Mrs. Granger carried a breakfast tray, with Anne following behind. Crookshanks kept weaving around Anne's legs, meowing for attention. Anne gently coaxed the cat, eventually managing to distract him with some food.
They arrived at Hermione's bedroom door. Anne took the heavy tray from Mrs. Granger, balancing it carefully, plates full of toast, eggs, and fruit.
Mrs. Granger knocked. "Hermione, time to get up, dear. You can't skip breakfast!"
There was a rustle of movement inside. "Okay, Mum, I'm coming," Hermione called out sleepily.
The door opened. Hermione rubbed her eyes, but when she looked up, she froze in shock. Her eyes locked onto Anne. "Anne? What, what are you doing here?"
"Is that how you greet a guest?" Mrs. Granger chided gently. "Anne's here to see you. She came by early, said it was important. Go on in and talk, I'll be nearby if you need anything."
She patted Anne's shoulder warmly and nudged the door open wider so Anne could step inside.
"If you need more tea, just call me," Mrs. Granger added before quietly closing the door behind her.
Hermione still looked stunned, unable to process what was happening. Anne set the tray on Hermione's tidy desk. The only thing on it was a single open book, Advanced Spellwork Explained, lying face down. Anne flipped it over. The current page was all about Obliviate and Memory Modification Charms.
Hermione reached out instinctively to close the book, but Anne lifted it out of her reach, her voice tinged with restrained anger.
"Really, Hermione? Obliviate? Memory Modification? Who exactly were you planning to deceive, your parents? Or me?"
Anne glanced around the room. It was spotless, except for the rumpled bedsheets and a familiar-looking box on the nightstand.
And Hermione… she wasn't wearing pajamas. She was already dressed, jeans, jacket, and shoes. Ready to leave.
"All packed up, huh? Planning to disappear today?" Anne's voice grew sharper, despite her efforts to stay calm. "If I hadn't figured it out last night, why you've been dodging questions about your summer plans, why you insisted Harry and Ron leave us alone under that tree… were you seriously going to just vanish with Harry? Not even tell me where you're going? And that box, you, "
Anne stopped mid-sentence. Hermione's eyes were filled with tears. Big, heavy drops began to fall silently down her cheeks.
Just like that, Anne's frustration vanished. Her anger melted into a painful kind of tenderness, angry at herself, heart aching for Hermione.
She sighed, set the book aside, and stepped forward to wrap Hermione in a hug.
Hermione clung to her tightly, burying her face in Anne's shoulder. Her sobs only grew louder. Anne rubbed her back gently, half-exasperated, half-affectionate. "You really are impossible, you know that?"
It took a long moment before Hermione finally choked out, "Anne, "
"I'm here," Anne said softly.
"Anne, " Hermione whispered again.
"I'm always here," Anne murmured, kissing Hermione lightly on the forehead. She reached down and pulled the necklace pendant out from where it was tucked beneath Hermione's shirt.
"Remember what I told you when I gave you this?" Anne whispered. "Sure, everyone has their own path, but my path has been tied to yours for a long time now. As long as you don't push me away, I'll always be right here."
"Anne, I just…" Hermione sniffled, struggling to find the words. "I was scared. What Dumbledore told Harry, it's so dangerous. Voldemort is so powerful, and… Dumbledore's gone. I never imagined he could die."
"So that's it?" Anne gently wiped away Hermione's tears, looking her in the eye. "You thought you'd sneak off with Harry and Ron, do this crazy dangerous thing, and just… leave me behind? Use a memory charm on your parents so they won't be targeted? All on your own?"
Hermione, cheeks flushed, gave a small nod.
"You idiot," Anne muttered fondly. She guided Hermione over to the desk and dabbed her face with a handkerchief. "Are you hungry? If you don't eat soon, breakfast's going cold."
Even as she sat down, Hermione didn't let go of Anne's hand. In fact, she held it tighter. She looked up, serious. "It's really dangerous," she said, stressing every word.
"I know," Anne replied. "But I'm already in too deep to walk away. What, are you going to hex me now and erase my memories too?"
Hermione shook her head, a faint smile flickering through the tears.
"Then eat." Anne set a plate with toast and milk in front of her, then poured herself some tea. She took a sip and added, "Honestly, I probably should've told you earlier. But the timing never felt right. I was waiting until after tonight's meeting."
"What meeting?" Hermione asked, frowning.
"I can't tell just you," Anne said. "This is something I need to say to all three of you Gryffindor troublemakers. But you'll know soon enough."
"Oh." Hermione nodded and quietly started eating.
Halfway through her toast, she looked up. "I'm supposed to go to the Burrow today. I promised Harry."
Anne had already picked up the box from the nightstand and brought it over. "Of course you are. I was planning to talk to all of you tonight at the Burrow anyway."
She held the box out to Hermione and added seriously, "Next time you try to leave this behind, I'm really going to get mad."
Hermione took the box, shaking her head. "I wasn't going to leave it… not really. But if I couldn't come back, then it, "
"Stop," Anne said sharply, cutting her off. "Don't say things like that."
Hermione clutched the box tightly, tucking it into her handbag. Then she reached forward and hugged Anne again.
"I was going to modify my parents' memories," she whispered. "Make them believe they were called Wendell and Monica Wilkins. That their lifelong dream was to move to Australia. That way, if Voldemort came looking for me or Harry, he wouldn't be able to get to them."
Anne knelt in front of her, and Hermione wrapped her arms around her neck. Her eyes were red again. This time, Anne didn't hesitate, she kissed Hermione gently, silencing her trembling lips.
"Hermione," she said softly, "let me handle your parents' safety, alright? The British Ministry has zero influence in Asia and can move them there, quietly and safely. And honestly? I think they'd do really well. I also think… you should tell them the truth."
"Not everything, obviously. You don't have to share classified secrets. But they deserve to know that their daughter is a brave Gryffindor who's about to do something truly meaningful. If you succeed, you'll save the entire wizarding world."
"But what if they say no?" Hermione asked in a small voice.
"You're underestimating your parents. They're doctors, they've seen life and death. If this mission is what you're committed to, I believe they'll understand. And once you have their support, maybe this path won't feel so terrifying."
She added gently, "Yes, they'll worry, but that's no excuse to take away their right to know."
Hermione's eyes filled with doubt again, torn.
"If it comes to that," Anne said firmly, "I'll talk to them myself."
She hugged Hermione tighter. "Anyway, there's still time. You're not out the door yet. When were you planning to leave for the Burrow?"
Hermione shook her head. "I don't know. I was thinking right after breakfast."
"How about after lunch?" Anne suggested. "I'll drive you there. Once the meeting's over tonight, I'll explain everything. Then I can bring you home and we can talk to your parents. Besides, summer's just started. You haven't even celebrated my birthday yet."
"You're having lunch here?" Hermione asked.
"Of course. Why not?" Anne grinned. "What, did your mum scold you this morning only for you to start kicking me out now?"
Hermione burst into laughter, kissed Anne on the cheek, and said, "No way. Want to try my cooking? My mushroom soup and beef stew are pretty good."
Anne's eyes sparkled. "Absolutely yes!"
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The complete release can be accessed through Patreon.com/Crimson_Lore