Waiting and Hoping
Chapter 12
Hermione walked down the stairs slowly, her hand gripped the handrail, The Burrow was becoming more familiar with each step, and it felt like she was waking up from a long dream.
She felt as if she were recovering from the flu, she was cold. The type of cold that ran deep into your bones, like a bitter winter's day. She entered the kitchen where she found Ron and Ginny surrounded by a mountain of photo albums and picture frames. Ginny looked up and beamed at her,
"Hermione, sit down, I'll get you some breakfast, do you want tea or coffee?" she said as she stood up
"Tea please" Hermione replied taking a seat next to Ron and picking up a picture frame from the table, it contained a photo from their final year at Hogwarts, Gryffindor had won the house cup. Hermione was stood in between Harry and Ron, they were all grinning like Cheshire cat's.
"I remember that day" said Hermione slowly "I was so happy, yet so sad", Ron looked at the picture and smiled
"I was great to think that we had still won the cup after all that had happened, but it was sad to think that we would be leaving...and that Hagrid was gone" he said quietly
Ginny placed the mug of tea in front of Hermione and she took a sip, feeling the warmth spread through her body.
They spent the morning devouring the photo albums, Hermione felt like her mind was returning, she had yet to smile a true smile, but even with Hermione those were rare. The smile that Ron craved had yet to make an appearance but he saw the old Hermione returning.
In the afternoon Ron and Ginny took Hermione to Diagon Alley to get a new wand, her old one had been snapped when she went to Azkaban. They also went to see Tonks and the new baby.
She was called Charlotte and was, as Hermione said absolutely gorgeous. Tonks had spent the morning trying to choose a new crib as Charlotte was too big for her first one already.
They returned to the Burrow at 5pm to prepare for the party. Molly had spent the entire afternoon preparing enough food to feed a medium size army and had hung a big banner in the living room which read 'Welcome home Hermione' in big bold letters.
Hermione had spent the earlier part of the evening having a long hot bath and choosing which robs to wear. Although she still felt slightly shaky and ill, her time with Ron, and Ginny of course had improved her greatly, she was beginning to feel how she felt not just before Azkaban but before she killed her parents.
She sat in front of the mirror in Ginny's old room, she had chosen pale blue robes which Ginny had brought, along with her other clothes from her old cottage. She was looking at herself in the mirror, her hair was as bushy as every, yet it seemed to be calming down slightly. She tied it into a knot at the back of her head and brushed the stray strands behind her ears. She picked up her wand and headed downstairs.
In the kitchen she found Molly stirring a large bowl of soup, she looked up as Hermione entered,
"Hello dear, you look lovely, did you have a nice bath?" she asked kindly
"Yes thank you, and thank you so much for everything Mrs. Weasley" she replied
"Molly dear, and its not a problem at all, I see you as my second daughter you know. We're eating out in the garden, there's not enough room in here and it's a lovely summers evening" Hermione smiled and went outside.
Many people had gathered in the Weasley's garden, people that Hermione had not seen for a long time.
"Hermione, it's so good to see you!" said Remus coming over to her and pulling her into a hug;
"It's good to see you too Remus, and congratulations, Charlotte is beautiful" Remus beamed at her,
"Yes she is, we've left her with Hannah Abbott tonight, she's got number two on the way and wanted some practice, Neville's here though" Hermione smiled slightly, Neville and Hannah had been one of the most surprising couples to come out of Hogwarts but everyone agreed that they complemented each other perfectly. They already had a son called Frank, after Neville's father.
"Miss Granger, it's wonderful to see you again, how are you?" said Professor McGonagall joining Remus and Hermione
"I'm getting there thank you Professor" she replied
"Now Hermione have you thought about a job?" asked Remus
"No, not really, I suppose I'll just go back to filing" she replied with a slightly pained expression on her face
"Nonsense Hermione, you always have been the brightest witch of your age!" said Remus
"If you would consider it Miss Granger we have a post for transfiguration teacher that needs filling, poor Professor Bryant's heart really wasn't in it, he left at the end of last year. I would be thrilled to have you working at Hogwarts, will you think about it" Hermione smiled again at the compliments, she had always wanted to work at Hogwarts, it would also mean that she would have a new home, she looked up at her old Professor and smiled again,
"I really don't need to think about it Professor, I'd love to" Professor McGonagall beamed at her, a truly rare sight.
"That's wonderful Hermione, I will send you the appropriate information in the morning" and with that Professor McGonagall moved away to talk to Molly and Hermione saw Ron approaching.
"Ron, I've got a job, Transfiguration teacher at Hogwarts!" she exclaimed brightly
"Really? Merlin that's great! I've got a job there too; I'm going to be the new flying teacher!"
"That's brilliant!" she said with a smile that light up her entire face and defeated her Azkaban eye's, it was the smile that Ron had been waiting for, he pulled her into a hug and silently thanked his former Head of House for bringing the smile back to him.
A/N The story is getting much happier now! Only 5 days to go now! Thank you to my brilliant reviewers! Please keep reviewing!
Love you all
Laura
xxx