Disclaimer: All I know is the computer on which I typed this story ;)
Note: This is my first fanfiction written for anyone but myself. So needless to say it's a bit rough about the edges, but please let me know what you think and how I might improve the story.
I had told myself many times it would be painful, ugly. I knew no matter the outcome it would only end in pain. That's what they say, isn't it, "In war there are no winners, only losers." I knew all of that very well, but I still wasn't ready.
How can you be ready to walk through a field knee deep with bodies? How can you carry on after staring into the blank eyes of friends you've known most of your life? How can you live with the guilt, knowing that you could have saved them?
Rolling over in her bed, she hid her eyes from the invading sunlight. The sun felt cruel, barging in on the privacy of her misery. She pulled her quilt over her head, trying to hide from the day just a little bit longer.
Fate, it seems, would not let her rest for very long because just as she began to doze off she heard a knock at the door. Glaring through her quilt in the direction of the door she waited for the intruder to leave, but another more insistent knock at the door told her they had no intention of leaving her alone. As the door opened she held still trying to pretend she was still asleep.
"Come on love, it's time to get out of bed now. You've been in here long enough." the tenor voice spoke sweetly. "Hermione I know you're awake," she cursed silently. "I have had enough children to know when one is sleeping or not."
"Where's Molly?" Hermione grumbled.
"She thinks she's too soft on you. She sent me up to be firm and make you come downstairs to eat." Hermione had to let the slightest smirk show, Molly was right, and she had taken advantage of her pity.
"I know what you've gone through Hermione, we've all experienced it too and it hurts. However, if you give up on life so easily then what did Ron, Ginny and everyone else sacrifice their lives for. So another life could go on being improperly lived?"
His comment stung she knew he was right and so she pulled the quilt from off her head and sat up slowly. Her eyes shone with tears.
"I'm coming," she said bitterly. She didn't want to but lately she felt as though the fight had been taken out of her. She obediently followed Arthur Weasley out of her bedroom and down the steps of 12 Grimmauld Place.
In the kitchen Molly Weasley sat sipping a cup of tea. Fred and George spoke quietly at their end of the table, conferring every so often with Harry, who sat solemnly across from the twins. When they noticed Hermione hiding in the shadows, they all stood. Harry walked over to Hermione and extended his hand to her. Ignoring his offer, Hermione looked down and walked past him to her seat. Molly placed breakfast before Hermione, which she obligingly began to pick at.
"How have you been?" Harry asked politely, Hermione only shrugged in response. Harry sighed looking into Mrs. Weasley's sympathetic eyes. Everyone sat in silence until they heard the familiar pop of someone apparating. Molly rushed to the foyer to see who had arrived. She returned momentarily, followed by Professor Snape in a billow of black robes.
Hermione grimaced openly, as did the younger occupants of the room. Though Snape had shown his true loyalty to the Order in the final battle, she could scarcely bear to look at him. He had killed Dumbledore, and though it had been against his own will, the sight of his greasy hair and beak-like nose made her sick.
"So Severus, how are things?" Mr. Weasley asked, peering over the morning's issue of the Daily Prophet.
"Hogwarts is recovering, of course, thanks to Professor McGonagall's leadership. However our numbers have suffered greatly." Snape spoke tentatively, aware of the animosity being projected towards him. "We are horribly understaffed due to the regretful loss of Professor Slughorn and..."
Snape stopped speaking as he caught Harry glaring at him, daring him to say Dumbledore's name. He calmly sat down in the seat next to Hermione; she openly shrank back at his presence.
"Minerva is forced into a conflict, she is Headmistress as well as head of Gryffindor, and presently she is teaching Transfiguration."
"And what of Potions?" Mrs. Weasley asked from across the table, as she summoned a cup and saucer.
"I have been reinstated as the Potions instructor, we are presently not teaching Defense against the Dark Arts." Professor Snape spoke quickly in his usual manner. "This leads me to the business of my visit."
Pausing to accept a cup of tea from Mrs. Weasley, he cleared his throat and continued.
"I am here to present Miss Granger and Mister Potter with a proposition." Pulling two scrolls from his robes he elaborated. "We find ourselves in grave need of assistance at Hogwarts, and being that the two of you are highly qualified, the headmistress would like to offer tenure as professors at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
"Here are the official offers of employment from Professor McGonagall. If you are willing to accept the offer put forward all you must do is sign said parchment and arrangements will be made for you to start as soon as possible."
"I would never work for you," Hermione spat out staring at the parchment.
"Miss Granger," he said with cool contempt. "I would not be your employer. On the contrary, whether or not you are employed at Hogwarts is of little consequence to me. I am simply a messenger for the headmistress. It is for her sake, not mine that I would ask you to consider employment."
Hermione fumed, wanting nothing more than to slap the nonchalant look from his face. She chanced a look at Harry, who appeared remarkably calm, this fueled her anger. Noticing her look Harry leaned close to whisper in her ear.
"Mione she needs us, Snape can go bugger himself, don't let him make your decision." At that Hermione stood up with fury.
"No Harry," she yelled. "I will NEVER work with that murderer." Snape's eyes deadened as Mr. Weasley.
"Now Hermione, he has shown penitence for what he did under a wizard's oath and he gave us forewarning of attack. He helped us win this war, he deserves your respect."
"He deserves nothing," she retaliated. "This so called honourable man is responsible for the death of your two youngest children and half the population at Hogwarts."
Professor Snape's eyes glazed over in anger for a moment, but he quickly returned to his cool demeanor.
"Apparently Miss Granger, you must have lost your mind wasting the days away in your room." Snape replied. "Perhaps it is advantageous that you do not wish to take the position, your logic seems to have evaded you. You might end up harming the children's fragile young minds." He finished, twisting the knife. Eyes brimming with tears she ran out of the room. Molly looked at Professor Snape scathingly.
"Really Severus, she was overreacting but was that necessary?"
"I'll go talk to her." Harry said quietly as he hurried out the door.
Let me know what you think, I'm incredibly new at this.