Disclaimer: I don't own anything, it all belongs to the beautiful and lovely J.K. Rowling! All hail her mightiness!
A/N: Hello guys, this is my first fanfic ever, I hope to update once a week (maybe every other once classes start up again). So I hope you enjoy it! Also, I apologize in advance for spelling/grammar mistakes… If you like it then please review; on the other hand, if you don't like it PLEASE REVIEW I'd love to hear what I can do better or differently! (Sorry about the lots of exclamation points I'm excited)
Just yesterday Hermione sat in the living room of Grimmauld Place, looking through pictures she had saved from her expert obliviate. This was a routine she had fallen into after the war, in the dark of morning before the sun rose, while Harry and Ginny slept upstairs she made a cup of tea and looked over the handful of pictures she had left. Of course it grew difficult as her vision clouded and she quickly put up quieting charms in order to not wake her housemates.
No one got enough sleep as it was; Harry had jumped at the chance to go straight to being an Auror - which is to say he had jumped, ran, sprinted, away from the idea of returning to Hogwarts – but he was still recovering, though he would never admit it to anyone other than Ginny and Hermione. Though, one wouldn't really say he had any choice when he was constantly waking up screaming; needless to say, they learned strong silencing charms within the first week after Voldemort's death. Yet Ginny and Hermione had constructed a charm to wake them whenever he woke up. They would all get up and talk to, distract, one another until they all slowly faded into sleep on the couch or tangled up in Ginny and Harry's king-sized bed.
Ginny, like Harry, also chose not to return to Hogwarts as she was offered a spot on the Holyhead Harpies. She knew that she could never face the halls of Hogwarts again as any new stone or patched area would send her spiraling into a pervasive melancholy for the loss of her brother; she also knew that the wind, the sound of her robes flapping, and a broomstick in her hand allowed her to forget and be free again. This, of course, didn't stop her from going for extensively long walks at night in order to tire herself to the brink of exhaustion so that she could fall asleep. Still, sometimes, she would see something or think of something that would prompt her swift exit towards her room where she would remain or extended periods of time.
Hermione, on the other hand, wanted to finish her studies and take her time in figuring out where she wanted to go and what she wanted to do. Grimmauld place was nice, being with Harry and Ginny was nice, but they had lives to live and it wasn't her house. Her house belonged to strangers and her family no longer knew her, she had to go back to Hogwarts before the loneliness ate her alive. So she was thankful when, sniffling over the pictures, an owl pecked at the window in the kitchen; kindly asking to be let in.
The bird cast an elegant shadow on the wall, outlined in orange and pink as the sun rose behind it. Hermione leaned over the sink and pried the old window open which allowed in a gust of brisk morning air. The owl jumped back and hovered until there was space to land once again. After taking the folded parchment from the beautiful creature, she placed a bowl of seeds on the sill. She pulled her jumper over her palms so that just her fingers were exposed to the chill as she straightened the crisp letter and read the scrawled writing.
Dear Miss Granger,
I hope you and the other residents of Grimmauld Place are doing well. I know you have been through a lot, we all have, but I wished to ask a favor of you. The castle is partially destroyed and needs rebuilding, we have enough wands on that matter. However, we need more people to help out with organizing and monitoring. Several students approached me with the concern that going home and explaining a war to their muggle parents would be far too difficult and far too painful; to the point that they wished to remain at the school for the duration of the summer. I thought this would be better for them and it would increase the help we got with repairs, but it has been hard to watch all of the people in the castle and make sure that everyone is safe.
I would also like to offer you a job. Voldemort was terrifying, so much so that people are convinced that teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts will anger him and are not certain he is dead. This has left us short a Professor. I know you have not completed your studies but you are a war heroine and have been the top of your class for the last 7 years. It would only be until I can find a fully qualified and willing professor, but it would be very helpful.
Please owl me with your decision as soon as you have made one. If you choose to come and help, you may arrive as soon as you are ready. You will have a room with the other returning 7th years or a room with the other teachers if you prefer.
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
By the time Hermione read 'Sincerely' she was surprised to find McGonagall's signature illegible, not by the nature of how she signed the letter but because it had been nearly washed away by the tears dripping from her cheeks. She was utterly overwhelmed by the emotions that took her: excitement at something to do, fear of the responsibility, pride in the honor of being a teacher at Hogwarts, anguish for the students who didn't want to go home, and nervousness at the idea of failing. She knew she had to go but questioned her own stability as Harry and Ginny had learned the silencing charms from her because she used them on herself. They didn't know that and she didn't burden them with that.
By the time she had sorted through her thoughts and feelings the owl had finished its snack and was preparing to leave. Hermione stood from the kitchen floor, where she had sunk to while reading the letter and thinking. She saw it ruffle its wings and she asked, "No don't go. Just wait a moment, please." It seemed to understand and took the time it was waiting to clean itself. Hermione conjured a quill and parchment and scribbled, "I'm coming – Hermione Granger". She folded the note and gave it to the, now impatient, owl who took off as soon as it had the slip of parchment firmly in its beak. The flapping of its wings pushed the cool air into Grimmauld Place before Hermione could close the stubborn window.
The sun had fully risen and Hermione hurried up the stairs to her room. On the way she had run into Harry who groggily laughed and asked, "What's the rush 'mione? The sun's barely up and you're on a mission to do something or other." She laughed and simply said she'd explain in a bit before passing him and heading to the second floor landing. She saw Ginny emerge from her room that she shared with Harry. Ginny stretched in the threshold, wearing her hair in a messy ponytail and donning one of Harry's jumpers.
Hermione greeted her, "Morning Ginny!" and quickly disappeared into her room. The dressers had frames which held pictures that meant nothing to Hermione, the bed was made and her trunk was at the end of it. She clicked open the metal latch and began packing, books first then clothes and finally her toiletries. As she shut the trunk once more, she smiled at her ability to perform expanding charms. She placed a feather weight charm on the trunk, picked it up, and headed down to explain her plan to leave Grimmauld Place to Ginny and Harry.