Forgotten Yesterday

Chapter 27: Through the Looking Glass

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any characters borrowed for use in this story.

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Hermione awoke to blissful the blissful purring of Crookshanks. The cat had tucked himself up under her chin and showed no sign of moving. She smiled wistfully to herself. The truth was she had told Harry she couldn't spend the night with him because her cat needed some attention. It had been a bit of a stretch at the time but now she saw how true it was. She stayed still and enjoyed the large blob of fur curled upon her torso. After yesterday she deserved a lie-in. Everyone did. Perhaps, Hermione thought, if everyone just went back to sleep the whole thing with Voldemort would make itself disappear. It could become a massive bad dream. But she knew that was terribly unlikely. The entire wizarding world was about to fall apart again. At least Arthur Weasly wasn't as ignorant a Minister as Cornelius Fudge had been. Hermione quickly squashed that chain of thought. If she thought about that it would lead her to two very unpleasant chains of thought. Either Voldemort or the Weasley's. Right this moment she wanted to forget about both.

Think about Harry, she prompted herself, he always make you smile. And he did. She spent a great amount of time concentrating on her new relationship with him. If anyone had told her a year ago that she would be in love with Harry Potter she would have hexed them into next week. He was taking everything so hard. He was blaming himself wholly for Voldemort's new supposed return. Unfortunately, Hermione knew, he wouldn't be the only one blaming himself. Somehow Hermione had a feeling, his newest resentment toward Draco had something to do with accusations on both parts. At least it seemed that way from the way Snape had spoken to each at dinner. Almost thirty years old and they still acted like children. She needed to research the war. She had been living in muggle America when the end had finally come. She had heard about it but even the wizarding community in the U.S. had little interest in the Dark Lord's defeat by a deified young man. But then she wanted little to do with anything that reminded her of Hogwarts, England, or Deatheaters at that time.

When Crooks started to kneed his claws into her neck Hermione finally decided it was time to pull herself from bed. With much mewling she rose and disappeared into the bathroom. After a long, hot bath she settled herself in front of the fire and went to work on her lesson plans for the first few weeks of the new term. As she worked she soon became distracted down an entirely different path and she spent the entire afternoon surrounded by piles of books. She only realized how late it was when a house elf appeared and asked if she wanted dinner. She declined and went to dress to descend to the great hall.

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Harry awoke suddenly in cold sweat. His eyes darted around nervously and he soon settled back against the pillows. He hadn't had nightmares like this since… Not since Voldemort was at his full power. Dreams of torture and murder preformed as if a play put on before him. Some people in the order might doubt Voldemort's return but Harry was more than sure. He couldn't help shake the feeling that he was responsible for all of this. He was so sure he had destroyed him. He kept replaying it in his head. The duel, every spell they each cast, every move either made. He must have made a mistake somewhere. Maybe Draco was right. He was the- boy- who- fucked- up. Times like this all he wanted to do was get on his broom and fly. Fly and fly and never look back. Leave all of this behind, all the responsibility, all the guilt, all the so-called fame. He couldn't do that to Kaity or Hermione though. He could never abandon them or any of the others who had come to depend on him.

It was strange how Hermione had so quickly become such a large part of his life. Next to Kaity she was the most important person in the world to him. Maybe, he mused, she's just taking the place she should have had all along. But that wasn't something he wanted to try to dissect right now. He suddenly acutely missed her. She had left him after dinner citing a need to tend to her hell-spawn creature. He snorted a laugh. To think, a grown man jealous of a common house cat or whatever he was. He needed to get out. He was starting to lose his mind.

Harry rose and dressed and went in search of Sirius and Remus. Maybe he could even get Draco out for a pick up Quidditch game. He hadn't played in ages. And right now he had the strong urge to do something that would exhaust him. If Ron was here… He stopped that notion where it began. No use mopping about the dead. The castle was almost eerily silent and soon he found himself outside the door to Snape's private chambers. He knocked loudly and waited. The door was opened and a groggy, rumpled headmaster answered the door.

"Do you have any idea what time it is?" he was grumpy but he moved away and let Harry enter.

"It's past noon already."

He was silent and looked to the clock over the mantle. "Oh bollocks."

Snape ordered coffee and food for both of them and disappeared for a few moments. When he returned to the sitting room he was clad in his black robes and looked much more presentable. "What is it you wanted, Harry?" he asked handing him a sandwich.

Harry shrugged and ate slowly.

"You have been thinking far too much." Poured himself some strong black coffee and settled back into the overstuffed chair. "A very dangerous state for one of your house."

He smiled into his food. "Oh?"

"Yes, it always seems to lead to self-loathing and moping. You need to get out. I'd suggest you need to get laid but then I imagine Miss Granger needs to rest sometime."

Harry chocked on his sandwich.

"Did you honestly think I wouldn't know? I'm the headmaster I know most of everything that happens in my school. The way you behaved at dinner last night anyone who spent anytime around either of you would have noticed the change."

He was grinning now. He knew Snape would know before he even had the chance to tell anyone. "I refuse to give you a full report."

"Thank Merlin for small favors. Believe me Potter, while I am aware that you are enjoying a sex life I have no desire for anything even resembling details."

"Plus Hermione would kill me."

"I imagine she would. Why don't you go out and play with your new snitch."

"How did you? I thought so. She said a little bird told her. I had feeling it was more like a little black bat."

"You're welcome. Just don't break this one over Draco's head."

"I'll try not to. I started having nightmares again."

Snape nodded. "You're as sure as I am then I assume."

"Yes. I… I just…"

"Don't be self-flagellating. It's no more you're fault than anyone else's."

"I know. It's going to be even harder this time isn't it."

"We'll talk about it later. There will be a meeting tonight. The rest of the Weasley's will be arriving before dinner. You should be interested to know that the demon children are already here."

A grin spread across Harry's face. "Is the pitch open today?"

"Just don't kill each anyone." Snape answered. Harry was already on his way out the door.

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Hermione came down the stairs to the entrance hall slowly. She reached the floor and the door pushed open and she was hit by a wave of cold wind. Harry led the way in followed by Sirius, Remus and Draco. Harry slimed and grabbed her in a fierce hug pressing a light kiss to her lips. When she looked up she saw only the riot of read hair entering Bill and Charlie followed by Fred and George. The twin caught sight of her and pushed Harry out of the way in the eagerness to greet her. Of their entire family the twins were the only ones that had continued to speak to her after Harry had drifted away. The hugged her and began talking a mile a minute. Harry finally tired of their boasting and stepped in. The large group entered the great hall in a flurry of laughter and noise.

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