*Thank you for the reviews everyone, as you can see this is not a one shot! :D This is a smaller chapter, but the next one will be a good deal longer I expect...thank you for reading and I hope you like this story as much as I am enjoying writing it.*
"Blimey she's been up in that room ever since that blasted letter came! Who did you say it's from again?" Ron huffed.
"I didn't say who it was from." Harry replied as he continued reading The Daily Prophet.
"It's sick you know? To send someone a letter after your dead…suppose she just got a shock or something, and the person's dead and she can't, you know…go and talk to them or anything." Ron shook his head as he plopped his weight down onto the sofa where Harry was already seated.
"Leave it be, Ronald." Mrs. Weasley said softly, as she was dusting a shelf over stuffed with assorted trinkets and knick-knacks. "I think it's wonderful that whoever sent that letter had the foresight to write it. Sometimes, people leave this world so suddenly they don't get a chance to say everything that needs saying." Mrs. Weasley stopped dusting, her head dropped as she thought of her lost son. She wiped her face quickly, attempting to be strong and continued on with her task.
"It's right creepy if you ask me." Ron mumbled.
"Well good thing no one asked for your opinion." Ginny interjected as she pulled herself away from the window, turning she looked at her brother. "She'll come down when she's ready, and tell us as much or as little as she wants. Don't be such a git, Ron, honestly."
"I'm not trying to be a git!" Ron crossed his arms and looked upset. "I just don't like the idea of her getting hurt, and I mean come on you've heard her in there crying! You can't say you haven't."
"We've all heard her." Harry replied. "That doesn't mean we need to do anything. She'll ask for our input if she wants it." As if on cue Hermione came into the room. Her face appeared to be back to normal, and there was no evidence she had been crying the better part of the day.
"'Mione!" Ron exclaimed. He jumped up from his seat and bounded over to her. She smiled, but took a step back from him refusing to allow him to embrace her. "You ok?" Ron asked as he awkwardly crossed his arms, after being denied an embrace.
"Yes, I'm fine." Hermione nodded.
"So, who was the letter from?" Ron asked. Harry cleared his throat in an attempt to draw his attention, but Ron ignored him.
"It was a private letter, Ron. I'm not going to share it." Hermione replied as she side stepped around him and approached Mrs. Weasley. "Do you have any spare parchment?"
"Spare parchment?" Mrs. Weasley repeated the words seemingly confused at her question.
"You can't write a reply to a dead person, 'Mione." Ron huffed.
"I am going to write to Professor McGonagall if you must know." Hermione's words spat out with venom. Ron lowered his gaze.
"Oh, yes. You'll find some in by the fireplace in a box, on that table that has a slight wobble, dear." Mrs. Weasley smiled kindly.
"Thank you." Hermione replied as she turned and walked out of the room. Hermione found the paper, and sat down at the large kitchen table to write.
Dear Professor McGonagall,
I hope this letter find you well.
How are the repairs on Hogwarts coming along? I do hope they will be finished in time for the school to reopen in time for the start of the new school year.
I have given some thought to your proposal and I have decided to accept, I will at once take my exam in order to obtain the credentials required. I must admit it does seem odd that such things should be at my disposal because I was assisting Harry all these years. But I will not deny what is being offered to me.
I do have a question for you. Are you planning on commissioning a portrait for Professor Snape? After all he was headmaster for a year, and you have seen the memories he left Harry. Please respond at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
Hermione Granger
Hermione quickly folded the letter and thrust it into the awaiting envelope; she sealed it and sent it off with Errol. As she watched the owl take flight, she hoped for a quick response from her former head of house, and she said a silent prayer that everyone would accept her decision without any trouble. She turned from the window and went back to her room.
Three days passed and Hermione had yet to receive a response from Minerva. Finally on the morning of the fourth day, Minerva's response was delivered. Hermione eagerly took the letter from one of the regular Hogwarts owls. She scurried away from all the prying eyes that were watching her from around the kitchen table as they shoved food into their mouths. She broke the seal and took out the letter and began to read.
Dear Miss Granger,
I am very well, thank you for inquiring. The repairs are coming along nicely, and I must admit I am even more thankful now than ever that we are not muggles. Being able to use magic is making a fairly quick job of rebuilding and mending. Much faster than if we had to use muggle technology I would wager.
I was very delighted you are accepting my offer. You shall be a wonderful addition to our staff, and as you know many of the students who are still in attendance here, I also firmly believe you will be imperative in the healing process for them, for all of us. We need a DADA professor and who better than a member of the 'golden trio'?
I have been thinking over your inquiry about the former Headmaster, and I do believe you are correct in your assumptions. He does deserve a portrait, circumstances must be taken into consideration, and he did his very best to protect the students and staff of Hogwarts, he shall receive his portrait. I will commission it at once.
I do understand you feel as if you do not deserve the opportunities that are being given to you based solely on who you are. Do not despair my young friend, you are and always have been exceedingly bright. You do have to test for your credentials from the ministry, but I have full faith in you.
Drop me an owl once you have tested, so that I may inquire at the ministry of hiring you before the start of term. I so look forward to seeing you again.
Sincerely
Minerva McGonagall
Hermione smiled as she folded the paper, and stuck it in her pocket. She bounded back into the kitchen the smile never faltering from her face.
"Not another letter from a dead person, I hope?" Ron grumbled.
"No, Ron. It was from Professor McGonagall. I am going to test at the ministry as soon as possible. I have been offered a job at Hogwarts as the DADA instructor, and as long as I pass the examination, I will start this coming school year." Hermione returned to her seat and began eating. Everyone around her stared at her with shocked expressions, forks and spoons were frozen half way to their mouths. "May I accompany you to the ministry tomorrow Mr. Weasley?"
"Yes, of course." Mr. Weasly nodded, but seemed as confused as the rest of the people at the table.
"Fantastic!" Hermione exclaimed as she began to eagerly consume her breakfast.