DISCLAIMER: I do not own any part of this fantastic story, I do not make any money from this. I'm just a lonely girl trying to write her own fantasies.
Don't know if you guys remember me, but I used to be DanaDeranged. Due to some password issues, I've finally decided to say "fuck it" and I made a new account. So, this is my welcome back chapter. Posted before I felt like it was ready, but I wanted to get it out there so you guys can be on the look out for more quality content from me!
Love love love you all, and I hope you love the story!
The sun had just begun to rise over the moors of Scotland, a light mist covering the ground. You could hear the cacophony emanating from the Owlery as they flew in to await breakfast deliveries. The war had been won, and it had taken a whole year to rebuild, but a great deal of wizarding families lost something irreplaceable.
Even Hogwarts castle had lost a few things. Where normally you would find suits of armor, there were empty spaces. The paintings that had been blown and ripped apart were replaced, and the strangers in their stations offered no comfort. Oh, yes, things had changed.
Hermione Granger blinked rapidly as she woke, trying to talk herself into getting out of bed. Come on, girl! Get a grip on yourself! You've only been back a week now, it wouldn't look very good for the Head Girl to get detention, would it? After another few minutes of arguing with herself, and a good stretch accompanied by a yawn, she was out of bed and in the shower of her private dorm. Being Head Girl certainly had its perks, but being Hermione Granger most assuredly didn't. As she bathed, her thoughts travelled back to the war. Everything had been different since the beginning of it, even Hermione. Sure, she was still "the brightest witch of her age", and was still responsible and sensible and tired. Gods, she was tired. The differences in her may not be in her character, but they're definitely there. She was morose, and paranoid now. Every student turning a corner was an adversary, every first-year was a lost friend. Her breath caught in her throat when she thought about them, all those lives that could've been saved. All those lives that should have been saved. She didn't allow herself to continue that particular subject, instead filling her lungs with the warm moist air of the shower, and rinsing out her hair. She stepped out, and wrapped her bathrobe around her.
It was positively dizzying to be back at Hogwarts after all that she had been through. She had berated herself when she was on the run with Harry and Ron, questioning how they had even convinced her to go. But you left for a reason, didn't you? You left for the right reason, and thousands of lives have been saved because of you. You were one of the Golden Trio that helped bring down Voldemort. It is perfectly acceptable for you to miss a year of schooling. Besides, they let you come back, had they not? She yielded to herself, which was an interesting feeling, but she wished things still felt the same as they had before she left. Harry and Ron weren't attending this year, opting instead to take a Ministry-approved exam and therefore graduating early, and both boys were determined to join the Aurors. And so they had. They were off saving the world again, and I'm stuck here by myself.
With a sigh, she stepped out of her bathrobe, and glanced at her naked form in the mirror. There was never an absence of bewilderment when she saw herself like this, and for what seemed like the millionth time she began to trace over her scars and burns with her fingertips. Some were shallow, simple little scars that she was sure would disappear soon. Others were much more permanent, looking as if someone had carved out portions of her skin. Her hand moved to her face, and she traced the few scars at her cheek, curtesy of Bellatrix Lestrange and her dagger. She could still feel the cold blade against her skin, hear her own screams echoing off of the pristine white tiles. Swallowing the egg that had formed in her throat, she turned away from her reflection, and dressed in her uniform to head down for breakfast.
The halls seemed different now. Maybe it was simply the melancholy in her heart that made it seem strange, but Hermione had a feeling that it was loneliness settling in. The lack of friendly banter made them feel longer, and without her best friend's smiling faces they seemed dimmer. She shook her head, trying to dislodge the thoughts of her friends, and how much she was missing them, and instead focused on the friends she has that were here. She had seen Ginny, who had been delighted with Hermione's return; she had seen Neville and Luna, who had started dating after the war, to no one's surprise; Seamus and Dean, whom she was very pleased to see return; Lee Jordan, and Dennis Creevey. Among the Slytherins that had returned, Draco Malfoy was notably in attendance, along with his pug-faced companion Pansy Parkinson; Blaise Zabini, and the Greengrass sisters. Goyle had apparently decided not to attend this year, and Hermione would wager that he was still mourning the death of his closest friend.
Hermione brushed through the double doors of the Great Hall, and took a seat at what used to be the Hufflepuff table, the rules at Hogwarts had become a bit more lax since the downfall of Voldemort. Seating by house was no longer required, except on the first day to receive their schedules. Curfew was extended to eleven o'clock, and second-years were now allowed to attend on Hogsmeade trips, with the proper permission forms of course. Hermione, although loathing the extra duties as Head Girl, was otherwise quite glad that things could feel so unrestrained for these younger and new students. They would never have to experience the fear and stress and tension that she did at their age.
As she studied them, she noticed the energy crackling in the room, the excitement clear upon their bright faces. Shouts of "they've done it!" and "what can't they do?!" echoed across the hall, students hurrying from here to there, speaking animatedly. Hermione, painfully confused, stared in bewilderment. What could possibly be going on?
As she buttered her toast, she heard a screech, and looked up just in time to see a large tawny owl drop today's printing of the Daily Prophet on her plate. She fed him a bit of dry bread, and sent him on his way, with his payment jingling on his leg. She unfolded the paper and read the headlining story. "POTTER AND WEASLEY AT IT AGAIN" it read, above a large portrait of Ron and Harry. Hermione smiled at the picture of her friends. Ron was smiling nervously, eyes darting to and from each side of the frame; while Harry tried to smooth out his hair, realizing too late that the picture was being taken, you only see him smile quickly, before the cycle restarted.
For the second time this morning, an egg formed in her throat as she contemplated her friends leaving her alone here. Leaving her with the ghosts of their boisterous laughter echoing through the hall. She allowed this feeling to overcome her for only a moment, and then, deciding she was being ridiculous, she swallowed hard and pushed on through breakfast.
It wasn't until breakfast was halfway over that she realized she hadn't even read the rest of the article. So she pushed her plate away, and pulled up the paper.
POTTER AND WEASLEY AT IT AGAIN
Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley have triumphed the Dark Side once again, with the official end of the "War Criminal Sweep" the Ministry of Magic had embarked on last year. The capture of Rabastan Lestrange, brother of Rodolphus Lestrange and brother-in-law to Bellatrix Lestrange, marked the last of the roaming Death Eaters attempting to avoid prosecution. Potter had spearheaded the operation, and after sixteen months of investigations and dangerous pursuits, he had only this to comment: "Im just glad that the wizarding community is safe, that the muggle community is safe. That our families are safe."
Ronald Weasley seemed to share his sentiments stating simply, "The families that were impacted deserve justice. And I am more than happy to be the one to bring them to justice."
Yes, Potter and Weasley are bringing peace to the wizarding world, but what of their schooling? When asked about the possibility of returning to Hogwarts, Harry only said that his time and skills could be "better employed". Weasley was a little more verbose (Hermione allowed herself a small chuckle, Ron being described as "verbose"! What a laugh).
"We had fun at Hogwarts, we learned so much from all of the professors, all of the students. Hogwarts will always hold a place in our hearts, but we've learned all we can learn from them. It was time to make a real difference, especially after the war. And we're going to keep making that difference."
You would think the boys would want a break after bringing down Voldemort, and training to become aurors, but no such thing will happen. They seem to enjoy helping rebuild a safe community, and we couldn't be happier to have them around.
Although, this does beg the question, what about Hermione Granger?
Hermione stared at the last sentence for a moment, wondering herself why she had chosen to return to school. But that thought was quickly tossed aside by the swelling of pride in her chest. My boys, always the heroes. The noise of scraping benches, and the clatter of shuffling feet, tore Hermione from her reverie. Quickly, she gathered her papers, shoved a final bite of toast into her mouth, and finished her juice; before running through the halls to make it to class.
But in her haste, she very much missed a pair of blue eyes, following her every move.
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