Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter empire.
Sorry, I haven't updated in so long school is tough and I have golf practice everynight so I haven't had anytime. So Please forgive me and review and I will try to update as fast as I can.
Chapter 2
As Hermione made her way through the large oak doors. She caught her breath and took a look around. It has been ages since she has last seen this school and being there now was a surprise. She left in such a hurry that she forgot why she had left this place. It was first of all her home and secondly her safe place. Here she had no worries and feared nothing but out there it was nothing but fear.
A lot has changed in these past ten years she thought to herself. Next to the doors where the counters used to stand was one large one, Hermione just figured that it was showing house unity.Also she noticed that there were no designations as she looked around when you got in you were put into a house but that's just where you were to sleep. The whole school was now your family. Looking around made Hermione remember why she was here and she slowly stepped to the doors that were holding her from her past.
Walking in was an achievement for Hermione. Looking around she recognized so many faces yetno one had recognized her yet. When thinking about it she was quite different than she remembered but she didn't think she was that different. Her hair was slightly darker, and it was a deep chestnut brown. Her face was a lot fuller that it used to be and her eyes seemed to be darkened with memories. She slowly walked through the decorated hall. The room now had many small tables instead of the four house tables. But at the top of the hall the staff table was still there but for now none of the teachers were there.
"Hermione, is that you?" questioned a face Hermione recognized as Lavender Brown. With that simple question people started crowding around Hermione. Slowly glancing around the large circle she noticed all the people she longed to forget when she left. Then taking one last look, she noticed Harry standing next to Ginny. And next to them she noticed Neville and Luna and so many others her friends at least they used to be. Not knowing what to say she just nodded her head and said yes. That's what she thought she had said.
"Where have you been?" asked Harry. As he was stepping forward to look her in the eyes because that was the one place she had yet to look.
"I . . . I. " Faltering, Hermione turned to leave and ran right into the arms that had kept her safe so many years back. Looking up she looked right into the grey orbs that were so familiar to her but looking into them noticed how different they were. They were the eyes of Draco Malfoy the one man she had loved more than anything and the one man she had hated. He was the reason she wanted to come back but was scared to.
"Hermione . . . " questioned Draco. Unable to say anything she just tried to leave again. But his grasp was too tight.
"Just let me go, I..I don't belong here anymore." Cried Hermione struggling to get out of his grasp. The only reason, Hermione wanted away was because she wasn't as ready as she thought she couldn't face them, face him.
"No! It's been ten years we are not ready to let you go again. We need answers' Hermione. We deserve them." Stated Draco. Behind him there was an air of agreement and Harry gallantly stepped forward and looked at her. She had changed he was certain of that but he could tell in her eyes she was hiding something. Something she didn't want anyone to know. And what did Draco have to do with this?
"Hermione, Malfoy's right, we do need answers. And you do to belong here, and you always have this is your home as much as it is everyone else's." Said Harry. Again, looking at her. This look was making Hermione very nervous it seemed that he was trying to read. She tried to look anywhere but him knowing if he looked into her eyes that, he would know every secret. Trying to get her to look at him, Harry asked what everyone wanted to know.
"Hermione, why did you leave without saying something to anyone?" Hermione looked even more nervous and then she started to cry.
"I was scared, and everything was changing so fast and . . . I..I didn't know what else to do. I lost everything and didn't want to be here to lose something else. After, Ron's, funeral it sank in and I . . . " cried Hermione as she slowly looked up to Draco. Draco saw it, in that one look that she was lying only partly. There was something bigger, something more life changing than an ex-boyfriends death.
"But Hermione you had all of us." Stated Harry grabbing Hermione's hand and causing Draco to let go. "We knew Ron's death would be hard on you but he wouldn't want you to leave your life behind because you were frightened he would want us to help you." Hermione looked up at him for the first time since arriving. His green eyes were misting and she knew that this was hard for him. Looking past him she saw Draco and her she cried. Not for Ron, which Harry believed it to be. But for the secret she kept from him. Harry then pulled her close and slowly whispered, "It will be all right we are here. We are not going anywhere." Harry noticing that she had stopped crying and saw that she was not staring at him turning around to see what had caught her gaze he sees Draco standing there locking eyes with Hermione. That's when Harry realized he was part of the reason she had left.
"Hermione." Harry says. "Hermione, what is going on?" looking back at her he sees her grab a locket and close her eyes.
"I was just remembering."
"Remembering what?"
"Hogwarts."
With this Hermione again closed her eyes.
It was Hermione's seventh year and this year she was head girl had a wonderful boyfriend, Ron and her own dorm room so there were no disturbances. Well there was one, Malfoy. He had recieved the honor of being head boy and tormenting Hermione whenever he decided to. But, he had yet to do so. Something was different in Malfoy, than in the years before. He only made fun of her in the hallways or in class but even that was a rare occasion. Because of this Hermione started to see a different Malfoy one that she really liked.
