These are not my characters. I wish!
Hermione sat in the carriage, reminiscing at when it was inhabited by Ron, Harry and herself, and often Neville, Luna and Ginny as well. It was here she had met Ron and Harry, the best friends she had ever had, and the best friends she had lost.
She had tried to stand beside Ron, tried to hang on to all she could of her former life but it hadn't worked. After overcoming his grief, Ron had told her it wasn't the same and that she expected him to be like Harry. After much arguing, they had decided to go their separate ways, though Hermione was still in contact with Ginny and Mrs Weasley.
Picking up her briefcase, Hermione made her way to the front of the train to get off, at arrival in Hogsmeade. She stepped off the train and felt a surge of nostalgia flying through her. Catching sight of Hagrid, Hermione ran and threw herself into his arms, surprising him and most of the students on the platform. Drawing back, almost embarrassed, Hermione straightened her robes and smiled warmly at Hagrid.
"Hagrid! Its so good to see you again!" She laughed.
"Hermione, you made it! I missed you all righ'" he said, smiling fondly at her, "I haven' seen you since, well, since tha' nigh.'" Hagrid's smile wavered at rememberence, and Hermione knew only too well how he felt.
"I have to go, Hagrid, want to make a good impression and all, but I want to see you and catch up as soon as possible!" Hermione told him.
"You can coun' on it" called Hagrid, waving after Hermione running up to where the carriages were waiting to take her back to her home at Hogwarts.
Albus Dumbledore stood at the top of the staircase, awaiting the new first years and ready to welcome back those who were returning to Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Professor Minerva McGonagall stood at his side, hands clasped together, looking very formal, yet kind. As students began to enter, Dumbledore's eyes scanned the crowd for the newest addition to his staff, one of the best students Hogwarts had ever seen, Hermione Granger. It had been his wish that she teach at Hogwarts, supported by Minerva, and several other members of staff, even Severus Snape, who had never particularly like Miss Granger yet understood her talents, and what she had been through in her life. Hermione and Severus had worked closely while the "Order of the Phoenix" was together, in Hermione's 6th year at Hogwarts, the year that Harry had defeated Lord Voldemort, and left them all. Her last year had been very strained, barely talking to Ron, and turning to Minerva McGonagall, whenever she needed a friend. Dumbledore spotted Hermione walk through the great, wooden doors and smiled at the familiar sight of one of his favourite students, now very much grown up, her once unkempt hair now sleek, and her appearance was that of a mature, young woman, not the child she had once been. From what Dumbledore had heard, there had been great celebration between Hermione and her parents at getting the job, and Dumbledore was glad she had felt this way, that niggling thought that she might not take the job vanishing. With a small smile to himself, Albus Dumbledore proceeded down the stone steps to greet his new collegue, and to welcome back one of his best friends.
"Miss Granger," Hermione heard her name being called by that all familiar voice, a voice so full of trust, warmth and love. She turned to see Professor Albus Dumbledore smiling down on her, and any fears or doubts just melted away. He was the same as ever she remembered him and as she held out her hand to shake with his, he pulled her into a hug, a hug between friends, a hug that contained so many stories, they almost had a hard time remembering them all and yet they were all so clear, imprinted on their minds.
"Professor Dumbledore, I've been looking forward to seeing you again for a long time," Hermione said through tears at the reunion taking place. Dumbledore guided her away, so they could continue away from the curious stares of the students, taking her into the empty divination classroom, usually taught in by Firenze, a centaur.
"As I have you, Miss Granger, and may I say how proud I am that you chose to teach at Hogwarts, with you amazing talent. Harry would have been so proud!" Hermione recoiled at the mention of Harry's name. Dumbledore, however, didn't flinch. "Its ok to talk about him, Miss Granger, or to cry because you miss him, never believe that it isn't. Now, lets see about getting you shown to your room and sorted out, shall we?" Dumbledore smiled and goaded Hermione to the door.
Looking around the large room, Hermione smiled. Professor McGonagall had just left her to unpack and then she was to go down to the feast. It was all she could do to contain herself at returning. That hollow space was still there though, and Hermione had never missed Ron and Harry more than she did now but she believed she would grow stronger and be able to control the hollow feeling as time went on. After personalising the room, Hermione decided to go and visit some familiar places, where she used to hang out, with her circle of friends. Her room was in the Gryffindor tower, but she hadn't had time to see the common room, that being the first place on her list. Entering the common room, she saw images flashing before her eyes, Ron playing wizarding chess, Harry taking care of his Firebolt, Fred and George testing out canary creams on poor, unsuspecting Neville. Hermione laughed to herself, remembering all this and for once, didn't feel melancholy at her memories. She wondered if Ron ever thought about her, and Harry and what things had been like here, whether he missed her. Realising, she had tears running down her face, and she had been sat there for forty-five minutes, Hermione dried her face and ran down to the Great Hall, to begin her new career.
Sitting between Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick, Hermione caught up on how things had been, and enjoyed the sorting, secretly supporting Gryffindors over any other house. Her eyes skimmed the staff table and she realised one seat was empty yet she couldn't quite place her finger on who was missing. After approximately ten minutes, Hermione realised it was Professor Snape and she wondered where he was. Leaning over to Professor Dumbledore to ask where Snape was, she was told that he was making a large cauldron of Wolfsbane for Remus Lupin, another old friend of Hermione's, once her teacher for defence against the dark arts. Not wanting to think of how unwelcome Snape would make her feel, Hermione didn't give him a second thought.
After the feast, Hermione was shown to the staff room, for the staff's regular late night hot chocolate. Sitting down on a red and squashy chair next to Professor McGonagall, Hermione didn't notice Severus Snape storm in, due to the drowsiness setting in. She excused herself and as she walked out of the staff room, she was sure she could feel the eyes of someone boring into her back.
After the exhaustion of the day before, Hermione woke up, nervous yet ready for her first class. She had prepared her lesson a week in advance, which basically involved telling the class what she would be teaching them over the course of two years, in study for their O.W.L.S, her first class being a fourth year class, which Hermione was more confident with than a first year class, because the elder teens were generally better behaved. Arriving in the classroom, Hermione placed her books, quills and parchment in 3 neat piles and had a look at her class register, noting that she was teaching Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, glad that Slytherin were not in her first lesson. As she prepared for her lesson, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in" Hermione called, struggling with some of the books she was trying to lift on the bookshelf, not succeeding.
"Let me be of assisstance," a deep, velvety voice told her, taking the book and sliding it onto the shelf. Hermione turned, looked up and found herself staring at Professor Severus Snape.
"Thank you," Hermione replied," I was finding that book particularly troublesome. Now, is there anyway in which I can help you, Professor Snape?"
"On the contrary, and please, its Severus, as you are staff. I just wanted to welcome you to Hogwart's and wish you good luck." He gave a small smile, and with that walked out. Hermione stood, rooted to the spot, unsure as to whether Snape was sincere or not, but completely aware of her heart racing, faster than it ever had before.
**Thanks for all the reviews! Hope you like the new chapter and continue to review!You're all gr8!**
Hermione sat in the carriage, reminiscing at when it was inhabited by Ron, Harry and herself, and often Neville, Luna and Ginny as well. It was here she had met Ron and Harry, the best friends she had ever had, and the best friends she had lost.
She had tried to stand beside Ron, tried to hang on to all she could of her former life but it hadn't worked. After overcoming his grief, Ron had told her it wasn't the same and that she expected him to be like Harry. After much arguing, they had decided to go their separate ways, though Hermione was still in contact with Ginny and Mrs Weasley.
Picking up her briefcase, Hermione made her way to the front of the train to get off, at arrival in Hogsmeade. She stepped off the train and felt a surge of nostalgia flying through her. Catching sight of Hagrid, Hermione ran and threw herself into his arms, surprising him and most of the students on the platform. Drawing back, almost embarrassed, Hermione straightened her robes and smiled warmly at Hagrid.
"Hagrid! Its so good to see you again!" She laughed.
"Hermione, you made it! I missed you all righ'" he said, smiling fondly at her, "I haven' seen you since, well, since tha' nigh.'" Hagrid's smile wavered at rememberence, and Hermione knew only too well how he felt.
"I have to go, Hagrid, want to make a good impression and all, but I want to see you and catch up as soon as possible!" Hermione told him.
"You can coun' on it" called Hagrid, waving after Hermione running up to where the carriages were waiting to take her back to her home at Hogwarts.
Albus Dumbledore stood at the top of the staircase, awaiting the new first years and ready to welcome back those who were returning to Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Professor Minerva McGonagall stood at his side, hands clasped together, looking very formal, yet kind. As students began to enter, Dumbledore's eyes scanned the crowd for the newest addition to his staff, one of the best students Hogwarts had ever seen, Hermione Granger. It had been his wish that she teach at Hogwarts, supported by Minerva, and several other members of staff, even Severus Snape, who had never particularly like Miss Granger yet understood her talents, and what she had been through in her life. Hermione and Severus had worked closely while the "Order of the Phoenix" was together, in Hermione's 6th year at Hogwarts, the year that Harry had defeated Lord Voldemort, and left them all. Her last year had been very strained, barely talking to Ron, and turning to Minerva McGonagall, whenever she needed a friend. Dumbledore spotted Hermione walk through the great, wooden doors and smiled at the familiar sight of one of his favourite students, now very much grown up, her once unkempt hair now sleek, and her appearance was that of a mature, young woman, not the child she had once been. From what Dumbledore had heard, there had been great celebration between Hermione and her parents at getting the job, and Dumbledore was glad she had felt this way, that niggling thought that she might not take the job vanishing. With a small smile to himself, Albus Dumbledore proceeded down the stone steps to greet his new collegue, and to welcome back one of his best friends.
"Miss Granger," Hermione heard her name being called by that all familiar voice, a voice so full of trust, warmth and love. She turned to see Professor Albus Dumbledore smiling down on her, and any fears or doubts just melted away. He was the same as ever she remembered him and as she held out her hand to shake with his, he pulled her into a hug, a hug between friends, a hug that contained so many stories, they almost had a hard time remembering them all and yet they were all so clear, imprinted on their minds.
"Professor Dumbledore, I've been looking forward to seeing you again for a long time," Hermione said through tears at the reunion taking place. Dumbledore guided her away, so they could continue away from the curious stares of the students, taking her into the empty divination classroom, usually taught in by Firenze, a centaur.
"As I have you, Miss Granger, and may I say how proud I am that you chose to teach at Hogwarts, with you amazing talent. Harry would have been so proud!" Hermione recoiled at the mention of Harry's name. Dumbledore, however, didn't flinch. "Its ok to talk about him, Miss Granger, or to cry because you miss him, never believe that it isn't. Now, lets see about getting you shown to your room and sorted out, shall we?" Dumbledore smiled and goaded Hermione to the door.
Looking around the large room, Hermione smiled. Professor McGonagall had just left her to unpack and then she was to go down to the feast. It was all she could do to contain herself at returning. That hollow space was still there though, and Hermione had never missed Ron and Harry more than she did now but she believed she would grow stronger and be able to control the hollow feeling as time went on. After personalising the room, Hermione decided to go and visit some familiar places, where she used to hang out, with her circle of friends. Her room was in the Gryffindor tower, but she hadn't had time to see the common room, that being the first place on her list. Entering the common room, she saw images flashing before her eyes, Ron playing wizarding chess, Harry taking care of his Firebolt, Fred and George testing out canary creams on poor, unsuspecting Neville. Hermione laughed to herself, remembering all this and for once, didn't feel melancholy at her memories. She wondered if Ron ever thought about her, and Harry and what things had been like here, whether he missed her. Realising, she had tears running down her face, and she had been sat there for forty-five minutes, Hermione dried her face and ran down to the Great Hall, to begin her new career.
Sitting between Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick, Hermione caught up on how things had been, and enjoyed the sorting, secretly supporting Gryffindors over any other house. Her eyes skimmed the staff table and she realised one seat was empty yet she couldn't quite place her finger on who was missing. After approximately ten minutes, Hermione realised it was Professor Snape and she wondered where he was. Leaning over to Professor Dumbledore to ask where Snape was, she was told that he was making a large cauldron of Wolfsbane for Remus Lupin, another old friend of Hermione's, once her teacher for defence against the dark arts. Not wanting to think of how unwelcome Snape would make her feel, Hermione didn't give him a second thought.
After the feast, Hermione was shown to the staff room, for the staff's regular late night hot chocolate. Sitting down on a red and squashy chair next to Professor McGonagall, Hermione didn't notice Severus Snape storm in, due to the drowsiness setting in. She excused herself and as she walked out of the staff room, she was sure she could feel the eyes of someone boring into her back.
After the exhaustion of the day before, Hermione woke up, nervous yet ready for her first class. She had prepared her lesson a week in advance, which basically involved telling the class what she would be teaching them over the course of two years, in study for their O.W.L.S, her first class being a fourth year class, which Hermione was more confident with than a first year class, because the elder teens were generally better behaved. Arriving in the classroom, Hermione placed her books, quills and parchment in 3 neat piles and had a look at her class register, noting that she was teaching Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, glad that Slytherin were not in her first lesson. As she prepared for her lesson, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in" Hermione called, struggling with some of the books she was trying to lift on the bookshelf, not succeeding.
"Let me be of assisstance," a deep, velvety voice told her, taking the book and sliding it onto the shelf. Hermione turned, looked up and found herself staring at Professor Severus Snape.
"Thank you," Hermione replied," I was finding that book particularly troublesome. Now, is there anyway in which I can help you, Professor Snape?"
"On the contrary, and please, its Severus, as you are staff. I just wanted to welcome you to Hogwart's and wish you good luck." He gave a small smile, and with that walked out. Hermione stood, rooted to the spot, unsure as to whether Snape was sincere or not, but completely aware of her heart racing, faster than it ever had before.
**Thanks for all the reviews! Hope you like the new chapter and continue to review!You're all gr8!**