Author note: This chapter continues the attacks on Hermione by the forces of darkness and evil. This also starts the rebuilding arc she will go through to become the true love and hero she should have been all along. I also hear and understand that a lot of people are not happy with this story. I don't know what to tell you other than I'm sorry but it is what it is. There are other stories you may find more palatable. This is a love story built from tragedy and pain. They will earn their happy ending.

===xxx===xx(Chapter begins)

Hermione was sitting in a corner table in the Hog's Head nursing her sixth drink. She was not even bothering with the light butterbeer but was drinking Black Pony Scotch Whiskey. She didn't want to feel anything anymore, she was fighting back tears and mostly succeeding. Everyone she talked to acted like the war was over. Like the fight was won and the bad guys would all just hold hands with them and sing khumbaya.

She vaguely felt the presence of someone standing beside the table and looking up saw a black haired, brown eyed woman standing there. "What?" She snarled.

"Hi. My name's Faith. You're Hermione Granger aren't you?"

"Yeah. That's what they tell me. What's it to you? You here to tell me to beat my sword into a plowshare too?"

"Excuse me?"
Hermione waved unsteadily, "Nothing. Never mind."

"Oh well. Can I buy you a drink?" Faith asked.

"Why?" Hermione was frowning at Faith. She was buzzed, very buzzed, but not entirely drunk yet.

"Well you look like you could use one, and after everything you did the least I could do would be to buy you a drink."

Hermione snorted then looked Faith up and down. She seemed to be thinking then sighed, "Yeah sure. Might as well let you buy me a drink. Might be fun."

"Okay I'll be right back. What're you drinking?"

"Black Pony." Hermione drained the mug she had and handed it to Faith.

Making her way to the bar to place the orders she pulled two vials out of her belt pouch. She downed the alcohol neutralizer she carried and held the other handy. Looking back at Hermione who was sitting morosely staring into nothingness. Faith wondered about how much Rita would give her as a bonus after this. She had been hired by Rita to dig up dirt on Potter and Granger as she didn't want to get involved yet. She was a bit leery of Granger for some reason she refused to talk about.

Getting the mugs she poured a vial of veritaserum into Granger's mug. The dose mixed with the alcohol wouldn't kill her but would give her one demonic level of hangover when she woke up sometime tomorrow. It would also loosen her lips so she was spilling every little life secret with the slightest prompting. Unbuttoning enough of her buttons to show off her cleavage she used her wand to give her breasts a bit more plumpness so they swelled over the top of her bra. She had a feeling that Rita was going to give her a big bonus for this one. Activating the recording crystal in her pendant she came back to Hermione's table.

"Here ya go." She said sliding Hermione's mug to her. Faith noticed Hermione's eyes did not leave her cleavage which said quite a lot.

"Thanks. Take a seat."

"Sure. So what's a hero like you doing drinking here alone?"

Hermione snorted then swallowed a large swig of the whiskey from her mug. Faith managed to swallow a smile behind her own mug.

"I'm drinking alone because the man I loved is dead and the man I was falling in love with fell in love with someone else. All my friends are back home and I have nooone. I thought I had friends but nope." She took another big swig.

"Really? I thought you were Hermione Granger the brightest witch of her age?"

"Oh is that what they called her here? Nope I'm Hermione fucking Dumbledore. The Girl who Survived. The hero of Hogwarts. She who was born not of magic but to rise and become the savior of the wizarding world, Slayer of Voldemort. Stupid bitch who let her emotions get the better of her brains." She declared waving her mug around before taking another huge swig.

"I thought your name was Granger?"

"Yeah that's what it apparently was at birth. The lady at the orphanage didn't know it though and Dumbledore. My father figure Dumbledore. He adopted me. He gave me a life and taught me all I needed to know."

Faith was not sure what was going on but this was going to be big, "So you were the one who really had the prophecy?"

"I did back home. But here no. She was nothing. No big deal. Hermione Granger the girl who was a sidekick. Harry was the one with the prophecy. He was the chosen one. Not Hermione."

"But you just said you had the prophecy."
"Yeah back home but after the battle I didn't want to live anymore so I killed myself and wound up here in hell. I'm being punished for killing myself, for doing the things I had to do to win the war. To defeat the darkness. The blood I shed is on my hands. Will all NEPTUNE'S OCEANS NOT WASH THIS BLOOD FROM MY HANDS!" She practically shouted raising her hands before slamming them back onto the table, followed by her forehead as she began to sob deep racking sobs of sheer pain.

Faith rubbed Hermione's back torn between actually trying to comfort the girl and getting her talking again. "What makes you think you're in hell."

Hermione managed to composed herself enough to talk. "Because its obvious. Its like Tantalus. I had been given a chance to have Harry again. I loved him. I really did, but he died during the battle and then this Harry showed up and I started falling in love with him. Only I couldn't stop fighting. I wanted to but I don't know how. Father never taught me how to be anything but a soldier. That's all I know. I don't know anything else. Any other way. To be honest I'm beginning to believe the others when they tell me he didn't mean for me to live. He raised me as a sheep for slaughter. Like Harry. He was raised to die by Dumbledore because that was the plan."

"Dumbledore didn't expect Harry to live?"

"No, he didn't. That's what Harry said. And it must have been the same for the Harry from this world too."

"So are you a pod person?" Faith asked.

"No I'm a real girl. See?" She had grabbed Faith's hand and pulled it to her breast. "I have a heart. Can you not feel it beating? I have blood, prick me do I not bleed?"

Faith massaged Hermione's breast for a moment as that seemed to calm the woman down enough then asked, "So where did the pod people thing come from?"
"That was Ron Weasley. He was so strung out on potions he got a muggle movie that Hermione showed him mixed up with what happened to me and Harry. And he started calling us the pod people."

"Ron Weasley was strung out on potions?"
"Yeah he was apparently popping pepper ups, several times a day for several weeks."

"What about Harry Potter. Was he using potions or doing anything?"

"Harry? Harry was perfect. He was the man I fell in love with. I was so hurt and confused. When I lost him I lost my world. Everything I wanted was lying at my feet. Then I came here and he was back. He was alive and breathing and warm to the touch. So warm. So warm and alive. And then Luna came along and she stole him. She won him because she offered him what he wanted." She started to tear up again so faith quickly asked, "What did he want."

"Kids. A family. He wanted to retire and not fight anymore. And she wanted that. He yelled at me. Called me bloodthirsty. He wanted her. He didn't want me. He wanted his Hermione. The quiet bookworm not the bloodthirsty soldier. The killer. The warrior born in fire, brought forth in shadows. He wanted his Hermione not me."

Faith was trying to figure out where to steer this conversation when Hermione herself dropped a bombshell, "But the biggest thing he wants is for me to ignore Theodore Nott's threats to kill him. Millicent told us about that and I tried to get him to fight. I tried to get him to go after Nott before he could get killed and he said he was done, Luna said to drop it, Ron said forget about it. Neville and Ginny paid lip service to placate me I'm sure. I doubt they were actually going to do anything."

"Theodore Nott threatened to KILL Harry Potter. Is that what you said?"

Hermione finished her mug of whiskey and belched, wiping her lips she nodded, "Yeah at least that's what Millicent told us. She came and warned us because she was told that by Theodore himself."

"Why would Theodore Nott say that?"

"Because he's a dirty filthy Slytherin scumbag. They all are! Not single good wizard or witch came out of Slytherin. Except maybe, well the Millicent of your world might count as good. But you can't trust them. Can't trust any of them."

"That sounds rather bigoted."
"Oh pish iss not bigoted. Iss true. 90% of the Death Eaters were Slytherins. Snape was a Slytherin and he was one of Voldemort's most trusted inner circle. So was Malfoy and Lestrange. Voldemort himself was the pinnacle of Sly'erin."
Faith's mind was awhirl. There was so much she wanted to ask but from the slurring of her words she was heading for a crash very soon, "So do you like girls?"

"Yeah. I'd love to get my face between your legs right now. You wanna put your face between mine?"

"Maybe in a little bit. I thought you loved Harry?"

"I do. Girls are a fun side though. If you can't get a man. A man like Harry. I even offered to share him with her and she said no. Stupid little derppity der der doo girl." Hermione then started giggling. "And to think we were lovers for a time."

"You and Luna Lovegood were lovers?"

"Yeah before she took up with Neville."

"I thought Neville Longbottom was with Ginny Weasley?"
"Well yeah yoursss. Mine I meant. Here Luna with the Harry that here was. My Luna with me. And it was wonderful. She could kissss and ush that tongue of hers."

"And then Luna got with Harry Potter?"

"Yeah. He toshed me aside for her after one stupid fight and he was off like a broom to her bed."

"So how many girls was Harry with?"

"I dunno. I didn't count." Hermione stood up wobbly and grabbed Faith's hand, "C'mon Less talk more walk. I wanna cuddle."

Faith led the way outside, more carrying Hermione than walking with her. Once outside she took Hermione in the side alley and leaned her against the wall. She kissed Hermione deeply while pulling her wand out of her belt. Hermione's hands crawling in places before Faith broke apart and cast a stupefy on her. She tried to pull Hermione's messenger bag off of her but found that it wouldn't leave her side. Frustrated she ran off to get what she had learned to Rita. She was going to get a huge bonus out of this.

===xxx===xx

Harry was still standing by the front doors wondering where Luna had gone after he met with Minerva and told her they would accept the job. He watched as Luna walked up and took her hand.

"Hey you look happier than you have in a while."
She nodded before hugging him deeply. "Yes I have let go of him. You are the only Harry in my world now."

Harry smiled softly, "Are you sure you want that?"

He felt her nod against his chest, "Yes. More than anything in the world."

"Let's go home and get lunch."

"Fine with me."

===xxx===xx

The two of them were walking hand in hand down the lane when Luna cleared her throat, "How did your meeting with Minerva go?"

"It went quite well. I thought at least. Did you and Millicent have a good talk?"

"How do you know I talked to Millicent?"

"I didn't. I surmised it. I may not be as brilliant as some people but I'm not exactly a slouch either."

"Yes it went well." She said with a sigh.

"Good."
"Did you run into Hermione?" She asked cautiously.

As a pained expression passed over his face with a flicker he took a deep breath before answering, "Yeah."
"She is still angry, as are you?"

"No I'm fine. Not angry at all." he quickly answered but his body stiffened Luna noticed.

"Oh. Well what would you like to do now?" She asked moving her arm around his waist.

"Maybe stop at the Three Broomsticks and get something to eat."

"I would like that." Luna said agreeably.

"Then we would need to go report the Nott threats, or at least Millicent's claims of it to the Aurors. Then back home and then to the Rookery to get you packed up and moved over to Grimmould." he listed off.

"I'd like that."

The two of them reached town to find Ron guiding the levitated body of Hermione out of the Hog's Head and toward the clinic with Millicent walking beside them. Harry's breath froze in his lungs as he stopped for a moment then ran towards them.

"What happened? Is she okay?" He panted coming up to the party.

Ron looked at Harry with a shrug, "Yeah she just got herself drunk enough to pass out. Some kids found her in the alley. The aurors called us since she's, you know a hero." He sarcastically said continuing to walk towards the clinic.

Millicent took pity on Harry and gave a few more details, "Apparently she went into the Hog's head and started drinking earlier. A girl met her then they left together. Hermione got as far as the alley then passed out."

Ron sarcastically chuckled, "Looks like she moved on pretty quick too."

"That doesn't sound like her." He disagreed.

"Wha? Think yer so spectacular that once you've bedded them they won't want anyone else?" Ron snarked.

"I haven't bedded her. We haven't bedded." Harry spluttered.

Luna followed them slowly. Her eyes studying Harry's body language. She saw him leaning towards her, watching her as they levitated her towards the clinic. She sighed and asked before Harry did, "What are you going to do with her?"

"Shove her in a bed and give her a sober up potion." Millicent said like it was the most common idea ever.

"Right of course."
They got her into a bed and after Cedric double checked her for any injuries or anything gave her a sober up potion. He told Ron to watch her and went back to his other duties.

Hermione sat up slowly with her hand going to her head, "Ohh I don't feel so well. What happened?"

"Damn she got black out drunk. Must have been drinking the hard core stuff." Ron snickered.

"I was only drinking a little bit. I think."

"Well what were you drinking?" Ron scoffed.

"Black Pony."

"Black Pony? That rot gut? Are you kidding me?" Ron shook his head

"Okay well back home its a nice grade of Whiskey. Competes with Ogden's." She swayed. "Could you stand still dammit."
Ron laughed, "I am standing still."
"Oh." She quietly said.

"Well look. She's hungover and not our problem any more. So take her home and let her sleep it off."

"I wish I could go home." she cried gently.

Ron's amused expression softened a bit as he patted her on the back. "Hey look, just go sleep it off and you'll feel better."

"Professor's quarters at the castle is the only place I have left."

"You could come back and stay at Grimmould." Harry suggested.

"I'd rather go sleep it off in an alley." Hermione snorted.

Luna stepped up, "Hermione we will escort you back to the castle. I would like to talk to you at some point but now is not the time. I don't want us to be enemies."

Hermione looked at the earnest expression on Luna's face and nodded, slowly and painfully.

===xxx===xx

They had managed to get her back to the quarters she had been assigned in the castle without drawing any more attention. Harry looked around and saw that it was empty except for a bed, a nightstand, a desk, and a chair. It did have a good view out the window of the lake though.

"I see you haven't moved in yet."
Sitting on the bed Hermione snorted, "I've been employed by the school for only 4 hours Potter. I haven't exactly had time."

"Sorry just trying to make conversation."
"Harry dear, could you please go on home. I'll be along in a little bit."
"Uh sure Luna. You'll be okay?"

Both women looked at him with strong disapproving expressions. "I will be fine Harry."
"I'm not going to harm your, Luna."

Faced with a united front Harry felt it was best to beat a hasty retreat. Once he was gone Luna knelt down and started unlacing Hermione's shoes.

Smacking her on the head Hermione growled, "Stop that. What're you doing?"

"I am helping you get undressed so you can sleep this off. If you would rather sleep in your clothes then fine." Luna rocked back on her heels.

"I thought you didn't swing that way?" Hermione teased.

"I don't. I was trying to be helpful to make you comfortable."

"I guess yeah. Just this gives me some memories of my Luna." Hermione smiled at the blonde who realized she was in a rather improper position with the brown haired witch.

"I am not offering nor providing any sexual services to you. I was merely going to help take your shoes off as I find it rather uncomfortable to wear them. Are you going to behave yourself or am I going to leave and we have this discussion at a later time."

"Fine. I'll behave." Hermione whined slightly in a petulant tone.

"Good. Are you sober enough to remember this conversation or will I have to remind you of it later?"

"I'll remember, just don't be so loud please." She begged.

Luna sighed as she went back to helping Hermione take her shoes off. Hermione manged to get her messenger bag off and set it carefully on the nightstand.

"So what do you want to tell me Luna. You won, here to gloat over me." Hermione glumly said.

"Can you manage the rest of your clothes on your own?"

"Yeah I think so. Wouldn't be the first time I slept in them." She said starting to remove her outer garments.

Luna stood up and pulled the chair over to sit in it. "You and Harry still have feelings."

Hermione stopped pulling her shirt off to stare at Luna. "That ship sank."

"I do not believe that. I saw the way he reacted when he saw you earlier. Before he discovered you had merely passed out. He still loves you."
Hermione snorted. "Really? If he loves me why are you wearing his engagement ring?"

"Because he thinks I am what he wants. He thinks I am who he loves. He feels that you pushed him away."
"I, I pushed him away? Look, if anyone pushed someone it was. Well I wasn't pushing him away."

"Regardless it is what it is. With him still having feelings for you, and you for him I see only two ways this can be resolved. Either one of us leaves him or we figure out some way to become friends and resolve this emotional triangle. As I am pregnant with his child I will not be the one leaving." She said coldly.

"You're pregnant with. Which Harry got you pregnant?" Hermione was looking in confusion at her.

"The one that just left here. I had Millicent check today so that I would get a prophylactic potion but apparently my cycle and his fertility combined to make me pregnant." Luna said with a composure that belied her internal feelings.

Hermione slumped, "He'll never leave you no matter what."

"I know. So that does complicate things."

"Well we could always share him." Hermione offered.

"I already told him and I will tell you. I will have all of him or none of him. I will not share in that way."

"Well then what do you want from me." Hermione glared at her.

"I do not know. If you leave it hurts him. If I leave it hurts him. We both love him." She held her hand up when Hermione moved to deny it, "Please have some respect for me, do not lie to me."

"Fine. Yes. I have fallen in love with him but I don't know. I don't know how to be the person he wants."
"As he loves you I believe he already figured out how to love the person you are."

"Then we come back to the problem of him being with you." Hermione sighed.
"I know." Luna agreed.

"Well. I don't think we'll resolve it today. Can I go to sleep now? A sobriety potion is nice but it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth."
"This is not the first time you have taken one." Luna asked with a slight grin.

Hermione gave ac rooked grin, "No. I did have a couple of parties in my 6th year. Luna and her damnable mead. It sneaks up on you."

"I have never tried mead, only a little bit of wine or Butterbeer, but not to excess."

"Yeah. Well Is this a full peace treaty or just an armistice?"

"I would say this is the negotiation phase to see which of those we wind up with." Luna politely declared.

"Does he know you're pregnant?" Hermione asked with a hitch in her voice.

"No. I will tell him tonight at dinner."

"Okay." Standing up Hermione held her hand out to Luna who stood and shook it before she stopped and gave Hermione a brief hug.

"I would really rather us all be friends than to part ways."

"I know. But we do not always get what we want. But if we try maybe we can get what we need?" She said wanly.

Luna raised her eyebrow but said nothing else as she turned and left.

Hermione collapsed into the bed staring at the ceiling for a long time.

===xxx===xx

Dinner that night saw Harry and Luna enjoying a nice pasta dish Harry had whipped up. He had poured them each a glass of wine to celebrate their engagement.

"Sorry I didn't announce it yet."
"We have time. I am not concerned about public announcements as much as I am our friends. Perhaps we could have a dinner on Sunday to announce things?"

"Yeah, I think that would be good." Harry said smiling at her.
"You will invite Hermione?" Luna asked softly.

"Uhm. Well yeah if you don't mind."

"Harry I am not your boss or owner. Hermione is our friend no matter what. All I ask is that she not become a lover. I want that title all for myself."

"And you'll have it Luna." he smiled.

"Good. This was a fine choice of wine for my last glass."
"Last glass?" Harry looked oddly at her, "Why your last glass?"

"It will be bad for the baby they say." She calmly stated.

"Baby? Already?" Harry's voice cracked as he considered what she said.

Luna chortled in amusement, "Harry it only takes one time and we have certainly perform that act sufficient times. It would appear that all of the required factors converged. We are going to have a child."
Harry stared at her for several seconds without reacting or saying anything. Luna started to become concerned. "Harry?" She asked as she got up and shook his shoulder.

"Uh s. Luna. I just. Wow. Already. That's great. That's amazing." he started grinning and pulled her into his lap. Holding her and softly whispering how happy he was. Forgetting the rest of dinner he carried her upstairs to slowly and softly show her how happy he was.

===xxx===xx

Rita sat at her desk reading the report that Faith had given her. She had earned her coins for certain. At least where Granger and Dumbledore were concerned she would be able to spin things around so badly that their reputations would be as destroyed as Guy Fawkes or Pettigrew. Granger would be lucky if she could get a job as a Knockturn Ally doxie. She pulled out the very large notebook she had on Granger and refreshed her memory and how this new information would fit together.

Potter on the other hand she would have to work harder as she got nothing. He was playing the golden boy too well. Although his taking up with that Lovegood girl would help sink Granger there wasn't much she could go after him directly on.

Weasley would be trashed by the end of her article too. Taking potions like that, blathering on about pod people. She might even be able to spin it over into he was covering for Granger's mental instability, or even better he was responsible for. it! Yeah. A a tangled love affair between the three of them. Weasley loved her she loved Potter and Potter wanted Lovegood. When Potter rejected her she broke, maybe she was doing potions too, she was certainly a bad enough drunk.

Or maybe SHE wanted Lovegood and since Potter got her she got jealous and her mind broke. Rita chewed the end of her quill as she contemplated how badly she would destroy Granger. Lock her in a jar for months on end and then think she wouldn't get back at her. Oh she had a major day of reckoning coming.

===xxx===xx

Saturday dawned calm and bright, across the United Kingdom owls winged their way with that day's edition of the Daily Prophet. The paper had not suffered much during the war as its owners had served to become Voldemort's mouthpieces and now continued to serve as such for the new Ministry. Cyrus Greengrass the owner held a new boss same as the old boss attitude. Wizards and witches across the land woke up to find the headlines normal as usual, however inside the paper and in the social pages there was an article that was somewhat more sensational.

The Golden Trio not so Golden!

Article by Rita Skeeter Saturday May 9th 1998

The Magical World owes a great deal of thanks to the trio of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley, occasionally known as the Golden Trio for their steadfast loyalty to each other but more so for their incredible luck.

Unfortunately it seems that luck was the only way that we survived, the only way the forces of good managed to win. Why do I say this? Because it has come to this reporters attention that the trio had severe personality problems. The biggest one the so called brightest witch of her age Hermione Granger.

Hermione Granger, the daughter of muggle dentists from Crawley, came to our world thinking she knew more than those who had come from our oldest and most noble families. Her egotistical attitude left her bereft of friends until one night when a troll wandered into the castle. So much for the claims of safest place in Britain.

This troll came into the bathroom causing the beginning of the trio. Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley charged in and killed this troll somehow, two first years that barely knew which end of the wand to hold killed a full grown mountain troll.

Growing up Harry Potter's life was placed in danger on the Hogwarts grounds multiple times, some estimate that at least 30 times while others have said over 60. Each time the only one who was able to save his life was Hermione Granger. Over and over his other sidekick was the useless comedic buffoon Ronald Weasley.

Is it any wonder that the stress and problems of keeping the reckless youth Potter alive that the two stalwart cronies turned to potions and alcohol to soothe their nerves and continue to function in the face of repeated death. Of the two minions of Potter his brown haired witch friend is the one that has turned out the saddest.

She is an alcoholic. Drinking herself into blacked out stupors in Hogsmeade's infamous Hog's Head Pub. Her insane drivel spewed while in her cups shows a highly weak and unbalanced mind that has been driven over the edge thanks to the dismissal of her. Yes dismissal as after years of loyally standing in Potter's shadow Hermione Granger was pushed to the side so that Potter could take up with his school flame Luna Lovegood the dotty daughter of the former editor of that quaint little tabloid the Quibbler. Given Miss Granger's Sapphic desires could her dismissal by Potter be over a different love triangle. A Lovegood triangle one might say as both of them had the same goal.

Further her eating habits have become quite gluttonous downing a great deal of food with each sitting, perhaps she is eating for two? Potter, Weasley and her were missing for over a year before they resurfaced at the final battle. Two young hormonal males alone, on the run with death hunting them at every turn. Could one or both males have turned to her for comfort, comfort she would no doubt be more than ready and willing to provide in her loneliness.

Could the dismissal of Miss Granger be due to a love triangle between the three? There are reliable witnesses that confirmed Mr Weasley and Potter had a major falling out. A falling out caused by Ronald Weasley's severe mental breakdown where he was ranting about Potter and Granger being dead and replaced by "Pod People." A reference to certain muggle theatrical productions that Miss Granger showed them apparently. With Miss Granger out of the picture to further exacerbate the situation though some claim the two are working on a reconciliation. Especially as Mr Ronald Weasley has become the paramour of one Miss Millicent Bulstrode.

Further things that Hermione Granger claimed while drunk are too insane and ludicrous to be repeated here. Suffice to say this woman has become a pale shadow of herself now that we are at peace and there is no more darkness for her to fight. Now that Potter himself has moved on from her and is going to be teaching at Hogwarts, all while maintaining a close friendship with the Minister, she has revealed her true colors. Just another sad pitiful wreck that this horrible war has produced. This reporter prays to Merlin and the gods above that Miss Granger gets the help she so desperately needs to become a healthy and proper member of our society. With her loose lips when she gets on her drunken rants she cannot be allowed back into the muggle world as she would be far too much of a security risk.

Dear friends this reporter has been uncovering a great many things recently and I promise I will keep bringing you this hidden knowledge for as long as I can. On Monday we will explore the story of Ronald Weasley. His love life, his ex girlfriends, his potion addiction. On Tuesday we will discus the boy wonder Harry Potter himself, Wednesday the mastermind behind all of this one Albus Percival Wulfric Dumbledore and his secret life. His history of training child soldiers, in this war and the one before. Once we are done you will understand what exactly happened to Potter and his associates. The real reason why Hogwart's was attacked, placing our children in danger. The real story will shock and bother you.

The truth must be told and all of this is true and accurate. It was told directly to myself or fellow reporters. Some of the sources were the subjects of these articles themselves. So friends we will continue these articles to bring you the real story. The story you need to know. We were taken to the brink of utter darkness and the only reason why we survived was the sheer dumb luck of a potion addict, a mentally deranged alcoholic, a plucky young man whose

===xxx===xx

At the Burrow Arthur sipped his morning coffee and read the article with a growing sense of dread and anger at Rita. She was slandering his son. Dismissing him as a mere sidekick. He would be talking to Doyle in the DMLE about her. He flung the paper on the table and left without his breakfast. Molly watched him go in confusion but had to go to the floo and see who was calling.

Millicent took the paper and when she read the article she showed it to Ron who read through it several times before he calmly laid the paper on the table then began to eat his breakfast.

"Uh Ron you gonna ignore that?"

"I'm hungry right now. And to be honest feeding her is like feeding a troll. It just associates you with food to them."

"So you're going to let Granger and Potter take most of the heat and hope she ignores you?" Millicent made a thoughtful humming noise.

Ron shrugged, "Yeah I guess. Not much else I can do. Looks like she's setting me up to look like the incompetent sidekick who was only kept around for plucky comic relief. I can live with that."

Millicent looked at Ron in surprise then grabbed his face and kissed him passionately.

"What was that for?" He gasped in surprise when they broke apart for air.

"No reason. Just proud of you."

Ron shrugged but with a happy grin on his face.

Molly came back with a much less happy expression, "Ron that was your Aunt Muriel she was raving about some Skeeter article in the paper."

Ron sighed and handed it over, "Yeah looks like she's going to try and smear us for some reason."

"Oh that hateful little bitch."

Ron shrugged, "Things will work out."

===xxx===xx

Hermione woke up with her door being pounded upon. Staggering over to it in just her knickers she saw through bleary eyes the Headmistress standing there with the most disapproving expression on her face she had ever seen.

"Madam McGonnegal? Uh let me get a robe on at least." Hermione was suddenly snapped wide awake. She had a very bad feeling about this.

"Yes please do. It would seem you slept through dinner and breakfast."
Figuring this wasn't why the headmistress was so angry she asked, "What happened? What did I miss?" She asked as she pulled a robe around herself.

"This morning's issue of the Prophet is what you missed." The headmistress said holding it out to Hermione.

Taking it she read the article. Growing more and more incensed with each paragraph. She glared until she threw the paper to the floor, "That horrible filthy slanderous bitch! I'll kill her. I'll challenge her to an honor duel and wipe her across the walls!"

"You will do no such thing!" Minerva thundered.

Hermione snapped backwards at hearing her favorite mentor's voice take such a harsh tone. She stood at attention with her head down.

"Miss Granger. I have already been contacted by three members of the school board of governors asking me to terminate your association with this school. We are going to be raked over the coals due to this woman's articles, And killing her will merely make it seem like she was being silenced for telling the truth."

"Yes ma'am. I'm Sorry I."

"Do not be sorry. How did this happen? Is there any truth to any of this?"

"I got drunk yesterday in the Hog's Head yes. The pod people thing and the thing about Ron are true. I'm not sure where or how she came up with everything else."

"Miss Skeeter and the trio as she called them have had a rather contentious relationship. Our Miss Granger and her had an especially unfriendly encounter that I do not know all of the details about."

"So why is she allowed to print this?"

"Because freedom of the press is one of the cornerstones of our society, unfortunately some persons like to push that stone as hard as they can."

"So she gets to lie?"
Minerva frowned, "You yourself just admitted to me that you were drunk in public yesterday. She does not have to lie if she couches it in half truths and insinuations. If she lets the public come to their own conclusions by the facts she presents, and the way she presents them. Were you not taught about that in your lessons?"
"Uh all reporters were forced to take an oath to report simply the full facts on their life and their blood or they would face the right of challenge and a duel."

Minerva shook her head sadly, "The more I hear about your life the more I pity you. You have truly had a sad and disturbing life."
Hermione's pride made her back stiffen but her conscious and intellectual mind was beginning to compare and contrast the worlds and come to the same conclusion. "I'll pack my things and leave."
"That will not be required."

"You're not firing me?"

Minerva stood taller and shook her head, "No. Not today. You are going to be a very effective Defense Professor. Your training will ensure that. Although I do believe you will need to acquire a new wand as using the Elder Wand could cause troubles."

"So this world had one too?"
"Yes and it has been buried in a place where no living person knows about it. I personally ensured that."

"Oh. I still have my Dragon Heartstring and Vinewood wand in my messenger bag. I'll go back to using that in public."

"Very good. Now I will not announce your joining our staff until this has all blown over, however I have spoken with Poppy and you will be going to a mind healer that she knows. He is very discrete and will give you the help you need to adjust. I fear the methods you and Mr Potter had been doing will not work with you."

"I don't need a mind healer."

Exhaling through her nostrils causing them to flare Minerva said with a firm finality, "Yes you do. You are suffering from war shock. You are not adjusting well and you will go to the mind healer or I will dismiss you."
Hermione frowned, "I didn't want to be a professor in the first place. I'll go to the Ministry and get a job as an auror."

Minerva scoffed, "With this article right now you'd be lucky to get a custodian's position with the Ministry. They are not going to want to look like they are handing an unstable witch a position of authority."

She stamped her foot, "I am not unstable!"

Minerva just looked at her with a scornful expression.

Realizing what she just did Hermione sat down on the bed hard. She had finally destroyed everything. She had lost it all and was only hanging by a thread. Maybe going to the clearing and trying it again would be a good idea. Who knows what would happen then though. If she was already in hell.

Minerva walked over and put her hand gently on Hermione's shoulder, "I am sorry Hermione. You are Hermione no matter what now and I want you on my staff. You will be able to teach the children what they need to know to be strong and prevent another dark lord. You and Mr Potter and Miss Lovegood will all ensure that our future generations will look back at their time here in pride."

"She's going to be Mrs Potter."

"Then she will be. Whatever her name shall be I want all of you on my staff. I will look for ability to teach, to know your subject. The rest of it we can work on. Don't you agree?"

Hermione saw no other way forward than to get the help. "Yes ma'am. I'll see the mind-healer."

"Good. Thank you. Someday you'll look back on all of this as a rather unpleasant yet temporary setback."

"I am but cruel only to be kind." She murmured,

Minerva nodded and left, "See Poppy for the details of the healer. She is expecting you."
===xxx===xx

Luna paced as she waited for Harry to return from the Ministry. He had read the paper this morning, gave a strangled battle cry of sheer anger and went through the floo. She had picked the paper up to read the article. Aside from dismissing everything Harry did as the result of Hermione's efforts and nothing more than pure luck it did not seem too offensive. However she did not know if it was his image or Hermione's that he was more outraged over.

She considered following him but if she did that would set a bad precedent. It might even make him think she did not trust him or wanted to control him. So she sat down to wait for his return or a call to come bail him out of jail.

The floo discharged a grumpy and discouraged Harry by lunch time. He brushed himself off then went to the liquor cabinet pouring himself a large tumbler of Ogden's.

"I take it the Minister was uncooperative in your pleas for vengeance?"

Harry briefly frowned then began chuckling, "No he was not. If anything he was quite peeved with me and suggested I refrain from causing any more waves. He told me he would do what he could about Skeeter, about Nott and anyone else. That I should just go home and leave it alone."

"Her star has faded a great deal. If you'll notice instead of being on the front page her article is in the social section, below the fold." Luna explained.

"Okay is that significant?"

"Below the fold means of lesser importance, as its not front page the editor must believe its not as important as the reformation of the Quidditch leagues and announcing tryouts for the various teams. Which as you see is front page above the fold."

Harry did see that it said "QUIDDITCH RETURNS!" across the front page. A much more upbeat and positive article. He looked at Luna for explanation.

She sighed, "Harry the front page is for the most important, earth shattering news. Even on a Saturday edition. She got buried into the social pages. Where there are some who will read it and perhaps even believe it. Others will dismiss it and many will not even read it."

"I thought the pure-bloods and others all took that sort of things as gospel?"

"Some of the older families will. They lost a great deal of power though in the war. In the grand scheme of things this will pass quickly. It will all depend on your reaction and that of Hermione and Ronald. Did Shacklebolt say what the Ministry will do?"

"They'll issue a press release that is more supportive of us but other than that he will sit on his hands."

"That will probably be a rather uncomfortable position." Luna joked.

Harry huffed as he said, "So unless Ron, Professor McGonnegal or Hermione does something you think this will turn out to be no big deal?"

"Perhaps."
"Well I'm hungry, and annoyed. I want food, a hot shower and then I'll feel a lot better."

"You go shower and I'll deal with getting the food." She said giving him a hug and a kiss.

"Okay. You do that. I'll be down in a few."

Luna frowned as she thought that while the article was buried there would always be people who still believed it. While she could guide Harry through it she wondered how Hermione would deal with this. She was to much of a loose cannon. Heading off to lunch Luna started thinking about the various things she could say to reply to these articles.

===xxx===xx

Theodore Nott read the front few pages. Pansy was reading the social pages when she saw Skeeters article. Sharing it with Theo she started laughing. "It looks like your plan is starting to work. I wonder how long be fore she tries to attack you and you get to defend yourself?"

"Oh I feel it'll be soon. Soon my dear. And when she comes and we deal with her Potter will not be far behind. And we'll come out of this smelling like roses. Oh it feels good doesn't it?"

"Oh yeah. It sure does." Pansy purred as she leapt on Nott's lap.

===xxx===xx(review replies)

setokayba2n: Death had to send them to a timeline where there was no other Harry or Hermione for metaphysical reasons beyond the ability for mortals to understand. (Ie because the plot required a macguffin like this.)

TheGhostlyMinion: Thank you. You seem to be able to understand what I've been going for. Yes, Hermione is a warrior. She has PTSD and a bunch of other issues. Harry has some, Luna has a great many. These people all had a horrible, horrible, childhood and are trying to rebuild their lives into something normal. Into something peaceful. They want to walk away from this and let someone else fight for a change. They are tired. Unfortunately before they can get there their lives will have to pass through a great deal of tragedy,pain and rebuilding.

===xxx===xx

To the others who walked away or left negative comments. I understand and am not offended and hope you are not either. Not every story or work of art calls to each audience. I have this idea and it burns in my brain. I am committed to this course and it will pass the way it does. I'm sorry you're not coming along for the ride but it will be what it will be such as it is. Life abides. Peace!