Ch 6
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5 years later
The snow falling on the village of Hogsmeade gave a near peaceful sense to the tiny wizarding town. A peace felt by nearly all its' inhabitants. Hermione Granger was an exception. She wandered restlessly up and down the streets. Peering absently into shop windows. This was the first time Hermione had found herself in the village since the spring of her 7th and final year at Hogwarts. The nostalgia was sickening. As she stopped to look into a window of a new bookstore, she sighed and realized she had no interest. Turning to move on, she paused when a reflection caught her eyes. Glancing behind her quickly she saw no one behind her. Sighing inwardly, her feet carried her foreward past the shops absently.
Eventually Hermione left the small village and made her way down a winding path. The silence was so consuming that she could almost hear the flakes hit the ground. It was then she realized that the sound was not the snow, but soft footsteps. Looking all around her, Hermione moved a hand to her wand as she sped up. The trail wound further and further away from the village. As she crested a hill a shabby building came into veiw, stopping her short. The shrieking shack was said to be one of the most haunted places in all of London. Hermione knew the only ghosts that lived there were her memories. Studying the old building, flashbacks returned to her. 'How could you. I trusted you!.....I'm so sorry Hermione....Promise me that this wont..' Hermione shook her head to clear the memories.
The sound of footsteps had grown louder and was veering to her left. Ducking quickly behind a large pine tree, she looked out. Watching carefully, it didn't take long to find the source of the intrusion on her privacy. A lone man stumbled into a clearing not far from her hiding spot. He had short brown hair that was slightly greyish. His wizarding robes were tattered and the man walked with obvious effort. Curious, Hermione crept out from behind her tree and followed. She was only ten feet away from the man when a branch hidden by the snow cracked wetly underneath her shoes. The man whirled, a wand in his hand.
"Who's ther...there? Who..?" He said breathlessly, sinking down on one knee. Hermione risked a glance from behind her tree and saw the man was shaking, though not from the cold. Stepping out from behind her cover, she held up her hands and approached slowly. The man pointed his wand at her, but failed to keep a steady aim. The wearyness on his face only hinted at the exhaustion he was suffering from.
"Her...Hermione?" Hermione stopped short. The man passed out, falling over into the snow. Running over to him, Hermione rolled him over so he was face up. Gasping, she was met by the pale face of Remus Lupin.
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5 years later
The snow falling on the village of Hogsmeade gave a near peaceful sense to the tiny wizarding town. A peace felt by nearly all its' inhabitants. Hermione Granger was an exception. She wandered restlessly up and down the streets. Peering absently into shop windows. This was the first time Hermione had found herself in the village since the spring of her 7th and final year at Hogwarts. The nostalgia was sickening. As she stopped to look into a window of a new bookstore, she sighed and realized she had no interest. Turning to move on, she paused when a reflection caught her eyes. Glancing behind her quickly she saw no one behind her. Sighing inwardly, her feet carried her foreward past the shops absently.
Eventually Hermione left the small village and made her way down a winding path. The silence was so consuming that she could almost hear the flakes hit the ground. It was then she realized that the sound was not the snow, but soft footsteps. Looking all around her, Hermione moved a hand to her wand as she sped up. The trail wound further and further away from the village. As she crested a hill a shabby building came into veiw, stopping her short. The shrieking shack was said to be one of the most haunted places in all of London. Hermione knew the only ghosts that lived there were her memories. Studying the old building, flashbacks returned to her. 'How could you. I trusted you!.....I'm so sorry Hermione....Promise me that this wont..' Hermione shook her head to clear the memories.
The sound of footsteps had grown louder and was veering to her left. Ducking quickly behind a large pine tree, she looked out. Watching carefully, it didn't take long to find the source of the intrusion on her privacy. A lone man stumbled into a clearing not far from her hiding spot. He had short brown hair that was slightly greyish. His wizarding robes were tattered and the man walked with obvious effort. Curious, Hermione crept out from behind her tree and followed. She was only ten feet away from the man when a branch hidden by the snow cracked wetly underneath her shoes. The man whirled, a wand in his hand.
"Who's ther...there? Who..?" He said breathlessly, sinking down on one knee. Hermione risked a glance from behind her tree and saw the man was shaking, though not from the cold. Stepping out from behind her cover, she held up her hands and approached slowly. The man pointed his wand at her, but failed to keep a steady aim. The wearyness on his face only hinted at the exhaustion he was suffering from.
"Her...Hermione?" Hermione stopped short. The man passed out, falling over into the snow. Running over to him, Hermione rolled him over so he was face up. Gasping, she was met by the pale face of Remus Lupin.
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