An Unlikely Affair
Disclaimer: This world belongs to J.K. Rowling, I just like to dabble in it and create a bit of silliness. To all my fellow SS/HG fans and anyone who's just having a look please feel free to leave as many reviews as you like, I absolutely love getting feedback on my work.
Author's Note: This chapter is for setting the scene and introducing the characters. The telling of the story really begins about a third of the way through the next chapter. Happy reading.
Prologue
Walking sullenly through the gate to platform nine and three-quarters , Hermione was greeted warmly by Ginny, a red-headed girl, once merely the sister of Ron, and now one of her closest friends seconded only by Harry. Although her exterior seemed content enough, Ginny's eyes betrayed the horrible despair that Hermione's closely-knit group were all feeling. Somehow the train's steam smelt less sweet, the faces of the students and parents less animated, and the friendly hugs of her close friends less welcoming. Hermione had changed. The death of her boyfriend, her best friend, had closed off her heart, her cold eyes staring back at the familiar yet distant scene of a world forever marred by death and destruction.
Clambering onto the Hogwarts Express, Harry managed to find an empty carriage compartment. Holding the door open for Ginny with an awkward smile and Hermione with a sympathetic silent air, they entered the cold and previously homely world of Hogwarts. Small talk was not even attempted as the three spiritless children stared blankly either out the window or into a worn book, but even the smell of the musty pages could not lift Hermione's mood, her friend, her soul mate, her life, had ended with the death of Ron.
A loud click forced Hermione into a familiar state of panic. Drawing her wand, she realised it was merely the carriage door sliding open, but the face that peered back at her from the other side of the door was not one she could endure.
"Well well, the three musketeers are no more I see, we've had to make do with the younger Weasley generation have we? Oh, but wait, we swap one couple for another. Moving in on poor Weasley's sister are we Potter? Shame on you," said the arrogant and disdainful Draco Malfoy.
Moving fast Hermione whispered a curse under her breath turning the bastard into the rat that he was. Picking Malfoy up, she hurled him out of their compartment reversing the curse, minus the nose. To her satisfaction he recoiled and ran to the safety of his compartment, protected by his brainless thugs.
Everything seemed the same but less majestic. Since the war against Voldemort had been won the previous year everyone's efforts were focused on regaining the normality of life before the war, starting with the reopening of Hogwarts. Theoretically Harry and Hermione should be happy, or at least relieved that the war was over, they were able to return to school to finish their education, but they were not happy. The war had taken everything apart from their lives, which seemed to them was even worse than death. To live without one's friends, one's family was a fate worth than any hole in the ground.
Hermione, Ron and Harry had given up their hopes of finishing their education the year before to pursue Horcruxes and join the full-time fight against the Dark Lord, and although she valued her books and her knowledge, Hermione would have given it all up to have Ron beside her.
Dumbledore was dead and the new headmaster, Professor McGonagall, a natural choice for the position had reinstated Severus Snape to his position as Potion's Master. Believed to be a murderer until the headmaster's secret vault had been broken into by the ministry and proven that he had merely been following orders; Snape had rejoined the Order before Voldemort's demise and had proven his loyalty to the cause. Although he was thoroughly disliked he was the only potions master who was not otherwise engaged in full time employment and as ministry laws had changed, forcing all citizens not undertaking study to obtain a regular job, Snape had relatively no choice.
The three children had to return to the scene of the crime. Usually those students who chose to leave Hogwarts before completing their studies would be exempt from the new laws that required all magically gifted children to attend the nearest magical school, but as the year that Hermione and Harry had left had been considerably interrupted all those students who were or would otherwise have completed their education were required to return to school for at least one more year.
Dressing into their school robes Harry and Hermione exited the train in the same fashion as they had for six years, but instead of the cheery calls of Hagrid greeting them they were faced with the stone cold, sallow face of Filch leading the first years to the boats. They were here, at Hogwarts, the place where all their hopes and dreams of happiness after the war had been shattered, where Ron had died protecting the Boy Who Lived, and where the three children had grown up and faced the bleak reality of mortality. Hermione would have to endure the memories, both good and bad evoked by the place where she once felt safe.