1Fate Has Other Plans
A night neither wants to remember. A mistake neither can forget.
A girl walks into the Great Hall. Two professors see her and look to the other in recognition. So much for a break. "I know you're my parents." *A D/Hr story unlike any other*Non-romantic pairing*
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter! I wish I did, but I don't. *Cry* If I did own Harry Potter, however, things would be different, like Sirius's death (wouldn't happen) and the R/Hr and H/G ships. Again, I do not own Harry Potter, so those things aren't getting fixed. But that's why there's fanfiction!
Disclaimer to the Disclaimer: I do not own fanfiction (dot) net, harrypotterfanfiction, or any other fanfiction website.
The elderly Professor Flitwick ushered the tiny First Years to the front of the now silent Great Hall. They stood clustered around a three-legged stool with a ratty old hat on top. The Sorting hat ripped its brim and sang its usual song before the wizened Deputy Headmaster started to call names. The group shrunk as the four House tables filled their empty spaces with the newly-Sorted students. Eventually, the last of the students was Sorted, and Headmistress McGonagall stood to deliver her speech.
"New students, welcome. To the returning students, welcome back to another year at Hogwarts. As always, the Forbidden Forest is forbidden to all students. The list of the five-hundred-thirty-six banned objects is, as always, posted on the door of Mr. Filch's office.
"There are many changes in staffing this year. Mr. Longbottom has finished up his apprenticeship and will be teaching the Herbology classes-" Neville stood, blushed and took a small bow as people clapped. "Also, I'd like to welcome Mr. Weasley as our new Care of Magical Creatures professor-" Charlie waved, and students and teachers clapped again. Veronica and Henry were especially loud. "Mr. Potter as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor-" The noise in the Great Hall was deafening as Harry Potter was announced the new DADA teacher. He gave a quick wave and let McGonagall continue. "Mrs. Weas-I mean, Ms. Granger is taking over as the new Transfiguration professor-" The clapping was also very loud, but there were whispers as to what McGonagall's slip was about. "And Mr. Malfoy as our new Potions professor." There were claps and cheers, seeing his return to the Light during the War, but the Slytherins were still the loudest.
"With all that out of the way, tuck in!" The food appeared and the chatter resumed. Claire was quickly catching up with the other Ravenclaws, but most of her conversation was with Brittany and Jonathan, her two best friends. Up at the Professor's table, the conversation was also strong.
"So, Hermione, what was with that introduction?" Neville asked.
"Ron and I got a divorce," she said plainly.
"Holy . . . I heard you were having problems, but a divorce?" he pressed.
"It was necessary. I didn't love him like that anymore, and he was loving one of his chasers, so we're good."
"He didn't tell me that!" Charlie said. Hermione bit her lip and looked up. Harry had to turn away. "We all spent the summer hating you, and-"
"I think we should stop pressing Hermione about the inner workings of her divorce," Minerva said. "At least in the open. So, Neville, how was your summer?"
"Luna and I are having another baby."
"Congratulations," Flitwick said. "Little Frank will be a big brother."
"I can't believe he's five already," Hermione said. "Speaking of children, how's Teddy, Harry?"
"He hardly classifies as a child, Hermione. He's seventeen. And he's moody as hell. Teenage boys . . . " Harry shook his head. "Was I that bad?"
"Yes!" Hermione and Neville said, with McGonagall nodding. "But you also had Voldemort to deal with, so it's a toss-up," Neville finished.
"Shut it. So, two more Weasleys this year."
"Don't remind us," the oldest teachers said.
"They're twins. Last time we had Weasley twins," Filius started, letting himself shiver in remembrance. "Five Weasleys are in school right now."
"Victoire, Veronica, and Henry are Fifth Years and Nikki and Louis are First Years. Bill always had a level head, so his three kids shouldn't be a problem. It's Veronica and Henry you have to watch out for. They're Fred and George's kids," Hermione said
"Hey, I'm related to all of them. If anyone has it bad, it's me!" Charlie laughed.
"So, Draco, you've been quiet. How was your summer?" Minerva asked.
"It was okay. Mother's been a wreck since Father died, but I'm fine. I've just been wondering if it would be wrong to be happier now that he's dead."
"If he was as mean as I've heard, I'd be dancing on his grave," Hermione said. Everyone looked at her. "But that's just me." Everyone laughed, Draco included.
"I've thought about it," he admitted.
***
"So, Claire, how was your summer?" a blond haired girl named Stephanie asked. A brown haired girl looked up to her friend and flashed her shiny Prefects badge.
"Oh, shiny!" another girl, Steph, said. "I knew you'd get it."
"I can't believe we're Fifth Years," a sandy haired boy said.
"So, Jon, did you also get the coveted badge?" Steph asked.
"Yeah," the boy said, showing off the badge pinned to his robes.
"Nice. Did anything else happen this summer?" Brittany asked.
"My parents told me I was adopted," Claire said, fighting off tears. "I'm not really a Puckle."
"Oh, that bites. I'm sorry," Brittany said, putting a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder.
"Me, too," Jon said, reaching across the table to hold her hand. Steph looked at the entwined fingers, and both teens fully realized that they were holding hands, and blushed and let go.
"Now that we have some fresh start-of-term embarrassment, who are the Prefects for the other Houses? Who's the Head Boy and Girl?" Steph asked, trying to lighten the mood. Claire finished chewing her roasted chicken before answering.
"Victoire Weasley and Daniel Hawborne for Gryffindor, Elsa Crockford and Michael Westhrop for Hufflepuff, me and Jon are the Ravenclaw Prefects, and Julessa Kramsfeld and Stephan Bumbers for Slytherin," Claire said. "Maya Manivitch is the new Head Girl, and Teddy got Head Boy."
"The Metamorphamagus?" a chubby boy who sat nearby asked.
"Shut it, Mel. You aren't in this conversation," Jon said.
"So I have a bunch of friends who are Prefects and one who is Head Boy," Steph said mischievously.
"Don't even think about it, Steph," Claire said. "I'm not gonna protect you." Steph pouted and everyone else laughed.
Everyone continued to chat and eat until Minerva stood up and waited for the clatter to die out. "Would the prefects please escort the First Years to your dormitories? Thank you." The scraping of the benches was deafening. The teachers looked over the students to make sure there were no stragglers. Claire stood with her friends and looked up at the Professor's table. Hermione and Draco looked into her steel eyes then to each other, floored.
'It can't be,' they thought.
"Hermione? Draco?" Charlie called.
"What?" Hermione said.
"A couple of us are getting coffee in the staff room. Coming?"
"Oh, yeah," Draco said. "We're coming."
***
"Little Frank's so excited. He wants a baby brother to play with," Neville said.
"That's so cute," Hermione said. "So, missing the dragons yet, Charlie?"
"Not yet, but ask me again after lessons tomorrow."
"Can do," Harry said with a laugh.
"So, we're not in the open," Neville started. Charlie shook his head. "What in Merlin's name happened between you and Ron?"
"Well, I fell out of love with him. I actually fell for someone else. Don't get me wrong, I love him, but not romantically. So, yeah, I didn't love him, so I stopped giving him any."
"I don't wanna know about my little brother's sex life," Charlie said spazing.
"Well, I'm not saying anything, so get over it. Where was I?" Hermione asked.
"You fell outta love with Ron, fell in love with someone else, and stopped shagging your husband. Or ex-husband? You were still married at the time," Draco said, counting it off with his fingers.
"Thanks. So since I wasn't putting out, he went to someone who would. Well, I found out and he had the nerve to serve me divorce papers! I should have divorced him!"
"Damn," Neville said.
"How'd you find out?" Draco asked.
"I was having dinner at Harry's one night-"
"Ooh!" Draco teased. Hermione threw a cushion at him, getting him square in the face. Everyone laughed as a few feathers flew out.
"And when I got home, he was there with some other chick."
"Uh-oh," Neville said.
"Shagging said chick."
"Oh, shit," Charlie said, biting a fist.
"In our bed!"
"He's a dead man," Draco said.
"So I started screaming at him, packed a bag and went back to Harry's for the night."
"I am genuinely surprised that Ron is still alive," Draco said. "Harry has quite the temper. Especially when someone he cares for is hurt."
"So when I got back the next day, he's gone and the papers are spread on the table. Oh, I chewed his arse out in court."
"Well, that is a bit different than what he told us," Charlie said.
"What's Ron's version?" Neville asked.
"He said, and I quote, 'I got back from a rough day at practice and looked around for Hermione, wondering what was for dinner. When I found her, she was fucking Harry-"
"WHAT!??" everyone yelled.
"Hold on, let me finish. Where was I? Oh yeah. 'She was fucking Harry on the kitchen counter. Then she started screaming, at me, grabbed a bag, and left with him. When I left for practice the next morning, she still wasn't home, so I left the divorce papers on the kitchen counter as payback.' Now you may scream," Charlie said with a bow.
"So that's why no one over there answered my letters!" Harry yelled.
"What a prick!" Neville shouted.
"Is he delusional?!" Draco yelled.
"Oh yes, because I screw by best friend, who is also my husband's best friend, when I know my husband is due home at any moment. Come on!" Hermione shouted.
"Oh, he said that when he asked her why as she was leaving, she said that he actually gives her some and is way better in bed," Charlie added.
"That's because he is," Hermione said, deadpan. Everyone looked at her. Neville turned his neck so fast he cracked a few vertebrae.
"What?!"
"Yeah, this one time, during the Horcrux Hunt-" Everyone caught onto the joke and began to laugh. "I mean, really, did you think I was serious?"
"You had me going for a minute," Neville said, rubbing his neck. "You said something about loving somebody else."
"I'm not in a position to disclose that information," Hermione said, lacing her fingers together.
"When was the divorce?" Draco asked.
"Beginning of May," Harry, Hermione, and Charlie replied.
"Did you ever get with your secret love?" Draco pushed on.
"Yes, in mid-June. And we've kept it a secret," Hermione responded.
"Then how do I know you're not making him up?"
"Think about it, Draco," Neville said. "It is Hermione we're talking about."
"True," Draco conceded.
"Thanks for believing that I am incapable of telling a lie," Hermione said sarcastically.
"Anytime," Neville said cheekily.
"I hate you."
"We love you, too," Draco said, getting everyone to laugh.
"You're awfully quiet, Harry," Charlie said.
"I'm tired of pressing Hermione for details about the divorce. I know everything already."
"I went to Harry for support. But could your family believe something so, gah!" Hermione said to Charlie, throwing her hands in the air to show her frustration.
"Fred and George didn't buy it. They called him out as the liar that he is. They couldn't believe that Harry and Hermione could do something that would hurt him so bad. Me and Bill couldn't really, either, but we wanted your side, so we held our opinion until one of us could ask you. Now I believe my brother is a rotten liar. Remind me to owl Bill."
"Remind me to send the twins chocolates," Hermione said with a chuckle.
A.N.: I'm (finally) back with another story! I was washing the dishes when BAM! Plot bunny attack! I haven't decided if the D/Hr pairing will be romantic or not, mostly because of my overwhelming obsession with Harmony. I'll get back to you on that…definitely Harmony.
Hold on tight, because this story is a roller coaster. I'm just writing as I go. Lots of drama, humor, and romance ahead, with a dash of angst. Yay angst! Haha. I'm just rolling with the punches on this one.
I'm not trying to bash Ron or the Weasleys, but I find the R/Hr ship to be idiotic. What was J. K. thinking?! All they did was fight and argue, argue and fight . . .
Bonus points to anyone who gets the reference to Claire's name!
Ta ta for now!
Patty
A.A.N.: This was my longest chapter to date! Mostly because I couldn't find a place to stop, but I don't normally write chapters so long. I aim for around a thousand words. I'm growing as a writer! Also, sorry for the long author's note. They're normally shorter, too.
