Chapter 1: Thoughts of the past
Harry James Potter looked out over the Astronomy tower on his 125th birthday and looked back over the last century. After defeating Voldemort he had stood alongside Hermione and Ron as they all received Order of Merlins for ending the second War. Of course Harry received an Order of Merlin First Class whilst his best friends received Second Class Order of Merlins.
- Flashback -
During the final battle Ron plucked up enough courage to kiss Hermione and they began dating soon after. They did try to hide it from Harry initially until he told them he was aware of it and was happy for them. At least that is what he told his best friends. Little did they know how much he was screaming inside. When they announced their engagement later that same year he spoke to Ginny and they picked up their relationship where they left off at Bill and Fleur's wedding.
Try as they might to make it work, Ginny and Harry separated mutually as friends after a year and she went on to marry Neville 3 years later. At the birth of Hugo Weasley, Harry was named the boy's godfather and swore to himself that he would be there for the boy and not let grief take over him like it had taken over Sirius all those years ago. Not that he blamed Sirius, after all there was a conspiracy led by Albus "untouchable" Dumbledore to make Harry dependent on him.
As the years went on Harry became an honorary uncle to 15 Weasleys as Hugo was joined by Daniel Fred Weasley and Emma Molly Weasley as siblings whilst he had no shortage of cousins. One by one they all made their way into the hallowed halls of Hogwarts where Harry had given in to Professor McGonagall's repeated requests that he consider becoming Defence Against the Dark Arts professor.
As DADA professor and then later on as Head of Gryffindor House, he spent time with all his students making him the most popular teacher in the school. For once, he enjoyed his fame within the school, not because he was the Boy-who-lived or even the Man-who-conquered, nope it was purely because he fostered the students and helped them in any subject they wanted help in, not just DADA.
Upon becoming Headmaster of Hogwarts at the age of 38, the youngest in the history of the school following the death of Minerva McGonagall, he set his plans in motion which saw the whole of Magical Britain change forever. He set about hiring staff that he knew from his days in the Order of the Phoenix. With new staff, the whole school started to improve, allowing it to compete with other schools worldwide, including Salem Academy in America and Beauxbatons in France. During one of his weekly conversations with the school even Lady Hogwarts commented on it being the happiest she had ever known the students within her walls to be during the castle's long history. This made Harry literally glow with pride for months until he learned of the death of his beloved Hermione.
To say her funeral was popular would be an understatement. Her role in the defeat of Voldemort and her research ever since had made her one of the most popular witches around the world. Harry only really turned up to such a reflective atmosphere to show face. The only things he noticed about the surroundings were Ron being supported by Bill and Charlie and the fact it was a Muggle-style service in the graveyard at Godric's Hollow. Harry spent most of the time wishing he could just be alone to grieve and not have to attend the funeral as it only brought back memories of her that he wished he could swap just to have her back in life. He would always remember the moment she died. It was a muggle car crash where a lorry had slid across the motorway in the awful weather and Harry has just collapsed. After the school healer being summoned by a portrait of a former Headmaster, he was brought back to consciousness. When asked what had caused the collapse, he simply answered that he had felt Hermione's fright and death and that caused his heart to just stop for a moment.
It took the Aurors 2 days to find any news on the accident that had claimed Hermione's life. But that was only the first of many agonising days to come as Harry suddenly started receiving letters of condolence on the fate of his best friend. If only they knew his true feelings for her.
- end flashback –
Harry slowly made his way back to his office, treading the familiar route that he walked every night when he wanted to come to somewhere to reflect on things. When he reached his bed he slowly drifted off to sleep wishing more than anything to still have Hermione around.
