(All characters belong to JK Rowling)

(This is a sequel to the story, A Familiar Place, and takes place a full year after that story ends.)

A Familiar Place: Part II – The Founder's Story

By

Anne M.Oliver

Part I: September

All by Herself –

Hermione sat in her classroom, all by herself, daydreaming. School was due to start in two weeks. She got back exactly two weeks ago. Draco was due back that coming Friday. She had a lot of work to do, but instead, she sat at her desk, content to stare off into space, and daydream her afternoon away. She had classes to prepare for, a wedding to plan, and a reunion with her fiancé to look forward to, but as previously stated, she was staring off into space, daydreaming, about nothing in particular, and about nothing at all.

Draco and Hermione had spent all of last year apprenticing for teaching positions at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She became a full time instructor just this year. Draco still had one more year of apprenticeship, since it took two years to obtain a Potion Master's License. He would continue teaching under Don Boot's instruction, and then next year, he would take over the position of Potion Master at the school. Draco had been away at school for the past six weeks. She only saw him at the end of June, for one week. She missed him terribly. She wrote to him so often, that he bought her an owl of her own. It was a pretty, little, tawny owl, and she named it Athena.

The Transfiguration classes were all hers this year. Last year she taught in conjunction with Professor McGonagall. This year, she was on her own. Actually, she taught the first and second year classes on her own last year. Transfiguration was a class where she always excelled. Hermione always excelled at all her classes. She always loved all of her classes, and she loved to learn, but she found teaching was even better than learning. She discovered she was made to teach. She loved it more than she thought possible. Each student had a special place in her heart.

All of last year, while under the tutelage of the Headmistress, she learned more about teaching than anyone could ever learn in four years of University. She learned more about Transfiguration from the Professor in one year, than she felt she had learned in seven years at school. Draco had a harder go of it than Hermione. There was still so much about potions that Draco had yet to learn, even though it was always his favourite subject in school. Don Boot, the present Potion Master, taught Draco everything he would need to learn, and more. Don had become one of Draco's best friends, more like a big brother than just a friend. He was his mentor as well as his colleague. Draco had never really had many friends. Being friends was something he lacked until he became one with Hermione. Soon, other friends were made, but all because of her. Hermione laughed at how much Draco talked about Don. She said sometimes she felt 'jealous' of their relationship. Draco told her that now she knew how he felt about her relationship with Ron and Harry.

Ron and Harry were in their second year of Auror training. Ginny, Harry's girlfriend, had gone back to school last year, and graduated just this past June. It was nice having Ginny at Hogwarts last year. Hermione would miss her this year. Overall, last year was a nice quiet change for Hermione. After the year of searching for Horcruxes, and then her eventful eighth year of school, it was such a pleasant surprise to have an uneventful year last year. She and Draco were able to be a normal couple. They were able to enjoy studying, teaching, and all the ordinary things engaged people do. Hermione could only hope this year would go as smoothly.

Last year they had rooms right next to each other in the teacher's wing, so they saw each other as much as a married couple saw each other. They decided to get married as soon as Draco became a full time instructor, which would be next summer. Therefore, their wedding was planned for next June. Draco had argued with the Headmistress that this year they should be able to share quarters, since their wedding was only a year away. The Headmistress said a resounding 'NO', and told Draco that she expected all of her teachers to set examples for the young students in their charge. Draco said that was fine, as they could still come and go as they pleased, since their rooms were right next to each other. That might have been the reason why their rooms were reassigned this year. Draco was in the same room, but the Headmistress moved Hermione down the corridor, at the very end. It was a larger suite, with three rooms. There was a bedroom, a sitting room, a small kitchen and a bath. Draco's room only had a bedroom and a bath. The Headmistress said it would be their shared room when, and only when, they married. Draco did not yet know about the new room assignments. Hermione imagined he would not be thrilled.

Harry and Ginny were planning a wedding for next May. Ginny had originally wanted to have a double wedding with Hermione and Draco, but neither Hermione nor Draco was enthusiastic about that idea. They both wanted a small wedding and preferable one without a million Weasley relatives in attendance. She had ten months to get ready for a wedding. Her parents had moved back to England this past summer. They said they wanted to be closer to their only daughter, and that they wanted to help her plan for her wedding. She did not care the reason, she was just glad they were finally home. Hermione's mother told her ten months was not long enough to plan a wedding. Hermione thought that was ample time. She would no doubt concede to her mother's wishes, and allow her mother to plan any kind of wedding that she wanted. Mrs. Malfoy was intending to help Hermione's mum plan the wedding. They had become quite friendly, which still bothered Hermione for some reason. Hermione gladly handed over the reigns to their mothers. They could plan any kind of wedding they wanted, as long as Hermione and Draco were allowed to attend.

Hermione came back to school earlier than she was required to, but only because she missed Hogwarts. She had spent most of the summer helping her parents to move back to England. They had to buy a new house, and re-establish their dental practice. With Draco still gone, she saw no reason to stay at home with her parents, now that they were finally settled. She missed Draco so much, that sometimes it hurt, physically. She missed him more than she thought she would. Hence, the daydreaming. While she was not thinking of anything in particular, she did find his blond head filling her thoughts. She was absentmindedly writing his name repeatedly on a piece of parchment. She was not one of those silly girls who would write anything like "Hermione loves Draco" or "Mrs. Hermione Malfoy". No, Hermione was merely writing the name Draco. Big D, little r, little a, little c and a calligraphy styled 'o'.

She needed him. She had been having a lot of trouble sleeping lately. Every night, at almost the exact same time, she would wake up, and when she woke up, she would always feel apprehensive and afraid, and she did not know why. She was not really having nightmares, at least none that she could recall. Her mum told her she was probably just worrying about school, teaching, and Draco. That could be true. She just wished she could get a decent night sleep before classes started. She was not sure why she felt so scared at night, but she was certain of one thing, she would feel better once Draco was back. The difficulty sleeping started with her return to Hogwarts.

Last night, right at 2:15 pm, she woke up crying. Last night was the worse it had been. She had never woken up crying before. She also started to notice bruises and scratches on her body, with no memories of how they came to be. That morning, she had a deep scratch on the top of her right hand, as well as a bruise on her left hip. She was concerned enough that she had made a point of seeing the Medi-witch. She told Hermione that perhaps she was having night terrors, due to stress, and that she was causing the bruises and scratches to herself. Whatever the reason, Madame Pomfrey gave her a sleeping draught. Hermione would use it tonight, and hoped it would help.

The worse thing was that she often had trouble going back to sleep, due to the feeling of dread and presentiment that hung heavy in her heart. Something deep inside her told her that it was not just worry that had caused these dreams and the feeling of foreboding. Hermione felt it had something to do with the year Harry, Ron and Hermione searched for Horcruxes. She did not know why she thought that, she just did.

She prayed that it was not that, or something worse. She hoped it was due to her nerves over teaching on her own, and her missing her fiancé. She got out a clean piece of parchment and started a letter to Draco. She had not told him anything about her troubles sleeping. There was no reason to worry him, not yet. She started the letter, but then could not even concentrate on that. She could not concentrate on her lesson plans, on reading, or even writing a letter. She had a large package from her mother she could look over. It contained different bridal magazines. She wanted Hermione to read them and send back any articles that seemed interesting to her. No, Hermione decided she could not even concentrate on her upcoming wedding. She stood up and looked out her window. She decided to take a walk. That would be a very nice diversion. She removed her robe, rolled up her shirtsleeves, and left her classroom to take a walk.

Walking in the Sunshine -

She sighed. She took off her shoes and socks. She was under a tall maple tree, and she sighed again. It was the perfect day for lying outside, in the shade. Hermione laid back, shut her eyes, and soon slumber overtook her. She dreamt she was lying under a maple tree, on a warm August day, and Draco was lying on his side beside her. He began to stroke her bare arm up and down with his fingertips. She opened her eyes, and saw that it was not a dream! Draco was there. She smiled widely. He had not yet noticed that she had opened her eyes. He was watching his own hand go up and down her arms. She shut her eyes again and said, "Oh, Ron, I know we shouldn't, but that feels so good."

He tickled her ribs and she laughed. "Stop!" she implored.

"You better have not been dreaming of the weasel!" he said, as he stopped tickling her and stared down at her beautiful face. She had one eye shut, to block out the sun. The sun, streaking through the shade of the tree, was dancing off her face and in her eyes. "Hello, Granger, have you missed me."

She threw her arms around his shoulders and pulled him down on top of her as her reply. "When did you get here? You weren't due until Friday."

He propped himself back up on his elbow and put his hand on her flat stomach. He leaned down and kissed her. "Do you want me to go away until Friday, because for you, I would?"

"Shut up and kiss me again," she said, and he obliged. He leaned down and kissed her with a long, passionate kiss. He rolled over and brought her down on top of him. She looked at him, as she propped herself up on her arms. "Have you seen our new living arrangements?" she asked.

He sat up with a frown. "I know the old bat didn't go with my suggestion that we share a room. What did she do, put us on different floors, on different wings."

"Close," Hermione laughed.

"Damn, her. What is she, like a 75 year old virgin?" Draco stood up and reached down to help Hermione stand. She bent down and got her shoes and socks. He picked up his bag and satchel and they started back into the castle. He held her right hand and he felt the scratch on the top. "How did you hurt your hand?" he asked.

Ignoring him, Hermione asked, "How did you know I was out here?"

"I didn't," he admitted, "I was heading toward the castle and I saw you. Why are you napping outside? Don't you have lessons to plan for?" he asked, swinging her arm.

"I have all my lessons planned for the whole year," she lied. It was almost the truth. She had them planned until December. He, however, believed her.

"You are one studious teacher, aren't you, little one?" he joked.

"I try, now tell me, why you are back early?" she asked.

He yawned and said, "I didn't have to take any of my exams, because I received all 'Outstandings' in all my courses. You aren't the only smart one, you know. Therefore, I got back a few days early. I stopped by and saw my mother first, and then came back here."

They walked in the front doors, and Hermione said, "Your boyfriend Don isn't back yet."

"Damn, I will just have to visit with you until he gets back," Draco said seriously.

They walked up to Draco's room, and he threw his things on the floor, and plopped on his bed. His trunk had already been delivered to his room. "Aren't you going to unpack?" Hermione asked, standing in the middle of his room.

"It can wait," he said, shutting his eyes.

"Won't you be able to relax better, knowing that it's done?" she asked, looking around.

"I'm relaxing fine, however, I know you won't be able to relax until I'm unpacked, so make yourself happy and unpack for me," he said, looking up at her.

She gave him a frown, but knew he was right. She opened his trunk and started hanging his clothes up in his wardrobe. He got off the bed and started to help. "I wouldn't really make you do it on your own," he laughed.

"Yes you would," she replied. As she was hanging up his shirts, he noticed her hand again. He took her hand in his.

"Tell me how you got this nasty scratch," he asked again.

"I honestly don't know. I woke up and it was there this morning," she answered truthfully.

"That's odd," he said.

"Yes, I have several bruises, too. Some are a couple weeks old, and some new ones, look," she said. She lifted her khaki skirt slightly and showed him the large purple bruise on her hip.

"Goodness, Granger, is someone beating you?" he asked, as he gingerly touched the bruise. "Where are the other bruises?"

"Here and there," she said lightly, "I saw Madame Pomfrey. She said that I must have been inflicting them to myself at night. I have been having a lot of trouble sleeping, and she said I might be having night terrors. Too much stress and worry."

"Why are you stressed and worried?" he asked, bringing his arms around her.

"School, the wedding, you being away, take your pick. I just know things will be better now that you are back," she said, looking up at him and smiling. "Oh, did you hear, Neville is coming back to do an apprenticeship with Professor Sprout. He completed a full year of schooling and now he is coming back here to study for a year. It will be like old times."

"Lord, he's probably going to be in your old room, right next to mine," he said dryly.

Hermione laughed and said, "He is, actually. You can sneak out at night and visit him, like you used to with me."

Draco shuddered as a response. He said, "One boyfriend is enough for me." Then he said, "Let's get back to your problem. How long has this been going on, little one?"

"Since I got back to Hogwarts," she explained, "but really, it's not that big of a thing, so don't worry." She bent down to take a pair of shoes out of his trunk and she saw a rather large wrapped present. "Is this a present for Don?" she joked.

"If you want it, you can have it, if not, yes, it's for him," he said, taking the shoes she dropped and putting them in the bottom of the wardrobe.

She sat on his bed, and he sat beside her. She unwrapped the gift and looked in the box. It was a book. A very old, ancient looking text. A book on the four founders of Hogwarts. "Wow, this is nice, and it looks really old." She turned the large book around carefully. "This is perfect, thank you," and she leaned over and kissed his lips. "Did you know that Professor McWhorter was supervising an archeological site right here on the grounds, and she thinks she's found some artifacts that date back to the founders. I have been helping, so really, this might be very helpful."

He stood up and started to put his things away again. "Yes, I have to admit that my boyfriend, Don, mentioned it to me in a letter, so I thought you would like this book. I stole it, by the way."

Hermione put the large tome down and said, "Stole it? From where?'

"The library at the Manor," he said plainly.

"That's not really stealing, is it?" she said, bending down to help him.

"I guess not, I just liked the way that sounded. I stole something. I have to keep my bad boy image up, you know," he said.

"Especially since you are homosexual now," she said with a croaked grin.

"I'll show you how much of a homosexual I am," he said as he rushed her and picked her up by the waist and threw her on the bed.

He put the full weight of his body on hers and his hands went up to capture her face; he kissed her, and then looked at her and said, "Say you are sorry for questioning my manhood."

"I wasn't questioning it. I think I was saying explicitly that you are now gay and in love with Don Boot, and that's no reason to be ashamed," she said, laughing. He kissed her again, and put his thigh between her legs. He kissed her neck, as one hand went under her shirt.

He brought his mouth up to her neck and said, "I've missed you so much. I've missed your smile, your terrible sense of humour, you intellect, and your body." He pushed her bra up with his hand and rubbed her breasts, as he kissed her face, neck and lips. There was a knock at the door.

Books, Quills, Cups and things -

"Just be quiet and they will go away," Draco said, kissing her ear.

"Get off, Draco," she implored, trying to push at him.

A voice outside in the hall said, "Draco, are you in there?" It was Don.

"Maybe Don would like to join us," Hermione said with an evil grin.

"You would be shocked if I had suggested that, you sick pervert," Draco said, standing up and answering the door. He barely gave Hermione time to straighten herself up.

Don came in, saw Hermione on the bed, and laughed as he said, "Sorry to interrupt. I did not know Hermione was here. I just got back and wanted to say hello." He came and sat on the bed and gave Hermione a small kiss on the cheek. He said to Hermione, "I hear the board of Governors of the school has finally given Davina McWhorter permission to start her archeological dig here on the school grounds. A little birdie also told me that you have been helping, my dear sweet, Hermione."

"What else has your little birdie told you?" she asked Don with a smile.

"That my brother Paul is coming to Hogwarts this year, because he is somewhat of an expert, or rather a historian, when it comes to the founders. He will be assisting with the dig, and maintaining the integrity of the site. He came back with me. I don't know if you remember him. He's anxious to meet with you, since you are working with them."

He got off the bed and said, "Why don't you and Draco join Paul and me for dinner at the Three Broomsticks about 5:00 this afternoon?"

"Draco, I would like that, how about you?" Hermione asked, looking at Draco.

"A man's got to eat, so fine," he said, putting some books on his shelf.

Don said, "Great, see you there," and he left the room.

Hermione ran out of the room, without a backwards glance or as much as a goodbye. Draco was used to her eccentric ways, so he merely finished folding a sweater he had in his hands and walked out his room, to see where she was heading. He walked down the hallway, to the very last room. He could only assume it was her new room, since the door was opened.

"Granger?" he said, leaning in the doorway.

"I'm in the bedroom," she said.

"Why did the Headmistress give you the larger suite, and not me? This is rather nice," he said, throwing his body across the couch in the main room.

"Look, I wanted you to see something that we found at the dig site. Davina wanted me to work on deciphering the runes on the handle," she explained, as she handed him a long pewter cylinder that had strange markings upon it.

"She's the Ancient Runes Professor, she should be doing the deciphering," Draco said, examining the piece and handing it back to her, adding, "These runes aren't familiar to me."

"That's the thing, some are familiar, and some aren't. If this piece is from the founders' days, than it's over a thousand years old. This is the first piece she found since she was allowed to start the excavation. She thinks it might be a holder for a quill. She gave it to me on my first day back, and I've been working on it ever since," Hermione said, holding the piece gently.

"Fascinating," Draco said with a yawn.

She gave him a scathing look and said, "It is fascinating."

"Great, now all your attention will be on this stupid archeology site, and I will have to fight for your attention all year," Draco complained, sitting up.

"I have the ability to do more than one thing at a time," she lectured, putting the pewter artifact back into a small velvet sleeve. She put it back in her bedroom and said, "Besides, I am sure you will be fascinated by the dig, and will want to help."

He laughed and stood up. "I'm sure I won't. I don't like old things. They're old. I only like new things. Bright, shiny, new. Come now, Granger, help me finish unpacking so we can go snog a bit before dinner."

He started to take her hand and she said, "I want to go down to the site for an hour or so. Now that I know someone else is coming on board, an expert of sort, I'm all happy and tingling inside."

Draco smirked and said, "I could make you all happy and tingling inside and outside."

"I'm sure. I'll see you before dinner," and she started out the room.

He walked down the hallway with her and said, "I haven't seen you for six weeks, and you leave me to dig in the dirt?"

"Come with me, please. At least come see where it is. Professor McWhorter believes it to be the site of the original castle. The one that the founders lived and taught in while Hogwarts was being built. It's not far. It's just over the hillside, past the lake," she said, taking his hand.

"Can we fly there on a broom? I don't want to spend an hour walking," he grimaced.

"Even if the hour is spent with me?" she said bashfully.

He sighed and said, "Fine, let's walk, but every fifteen minutes I must have a kiss to strengthen my fortitude."

She rolled her eyes. "You are so strange," she remarked. He laughed, because he was thinking the same thing about her.