AN 1: Hey, it's one of my first attempts at fanfic, so any constructive criticism is more than welcome. Please if you enjoy what I've written then write a review and let me know. If I have interest I will carry on writing this, even if it's only for one person, it's just nice to know my work is being read. I've rated it M for language but also if you want something a bit sexier I'm happy to write that for you, so just let me know in a review. Also this hasn't been planned all the way through yet, so if you have any ideas or anything you'd like in it then please let me know. I know there are a lot of marriage laws with this pairing, but I just find them really endearing so wanted to have a go myself. I hope you enjoy, and please review if you want more.
AN 2: This is so you are all up to speed with what's happened. It's post-war, but in my perfect world Dumbledore etc. are all alive. Harry, Ron and Hermione are going back to Hogwarts to do their final year that they missed when they were getting horcruxes, making them in the same year as Ginny. Hope this clears up any possible confusion, ask anything if you don't understand. It's from Hermione's POV but will probably integrate others as it develops.
Sat in the small kitchen at the Burrow, Hermione blinked furiously at the headline of the Daily Prophet. The title was paired with a picture of a scrawny man being dragged away. "He Will Rise Again" it read, and the story went on to describe the rebel group of wizards who were 'preserving' the wizarding world for Voldemort's return. She heard Harry's tut as he read it over her shoulder, "Some people really won't give up will they". She sighed in agreement and watched him take the seat opposite her at the expansive dining table. He as well as her, was still sporting scars from the battle, but they were all undeniably in good health.
They sat silently in the kitchen, but both smiling at the charm of the Burrow; it was still magical to them even now. It felt more like home, and it included their very own surrogate family – the Weasley's. Hermione obviously missed her parents, but Molly went a great way in filling that gap left behind. It'd be weird to leave the Burrow now after spending all summer there, even weirder to go back to Hogwarts after missing a whole year. She winced at the thought of it, being the centre of attention, it was bad enough being Harry's friend. The only comfort she found was being in the same year as Ginny now, but Hermione also understood that she would regret it if she didn't go back for her seventh year.
She looked across at Harry, who had fallen slumped over the table, asleep. The silence though, was soon broken by a familiar matronly figure bustling into the room.
"Come on, come on. No time for napping Harry, we need to be getting to the train station", Molly said with speed. "Now where is Ron? RON, RON HURRY UP".
"Bloody 'ell mum, where's the fire?", he yawned sleepily.
"Are you trying to kill me boy? It's almost time to be going, is your stuff packed? I bet it bloody well isn't. You go get ready!"
With this Ron skulked back up to his room grumbling. "Have you two had breakfast? We need to get something down you. Oh Ginny love, you all ready?" Molly politely added.
"Yes mum all ready to go, just waiting on Ron?" Ginny replied, as she sat next to Harry and greeted him with a kiss.
"Actually Mrs Weasley, I need some air, I'll get something to eat on the train" Hermione left the room saying this. She didn't want to spend her morning watching Ginny ogle Harry and vice versa. It's not that she was jealous of Ginny, Harry was like a brother to her; she just didn't want reminding that she and Ron were going nowhere. They had kissed, but she silently came to the conclusion that there was no chemistry. She cared for him, but that's all it'd ever be, and so she'd tried her very best to avoid him this summer.
Hermione stood outside, quietly contemplating everything that had happened over the past year. So much has changed, and she still wasn't used to it. "Don't underestimate the power of books to take your mind off something Hermione" she said to herself. Although she was dreading being at Hogwarts a year later than everyone else, she was looking forward to being a normal student once again.
Soon, she was joined outside by the Weasley's and Harry, all ready to leave. With a last look at the Burrow, Hermione felt a lump of dread enter her throat. Where would she go after this year was over?
The station was full of gawking students, pointing at the 'famous three'. Hermione found that she was permanently blushing but could tell that Ron and Harry were silently enjoying it. Fighting through the crowd of excited first years, they managed to find empty seats on the train. Ginny left to go find her friends, and Harry closed the door after her. Surprisingly Hermione was enjoying this familiar feeling and she found herself smiling at the two boys. She didn't have to say anything, they clearly felt the same. With a harsh blow of steam and the metallic noise of the pistons, the Hogwarts express slowly left the station – towards home.
Harry passed the Daily Prophet over to Ron, who echoed Harry's sense of disapproval at the headline.
"11 killed in an attempt to restore Voldemort's reign? First they refuse to believe he's come back, and now they won't bloody believe he's dead", Ron said with disbelief "I wonder why we bother", he added with a cheeky grin
"Ron this is serious, what if they come for us? For Dumbledore? I mean they can pretty much pin point this all to Harry" Hermione added with a touch of worry.
"God's sake Harry, it's non-stop with you" he said with a half-laugh, before registering Hermione's worry. "Look 'mione, we're going to Hogwarts, there couldn't be anywhere safer. Stop worrying over nothing. Now where's that food cart – I'm starved"
Harry and Hermione couldn't help but laugh at their friend's enormous appetite, and the air of worry was lifted for Hermione as the train happily went on.
It was dark by the time they had reached Hogwarts and they were greeted by a familiar, tall figure. "Look what the cat's dragged in" He sneered slowly, with his lip curling and bitterness edging his tone, as always.
"Jesus Christ", Hermione thought to herself, "I bloody forgot about Snape".