Faded Pictures
Chapter 1
More than a Woman
"She was more than a woman, a goddess for all it seems." Case & Joe - Faded Pictures
Five years later--
Hermione walked through the cheerful hallway of her ward at the Salem Hospital for Magical Maladies. She paused at a door reading 'Chief Medi- Witch' and wondered how her life had come to this point. She opened the door and walked into the office, her eyes drifting over the form seated behind the large desk. Sitting quietly reading some rather important looking papers was a short, slim, kindly looking woman with long brown hair and pretty green eyes who couldn't be older than twenty-five. Hermione smiled at her, cocking one perfectly arched eyebrow and placing her hand on her hip. "Leslie, must you always sit at my desk?"
Leslie looked up from the papers on the desk and laughed cheerfully. She adored her boss. She saw Hermione as a role model although she was slightly older than the prodigy. Hermione was the first witch ever to become Chief Medi-Witch by the age of twenty-two. Gone was the shy girl of 18 Leslie had come to know five years ago. In her place was the confident, intelligent, graceful, witty, kind, and drop dead gorgeous woman who had become her best friend. "Honestly, Mione, you'd think you'd be used to it by now. It is a part of my routine. Let's see," She said, counting it off on her fingers, "Get up, shower, eat, walk to work, sit at Hermione's desk, look through her papers, and wait for her to arrive. Yup, I think you're right on schedule."
Leslie laughed as Hermione sent her a look that clearly said 'You're lucky we're such good friends.' She stood and moved around the desk to sit in a comfortable chair, allowing Hermione to sit at her desk and get to work. "Anything pressing I need to address, Leslie?" Hermione peered across the desk at the pretty brunette who was carefully inspecting her French manicure for chips. If there was one good thing about Leslie rifling through her papers it was the fact that Hermione didn't have to look through it all to know what was important.
Leslie looked up, obviously bored. "Not a damn thing. Honestly, you'd think working in the children's ward would produce more excitement. Kid's these days aren't as wicked awesome as we were in my day." Hermione smiled at the New England accent. Wicked, honestly, it cracked her up.
Hermione nodded her agreement, remembering her days at Hogwarts with a twinge of nostalgia. "At the school I went to, Madame Pomfrey was lucky if my friends and I stayed out of there for a month." Leslie watched as her friend slipped into a reminiscent sort of daze. Hermione rarely spoke of her past, but when she did, it was full of adventures and humor. Leslie often wondered why she ever left. The young woman obviously missed the place. Reluctant to interrupt the happily daydreaming woman sitting across from her, but needing to get to work, Leslie stood and said a quick goodbye as she headed out the door.
"Les," Hermione called after her, "come by during your lunch break. I'd like your help in choosing the fabrics for the curtains for the house Xan and I are buying." Leslie turned and nodded before leaving Hermione once more to her thoughts.
*~*
Tap, tap, tap, there was that damn noise again. Harry buried his head farther into his pillow. Tap, tap, tap, he opened his eyes blearily. He looked at the sleeping figure next to him. Shouldn't Draco be up by now? Oh yeah, it's Saturday, he had forgotten. Tap, tap, tap, he sat up. The noise was getting annoying. "Oh, would you just open the bloody window for the owl, Harry?" Draco yawned sleepily. "It won't go away, you know. And it's not like the damn thing is for me. Only you get owls at ungodly times in the morning."
Harry rubbed his eyes and reached for his glasses. He rolled out of the bed, not really willing to get up, but knowing that Draco was right. He walked over to the window and let the owl inside. It rustled its feathers indignantly, as if it had been waiting for far too long. Harry reached into a jar on the windowsill and pulled out a treat for it, retrieving the letter attached to the owl's leg. "Here you go." He gave the owl the treat and watched it fly away before looking to see who the letter was from.
Harry's eyes opened wide, suddenly devoid of all sleepiness. "Draco, quick, it's from Hermione. Come look and make sure I'm not dreaming." Draco shot up, excitedly running over to Harry's side. Draco looked forward to Hermione's letters, although they only showed up every once in a blue moon. He had formed an odd friendship with her during their sixth year and she always sent him a letter completely separate from Harry's. Draco snatched the letter out of Harry's hand, stopping slightly confused. "There is only one." He blinked as though not sure he had seen correctly. "It's addressed to both of us."
Harry took the letter, unread, and stuck it in the envelope. He walked out of the bedroom and placed the letter on the coffee table in the living room of their flat. He turned to look at a bewildered Draco and answered his unasked question. "Let's eat first. I have a feeling that letter is going to be a doozie." Draco nodded, grabbing Harry's hand. "If we shower together we'll get to the letter faster." Draco was mistaken. Hours and two showers later, the letter remained unread on the coffee table.
Harry patted his full stomach, pleasantly satisfied. "Honestly, Draco, that was wonderful. I can't believe you are such a good cook." He smiled sweetly at the blond-haired, gray-eyed, sexy as sin man seated next to him on the couch. "It can't be that much of a surprise, Potter. I did well at potions, and well, the concept is the same." Draco smirked, once again pleased that he was better than Harry at something. "But that is not the point, let's read the letter now." He reached for the letter and snuggled up next to his lover.
"Dearest Harry and Draco,
I hope this letter finds you both in good health. I'm sorry I haven't
written in ages, unsurprisingly I've been busy with things. Life is
amazing here in Salem. I've a lot to tell you and I hope you're both
sitting down."
Harry frowned and looked at Draco. "This cannot be good."
"First, I'm Chief Medi-Witch. That is a high accomplishment. I'm the
first witch ever to get such a high position by age twenty-two.
Aren't you proud? Next, I'm moving. Don't get your hopes up, Harry,
I'm not moving back to England, just another part of Salem."
Harry, who had leaned forward excitedly, fell back against the couch heaving a sigh. "I knew it was too good to be true." Draco smiled sympathetically at him and continued reading.
"Xan and I are moving in together. Isn't it great Draco? Don't worry
about me, I trust him whole-heartedly."
"Who the fuck is Xan?!" Harry yelled, scaring Draco into jumping off the couch. Draco frowned at Harry. "See? That is exactly why she wrote to me about him instead of you. Merlin, I swear you scared the hell out of me. Now shut up and let me finish the letter." Harry pouted as Draco climbed back onto the couch, settling back into his warmth. "No more outbursts, Harry. I mean it." Draco warned him wearily and began reading again.
"Now for the big news-and I must tell you it is big-He asked me to
marry him! I want you both to attend the wedding. I'm sending
letters to Dumbledore, McGonagall, Neville, and Ginny as well. I've
asked Ginny to be my maid of honor, and also to tell Fred, George, and
the others. Well, except for Ron. Harry, I was wondering if you
would tell him for me. It would mean a lot to me if he would come,
but I haven't the heart to send him an owl. It would hurt too much.
Well, I've gotta get back to work. I love you both so very much.
Love,
Hermione"
Draco sighed, knowing Harry was probably having a silent conniption. "Okay, Harry, you may speak and curse freely now." Draco didn't have to tell him twice. He flinched as Harry's voice rang through the house. "MARRIED?! MARRIED?! MERLIN, WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? WHO IS THE BASTARD? WHO IS HE?!" Harry was standing in the middle of the living room now, waving his arms and yelling at no one in particular.
Draco sat placidly on the couch. He had anticipated this day. With each letter Hermione wrote to him, she explained how her relationship with Xan was growing. Draco knew that the marriage proposal would come one day. He just didn't expect her to have asked Harry to break it to Ron. What a disaster. "Harry, sit down. I'll explain Xan to you, then, you can go break the news to Weasley."
Harry grudgingly sat back down at Draco's side heaving an exasperated sigh. "Fine, Draco, explain away. But, how in the hell am I going to tell Ron?"
*~*
Well, that's the 1st chapter, sorry if it didn't explain much. I'll get to why she left eventually and who the fuck Xan is. For now, I just want to thank my reviewers and of course my fabulous beta reader, the fangoriously awesome N.C. PsyChick. She and fhqwhgads rock!!! Without her, my story wouldn't be so awesome and my weekends would be black holes of boredom. EVERYBODY TO THE LIMIT!!!! WE'RE GONNA TAKE THIS BABY TO THE MOOOOOOOON!!!!!
Chapter 1
More than a Woman
"She was more than a woman, a goddess for all it seems." Case & Joe - Faded Pictures
Five years later--
Hermione walked through the cheerful hallway of her ward at the Salem Hospital for Magical Maladies. She paused at a door reading 'Chief Medi- Witch' and wondered how her life had come to this point. She opened the door and walked into the office, her eyes drifting over the form seated behind the large desk. Sitting quietly reading some rather important looking papers was a short, slim, kindly looking woman with long brown hair and pretty green eyes who couldn't be older than twenty-five. Hermione smiled at her, cocking one perfectly arched eyebrow and placing her hand on her hip. "Leslie, must you always sit at my desk?"
Leslie looked up from the papers on the desk and laughed cheerfully. She adored her boss. She saw Hermione as a role model although she was slightly older than the prodigy. Hermione was the first witch ever to become Chief Medi-Witch by the age of twenty-two. Gone was the shy girl of 18 Leslie had come to know five years ago. In her place was the confident, intelligent, graceful, witty, kind, and drop dead gorgeous woman who had become her best friend. "Honestly, Mione, you'd think you'd be used to it by now. It is a part of my routine. Let's see," She said, counting it off on her fingers, "Get up, shower, eat, walk to work, sit at Hermione's desk, look through her papers, and wait for her to arrive. Yup, I think you're right on schedule."
Leslie laughed as Hermione sent her a look that clearly said 'You're lucky we're such good friends.' She stood and moved around the desk to sit in a comfortable chair, allowing Hermione to sit at her desk and get to work. "Anything pressing I need to address, Leslie?" Hermione peered across the desk at the pretty brunette who was carefully inspecting her French manicure for chips. If there was one good thing about Leslie rifling through her papers it was the fact that Hermione didn't have to look through it all to know what was important.
Leslie looked up, obviously bored. "Not a damn thing. Honestly, you'd think working in the children's ward would produce more excitement. Kid's these days aren't as wicked awesome as we were in my day." Hermione smiled at the New England accent. Wicked, honestly, it cracked her up.
Hermione nodded her agreement, remembering her days at Hogwarts with a twinge of nostalgia. "At the school I went to, Madame Pomfrey was lucky if my friends and I stayed out of there for a month." Leslie watched as her friend slipped into a reminiscent sort of daze. Hermione rarely spoke of her past, but when she did, it was full of adventures and humor. Leslie often wondered why she ever left. The young woman obviously missed the place. Reluctant to interrupt the happily daydreaming woman sitting across from her, but needing to get to work, Leslie stood and said a quick goodbye as she headed out the door.
"Les," Hermione called after her, "come by during your lunch break. I'd like your help in choosing the fabrics for the curtains for the house Xan and I are buying." Leslie turned and nodded before leaving Hermione once more to her thoughts.
*~*
Tap, tap, tap, there was that damn noise again. Harry buried his head farther into his pillow. Tap, tap, tap, he opened his eyes blearily. He looked at the sleeping figure next to him. Shouldn't Draco be up by now? Oh yeah, it's Saturday, he had forgotten. Tap, tap, tap, he sat up. The noise was getting annoying. "Oh, would you just open the bloody window for the owl, Harry?" Draco yawned sleepily. "It won't go away, you know. And it's not like the damn thing is for me. Only you get owls at ungodly times in the morning."
Harry rubbed his eyes and reached for his glasses. He rolled out of the bed, not really willing to get up, but knowing that Draco was right. He walked over to the window and let the owl inside. It rustled its feathers indignantly, as if it had been waiting for far too long. Harry reached into a jar on the windowsill and pulled out a treat for it, retrieving the letter attached to the owl's leg. "Here you go." He gave the owl the treat and watched it fly away before looking to see who the letter was from.
Harry's eyes opened wide, suddenly devoid of all sleepiness. "Draco, quick, it's from Hermione. Come look and make sure I'm not dreaming." Draco shot up, excitedly running over to Harry's side. Draco looked forward to Hermione's letters, although they only showed up every once in a blue moon. He had formed an odd friendship with her during their sixth year and she always sent him a letter completely separate from Harry's. Draco snatched the letter out of Harry's hand, stopping slightly confused. "There is only one." He blinked as though not sure he had seen correctly. "It's addressed to both of us."
Harry took the letter, unread, and stuck it in the envelope. He walked out of the bedroom and placed the letter on the coffee table in the living room of their flat. He turned to look at a bewildered Draco and answered his unasked question. "Let's eat first. I have a feeling that letter is going to be a doozie." Draco nodded, grabbing Harry's hand. "If we shower together we'll get to the letter faster." Draco was mistaken. Hours and two showers later, the letter remained unread on the coffee table.
Harry patted his full stomach, pleasantly satisfied. "Honestly, Draco, that was wonderful. I can't believe you are such a good cook." He smiled sweetly at the blond-haired, gray-eyed, sexy as sin man seated next to him on the couch. "It can't be that much of a surprise, Potter. I did well at potions, and well, the concept is the same." Draco smirked, once again pleased that he was better than Harry at something. "But that is not the point, let's read the letter now." He reached for the letter and snuggled up next to his lover.
"Dearest Harry and Draco,
I hope this letter finds you both in good health. I'm sorry I haven't
written in ages, unsurprisingly I've been busy with things. Life is
amazing here in Salem. I've a lot to tell you and I hope you're both
sitting down."
Harry frowned and looked at Draco. "This cannot be good."
"First, I'm Chief Medi-Witch. That is a high accomplishment. I'm the
first witch ever to get such a high position by age twenty-two.
Aren't you proud? Next, I'm moving. Don't get your hopes up, Harry,
I'm not moving back to England, just another part of Salem."
Harry, who had leaned forward excitedly, fell back against the couch heaving a sigh. "I knew it was too good to be true." Draco smiled sympathetically at him and continued reading.
"Xan and I are moving in together. Isn't it great Draco? Don't worry
about me, I trust him whole-heartedly."
"Who the fuck is Xan?!" Harry yelled, scaring Draco into jumping off the couch. Draco frowned at Harry. "See? That is exactly why she wrote to me about him instead of you. Merlin, I swear you scared the hell out of me. Now shut up and let me finish the letter." Harry pouted as Draco climbed back onto the couch, settling back into his warmth. "No more outbursts, Harry. I mean it." Draco warned him wearily and began reading again.
"Now for the big news-and I must tell you it is big-He asked me to
marry him! I want you both to attend the wedding. I'm sending
letters to Dumbledore, McGonagall, Neville, and Ginny as well. I've
asked Ginny to be my maid of honor, and also to tell Fred, George, and
the others. Well, except for Ron. Harry, I was wondering if you
would tell him for me. It would mean a lot to me if he would come,
but I haven't the heart to send him an owl. It would hurt too much.
Well, I've gotta get back to work. I love you both so very much.
Love,
Hermione"
Draco sighed, knowing Harry was probably having a silent conniption. "Okay, Harry, you may speak and curse freely now." Draco didn't have to tell him twice. He flinched as Harry's voice rang through the house. "MARRIED?! MARRIED?! MERLIN, WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? WHO IS THE BASTARD? WHO IS HE?!" Harry was standing in the middle of the living room now, waving his arms and yelling at no one in particular.
Draco sat placidly on the couch. He had anticipated this day. With each letter Hermione wrote to him, she explained how her relationship with Xan was growing. Draco knew that the marriage proposal would come one day. He just didn't expect her to have asked Harry to break it to Ron. What a disaster. "Harry, sit down. I'll explain Xan to you, then, you can go break the news to Weasley."
Harry grudgingly sat back down at Draco's side heaving an exasperated sigh. "Fine, Draco, explain away. But, how in the hell am I going to tell Ron?"
*~*
Well, that's the 1st chapter, sorry if it didn't explain much. I'll get to why she left eventually and who the fuck Xan is. For now, I just want to thank my reviewers and of course my fabulous beta reader, the fangoriously awesome N.C. PsyChick. She and fhqwhgads rock!!! Without her, my story wouldn't be so awesome and my weekends would be black holes of boredom. EVERYBODY TO THE LIMIT!!!! WE'RE GONNA TAKE THIS BABY TO THE MOOOOOOOON!!!!!