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Cold. Deanna rose up to the surface and took in a deep breath, the morning sun hitting her face. She looked around and saw Fawkes who just had his burning day on her shoulder. Quickly reaching a nearby coast, Deanna ran her hands up and down her arms and patted Fawkes on the head. "Y-You came."

Fawkes let out a cry that Deanna took as his promise to do so no matter what. Deanna chuckled shakily and took out her father's traveling cloak from inside the bag and wrapped it around Fawkes. She quickly changed out of her dress into a pair of jeans and a sweater and looked around, wondering where they were. Then, she saw a sign ahead and squinted her eyes to read it.

"A-Australia?" Deanna groaned in frustration. "Fawkesy, I was thinking of A-Austria. Not Australia." The phoenix cried in response, making Deanna sigh and nod. "It's fine, it's fine. I-I suppose we should get some Muggle money, now yeah?"

Deanna took the cloak and wore it around herself, putting the baby Fawkes in her pocket. She started on her way into the city despite the coldness she was feeling. Luckily, she found what seemed to look like a house and knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" A voice came from behind the door. And it swung open to reveal a woman with dark hair. Her eyes widened when she saw the shivering Deanna. "Oh, dear."

"M-My name is D-Deanna Dumbledore." Deanna stuttered out. "D-Do you know where I can find a place to stay for a few nights?"

"Come in, my dear." The woman ushered her in with worry in her eyes. "You must be so cold. Wendell!"

"Coming, Monica." There was a thunder of footsteps and the man named Wendell came down. He had brown hair and his eyes widened too at the sight of Deanna. "Gracious me, what happened to you, young lady?"

"I-I don't know." Deanna mumbled, wondering why they seemed so familiar to her. "T-Thank you for l-letting me in, but do you know where I c-can stay for at least a few nights and w-where I can get some money?"

Monica and Wendell Wilkins looked at each other with concern before nodding at each other, both making their decision. Monica smiled softly at her. "You can stay here for now. It's only the two of us here."

"I-I don't want to intrude." Deanna shook her head and smiled. "I'll be fine, but thank you for t-the offer."

"Please, stay here, Miss?"

"Deanna."

"So, please stay here, Deanna." Wendell patted her on the shoulder. "Go take a nice shower and we can have a talk, alright? You don't have a choice."

Deanna was surprised at their hospitality and warmth, once again feeling so familiar to her before she smiled back. "Thank you." She glanced at Fawkes who was in her pocket before following Monica upstairs to the guest room.

"Now, you can let your bag sit there for now." Monica pointed to the windowsill. "And the shower's just in front of your room. Come join us for dinner, love."

"Thank you, Ma'am." Deanna smiled widely. "I can't thank you enough for letting me stay here."

"Please, call us Monica and Wendell." Monica winked at her. "I'll leave you to it then."

The door closed, leaving Deanna alone with Fawkes. She let out a sigh and looked around the room. There were lots of books and the bed had a blue quilt. Somehow, everything about Monica and Wendell and this room struck her as familiar. As if she should know something.

Deanna checked her bag for her stuff and thankfully, the books were fine and the necklace and her wand was there. Her purple socks, clothes and necklaces, everything was fine. She sat down on the bed and stroked Fawkes's head. "Austria. That's where we'll go after a week, okay? So, grow as fast as you can."

Fawkes just let out a cry and Deanna couldn't help but smile. But it soon disappeared when she remembered about the others. She sat up straight and wondered about the Weasleys, the Order, Harry, Ron and Hermione? How were they? Did anyone die? Did anyone get injured? She didn't know what she could do to contact them. She just had hope. Hope that they were fine.

And Hermione... She remembered just what Hermione had told her before they were separated. It made Deanna worry more about her, but it also gave Deanna a strange feeling of security. Hopefully, it meant they were fine.

•─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────•

Despite it being nighttime, Hermione was playing the piano mindlessly in 12 Grimmauld Place. She was thinking of Deanna, if she was safe or where was she. The last thing she saw was Deanna clapping her hands over Fawkes's tail and them Disapparating at the same time as Harry Ron and Hermione.

"Are you alright?" Ron sat down beside Hermione, patting her on the shoulder. "You should be resting."

"Yeah." Hermione mumbled in reply, still playing the same keys over and over. She couldn't help it though, the worry she had for Deanna. Just when they had finally talked properly, something like this happened. Couldn't Voldemort let them be for a few moments?

Ron stared at his best friend with worry, remembering that Hermione was like this only three other times in her life. The first was when Deanna left with Dumbledore when Dumbledore's Army was exposed. The second was when Deanna was attacked during the Battle at the Department of Mysteries, and the third was when Deanna broke up with her. He knew it was only Deanna who could make her like this.

"I'm worried too, you know. About Eleanor." Ron suddenly said, making Hermione look up in surprise. He looked down at the picture in his hand, of him carrying Eleanor on his back with grins on their faces. "She's hidden her family... and I don't know where she is. Everyday, I wonder where she is, if she's still alive, but deep inside me, I just know. I trust her."

Hermione frowned at him. "It's not that –"

"I know, I know." Ron quickly reassured her. "I know you trust Deanna and you love her, but I meant that you should stop thinking about it and just trust her. You know Deanna. She's a fighter. She'll handle herself."

Hermione stared at him for a moment, slowly understanding what he meant. She nodded and rested her head on Ron's shoulder. "I love her."

"I know." Ron wrapped an arm around Hermione, happy that the Gryffindor witch's worries were reassured even just a bit. All of them were worried for the people they loved. Harry with Noah, Ron with Eleanor and Hermione with Deanna, but in these times, all they could do was trust. Trust their loved ones and continue on their journey for the Horcruxes.

•─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────•

"Have you slept well, Deanna?" Wendell asked when Deanna came down from the stairs. It had been only three days since she had come yet the kindness and familiarity of the couple made her feel more comfortable. She told them that the reason why she got onto their coast was because the boat she was on was caught in a sudden wave and it brought her there. Thankfully, the two believed her story.

"Yes, thank you, Wendell." Deanna smiled back at him and sat down. "Good morning, Monica."

Monica who just entered the house after she went shopping gave Deanna a hug. "Hello, dear. Did you have a good rest?"

"Yes, thank you." Deanna smiled at them and started eating the hotdogs that Wendell set on the plate.

While they were eating and chatting, Monica suddenly noticed Deanna's purple socks with cookies and milk. "I think I've seen that before."

"Which one, love?"

"Deanna's socks."

Both Deanna and Wendell were surprised at what she said, and Deanna looked at her socks with a soft smile. "Someone gave it to me. Someone special. Why?"

"Nothing, just remembered buying a pair of those all of a sudden." Monica mumbled while shaking her head. Wendell too was staring at Deanna's eyes and his eyes widened because he remembered himself and his wife buying that pair. That exact pair. But he quickly composed himself and continued eating, engaging into conversation with Deanna and Monica.

Deanna thought it was weird. How they felt familiar, how they remembered her socks, how she knew she had heard their names before. And suddenly, the pieces fell into place. The person who gave her this pair of socks. Hermione said her parents were now off in Australia, living their dream. But, it couldn't be... How could it happen like fate?

"How long have you been living here in Australia?" Deanna suddenly asked, her heart beating hard against her chest. Why was she feeling nervous while waiting for the answer? Was it because they could be the parents of the woman she loved?

"Just a few weeks. Not even a month." Wendell answered, smiling widely at Monica. "We actually came from London like you, Deanna. And finally, we've been able to achieve our goal."

"It's been our lifetime dream. To live in Australia," sighed Monica in contentment.

They lived in London? Deanna closed her eyes, it could be just a coincidence. Even the time frame. But it was too much of a coincidence now, was it? Deanna swallowed the lump in her throat. "How about children?"

"We never had one," remarked Monica with a frown. "Though I don't think we've never tried."

"Maybe, that's why you feel so familiar and close to us, Deanna." Smiling, Wendell stared at her warmly with brown eyes she knew. "You're from London like us, and you're a kind girl."

"Thank you," answered Deanna despite the hard beating of her heart against her chest. She got her answer. She tried composing herself as they talked about a different topic, but right now? One thing was for sure. These were Hermione Granger's parents, and they didn't have a clue they had a daughter.

•─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────•

Deanna looked at the picture of her and Hermione and sighed. It had been 3 days since she realized the truth about Hermione's parents and she had a day left before she had to go to Austria. She hadn't decided yet whether she should tell them about Hermione or not. She knew she shouldn't because Hermione did remove their memories to protect them, but they deserved to know that they had a bright and beautiful daughter who longed for her parents.

"What should I do, Pops?" Deanna mumbled to herself while Fawkes slept beside her. "To tell or not to tell." She let out a sigh and looked at the ceiling. "I miss you, Pops."

And Deanna looked back at the picture of her and Hermione and then, she made her decision. She took her wand from her wand holster and woke up Fawkes. "Fawkesy, come on. We need to stop by somewhere."

Fawkes let out a cry sleepily but he lifted his tail for Deanna to touch. Deanna smiled softly and held it gently, hoping that this risky thing she was going to do would work out in the end.

•─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────•

The next day, Deanna was yawning while she looked at the map that Wendell gave to her. It was finally the day she had to leave and after what she and Fawkes did last night, they were finally ready and Deanna was happy with the decision she made. It was only a week she spent with Monica and Wendell but the memories she had during that time were ones she'd never forget.

"Thank you for everything, Monica and Wendell." Deanna smiled widely at them. "You took in a stranger like me and I'll be eternally grateful for that."

"Oh dear." Monica hugged Deanna tightly, wiping her tears away. "Take care, Deanna. You'll always feel like a daughter to us so come visit soon, yeah?"

"Stay safe, Deanna." Wendell gave her a hug next. "Or maybe, we'll come to London soon."

"Oh, speaking of London, I have something for you." Deanna took something from her bag and handed it to the couple who looked touched at the present. It was a simple phoenix statue in gold. She and Fawkes went some random place just to do that and they risked their lives in the process, however seeing their reactions made it all worth it for Deanna. "I want to tell you that a phoenix burns and rises from the ashes. Remember this and come visit when the time comes."

"Oh, and this." Deanna took a wrapped box and handed it to them. "I'll send a sign soon so open it then. Can you please not open it before that time?"

Monica and Wendell looked at each other for a moment before smiling back at Deanna. "We promise."

"Well then, until next time." Deanna grinned at them. "Fawkes!" Fawkes let out a cry and came flying into the room, making the couple yelp.

Monica let out a gasp and looked at the statue in her husband's hands. "Oh dear, is that a –"

"A tropical parrot." Deanna quickly said as an excuse and thankfully, it calmed the two down and eased their worries. "Goodbye." Deanna sent them one last smile, knowing it would be a long time before she could see them again. She set out of the house with Fawkes, Austria in mind.

"Now –" Deanna was cut off when she noticed Fawkes glaring at her and she realized that Fawkes was pouting because of her calling him a tropical parrot. "I couldn't get caught!" But Fawkes was still glaring at her. Deanna let out a sigh and stroked his feathers. "You're a majestic phoenix. You're amazing, you are so don't ever think otherwise."

Fawkes seemed to brighten up at that and he pointed his tail towards Deanna, making the Hufflepuff chuckle.

"To Austria." Deanna grasped his tail and in a flash, they were flying away from Australia and from Hermione's parents and to Grindelwald himself. Now, her journey begins.

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