To live happily ever after?

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Chapter 4: Back to school.

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Hermione was standing on the platform 9 ¾ and was actually wondering if she wasn't making the biggest mistake of her life. She was front of the big, red engine that was the Hogwarts Express and the sea of students surrounding her made her very aware that she had grown up and that she was now responsible for the safety of all those kids. She didn't really want that much responsibility. This was, of course, besides the point that she hadn't any intention to live long enough to see the beginning of next year.

Her eyes scanned the crowd: parents were giving last minute advice to their children, first years were looking around them, wary and amazed at the same time, and security staff was making sure that everything went well. Those last were easily recognisable for they were the only ones wearing black traditional wizard robes, with two white wands crossed embroidered on their back. The students, having to walk through Muggle King Cross Station were wearing what Hermione considered as normal clothes for the weather: jeans and T-shirt, with tennis shoes and a light jacket for those who thought that this first of September wasn't warm enough.

Hermione smiled slightly, for this was exactly what she was wearing. Her dark blue jeans were not as dark as they used to be and ripped at the knees, her white T-shirt could have done with some ironing, her black tennis shoes had seen better days and her black jacket was worn around the wrists. But at least, she was looking more comfortable that the rest of the security staff. The only thing in common she had with them was the shinning badge pinched on the front of her jacket, showing Hogwarts' coat of arms, the four animals of the Houses charmed to look around and warn their wearer if they saw anything suspicious.

'Hermione!'

Hermione looked from the corner of her eyes as Ron and Harry made their way through the crowd toward her. But most of her attention stayed on the students, trying to get to know all their faces and magical auras at the same time. It was a lot of information to take in and she didn't really have much time. When the two men finally arrived next to her, Hermione sighed and wrote on a corner of her mind that she would have to finish this during dinner.

'Hi guys.'

'Where are your robes?' Ron asked.

Hermione frowned at his tone. Then spied Harry looking over his shoulder, obviously nervous that someone would see her.

'Okay, what's going on here?'

'Security staff is supposed to were the uniform,' Ron explained quickly, also keeping an eye on the crowd, clearly watching out for someone.

Hermione did the same, her eyes and the Feel wide open. She had already seen Tonks and Mad-Eyes. She could still see the older woman, walking among the students and hurrying them along. Mad-Eyes had disappeared but she could still Feel him in the immediate neighbourhood. She had caught some glimpse of other members of the Security staff and took their Feels in. All of them seemed intent in getting the students in the train as quickly as possible. She couldn't discover who her friends were looking for.

So intent she was using her power, that she nearly missed Umbridge, coming her way. The old witch was wearing the robes of a Security Officer, except that she had a second badge above the first one, golden and made of a H and a S. 'Head of Security' Hermione guessed as Umbridge walked swiftly their way. Even if not willing, Hermione opened her mind slightly to get a Feel of the woman. The slimy, mucky dark green sensation tainted by a wicked angry red made Hermione closed swiftly the door of her mind.

'Worse than a Fire Worm,' she muttered under her breath.

'Miss Granger, may I know why you aren't in uniform?'

'What does it matter to you?'

'If you are to work for me, you will…'

Hermione held a hand up, a sneer on her face, for Umbridge seemed to have forgotten something since the last time they had seen each other.

'But that's all the thing, love. I'm not working for you. I'm working with you, equal to equal. So, I would suggest you return to your duties for the Ministry because I can't do that for you. See ya later.'

Hermione left a flabbergasted Umbridge behind her as she made her way to the train, Harry and Ron nearly bursting with laughter tagging along. The train let a long whistle go at this moment.

'We have to go join the rest of the staff,' Harry said with a left over of laughter in his voice and his eyes. 'I don't think we will see you in our special compartment.'

At Hermione's snort, Ron smiled and finished, 'Well, we'll see you at dinner then.'

Hermione looked at her friends running to the very first carriage and getting in. Then she made her way to the very end of the train. She went to the very last compartment there, happy to find it totally empty. She threw her bags on the seat in front of her and settled down next to the window.

The train began moving and Hermione closed her eyes as memories began flooding her mind. Her first trip had been a bit lonesome. She remembered she had helped Neville as he was looking for his toad. The following travels onboard the Hogwarts Express had been filled with laughs and the delicious presence of her friends. Hogwarts had been very near like home for 7 years. She had grown to like the place as much as her parents' house. But in the end, nothing can replace parents. Not even the best Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress existing. Her parents' deaths had simply shattered her soul.

The sound of the door opening made Hermione look up. A group of students was standing there.

'Come on in. I swear I won't bite.'

Hermione smiled up and took her feet off the seat in front of her where she had put them. The five entered slowly. Hermione already knew one of the girls and two of the boys by Feel, the three of them obviously family both by looks and by similar auras. The second girl was a tall brunette with black eyes and a spicy orange aura, full of life and mischief. The last of the group was a boy, dark aired and eyed with a friendly lime green aura. The five of them were in their fifth or sixth year.

The lot of them were eyeing her badge with evident unease. Hermione guessed that they wanted to talk mischief.

'Excuse me officer, but all the others are in the front compartment.'

Hermione feigned not understanding.

'What others?'

'The other Security Officers.'

The boy pointed at her badge.

'Oh, you mean the Ministry. I'm not with them. I'm a special qualification.'

Hermione smiled again before going on.

'If you can't find anywhere else, just sit here with me. I don't mind the company.'

A bit more at ease but still a slightly reluctant, the five took the free seats around Hermione.

'I'm Hermione Granger.'

A stunned silence followed that.

'You mean the Hermione Granger. The one who took on two Death Eaters to avenge her parents, Harry Potter's friend, the one who finished Hogwarts with 'O' at all 10 her NEWTs.'

'Well, I've killed only one Death Eater but, yeah that's me.'

The five youngsters sat there gaping at her and Hermione burst out laughing. The rest of the trip was spent in companionable chatting, Hermione getting to know all five of this strange group. When the train finally stopped, the six got off together.

'I have to see that all the students got up to the castle safely. I see you five later.'

The group got in two carriages and Hermione saw them off. It still amazed her slightly that those five were from the each of the different houses. Apparently, things had changed in six years. As Hermione stood watching the students, she opened her Feel wide, getting the different auras from the students. But she also went a bit deeper, analysing their feelings. Mostly, they were both happy and annoyed to be back at school. But the undercurrent of worry/unease/unsafe was there. Hermione couldn't understand how she had missed it in London. True that she hadn't really looked for it either. For as far as she could remember, Hogwarts had always meant security for her. Even after Voldemort had come back from the dead, Hermione had felt safe inside the thick wall of the castle. Apparently, this generation of students didn't know the same peace.

A slight nudge and a warm breath blowing on her neck made her reach behind her to find a Thestral there.

'Hi there Tenebrus.'

The Thestral nodded its head, before turning to present his back to Hermione and slightly spread its leathery wings. Hermione smiled and shook her head softly.

'No thanks. I'll ride through the forest before dinner. I need to get its Feel too.'

Tenebrus seemed to understand and flicked its tongue across Hermione's hand before taking off toward the forest. Hermione turned her attention back to the students, now fairly sure that she had the Feel of all of them. When the last of them stepped into the last carriage, Hermione made her way to the forest.

Night was already there, but the fire unicorn didn't really care. She galloped at neck-breaking speed through the trees, not stopping for anything or anyone. She found a white brother who went to ride along for a time, telling her of what was happening now in the forest. Stepping in a clearing, the two unicorns stopped as they found themselves in front of several Centaurs.

'You're still there,' Hermione said as she changed back to her human shape.

'You're not welcome here.'

'Well, looks to me as if I am,' Hermione replied, pointing at the unicorn standing next to her. 'And as far as I know, you're not the masters here. Never were and never will be.'

With those parting words, the fire unicorn reared up and raced toward the castle.

Hermione arrived just on time for dinner. Sitting at the staff table was a new experience for her. But again, she could feel the tension in the room, both from the students and the staff. Even if nothing happened during dinner, everyone seemed on edge. When it finally was time to go to sleep, Hermione was so nervously tired that she fell asleep even before her head hit her pillow.

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Here goes chapter 4.

Many thanks to my many reviewers, I hope you've enjoyed this and will read my next chapter as well.