1Fate Has Other Plans
Chapter 2
Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter universe. J. K. Rowling does. She's so lucky.
At breakfast the next morning, Minerva and Hermione were in deep conversation as Harry sat down, the last of the teachers to do so.
"Morning, sleepy head," Hermione greeted. Harry chugged down a cup of coffee before responding.
"Yeah, yeah. Morning to you, too," he said as the students began arriving.
"Ready for your first day?" Filius asked.
"No," Neville answered. "First Year Slytherins and Hufflepuffs first."
"Fifth Year Gryffindors and Ravenclaws," Hermione said.
"I have Third Year Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs," Charlie said.
"Free period," Draco said.
"Lucky. I have Fourth Year Slytherins and Gryffindors," Harry said. "Putting them in a class where they learn to 'defend' themselves? I'm doomed."
"Stop being so hard on yourself," Hermione said. "I have Victoire, Henry, and Veronica in my class. This should be fun."
"Oodles and oodles," Charlie said. "Good luck," he added, receiving a glare from Hermione.
***
"Good morning class. I'm Professor Potter," Harry said. "Let me get roll, and we'll start." He called out the students, desperately trying to memorize names to faces. "Okay, no one skived. That's good.
"I'm here to teach you to defend yourselves first. Defense is a crucial aspect in fighting the Dark Arts. You can't fight off an attacker if you can't keep yourself safe. When I was younger than you are, Expelliarmus saved me from Voldemort. Since I'm assuming that everyone can Disarm, we'll begin by practicing Shield Charms. The incantation is Protego for those who don't know. Pair off into groups of no more than four and begin Disarming and Shielding. You can start now."
***
"Class dismissed," Hermione said. The students packed their bags and ran off to their next class, but three redheaded students stayed behind. "Henry, Veronica, Victoire, hurry up or you'll be late for your next class."
"Can I ask you something, Aunt Hermione?" Veronica asked.
"Yeah, anything. What's up?"
"Why is Grandma mad at you and Uncle Harry? Dad said that Uncle Ron lied to everyone and said nasty stuff about the two of you, and then you got divorced," Victoire said. "He and Mum wouldn't tell me anything else because of Nikki and Louis."
"Oh . . . that's a long story. Stop by after dinner and I'll explain more. Now hurry up, you're late for your next class," Hermione said.
"C'mon guys, it's time for Uncle Charlie's class! I hope he's got a dragon!" Henry beamed. They hugged Hermione and ran out the door. Hermione shook her head at his antics and got ready for her next class, Seventh Years. 'Oh joy.'
***
"So, Claire, what did you think of Transfiguration?" Jon asked as they walked to History of Magic. "I thought it was fun."
"It was. I can't wait until we start human transfiguration," Steph said.
"We won't be doing things like that until NEWT level, Steph. Where did you get that idea?" Jon asked.
"I read it in David's book. Remember, he's a Seventh Year," Steph said. "So, Claire, did you like Transfiguration?"
"Yeah. It was interesting."
"Something wrong?" Brittany asked.
"We have Binns' class next. I'm not looking forward to it. Why did we stay in that class?"
"It's required through OWLs, that's why. C'mon, it can't be that bad," Jon said.
"Yes it can," Steph groaned as Professor Binns, the only ghost ever to teach at Hogwarts, called them inside the classroom with a monotone voice.
***
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Dinner was especially loud as everyone shared their experiences in their classes, professors included. Jon and Steph told everyone about their Transfiguration lesson and the joke about turning David into a squirrel.
"You're still on that? Don't make me turn you into a squirrel," was his response after he caught his breath from laughing.
***
"Hermione, you alright?" Neville asked, concerned. She was quiet, even by her standards.
"What?"
"Are you alright?" Minerva asked. "You were zoning out a bit there."
"Oh, yeah, I'm fine. Rough morning," Hermione brushed off.
"How so?" Harry asked.
"Can we not talk about it right now? I have to get up to my classroom. Veronica, Henry, and Victoire wanted to talk to me."
"Oh," Charlie said. "Henry asked when I was bringing in a dragon."
"Well, who better to ask then the former dragon handler?" Draco said.
"True," Filius agreed. "What did you tell him?"
"Seventh Year," Charlie said. Hermione finished her dinner and left for her classroom to wait for the Weasleys. About ten minutes after she sat at her desk, they arrived.
"Okay, what do you want to know?" Hermione asked.
"What is the real reason you and Uncle Ron got a divorce?" Veronica asked.
"Dad only told me that he said some rubbish about you and Uncle Harry," Victoire said.
"And that none of what Uncle Ron said was the truth," Henry continued.
"We want the truth," Victoire said.
"We want your side of the story. We know that you wouldn't lie," Veronica finished.
"Well, your Uncle Ron and I stopped loving each other like we should. Yes, I still love him, but I'm not in love with him. I've known him and Harry since I was younger than you. I just love someone else. I'm going to be blunt with you because I think you can handle it. Your uncle had an affair because I didn't love him, so we got a divorce," Hermione said.
"Merlin!" Veronica cried. "How'd you find out?"
"I caught him. I got mad, so I packed a bag and went to Harry's for the night."
"What did Uncle Ron say happened?" Henry asked.
"He said that Harry and I had an affair and caught us, so I got all mad and left with Harry, and he divorced me."
"That's barbaric!" Victoire shouted. "I've been over at Uncle Harry's a lot the past few months, hanging out with Teddy, so I'd know if something funny was going on with him."
"Victoire likes Teddy!" Henry teased.
"Do not! Leave me alone. You're so immature."
"We already know Henry's immature, Vic," Veronica said. "That's why he isn't a Prefect."
"Okay now, go up to your tower, it's getting late," Hermione stepped in.
"Okay Aunt Hermione. See you tomorrow!" Henry said as they shared their hugs goodbye.
***
Hermione was in the living room of her dormitory in the Faculty Wing, reading a book on the couch, when someone knocked at her door.
"Come in," she said, waving her wand at the door to open it. Harry stepped in and closed the door behind him.
"Can we talk now?" he asked, sitting next to her. Hermione closed the book and put it on the table. Harry took it as a signal to start. "How did your chat go?"
"Good. I gave them a slightly watered-down version of events, but I told them everything."
"Everything? Including-" Hermione leaned over and gave him a kiss.
"No, I didn't tell them about us. We agreed to keep it a secret, didn't we?" Harry gave her a kiss.
"Yes, we did. I wish we didn't have to, sometimes, but with everything that's going on-"
"Yeah, I feel the same. But if Ron found out that it was you I fell in love with, all hell would break loose," she said.
"But it would be worth it," Harry said, entrapping Hermione in a heated kiss. "Bedroom?"
"The door on the left," Hermione said as he picked her up and carried her.
A.N.:There you go! Chapter 2 is done! This chapter was definitely shorter then the last one and it closed a few holes I left open, like Hermione's secret love(r). If you know anything about me, then you know I heart Harmony with a fiery burning passion. My favorite ship always was and will be Harry/Hermione. Jo must have had a momentary and irreversible lapse of judgement or something when she made the pairings. AU: when you just have to say screw canon! Harry and Ginny barely know each other, and Ron and Hermione always fight. She's just lucky she was the one to deliver to the world the world of Harry Potter, or she'd be in big trouble. But that doesn't get her off the hook!
Sorry for that. I just get really fired up about shipping. But if you want a story with more Harmony action, check out my other story, A NotSoHappy Return. It's full of Harmony with some Ron-bashing.
Until Chapter 3,
Patty