Disclaimer: Yup, they're all mine. I bought it on e-bay for $2. And if you believe that, I have this really great deal for you on oceanfront property in Arizona. Cash please and in small bills.
Umm, but really this is my first fanfictiony thing. I'm not a great writer; the muses just decided to attack me while I was trying to work on my term paper. Great timing they got, don't ya think? I'm not sure where this story will go (again up to the muses), but it will have some weird stuff in it, so be forewarned. And if anyone feels like beta-ing this, I would really appreciate it.
Also, I have read so many fanfics in my time on here, that I might have been really influenced by some people's writing. If you recognize something that's yours, please just tell me and I'll credit you with it. I don't want to be accused of stealing, but please consider it the ultimate form of flattery. Anyways, on with the story.
Chapter 1: Fate has a funny way of dealing with people.
She didn't want to go back.
Seven years in a place can leave you with great memories, or it can scar you for life. While she could say that the first six years had been great, it had gone seriously downhill after Voldemort was gone. Things always seem to go wrong just when they should be going right. But she was used to that. How great can things get for a girl like her?
Hermione was a bookworm. Dork, geek, nerd, freak; you get the point. She was ostracized by her peers, but that is to be expected when you can prove their stupidity without even breathing hard. She only had two friends, and those had been the people most affected when Voldemort fell. Harry had had a mental breakdown and was currently recovering in St. Mungo's and Ron, well; let's just say Ron had enjoyed the fame too much. He was also in St. Mungo's, but for treatment after a near overdose on numerous different drugs. He would be in rehab for months, if not years, after that incident.
Hermione, however, hadn't been given the kind of fame the boy's had. She was after all, just the brains of the operation; nothing that any normal person would look upon as a difficult job. The fact that she had spent almost a year and a half planning the attack on Voldemort and another six months preparing the necessary potions and spells was oh-no-never-mind to the public. Her last year in Hogwarts after the fall of Voldemort was enough to prove to her that she wasn't going to earn anyone's respect by being the brains of the operation, but as they say, a leopard can't change it's spots.
So she had gone on with life, gotten her degree at the University and studied to be a Charms Master. She had wanted to be a Potions Master, but that wasn't an option when the Potions professor at University refuses to teach you. Perhaps she shouldn't have told him that he had the teaching skills of a wet log.
She was going back to Hogwarts after five years of being free of the memories the place always conjured up for her. It wasn't by choice; nothing ever is when dealing with Dumbledore. And want wasn't always an option these days. Professor Flitwick had sadly passed away, and Dumbledore was in need of a new Charms professor. And the fact that her bank account was getting empty was enough of a driving force for her to reluctantly accept the position. No one else wanted to hire the ex-Golden Trio bookworm.
So here she was, standing at the gates of Hogwarts trying to gather the nerve to walk up to the door of that great building and open it. She wasn't however, given the luxury of waiting. Just as she was convincing herself that she could run away from this and not hate herself, Dumbledore opened the door, accompanied by Professor Snape, and walked in her direction.
So Snape was still here. Well that at least was comforting. Maybe she could convince him to teach her to be a Potions Master, although she doubted he would ever want to spend time alone with the bookworm, know-it-all, Golden Trio Gryffindor. It seemed that no one did these days; not even Dumbledore could meet her without someone else to accompany him.
"Miss Granger, my dear, so glad to have you back." She couldn't help but detect a slight pause before the word 'glad,' but she would be fine with that.
"Wonderful to see you, Professor Dumbledore, and you as well, Professor Snape."
"I would prefer if you should call me Severus, Miss Granger, so that I might avoid having to recall your days as a student here." How strange it seemed to her that Snape should be the first one to offer up his first name, even if it was for self-serving reasons.
Dumbledore quickly, if reluctantly followed suit, but she knew he would always be Professor Dumbledore, without the familiarity that came with a first name.
"And I must insist that you call me Hermione, as I also would rather not recall my student days." Dumbledore seemed to cringe after that, but quickly regained his composure and guided her up the stairs into Hogwarts.
After introducing her in the staff room and what seemed like hours of inane chatter with the other professors, Severus was kind enough to offer to show her to her rooms. He must have noticed the way she was answering people in as few words as possible and making scathing sarcastic remarks, but she really couldn't help it when she was this tired. When they arrived at her door, she politely thanked him and stepped in, willing herself not to cry when she saw the way the rooms were decorated.