Chapter Text
Chapter 1- Of Life and Light
1 April, 1978
April Fools Day, Molly knew it was a bad omen. She had pushed and pushed, determined that her twins would be born on the 31st of March and not the first of April. But if this pregnancy had proved to her anything, it was that her two babies were difficult. Her pregnancies with Bill, Charlie and Percy had been dreams. Percy, Lord bless his dear soul, was out in one push.
Before they were even born, the two reminded Molly of her brothers. Troublemakers.
"The head is finally out," squealed a junior midwitch.
"A head," the presiding midwitch corrected. "There are two, remember. Next contraction, push."
Molly felt that strange pulling sensation and heard a cry. The cry was so strong. A pulse of magic coursed through the room and the glass window cracked.
"April Fools Day," Molly groaned. "Should have known."
The healers present were aflutter. Accidental magic at birth? The head midwitch recovered from the shock and held the baby in one arm, waving her wand with the other, cleaning the baby. "We have a boy," she declared as she presented the baby to Molly. The baby's face was red from screaming, and a red glow encircled him. He had the orange fuzz on his head, as all her children before had been born with.
"Hello Fred, my dear little-" the mother's greeting cut off as another contraction hit.
"Push," the head midwitch commanded.
A few more pushes and the second baby came. As Molly had expected, another boy. Fred only stopped screaming and glowing when reunited with his twin. They cuddled together as they ferociously nursed. Molly loved them so, but a creeping fear wound around her heart. These two, especially that Fred, she knew, were trouble.
1980-
Fred was starting to glow.
Well, that wasn't new. He had been glowing red when he was born, though the shine was only occasional. Not at all common, but glowing was not unheard of in the Magical community. Molly had even bragged about it to Aunt Muriel.
It was the gold that was brand new, as of February. It was faint, encircling his usual red. Molly had many suspicions and theories, but tried to busy herself with preparing for the new baby. They only had a few more weeks before the baby would arrive. She was hoping for a little girl.
Fred and George were handfuls. Never had Molly had a more difficult child, and there were two of them. Especially that Fred. Always getting into trouble. Climbing up shelves, hiding, taunting the garden gnomes… And now he had acquired a golden gleam that bespoke of a great magic and a greater destiny. It was all a bit much.
Far away from little old Ottery Saint Catchpole, in London, there was a dentist who was going to the doctor. Which sounded a bit like a set-up for a joke, but it wasn't.
The Grangers always waffled between having a child and continuing with their childless life. They met in medical school and eventually settled for one another. Theirs was not a great love story, but she had definitely grown fond of her business (and life) partner. Even though she was in her mid-thirties, she and her husband had yet to decide upon having a child. This was an accident. Apparently the pill and the antibiotics she had been on didn't work well together.
Life finds a way.
She was nervous, disappointed, but also a little bit excited, perhaps even a smidge happy.
Her husband and her talked about it. England needed more good citizens, and their child would certainly be a contributing member to society. So, that decided, they prepared.
They argued which one of their home offices would be sacrificed for their future child's nursery. They signed the child up for an educational based, prep preschool before the ultrasound revealed that she was a girl. A nanny with a masters in childhood development was hired as well.
They argued over the name. He wanted her named after his late mother, Jean. She wanted something more unique, perhaps Shakespearean or mythical. The couple eventually chose "a nice, unusual" first name for her because they wanted to establish how educated and intelligent they were.
Hermione Jean Granger was born on the nineteenth day of September in the year of our Lord, 1980. In the wee hours of the morning, the wee babe came out. She was early, her father would come to tease that she was always early.
The silent, tiny baby was placed in her mother's arms. The baby, with big, dark eyes, looked at her mother beseechingly. Her mother looked away, unable to cope with the depth of love that shone from the little human.
When her mother turned from her, little baby Hermione opened her mouth and cried.
At that moment, the Burrow was flooded in golden light. Fred was no doubt the epicenter. Molly would have been amazed except it had woken up ickle Ronnikins. He was such a fussy baby. Fred was giggling as the gold light danced around him. George was trying to catch it, much like a cat would chase a muggle laser pointer.
One soul was created for connection: a twin from a large, loving family who lived and loved with all he had. Another was created longing for connection: lonely, separated from the magic and the deep love that all but consumed her. It was meant to be, for, in this reality, magic would not leave it up to chance.
A soul for a soul, both burning bright.