Disclaimer: I own nothing but what is mine. Rest is the wonderful imagination of J. K. Rowling.


Chapter Ten

Leaving Family Behind and Gaining a New, 'Better' Family

Hermione sighed as she walked down the stairs, her trunk levitating in front of her. It landed softly in front of the door. Everyone stood there. Some were crying, like Mrs. Weasley. Others were looking at her sadly and solemn face like Harry and Ginny. Others still were trying to smile encouragingly at her like Remus and Arthur. Severus, standing on the second floor, and leaning over the railing was staring at her with such love and passion it made her feel as though nothing could weigh her down – except the fact that he was staying behind. She tried not to think abut that. She smiled at them all.

"I'll write everyday." She said. "And you know me. When I say I'll do something,"

"You'll do it." Harry said. Hermione smiled at him.

"Take good care of Ginny for me, Harry." She said. He smiled and walked forward. He hugged her.

"It's not good-bye, Hermione." He said, pulling back, holding onto her shoulders and looking her in the eye. "It's just a 'see you later'." She smiled at him.

"I know." She said. "It's just I can't help but this has an air of good-bye." He chuckled and hugged her again.

"I'll see you later, Hermione." He said, standing back.

"Yeah. I'll see you, Harry." She said. She went around and said her 'see you laters' to everyone else. She smiled up at Severus. They had already had their 'see you laters'. She turned to Tonks and Kingsly.

"Are you ready?" Kingsly asked in his low voice. Hermione smiled.

"One day, Kingsly, I'm going to see you in pink." She said. They had been talking at lunch about how no one had ever seen him wear pink. He laughed. As did everyone. She had achieved her goal. If she had left this house with this eerie sadness hanging over it, she wouldn't've been able to bring herself to leave. She smiled.

"Lets go." She said. She smiled and waved one last time to everyone before being led out the door and into the chilly night air.

* * *

Hermione sighed once again as they sat in a waiting room. They had been waiting there for the better part of half an hour. She tried not to think about what the others may be doing right then. She tried especially not to think of what Severus might be doing. Finally three people walked over to them. One was the minister of magic, Rufus Scrimgeour. Another they recognized as his secretary. The third was a man with long brown hair, glowing green eyes, and a homey look to him. He was wearing a brown silken shirt, dark tan pants, and a long brown coat. He was about 5'7" and was skinny.

"Miss Granger, this is your new teacher, Paul McKindrie." The minister said.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Hermione Granger. Everywhere I turn, I've heard nothing bad about you." He said, taking her hand and bowing, touching her fingers to his forehead.

"You couldn't've been talking to the minister then." She said. He laughed, not realizing she was serious.

"Such charisma!" He said. "I do believe she and I will get along just fine." He said.

"Perfect. Now my secretary shall lead you to your portkey." The Minister said. "Shaklebolt, Tonks, with me. A few occurrences have come up and they need your attention." He said.

"Be safe Hermione. Have fun. I'll come check in on you every so often." Tonks said, hugging her.

"That won't be necessary, trust me. I shall keep her under my eye at all times. Nothing will be fall her." Paul said.

"I trust you." Tonks said. Kingsly stepped towards her.

"Be safe, Hermione. And when you return, you may very well see me in pink." He said. Hermione smiled and hugged him.

"I look forward to that." She said. Then he and Tonks followed the Minister to his office. She then turned to Paul.

"Is this your trunk?" He asked, motioning to the trunk at her feet.

"Yes, it is." She said. Who else's would it be? I don't see any others around here. She thought, but kept her mouth shut. Paul took out his wand, and levitated the trunk behind them. They then followed the secretary down a hallway, down a staircase, and into another department. She handed a piece of parchment to the secretary there, and then walked off. The secretary behind the desk got an old eggbeater and handed it to them along with a connecting strap for her trunk.

"It will leave in two minutes." The secretary said, and returned to her work. Hermione took the strap, and attached one end to the eggbeater, and the other to her trunk. She then stood up and sighed, looking around the room.

"Sad to be leaving London?" Paul asked her.

"More of sad to be leaving my family." She said. He nodded.

"Well, you're leaving this family behind, but you're going to a better family. One that understands everything you're going through." He said. Hermione looked into his warm smiling face, and couldn't help but feel reassured.

But will they understand me? She wondered. Then they both took a hold of the eggbeater, and suddenly they were spinning through air. Two seconds later they landed with a thud! on the ground. Hermione 'oomph'ed as she hit, and then got up. Paul was getting up himself. She looked around her. They were standing in front of a nice white house, with lights on inside of it. She smiled. It was gorgeous. Noise to her left made her jump and look. A white peacock was strutting across the ground a few yards away. She smiled. She had a feeling she was going to like it here.

"Ahh, Yaxley. I see you've come at last with the mudblood brat." A voice drawled behind her.