Part Three

Disclaimer: JKR owns it all, I just play around for kicks and giggles.

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There was a moment of silence. Molly shifted uncomfortably. “I must go find Arthur,” she said. She stood and walked over to Hermione, putting a hand on her shoulder. “I understand, my dear,” she whispered. Hermione closed her eyes shut and relaxed her shoulders. Molly acknowledged the gesture and walked out of the room.

“Are you alright, Hermione?” Ron asked. He glanced over at the older Order members who were seated across from him, slightly nodding his head towards the door.

“We’ll be outside,” Minerva said gently as she stood to take her leave, motioning for Fred and George to follow her. Remus and Tonks followed them out.

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“Hermione…” Ron started, but at the sound of the shutting door, Hermione sank to the floor, her body shaking.

“I can’t do it, Ron,” she choked. “I can’t hold it back…”

Ron wrapped his arms around his friend. “Sssh,” he said, rocking her back and forth as he would his baby daughter.

“He won’t remember me,” she sobbed, clutching at her best friend’s shirt. “Percy’s not stupid. He knows how to cast complicated spells, and it wasn’t poorly cast, either… It had meaning behind it.”

“There, there,” Ron said softly. “Only the best mediwizards work in Spell Damage… I’m sure they’ll be able to fix it…”

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Ten minutes later, Ron was still sitting with his back to the wall, holding Hermione. Her sobs were gradually lessening.

Ron looked up at the sound of the door cracking open, thankful that Hermione didn’t notice. Tonks peeked her head in. Ron shook his head.

She shut the door quietly and walked over to where Remus and Minerva stood.

“How is she?” Remus asked, a worried crease streaking his forehead.

“Not good,” Tonks said. “She’s still sobbing. Ron’s holding her. A right good mate, that boy is.”

“How serious do you think it is, Minerva?” Remus asked.

“I wish I could say I was optimistic,” Minerva said quietly. “But Percy knew what he was doing. And a permanent Obliviate…”

They stood in silence, contemplating the consequences.

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An hour later, Hermione and Ron were sitting in chairs in the waiting room. Minerva, Remus, and Tonks sat next to them.

Hermione’s hands were clenched together, her face like steel.

“Cho said they’d be out with the results ten minutes ago. I’m going to go ask,” Remus said, frustrated. He stood and went to the door.

He stopped short when Pansy Parkinson burst through the door, carrying a clipboard.

“Pansy.” Ron stood and walked over to embrace his wife. Pansy hugged her husband. “I don’t know what I would do if that were you,” she whispered.

“The results, please,” Remus said politely.

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“Well,” Pansy began, a bit flustered. “Do you want the good news or the bad news first?”

Hermione closed her eyes. Tonks reached over and squeezed one of her hands.

“The bad news is that there has been a good amount of damage done to his memory of the past few years. It was a deflected spell, too – bounced off something before it hit him, so the intensity wasn’t as forceful as a straight Obliviate. And it is probably due to his…” Pansy paused. “Rather incredible skill, really, that the spell didn’t do more damage than it did.”

“What does he remember?” Hermione asked tersely.