Title: We Only Live Once

Disclaimer: The Harry Potter Series belongs to Jk. Rowling. If it belonged to me, the covers of all the books would have orange and blue stripes and the series would be called Harry Pothead.

Summary: Set six years after her graduation from Hogwarts, Hermione thought she had the good life, and then all of a sudden she realized, 'What am I going to do for the rest of my life?' At that same day, she receives a letter from Hogwarts wanting her to become the new Transfiguration teacher. Yet when she arrives the first day of her job she rekindles old flames with a former schoolmate who is now Hogwarts' Potion's teacher, Draco Malfoy. What will this bring?

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Chapter one: The letter

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"Miss Granger, you've got a letter. I think it was dropped off by an owl…"

A now 23 year-old Hermione Granger looked up from her gaze down at the papers beside her and looked at her office assistant with questioning eyes.

"I'm busy right now, who's it from?"

"Hmm…" she looked at the seal and read the return address, "a Hogwarts. Do you know what that is?"

Of course to any wizard or witch, this name would have been quite familiar. Unfortunately this was the muggle world Hermione was currently residing in and in the Muggle World; there was no words or names such as 'Hogwarts'.

'Hogwarts? Why would they be sending me a letter now?' She questioned herself quietly. With that last thought she realized her assistant was still awaiting an answer.

"No, I don't recall the name Hogwarts, but let me see the letter in case I remember anything."

She politely grabbed the letter and asked for the assistant to leave so she could open the letter in private and maybe get back to her papers.

See, you'd think a witch like Hermione, the 'most brilliant witch of her years' would have a more extravagant job, maybe an auror, or a job at Gringotts. But what does she get? A job as an author. A BOOK-WRITER. Surely, anyone from the wizarding world would look down on her. But although other people may not accept it, this is what she loved doing, and she was damn good at it too. Already three of her books had been best-sellers, 4 received national awards, and she even had tours, book-signings, and appeared on multiple shows, she was quite popular… in the muggle world.

So here you may ask, how did she get from top witch at Hogwarts to Muggle book-writing celebrity? Once she left Hogwarts she wanted adventure, all of her friends had their lives set for them, Harry as an auror, Ginny as his wife, and even Ron had an idea of what his life would be, 'Quidditch-player extraordinaire'. But what did she have? She had no lover, she had no dreams, she didn't have anything. Once she left Hogwarts she would most likely work for the ministry, get married, have kids, boring boring boring. And so she decided she needed to live a little.

So about a year after Hogwarts, she found herself in a bar, ready to let life loose. She let her mind wander from the feelings she felt at the moment, feelings of wanting to let go, and feelings of before in her years at Hogwarts, insecurity, awkwardness, unknowing of where life would take her. So there came her idea of a book. It was amazing how what she felt at that moment would drive her to write such passionate words of teenage feelings and wanting to get loose into a book… or maybe it was the alcohol.

But other than that, she still turned into a great writer, a muggle celebrity from London, and a…

Well now that she looked at it…

What did she have now? She had a wonderful job, but no one to share her joy with, and what would happen after all of that joy was gone? What did she have left?

Unbeknownst to her, what she was about to open, the letter she was about to read, and the decisions that would come afterwards would greatly affect her life and those about to become part of it.

Hermione Granger looked at the letter and sighed.

"Well it's not going to open itself, so her we go."

She broke off Hogwarts seal with a quick opening of the envelope, reached for the letter inside, and read the parchment inside.

Dear Miss Hermione Granger,

We at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry would like to inform you of a new job-opening at our school for the subject of Transfiguration, as our current teacher, Professor Minerva McGonagall, has retired. Because of your high grades in your school years at Hogwarts we greatly suggest you as our new teacher. We are in search of possible replacements and right now you are our best choice. Please consider this opportunity and make the right choice. If you have any questions please visit Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. We look forward to you as part of our staff and thank you for your time.

Signed,

Albus Dumbledore

Wow. Just… wow.

Hermione was in awe. Right now going back to Hogwarts or the Wizarding World would be hard for her, she could encounter Harry or Ron or other old friends, of which she had lost quickly after leaving Hogwarts. She was ashamed of leaving them and never keeping in touch but as years passed by she grew too shy of speaking to them once again. Would she take that chance here? She loved Hogwarts, she needed a new job, seeing as she was once again feeling her life wasn't going anywhere. Here she was, having a great opportunity sit right in front of her, was she just going to let it pass by?

'Hell no.'

And there was the decision. Hermione Granger would be the new Transfiguration teacher at Hogwarts.

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A/N:

Sorry if that was too short, I really will make the chapters longer, this is sort of just the 'Get to know your character' thing. Plus it also sounded good to leave it there.

This is going to be Romance, Drama, and Humor all rolled up in a bun, there's going to be more information about the whole 'trio splitting up thing' in later chapters.

Weeelll.

Hope you liked it!

Constructive criticism is welcome!