~*~
Disclaimer: I forgot to put a disclaimer on my last chapter, the characters in this story do not in any way
belong to me. The last chapter's song was written by Sarah McLachlah, and I make no money off of it. I
make no money off of this fic in general. J.K. Rowling owns it all I am sad to say. I do not own 'Lullaby'
as well; I wish I did. David Gray has this honor. Jane Eyre is the product of Charlotte Bronte, not I. 'Don't
Leave Home' was created by Dido.
This chapter is dedicated to les, lell, lena, blondie, and sela.
~*~
like a ghost don't need a key
your best friend I've come to be
please don't think of getting up for me
you don't even need to speak
when I've been here just for one day
you'll already miss me when I go away
so close the blinds and shut the door
you won't need other friends anymore
oh don't leave home, oh don't leave home
and if you're cold, I'll keep you warm
if you're low, just hold on
cos I will be your safety
oh don't leave home
and I arrived when you were weak
I'll make you weaker, like a child
now all your love you give to me
when your heart is all I need
oh don't leave home, oh don't leave home
and if you're cold, I'll keep you warm
if you're low, just hold on
cos I will be your safety
oh don't leave home
oh how quiet, quiet the world can be
when it's just you and little me
everything is clear, everything is new
so you won't be leaving will you
and if you're cold, I'll keep you warm
if you're low, just hold on
cos I will be your safety
oh don't leave home
'Don't Leave Home', Dido, Life for Rent
~*~
Home Again
Hermione woke the next morning as the first rays of sunlight spilled onto her bed in the Sixth Year's
dormitory. She was still fully clothed from the day before which meant rumpled clothes and that slightly
sticky feeling all over. Her eyes felt like they were glued shut from the sleep that was still lodged in the
corners of her warm, cinnamon eyes. 'Ugh, first things first. I need a shower,' she thought looking at
herself in the mirror praying that she did not receive an unwelcome comment this morning. Hermione
already knew that her hair was far too bushy, and that she was not what anyone would call beautiful. She
snorted ungracefully at her appearance and turned to her trunk. She gathered her most comfortable Muggle
clothing for the train ride home. Her favorite long-sleeved tee shirt sporting the logo: Lady Delilah's
School of Snake Charming. She had gotten it on one of her family's vacations in the Americas. She had
another short-sleeved tee to go over it which was as tight as the other with a tropical scene on it. Then, she
grabbed the only pair of jeans that were not sealed air tight in her trunk. They were old and slightly faded,
but she loved them. All that was left was to grab her plain white socks, underwear, and a towel.
She shed her dirty clothes and wrapped a white terry cloth robe around herself and headed to the shower.
She emerged ten minutes later cleaner and much more awake. She charmed her hair dry then rubbed some
Muggle hair gel through it to tame its wildness. She then put on her underclothes, tee shirt, and finally the
socks and jeans. She put on her beat up, old, gray tennis shoes last of all. She looked again at her reflection
in the mirror. "You look lovely dear, but might I suggest you do something with your hair?" Its motherly
voice chimed causing a frustrated growl to escape the young woman's lips. "Well, you don't have to get all
huffy about it," the mirror replied indignantly. Nothing was left but to pull on her Gryffindor cloak and go
to breakfast. She exited the girls' dorm and went down the stairs to the common room.
Ginny Weasley was already waiting on her. The girl had ESP, she swore. Ginny Weasley, with her flaming
red hair and chocolate eyes, was Hermione's best girl friend at Hogwarts. The only strange thing about
Ginny, other than her episode with Tom Riddle, was the fact that she always knew when something was
wrong with Hermione. "Morning, are you ready for some breakfast?" Ginny asked.
The brunette blinked before responding unenthusiastically, "Oh, sure."
"You know," said Ginny, frowning at her best friend. "You shouldn't worry so much about that marriage
law thing."
'That girl really DOES have ESP,' flashed through the darker haired girl's brain. "What? I wasn't thinking
about that. I guess I'm just a little... tired." 'Tired of having my life decided for me,' she thought silently.
"Come on. Let's get down there before the boys, so we can eat without wanting to vomit it back up. Your
brother is gross when he eats."
The two girls giggled all the way to the Great Hall due to Ginny's rather accurate impersonations of various
members of the staff including Filch, Dumbledore, Vector, and Snape.
Ginny stopped, pulling her cloak about her as if to shield away the sun, pulling a remarkable Dracula from
old black and white Muggle movies. She hissed and said: "Ms. Granger, just who do you think you are
waving your hand about like a mad woman? I am the Potions Master here. You are my lowly student and
could never truly understand the art of brewing fame and bottling glory!" She finished this off with a more
dramatic hiss, and covered herself fully with the cloak.
Hermione dissolved in a fit of giggles almost falling on the cold, stone floor of the hall. Ginny could no
longer hold the Dracula-Snape impression and laughed so hard her face became as red as her fiery hair.
"That's," she stopped to breathe. "The best one yet I do believe." She recovered. "The whole school knows
the man is a vampire!" Only to burst into a fit of giggles again.
They entered the Great Hall together, their faces still flushed from laughter. The Hall was nearly empty
with only a few students and professors taking their morning meal. Glancing up at the High Table
Hermione's gaze connected with the Headmaster's, she flashed him a winning grin as she sat at the
Gryffindor table with her housemate. Hermione had arranged it so that Ginny would be coming to visit her
at the end of June for a few weeks, and then both girls would return to the Burrow in time for Harry's
birthday party. This summer would be strange for Hermione Granger as she would be spending it without
her family. They were vacationing in the Americas again and would not be back until the end of August.
The boys never joined them as they were no doubt still snoring in their beds fast asleep. The girls split to
finish packing their trunks, but agreed to meet on the train.
Hermione packed her toothbrush, hairbrush, shampoo, and conditioner into the trunk and closed the lid. All
that was left was to wrestle Crooks into the cage so she could get him home. The large ball of orange fur
was currently out cold on her bed on his back. "You're a lazy fleabag," she said with a smile on her face.
Then she pounced on the unsuspecting feline as she deposited him into his cage as he growled, hissed, and
scratched everything. Now he was a very disturbed and disgruntled feline. She knew he would not let her
pet him for several days for Crooks was a very temperamental cat. Frowning at him, she healed the
scratches on her arms with her wand. She looked around the room and sighed, 'The house elves will take it
from here.' Dobby would take her trunk personally as none of the other house elves trusted her.
An hour later Hermione found herself aboard the Hogwarts Express sitting in a compartment with Ron,
Harry, and Ginny. Ginny and Harry were glancing at each other when they believed the other wasn't
looking while Ron looked from his sister to his friend with disgust. He was attempting to pull the green
eyed boys attention away from the fiery beauty that sat across from him and failing miserably. When he
had exhausted even the normal quidditch subjects he tried for shock value.
"So Harry," Ron declared, "I've been thinking. The Cannons haven't won a game in- let's face it- ages.
After thinking about it for awhile I've decided to ditch them and find a new team. What do you think?"
Hermione chuckled at Ron's obvious attempt at distracting his best mate.
After a few moments of no response, it was obvious to Hermione that Ron was becoming quite irritated.
"Harry mate," Hermione noticed that Ron was fumbling around his mind for words, "I saw the scariest
thing before we left: Hagrid in his skivvies."
Harry looked up after a moment, his brow furrowed in confusion. "What was that mate?"
She heard Ron huff angrily before crossing his arms over his chest and sinking down into his seat. He
really was acting like a three year old.
"Are they going to do that the whole way back?" His voice betrayed his feelings. He could accept that
Harry and Ginny liked each other on a theoretical basis, but in practice it was all he could do not to throw
up or punch Harry in the face.
She smiled at his obvious discomfort. "Most likely," was her reply. "Just be glad that's all they're doing.
Seamus and Lavender are making out two compartments over. You can go sit with them if you like." That
did it. Ron was so red now he all but had steam coming from his ears. She took pity on him, and handed
him some Knuts. "Would you go get me some chocolate frogs off the cart?" She asked sweetly. He only
nodded before leaving the lovebirds and Hermione to themselves. Ron did not return to their compartment.
Harry and Ginny snapped out of their daze as the train stopped a Platform Nine and Three Quarters.
"Where's Ron?" Was Harry's only question before he and departed from the train. He looked as if he had
not noticed his best friend fuming off to the side of the Engine Car, and maybe he had not.
Hermione rode in a Ministry car to her home in the suburbs of London not paying where they were going
any mind. She retrieved the key from underneath the ornamental topiary pot to the right of the door and let
herself in. A long, contented sigh escaped her lips; it felt good to be home. She drug her trunk up the stairs
to her pale green room. Shedding her robe, she hung it up in her closet. She left her trunk in the middle of
the room in order to unpack later and headed downstairs for a cup of tea. Crookshanks was no where in
sight. He was furious with her for sticking him into the hated cage.
She found her favorite mug with its tiny handle. Setting the kettle on the stove she thought 'It's so strange
to do things this way again,' she mused. The kettle emitted a shrill whistling sound within a few minutes
and the brunette carefully pulled it off the burner with a pot holder. After pouring the hot water a tea bag
was plunged into the mug and two spoonfuls of sugar were added.
Hermione ascended the stairs once again, but this time with her steaming cup o' tea. She padded down the
carpeted hall to her room. Kicking off her shoes, she pulled on her dad's favorite sweatshirt. It reminded
her of him and how much she missed her mum and dad. She pushed the unwelcome thoughts from her
mind and popped on one of her favorite CDs. Soon the room was awash with the poetic lyrics of David
Gray.
With her tea on the small reading table and music blaring she began unpacking her trunk. The pictures of
the Golden Trio plus Ginny that were taken by Colin Creevy were placed on her dresser next to her small
jewelry box. Her school clothes were put in her hamper for the wash, her wand was placed in the drawer of
her nightstand- just in case, and the precious books were placed on her bookshelf across from her reading
chair by the window. Hermione found herself singing along with the music. This was her favorite song:
Lullaby. "I sing for you this lullaby, let the shadow fall from your window, let the morning light fill your
head. Stand up and let the wild wind blow right into your heart 'til the night is dead. Hear the bells." She
loved this song because of how the guitar mimicked the sounding of bells of victory and how she felt whole
whenever she heard the song.
The clock showed it was past midnight by the time Hermione's tea had gone cold and the unpacking was
done. Everything was in its familiar place. Her comfy pajama bottoms were in the top right drawer just as
she left them along with a navy blue tank top. It was time for a shower. Grabbing the necessary articles of
clothing, the sole occupant of the Granger house headed for the adjoining bathroom. The smell of spices
permeated the humid air as the girl exited the shower with wet hair, a clean face, and brushed teeth. This
was another smell Hogwarts could never duplicate. With an already damp towel Hermione attempted to rid
her hair of some water. The search then began for her brush. It was under the bed near the small nightstand
she found after nearly five minutes of searching. Once the wild, bushy hair was tamed Hermione sat down
by the window and pulled out some parchment. She wrote two notes to the Burrow: one to the boys and one
to dear Ginny.
Dear Harry and Ron,
I am fine. I am unpacked. I hope I get to see you soon. Don't be mean to Ginny Ron or you will be in bad
graces with Crooks. You know how he loves her.
Love,
Hermione
Dear Ginny,
I hope you made it back to the Burrow without Ron blowing up or doing something stupid and rash.
I made it fine. The house is quiet. I cannot wait to see you. I miss you so much. Write to me soon.
Love,
Hermione
The letters were soon sealed with Gryffindor red wax and set aside for the morning. The CD selection had
moved on to an album devoted to cello concertos. It was one of her favorites. She loved the rich, warm
resonance that the strings of the cello could create. It was one of the few things Hermione Granger did not
want more knowledge of the mechanics of the object; it was better to be in awe of the ethereal sounds it
made.
Despite the late hour, it was impossible for sleep to come. There was nothing left to do but to read, which
was fine for the girl. She picked up her favorite Muggle book of all time: Jane Eyre. It was the classic
romance tale of innocence, mystery, and deceit. Soon Hermione was lost in the pages in a world dominated
by Mr. Rochester, Miss Eyre, and traditions long since done away with. Jane with her sweet, understated
disposition and quiet intelligence was endeared forever to Hermione's heart. Mr. Rochester was one of the
first secret crushes of Miss Granger, though she would never admit it to anyone. His dark, brooding
character splashed with a quick wit was irresistible it seemed. The parallels did not go unnoticed between
her Mr. Rochester and the evil git of a Potions Master, but these thoughts were pushed to the furthest
recesses of Hermione's conscious mind.
The clock now read 3:30, and the much loved book was finally closed for the night. She rose from the chair
and turned off the lights. Stumbling to the bed was not something she was used to. The layers of covers
were turned down and the young woman climbed into bed. Crookshanks sprung onto the bed as well and
settled down beside the sleepy girl's stomach. "Goodnight Crooks," she whispered before sleep claimed
her. That night Hermione Granger's dreams were plagued by nightmares of her in Malfoy's kitchen
barefoot and pregnant.
~*~
A/N: Reviews are better than food I am told. I hope to see if those people who have told me this are right.
Sela- You are awesome. Thank you so much!
Evarosa- You are entitled to you opinion. I like to think of it as a mini-soundtrack personally.
Eyes- I liked the password as well.
Tamora- I intend to.
Lesmes- I could not have done it without you. You are the best friend a girl could have. Thank you for helping get this chapter out without too much embarrassment.