That was her first memory of Albus Dumbledore, and probably the happiest one she had ever recorded. That day she realized the potential within her.
Seven years later, the same Hermione Granger sat in the same bedroom. Only the bedroom was now very much different. When she was ten it had stuffed toys and story books and now most of the room was covered with shelves full of dull brown and black books. They looked so repelling. Nevertheless they were her life. She would spend hours at night memorizing new spells and making notes.
She also had memories of her beautiful (almost) friendship with Harry and Ron and how by a mistake they set this friendship to bloom. She still remembered the troll and how they fought it and finally knocked it down. She remembered all the spine tingling adventures they'd had; each and every time, ending up at death's door. They had destroyed a stone which would have helped Voldemort to arise, stopped Hogwarts from closing down, helped a wrongly accused prisoner to escape and so much more.
Voldemort…where was he? What was he doing? Every time Hermione thought about him her spine tingled and she thought about the danger Harry was facing now that the person Voldemort feared the most was gone. Gone…taking all the hopes of Voldemort's demise with him. Harry was now alone; alone to face him. Face the man who had killed great people with extensive powers and Harry? He was just an underage teenager. No, not any longer. He'd turned seventeen 3 days ago. But still, what was he in front of that man whose powers cannot be even talked about. Everyday, the Daily Prophet came to her and each and every moving picture on its parchments showed death and the Dark mark. They almost seemed to go hand in hand. Even muggles were being killed. Not killed, mind you. Slaughtered. It was like beheading chickens. One by one, they went away, leaving the rest of the race clueless of their death.
Voldemort was the reason she did not go to Bill and Fleur's wedding. Ron had asked her to come so many times, but she just couldn't. Her parents knew about the danger overhead, coming down like a black cloud of doom and she was safest in the warmth of her home. Harry, of course went. She even got a blow by blow account from him.
Dear Hermione,
Too bad you couldn't come to their wedding. You would have enjoyed it a lot. You would have found wizard weddings distinctly interesting. The actual ceremony is pretty much the same, but the party afterwards is hilarious. Charlie was the best man of the wedding. He, Fred and George decided to "dressed" for the wedding. Fred came as a hippogriff, George looked like a giant slug and Charlie came dressed as Percy. No one could guess his costume first, because Percy wears pretty normal clothes, but as soon as he started talking, everyone guessed it was that lousy git. Of course, Percy didn't come around for the wedding, though Mrs. Weasley sent him the invitation. Ron says they're much better off without him. So after the wedding we had a family party, where all of us got Firewhiskey to drink. You should have seen Ron. He got too drunk in his excitement. Poor lad is still sleeping as an after effect. He'll come around by tonight I hope. (drinking indeed, have to tell these boys off)
Ginny didn't enjoy much. She still doesn't approve of Phlegm. She spent most of the time with Tonks. Talking about Tonks, Lupin and she are getting married by the end of fall. So we'll be coming back from school to attend their wedding. Have you finished this year's course? Sorry, just kidding. Bill and Fleur are going to Spain for their honeymoon next week, as soon as full moon passes away.
Love,
Harry
His letters seemed to candy coated, like he was a happy toddler. But Hermione knew how inside he was burning and how hard he was trying to suppress this rage. Ron wrote too, but a rather shabby letter
Hi!
Well, Bill and Fleur are just married and their marriage was a lot of fun. I've been sleeping all day after the excitement. I was really tired (the liar!). They had a little problem at the wedding because Fred and George's present were a little, umm, dangerous shall we say? Tonks and Lupin are bonding too. You should see them. Nowadays the Order is so busy and so haywire. You know, now we don't have anyone to give instructions. Seen the Daily Prophet recently? What do you say about the death of Fudge? He was a powerful wizard, and pretty well-protected too.
In any case, missed you a lot at the wedding. See you on the express then.
Love
Ron
Ginny also sent a letter, but hers was very different.
Hey Mione,
Now Phlegm is a part of our family. And she's lording over us like we're house elves and she's some Scottish queen. I don't know how mum and she manage to get along together. And the way she makes Bill dance to her commands! Honestly, what happened to my brother? You know what she said about Dumbledore? "Good that man died. Nefer liked him very much." She is horrible. But she's a little helpful too. I admit this grudgingly. The Order members come to have meetings here at the Burrow and she helps with the cleanup and cooking. So no wonder mum loves her. Percy, the idiot didn't come for the wedding. Mum is ready to accept him back with open arms. But that boy has serious mental issues, I tell you.
Well Hermione, that's all from my side. Why don't you write and tell me? The recent death of Cornelius Fudge was disturbing. Hope you are fine, and don't worry about anything. Meet you at Hogwarts, then.
Hugs,
Ginny
Hagrid's letters were teary and morbid. Even the parchments that came were yellow and moist.
Dear Hermione,
Still can't not get over the death of Headmaster. Great man, he was. His tomb will mark his years of teachership. Things here are very confusing here. Hope everything will be better. Can't say no more.
Love
Hagrid
Dumbledore's death had affected everybody. For Harry it was the loss of a surrogate father, for Hagrid a role model, for the other students an extremely capable headmaster and for the order, its boss. And for Voldemort, another step towards immortality.
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A/N: What do you people say? I've tried to make it as thoughtful as I could, like Hermione has a lot on her mind.