A/N: I know, I know. I have like, five billion other stories going, but this one has really caught me. It started out as a one-shot, but has evolved into a lot more. I actually have three more chapters already written and the plot completely figured out. So, I figure I'll start uploading a chapter about once a week. My goal is to have this done in a relatively short amount of time.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Too bad.
The fall of the Dark Lord was not as elaborate as everyone anticipated it was going to be. Voldemort, not realizing his last Horcrux had been destroyed, sauntered up to Hogwarts where Harry Potter was waiting. A well placed non-verbal curse and a lot of luck and You-Know-Who was gone. Ron Weasley thought it was rather anti-climactic and was a bit disappointed in not being able to fight. Hermione Granger on the other hand, was relieved. After Voldemort's demise, the death eaters were in physical agony as the dark mark ripped itself from their bodies, making it fairly easy to round them all up.
Life settled down after that. Everyone went back to school for another year to finish up their NEWTS and graduate. After graduation, Harry entered the Ministry as an auror in training. Ron was fortunate enough to land a second string spot on the Chudley Cannons. However, Hermione, even though she was always the one with a plan, had no idea what to do. Teach? Heal? Ministry?
But when Madam Pince announced her retirement, Hermione knew that's what she was meant to do. She loved books and she loved Hogwarts. Professor McGonagall, now Headmistress after Albus Dumbledore's death, eagerly accepted her application. Hermione spent the summer at Hogwarts with Madam Pince learning the ropes of the library. She kept a notebook filled with pages of notes on how to run things as well as things she would like to change. Madam Pince left at the end of July while Hermione stayed though August to figure out things her way.
Severus Snape, having been pardoned by the Ministry for the death of Albus in light of his role as a double agent for the light side, resumed his job as Potions Master on the condition that he only have to teach NEWTS students, and only after Minerva pleaded with him. She gladly consented to hiring another part time teacher to teach the first through fifth years. Surprisingly, Ginny Weasley applied and took the job as an apprentice during her last year at Hogwarts. It was a lot of work, but she was awfully serious about potions.
Tensions between Gryffindors and Slytherins had lessened in light of Draco Malfoy leading a small group of Slytherins against the Dark Lord. Indeed, in the middle of their seventh year at Hogwarts, Draco and Harry shocked the world by coming out of the closet and entering a civil partnership soon after graduation. Ron Weasley's reaction to that was mild compared to when he found out that his little sister was dating Blaise Zambini.
In spite of all this, however, life in the wizarding world had soon fallen into the same normalcy before the Dark Lord's return. September first came, and it was another year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizadry.
Mid-October
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were all crowded around a small table at the Leaky Cauldron in the middle of October. Since they'd all gone their separate ways in the last six months, they had decided to try to get together once a month. So far, they'd only been successful two of the last six.
Nevertheless, they all felt it was important to continue their friendships face to face. Letters could only get you so far, and after having been so close to losing their lives many times, the people in their lives here and now jumped up quite a lot on the list of priorities.
After getting their orders taken and their butterbeers refilled, the usual exchange of pleasantries began, but didn't last too long.
"Forget this, guys. I am so pissed off at Blaise right now. We have been together almost two years now and it's obvious he wants to propose, but he just won't! Ron, what is that stupid, confused look on your face for?"
"You guys have only been dating a little over a year though. You started going out just after we defeated Voldemort," Ron pointed out.
Hermione smiled at Ginny's obvious blush. She knew the truth.
"Well, uh, actually, we were dating in secret way before that." Ron started to turn red with shock and anger. "C'mon, Ron. If we had told everybody it would have been hell for us. You know it's true. Chill."
Harry gave Ron a look and he simmered down and returned to his pale color with freckles.
"So, Ginny, how do you know he's just not waiting for the perfect moment? He might have the ring this very minute and he's just waiting to make it special for you," Hermione continued the conversation so Ron didn't have another chance to exert his big brother protectiveness over Ginny.
Ginny nodded, "I know, Hermione. But, I guess I just don't think I need anything special. I just want it to happen, you know?"
"I know, Ginny, but I'm sure that years down the road, you'll be glad you have a special story to tell to your kids," Hermione responded.
Harry smirked a 'I know something you don't know look." Ginny caught him, "What's that look for, Harry?"
"Draco just let something slip the other night . . . I shouldn't be saying anything really."
Ron sighed. "Dude, I still don't get how that happened. You and Draco, I'll never understand."
"Ron!" all three reprimanded.
"Ron, we've been through this. Just . . . get over it already," Ginny threatened her older brother.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Ron responded with another sigh.
Harry changed subjects, "So, Hermione, how's the Hogwarts library? Just the way you always remembered it?" he asked smiling mischieviously.
"She was there enough while we were in school," Ron threw in good-naturedly.
Hermione scowled back at them. "It's just fine, thank you." She brightened, "I actually really love it. I like getting to meet all the students, and even see some of the faculty sometimes."
Ginny smiled at her. "It is nice having you around, especially having to deal with Snape on a daily basis."
"Ugh, I forgot about that, Ginny. That must be awful for you," Harry sympathized.
"Now, guys, he's not all that bad," Hermione interjected.
Ron rolled his eyes, "You've always stood up for him, Hermione. You'd think you had a crush on him or something."
Hermione turned beat red, much to her dismay. "Ron, he's a good person deep inside; none of us can deny that after all he's done for us. And please, I don't have a crush on him. I've hardly seen him. He came into the library once at the beginning of term, and I haven't spoken a word to him since."
"Uh huh, sure, Hermione," Ginny teased.
Hermione shot her a warning look, "Ginny . . ."
"I didn't mean a thing by it! Geez, don't get your panties in a wad. How are the Chudley Cannons doing, Ron?"
The boys and Ginny began talking Quidditch and continued for the rest of the meal. Hermione was content to sit back and listen. Just spending time with her friends was great.