Resurrection
Disclaimer: Harry Potter's world is property of J.K Rowling and her publishers. No copyright infringement intended. No money is being made.
Chapter 1
July, 1999
Hermione arrived at Grimmauld Place covered in dust.
In spite of still being Unplottable, Grimmauld Place had been added to the Floo Network, months after the War. However, no updates had been made, so the fireplace was as old as the house. This made most people who were invited to Grimmauld Place prefer to use the front door.
"Stupid old fireplace. I'll have to warn Harry that--" she started murmuring. She never finished the sentence. She made the same mistake Nymphadora Tonks had done uncountable times when Grimmauld Place was the Headquarters of the Order; she tripped over the umbrella stand made from a disgusting severed leg of a troll and fell on her knees.
Before she had the time to rise from the floor and cast an Evanesco to get rid of all the dust that covered her, Walburga Black's huge portrait started screaming obscenities and insults at the top of her lungs.
"Oops," said Hermione.
Hermione walked toward the portrait hidden by the new black velvety curtains Mrs. Weasley had bought when the original ones were no longer acceptable and looked at the old woman with a bit of disgust. She couldn't help but wonder how a woman like that had given birth to a man like Sirius Black. Her face stretched horribly as she screamed insults toward Hermione. Fearing she'd lose her hearing if she didn't act soon, Hermione murmured a Silencio and almost laughed at the scowl present on the woman's yellowish face.
Just as she turned, intending to find her friends, Ginny came rushing from the first floor. When she saw Hermione, she let out a breath of relief and walked toward her to give her a hug.
"You know…you'll have to find a way to take that bloody thing from the wall"
Hermione chuckled. "You do know the Permanent Sticking Charm is very hard to reverse, right?"
"Hermione, you're the brightest witch of our age! Do something! We can't keep her silent forever."
"Why not?"
"Her sight is disturbing," Ginny said, waving her hands dramatically.
Hermione chuckled, "Yes, I believe that's one of the reasons there is a curtain hiding the portrait. Anyway, where are Ron and Harry?" Hermione asked, looking over Ginny's shoulder, as if expecting them to pop in front of her at any moment.
"Upstairs."
"Oh, I'll go to the library then" Hermione said, walking toward the stairs.
"I wouldn't go in there, Kingsley is with them." Ginny informed, knowing very well that Kingsley didn't like to be disturbed when he was speaking with Harry and Ron or with anyone else for that matter.
"Oh," Hermione murmured. "Do you think they will be there for long?"
"What? You can't stand the thought of other people touching your precious books?" asked Ginny, smirking. "Or maybe just the fact that they're standing in your library is making you anxious"
"Don't be silly, Ginny," Hermione said, smiling. "It's not my library," she said, not negating anything else. "I just need to speak with the three of you…Don't worry. It's nothing terrible," she added when she saw Ginny's worried expression.
"So, should we wait in the living room?"
"By that I can conclude they're going to be in there for a long time."
"You never know with them," Ginny said. "Come; let's not stand in this narrow corridor. We barely have space to ourselves!"
While they headed to the living room, Hermione couldn't stop thinking of the things that had happened since Voldemort's defeat.
Kingsley had become Minister of Magic. He had invited Harry, Ron, Neville, and Hermione to join him in the apprehension of what was left of Voldemort's followers and in the reformation of the different institutions of the Ministry. Even though Hermione had wished to help them, first she had wanted to complete her seventh year at Hogwarts and take her NEWTs. This hadn't been a surprise to anyone and despite still being just a student, Kingsley had asked her to protect her fellow students in case something happened. She accepted, proud he trusted her.
At first, being in Hogwarts without most of her friends had been extremely hard. Fortunately, Ginny had been there with her, and she finally discovered what was like to be good friends with girls – something which had been impossible in the previous years – and the year had seemed more tolerable. But now it was over, she had recently completed her education at Hogwarts outstandingly, and to be completely honest with herself, Hermione was afraid. She had absolutely no idea what she was going to do.
"So, what did you want to tell us?" Ginny asked.
Hermione smiled at her impatient friend. "You'll know soon enough"
"You know I hate to wait. Particularly when I have to wait for my beloved brother and my boyfriend. Ah, Merlin forbid they stay in there for one more hour--"
"We didn't take that long," said a deep, slow voice behind them.
Hermione turned to face the owner of the voice and smiled when she saw Kingsley.
Ginny blushed slightly when she realized Kingsley had heard her. "No, no, you haven't," she murmured.
"Hello, Hermione," Kingsley said.
"Hello, Minister. It's good to see you," Hermione replied.
Kingsley narrowed his eyes at her and said, with his slow voice, "It's Kingsley. You know that."
"Kingsley," Hermione repeated, imitating his deep tone of voice.
He flashed her a smile. "It's good to see you finally out of Hogwarts. So, what are you going to do? Any chance you'd honour us with your presence at the Ministry of Magic?"
"I still don't know what I'm going to do--" Hermione started, but she was interrupted by Ron and Harry, who entered in the living room.
Harry chuckled at her answer. "That's the problem of being outstanding at pretty much everything"
"Pretty much everything? What can't she do?" Ron asked. "Besides winning at chess and playing Quidditch?" he mocked, sticking his tongue at her in a childish manner, while she narrowed her eyes at him, threatening him silently.
"Finally!" Ginny exploded, crossing her arms on her chest. "I thought you two had decided to sleep in there. Hermione won't tell me whatever she has to say, because you two weren't here."
"Chill out, Gin," Ron said, ruffling her hair, which only made her glare at him. "So, 'Mione, which position would you really like at the Ministry?"
"As I said a couple of seconds ago, Ronald, I still don't know. And who said I'd be accepted anyway?" she asked, glancing at Kingsley, who snorted.
"I think I might have something for you" he said, his dark eyes studying her.
"I'll worry about that when I return from Australia," she said, trying to look like she wasn't excited about such prospect, even though it was visible that she was pleased he would find a suitable position for her.
"You're going to Australia?" Ron asked, confused.
"I believe that's what I just said. Honestly, Ron, sometimes you astound me."
"There's no need to insult me…" he mumbled.
She grinned. "I wasn't, actually. I need to bring my parents back to England," she explained.
"So you found them," Harry said. "Well, I'd ask if you want us to go with you, but I know you'll want to do that alone…especially since it might take a while for your parents to…erm…"
Suddenly the air in the living room became heavy. No one knew exactly what to say. "I know," murmured Hermione, avoiding any visual contact with her friends. "I hope they can forgive me for changing their memories."
"Oh, Hermione, you saved their lives…they'll forgive you," Ginny said, touching Hermione's arm, trying to comfort her.
"When are you going?" Ron asked.
"Today. I have a Portkey programmed to take me to Australia at 17.52," she said, glancing at the watch on her left wrist. "I have to go to the Department of Magical Transportation, though," she said, sighing. "I better go to the Ministry now…"
"I'll accompany you," Kingsley said. "I have to go to the Ministry anyway."
"Why didn't they just give you the authorization to create a Portkey? They wouldn't have to trouble themselves…" asked Ginny, slightly confused.
"They said they'd create one for me so that I can be transported to the equivalent Department in Australia. It's easier to regulate the traffic of people this way. It's been like that since Kingsley helped reform the Ministry," Hermione explained, smiling at the intelligent man who had done it. "Hmm, okay. My bag is here. Shall we go, Kingsley?"
"I'll go first," he said. "Harry, Ron, we'll continue our discussion tomorrow. Ginny, it's always good to see you," he said, nodding his bald head before grabbing a handful of Floo Powder, throwing it, stepping into the bright green flames and disappearing.
"The man surely can make a dramatic exit," Ginny commented, staring at the place Kingsley had been seconds before.
"Ginny!" Ron and Harry cried.
"What?" Ginny asked innocently. When the boys dismissed it, she winked at Hermione, who shook her head in amusement before disappearing through the green flames.