1 Barcelonian Summer- Chapter 1- Looking Back

1.1 Disclaimer- Harry Potter belongs to J.K.Rowling

AN- Thanks to FireFairy for your lovely review, I've written May It Be (short and fluffy) and Hopes and Dreams of the New Age (a dreadful piece which I don't like).

This chapter jumps ahead in time, five years; Hermione is now living in Barcelona.



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She was always drawn to that picture. There she stood, on the left hand side of Harry Potter, on his right was Ronald Weasley. Hermione looked at her own form, the busy haired, smiling teenager that she'd been, bright intelligence and youthfull eagerness. Then she looked to Harry, small, skinny, jet-black hair, bright green eyes- now dead. Finally she looked to Ron, tall gangly, red haired and freckled- adorable Ron!

How different things had been then! The picture, taken at the end of Hermione's third year showed a much happier time.

"Why couldn't it have stayed like that?" Hermione whispered out load.

Harry's death had changed her profoundly. Her bubble had been broken. She no longer had the feeling of belonging that being part of Harry's gang had entailed. After gaining further qualification in the field of Ancient Runes. Hermione had moved to Barcelona to study them, and never gone back.

She owled Ginny Weasley on a weekly basis but had not seen her now for over four years. As for Ron- well she sent him Christmas and Birthday cards, the occasional letter but their friendship was never going to be the same again.

He perhaps had changed the most when Harry died. He blamed himself, and became something of a workaholic. Training as an auror then working non- stop. To avenge Harry? Hermione often thought that that was the case.

Hermione lived in a large town house on the outskirts of Barcelona. She shared it with four other witches, around her age. Lise, Maria, Carra and Rose where good friends and nice enough but Hermione still missed her days at Hogwarts.

Her train of thought was interrupted by a knock on her bedroom door.

The only other English girl in the house, Rose came in. She was a petite girl with a honey coloured complexion. She had light brown hair that was cut short. Her soft blue eyes and quiet elegance marked her as one of the prettiest girls Hermione had ever known. She had been a Ravenclaw in the year above Hermione at Hogwarts.

"Hello," Hermione said putting the picture back on her bedside table.

Rose looked at the picture curiously but averted her gaze. Hermione smiled slightly at this. The girls were always so curious about Harry but never mentioned him for fear of upsetting Hermione.

"Do you know where Carra's got to? She and Maria are working tonight, and she isn't back yet!" Rose said.

"You know Carra, probably in some shoe shop or another." Hermione laughed.

Rose giggled; Carra was rather too fond of shoes. "Yep, well she can't blame me if she's fired!"

Carra and Maria were actresses, working in both Wizarding and muggle theatres.

"How was your day at the Senate?" Hermione asked.

Rose was a translator working for the Ministry Officials that came to the Spanish equivalent, the Wizarding Senate. Rose sighed.

"A red haired man- that I swear should have been a muggle has come to debate Muggle safety. Would you believe he spent a whole half hour transfixed by my mobile? Hermione are you listening?"

"Mr Weasley? Mr Weasley, here?" Hermione asked slightly dazed.

"Yes. How did you know his name?"