Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own the characters- that's the whole point of posting to a fan fiction site
I am going through and fixing each chapter one at a time so this should make for an easier read
Hermione knocked on the door of number 4 privet drive. It was 6 o'clock a.m. on the dot. She had a bag over her shoulder and her trunk was by the curb. The door was swung open and a short and rather obese teen boy stood before her. The scowl he wore faded rather rapidly.
"Can I help you?" Dudley tried to be impressive but came off just plain disturbing. Hermione picked up her arms and put them over her chest when he began to blatantly stare. He continued to try and get a glimpse of her breasts in her tank top. Hermione was successful in biting her tongue but her glare never weakened.
"Yes, Could you please tell Harry that Hermione is here," She said. He looked at her and scowled. He grumbled and turned from the door.
"HARRY! A GIRLS 'ERE FOR YOU!" He yelled. Hermione jumped and looked into the house. Dudley turned back to her and stared.
"You go to that school too?" Dudley asked, looking her up and down.
"Yes, " Hermione said curtly.
"So, you're a witch?" Dudley asked.
"Yes," Hermione repeated.
"I'd let you put a spell on me anytime," He smiled. Hermione's upper lip curled and she leaned into the doorframe and yelled.
"HARRY! RON! GET YOUR BULLOCKS DOWN HERE! NOW!" She screamed, making Dudley jump.
A door opened somewhere in the house and her two best friends emerged at the top of the steps. Harry and Ron had their trunks and birds in hand as they raced out the door.
"Good Ridence!" Harry yelled and ran to the front yard and called the Knight Bus. Ron followed and Hermione was a step behind them making sure not to much as give Dudley a single glance
"Hogwarts Please," Hermione said as she stepped up onto the bus and let Stanley take care of their trunks. They then all found their seats and something firm to hold on to.
"Hopefully, we can get to the castle before Professor Lupin leaves, He'll be furious we didn't wait for him," Hermione said. Harry and Ron didn't seem to care.
"I wish we could just go get a flat of our own, instead of having rooms at the castle. Just another way for them to keep tabs on us," Harry said. Several minutes past before Hermione felt the need to carry on a conversation. She turned to Harry with a question.
"Harry, do you plan on coming back and finishing your last year after Voldemort is gone?" Hermione asked. Ron gave her a strange look.
"After he kills Voldemort he won't need to go back to school, he'll 'prolly become an Auror that very instant," Ron said. Hermione rolled her eyes with a smile.
"So given the chance neither of you would finish your studies?" She asked. Ron shook his head. Harry shrugged before returning his gaze out the window.
"So what exactly are you planning to do when this is all over?" Hermione asked.
"Seeing as I will be by Harry's side the entire time fighting You-Know-Who, I too, will become an Auror," Ron answered her. Hermione laughed.
"I see and what do your finely tuned Divination skilled reveal about me?" Hermione asked. Ron stroked his chin.
"You will be offered to be an Auror but you will decline of course to finish your studies, getting a job as either a professor at Hogwarts, a random librarian, or some sort of post at the ministry and will help Harry and Myself whenever we call need of it," Ron said. Hermione's mouth dropped.
"Oh am I?" Hermione asked. Ron nodded. Harry could only smile at his friends.
"So I am going to be the friend with the less exciting job and I still have to do your homework for you, because even in a thousand years neither one of you will learn to pick up a book that doesn't hand everything over to you like our dear half-blood prince," Hermione said. Harry glared out the window.
"Uh, except for that last bit, yeah," Ron said. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Did it ever occur to you that after the death of Voldemort that there won't be any more dark wizards out there?" Hermione asked.
"Not possible, there will always be another wizard out there that think he-" Ron started.
"Or she" Hermione interjected.
"-Can take Voldemort's place. Not to mention Snape's still out there. I wouldn't be surprised if Voldemort named him his successor," Ron said. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Voldemort doesn't plan on dying, Snape's just a resource...like me apparently," Hermione replied and adjusted her bag next to her. .
"He was our age..." Harry said distantly and laid his head against the glass.
"Who was?" Hermione asked. Harry looked over to them and sat up.
"That Bastard Snape, he was our age and he was making up spells and new ways to make potions quicker and stronger," Harry said. Hermione and Ron looked at each other.
"That's why he is called Potions Master,and as for the spells, you knew he always dipped into the dark arts." Hermione tried to reassure him.
"How do you even make up a spell?" Harry asked, his tone frustrated.
"Are you sure he made it up?" Hermione asked.
"Have you heard of Levicorpus, Muffliato, or Sectumsempra?" Harry asked. Hermione shook her head.
"I could roughly translate them but...I haven't heard of them being spells, no," Hermione answered him and held onto a pole as the driver announced a stop and hit the breaks to let an elderly witch off.
"When we get back, I will research for each of those spells, and I will find out what it takes to create a spell. If you want me to, I will even get a complete background on Professor Snape. I'll get all the dirt I can find," Hermione told him. Harry smiled at her.
"I would like to know more of what I'm up against. Do you think you could break the wards on Snape's quarters?" Harry asked.
"I think the Order has already thought of that one and if they get in I don't think they are going to be as eager to share information with you like Professor Dumbledore was," Hermione said and laid her head on his shoulder. Harry was silent. They were all thrown to the ground as the bus suddenly came to a halt.
"Hogwarts!" The driver shouted. They all looked to each other, rolled their eyes, gathered their things, and got off the bus. They looked to the castle and the Knight bus departed. They started walked for not even the knight bus could appear inside the gates. The three of them hiked up to McGonagals office and knocked on the frame.
"The castle is so empty during the summer," Hermione said as she listened. Normally there was a hum about the castle from students traveling about the corridors, talking, and doing everyday tasks. Now it was so silent.
A few minutes passed and the gargoyle began to move and Minvera came down. She looked at them in shock.
"What are you doing here? Explain yourselves! You were supposed to wait for Remus!" She said, quite flustered.
"Well, We were all ready to go and he wasn't there so we fended for ourselves," Harry said plainly. Minerva game him a stern look.
"Mr. Potter you really should take more caution," She scorned them.
"Where are our rooms? I want to visit my parents sometime before the day ends," Harry said. Minvera shook her head and headed down the hall. The trio followed her down to the guest rooms.
"Before you go to Godric's Hollow you must wait for an Order Member to accompany you!" Minvera said at the door.
"We Are Order Members," Harry argued as he walked in.
"A Senior Member! Remus, Tonks, Kingsley even...someone who has been in the order for at least 5 years," Minvera said. Harry turned to Minvera.
"Go wake up Remus then!" Harry snapped. Hermione couldn't believe he was talking to McGonagal like that. Harry seemed to have lost all respect for authority.
"Hermione may I have a word?" Minvera asked, taking a moment to ignore Harry. Hermione nodded and walked with Minvera on the way to her room.
"I have fallen back on Order Members to fill in the holes in the staff. Remus is returning for DADA and Tonks will be taking over Transfiguration, which leaves Potions. I was wondering if you could fill the position. You are best person for the job, the only thing is you would need is to take your N.E.W.T.s first. I am fully confident that you can pass with flying colors right here and now, but to avoid giving you a heart attack, I set up an appointment for you to take your N.E.W.T.s for Tuesday," McGonagal said. Hermione looked at her wide eyed.
"Are...Are you-...Uhm...What about Proffesor Slughorn?" Hermione babbled for a minute.
"He's surrendered the position and has gone back into hiding" Minerva answered. Hermione nodded her understandment,
"Ok," Hermione said and Minvera smiled.
"Thank you so much Miss Granger! Best drop off your things, seems Potter is rather eager to go off and get himself killed," Minvera huffed. Hermione laughed at her.
"He's got plenty of eyes watching his back," Hermione said. Minvera nodded and headed for Remus' rooms.
Hermione dropped off her trunk at the end of the bed and readjusted the messenger bag on her shoulder before double checking its contents. Her messenger bag had her money, books, writing utensils, two sets of clothes, and a variety of other items. She had it magiced to fit whatever she wanted and to weight no more than 5 pounds. Her wand was in her hair holding her bun together and her time turner was about her neck but below her shirt so as not to be seen. She wore a tank top and jeans, the summer temperatures were climbing. Hermione met Harry and Ron out in the hall. Remus met with them a few minutes later.
"Harry, I'm not going to tell you to be careful but to be patient, There's a rumor going around that it's a virtue," Remus mumbled as he ran his fingers through his hair. Hermione laughed to herself.
"Well, let's go then," Remus said. They all walked back outside and beyond the gates of Hogwarts. Remus apparated them all to Godrics Hollow. It was a small town that seemed rather deserted. No one was around. The summer breeze breathed past them and Remus began to walk. They followed him to the end of the street where they turned. The sight they found was that of an overgrown graveyard. Tall grass flowed in the wind revealing the tops of tombstones with each wave. It was beautiful, surreal, sad, and scary at the same time.
"Now we just have to find them," Remus said and began walking through the weeds.
"You never visit them?" Harry asked. Remus looked at him sadly.
"I couldn't bring myself to do it. I think we were the last ones to every come to this place by the looks of it. Wonder if that old grounds keeper finally kicked it. He's been older than mummy dust for years now," Remus said, stepping over or around the headstones. Harry looked to him.
"Who's we? Wasn't Sirius in Azkaban?" Harry asked. Remus nodded.
"I couldn't bring myself to come to the funeral, it was two days afterwards that Severus came to my house, grabbed me by the collar and dragged me here." Remus told him. Harry rolled his eyes and glared. It probably not as graceful as Hermione was thinking but it was still nice of Snape to do that. Ron nudged Harry and pointed to a person standing across the field. The person hand shoulder length black hair and a black outfit.
"Bloke looks awful familiar" Ron replied.
"Snape?" Harry asked and they all crouched down. Ron shrugged.
"Can't tell from here," Ron ansered. Remus reached forward and grabbed Harry's shoulder.
"Harry, let him go. If it is him he could take down all of us without breaking a sweat," Remus tried to warn. Harry didn't listen, he just shrugged Lupin's hand off his shoulder. He pulled out his wand and looked to Ron who nodded. Harry and Ron stood and ran after the man.
"Harry!" Hermione called and ran after them, Remus groaned and went after them as well.
Harry and Ron got to the man and turned him about. The man looked frightened and it wasn't Snape. The man had smoother features and a younger face.
"Can I help you?" He asked. He didn't even sound like Snape. Harry and Ron quickly put away their wands.
"Sorry to disturb you, thought you were someone else," Harry said and they released him.
"No harm done, good day," He said and Harry began to walk away.
"I thought you said no one came out here," Harry growled over to Remus. Remus shrugged.
"I haven't been out here for 16 years how should I know?" Remus snapped. He was getting sick of Harry's snippyness.
"Harry over there" Ron said and pointed. Under a tree there was a stone with the word Lily barely visible in the tall grass. The boys took off again. Hermione sighed and went after them. She gave the man a smile and they made eye contact. He had ebony colored eyes. Hermione had only ever seen one person with solid black eyes but she decided not to think about it and keep going. It nagged at her thought and she risked a glance back at him, ignoring the path before her. Just as she got him in her sights her foot snagged on a broken, fallen tombstone and she fell. She reached out for the closest thing around her, which happened to be another aged headstone. Due to it age, and exposure to the elements un-warded, it cracked and fell forward under her weight. She landed face down over the broken stone.
"Oh let me help you" She heard him.
"Muffliato," He said and Hermione froze. She tried to look around for Harry, Ron, and Remus but she could see nothing through the grass. They were both completely hidden.
"Miss Granger, as clumsy as ever I see," The mans voiced changed in that silky baritone that had taught her potions. She tried to get up, but felt her former potions professor holding her down.
"Hold still, I just came to ask you a favor. I'm not threatening, I am asking. I need your help. If your answer is yes then the only thing you need to do is press the top of this locket and it will transport you to a small town. Ask for me and you will be directed to a location where you should wait for me. If your answer is no then the transport won't work. It will also fail to work should you tell anyone about this and try to ambush me. Either way you get a new piece of jewelry, " Snape said. Hermione closed her eyes and bit her tongue as she felt his hands go around her neck. She refused to show fear in front of him though she knew she had failed. He placed the necklace loosely and rather gently around her neck and tied it. Hermione waited for effects like the poison necklace Draco had to take over her but nothing happened.
"Finite Incantatem," Hermione looked up and he was gone. She rolled over and sat up. She looked around, barely able to see over the grass. She pulled the charm around on the black ribbon. It was a crest locket. She opened it and found nothing inside. Hermione looked over the grass at Harry, Ron, and Remus. They didn't seem to have noticed a thing. Hermione got off the headstone and pulled her wand from her hair. Her curls fell down her back and she said an incantation to fix the headstones. She then said a charm to cut the grass so she could actually see where she was going.
Hermione picked herself up off the ground, put her hair back up, threw her satchel back over her shoulder, and walked over to the boys. Her mind was on Snape the entire time. What did he want help with? Was he telling the truth? Was it a trap? Should she tell anyone? He said it wouldn't work if she did. If she told someone her curiosity would eat her alive. Hermione didn't know what to do, she just fiddled with the thing. The thread was so long that the charm fell just above her belly button. Hermione knew the ribbon would never last so she transfigured it into a chain and continued to fiddle with the charm.
They stood in silence for a long while. Harry just stared at his parents' names. Hermione looked about the cemetery and saw that it went into the forest that surrounded it. Through the trees she could see a mausoleum. Curiosity consumed her better judgment for that moment and she began to walk towards it. The building wasn't that far into the trees. The name was covered with vines. Hermione reached up and pulled the dead plants down. She gasped when she found Gryfindor written across the marble. 'Godrics Hollow...Godric Gryfindor...How could I miss that? And why is the burial place of such a famous wizard abandoned? I would hate to see how they have treated Merlin' Hermione thought to herself. She noticed the door was open and walked inside. Her mouth dropped when she found the casket lid reduced to rubble, thrown to the side. Inside the coffin lay a man with golden brown locks of hair, fair skin, fair features, a goatee, and fabulous robes of crimson and gold. Hermione figured there was a preservation spell on him, assuming it was in fact Godric Gryfindor. It was a strong one as well, to have lasted over a 1,000 years. His hands where over his torso as though they were supposed to be holding something. 'The Sword of Gryfindor most likely' Hermione thought. She repaired to lid and levitated it up.
"Hermione?" She heard her name called across the field as she put the lid back on and magically sealed it. She dashed out the door and sealed it. Hermione then ran to meet the guys. She didn't know why but she didn't want to tell them about the tomb or Severus. She didn't want to risk ruining the port key and she also wanted answers.
"Professor Lupin," She started when she caught up with them.
"Hermione, you may call me Remus," Remus said to her.
"It's going to take a little getting used to, but anyway. Why has this town been abandoned?" She asked.
"I'm not quite sure why the town was abandoned but like I said about the grounds keeper, he's most likely passed away without anyone noticing for it to be in this condition, Godric Gryfindor is buried here you know" Remus said. Harry and Ron perked up.
" This is the burial place for a very famous wizard. You would think it would be a tourist attraction, that someone would check up on it more," Hermione said. Remus shrugged.
"It was for a short time and still kind of is. Just about everyone wants to be buried with Godric Gryfindor, but no one really wants to live near him. Would you want to live in a town that was surrounded for acres upon acres by a cemetery? People just left for prettier sights I guess. Who wants to be in a graveyard in these hard times? Godrics Hollow is nothing more than a graveyard now," Remus said. Hermione nodded.
"Alright, time to get back to the castle for a decent breakfast," Remus said and they each placed their hands on him and he apparated them.