Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to the Harry Potter Universe or Twilight Universe, or any of it's characters and locations

August 1998

The second time she met Jacob Black; he pulled Ron's pants down.

After the war, Hermione hoped to find her parents in the hope that she could restore their memories. With the help of Ron, who insisted that he would 'never' leave her again, they ventured to Australia to find her parents. They spent two and half weeks camping across the continent before Hermione finally found a promising lead on the location of her parents. Ron had been nothing but sweet about the ordeal, making Hermione feel happy for the first time since before 5th year. After the war, they had decided to give their feelings for each other a real shot, Ron promptly asking her to be his girlfriend a week later. It had now been a little over two months, their relationship both sweet and growing deeper with each and every experience. They hadn't fought yet, which should've concerned the brunette more than it did, but she played it off as the stress from the war. They had fought for so long, neither wanted to fight with each other anymore.

They reached the address of the home her parents had bought, and smiled in anticipation. She knew the reversal spell by heart, and hoped to restore their memories as soon as she could.

With a swift knock on the door, Hermione was surprised to say the least when a young woman with dark red hair opened the door. "Hello? May I help you?" she asked with a smile. Hermione nodded, as asked, "Do the Wilkins live here?"

The young woman beamed and nodded, opening the door for Ron and Hermione to come in. "I didn't think many people knew the news, we've only just gotten back from our trip," the woman muttered, as she ushered the couple into a lush purple love seat. "Can I get you any tea?"

Hermione nodded, while Ron shook his head. While Ron vaguely remembered Hermione's parents, he knew that this red-haired woman was not Hermione's mother. He was confused, but knew better than to say anything.

When the woman came back with two cups tea, she introduced herself, "I'm Vivian Wilkins, my husband Daniel will be right out. How can I help you?"

Hermione stiffened noticeably, "I apologize, but I was under the impression that Daniel was married to a Jean Wilkins."

Vivian nodded woefully, "He was about a year ago. Poor Jean was in a car accident within the first week of moving here. She died seven months ago. It was all very tragic."

Hermione chocked back a sob, "I…she's really dead?"

Vivian nodded again, this time offering her hand out for Hermione to grab, but she didn't. "I was her caretaker while she was in a coma those first two months. It's how Daniel and I met actually."

Hermione was about to start a smart retort when Daniel walked into the room, his reader glasses pushed into his graying wavy hair. "Viv, love, who were those people at the door?"

He stopped when he saw the young couple, and instead sat next to his young wife and offered his hand to Ron, "Dan Wilkins, nice to meet you."

Ron shook it and added, "Ron Weasely and Hermione Granger. Likewise."

Vivian turned to her husband, and answered, "This young couple knew Jean. I was just explaining what happened."

Daniel nodded, taking a deep breath. "I miss her every day, I'm sorry you had to find out like this."

Hermione huffed, "Me too. How long did you wait until you married Vivian?"

Both Vivian and Daniel stiffened. Daniel squeezed Vivian's hand, which only angered Hermione more. This wasn't how it was supposed to happen. "We didn't start seeing each other until a few months ago. And well, at the risk of sounding cliché, I just knew she'd be the person to help me through my loss with Jean."

Hermione took a deep calming breath, but she couldn't help but want to stomp her foot and scream. This was supposed to be a reunion, a reconciliation .Hermione expected to find her parents, restore their memories and deal with the consequences, not find her father blissfully in love with a younger woman while her mother's grave was still warm. It was appalling, and Hermione knew that had she not changed her father's memories, he would never dream of moving on so quickly with a daughter to consider.

Hermione remained quiet, unsure of how to proceed. She excused herself but really just waited around the corner while Ron picked up the conversation and asked them about their work and how their vacation was. Hermione grudgingly had to admit that her father seemed happy with Vivian and vice versa.

Eventually, Hermione returned to the living area, and announced that it was time to go. Both Daniel and Vivian seemed relieved. Jean would always remain a sensitive topic of discussion

"Ron, we need to go the post office," she said, her brow furrowed. Ron nodded, not releasing his hold on her shoulders as he led her away from the scene inside. "Hermione, love, what do you need at a muggle post office? I thought you get all your mail from the owls?" Ron asked softly, again trying to be considerate of her feelings.

"I do, but I can't just leave my parent's old life unaccounted for. When I sent them away, I made sure to hold their mail just in case any family tried to contact them," she explained while pulling him to the side of the house. Squeezing his hand, she apparated them back to her old neighborhood. Dragging Ron behind her, she led him for mile walk to the town post office. Ron was quiet for the entire walk, unsure of what Hermione was thinking.

When the finally made it to the building, Hermione released her firm grip on his hands and walked straight up to a post master. The elderly man looked kindly at her and asked, "May I help you?"

She nodded, "Yes, a year ago, I put my parent's mail on hold as they went on vacation in the Tropics. I would like to pick it up for them if I may?"

The man proceeded to get her parent's name and information, and required Hermione to show some identification. Once all the formalities were squared away, he came back out with two large bags filled with mail. Thanking the man, Hermione handed both bags to Ron, and again walked out of the post office. Once she was sure they were out of sight, she turned to Ron with her shoulders slumped. No words were said, as she allowed Ron to apparate them back to the Burrow.

Most of the mail was junk, bills and letters from patients wondering where they moved their practice too. Only a few were from actual family. One letter was from her Uncle Charlie explaining that Bella was no longer coming to Forks during the summer, so to no worry about making it down this year. Apparently, Bella and her Uncle Charlie now chose to meet in neutral California for two weeks instead of spending that time at his house. The second letter was from a month ago, also from her Uncle. It explained that Sarah Black had died in a car accident. They missed the funeral, but her Uncle felt that her parents should still know as they were friends while they visited the states.

Hermione clutched the letter close to her heart and turned to Ron who was sorting through a pile of junk. "We're going to the States," she breathed. Ron raised his eyebrow, having never traveled anywhere except Egypt, but nodded. Traveling was different for wizards, as packing and the actual traveling part were much less effort than muggle transportation.

Using an International portkey, Hermione and Ron arrived in Forks two days later. Her uncle would not arrive back from his summer trip for another two days, leaving Hermione and Ron to fend for themselves. He wore a bowler cap, plaid pants, and a Hawaiian shirt with sneakers. If Hermione wasn't so focused on the death of her mother, she might have thought to transfigure his outfit into something more tasteful. Ron tried his best to look muggle, but until Hermione could take him to a store, his wacky attire would have to do.

They made their way to the Black household, and Hermione was surprised to see the addition of a ramp in the front of their home. Knocking on the door, she thought she heard a voice but ignored it. No one answered the door, so Hermione knocked one more time. If no one answered, then they would come back later and try again.

Hermione swore she heard the voice again, so decided to walk around the back. Ron followed her, hanging back a bit in case the front door opened. Hermione turned the corner and was surprised to see a teenage girl staring at her, a pan in her hands. "Who are you? "She asked, raising the pan a little higher.

Hermione put her hands up, "I know your father. I came to visit while I'm in town."

The girl only glared, "How do you know my dad? No offense, but I would know if he knew someone from out of the country. He's never mentioned you."

Hermione sighed. She couldn't tell which twin she was talking too, but this talk wasn't going well. Huffing rather impatiently she said, "Charlie Swan is my uncle. The last time I saw your parents, I was ten. And you and your sister were four."

The girl blinked a few times, but didn't lower the frying pan. "Even if you are telling the truth, I can't let you in until my dad gives the okay. Jacob is down for a nap, and he doesn't take well to strangers."

Hermione nodded but at that same moment, a high pitched warrior cry was made and a distinct yelp from Ron. Hermione turned around to find Ron pulling up his pants, and a young boy laughing next to him.

"Jacob!" the girl called, setting down the frying pan, to grab the boy. "You're supposed to be napping!"

Jacob shrugged, "Rachel, I heard people outside. This guy looks funny." Hermione stifled a chuckle, as Ron looked quite put out.

Rachel ignored her brother, and instead grabbed his hand, ready to lead him back inside. "I don't care how someone looks; you don't pull down a stranger's pants. What if he took you away? Daddy would kill me. I'd go down as the worst babysitter in history of babysitters."

Ron huffed, "I wouldn't kidnap a kid."

The girl disregarded him, but Jacob stuck out his tongue. Hermione walked over to Ron, and rubbed his back, giving him a knowing look. She said to no one in particular, "We'll come back when your father is home."

Rachel nodded, but Jacob tugged on her arm. "Dad is home now."

Rachel shushed her brother, and gave him a look that said he would be in trouble once they got inside. Hermione quickly figured out what was going on. Billy Black was home, but not in the mood for visitors. Rachel was supposed to watch her younger brother, and Jacob had unknowingly caught Rachel in her lie.

Understanding the situation, Hermione nodded at Rachel and pulled a red faced Ron away. They would come back with Charlie in a few days. The Black family might respond better that way.

Hermione and Ron waited until Charlie returned to visit the Blacks. Charlie of course wanted to talk about her parents and when they would next visit, so Hermione had to create a cover story as to why they might be hard to contact. With the help of Ron, they decided to tell Charlie that her parents were in Australia volunteering to help children of the outback with their dental hygiene. They didn't have a definite address or way of contact so Charlie would have to wait until they contacted him. It was weak, and full of loop holes, but Hermione hoped to fix the situation by the time Charlie would ever actually need to reach them.

When they reached the Black house again, Charlie stopped them in the driveway. "I feel like you should know a few things before we go in there."

Hermione frowned, "Go on."

Charlie scratched the back of his head, "Sarah's death really hit the family hard. Billy, well Billy can't walk anymore. In the collision, the impact broke his back. The kids have all been really upset about it too. The girls feel lost without Sarah, and little Jacob has been acting out. Billy has been in over his head dealing with the kids while still struggling with his own injury and loss."

Hermione and Ron both nodded, familiar with the effects the death of a family member can play in a loved one's life. "We'll behave, I swear," Hermione answered, finality in her voice that had Ron shaking his head in agreement.

Charlie nodded to himself, and led them to the door.

It had been about a week since Hermione and Ron first arrived. Jacob and the girls had immediately taken to the visitors once their father gave the okay. Unlike Hermione's last visit, she spent almost all her free time with the Black family, helping to cook dinner and keep Jacob preoccupied the week before school started back up. Billy seemed grateful for the break, but didn't say anything one way or the other. It didn't bother Hermione though, as she knew that things were so overwhelming that it would be selfish to ask him to notice.

The girls were at their day camp, so Hermione and Ron had decided to take Jacob to the beach so he could run around. After playing for an hour or so, the trio sat on the logs spread across the beach and sat to catch their breath.

"Why do you talk like that?" Jacob asked, while twirling Hermione's hair in his tiny fingers. Even after all this time, he still held a strange obsession with her hair, Hermione mused. Ron scoffed, "Why do you talk like that?" he returned, his hands in the air. Jacob frowned, "What do you mean?"

"Let me give you a history lesson kid," Ron began, while Jacob nodded slowly, "Americans always forget that they immigrated from Great Britain, where me and Hermione—"

"—Hermione and I Ronald—"Hermione added while poking him in his ribcage lightly. She leaned in and whispered into Jacob's ears "Don't listen to him. He doesn't talk weird, it's just different. Do you think I talk oddly?" The young boy shook his head, looking bashful, "No, I like your voice."

Ron ignored her completely and continued "— and so the English you're speaking is really just a new form of the English that we've been speaking for centuries!"

Hermione bristled, "Honestly Ronald, he's not even ten years old, it hardly matters."

"Hardly matters? Of course it matters!" he exclaimed, his face beginning to take on a blotchy red color.

Hermione ignored him, squeezing the young boy gently before lifting him off her lap. "How about we go find some food, are you hungry?"

Jacob nodded enthusiastically, and clung to her side, while Ron dragged behind. He knew he'd someone managed to annoy Hermione, and so he'd keep his mouth shut. Ever since they'd found out about her parents, she'd been so testy towards him. He couldn't help but be jealous that she let this kid touch her hair, and cuddle with her all the time, but if he were to try that, she'd hex him into the next century.

Billy Black watched his son play with Hermione and Ron. Ever since his wife died in the accident and he lost his mobility, Jacob had become very moody and withdrawn. A big difference from the smiling boy he'd been all his life. His grades had decreased greatly at the end of last year, and his desire to play with his school friends had stopped. He didn't want to leave his sisters or father alone, in case they didn't come back too.

Billy sighed as he watched Jacob whisper into Hermione's ear. His son had been very careful around his sisters and father lately, expecting them to leave him too. Jacob was so young to lose such an important figure in his life. Sarah had always spent so much of her days with the boy, and now that she was gone, there was no one to replace her absence.

Billy was worried, and in over his head. His daughters stopped talking to each other, and his only son had given up on life before it had really begun. Sarah had been such a beacon of light in the family, and without her, he was left to pick up the pieces, but Billy didn't even know where to start.

Hermione, the little girl that visited all these years ago, had such a positive influence on his boy. Jacob was smiling again. He hadn't left the girl's side since he met her officially. He was always holding her hand, pulling on her hair, and picking on Ron, much to the older boy's chagrin.

The school counselors said this transition period would be difficult, and Billy understood completely, but he wanted Jacob to start playing with his friends again, to start laughing, to start being a kid. His older girls would get through this, he knew they would. Rachel and Rebecca were strong, just like their mother. While they might be fighting now, they would use each other to help the family.

Jacob on the other hand, didn't know how to go on without his mother. Billy tired he really did, but until recently, he'd always been at work.

Hermione and Ron had brought back the life to his children. They were starting to move on, and it was comforting to say the least. He wished he knew of something to do to thank the couple, but he felt that Hermione knew without having to be told how much she'd helped already. Ron sure was a lucky man.

It was the last night before Hermione and Ron planned to return home. Ron was passed out on the couch, while the girls giggled and took pictures of him. Hermione smiled at her boyfriend, and peaked into Jacob's room.

The young boy was pouting, and making little 'humph' sounds as Hermione picked up his toys thrown all about the room. Sitting next to him and opening her arms for him to embrace her, Hermione whispered, "Are you going to tell me what's wrong?"

He shook his head, and shifted so that his face was buried in her hair. Hermione tutted and remained silent for a few minutes. Once she heard a sniffle, she hushed the distressed child and turned his face until he was looking at her. "Talk to me."

Jacob hiccuped, "Don't leave me."

Hermione frowned. Was this what this was all about? "Jacob, I have to go home, you know that."

This only caused Jacob to wail and throw his pillow against the wall. "Everyone leaves me! No one loves me!"

Hermione frowned, "Is this about your mother? Jacob come here, I have to tell you something that I haven't told anyone else."

Jacob looked up at her with wet lashes, and blinked, "Not even Ron?"

Hermione smiled weakly, "Not even Ron."

She motioned for Jacob to come closer as she cupped her hands around her mouth, "My mother died too."

Jacob pulled away, "Really?"

Hermione nodded, allowing a few tears to escape her calm composure. "I didn't want to make Uncle Charlie upset, so I didn't tell anyone."

Jacob held out his pinky, "I promise not to tell either."

Hermione took it and they shook on it, knowing that that he would keep his word. "I can I tell you something else?"

Jacob nodded, his tears finally having stopped. "When I first found out, I wanted to yell and scream and cry because I missed her with all my heart; but then I wanted to smile because I knew my mother was in a better place, just like yours is."

Jacob smiled sadly, "Dad always says that she's in Heaven, do you think so too?"

Hermione's heart broke. "Of course. I met your mother once; she was so beautiful and caring. She really loved you and your sisters with all her heart. It was obvious to anyone in the same room."

Jacob hugged her, and Hermione squeezed back, rubbing his hair gently. She felt that Jacob needed to hear these words if he was ever going to move on, "And you know what?" she asked, pulling his chin so that they were staring into each other's eyes.

"What?"

"Your mother would want you to be the best you could be. She wouldn't want her Jacob to not play with his friends anymore, or to do poorly in his schooling. She'd want her son to grow up strong, brave and kind. Smiling all the time, and helping others first and foremost; helping his father around the house, and being nice to his older sisters. Because you Jacob are special, and while you should never forget your mother, don't let her memory stop you from showing the world how special you are."

Jacob nodded slowly, "Okay."

Hermione smiled and pulled him back into the hug. They stayed like that for a while, just holding onto each other.

Once they returned back to the Burrow, Ron pulled Hermione back to his room. "This has been such a hard few weeks hasn't it?" he asked as he hugged her.

Hermione nodded weakly, "It has. Don't tell anyone about my mother yet, please. Harry will only blame himself, and I don't think I would stop him right now. It's just all too much."

Ron sighed but nodded, "I don't like keeping things from him, but I agree. You need time to heal, and I'll be here for you every step of the way. Though, no more hanging out with nine year-olds anymore or I might get jealous."

Hermione chocked on a sob, "It might sound strange but he helped me forget about Australia and I think I helped him forget about his mother. I guess I'll have to face things again."

Ron gave her a gentle kiss and whispered, "Not alone, never alone."

AN: This chapter was hard for me to finish. I know where I'm going, and the final chapter is coming along nicely but this chapter still feels incomplete and a little forced. For that, I apologize. I wanted to focus more on her time with Jacob as well as what went down in Australia, but couldn't get the words out. So tell me what you thought of those sections.

Any suggestions on improvement? If you offer a thoughtful review, I'll include a preview of the final chapter.

It's a long one folks!

Deator11