... I don’t know if I can be brave like him.”
“Yes, you can, Jake. You just have to face whatever it is to beat them.”
“But I’m scared.”
“Tell me, Jake, what is it that make you scared?” She said, placing her hand on his shoulder.
“I... I’m scared that Dad hates me.” The boy is on the brink of tears, so Hermione pulls him on her patented hug.
“Oh, Jake, I’m sure your dad would never hate you. What is it that makes you think that?”
“Because it was my fault. I was shouting at Rach and Becca because of a silly thing. Mom said to just let it go, but I don’t like it when my sisters gang up on me, so I just keep shouting. Mom had enough and shout at us to just stop, and that’s when Mom hit the other car. It was all my fault, if only I just let it go, Mom won’t be dead and Dad won’t ignore me.” He said between his sobs. She just pats his back lightly while he cried on her shoulder. She was right all along. It was Survivor guilt. Just like Harry blames himself for Sirius’ death, Jake also blames himself for his mother's death.
“I’m sure your Dad’s not doing it on purpose. What makes you think that?”
“I just know it. Dad never talks to me since the doctors said Mom’s gone. He always with Rach or Becca.”
“Have you ever tried to talk to your dad?”
She feels the boy shake his head on her shoulder. Hermione squeezes him tighter once and let her hugs go to see the boy's face, red and blotchy with tears still flowing from his eyes.
“How did you know if you never tried?”
The boy just looks at his hands in shame. Hermione, not having it, put her hand on his face, coaching him to look at her face.
“Do you remember the story about Sirius Black? How everyone in magical world ‘just know’ that he is the Potters betrayer?” She asked. The boy nodded.
“What do you think would happen if they just tried and give him a fair trial so everyone can know that he really is innocent?”
“He... he would be free and not in prison. He can take care of Harry, too, so Harry doesn’t have to live with his aunt and uncle and cousin. And.. and Harry would be happy.” He listed all the possibilities. Hermione smiles.
“There. You see, you’ll never know if you never tried.”
“But... what if Dad is really ignoring me?”
“Listen, earlier last year I made a big mistake. My parents are hurt because of that, but when I talked to them about why I do what I did, they forgive me. Why? Because no matter what, my parents love me. And I’m sure your dad loves you, too.”
The boy still looks unsure.
“Okay, how about this. If -and it’s a big if- your dad is really ignoring you, I will buy you whatever you wants, toys, books, ice cream, you named it. And if it’s not the case, I’ll still treat you ice cream on that Ice cream parlor in Forks.”
The boy thought about it. No matter what, he’ll still get ice cream out of it, and ice cream is a great treat for the nine year old kid.
He nodded.
“Come on, let’s get back to your house.” Said Hermione, extending her hand for the boy to take.
As they walk trough the dirt road Hermione notice that the boy is so deep in thought. She squeezed his hand a bit tighter, making the boy look at her.
“What are you thinking, Jake?”
“I think that Harry can be brave because he always have his best friend with him.”
Hermione smiles. “Yeah, he always has Hermione and Ron.”
“No, not Ron.” The boy protest. “He’s not that great of a friend because he left him twice. I mean his bestest friend, Herms.”
“Well, he’s still his best friend, though. And it’s Hermione, not Herms. Her-my-oh-knee. Got it?”
“Her-mine?”
“No, Jake. Her-my-oh-knee.”
“Mine.”
“My-oh-knee.”
“My- ugh, it's so hard! I’ll just call her Mine. So I’ll call you Mine, too.” The boy insists.
The said girl just sighed. “Okay, Jake, we’ll just have to agree to disagree on this.”
“Does it mean you’ll be my bestest friend, too?” He asked hesitantly.
She smiles. “If that’s what you want, Jake.”
“Then you’re my bestest friend now, Mine.”And for the first time since the accident, the boy smiled his radiant smile.
When the two arrived at the Black's house, the Grangers, Charlie Swan and Billy Black are sitting in the front porch, sipping afternoon tea. The twins said they’ll be having a sleepover at the Clearwaters house. The boy step faltered as he caught a sight of his father. Hermione steps in front of the boy and bent down so her face is on his face level.
“Remember, Jake. Don’t ever run away.” She said. “Promise?”
The boy nodded. He squared his shoulder and walk swiftly straight to his dad.
“Dad, do you think we can talk?”  The boy nervously ask.
The adults, saw it as something very private then said their goodbyes to the Blacks. Before entering their rental car, Hermione hugs the boy and kiss his cheek.
“No matter what, Jake. I owe you an ice cream treat.” She said before finally entering the car, leaving the boy she just kissed blushing hard under his russet skin.
* * *
TBC. Do you want me to add Jacob’s POV of the whole Imprinting thing?