A Second Chance

Chapter 1: Mail Call

Hermione made her way down to the dungeons, hoping that he had left for dinner by now. She knocked on his door praying that no one answered. She stepped back, gripping the small white envelope which was addressed to him. She sighed in relief when no one answered that door. She opened it quietly in case he was sleeping and slipped in. She made her way through the rooms without hesitation since she had been there many times before. She relaxed when all the rooms appeared to be empty. She went back out into the living room and placed the envelope on the coffee table. She slipped back out of the room and made her way back up to the main corridor.

She peeked into the Great Hall and saw all her friends enjoying their last meal of the school year; for in the morning they would board the Hogwarts Express. Some, like Hermione, might never return to Hogwarts again. She had already graduated but had told Dumbledore of her situation and he had allowed her to leave early. He had also promised not to tell anyone, especially him, why she had left. She looked up at the Head's table with tears in her eyes as she saw him eating his meal, looking miserable as always. Thankfully he didn't look up at her. She couldn't deal with explaining everything in person. That was what the letter was for. To explain everything. Well not everything. She had left out one major detail which only Madame Pomfrey, Dumbledore and herself knew. And she wanted to keep it that way. As soon as she had found out, she knew she had to leave. So that's what she was doing; leaving; probably forever. She turned and walked out the front doors to the cool grounds. She walked down to a small clearing for apparating and disappeared.

Severus returned from dinner grumpier than usual. One of the 7th year students had decided to start a food fight on the last day of school. Insolent prat, Severus thought. He smiled though, when he saw Hemione's handwriting on a letter on the table. He wondered what the letter was for when she could just come down and tell him herself. Then again he couldn't recall seeing her at dinner. He opened the letter and sat in a chaor by the fire.

My Dearest Severus,

I hope you can someday forgive me for what I have done. I just needed to get away for a while. I'm not sure how long exactly. It's just something I needed to do. I am truly sorry because I really do love you with all my heart and I can't imagine the pain you must be feeling as you read this letter. Don't try to talk me out of it because by the time you read this I will be long gone. You must be angry, hurt and confused but I assure you that my leaving had nothing to do with you. You are the love of my life and I can promise you that I will never love another man as long as I live. I hope that someday I can return and explain this even more, but right now I don't know if that will be possible. I love you forever and always.

Forever yours,

Hermione

xxxxxxxxx

That was eleven years ago. Now twenty-eight, Hermione Granger was holding a letter in her hand. A letter which she had been dreading since the birth of her daughter.

"Emma!" Hermione called. A small girl came bounding down the stairs and peeked her head into the kitchen. Hermione smiled at her daughter. Even though everyone said that she looked exactly like Hermione, she only saw one person when she looked at Emma; Emma's father. She had honey brown hair but unlike Hermione's wavy brown hair, Emma's was pin-straight. She had Hermione's eyes but a smaller version of her father's nose, and she had her father's lips. The one thing Hermione hated was when Emma smirked she looked exactly like her father.

"Yes mum?" Emma said.

"You have some mail," Hermione said as she handed the letter to Emma. Emma's eyes went wide as she turned it over to reveal the Hogwarts crest which sealed the letter.

"Mum it's from Hogwarts," she said as if in disbelief.

"Open it," Hermione encouraged. Emma tore it open and read it aloud.

"'Dear Ms. Granger. We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.' Oh my god, I get to go to Hogwarts!" Hermione forced a smile. Emma continued to read to herself.

"That's great honey. Do you want to floo over to Hailey's to see if she got one too?"

"Yeah. Are you going with me?"

"Yeah I have to talk to Uncle Harry about something anyways."

"Ok, just give me five minutes."

"Ok honey." Emma ran up the stairs. Hailey was Harry's and Ginny's daughter, born shortly after Emma. They had unexpectedly gotten pregnant just before Harry had graduated. Dumbledore had found a spell so that no one except Ginny and Harry's closest friends and family knew. Everyone else in school had no idea that she was pregnant since the spell hid her growing belly. Emma came back down the stairs with her coat on.

"I'm ready." Hermione and Emma walked over to the fireplace. Hermione held out the bowl of floo powder.

"Would you like to do it this time?" Emma nodded and took a handful. She and Hermione stepped into the fireplace.

"Harry and Ginny Potter's house!" Emma yelled as she threw the powder into the air. There was a whirling green light and they were gone. A few seconds later they came to a halt and Hermione realized they were there. A girl came into the living room and ran over to them. She was about the same size as Emma and had Ginny's red hair and freckles and Harry's green eyes.

"Emma!" Hailey shouted as she started brushing the soot off of them.

"Hi Hailey. Are your parents home?" Hermione asked.

"Hi Aunt Hermione. Yeah, I'll go get them." Hailey walked out of the room.

"Mum, Dad, Aunt Hermione and Emma are here!" she yelled. She walked back into the room and began talking with Emma. Ginny came into the room and smiled when she saw Hermione.

"Hermione, what a nice surprise."

"Well Emma wanted to share the news since we figured that Hailey probably got one as well." Hermione held up the Hogwarts letter.

"Ah yes, Hailey got hers this morning. Can you believe they're growing up so fast?"

"No I can't. Its way too fast. Is Harry home? I have to talk to him about something."

"Yeah, I'll go get him." Ginny left the room and came back with Harry. Emma ran to Harry and jumped into his arms.

"Uncle Harry, guess what! I'm going to Hogwarts." Harry shot Hermione a concerned look but then smiled at Emma.

"That's great Em. Why don't you and Hailey go help your Aunt in the kitchen she's making cookies. I have to talk to your mother for a minute."

"Okay." Emma jumped down and ran into the kitchen with Hailey followed by Ginny. Harry walked over to Hermione.

"Why don't we go outside." She nodded and they went out into the garden.