2. Anniversary
Hannah looked around until she saw Hermione in the Great Hall. The most famous young witch sat by a window and Hannah took the place next to her. Other students were looking at them but not long until the new headmaster asked them to be silent. His name was Alexander McLaggen and he was Cormac's older brother which was the reason Cormac always sat in the first row. Hermione didn't care where everybody was but Hannah looked around if she saw anyone she knew. She noticed the Weasley family but Ron was not with them.
When headmaster Alexander McLaggen called all the names of those who died it was quiet in the Great Hall. Frank Longbottom. Alice Longbottom. Ariana Dumbledore. Lily Potter. James Potter. Regulus Black. Sirius Black. Cedric Diggory. In memory of those who died before the war. Lord Voldemort and Bellatrix Lestrange to remember wizard's and witch's greatest enemies. The names that mattered the most were the following. Severus Snape. Albus Dumbledore. Mad-Eye Moody. Rufus Scrimgeour. Remus Lupin. The owl Hedwig. Fred and Bill Weasley. The wandmaker Gregorowitsch. Dobby and Kreacher. Andromeda Tonks and her daughter. Hagrid. Lucius Malfoy. The Hogwarts teachers Sybil Trewlawney, Dolores Umbridge and Minerva McGonagall. Neville Longbottom. And the hero Harry Potter.
Hermione held Hannah's hand. She didn't want to be alone. She was never close to Hannah Abbott but right now she needed a friend. Hannah didn't mind and helped the brave famous witch outside. "This must be hard for you. To hear all their names again"
"The new headmaster wanted me to hold a speech but I couldn't do it. I can see all their faces and I see the families who will never be whole again. I just hoped Ron was here... but it's harder for him and he can't do it" Hermione cried but stopped when someone came to see them. A young thin tall man with brown hair walked a bit clumsy and nervous closer to them until Hannah ran into him. "BASIL!"
"Hey" Basil hugged Hannah for a short moment. Then he looked at Hermione and didn't know what to say. Basil had never met the famous witch of their generation. Basil had left Hogwarts a few months before Hermione's first year but he had heard a lot about her. "It's sad inside, isn't it?"
"Yes... So, you are Basil? Hannah told me about you. You found Ron's Deluminator and make these light show every night" Hermione tried to smile and welcomed Basil in Hogwarts. "Were you a student?"
"Yes, but this was before you came here. I know Hannah because she got injured. I didn't fight much in the battle but I helped her" Basil blushed a bit and Hermione could see that Hannah and Basil both liked each other. She didn't say anything but hoped for Hannah this blush last long. Basil had not seen Hannah for nine months and still cared for her. This was a good sign he waits longer until she is 21. Many students had to get used to muggle laws and Hermione hoped Hannah knew this. "Basil, what are doing? Where are you and your family living?"
"Oh, I'm on my own. I live in London in the house of the Dursley's. The muggles have no idea why I wanted this house but wizards like to visit the place Harry Potter grew up. I make a bit of money with it but not too much. We all have not much but what I get I use to fix the house" Basil smiled proud and Hannah nodded happily. "Isn't that great?"
"Yes, I think it is. But you don't have a job in the muggle world? Isn't this difficult with the neighbors?" Hermione grew up with muggles and knew everything about them.
"It's difficult to get a job in the muggle world. They have other rules and laws and I don't understand everything but I try it" Basil took off his old robe but didn't bother to take off his red bowtie. He looked funny with his messy hair and Hannah looking up to him.
Cormac's brother sent him outside soon after Hermione had left. After Harry's death Hermione was the one to admire but she was also feared and her own classmates didn't talk to her. While his brother spoke about the new Hogwarts and that it has no houses anymore instead all students live together in peace Cormac found Hermione outside talking to Hannah and a friend.
Cormac listened to the group before he went back to his brother and waited until his speech was over before he talked to him alone. "Alex, Hermione has been through enough with the war and her best friends dying or abandoning her. No one but Hannah Abbott's talks to her and you don't make it better"
"If you want her to feel better become her friend. This helps both of us. Do you think I got this job for nothing? I had good connections and now I have the best job in wizard world. I can get you a job too but you need you show some people you want it" Alexander was a snob and an arrogant arsehole. The war didn't change him unlike Cormac who shook his head. "No Alex. The new world is out there. We don't protect muggles anymore. We have to live with them. We have to be friends and it will happen wizards and muggles marry... more than now"
"You won't. Won't you?"
"I don't know. I don't know what happens. But I know you are in a position others look up to you. Do a good job... and leave Hermione alone" Cormac walked away and ran into Hannah's friend who was leaving. "Sorry, didn't see you"
"It's okay. You have to go?"
"Yes, I have to go back to London and my muggle neighbors" Basil laughed and walked on but stopped and turned around. "Does Hogwarts have a mailing address? Now that we all have to prepare for muggle world this is maybe a good idea and doesn't confuse muggles like the owls"
"I will talk to my brother" Cormac watched Basil leaving and thought about his idea.