The two came into view and Hydrus's breath stuck. He didn't realize it would affect him so to see the young version of his friend. Yet, there she was, her hair not quite as bushy and her front teeth not yet as pronounced. But there was no doubt it was Hermione. His eyes watered a bit, seeing the girl so young and full of life. He had fleeting thoughts as to what his Hermione was doing in the other timeline. Was she well? Did she set up dates for George like she said she would? Was her job still just as rewarding? Was she still befriending her parents? Seeing this younger version of her made him miss his best friend all the more.
It had sorta been like that the first time he saw the twins. Seeing Fred alive made the nightmares of the war come back for a week. Listening to the two of them finish each other's sentences had brought back memories and he had to see his counselor weekly for a month after that. He wondered if the same was going to happen now.
Triggers it was called, he knew them well after being back he had a few. This however was the most emotional he had gotten since his return. Hermione had been a bigger part of his life than anyone alive. She had been his anchor. He stood there trying to pull himself together, making a mental note to call the clinic.
"You don't have to play if you don't want to, but you need to be in the sun," Grace continued the argument; bringing Hydrus back to the present. Sirius gave him an inquisitive look and the immortal just shook his head and mouthed 'later'.
"I can be in the sun in the back garden," the child snapped, hugging her book closer to her chest as if it were a shield.
"Hermione, sweetie, try to make some friends," the blonde woman cooed, running her hand over her charges hair in a soothing gesture.
The little girl looked over the playground and her nose scrunched. "They're all boys." She hugged her book tighter and stomped her foot. "Boys are mean. They always make fun of me," she added with a sad tone.
"No, look there are some girls by the swings," the nanny corrected, pointing to the group of girls playing in the sandbox.
Hermione looked at the group with a bit of longing, but she didn't have any good memories of girls either.
Grace looked up and saw the two Blacks and a smile lit her face. "Come on, there's some people I want you to meet. Then if you want you can go and read under that tree over there," she said pointing to a large oak, just outside the playground near the benches.
The two females made their way to where the men sat. Hydrus and Sirius stood as they approached.
"Grace, it's good to see you again," Hydrus said as he took her hand and bussed the knuckles. "This is my cousin, Sirius," he said waving to the man on his left.
"Pleasure," Sirius said, also kissing the hand offered to him.
"Hydrus, it's good to see you as well," she giggled, making Hermione roll her eyes. "Sirius, it's nice to meet you. This is my charge, Hermione," Grace added pulling the upset girl forward. Hermione merely glared at the two men as if it were their fault she had to be there. Hydrus looked at the younger version of his friend and gave her a soft smile. "Hermione, be nice. Where is Harry?" she asked looking around. "I want to introduce them."
"Oi, Harry, come here a minute," Sirius called to the dark-haired boy. Hydrus, once again, pulled himself together.
"Tummin'" the child replied as he broke away from the group of boys and ran to his uncles.
"Harry," the immortal said when the boy was closer, "this is Grace and her charge, Hermione. Be nice."
"Otay," the boy pouted. "Hi. It is nice to meet ya," he added shyly.
"Oh, aren't you adorable," Grace said sweetly and knelt down to his level and held out her hand. When Harry shook it, like he'd been taught, she stood and said, "Harry, this it Hermione." Introducing her again and indicating the bushy-haired girl. "Hermione, this is Harry." She gave the boy another soft smile.
"Pleasure," Hermione said, ducking behind Grace. She didn't have a good history meeting other kids, they always teased her.
"Do you want to tum and play pirates with us?" Harry asked, peeking around the adult woman's legs.
"I've never played pirates before. Do you act like real pirates? I've read all about them and they are not nice people." She shuddered at the thought of boys and swords.
"Nay, it's all make-believe," Harry waved off her concern. "We're being good pirates and rescuin' 'amsels in atressed," he said with a huge smile. "You can be who we rescue."
"Don't you mean damsels in distress?" Hermione asked, thinking the boy must be stupid if he couldn't talk right.
"That's what I said," the green-eyed boy said, a bit confused.
"Hermione, what did I tell you about correcting people your age?" chided Grace as she gently lifted the girls face to look at her.
"That I'm smarter than most people my age and I have to be nice to them," quoted the bookworm. "But how are they going to learn if no one corrects them?"
"That is up to their parents or in this case his uncles. You're still a little girl and if you want to make friends you shouldn't correct people," Grace said softly, running her hands over that bushy hair. She always worried about the little genius making friends. The girl will start school soon and she wouldn't need a nanny anymore, so Grace was trying to instill some values on her before she left.
"Wow," Harry said, breaking the heavy mood, "are you really that smart? You read and everythin'? I am learnin' how to spell, and my Uncle Hydrus," he pointed to the oldest Black, "says I'm really good at talking for a four and a half year old." He puffed out his little chest and beamed with pride.
"That you are, Harry," the time traveler said, ruffling the ever messy hair.
"So, do you want to play with us?" Harry asked again.
"As long as I don't have to get dirty," Hermione sighed and handed her book to Grace.
....
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