Hermione moaned groggily as the lig

Hermione moaned groggily as the lights above her swam into view hazily. A crowd of faces were staring down at her where she lay, on her back on the hard wood floor of the Sunset Inn. The three faces closest to her belonged to her mother, her father and a woman that she vaguely remembered meeting. As she looked into her eyes it again dawned on her who she was in the presence of. Someone until a few seconds ago she had believed dead for over 14 years.

Lily Potter.. Harry's mother..

"No.. You're dead!" Hermione exclaimed feverishly, looking up into the eyes of Lily Potter.

Lily looked at Hermione in shock. "What did you say..?"

"Hermione.. Are you alright?" Her father asked urgently interrupting, looking at her in concern.

Lily paled slightly, biting her lip, staring at Hermione with a peculiar expression on her face. How did this girl know who she was? Did she really know? Or was her comment part of some hallucination brought on by her fainting. After all, how could a fifteen year old know that Lily Potter was supposed to be dead? She thought she would be safe, but now she was not so sure. She regretted being so naïve in the giving of her real name almost instantly, but she knew there was always the memory charm to fall back on..

Hermione shook her head wearily to clear her vision and regain her senses. "Fine.. I'm fine dad."

"What the hell happened?" He said in shock.

"I.. I don't know.. I just got so dizzy.."

Hermione's mother gave John a knowing glance. "It must be the baby, Dear. The lack of sleep and lack of food on top of being pregnant will have worn her out. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea.."

"No Mum." Hermione said in alarm, her eyes darting between her mother, father, and Mrs. Potter. "I'm fine now. Really. I need to know that he's OK."

"Everyone stand back please, give her some air." Lily said loudly, snapping out of her troubled thoughts and staring down the crowd who had flocked over to have a look.

As the crowd dissipated Lily moved over Hermione to examine her. "You're pregnant?" she asked for confirmation.

Hermione nodded wearily.

"How far along?" Lily prompted her, still looking slightly shaken.

"About seven weeks, I think.." Hermione tried to think.

"And she hasn't been eating or sleeping?" Lily fired at Hermione's mother and father.

"Well no.. she's been so worried about .."

"Mum! I'm fine. Stop fussing.." Hermione cut her off urgently.

Lily ignored her and yanked her shirt up a little, placing her bare palm on Hermione's stomach.

"What are you doing?" Hermione, her father and her mother all said in unison.

"Checking on the baby. Don't panic." Lily said with a bemused smile, "Baby is fine. You on the other hand, are physically drained and in need of decent food and a good night's sleep."

Hermione looked up at the grandmother of her unborn child, frowning down at her in concern. She still could not believe that this woman was Harry's mother, what's more, Harry's supposedly dead mother. She couldn't help but wondering if this was all some kind of bizarre dream brought on by the lack of food and sleep they were discussing. Lily looked down at her with a stern gaze, that told her much more than her words did. Not eating and avoiding sleep was a stupid thing to do when you are pregnant..

"I'll be able to sleep a whole lot better when I've seen him." She said quietly.

Lily frowned and got to her feet, looking down at Hermione who looked rather pale. "Can you stand?"

"Of course." Hermione said indignantly, slightly irritated. "I'm pregnant, not disabled."

She sat up and struggled to her feet, her father grabbing her arm to steady her as Lily couldn't help but grin.

"Sit down." Lily said, pulling up a chair for her.

"Thanks.." Hermione said, trying not to stare at the mother of her best friend in a way that may provoke questions.

Her father helped her into her seat, causing her to groan in annoyance, before pulling up a chair for his wife then himself. Lily returned to her seat opposite Hermione and sat down, clasping her hands underneath her jaw and looking at Hermione intently.

"Are you sure you are well?" Lily asked again in concern.

"I'm fine. I promise." Hermione said in a dismissive voice. "I just want to know he's OK.."

Lily nodded. "Very well. But first.. Perhaps you should introduce me to your parents?" She asked with a small smile.

"Oh.." Hermione said apologetically. " Lily, this is My father, Jonathan Granger.."

"How do you do?" Jonathan said holding out his hand to shake Lily's.

"And my mother, Julia Granger" Hermione continued.

"Nice to meet you." Her mother said with a smile.

"Mum, Dad, This is Lily.." Hermione paused.

"..Potter." Lily finished for her, mistaking her pause for a memory lapse.

"Potter?" Jonathan said in surprise. "Is she a relation of ..?" He asked, turning to Hermione.

Hermione kicked his ankle so hard that he yelped, as she said "No Dad, I don't believe she is."

"Relation of?" Lily asked in confusion.

Jonathan's eyes were watering so hard that he could barely see Lily staring at him.

"Just a friend of mine.. A much older friend." Hermione said as she looked at her father, her eyes boring into his meaningfully. Jonathan had no idea what was going on, why he was being kicked or why he was being silenced. All he knew was that he was getting increasingly angry at his youngest daughter, and was very close to calling her out on her lies.

"I see.." Lily said quietly, her eyes becoming suspicious.

"But please, how is he? Is he alright?" Hermione said pleadingly.

Lily's thoughtful look turned to a frown, "Where do I start?" she asked with a sigh.

"How bad is he?" Hermione answered her rhetorical question without thinking.

Lily's frown widened. "Quite bad I'm afraid. Obviously, he is a wizard?" She asked.

"Yes. The most powerful student at Hogwarts." Hermione said quietly.

Lily's expression changed, as though she were puzzled by something. "He doesn't want to be saved..." she muttered absently under her breath.

"What?" Hermione said anxiously, not quite hearing what she said.

Lily looked up at Hermione as if only just remembering she was there, and gave her a small, weak smile. "His magic appears to be trying to heal him on its own, but his wounds, as I said, are very extensive..."

"Surely there is something you can do for him?" Hermione asked desperately.

"I certainly hope so, Miss Granger.." Lily said quietly. "Is he allergic to any potions that you know of? Any antidotes?"

Hermione strained to think, "No, none that I'm aware of.."

"Good... good." Lily said, apparently lost in thought. "I may have something.. and I have a feeling that it might help if you were there while I attempt it."

Hermione looked up in disbelief. "Well, then we should go! He shouldn't be alone.."

"Oh he's not alone.." Lily said with a small smile. "But you are right, we should be going. Would your parents like to accompany us?"

"Yes." Jonathan said loudly before Hermione could stop him. "Yes, We would. Thank you."

Hermione rolled her eyes as he glared at her, still remembering the throbbing of his ankle.

"Very Well." Lily said, rising from her chair. "You've apparated before?"

"If that's what you call how we got here, then reluctantly yes." Jonathan said with a glint of fear in his eyes.

Lily laughed, "It takes a bit of getting used too, I'll admit that."

Lily then turned to examine Hermione. "You look awfully young to hold an apparition license."

Hermione went slightly pink. "Well.. I um, actually don't have one.. yet."

Lily looked slightly impressed. "You realize the dangers of splinching are very high if you are not properly trained?"

"Yes, But I've taught myself from books, its all about concentration really, if you focus then generally you'll be OK." Hermione said casually as they walked back into the dark alley behind the Sunset Inn.

"True." Lily said impressed with her knowledge. "But there are still risks. You ought to be careful."

"Wait a second.." Jonathan interrupted. "Just what exactly is splinching?"

"Well.." Hermione began awkwardly as they all held hands to prepare for their disapparition. "There's always a chance when an inexperienced person tries to apparate that they might accidentally end up stuck in two places at once. For example.. Half of you would end up in Lily's house, the other half would remain here.."

"What..?" Jonathan said in shock.

Lily chuckled quietly, and before Jonathan could back out, there was a loud crack and the four disappeared from the alleyway, causing a stray cat to shoot out from an upturned rubbish can. With an equally loud crack they reappeared a few seconds later in an unfamiliar yet beautiful living room with dark polished wooden floors.

"What the hell do you mean, half of me? Funny you didn't mention that before you used your mumbo jumbo on me the first time!" Jonathan roared at Hermione as they reappeared.

Lily cleared her throat and Jonathan turned to give her a sheepish look, eyes still watering in shock. "Welcome to my home." she said warmly. "I'm afraid you're the only guests we've ever had, before your friend of course, Hermione."

"Where is he? Can I see him?" She asked anxiously.

"Hermione! Don't be so rude." Her mother scolded giving Lily an apologetic look.

"That's quite alright." Lily said with a small smile to Hermione's mother. "Of course you can see him. But perhaps we should have a talk before you do.. It will be a bit of a shock I'm afraid.."

"Lily?" Came a curious male voice echoing through the empty mansion, "Lily is that you?"

"In the living room, James." Lily called. "She's here, she's come with me."

"Good, I'll be right there, he's been calling for her again" The male voice came from afar once more filled with concern.

Hermione's heart leapt uncomfortably. Harry's father was alive too? She could hear footsteps approaching the living room on the hard wood floors, drawing closer and closer. She couldn't understand what was going on. Harry's parents were