She Walked into Hogwarts (GL)

Chapter 260: The Grand Finale (Part 2)

Anne watched Hermione enter the meditation basin, her emotions tangled and complex. She paced the room in Hermione’s bedroom, taking deep breaths, fidgeting absently with a Galleon in her pocket. Finally, she pushed the door open and stepped out.As expected, she realized she still had a habit, or maybe a tendency, to avoid things.

The Grangers had gone to visit relatives in Wales. They had assumed their daughter would stay at Roland Manor for a few days. The house was empty. Anne cast a detection spell on Hermione’s room, so she would know the moment Hermione exited the meditation basin. She sat on the living room sofa, but her mind quickly filled with worry.

Eventually, Anne returned to Roland Manor through the fireplace. But that wasn’t enough. Alone, she ran out of the castle and headed to the treehouse.

Under the night sky, every star was clear. With no city lights, the air in the mountains was fresh, and the Milky Way stretched across the sky, visible without a telescope. Lying on the balcony of the treehouse, Anne gazed at the stars. Here, her heart finally seemed a little calmer.

Where would Hermione be in the memory? University? Hospital? Or an orphanage? The Galleon spun nervously between her fingers; she caught it just in time.

She took a deep breath, exhaling slowly.

Hermione would surely be angry later. But before, Anne had feared danger. Now… was it fear of facing what? The past? Or the future?

From lying down, Anne moved to standing, then finally leaned against the balcony railing, reaching for her harmonica, but also bringing out another small item: a round box wrapped in royal blue silk.

The Bruce harmonica’s tones were wide and rich, perfect for blues. She couldn’t help but play a slow, mournful tune. Halfway through, the detection spell she had set off was triggered. Startled, the harmonica slipped from her hands, bouncing off the balcony floor and falling through the wooden railings of the treehouse.

Anne reached out but missed. In her panic as she tried to stand, both her wand and the round box also slipped through the railings.

“Ah, hey!” She watched helplessly as both items rolled into a patch of glowing green grass. The bioluminescent grass pulsed with a soft yellow-green light, flickering as though breathing.

Anne dashed across the treehouse, climbed down the ladder, and ran into the glowing grass.

“Wand, come! (Ancient Runes)” she shouted. The grass’s magic interfered, and her wand did not immediately fly into her hand.

Scratching her head anxiously, Anne muttered again, “Glowing flash!”

A light, distinct from the grass, appeared. Thrilled, she hurried over and successfully retrieved her wand from the waist-high grass.

Gripping her wand, Anne whispered, “Ring box, come!”

The royal blue silk-wrapped box floated into her hands. She breathed a sigh of relief, but then a loud snap sounded behind her.

Gooka had manifested Hermione’s phantom.

“Anne Roland Reeve!” Hermione shouted. 

Hermione strode toward her, and Gooka quickly disappeared.

“You! How dare you leave me alone in our house! And cast a detection spell on my room?!” Hermione grabbed Anne’s collar. Her eyes were red, evidence of prior tears.

“I—”

“If you think,” Hermione sniffed, staring into Anne’s eyes, “that what you showed me would make me stop liking you… you’re utterly ridiculous!”

“I didn’t—”

“I don’t care about the past! I only know this, you!” Hermione gripped Anne’s collar tighter, “The you standing in front of me now!”

“The you who figured things out in Hagrid’s hut, the you who came out of the Chamber to the hospital! Every time you helped me, I remember! The one who confessed to me! Anne Roland Reeve? Skoll? I don’t care about the names!”

Breathless, Hermione shouted, “From start to finish, I’ve always liked you! Nothing can change that! I don’t know why you lack confidence! What are you afraid of? Why never speak directly? Why make me guess? Why run away?!”

Tears streamed down her face. “Do you know how much I hate this about you? It always seems like you act first, but in your heart, you build a wall! You hide things until the last moment! You know, I’ve always been more afraid than you! How many times did you sweet-talk and promise things, only to hide them from me before danger struck?”

“I—” Anne bowed her head. “I’m sorry—”

“I don’t want your apology!” Hermione screamed, nearly hoarse. “You act like you give me a choice, but in your heart… you run! You talk about shared responsibility, but what actually happens?!”

Hermione released her grip, tears flowing, and turned to walk down the mountain.

Anne couldn’t let her go. She grabbed Hermione’s hand, shouting, “Hermione Granger! I admit it! In this relationship, it may look like I act first, but I’ve built walls every time in my heart. I can’t help it!”

Hermione turned, looking at Anne.

“You have a firm understanding of the world; I don’t. Every memory is certain to you; not to me. Magic brings curiosity, family, friendship, love… but also insecurity! You’ve seen it!”

“You know… I once had something I thought I treasured most, but it was shattered by someone else. I had no power, no resistance. I didn’t even have the strength to fight. I didn’t know if I could ever have it again. I thought maybe it was my fault, maybe I didn’t deserve it. So I was afraid. For a long time, I didn’t fully trust anyone, not even Diana or Aaron.”

“I couldn’t accept the good given to me, so I tried to give back equally. Fair for everyone. Isn’t that right?”

Anne looked into Hermione’s eyes. “I rarely have courage in my heart, so I never truly belonged to Gryffindor, never had hidden courage.”

“Hermione—”

“But… meeting you gave me just a little. You know, the first time I saw you reading Quidditch books in the library, I was dismissive. I thought they were useless. Yet you read them anyway. Do you remember what you told me?”

“I remember. You were the weakest Muggle-born, never touched magic before, yet you became top of your year?” Anne smiled. “I never had courage. My courage comes from people who enter my heart, who give me just a little I can accept.”

She took Hermione’s left hand in her own left, dropping to one knee.

Looking into Hermione’s teary eyes, Anne opened the round box, revealing two simple but distinct jade rings.

Her voice was tender. “I love you, Hermione. In ancient Eastern belief, the soul is composed of three hun and seven po. This green jade represents the hun, the amber represents the po. If the person you love accepts the ring, it means your soul belongs to them, a token given only once in a lifetime. So, Miss Granger, will you marry me?”

Hermione wiped her tears, smiling brightly. “I’ve told you countless times. My answer hasn’t changed. I will.”

Anne laughed, pure joy, no other emotion, and placed the ring on Hermione’s left middle finger.

In the glowing green grass, they kissed, holding each other tightly.

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Eighteen years later…

September in England was the start of autumn. On the morning of the first, the cool wind chased away much of Anne’s early-morning drowsiness.

Anne drove her family to King’s Cross Station. As soon as the car stopped, Aria eagerly jumped out. Hermione, sitting in the passenger seat, quickly opened her door and followed.

“Aria, what did you promise at home?”

“Alright…” Aria lowered her head.