Chapter One
*
* Hogwarts, Hogwarts: it never changes. Alumni returning years later find it unchanged. Now in her final year Hermione realizes the comfort she has taken in the stagnant nature of her school. Regardless of changes in her, her classmates and the outside world they live in, Hogwarts stays constant.
This year was no different. Hermione and Harry were in an odd place. In fact they were hardly speaking. Despite Harry's promises and both of their attempts, their friendship was failing awfully. The awkwardness between them was so unbearable that when the two visited the burrow no one would stay in the same room with both of them together. This didn't help. The division of their friends was more than conducive to their rift, and by the time they boarded the train they were all quite used to it. Hermione and Ginny took one compartment with Ron and Harry in the other.
This was working okay, but soon Ginny, having rekindled feelings for Harry, left Hermione alone to join the boys. Hermione was left alone to study. Though she didn't. She already knew all of the books by heart from all of her time alone at the burrow. Now she simply wallowed. That is to say she sulked. She thought about the day she wrote Harry. How could she have been so stupid. Or at least how could she have been so lacking in foresight. All she cared about was admitting the truth. 'I don't regret anything,' she thought. 'I would do it again. At least now I know the truth. I know just how important I am to these people.' It still hurt though, to lose all of her friends for telling the truth.
She began to cry. She didn't even try to hold back. She knew none of her "friends" joining her. 'Maybe none of my friends, but wouldn't it be perfect if Malfoy were to walk in right now?' She thought. After some reflection she found herself hopeful such an occasion. It would cheer her up immensely to have someone to talk to, even if it was to fight with. She was lacking honest interactions.
No such luck; She spent the train ride alone with her tears. Ginny didn't even return to see how she was doing. 'Makes you wonder.'
*
The minute she entered the great hall relief flooded through her. Hogwarts hadn't changed. All of the same professors sat at the high table. Even the defense teacher, Professor Lupin had stayed the curse broken with the fall of Voldemort. Snape was there, scowling as ever, though something was different. Hermione sat studying him searching for the change until the first years entered to be sorted.
Surrounded by chatter Hermione felt her tension ebb away, because indeed she was surrounded by a family now. Even if her friends wouldn't spend time with her, it didn't matter because these people would never shun her. They would hardly be able to.
"How're you Hermione?" Neville Longbottom asked cheerfully.
"Suddenly I feel wonderful. I am so happy to be back."
"Tell me about it, I had a rotten summer, as usual." Neville said, closing the short exchange, since it was known just why is summer was awful. Neville had no home, now that his grandmother had died. He spent his time going from relative to relative being basically ignored by all of them. His summer was very similar to Harry's now, since all of his relatives were against him do to his low magical ability, barely better than a squib. At least Harry had the burrow and his surrogate family.
"Hi Lavender, how was your summer?" Hermione decided to ask the girl sitting next to her, she just needed to hear somebody talk. She obviously guessed right. Lavender kept talking, and talking. Hermione drifted into absorption mode, taking in everything Lavender said.
The feast ended after no incidents. Hermione was left open to the idea of having no friends, rather just enjoying simple conversation with housemates during meal times and classes. She could entertain herself. Ron and Harry were never much use to her on an intellectual stimulus level. Though she still longed for someone to share with, someone to think with.
Entering her head girl's room, she undressed deftly and got directly into bed. She thanked god that she only had one more year in this place. She then added thanks for the knowledge that she would always have Hogwarts no matter where she ended up.
A.N. I repeat my apology for the length. I would like to make them longer, but I would also like to both post often, and stop when I feel is appropriate. Please, if you are extremely against short chapters, tell me, I just find the breaks more natural. I would normally thank you for the reviews now, but as I am posting the first two pieces within minutes of one another, there obviously haven't been any. I hope you all do review though, I love them. I will take any suggestions/requests very seriously.
* Hogwarts, Hogwarts: it never changes. Alumni returning years later find it unchanged. Now in her final year Hermione realizes the comfort she has taken in the stagnant nature of her school. Regardless of changes in her, her classmates and the outside world they live in, Hogwarts stays constant.
This year was no different. Hermione and Harry were in an odd place. In fact they were hardly speaking. Despite Harry's promises and both of their attempts, their friendship was failing awfully. The awkwardness between them was so unbearable that when the two visited the burrow no one would stay in the same room with both of them together. This didn't help. The division of their friends was more than conducive to their rift, and by the time they boarded the train they were all quite used to it. Hermione and Ginny took one compartment with Ron and Harry in the other.
This was working okay, but soon Ginny, having rekindled feelings for Harry, left Hermione alone to join the boys. Hermione was left alone to study. Though she didn't. She already knew all of the books by heart from all of her time alone at the burrow. Now she simply wallowed. That is to say she sulked. She thought about the day she wrote Harry. How could she have been so stupid. Or at least how could she have been so lacking in foresight. All she cared about was admitting the truth. 'I don't regret anything,' she thought. 'I would do it again. At least now I know the truth. I know just how important I am to these people.' It still hurt though, to lose all of her friends for telling the truth.
She began to cry. She didn't even try to hold back. She knew none of her "friends" joining her. 'Maybe none of my friends, but wouldn't it be perfect if Malfoy were to walk in right now?' She thought. After some reflection she found herself hopeful such an occasion. It would cheer her up immensely to have someone to talk to, even if it was to fight with. She was lacking honest interactions.
No such luck; She spent the train ride alone with her tears. Ginny didn't even return to see how she was doing. 'Makes you wonder.'
*
The minute she entered the great hall relief flooded through her. Hogwarts hadn't changed. All of the same professors sat at the high table. Even the defense teacher, Professor Lupin had stayed the curse broken with the fall of Voldemort. Snape was there, scowling as ever, though something was different. Hermione sat studying him searching for the change until the first years entered to be sorted.
Surrounded by chatter Hermione felt her tension ebb away, because indeed she was surrounded by a family now. Even if her friends wouldn't spend time with her, it didn't matter because these people would never shun her. They would hardly be able to.
"How're you Hermione?" Neville Longbottom asked cheerfully.
"Suddenly I feel wonderful. I am so happy to be back."
"Tell me about it, I had a rotten summer, as usual." Neville said, closing the short exchange, since it was known just why is summer was awful. Neville had no home, now that his grandmother had died. He spent his time going from relative to relative being basically ignored by all of them. His summer was very similar to Harry's now, since all of his relatives were against him do to his low magical ability, barely better than a squib. At least Harry had the burrow and his surrogate family.
"Hi Lavender, how was your summer?" Hermione decided to ask the girl sitting next to her, she just needed to hear somebody talk. She obviously guessed right. Lavender kept talking, and talking. Hermione drifted into absorption mode, taking in everything Lavender said.
The feast ended after no incidents. Hermione was left open to the idea of having no friends, rather just enjoying simple conversation with housemates during meal times and classes. She could entertain herself. Ron and Harry were never much use to her on an intellectual stimulus level. Though she still longed for someone to share with, someone to think with.
Entering her head girl's room, she undressed deftly and got directly into bed. She thanked god that she only had one more year in this place. She then added thanks for the knowledge that she would always have Hogwarts no matter where she ended up.
A.N. I repeat my apology for the length. I would like to make them longer, but I would also like to both post often, and stop when I feel is appropriate. Please, if you are extremely against short chapters, tell me, I just find the breaks more natural. I would normally thank you for the reviews now, but as I am posting the first two pieces within minutes of one another, there obviously haven't been any. I hope you all do review though, I love them. I will take any suggestions/requests very seriously.