Hermione sighed and pulled her cloak over her head, hiding her face. It wouldn't help her at all to be recognized here and being recognized was something that Hermione had, unfortunately, become far too accustomed to. After the second Wizarding War, the Golden Trio was lavished with fame and fortune that was, at least for Hermione, not wanted at all.
"Fame is a fickle friend," Hermione muttered as she trudged along the dark alleyway.
A lot had changed in the 22 years that has passed since the end of the Second Wizarding War. Harry and Ginny were married immediately after. Something changed in Harry during the final battle. Turning himself over to Voldemort with the expectation that it was the last thing he would ever do made Harry see that he had to stop pushing away those who loved him. He realized that being with Ginny was worth the risks that were involved.
After the battle ended and the dead had been laid to rest, Harry took Ginny in his arms and asked her to marry him. They had a somber ceremony. There was much to celebrate, but everyone's minds were still on the loved ones lost in the battle. The loss of Fred was still raw in everyone's hearts.
After the wedding, Harry went to work for Kingsley as an Auror. Ron went along with him, as he was by Harry's side for most of that year, hunting for horcruxes and fighting. Harry rapidly worked his way to the head of the Auror department and now makes quite a handsome salary. Ginny went back to Hogwarts to finish her 7th year under Headmistress McGonagall.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were each given honorary NEWTS in all of their studies and they were all offered jobs high up in the ministry after the war. Much to no one's surprise, Hermione declined the offer and joined Ginny back at Hogwarts to properly finish her 7th year. Even though Ginny was married to Harry, she declined having her own suite with him in the castle to return to the Gryffindor dormitory and spend her last year with Hermione.
Throughout the year, Ron and Hermione talked and nursed their new relationship. It was hard being apart, but the two were so happy that they were finally together that they worked through the little problems that arose. Shortly after the girls finished their time at Hogwarts, Ron and Hermione were married as well. The ceremony was small, like Ginny and Harry's and was held at the Burrow. Hermione and Ron got a small house next to Ginny and Harry's in Godric's Hollow.
Hermione got a job with a department of the Ministry that worked to ensure that all non-human magical beings were treated fairly. This included, not only house elves, but giants, centaurs and goblins as well. The job did not pay well, but that was a minor detail as far as Hermione was concerned, seeing as how they were showered with wealth after the war and since Ron made almost as much as Harry at the ministry. Much to Ron's delight, Ginny was immediately signed with the Chudley Cannons as their seeker. She led the Cannons in their first winning season in centuries.
Seven years after the war, Ginny became pregnant with her first child. She and Harry named him James Sirius and he turned out to be a lot like his namesakes, always getting into trouble and going on "adventures." The following year, she became pregnant with her second, Albus Severus. At the same time, Hermione became pregnant with her first, Rose. She started working from home in order to raiser her daughter. Two years later, both girls were pregnant again, Ginny with Lily Luna and Hermione with Hugo. Before they knew it, they were standing at King's Cross shooing their kids away on the train to Hogwarts. Both families were immensely happy and thought that they were going to stay that way forever.
Hermione snorted harshly as she thought of those days. Little did she know then, Ron wasn't doing well at the ministry at all. Actually, he was doing quite horribly. He and Harry were assigned on different teams within the Auror Department, and, as it turned out, Ron really didn't amount to much of an Auror without Harry. Without letting Hermione know, he quit his job at the ministry and began spending their savings. Ron had grown quite accustomed to living the lifestyle of the rich and famous and even though they had a small fortune put away from their winnings after the war, he spent it rather quickly and Hermione's salary was meager, at best.
Had she known, Hermione thought bitterly, she would have gone back to Kingsley and begged to have an Auror job or something. She was certainly qualified. Unfortunately, by the time Hermione found out about Ron's debts and lack of job, it was too late. When Hermione went to Kingsley, he reluctantly turned her away. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Weasley. I simply do not have any openings. This economy is hurting us all."
Hermione sighed once more and pulled the crumpled ad from the Daily Prophet out of her cloak pocket. "Housekeeper needed. $100 galleons per week." She had written the author right away asking for a job. She couldn't believe her luck when she received the reply owl not even hours after she sent hers. The reply was short. "Mrs. Weasley, I would be glad to hire you to clean my manor. The only people who live here are my son, my aging mother, and myself. Please come by on Monday morning to start. I will be expecting you at 8am sharp. Sincerely, M."
She was a little leery that the owner of the manor had not signed his full name, but she couldn't afford to be picky right now. She couldn't believe what she was reduced to, but she couldn't let her family suffer. Rose and Hugo had no idea what was going on; they were safe away at Hogwarts until Christmas. Hermione Weasley was not too proud to clean someone else's house. She would do whatever it took to help her family.
She was stopped in front of the towering manor, when suddenly it dawned on her where she was. Her heart was pounding and she was just about to turn around and run away as fast as she could when the manor doors opened. Out stepped a tall, lanky man with tired grey eyes and platinum blonde hair.
Draco Malfoy looked down at Hermione and sneered, "Well, if it isn't Hermione Granger."