Well it's a lonely road that you have chosen
Morning comes and you don't want know me anymore
And it's a long time since your heart was frozen
Morning comes and you don't want to know anymore

Keane – Your Eyes Open ©

There she was, back at Hogwarts. And oh my, a lot happened in the years she had been away. Hermione sighed at the memories she had when she saw the castle. Flashes of Ron, Harry and herself, sitting down by the lake came by, the Yule Ball, with Victor, watching Quidditch and cheering for Ron, Harry and Ginny, giggling with Ginny in her room because Ron finally asked her out for a Hogsmeade weekend in their sixth year.
Hermione sighed again. The memory of Ron caused tears in her eyes. It had been three years now, since he died. "Heroically, like a true Weasley!" Arthur Weasley had spoken on his son's funeral. Yeah, he did die heroically.

Hermione remembered that perfect summer she had, right after graduation. They all went down to The Burrow almost immediately, Harry came over after a week, and for once in all seven years, they felt as if they didn't need to worry about Lord Voldemort. Of course, Harry did, but he probably saw how happy Hermione and Ron were together, so he didn't start about the subject. They had laughed a lot, one or two times Harry's laugh actually extended to his eyes, and of course, Ron and Hermione had done those things that lovers do. It was as if they had fallen in love with each other all over again, the way they made love, the way Ron made her laugh, the way she had lain in his arms in the grass, after a hot summers day.
At the end of the summer Ron left for Auror training while Hermione stayed at the Weasley's to study for her Transfigurations Master. Half a year later, they would see each other again.
Three days, he had been around her for three days, before he got called away again.
"I'll be home in no time 'Mione!" Ron had said. "Don't worry about me!" Hermione held him as if it would be the last time she would see him. They made loved until deep in the night, and when Ron left, Hermione called him back for one, final kiss, something she'd never done before. It was almost as if she knew.

Two days later, they received the horrible news: Ron had died, in attempt to protect Harry Potter who got ambushed by a legion of Death Eaters. He saved Harry, but died tragically. Harry fled, returned to Hogwarts and as far as Hermione knew, he still was at the school, under protection of Dumbledore. To make everything fit together, Hermione found out she was pregnant four weeks later. As if Ron was determined to leave his legacy behind.

And now she was standing in front of the school. The new Transfiguration master. Hermione sighed and turned around. Her son was peaceful sleeping in his baby-carriage. Little Anthony. For some reason Ron had always adored the name Anthony, so Hermione thought it was nothing but fair if she gave his son that name. Hermione sighed and smiled as she watched the little boy, he was just so adorable. He had red hair, just like Ron's, but he had inherited Hermione's dark brown eyes.
Welcome to Hogwarts, Anthony, she thought, You're about ten years early but I think you'll forgive me in time!

With a sigh she took the baby carriage and headed up to the castle. It was silent when she entered, so Hermione took the time to look around. Nothing had changed. When she entered the Great Hall, she found professor Dumbledore. He looked down on her with the usual twinkle in his eyes.
"Miss Granger. How nice to finally see you again!"

"Hello, professor!" Hermione said, forcing a smile upon her face. "It's nice to be back here!"

Dumbledore noticed the faint smile and the voice, that seemed to be full of sorrow. It was obvious she was still mourning for Ron, even though it had been three years.

"So, this is the little Weasley!" he said and he kneeled down in front of the boy, who had woken up. "Hello little one!" Dumbledore said in a baby tone. Anthony's eyes glittered and his little hand reached out to get a hold of Dumbledore's long beard. Dumbledore smiled, tickled the boy under his chin and got up again.
"Apparently he got his father's brutality!"

Hermione nodded. "You'll be surprised when you know him better. He's two years old but already he behaves like Ron. Stubborn and pigheaded!"

Dumbledore laughed again. Oh, how well did he know the stubbornness all the Weasley children had possessed.

"So, how's Harry?" Hermione asked.

Dumbledore sighed. The boy, who was as dear to him as a son, locked himself down in his quarters for the summer, he only entered the secret garden in the back of Hogwarts if he needed fresh air and Dumbledore had once spotted him in the library. Harry had looked like a mess back then and Dumbledore sincerely worried about him, but knew there was nothing he could do. Harry had, once again, to find the strength to get himself out of this.

"He's-. He's very closed, actually. Always in his quarters, never enters the parts of the castle that contain the school. Brings back too many memories, I think."

Hermione noticed the pain in Dumbledore's eyes. She hadn't heard from Harry after Ron died. So this is why. He had turned into a hermit. "But why should I care?" she thought. "Because of him, Ron died! Because of him, I lost everything that I once held so dear in my life!"
"Harry once was a part of those things you held so dear!" another voice claimed and Hermione knew that voice was right. It was Harry! She had always loved Harry like a brother.

"I do believe Harry would appreciate it if you would visit him!" Dumbledore said while his piercing eyes gave Hermione a distinct look, almost as he could read the doubt in her mind.

Hermione nodded, then looked aside as she heard someone entering the Great Hall. To her surprise, it was Minerva McGonagall, her old Transfiguration professor.

"Professor!" Hermione said, feeling a little guilty because she had taken over McGonagall's job.

"Hello miss Granger." McGonagall said. "It is nice to hear you were the one who signed for Transfiguration. I myself, could not think of someone better suited."

Hermione flushed red and turned around pretending she was checking Anthony.

"There is no need to feel ashamed, Hermione!" McGonagall gave her a smile. "I have more important business to attend this year and I could not think of any way to combine that with teaching."

Hermione nodded. "Thank you, professor."

"Now, Hermione, I think it is time for you to go to your quarters. Take some rest." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled again. "I myself, find a hot bath always very peaceful. With the use of the right ingredients, a bath can turn into a magical thing, that makes you feel a lot better when you're finished! I expect you to be down here tonight, for we will have a little party with the staff, to celebrate the start of a new year."

Hermione gave him a faint smile and answered. "Alright professor."
She walked away with Anthony, knowing that Dumbledore's explanation of a bath, was merely his way to tell her she looked like a mess and that he was worried about her. Hermione decided to take a hot bath indeed. Anthony would need his afternoon nap anyway so she would have time to spare.

Dumbledore and McGonagall watched their old student leave the Great Hall.
"She looked terrible!" McGongall said after a few minutes. Dumbledore merely nodded.
"Was it wise to return her to Hogwarts?"

Dumbledore nodded again. "I am sure it was. I believe Hermione Granger can make a difference. Not only will she overcome the death of the love of her life, I am sure she'll find a new love here at Hogwarts, someone she has always loved. And she will change his life!"

"Do you think she'll fall in love with Harry Potter?" McGonagall asked. "They were best friends, that is merely impossible! She thinks of him as her brother."

Dumbledore smiled. "Oh no Minerva. Harry Potter was not the one I was referring to, although I believe Hermione's presence will get him out of his stubborn hermit." He chuckled at the mere thought of Harry and Hermione together.
"No, I was talking about someone just as tortured as Harry though. Someone who might be even more stubborn then a Weasley, but possesses the same intelligence as Hermione. Someone who would kill me if he knew I had just compared him with three Gryffindor hero's!"
And his eyes flashed towards the entrance of the Great Hall where, just a second before, a tall, dark man with a hook nose and greasy hair had entered.
McGonagall looked from Dumbledore to the man and back to Dumbledore as she gasped: "Albus, you're not serious."
Dumbledore however, started to chuckle because of McGonagall's disbelieve, as she kept staring from him to the man and back.
Severus Snape watched his Headmaster and his colleague and wondered what could possibly be so funny about his entrance in the Great Hall.