Deep in the heart of Scotland rested an old castle, it sat on the horizon as if the world was built around it, but if you looked closely you could see the cracks. You could see the pieces of new stone that were a slightly different colour to those that had been worn around over thousands of year, you could see the patches of grass that were shorter than others as if it someone had cut it in an unexplainable pattern and if you really looked you stood still long enough you could feel a deep mourning as if it came from the castle walls themselves. However at this moment of time everyone who would have noticed was safely encased within the mighty building.
It was a new year at Hogwarts, old students had returned to further there education and new students had been sorted ready to start their own journeys. The Great hall was alive with the noise of thousands of students relaxing and reconnecting with friends. Voldemort had been defeated the year before and all students were welcomed to redo the year if they so wished or continue if they wanted. At the Gryffindor table sat the Golden Trio, Hermione, Harry and Ron, beside them was another red head in the form of Ginny Weasley who was staring at the elderly headmaster awaiting his annual speech.
"Oh it's so great to be back, I missed this last year." Hermione gushed staring a round, her bushy hair now fell softly not nearly as frizzy as it had once been, after the war was over she had finally had time to sort it out and was more happy with the resulting waves of brown then she had been with the frizzy corkscrews it had been in before. Others in the hall had also noticed the new looks and the brunette was getting quite a few second glances, these admirers quickly turned away however after receiving glares off an angry Red head. Ron and Hermione had both admitted the kiss they had shared had been awkward and they had been through so much they were more siblings than anything else, but that didn't mean he would let people gawk at his 'Older little sister' as he had taken to calling her.
"Trust me Hermione you were better off away." At Ginny's words a darkened look covered the face of nearby housemates, many who still carried scars. The only female Weasley was no different, her hair had darkened and set off her ivory skin perfectly but it also brought the long thin scar across one cheek into focus. Molly had been almost mad with anger after seeing what Bellatrix had done to her girl and the two had battled to the death. Bellatrix was no match for the strength of a mother protecting her children.
"Oh no Ginny you know I didn't me-" Hermione started to say a look of horror on her face as she realised how her words would have been taken by those who suffered at the hands of the death eaters as teachers.
"Hermione it's okay. You meant no harm." Ginny said placing a comforting hand on to her best friends arm and giving her a small smile which the brunette hesitantly returned, around them the house mates who had heard Hermione's first statement began to go back to eating and talking until the moment of sadness had passed, besides them Ron was oblivious to the moment between the two girls and interrupted by pointing at Hermione with a chicken leg.
"Yah Hirmne," swallowing his food as the two girls grimaced Ron continued. "We know what you meant calm down. You're so bloody high maintenance"
Laughter rose from the table as Hermione hit Ron over the back of the head a common and familiar sight to those in Gryffindor.
On the other side of the hall the mood was much quieter and the conversation more refined, Draco Malfoy was busy whispering to his closest friend Blaise Zabini. Opposite them Pansy sat trying to get the pale boys attention and failing. The Italian smirked knowing fine well that Draco knew Pansy wanted him to talk to her but enjoyed watching her slowly losing her composure. Neither boy expected a pea to hit off the blondes forehead before landing on his plate.
"So how come you came back Draco? Pansy asked as the blonde finally turned to face her more in shock at what shed dared to do then wanting to talk to her. Seeing Blaise's equally curious look Draco sighed before facing the dark haired girl fully and casing a small privacy charm.
"Well now that father's gone, mother is all I have left. She thinks I should come back and try and help clean up the Malfoy name." Draco said a look of disdain on his face as he glared at some nearby first years who were staring at him. Two firsties kept staring oblivious to the danger they were facing, luckily before Draco could release a snarky comment that would no doubt have the two in tears Dumbledore stood and the hall fell silent.
"Now that we have all been fed and watered and sorted into our new houses I would like to make a couple of announcements. Firstly, as usual the forbidden forest is exactly that, forbidden. Secondly any students wishing to go to Hogsmede must have both parents and teachers permission and lastly anyone wishing to try out for Quidditch must look out for notices on their house boards" his twinkling eyes scanned the tables before him, "Also I am very pleased to announce a new subject. From now on the 7th years will take part in a special family class. You will find out more at tomorrow breakfast. Now off you trot. Shoo."
"I wonder what they mean by family class." Hermione stated more to herself then at any particular person, beside her Ron missed this as he was busy glaring at Harry and Ginny who had rose and left the table whispering to each other "Let's see your timetables" Hermione asked holding her hand out to the 2 boys as her and Ron caught up with the other two. At their confused faces she continued. "So I can check if we have the lesson together"
"Oh right" They replied as Hermione shook her head fondly and Ginny hid a giggle behind her hand. Hermione looked at each schedule and by the time they had reached and entered the common room was happy with the result.
"Yes we do. Our first lesson is tomorrow first thing….with…Snape?! That's…odd… Well I'm going to go to bed now," Hermione started to head up the girls stairs before pausing and glancing down when the other girl didn't follow, "You coming Ginny?"
"Yeah sure Hermione, just give me one second?" Without waiting for an answer Ginny ran after Harry and caught him just before he entered the boy's staircase, grabbing his arm she placed a quick kiss on Harry's cheek and then fled back up the girl's stairs. Harry stared at where Ginny had been even after both girls were gone with one hand pressed to his cheek.
"What the hell Harry?" Ron's loud voice shocked him out of his daydream, spinning back round his eyes widened at the Gingers red face before he quickly pulled his hand away from his face and fumbled for a response.
"er…She kissed me?" At that Ron shook his head before storming off leaving Harry standing in the middle of the common room. "Oh come on! Why is it always me!" He jumped as a cough sounded from behind him, spinning round he spotted Neville standing there with an amused look on his face.
"Welcome to my world mate," With that Neville clapped the smaller boy on the back and they both headed up stairs.
Hermione rushed down the corridor her hair flying behind her. It was the first day of school lessons and she had slept in. Her! Hermione Granger! She blamed Ginny… At this moment she was rushing to the great hall hoping Harry or Ron had saved her breakfast and she didn't miss Dumbledore's announcement. As she sped round a corner a small yell was heard followed by her landing on something warm and hard, very hard.
"Get off me you filthy mudblood" Hermione glanced down a blush coming to her cheeks as she realised that the what she had collided with was actually a who, a very familiar who at that. Getting up she shot him a glare that had Ron and Harry scurrying to get out of her way normally.
"I wouldn't have been on you if you would watch where you're going, Malfoy. You bumped into me! Not the other way." Hermione pushed herself up and onto her knees before standing and if a part of her knee happened to come within damaging distance of a certain piece of male anatomy…well who could prove it.
"Watch it!," Draco growled before standing as well and dusting himself off before facing the brunette, "Oh please Granger like it was my fault!" He drawled as he went to leave. "You should have respect for you betters." Draco walked past her shoving against her shoulder and pushing her into the wall.
"Prat" she called after him rubbing her arm before she continued on her way her head full of various ways she could get revenge .Spotting Harry and Ginny she rushed over. Glancing around her she also noticed Ron sitting further down the table then usual with Dean and Seamus. Raising a questioning eyebrow at Harry and Ginny she spotted their joint hands and Harrys red cheeks. "Oh so when were you planning on telling me?" Seeing Harry get redder she turned to Ginny instead. "And how angry did Ron get?"
Ginny glared at her brother before replying. "All I did was say hi to Harry and my idiot brother started shouting his mouth off as usual. So after he left, Harry and I got to talking and one thing led to another and we are going to give it a trial." A happy smile lit up her face as she spoke.
Seeing Draco walk into the Hall and shoot her a nasty look Hermione sighed "Well at least some good came out of today. I just had a meeting with a certain ferret but any ways we should get to first lesson. I just want to forget about him" Ginny and Harry exchanged looks. "What?" Hermione demanded.
"Well, it's just that I've asked around and well it turns out that all four houses have got the same lesson first which includes the Slytherin's. Well our year I mean."
"Kill me now" Hermione begged with clasped hand, Harry simply smiled before shaking his head as she spun to Ginny the girl was saved from answering as Dumbledore shot a whistle out his wand. He stood at the front of the hall making it silent within seconds.
"I would like to ask if all those below seventh year could leave now please. Thank you." The loud noise of benches scraping and people moving filled the hall. Ginny gave Hermione and Harry a hug each before running out the hall to catch up with Luna as the other girl left. "Now as you may have been told or have read, less and less of the wizarding population are giving birth. This is of course serious. It has been studied by the cleverest in our world and seems to be caused by the fear of pain, lack of support and not knowing how to raise said child. All of you will be paired off and a child placed in your care. We will begin tomorrow breakfast. Do you have any questions?" To no one's surprise Hermione's hand was first up but that might be due to the fact that half the hall was in shock. "Yes Miss Granger."
"Will we be paired with someone from a different house?" Many faces formed into horror as they realised this could indeed happen, many glares were shot in the direction of the Slytherin table whose occupants stared back with daggers in their eyes.
"You will be given a living space to share. So yes you may be with other houses. We will get to that later and in more detail. Oh.. Miss Parkinson." Dumbledore smiled at the confident Slytherin, he knew the trouble this girl had faced after offering Harry up, but in the end she was just a scared girl at the time and people do desperate things when scared.
"Where will the child come from?" At this some other hands that had risen dropped waiting for the answer, it seemed to be a common thought for the students.
"The child will be formed by the extraction of an egg and a sperm from the two 'parents'. This potion will then be drunk by the mother. Now this means that the girls will be carrying the baby's for a while. 4 months in this case. They will walk around as if pregnant and give birth..."
At this gasps and shrill screeches came from many girls and even a few boys turned green, many people began to speak at once blocking out the rest of Dumbledore's words.
"You can't do that."
"That's got to be illegal."
"You mean we have to push it out of THERE!"
"Ewww gross."
"SILENCE." Snape's voice rang out over the chaos. "This will be happening. Anyone with any further questions report to your house Professor everyone else you will be paired tomorrow so get to your common rooms!"