DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters except my own. I wish I did, but our Queen J.K. Rowling has that honour. This is my first fic, so be nice! And please review!
Chapter 1 – It's all changing again…
It was many and many a year ago, I was a child and she was a child, And this was the reason that, long ago, The angels, not half so happy in heaven, But our love it was stronger by far than the love For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams
In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of ANNABEL LEE;
And this maiden she lived with no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me.
In this kingdom by the sea;
But we loved with a love that was more than love-
I and my Annabel Lee;
With a love that the winged seraphs of heaven
Coveted her and me.
In this kingdom by the sea,
A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling
My beautiful Annabel Lee;
So that her highborn kinsman came
And bore her away from me,
To shut her up in a sepulchre
In this kingdom by the sea.
Went envying her and me-
Yes! - that was the reason (as all men know,
In this kingdom by the sea)
That the wind came out of the cloud by night,
Chilling and killing my Annabel Lee.
Of those who were older than we-
Of many far wiser than we-
And neither the angels in heaven above,
Nor the demons down under the sea,
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee.
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise but I feel the bright eyes
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side
Of my darling- my darling- my life and my bride,
In the sepulchre there by the sea,
In her tomb by the sounding sea.
Annabel Lee, Edgar Allan Poe
The Burrow
Hearing the rooster crow, Hermione woke with a start. It was August 31st. Term began tomorrow and today was her last day with Harry and Ron. They would not be returning to Hogwarts, choosing instead to go straight into Auror training. Hermione knew that going back to Hogwarts was going to be hard. Back through those doors into the great hall, where last she saw, was full of dead and wounded. She had made her decision though, and she would return. Hermione knew she couldn't persuade Harry and Ron to complete their N.E.W.T.s, though she was a little dismayed to return without them. It didn't feel like Hogwarts without her two best friends, but after everything that had happened, she supposed it would never feel like that Hogwarts again.
She heard Molly downstairs, and decided to get up.
"Good morning, dear. Would you like some tea?" Molly asked.
"Yes please," she replied, as Molly poured her a cup.
"Are you sure that it is necessary for me to have a guard with me at the train station? It seems like a real inconvenience, just for me…" Hermione asked.
"Don't be silly dear, after all that you've been through, it's the least the Ministry can do!" Molly said, continuing to fluff around the kettle.
Hermione flinched inwardly at the reminder of what she had suffered, now the war was more or less over, she had more time to dwell on what happened in Malfoy Manor, at Hogwarts, and who and what they had lost. She hoped her school work would be enough of a distraction that she wouldn't submit herself to those fearful memories. Though, she knew she wasn't the only one looking for a distraction; the bags under Molly's eyes belied the cheerful demeanour Molly was assuming. She hadn't slept a full night in many years, and the strain was showing.
"Ron will be with me though, and Harry!" she added, she really just wanted a quiet goodbye with her best friends, "Surely they are enough protection!"
"You are all so young! I know you are capable, but a couple of teenagers, however brave, won't hold off the worst witch to ever live!" Molly said, looking seriously at Hermione, and she knew she had lost this battle.
"Very well, if it makes you feel better about it, I suppose." Hermione said.
Thoughts turned to the witch in question, Bellatrix Lestrange. How she had escaped Hogwarts, escaped Molly's curse, remained a mystery. She now led several Death Eaters on a guerrilla campaign against the Ministry. Voldemort may be dead, but his most loyal, most fierce supporter was not. She had most recently attacked a muggle village only 60 miles from the Burrow. Many muggles had dies, and many of their children kidnapped. The Death Eaters still at large were getting bolder, and an attack on the Hogwarts Express was suspected. Many Ministry employees, including Arthur, were involved in securing the railway with protective enchantments. It was imperative to protect the children, as many wizarding families had also been victims of kidnapping since the Battle of Hogwarts. Indeed, many parents were considering keeping their children home. Kingsley, as acting Minister for Magic, had changed most parent's minds, adding security layers and even adding a password for platform 9 ¾ - which was due to arrive by owl to each student the day before the term began – today!
Molly and Hermione sipped their tea in silence, until a weary looking Harry entered the kitchen.
"Morning Harry, there is tea in the pot, help yourself dear. You look like you could use a strong one."
"Thanks Molly, but I won't be staying long enough for tea, we've got to get to the ministry, Auror pre-selections are on today."
"Oh, but you can't go on an empty stomach! Let me fix you something to take with you!" Molly set about the kitchen once again, happy to have something to occupy her hands, and so her thoughts.
Harry looked resigned to wait, but a small smile crossed his lips as he watched Molly fuss over his lunch.
Harry was on his way with Ron, after Molly had fussed over them some more. Ron had come down several minutes after Harry, trying to get his shoes on while half walking, half falling down the stairs. Molly had packed him a lunch to take as well, and sent them out the door with big hugs and pecks on the cheek, for good luck. Hermione walked with them to the perimeter of the Burrow, where they would apparate to the Ministry. Harry hugged Hermione, winked, and crack, he was gone. Ron, ever awkward, held Hermione's hand, not looking her in the eye.
"Well, I'll see you this afternoon then?" Ron asked, still shy when it came to initiating a kiss.
"Yes, you will." Hermione said expectantly.
He gave her a shy smile, and kissed her quickly on the lips, and then he was gone with another crack.
"Boys." Hermione sighed to herself.
Returning inside, she began packing her trunk on which she had placed an Undetectable Extension Charm; she didn't want to leave any of her books behind. Feeling a surge of pride when she thought about how well she was able to cast that advanced spell, she wondered if she would need some of her previous years' spell books, in case she needed a refresher. It had been a long time since she had spent her time devoted to study.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a tapping at the window. A tawny owl was sitting on the sill, an official looking letter clasped in his beak. The password!
Opening it, she read:
Dear Miss Granger,
Please find below the password to enter Platform 9 ¾, and instructions regarding the sequence of Wand strokes required while verbalising the password.
With the tip of your wand, please touch the column, then perform two full counter-clockwise circles.
Utter the password, "Ouvrir la Porte"while performing a clockwise semi-circle.
Those younger than eleven, or those without a wand must hold the hand of the Witch or Wizard who performed the password sequence.
Please note that this password is only valid for the day of your proposed travel. Any muggles watching you will only see you reviewing a map of the station. Please memorise this sequence, and destroy this letter as soon as possible
Thank you, and have a pleasant journey,
From The Department of Magical Transportation
"Ouvrir la Porte?" Hermione thought to herself. "Open the gate? Doesn't seem very secure, although, Brits don't particularly appreciate the French language…" she mused.
The rest of the day passed uneventfully as Hermione packed her trunk, she wondered how Ron and Harry had gone with their Auror trial. Today was the day the Ministry would be selecting potential trainees. She knew that both Harry and Ron had the skills to get that far, although she still disapproved of them not completing their education, Minister for Magic approval or not.
"We did it! We did it!" Ron exclaimed, whooping with joy. He ran up to Hermione and gave her a big hug, lifting her off the ground. She was happily surprised when he then kissed her passionately, while holding her in the air. He was flushed and tasted like sweat. She liked it immensely. Slowly they became aware of Harry, standing in the kitchen, awkwardly trying not to watch his two best friends snogging right in front of him in a small, cramped space, standing in the way, so he couldn't get past. They laughed, and Hermione hugged Harry, "Congratulations! I knew you would both get into the training program, I mean, it's basically just a formality isn't it?" she said.
"Thanks Hermione, I didn't think as many people would be there watching though, there was at least 30 people! Even Kingsley was there!" Harry said wondrously.
"Of course they were going to be there mate, they wanted to see you in action! Harry Potter, the boy who lived, twice!" Ron laughed.
"Honestly Harry, are you ever going to realise how famous you are?" Hermione asked incredulously.
"Really though, it was just a trial, nothing much to look at. I just cast a few defensive spells, a few hexes, illusion charms and we had to prove physical fitness – we ran laps for most of the time…"Harry trailed off, he was still uncomfortable with fame.
Just then, Ginny came running down the stairs, she ran to Harry and said, "I knew you would do it!" putting her arms around him, Harry reciprocated. She turned to Ron without releasing Harry and said, "It smells like a men's bathroom in here!"s
Hermione and Ginny both laughed, while Harry and Ron went upstairs to shower.
Dinner that night was a fabulous feast of roast lamb, roast vegetables, and a beautiful black forest gateau for dessert. Hermione, Harry and Ron offered to clean up after dinner. As they were working, Hermione showing Ron and Harry both how to speed it up with cleaning charms, they light heartedly chatted about Hogwarts, and what they missed the most about it all.
"I miss the food…" Ron remembered longingly.
Hermione said "Definitely the –"
"Library!" Harry and Ron said at once, laughing.
"Yes, the library, but I was actually going to say sitting at the common room fire, with a good book of course!" she chuckled.
"Quidditch, and the D.A." Harry said, thinking of his Firebolt upstairs. He hadn't flown in some time. He refused to acknowledge being on the back of a dragon as anything other than terrifying.
Once they had finished, they joined Ginny and George outside, who were laying under the stars, enjoying the last clear night of summer. George barely spoke these days, and Ginny, who was close to the twins, spent a lot of time just sitting with George.
Harry sat next to Ginny who laid her head in his lap. After a few minutes of him stroking her hair, she closed her eyes, seemingly asleep.
Ron and Hermione lay next to them, both staring skyward, their hands enveloped in each other's. Tomorrow, with the beginning of autumn things were going to change, again.
Kings Cross
The trip to Kings Cross was uneventful, a distinct lack of rushing around at the last minute was noticeable as Hermione and Ginny were the only ones going back this year. When they arrived at the station, Hermione, Harry, Ron and Ginny entered accompanied by the two Aurors that the Ministry had sent. Hermione walked up to the platform and performed the password sequence. Walking onto the platform, it was immediately obvious that the atmosphere after the battle was dim at best. When they were noticed, the whispering began.
"Is that?"
"It is!"
"I thought he was becoming an Auror?"
"He is, it was in the Prophet! He's not going back to Hogwarts!"
At last, they had their trunks loaded, and it was 10:55am. While Harry and Ginny were talking to each other in soft voices, Ron had pulled Hermione aside. His hand on her waist, she felt the emotion crawling up the back of her throat, as she pulled him close. Holding it back, she choked out:
"I'll miss you, make sure you write me!"
"I'll write all the time, and remember it's not too long until Christmas!"
"Be safe, and try hard in your training!" she said, the tears starting.
"I will make you proud, I promise!" Ron said softly.
"You already do." Now the tears were rolling.
He took her face in his hands and laid a gentle kiss on her lips. She responded in kind, and when the two minute whistle blew, she was the last to let go. She quickly ran to Harry and gave him a bear hug.
"You look after my Weasley, okay?" she said.
"I will, and you look after mine." Harry smiled at her, and squeezed her hand. She then left them and climbed the stairs into the carriage. Ginny also clambered onto the train, calm and pulled together. She took Hermione's hand and led her to an empty compartment. They waved the boys off, as the Hogwarts Express pulled away from Platform 9 ¾.
The day passed quickly on the train. Once lunch had been, Ginny and Hermione talked together about their classes which, for the first time, they would have together. Soon after, a welcome visitor appeared.
"Luna!" Ginny exclaimed.
"Hello friends, bittersweet isn't it? Returning like this?" she said, as she sat down next to Ginny.
"Yeah, it won't be the same will it?" Ginny replied.
"No, but change isn't always bad. Sometimes we need to learn to embrace it. Daddy always says so. He's started the Quibbler up again you know, now that we have had the house rebuilt." Luna continued to talk about her father and The Quibbler, and Hermione drifted into an uneasy doze, lulled by the familiar voices into a fitful sleep.
Suddenly there was a huge bang, and manic laughter could be heard from the rear of the train. Shocked out of her sleep, Hermione reached instinctively for her wand, Ginny and Luna doing the same. Two tall figures ran past the cabin, and Hermione ran out after them. Screaming first years ran up the corridor, squeezing past them, faces white with fright.
And there, at the end of the carriage she stood, Bellatrix Lestrange.