Hope

by itsleesh

Hermione thought she had lost it all when Ron died. Now, she accepts a job as the Charms Professor of Hogwarts and is not quite sure what to expect. It helps that Harry, Ginny, and some others are there but the only difference is that the all have somebody, except Draco Malfoy. Will Hermione find love? Or will she fall at the hands of it and never feel again? DxH GxH NxL GxA PDxPM

All hope was lost after the Battle of Hogwarts. You would think that they would be celebrating, celebrating the death of Voldermort. But they didn't, they couldn't. Too many lives had been lost for them to feel joy. Not even George Weasley could bring a smile to their lips; he had suffered far too much. Hermione didn't think he would ever smile again, all his happy memories had been with Fred.

"Well we achieved something, at least. But at the great loss of many lovely souls," Professor McGonagall had said with a sad smile. She gazed off into the distance, looking at a destroyed Hogwarts with pillars crumbling down. Her eyes quickly darted away, as if she couldn't bear the sight.

Hermione knew she couldn't. Hogwarts had been her home for 6 years. She stroked a hand through Ron's pumpkin colored hair as she set down his pale, lifeless body. Pumpkin, Ron used to call her that. Then she did something that she never had down before. She cried. She cried so hard that even the werewolves howled with her, night or day, full moon or not.

Professor McGonagall watched from a fair distance. "Yes a great loss indeed. But we must not frown upon our troubles; we must smile upon our successes! Surely, these beloved souls would not want us to live the rest of our life in sorrow. Mister Weasely, I'm quite sure that your brother would smack you right across the face if he saw you frowning! Mister Potter, your godfather and his best friends surely would have wanted you to explore mischief," Professor McGonagall turned to Hermione, "As for you, my dear, I'm quite sure that Mister Weasley would of wanted you to find a new true love."

Hermione looked down and wiped the tears of her face. She swallowed hard and said, "As Professor Dumbledore would've wanted for you."

The Professor smiled, "As he would."

She walked away leaving Hermione rather confused. Hermione rushed over to help a limping Harry and wounded Ginny. Before she tended to them she called out to Professor McGonagall.

"Professor McGonagall! Do you think that maybe I could come teach at Hogwarts? After it's built up again, of course," she asked.

The Professor chuckled. "3 years, Miss Granger. In 3 years you may. Not a minute before or after."

Hermione nodded and focused her attention back on Harry, Ginny, George and some others. She hardly noticed when Professor McGonagall had transformed into a cat and ran away. Far, far away.