Disclaimer: I do not own any of the plot, characters or content in the Harry Potter series. They all belong to J.K. Rowling. I am not affiliated with her in any way.
----
I heaved a great sigh, glaring out the window at the busy campus grounds below. Robes billowing, the students were getting ready to head back home. Some of them had just graduated, like myself, others were just returning for a simple holiday. Unlike these happy-go-lucky wizards and witches, I was not joining in their festive joy. Oh yes, I was happy that I had finally graduated from school, now being able to return to England and start teaching at Hogwarts. But I hadn't been back in five years. I hadn't seen him in five years.
"Herm?" I turned around at the sound of my roommate's voice.
Meghan stood there, her hand on her hip, looking at me in that god awful way she always did when I was wasting time. Her silky black hair framed her face, bringing out her bright green eyes.
"Yes?" I tried to sound normal, even though I was near to a nervous breakdown.
"We have to go now...mum's expecting me for supper, you know how she is" Meghan took her hand away from where it had been resting, allowing her appearance to be less intimidating. "Besides...I bet your loads happy to be going back! You haven't even visited for what? Five years?"
I gave her a small sigh before grabbing a hold of my trunk and starting to drag it to the door. "It's going to be chaos to get to the school fire, you know that right?" I made sure that Meghan understood the fact that with so many students going home, we would have to wait for a while for our chance to floo out.
"I'm not stupid," she retorted, flinging a stray hair out of her vision. "But if we get there sooner, we'll have a better chance of getting home sooner."
That's what I'm afraid of, I thought bitterly before following her from the room that had been ours for the last five years.
I stumbled into the barren space of my new flat. I dropped my trunk beside me, stirring up dust from the covered floor. I pulled out my wand and lit up a lantern, letting light flood into the room. I had come back from France just the week before, making sure that I had a flat secured before I came back for good. Although it could use some shaping up, the flat's location was great. With a twinge, I realized that I was living a tad bit closer to him then I really wanted to, but there was nothing I could do about it.
Sighing, I pulled off my thick cloak, noting that it was quite stuffy in the place. I walked from the living area and into my bedroom, thankful that there had been a bed supplied. Without even taking off so much as my shoes, I collapsed on it, falling asleep almost immediately.
"Rise and shine sleepy head!" I groaned and covered my head with a pillow. Quickly, I threw it off and tried to cough the dust that I had just breathed in. I froze as my eyes landed upon a pair of legs, traveling up the body until I was looking straight into the bright, cheery face of none other than Ginny Weasley.
"This is why I don't tell people where I am" I said bitterly, pulling myself from the bed and padding into the kitchen. A joyful laugh bubbled from Ginny as she pushed herself onto the counter.
"On come on now Herms! It's not as if I let the whole Weasley gang know!"
I glared at her for even stating that sort of joke before splashing water on my face. I could tell she was trying to keep from giggling. I used my robes to dry my face before turning to face her.
"And what has the famous Mrs. Ginny Potter been up to lately?" I smirked.
With my question, she held out her hand to show off her wedding band. "Isn't it incredible? Never in my wildest dreams have I ever thought that I would marry Harry!" She popped off the counter and hugged Hermione.
"Easy does it Gin, I've already heard enough about it in all those letters you sent. I'm sorry I couldn't be at the wedding."
"Oh, that's alright. I know with all those courses you were taking it wasn't possible to take time off."
A twinge of guilt hit me. It was true, I had been busy with courses, but that wasn't the reason I hadn't visited. I couldn't see him. It was just impossible.
She smiled brightly. "So, now that you are here, you're going to come with me back to the burrow for a visit."
I stood there, shocked for a minute. "Uh...Ginny? That...well. Don't you and Harry have your own flat? I could just go there." I was trying to slither my way out of this predicament.
"Of course we do but we went to mum's for a vacation. Nobody else is there except us and Ron."
I froze. I couldn't go to the burrow when he was there. It just wouldn't work.
"Listen Gin...I'd love to go, really I would, but..."
"Oh now you don't!" Ginny's eyes flashed fire at me before settling down. "I know of your feelings for him Herms but come on! You have to come visit, just ignore the moron."
I felt myself giving in, even though I really didn't want to. "Fine...I'll go, but after I have my shower and actually look decent." Ginny hugged my joyously and grinned.
I walked away, knowing I had probably just made the biggest mistake of my life.
-----
There's the first chapter! Hope you guys like it
