Spoilers: This is very parallel to Deathly Hallows – a pre-Epilogue, if you will – with a few exceptions of course.
Disclaimer: All mentioned characters and settings are owned by JK Rowling and publishers who partook in the HP series. No money is being profited from this story nor do I claim anything as my own; no copyright law is being broken.
Author's Notes: Unlike my other stories, I believe the subjects I touch upon and the writing itself in this one is quite mature, although not intricately explained and/or described to earn an M rating, but you never know in the future. I'm a little disgusted how OOC I wrote my other stories' characters so I'm attempting to keep the ones in here in tact as possible. Also, chapters' length will vary, like, hardcore. Feedback would be awesome too, thank you! :)
The light drizzle that visited the night before still refused to give up the air, maintaining its steady pace as light droplets of rain fell from the heavens down to the awaiting earth. Cool wind that had associated itself with the bleak atmosphere and dreary weather also managed to seep under a house's crack, running chilly tendrils of rigid air throughout the rooms. The house's windows and outside walls were already shielded completely over with the minuscule rain from earlier that morning and Hermione's previous plans of cleaning the nearly abandoned confinements of her home had been tossed out her mind once her eyes set on her drenched windows; other worries preoccupying her anyway.
She was tired. No, exhausted. And terribly, terribly frustrated with her husband's recent drawn out absence, but felt as if she had little next to no right to express her irritation that revolved around him. Ron was, after all, trying his hardest to maintain his Auror position and certainly wasn't in the position to call his off days or switch his demanding schedule. Still, a little family time would have been nice and she rarely ever asked for much but under Ron's circumstances, her wishes couldn't be fulfilled. Not yet at least.
Most figured Hermione would have paved herself a worthy job by now and, to be completely honest, she did as well. But her life had seemingly taken a different path when she unexpectedly discovered a bundle of joy beginning to form within her one morning Ginny and Harry were over for breakfast. She was in denial at first, blatantly outright refusing the possibility of her being pregnant. But as weeks progressed and her symptoms grew considerably worse, she decided to take matters in her own hands and, after at least twenty tests – magic and non-magic alike – numbly concluded that she was, indeed, pregnant. Very pregnant.
After giving birth and about a year later she found herself catering after her and Ron's very own child at the promising age of twenty-eight, bound to her home, and with no occupation. Well, as of now at least. A few days ago she received an owl from McGonagall, Hogwarts' new respectable headmistress, requesting her services for the school's second semester coming up within a few weeks. Without hesitation she jumped at the chance but now doubt had encased her mind.
What if Ginny and Harry couldn't handle Rose and their own children? What post would she fill? Did Ron secretly disagree with the idea? Was it even possible to juggle her family with her new exigent job?
Suddenly Hermione could no longer dwell in her worries, cocking her head to the side when an abrupt popping sound came from her kitchen. And before she could lift herself from the couch, in bustled her dear friend, Ginny, with her fiery red hair awry and her expression murderous. The brunette carefully studied her fuming friend from her seat, contemplating what to do to soothe the enraged witch whatever the reason for the uninvited intrusion be. The bustling redhead was known to have a short temper, much like her brother, Ron, and had the tendency to act upon her emotions rather than think them out.
"Ginn–" Apparently, she wasn't allowed to finish; her friend sharply cutting her off just as she began.
"Honestly, he's always pulled outrageous stunts with–" Ginny stopped, swallowing back down her deceased brother's name that rested on the tip of her tongue; Hermione instantly knew whom Ginny's inexplicable anger was directed toward. "I just never thought he'd do something like this. Mum and dad'll have a fit! Oh and when I get my hands on him–!"
Her eyes darted sharply to Hermione and the brunette stiffened under the intense and expected gaze. "I, err, what?"
"George, Hermione! George!" exclaimed the boiling redhead. Her friend blinked in response. "Oh for the love of – he's leaving Angelina! For Cho Chang of all people!"
Hermione couldn't help but allow herself to blink dimly again, inhaling the rather controversial news. When she appeared as if Ginny's words had sunken in, she gulped down the hardened lump in her throat and spoke evenly – which, assumingly, wasn't an ideal move on her part for it seemed that the female Weasley only became further infuriated by her controlled words.
"Well, to be truthful, I assumed George never really was particularly in love with Angelina." She paused, glancing over at her friend, and found that her opinion had only gained Ginny's scowl deepening. "I'm sorry, Ginny. But I really can't think of much else to say."
"Not much else to say?" As always, the redhead was quick to reply with a sharp tone. "How about mentioning my brother whom everyone presumed as a committed, happily married man leaving his wife of nearly five years for some snooty, engaged girl – because she certainly isn't a woman pulling off a stunt like this – who nearly ruined Harry's entire perception on women?!"
"Ginny!" shushed Hermione. "Please, I just put Rose down for a nap a couple of minutes ago –"
"Hermione, I think you're missing the severity of this situation," Ginny continued harshly, louder than before. "Angelina is completely distraught about this – George just upped and left this morning and I heard Cho called off her engagement with Roger Davies hours prior! And all you can think of –"
"Is my daughter who hasn't had a wink of sleep last night, how you're basing off Cho's intentions from our school days, your dear and damaged brother, George, who never completely healed himself after Fred died–" Ginny visibly flinched at the mention of the near forbidden name, "–and Angelina who failed at fixing him. Yes, Ginny, that is all I can think of."
The redhead grew silent as the terribly sarcastic and cynical words belonging to a woman she thought as her best friend raked across her freckle-splattered skin and the faint sound of rain bounced shamelessly against the emptied house's windows around them. Time stretched between the two women had nearly reached eternity until Ginny finally spoke after clearing her throat awkwardly.
"So, then, you think Angelina wasn't… right for him?"
Hermione allowed herself to release a sigh upon the question. "I just think she lacked the capability of healing George, that's all. She's a wonderful woman, no doubt. And, although I don't necessarily agree with Cho and her past actions, if George feels she can do what Angelina couldn't, then that's his opinion and his choice. If this is what he wants, well then, it'd be wrong to deprive him of it – no matter what the circumstance."
"Still," frowned Ginny as the brunette stood to her feet. "I feel like he's cheated Angelina five years of her life. "
"But you shouldn't feel guilt over it; it's their martial problem after all. It's up to them to deal with it."
Her frown became undecipherable for a moment. "I'm terrified that he's cheated on her with Cho. Even more so because it's George, not Bill or Charlie or even Percy. I just… I wanted his life to be as perfect as it could be after the war and I thought his marriage was like…"
"Yours with Harry and mine with Ron?" suggested Hermione promptly, her tone brisk and sharp. "Well, not all can be."
Ginny allowed her gaze to momentarily flit from her friend to a window pane, guilt cowering in the shadow of her brown eyes. Suddenly they lightened with worry, fixed on an object increasing in size as it drew in closer. "Oh!" she exclaimed suddenly, "An owl!"
Following the redhead's eyes, Hermione had too spotted the brown speck gliding from the gray horizon to the closed window and gradually shaped into an owl's figure. She hurried toward the glass sill and wrenched it open, shielding her face with her arm from the brewing storm's rain and let the soaked animal flutter in.
"Strange time to be sending mail, especially under weather conditions like today," commented Ginny as she languidly sat on the couch Hermione had just stood from.
"It's from McGonagall," Hermione informed once she gingerly extracted the letter from the owl's leg and performed a drying spell on the paper drenched with built up rain. Scanning listlessly through the dried parchment her eyes widened at one particular point and lifted her gaze to meet her friend's awaiting one. "I'm replacing Slughorn."
"For potions?" Ginny squinted. "Well, besides, Blaise Zabini, you were the top student in that class. Wonder why Slughorn dropped his position halfway through the year?"
Hermione frowned. "McGonagall never gave me a reason, though I presume it isn't really my business to begin with."
"Anything else she wrote?"
"Nothing exciting, just where Slughorn left off and I'll be picking up."
"Lovely." blinked Ginny. She ran a hand through her hair before tucking a strand behind her ear, slowly standing to her feet. The tension had not lessened between the two and it appeared as if it was suffocating her, or, at least, causing great discomfort. Her expression was strained as she mumbled lowly, "Well, better be on my way. Sorry for the intrusion."
The brunette smiled gently. "Don't worry."
Ginny then exchanged a smile sheepishly, however, there was a slightly corrupt quality to hers. "Maybe there's a hidden scandal behind the Hogwarts's staff. Make sure to tell me if there is."
"I highly doubt there will be," Hermione laughed. "But I'll be sure to tell you if there is."
With a quick nod from the redhead, Ginny disapparated without another word, leaving Hermione to the presage that would slowly seep its way toward her the next coming months.
-Yeah. First chapter is pretty much a catch-up on Hermione's background and I know you're like, wtf, Cho and George? Well, to clarify your confusion, their relationship is actually foreshadowing to the plot and, plus, Cho is a favorite character of mine (I can see all your faces now, but it really shouldn't be a surprise considering two of my six stories of my already posted stories are about her) and I never quite understood why Rowling paired George and Angelina together while taking the Yule Ball into account. Besides, I'm a Fred/Angelina shipper to the death. Literally. And, admittedly, I'm trying to ween you into the pairing because I recently found a strange love for them. Buahahaha. :)
Anyways, it'd be pretty sweet if you guys sent any type of feedback/review. Thanks!