Chapter 2: Back Home
Disclaimer: Nope, not mine.
Hermione grabbed her things picked up her wand and disapparated to the Weasley's house, the burrow. She arrived in the kitchen. She looked around; nothing had changed, except there was one less hand on the Weasley clock. Mrs. Weasley was cooking, or rather, her pots were cooking, and she was sitting at the table. "Hello, Mrs. Weasley. How are you?"
"Hermione, dear. You're here. I'm doing fine. How are you? I heard you were taking everything hard."
"Yeah, losing my best friend and first love was hard. I saw too much, too soon." She quick wiped her eyes. "But, I'm okay now. Where is everybody?"
"Arthur's finishing up at work. They're still trying all the Death Eaters. They are almost done though. Soon everything won't be as hectic. Fred and George are working. They are having trouble paying for the store right now. Hopefully everything will work out though. Ginny is upstairs with Harry. Why don't you go keep her company?"
"No, let me help you. You look overwhelmed. Why don't you get some sleep? I'll do the cooking."
"No, no, no, dear. You are here to relax, to forget things. You've been under too much stress lately. Go upstairs."
"But -"
"Now!"
"Okay," laughed Hermione and she lugged her things upstairs.
Mrs. Weasley wouldn't let her help the whole time with anything, now matter how many times Hermione insisted. She stayed with Ginny and helped with baby Harry most of the time. Ginny had given birth one week after Harry had died. She was originally to name him James Arthur Potter, but after Harry died, she had to honor him. Instead, the baby was named Harry James Potter II.
Harry, like the rest of the Weasleys, had red hair. However, it was not bright red like the rest of them, it was a dark, handsome reddish auburn. He, also, had a very familiar pair of green eyes.
Now she was back "home", where it was quiet and there was way too much time to think. She was all packed and ready for Hogwarts. She almost didn't want to leave the quiet of her house. She told Ginny that she and the baby could use her house while she was away. She accepted. Even though Ginny was 26, she still lived with her parents. This was more for her mother's sake than her own. Fred and George would still be there if she left now.
Hermione gave Ginny a hug, bid her good-bye, and apparated to King Cross Station. She was going to be riding with her fellow teachers. Term started in two weeks. She stood in front of Platform 9¾, not sure if she was ready for this. She blankly stared at the platform, many childhood memories flooding back to her. She walked through the barrier and a familiar sensation flooded over her.
The Hogwarts Express was different for teachers. It had only one passenger car. Hermione walked on, nobody else was there yet. She sat in a corner, hoping she could be alone for the ride. Her eyes soon got heavier and she began to doze off . . . 'C'mon this way. They're being kept here.' They charged in. She heard a voice in the distance saying the killing curse. They were too late. "No!" Hermione yelled and woke up with a jolt.
She felt a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay," said a soft voice. "It was only a dream. You'll be perfectly fine."
Hermione saw a head of red hair through her tears. "Ron?" When her eyes began to clear, she could see who it was. "Sorry Bill. Hey, I didn't know you were teaching too. Why didn't anyone tell me?"
"I haven't seen you since Harry's funeral."
"Yeah, but I spent nearly a month ant your mother's. Oh well. So what are you teaching?"
"Professor Flitwick is recovering from many injuries, so I'm teaching charms. Albus asked me to fill I for a year or two. How about you?"
"Transfiguration. We unfortunately lost McGonagall in the war." She paused then whispered, "Along with so many others."
"Yes, we did," he said frowning. Then, he smiled, "But now the world is so much better. The evil we helped destroy will benefit those for centuries. Let's not dwell on the past. So how have you been doing, Dumbledore and mum said you were having a hard time."
"Yes, but the month at the burrow made me better." They talked for the rest of the ride. Hermione was afraid to back to sleep; her nightmares came too frequently . . .
The train stopped. "Here, let me help, you look tired," said Bill taking her bags.
"Thanks. I haven't been getting much sleep lately." As she exited the train, she took in the beautiful castle in front of her. This first moment, taking in the castle, the lake, and everything else made her realize what was missing in her life right now, home. This is where that was, the place she left nearly ten years ago.
She saw many familiar faces when she came off the train. She wasn't paying attention on the train. She greeted old teacher, old friends. Among them were Snape (who seemed to bee more keen to her now she was out of school), Sprout, Vector, and Trewlawny. Then, she saw her big friend, Hagrid, who lived on the grounds. She gave him a big hug. It did her good to see him.
There were new teachers as well. She recognized Oliver Wood; he was the new flying teacher. Binns finally decided to join others with ghostly friends and family. A teacher Hermione never met before replaced him, Professor LeChatlier.
Professor Pierre LeChatlier was a Frenchman. Hermione noticed he couldn't be more than 29 or 30 years old. He had black hair and a very thick accent. He was wearing long sleeves; all his clothes were dark blue. And, to her surprise, he was walking over to her. "Hello, I am Pierre. I teach History of Magic." She reached out her hand to shake his, however, he took the hand and kissed the top of it. "And who, fair maiden, are you?"
She blushed and said, "My name is Hermione Granger. I am the new Transfiguration teacher." Hermione didn't see Bill watching her and Pierre, glaring at her new friend; he didn't look happy at all.
"Let's go, Hermione. We should put our things in our room," said Bill with a slight force in his voice. Hermione seemed to snap back to reality. She was able to stammer out an okay. And, with one last glare at Pierre, Bill led Hermione to her room.
Since Professor Flitwick's room was made for the extremely short, Dumbledore gave Bill a different room. He was given the room made for McGonagall's guests. It was attached to Hermione's by a siding glass door. They didn't mind. Right now, what Hermione needed most was a friend. Bill was happy for different reasons.
A/N- Thanks to my reviewers, or should i say reviewer: Sven Svenson Sveet