The Circle of Life
title: The Circle of Life
author: frozen_fiction
rating: PG <- may be subject to change
fandom: Harry Potter
ship: Harry Potter/Hermione Granger
word count: 2,051
quote: Harry looked up at Hermione, his jaw dropped slightly as he looked into her eyes. Hermione was on the verge of tears as she patted Zoe on the head gently.
The Circle of Life - Chapter 1
She was still uncertain as to what it had been that possessed her to perform such an act. Maybe it was the situation that caused her spur of the moment actions. All she knew was that when she looked into those big brown eyes that were filled with tears, she couldn’t just leave her behind. She felt an immediate connection with the young girl, though she didn’t know what. Blaming it most likely on the fact that she was so much like herself in appearance seemed the best option though. Her small, weak frame that held her head with brown ringlets that fell to her shoulders was shivering there in the pools of blood wreaked by the havoc of Lord Voldemort’s most recent attack. She stood ever so still as the tears spilt over the corners of her eyelids, as people ran back and forth around her screaming and wailing in despair.
‘Mummy and Daddy is gone.’
That was the answer Hermione Granger had been dreading to hear when she asked the girl where her family was. She bit her lower lip as she picked the girl up, she couldn’t very well leave her alone here in this madness.
‘Do you have any other family?’ She asked the little girl quietly as she carried her, trying desperately to find Harry, Ron or Draco.
‘Aaron gone too.’ She said sadly.
‘Aaron?’ Hermione pressed tentatively.
‘My little brother.’ The girl nodded.
‘Oh, I’m sorry.’ Hermione frowned as she held the girl closer still. The growing madness around her was starting to make her nervous as she still hadn’t spotted any of the boys. ‘Do you have any other family? Aunts or Uncles, what about Grandparents?’
‘They gone! All of them all gone!’ The girl wailed desperately as she wrapped her arms tightly around Hermione’s neck.
‘Oh dear.’ Hermione said quietly as tears began to brim in her own eyes. She felt sorry for this poor girl, she herself had just lost her parents to a particularly malicious Death Eater attack. The only difference here though was that she was not a little girl, she was old enough to take care of herself now. Now desperate to find Harry in particular she hugged the little girl tightly. ‘Do you have a name dear?’
‘Zoe.’ The little girl sniffed as she wiped away her stray tears with the back of her hand. ‘Will my Mummy be coming back?’ She whispered.
‘No Zoe,’ Hermione started sadly as the small child burst into a fresh bout of tears, ‘I’m going to take care of you though. I’m not going to let anything bad happen to you again ok?’
The girl nodded but pulled back away from her instantly, fear evident in her eyes. Hermione had stopped still to scan the horizon for her friends from the top of a slight rise off to the side of the worst of the commotion. Upon seeing the fear on the young girls face, she turned to face what was scaring her so much, moving instinctively to protect Zoe. She jumped when she came face to face with a somewhat startled Harry Potter.
‘Hermione, where-?’ He started but was unable to find the words to finish.
‘Her name is Zoe, her family was murdered in the attack. She has no one Harry.’
‘Hey Zoe, it’s ok, I’m Hermione’s friend; Harry.’
‘Hermione?’ Zoe squeaked.
‘That’s my name sweetie.’ Hermione smiled down at the confused little girl before turning back to Harry. ‘Harry, she’s cold and scared, please can I take her back to headquarters?’
‘What do you intend to do after that though Hermione?’ Harry spoke softly.
‘I don’t know!’ Hermione shrugged frustrated. ‘Adopt her.’
‘You would do that? I mean, you would really do that, cos that’s a huge responsibility Hermione.’
‘What? Now you’re saying I’m irresponsible?’ Hermione flared.
‘No, I’m just asking if you’re aware of the full enormity of what it is that you just suggested.’
‘Of course I am!’ Hermione sighed as she looked at the young girl. ‘Like the Ministry would allow it though.’
‘Why wouldn’t they?’ Harry demanded.
‘Oh come on Harry!’ Hermione started, looking him in the eye. ‘I’m only seventeen, they’d hardly see me fit!’
‘You’re seventeen and therefore legally of age. The way people live today they’d be surprised you haven’t already been popping out the babies yourself, so that would definitely go in your favour.’
‘Oh shut-up Harry!’ Hermione snarled.
‘Look Hermione, apply for the adoption if that’s what you really want. You have my full support and I will help you in any way I can. Now come on, lets get both of you out of here.’
Hermione couldn’t help but to give Harry an appreciative look as he took hold of her hand and dragged her off, away from the din. Hermione held on to Zoe tightly as she and Harry prepared to apparate.
‘Holding on tightly Zoe?’ Harry asked the sobbing girl, who tightened her arms around Hermione’s neck in response.
Hermione had always had a strong distaste for apparating; the sensations it sent through her body were enough to make her ill. It was much more difficult though when she was holding a squirming and crying child in her arms.
‘Zoe? Do you mind if I carry you while Hermione runs ahead of us to get some blankets to warm you up?’ Harry bent down a little, to look the girl in the eyes, trying to gain her trust.
‘Are you my new mummy?’ Zoe looked up at Hermione with almost pleading eyes as Hermione felt something stab at her heart. Her chest heaved as she handed Zoe over to Harry. ‘Are you my new daddy?’ She asked Harry, starting to sound thoroughly confused now.
Harry looked up at Hermione, his jaw dropped slightly as he looked into her eyes. Hermione was on the verge of tears as she patted Zoe on the head gently.
‘We’ll see sweatheart, we might be.’ She spoke, her voice cracking from emotion. Unable to look at Harry again, she ran inside and crept as quietly as she could past the old portrait of Mrs. Black. Once upstairs, she hurried up to the next level yet and ran into the linen cupboard.
She grabbed several thick, warm blankets, enough to wrap both herself, Zoe and Harry up. Shivering slightly, she hurried back downstairs to find Harry sitting in the kitchen with Zoe in his lap. Aside from Zoe though, Harry was alone. Hermione stopped suddenly as she realised that Harry was talking to Zoe quietly as he hugged.
‘I know what it’s like you know,’ he spoke sadly as his eyes became a little glassy, ‘to lose family. So does Hermione-’
‘Mummy!’ Zoe cut Harry off making him chuckle slightly.
‘Ok, Mummy knows what it’s like to lose family to you know.’ Hermione looked at the ground and bit her lip as tears began to well up in her eyes. She had just been at their funeral yesterday, this was just too much for her still. It only registered dimly with her over thoughts of her parents, that Zoe was demanding that she was her mother. ‘Her parents are gone now too.’
‘Oh, that’s sad.’ Zoe said. ‘When did Mummy’s family go?’
‘Last week.’ Harry spoke softly after a moment of silence.
‘Oh. What about you Daddy?’
‘Me?’ Harry laughed sadly as Zoe nodded. ‘My family left when I was little too. I was much younger than you when my family left though.’
‘You were littler than me?’ She asked, looking up at him in shock. ‘Why did they go?’
‘For the same reason yours did.’ Harry replied quietly. ‘How old are you anyway?’
Wriggling out of Harry’s arms, she turned herself around on his lap to face him and stuck one of her hands in front of his face, holding up four of her small little fingers.
‘Four? Wow, you’re a big girl aren’t you!’ Harry exclaimed pulling her up into another big hug as she beamed at him.
‘Four hey honey?’ Hermione asked, deciding that now was the time for her to step out of the shadows as she pulled a face of mock shock. ‘Wow, I would have never guessed!’ Harry smiled at Hermione as she walked over carrying the bundle of blankets. ‘I’ve got an idea!’ Hermione smiled as she moved around behind Harry so she could look at Zoe.
‘What is it Mummy?’ Zoe asked excitedly.
‘Why don’t we take you upstairs and get you warm and rugged up in bed, then Mummy and Daddy will read you a story?’ Hermione suggested, looking to Harry for support.
‘Yeah, that way you’re nice and comfy. We don’t want you getting a cold and getting sick now do we?’ Harry asked, looking at her seriously.
Zoe laughed as she contemplated her answer. ‘Ok! Just so long as you promise not to leave me alone after I go to sleep!’ She bargained with them.
Harry and Hermione shared a quick glance with each other, unsure of what they were going to do now.
‘Promise.’ Hermione spoke before Harry could protest.
Sometime later, they pair had rugged Zoe up in Hermione’s bed with extra blankets and had read her a story. Falling asleep just before the end of it, Harry and Hermione looked at her as slight smiles crept up onto their faces.
‘She’s cute, I’ll give her that much.’ Harry whispered.
‘She is, I can’t believe though that she’s calling us Mummy and Daddy!’
‘I know!’ Harry wrapped an arm around Hermione’s shoulders. ‘What are we going to do?’
‘About what?’
‘Everything.’
‘I need specifics Harry.’ Hermione looked at him sternly.
‘If you manage to adopt her Hermione, that means that yes, you are her Mum, but I’m not her Dad! I shouldn’t have allowed it in the first place. It’s not like we’re even a couple!’
Hermione flinched as Harry spoke those words. It was true, they weren’t a couple and had never been, so it was odd for her to be calling them ‘Mummy and Daddy’. It was part of the reason she had broken up with Ron too. She still rolled her eyes whenever she thought of her sheer stupidity at ever having done that. She did it though, to try and attract Harry’s attention. Hermione fancied Harry, failing dismally to hide it though, he still seemed oblivious to it.
‘Then there’s the fact that you made a promise to her that we wouldn’t go anywhere after she fell asleep.’ Harry looked at her pointedly. ‘What’s the plan Einstein?’
‘The plan,’ Hermione began whilst mock glaring at him as a slight blush reached her cheeks, ‘is that Ginny is still away at the moment in Romania visiting Bill and Fleur. I’ll sleep on the floor while you have Ginny’s bed.’
‘Rubbish! I’m not letting you sleep on the floor!’ Harry protested indignantly.
‘Well I’m not letting you sleep on the floor, so unless you’re suggesting that we share the bed; pipe down.’ Hermione snapped.
‘Get up.’ Harry snapped back as he climbed to his feet.
‘What?’
‘Get up!’ Harry repeated.
‘Harry,’ Hermione began as she clambered to her feet, ‘what are you doing?’
‘You’re not sleeping on the floor Hermione, I simply won’t allow it!’
‘Harry, I told you that I’m not going to let you sleep on the floor though.’ Hermione protested.
‘I know.’ He said simply as he reached Ginny’s bed and pulled back the covers, pushing Hermione down onto the bed and then under the covers.
‘Harry, no!’ Hermione said as she struggled to get out of bed as he begun to walk away.
‘Stay there Hermione or so help me.’ Harry said in an almost menacing voice.
Hermione slumped back into the covers, crossing her arms over her chest and beginning to sulk. The light flickered out as Harry hit the switch, then mere moments later, the bed sagged a little under his weight. Hermione felt her face go bright red as she realised that he was going to do what she had said. She relaxed as the warmth of his body washed over her as one of his arms snaked their way around her waist.
‘Now stop your complaining alright? Neither of us are sleeping on the floor.’ He whispered in her ear.
author: frozen_fiction
rating: PG <- may be subject to change
fandom: Harry Potter
ship: Harry Potter/Hermione Granger
word count: 2,051
quote: Harry looked up at Hermione, his jaw dropped slightly as he looked into her eyes. Hermione was on the verge of tears as she patted Zoe on the head gently.
The Circle of Life - Chapter 1
She was still uncertain as to what it had been that possessed her to perform such an act. Maybe it was the situation that caused her spur of the moment actions. All she knew was that when she looked into those big brown eyes that were filled with tears, she couldn’t just leave her behind. She felt an immediate connection with the young girl, though she didn’t know what. Blaming it most likely on the fact that she was so much like herself in appearance seemed the best option though. Her small, weak frame that held her head with brown ringlets that fell to her shoulders was shivering there in the pools of blood wreaked by the havoc of Lord Voldemort’s most recent attack. She stood ever so still as the tears spilt over the corners of her eyelids, as people ran back and forth around her screaming and wailing in despair.
‘Mummy and Daddy is gone.’
That was the answer Hermione Granger had been dreading to hear when she asked the girl where her family was. She bit her lower lip as she picked the girl up, she couldn’t very well leave her alone here in this madness.
‘Do you have any other family?’ She asked the little girl quietly as she carried her, trying desperately to find Harry, Ron or Draco.
‘Aaron gone too.’ She said sadly.
‘Aaron?’ Hermione pressed tentatively.
‘My little brother.’ The girl nodded.
‘Oh, I’m sorry.’ Hermione frowned as she held the girl closer still. The growing madness around her was starting to make her nervous as she still hadn’t spotted any of the boys. ‘Do you have any other family? Aunts or Uncles, what about Grandparents?’
‘They gone! All of them all gone!’ The girl wailed desperately as she wrapped her arms tightly around Hermione’s neck.
‘Oh dear.’ Hermione said quietly as tears began to brim in her own eyes. She felt sorry for this poor girl, she herself had just lost her parents to a particularly malicious Death Eater attack. The only difference here though was that she was not a little girl, she was old enough to take care of herself now. Now desperate to find Harry in particular she hugged the little girl tightly. ‘Do you have a name dear?’
‘Zoe.’ The little girl sniffed as she wiped away her stray tears with the back of her hand. ‘Will my Mummy be coming back?’ She whispered.
‘No Zoe,’ Hermione started sadly as the small child burst into a fresh bout of tears, ‘I’m going to take care of you though. I’m not going to let anything bad happen to you again ok?’
The girl nodded but pulled back away from her instantly, fear evident in her eyes. Hermione had stopped still to scan the horizon for her friends from the top of a slight rise off to the side of the worst of the commotion. Upon seeing the fear on the young girls face, she turned to face what was scaring her so much, moving instinctively to protect Zoe. She jumped when she came face to face with a somewhat startled Harry Potter.
‘Hermione, where-?’ He started but was unable to find the words to finish.
‘Her name is Zoe, her family was murdered in the attack. She has no one Harry.’
‘Hey Zoe, it’s ok, I’m Hermione’s friend; Harry.’
‘Hermione?’ Zoe squeaked.
‘That’s my name sweetie.’ Hermione smiled down at the confused little girl before turning back to Harry. ‘Harry, she’s cold and scared, please can I take her back to headquarters?’
‘What do you intend to do after that though Hermione?’ Harry spoke softly.
‘I don’t know!’ Hermione shrugged frustrated. ‘Adopt her.’
‘You would do that? I mean, you would really do that, cos that’s a huge responsibility Hermione.’
‘What? Now you’re saying I’m irresponsible?’ Hermione flared.
‘No, I’m just asking if you’re aware of the full enormity of what it is that you just suggested.’
‘Of course I am!’ Hermione sighed as she looked at the young girl. ‘Like the Ministry would allow it though.’
‘Why wouldn’t they?’ Harry demanded.
‘Oh come on Harry!’ Hermione started, looking him in the eye. ‘I’m only seventeen, they’d hardly see me fit!’
‘You’re seventeen and therefore legally of age. The way people live today they’d be surprised you haven’t already been popping out the babies yourself, so that would definitely go in your favour.’
‘Oh shut-up Harry!’ Hermione snarled.
‘Look Hermione, apply for the adoption if that’s what you really want. You have my full support and I will help you in any way I can. Now come on, lets get both of you out of here.’
Hermione couldn’t help but to give Harry an appreciative look as he took hold of her hand and dragged her off, away from the din. Hermione held on to Zoe tightly as she and Harry prepared to apparate.
‘Holding on tightly Zoe?’ Harry asked the sobbing girl, who tightened her arms around Hermione’s neck in response.
Hermione had always had a strong distaste for apparating; the sensations it sent through her body were enough to make her ill. It was much more difficult though when she was holding a squirming and crying child in her arms.
‘Zoe? Do you mind if I carry you while Hermione runs ahead of us to get some blankets to warm you up?’ Harry bent down a little, to look the girl in the eyes, trying to gain her trust.
‘Are you my new mummy?’ Zoe looked up at Hermione with almost pleading eyes as Hermione felt something stab at her heart. Her chest heaved as she handed Zoe over to Harry. ‘Are you my new daddy?’ She asked Harry, starting to sound thoroughly confused now.
Harry looked up at Hermione, his jaw dropped slightly as he looked into her eyes. Hermione was on the verge of tears as she patted Zoe on the head gently.
‘We’ll see sweatheart, we might be.’ She spoke, her voice cracking from emotion. Unable to look at Harry again, she ran inside and crept as quietly as she could past the old portrait of Mrs. Black. Once upstairs, she hurried up to the next level yet and ran into the linen cupboard.
She grabbed several thick, warm blankets, enough to wrap both herself, Zoe and Harry up. Shivering slightly, she hurried back downstairs to find Harry sitting in the kitchen with Zoe in his lap. Aside from Zoe though, Harry was alone. Hermione stopped suddenly as she realised that Harry was talking to Zoe quietly as he hugged.
‘I know what it’s like you know,’ he spoke sadly as his eyes became a little glassy, ‘to lose family. So does Hermione-’
‘Mummy!’ Zoe cut Harry off making him chuckle slightly.
‘Ok, Mummy knows what it’s like to lose family to you know.’ Hermione looked at the ground and bit her lip as tears began to well up in her eyes. She had just been at their funeral yesterday, this was just too much for her still. It only registered dimly with her over thoughts of her parents, that Zoe was demanding that she was her mother. ‘Her parents are gone now too.’
‘Oh, that’s sad.’ Zoe said. ‘When did Mummy’s family go?’
‘Last week.’ Harry spoke softly after a moment of silence.
‘Oh. What about you Daddy?’
‘Me?’ Harry laughed sadly as Zoe nodded. ‘My family left when I was little too. I was much younger than you when my family left though.’
‘You were littler than me?’ She asked, looking up at him in shock. ‘Why did they go?’
‘For the same reason yours did.’ Harry replied quietly. ‘How old are you anyway?’
Wriggling out of Harry’s arms, she turned herself around on his lap to face him and stuck one of her hands in front of his face, holding up four of her small little fingers.
‘Four? Wow, you’re a big girl aren’t you!’ Harry exclaimed pulling her up into another big hug as she beamed at him.
‘Four hey honey?’ Hermione asked, deciding that now was the time for her to step out of the shadows as she pulled a face of mock shock. ‘Wow, I would have never guessed!’ Harry smiled at Hermione as she walked over carrying the bundle of blankets. ‘I’ve got an idea!’ Hermione smiled as she moved around behind Harry so she could look at Zoe.
‘What is it Mummy?’ Zoe asked excitedly.
‘Why don’t we take you upstairs and get you warm and rugged up in bed, then Mummy and Daddy will read you a story?’ Hermione suggested, looking to Harry for support.
‘Yeah, that way you’re nice and comfy. We don’t want you getting a cold and getting sick now do we?’ Harry asked, looking at her seriously.
Zoe laughed as she contemplated her answer. ‘Ok! Just so long as you promise not to leave me alone after I go to sleep!’ She bargained with them.
Harry and Hermione shared a quick glance with each other, unsure of what they were going to do now.
‘Promise.’ Hermione spoke before Harry could protest.
Sometime later, they pair had rugged Zoe up in Hermione’s bed with extra blankets and had read her a story. Falling asleep just before the end of it, Harry and Hermione looked at her as slight smiles crept up onto their faces.
‘She’s cute, I’ll give her that much.’ Harry whispered.
‘She is, I can’t believe though that she’s calling us Mummy and Daddy!’
‘I know!’ Harry wrapped an arm around Hermione’s shoulders. ‘What are we going to do?’
‘About what?’
‘Everything.’
‘I need specifics Harry.’ Hermione looked at him sternly.
‘If you manage to adopt her Hermione, that means that yes, you are her Mum, but I’m not her Dad! I shouldn’t have allowed it in the first place. It’s not like we’re even a couple!’
Hermione flinched as Harry spoke those words. It was true, they weren’t a couple and had never been, so it was odd for her to be calling them ‘Mummy and Daddy’. It was part of the reason she had broken up with Ron too. She still rolled her eyes whenever she thought of her sheer stupidity at ever having done that. She did it though, to try and attract Harry’s attention. Hermione fancied Harry, failing dismally to hide it though, he still seemed oblivious to it.
‘Then there’s the fact that you made a promise to her that we wouldn’t go anywhere after she fell asleep.’ Harry looked at her pointedly. ‘What’s the plan Einstein?’
‘The plan,’ Hermione began whilst mock glaring at him as a slight blush reached her cheeks, ‘is that Ginny is still away at the moment in Romania visiting Bill and Fleur. I’ll sleep on the floor while you have Ginny’s bed.’
‘Rubbish! I’m not letting you sleep on the floor!’ Harry protested indignantly.
‘Well I’m not letting you sleep on the floor, so unless you’re suggesting that we share the bed; pipe down.’ Hermione snapped.
‘Get up.’ Harry snapped back as he climbed to his feet.
‘What?’
‘Get up!’ Harry repeated.
‘Harry,’ Hermione began as she clambered to her feet, ‘what are you doing?’
‘You’re not sleeping on the floor Hermione, I simply won’t allow it!’
‘Harry, I told you that I’m not going to let you sleep on the floor though.’ Hermione protested.
‘I know.’ He said simply as he reached Ginny’s bed and pulled back the covers, pushing Hermione down onto the bed and then under the covers.
‘Harry, no!’ Hermione said as she struggled to get out of bed as he begun to walk away.
‘Stay there Hermione or so help me.’ Harry said in an almost menacing voice.
Hermione slumped back into the covers, crossing her arms over her chest and beginning to sulk. The light flickered out as Harry hit the switch, then mere moments later, the bed sagged a little under his weight. Hermione felt her face go bright red as she realised that he was going to do what she had said. She relaxed as the warmth of his body washed over her as one of his arms snaked their way around her waist.
‘Now stop your complaining alright? Neither of us are sleeping on the floor.’ He whispered in her ear.