Summary: People seemed to believe that without James Potter and Lily Evans coming together that the wizarding world would have been much worse off. What they didn't realize is that if James Potter had chosen a different woman to spend his life with that Harry Potter wouldn't have lost his parents and became the Boy-Who-Lived. Neville Longbottom would have grown up with a loving family and James Potter and Lily Evans would have lived lives with the people they were meant to share them with.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters I write about and I don't profit from them.
Brown Eyes
Chapter 1: Something Peculiar
Hermione looked around at all of her classmates as they made their way to the Hogwarts Express. It was her last year and she felt reminiscence and felt a pang of regret that it was ending soon.
She put on a smile and dragged her trunk to find a suitable compartment, as she walked she ran into Neville and Luna. They chatted as they searched for an empty compartment.
"So how has your summers been?" Hermione asked with a distracted air.
"Well my Gran decided that I was becoming just like my father. So she took me on a vacation and bought me a new wand." Neville showed it proudly.
Neville had always had a problem with his self-esteem, but making someone proud of him seemed to add a much needed boost.
Luna looked around dreamily, "I spent most of my time with Ronald, he is very funny." Hermione smiled at the girl's obvious affections for one of her best friends.
"What about you Hermione? You've certainly changed, I almost didn't recognize you." Neville smiled sweetly and Hermione blushed.
"I've just decided to let loose a little since it's our last year here. I might as well try to look my best. I just started working out and I finally found some muggle product to tame my hair." Luna laughed and Neville blushed.
Just as the three settled down in their seats the compartment door was flung open and Harry, Ginny and Ron stepped in.
"Harry!" Hermione threw her arms around Harry's neck and her surprisingly was ready for it. He caught her and swung her around.
"Mione, how has my favorite witch been?" Harry placed her down and dropped a sweet kiss to her forward and she reciprocated with one on the cheek.
"I've been great." She turned to Ginny and Ron, "Sorry I couldn't make it to the Burrow. My mum wanted me to spend my last summer of school with her since she believes when I graduate I'll drop off the end of the earth.
"That's okay Hermione." Ginny replied and gave her a hug. "By the way I love the hair." Hermione smiled.
"Thanks Gin."
As the train began to move the group of six settled down and started their conversations. Harry and Ron talked about the latest Quidditch game, while Neville engaged Luna in a conversation about plants. Ginny went off to meet up with her current boyfriend.
Hermione smiled in content, this was how it was supposed to be. Harry and Ron arguing about Quidditch and Neville talked about the endless properties of plants. While Luna spoke of her odd creatures and how they can affect people.
The ride to Hogwarts was quick and they found themselves sitting at the Gryffindor table as the sorting began. Hermione wasn't paying any attention to what was going on around her, her eyes glazed over.
Harry watched Hermione throughout the whole thing, trying to sort out his recently developed feelings towards her. Oddly enough it wasn't romantic feelings, but feelings of security whenever she was near. He shook his head and turned to Ron.
Ron was also watching Hermione and noticed she wasn't paying attention. "Hey Mione how many went to each house?"
"Gryffindor got 5, Ravenclaw got 4. Hufflepuff got 7, and Slytherin got 4." She mumbled.
Ron looked astonished, "How did you know you weren't even paying attention." Everyone laughed.
Harry patted his back, "You know what a quick mind our Mione has." Hermione blushed.
"Hey leave Mya alone guys, you're embarrassing the poor lass." Ginny did a poor imitation of Seamus.
"Yeah you don't want Luna to get jealous of the attention you're paying me." Hermione's eyes flashed mischievously and Ron's mouth fell open in shock. He thought he was being secretive of his crush on Luna.
Everyone settled down and dug into the feast with renewed vigor, that was still a slight darkness looming over them. But everyone tried not to think about the many empty seats surrounding them and the quiet whisper of the pain to come.
An unknown force caused Hermione to look towards the head table where she found a majority of the professors watching her with unveiled interest. As if they just realized something they had been missing. She shook her head and chatted excitedly with Ginny about the changes to come with this year, that this year would be different. She didn't know just how right she was.
As the feast was coming to a close Dumbledore stood up to make an announcement. "As you may all be wondering who the head boy and girl is this year. I am sorry that we didn't notify you all earlier as we had a slight problem with the owls. I would like to announce that this year's head boy is Harry Potter."
There was a round of applause. "Good job Harry I knew you would make it and you know just like your father." Harry looked up with confusion flitted in his eyes. "Your father was never a prefect, Professor Lupin was. But the last year he made head boy to the astonishment of his fellow classmates. I read it in…"
"Hogwarts, a History." Finished Ron in exasperation.
Hermione glared and opened her mouth to retort, but Dumbledore brought his hand up. "Settle down everyone, I haven't finished. This year's head girl is Mya Potter."
Everyone looked at him in confusion and he realized his mistake, "I apologize, this year's head girl is Hermione Granger." Everyone clapped, but Hermione could not get over the fact that he called her a different name.
Professor Dumbledore sat down and Professor McGonagall stood after glaring sternly at Dumbledore. "Now I would like Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger to please come with me and the rest of you are dismissed.
The students filed out at a steady pace while Harry and Hermione made their way to the head table where they heard a piece of the conversation. "You need to be careful Albus, she can't know until she's absolutely ready."
"But you've seen his eyes too, they're already beginning to change."
"Albus, I kn.." She stopped as she finally noticed who was standing before her. "We will finish this later Albus. Come with me you too."
They followed her dutifully and Professor Dumbledore's eyes bore a hole in Hermione's back as she walked away.
She shivered but refused to turn back, Harry wrapped his arm around his waist and they followed Professor McGonagall away from the Great Hall.
"I am showing you the way to the head suite, so pay close attention. You may choose the password, I will see you two tomorrow." With that she left the two to look at the portrait, contemplating what to do next.
