I began this story almost a year ago and then gave up on it because I couldn't figure out exactly how I wanted to get to where I wanted to go. I finally figured out how I want the story to go, but in order to get there I am changing some things. If you read this story in the past, there will be a lot of similarities, but also some differences. I got some helpful feedback from another site and am going to make changes accordingly. This will be the only site that I will be posting Destiny of the Stars.
I'm sorry to anyone who was reading this story and thought it was abandoned. One time when I was thinking about updating, I reread the first chapter and realized that it was a mess and I couldn't continue letting everyone read a mess. I'm in the process of fixing the first seven chapters and will be breaking them up and making them shorter and much better (hopefully). Those seven chapters will become at least 14 new chapters. One major change is that the rating is going to increase. What was once a T will now be an M. I will eventually include lemons in the story and there will be some language. Please do not read if you are under 18.
Summary: As Hermione searches for her parents and prepares for her final year at Hogwarts, a request from Professor McGonagall helps her discover a new Draco Malfoy. As they learn about each other, they discover love and that things are not always as they appear. Post-DH, but ignores the Epilogue. AU, lots of fluff and a nice Draco!
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Destiny of the Stars
Chapter One ~ Hermione's Quest
It was dark and overcast outside the strange looking house, better known as the Burrow. A heavy fog had settled, bringing with it a depressing mood. The carefree days of summer should have been a time of celebration since the Second Wizarding War had ended about two and a half months before; but each day that passed only brought more despair to one witch.
Inside the Burrow, Hermione Granger, a Muggle-born witch, was sitting on the living room floor using the coffee table as a desk. Her quill scratched quickly across the parchment as she wrote a letter to the Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt. The floor, couch and coffee table were all covered in both Muggle and wizarding books and many pieces of parchment. A cup of tea sat forgotten between a pile of books and a pot of ink.
The Burrow, home to the Weasley family, was quiet that summer, which was a change from the flurry of activity that almost always surrounded the house. Hermione had spent almost every day in the living room or in the seclusion of her temporary room on the third floor of the house.
Hermione, along with Harry Potter, were unofficial members of the Weasley family, though it appeared that Harry would become an official member of the family someday when he married the youngest Weasley, Ginny. At one point Hermione had thought that she would marry into the family too, but that idea no longer seemed likely. Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger were destined to be friends and nothing more.
Harry and Ginny came inside the Burrow just as Hermione was finishing her letter. Ginny flopped onto an open chair and Harry sat on the floor at her feet. Ginny looked at the letter and asked Hermione, "So do you think Kingsley will be able to help find your parents?"
Hermione shrugged and replied, "He told me in his last letter that he's trying to arrange a Portkey to Australia for me. He's already given me all the resources he can, but he isn't able to search any better than I am."
Hermione had used magic to modify her parent's memories and convince them to move to Australia and also to forget that they had a daughter. She knew her non-magical parents would be targeted in the war and she wanted them to be protected. Hermione had been devoting almost all of her time to scouring through books and using all possible resources to locate her parents so she could bring them home to England.
Hermione reached for the forgotten cup of tea and took a sip. She grimaced at the cold temperature, before using her wand to warm it up again so she could finish it. She looked at Harry sitting next to her and asked, "Where have you two been this morning?"
Harry looked a bit uneasy as he said, "We went with Ron to visit Luna. We left them alone to come back here."
Hermione sighed and said, "Oh Harry, don't worry about what I think of Ron and Luna. I'm happy that they're dating. How many times do I have to tell you that Ron and I weren't meant to be together?" Harry shrugged his shoulders in reply.
Hermione continued, "Look, Ron and I talked yesterday and really, you have nothing to worry about. I love him; but he's like a brother to me, just like you are. I thought there would be more, but once we finally got together and once the emotional rollercoaster of the war was done, it just didn't feel right. We're still best friends and he and Luna are good for each other. I know there'll be someone else out there for me." Hermione smiled sincerely as she reached her hand out and gave Harry's hand a squeeze.
Harry rubbed the back of his neck with his other hand and said, "I'm sure your right Hermione, you usually are."
Ginny laughed and said, "Usually? She's always right." Harry laughed quietly in agreement.
Hermione rolled her eyes before saying, "Alright you two. Enough teasing me. I'm not always right. I need more tea, do either of you want any?" Hermione stood and stretched. Both Harry and Ginny nodded and Hermione set out to the kitchen. She returned a couple of minutes later with three cups of tea on a tray that was floating in front of her. She nearly dropped the tray when her concentration was interrupted. Four brown owls were arriving at the window bearing letters with the Hogwarts seal. She quickly lowered the tray to the coffee table and ran to open the window.
"It is too early to be getting our Hogwarts letters. I wonder what they are." Hermione said as she removed her letter and Ron's from the owls. Harry and Ginny took theirs too before the owls left after eating a treat. They all opened the letters and read them. Harry and Ginny switched letters when they finished reading.
Hermione cleared a spot on the couch before sitting down to open hers. She drank her cup of tea as she read.
Dear Miss Granger,
The Ministry of Magic has decided that the wrong emphasis was placed on education last year. Since many students were not able to complete their education last year or sit for the N.E.W.T.s, everyone will be given the following four options.
Option One: You may return to Hogwarts to complete your Seventh Year or retake it if you feel the need.
Option Two: You may sit for your N.E.W.T.s if you feel you are prepared enough to pass.
Option Three: You may attend Hogwarts and study new N.E.W.T. subjects as the career you were previously working toward may not be your ambition anymore.
Option Four: You may skip your final year at Hogwarts if you feel you are prepared enough for a career with just your O.W.L.s.
A fifth option that is available to only you, Mr. Potter and the youngest Mr. Weasley, is to go straight into Auror training. The Minister has determined that you three have enough experience to skip your N.E.W.T.s if you decide to choose this career option.
Please respond within the week as to which option you will be choosing so arrangements may be made.
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
After sitting quietly for a few minutes after reading her letter, Hermione looked up and said, "Wow. Well I know I'm going back. I can't imagine not finishing my education. What does your letter say Ginny?"
Ginny took her letter back from Harry and scanned it once more. "It doesn't give me the same options that you have, but even though I didn't finish my Sixth Year, the Ministry is still letting me advance to Seventh Year; and I also have the option to change my N.E.W.T. studies. I'm not going to change my studies though. I really want to play Quidditch so there isn't any need for N.E.W.T.s but I'll take them anyway. Mum would have my head if I didn't," Ginny said with a grimace at the thought of Mrs. Weasley's reaction.
Hermione then turned to Harry and asked, "Are you going to go back Harry?"
Harry scratched the scar on his forehead out of habit and shrugged as he replied, "I don't know. I still want to be an Auror so I guess I could go straight to training. I'm not sure I want to jump right into that though. I really haven't had a normal or relaxing year so maybe returning for Seventh Year would be a welcome break. I guess I'll think about it for a while."
"I can't imagine not having you and Ron with me at school, but you of all people deserve to choose your own path. Your whole future's open now that Voldemort is gone. I know you'll make the best decision for you, Harry," Hermione said with a small smile.
"Thanks Hermione," Harry replied.
Hermione picked up a fresh piece of parchment and her quill and said, "I'm going to write my letter to Professor McGonagall to let her know that I'll be going back and that I want to continue my studies so I can hopefully join the Department of Magical Law Enforcement someday." Hermione quickly wrote her reply and went to the kitchen to find Pig so she could send it back to Hogwarts.
When she returned to the living room, Harry gave her a curious look. "You want to join the Department of Magical Law Enforcement? I thought you wanted to work for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. You know- give a voice to those who can't defend themselves, fight for the rights of house-elves, and try to advance Spew?" Harry questioned from his new position on the couch.
Hermione gave him an exasperated look as she sat down next to him. "It is S.P.E.W. Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare; why can't you and Ron remember that? But anyway, I don't think I can advance it. The only house-elf that ever wanted to take advantage of bettering his situation was Dobby, and even he didn't seem to want what I thought he deserved. I'll be able to better serve the house-elves and other magical creatures from a position of greater authority. I think changing the minds of the wizards and witches that own the house-elves is the best way to help them. If the owners of the house-elves tell them they'll be paid and have vacations, they'll accept it without as many problems. I'd like to try to get a position with the Wizengamot," Hermione replied.
"I thought you told Scrimgeour last year that you didn't want a career in Magical Law," Harry said, confused as to why she would change her career goals.
Hermione said quietly, "I didn't really consider it until after the war was over. I don't want to be an Auror; chasing dark wizards isn't for me. But I still want to play a part in making sure they get what they deserve. I want to make certain justice is served. If I wasn't a witch, I'd probably be interested in Muggle Law. I don't have to change any of my N.E.W.T. courses though; I'm already taking everything that I need for a career in Magical Law Enforcement. Now if everything else in my life could line up as well, I'd be the happiest witch in the world."
Harry placed his hand on Hermione's knee and said, "You know we'll help you in any way we can. We'll go with you to Australia to bring your parents home if you want us to. Have you had any luck with those telephone books? Have you tried using magic to locate their names in them?" Harry asked as he nodded toward one of the large piles of books on the floor.
Kingsley had been able to get copies of all the Muggle telephone books in Australia for Hermione. She had been sorting through them trying to find any mention of her parent's assumed identities. They had never listed their home information before so she was searching instead for their dental practice. It was proving difficult because she didn't know what they had named the practice or where it was. She was looking up any combination she could think of for Wendell and Monica Wilkins.
"I've tried using locator spells and searching spells, but nothing seems to work. The only thing that does work is to open the books and search the Muggle way. I've been searching for every combination of names from Dr. Wendell Wilkins and Dr. Monica Wilkins to The Wilkins Doctors; but none of the names has yielded any results so far. I'm also looking for different spelling variations for the names. I've gone through all the telephone books that apply to New South Wales and Victoria. I still have the books for South Australia, Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland to look through. There are thousands of telephone books and I'm afraid that I'll look in one and miss finding them. And then there's the concern that they may not even be going by the names Wendell and Monica Wilkins," she ended with worry in her eyes.
Ginny got up from her chair and crossed the room to the couch. "Aww, Hermione, everything will work out for you. You'll find your parents soon. Harry and I'll help you look this afternoon. I'm sure you could even get Ron to help you sometime. We all want you to be happy and to find your parents," Ginny said while giving Hermione a hug.
"Thanks Ginny. I think I need to take a break for a few more minutes to get my mind straight. I need to find my parents and then maybe I can focus on the other aspects of my life. Who knows, maybe I'll even find love somewhere!" Hermione said jokingly.
"Now that's the kind of distraction you need, thinking of love. I know there's a man out there for you. Maybe you should ask Trelawney if she sees anyone in your future. She's been known to get at least one thing right in the past!" Ginny teased and gently nudged Hermione's arm.
"I'm pretty sure anyone could predict the future better than she can. Hey Harry, why don't you give it go? You've made up some great things before; I'll bet you can tell me my future," Hermione said while rolling her eyes and laughing.
Harry laughed with her. He had relaxed quite a bit since the war had ended and joked a lot more. He pulled his wand out of his pocket and said, "Okay, I'll try. Accio Divination book." The book flew down from Ron's room. He caught the book and began to cough at the dust that flew off the cover. He opened the book and flipped through the pages before saying, "Let's see. You are a Virgo, ruled by the planet Mercury. You would do well with someone who is also ruled by Mercury. You were born in a year of yin so you need to find someone born in a year of yang so you have balance."
"Are you sure about that?" she asked skeptically and tried to peer over his shoulder at the book.
"Uh, no, not at all. Let me see your tea cup. Maybe I'll be able to read the tea leaves," Harry replied as he turned the pages in the book until he found the section on reading tea leaves.
Hermione took the last sip of her tea and then passed her empty tea cup to him and shook her head. "Let's see if you can find anything worthwhile in that."
Harry stared into the cup. He turned it around and then flipped to a different page in the book. "Um, huh. I see a daisy, which means new love. Hey that's good. Um, maybe I see a fountain, which means great happiness. And I think that might be a witch; that means a strange occurrence. Ha, that in itself is a strange occurrence, a witch got a witch. Divination really is rubbish. Sorry Hermione, I can't tell you anything," Harry shrugged as he held out the tea cup for Hermione to take.
"It's okay Harry; at least you didn't see the Grim in my tea leaves. Trelawney would have! Thanks for trying; I wasn't expecting anything, because as you said, 'Divination really is rubbish.' At least you made my future sound positive—new love and great happiness; even a strange occurrence might not be a bad thing." Hermione smiled at Harry and took her tea cup back. Looking in it she thought, 'new love and great happiness, I could really use both of those.'
If you're reading this for the first time, or have read this before, please review and let me know what you think!