In response to Sethido's - And Thou Shalt Not challenge.(At WIKTT).All the characters and Hogwarts belong to J.K.Rowlings and the idea for the story belongs to Sethido. I am not trying to make any money by writing this,just writing for the fun of it.
CHAPTER 2
RECOLLECTIONS
The war was over.Everything was such a mess! Rather everyone was such a mess…confused….hurt….a bit lost….and very unsure. Everyone was just trying to pick up the pieces of their lives. Suddenly life seemed so aimless and meaningless for most. Years of trying to defeat Voldemort had left a deep mark on all involved. Add to it lots of unnecessary bloodshed, loss of precious lives…mostly near and dear ones of the survivors…… had taken away all the sweetness from the victory. Everyone was just grasping at whatever bonds they had been left with. Every second day someone or other was getting married…trying to snatch at any comfort life could allow them, anyone who could share their pain and loss. Anyone who could understand the trauma of last few years. Anyone who could bring back some semblance, some meaning to their disheveled lives seemed welcome. And surprisingly enough they were working too. Apparently new beginnings were the best ways to get over the past traumas. Moreover the war had brought everyone so close, with same goals same hurts, losses and the same post war emptiness….the whole of the wizarding world had seemed like one big family. Massive tragedies as such had the power of bonding everyone in similar thread of human frailities……
So with marriages happening everywhere….Hogwarts was no exception .The trend there had been set by none other than Professor Mcgonagall who had asked the headmaster Dumbledore to marry her as soon as the Voldemort was dead,almost simultaneously with Potter, the boy who almost died trying to kill Voldemort,who had asked none other than his best friends' sister Ginny Weasley as soon as he could talk to her. On being asked later both the professor and the student had almost similar reason for their haste…when faced with their and their loved ones death the only person they could think of….the only person they would rather live for …..the only person who had given them the strength and will to survive…had been the one being asked for . It was same for many others who followed the trend. Even Ron Weasley not to be left behind had asked Hermione Granger soon afterwards,who had refused him flat out. So he married the first person who would have him and that turned out to be Luna Lovegood!
With Hermione the case was much more complicated. The war had given her the gift of love too .She had first admired,then cared for him and before she knew her compassion for him had turned into love…but the problem was that she was in love with none other than her potions master Severus Snape whose attitude didn't seem to have changed towards any of them…….but that was a minor detail that couldn't deter a young lady as determined as Hermione , and so begun her pursuit of the object of her affections; it was more of a challenge rather than a complication to her because of the difficult nature of the problem once she had admitted her true feelings to herself…..
This term life was very relaxed at Hogwarts. Everyday life seemed too serene after the upheavals of war. Even importants things such as exams couldn't quite shake the peaceful trance post war. After having lives at stake for the war , silly little things such as grades couldn't really matter much anymore……….even students as bad as Ron or Neville didn't seem too concerned about their upcoming NEWTS. Everyone had set new records of bravery this war and no amount of bad grades could shake up the respect everyone had earned . For all intents and purposes all these war heroes had already passed their NEWTS and much more,rest all was just a formality to be done with. In the last term of school in such peace, new romances were budding and older ones strengthening. Hermione was trying to get closer to the cold potions master tagging onto him as much as possible ignoring his numerous putdowns. It might have caused a stir in normal circumstances but nobody noticed this time as they were too busy with their own spouses or to be spouses.
That is no one except Draco Malfoy! Another one of war heroes who had dared to rebel against his own family, and had renounced his wealth and comforts to fight against the dark forces. He had developed a strange inexplicable love for Hermione Granger during those days……. or maybe he always had it heart of his hearts….even he wasn't sure how or when this had come about. And so he was the one to notice every movement of Hermione,and had soon enough discovered her fascination with his head of the house. He couldn't be expected to approve of such a match what with their age differences and all, but to his credit neither did he try to hinder Hermione in any way nor hinted about her seemingly strange infatuation to anyone. Being hopelessly in love he could understand her emotions however strangely placed they might have seemed to him! And to his credit he tried to remain just an impassive observer through all the phases their relationship went through…………..the relentless but unfruitful pursuit of Snape………his increasing irritation with her tactics………his escalating rudeness towards her…………and finally melting down of all his defenses……..a jolt to Malfoy……infact to anyone who would have observed any of this……Snape in love would have sent anyone who knew him well in delirium….but soon enough it became equally clear that that wasn't actually the case. Apparently worn down by war and being without a companion for long had weakened Snape's resistance but only to the extent of having a brief fling. Hermione was jilted by him was as clear as daylight soon enough what with her puffy eyes and strange shifty demeanor ……….. It was just one of such rainy days when he had inadvertently come upon Snape kissing Hermione………..it had torn his insides…..but what followed had been even more painful……..that ruthless bastard had pushed her away roughly and when she had tried to cling to him crying he had almost thrown her on the wet ground and moved away even without looking back once…………he had never quite forgiven Snape for that look on Hermione's face …..not even now …after so many years…… the memory still made his blood boil………He was suddenly jerked out of his thoughts by her voice…….
"I can't believe this! This is the third coffee I have brought for you, and even this one has gone cold, untouched!! Where in the Merlin's name are you today Draco Malfoy?"
And he turned around to look at his beautiful wife frowning and standing with her hands on her hips and his adorable little daughter alongside giggling uncontrollably .
" Sorry sweetheart just walking down the memory lane." he said smilingly taking her into his arms…..
" All pleasant thoughts I hope?" she asked looking at his handsome face… a bit doubtful still .
" Ofcourse love! Could I think of anything unpleasant when with my two princesses?" he teased winking at his little daughter who was still giggling…
" Hmmm. That's good .Ok now let me go,I will bring you some fresh hot coffee, what with the rain and all its rather chilly today." She said trying to squeeze out of his arms.
"Hey Hermie, its not coffee that gives me warmth but you my little darling" he said softly ,pulling his petite little wife back in his arms.
"Don't be silly Sara is watching." She whispered fiercely though still smiling and blushing before pulling away and walking towards the kitchen.