A/N: I don't own Harry Potter or any related characters

It shouldn't have happened. It really shouldn't have. Hermione was all prepared to start her life after the war in the way everyone thought she would. She and Ron had been dating since the war ended. That had changed when the school had reopened.

"Why would I want to go back there? I don't need to. I'm an auror, 'Mione and that's what Harry and I always dreamed of being. I don't see why you think it's a good idea to go back, it'll be boring without us."

"Ginny, Luna, and Neville will be there," Hermione countered. Ron just shook his head and sighed as Hermione started making a list of the books she'd need.

"Fine, but I'm going to be busy doing important auror things," he said after a moment. "I won't be able to visit much."

"It's fine, Ron. I'll be focusing on my studies anyway. I think I'm going to focus on ancient runes again, it seems like something I might need later."

"For what? I doubt the kids are going to care if you can read some ancient language."

"Ron, that's years down the road," Hermione laughed, giving him a quick kiss before heading off to get the supplies on the list. They'd been having this same argument since the owl arrived welcoming them both to attend a final year. Ron had obviously declined.

Hermione looked around the platform, her lips forming a frown. Ron hadn't even come to see her off. She'd hoped he'd make it, but apparently not.

"Don't worry, Hermione. I'm sure he's busy doing something important," Ginny said, putting a hand on Hermione's shoulder. Hermione couldn't believe how Ginny had shot up over the summer holidays, being a full head taller than Hermione at this point.

"Oh, look, there's Neville!" Luna exclaimed, grabbing Ginny's hand and dragging her away. Hermione gave them both a wistful smile as she climbed onto the train, wondering if they would find her later or if she should just pick somewhere to sit. Finally she chose an empty compartment, figuring if they wanted to sit with her, they'd find her. The train chugged off with a jostle, but Hermione had gotten used to it over the years. As the train pulled away from the station, she kept looking, hoping to see Ron before it left, but slowly the station became nothing more than a speck in the distance. Ron hadn't come. She'd just have to accept that fact.

"Bloody first years," a voice grumbled from the corridor. Hermione fought back a laugh. The first years did seem smaller and more mischievous this year, if the ones she'd seen at the station were any indication. The door to her compartment slid open.

"Excuse me, is anyone sitting here?"

"Come on in," she called out, trying to place the voice. She was sure she'd heard it before, but then again, she'd been away from the wizarding world for most of a year. Her eyes widened as Percy stepped in, his button down shirt crumbled, the left hem of his slack leg splattered with what appeared to be chocolate. His glasses were slightly askew.

"Percy? What are you doing here?" she asked as he sat down.

"Teaching, if you can believe it."

"Better not be Defense," she blurted out. Her cheeks flushed brightly with embarrassment. Percy, however, after adjusting his glasses just laughed slightly.

"No, I wouldn't dream of trying to teach that. I'd be completely hopeless at it. No, I'm teaching numberology for the year. Are you taking that subject? I seem to remember you mentioning like it?"

Hermione bit her lower lip. She'd thought about taking it, but now, with Percy being the teacher, now she wasn't so sure.

"Ron didn't come to see me off," she said, changing the subject even though she didn't consciously know why.

"He's a git," Percy muttered. "I know he's my brother, but what could be more important than seeing his witch off?"

"He thinks me coming back to school is a waste of time," she said softly. "Probably part of the reason he didn't come."

"Education is important and that is why when Professor McGonagall asked me if I wanted to teach I said 'yes'," he said, nodding his head. Hermione gave him a slight smile. Why did it feel like her stomach was filled with butterflies? There was nothing to be nervous about. Yes, things would be different at Hogwarts, but it was still school. It couldn't have anything to do with the wizard sitting across from her.

"So what happened with the first years?"

"Ran straight into me chasing a chocolate frog of all things. If I could have taken points from them-"

"I'm sure you'd have done the same at that age."

"Maybe. You never did answer me about taking numberology this year."

"I'm not sure, honestly. I know I'm taking runes, but I mean-"

"Is it became I'm going to be teaching it? You think I'll do that badly?"

Hermione shook her head quickly.

"No, of course not, it's just... it's silly in a way. I kind of had a sort of crush on you, back when we were in school together and you've heard all the stupid things about me being a teacher's pet and all that, I just...I don't want to give them something to talk about."

"You're with Ron."

"True," she answered, looking out the window as the train pulled to a stop. She rose to her feet, giving Percy a smile.

"I wish you'd consider taking my class, at least then I'd have one friendly face," Percy said, rising ot his own feet. They stepped off the train and into the night air. Hermione had barely taken a few steps when someone grabbed her arm. She turned quickly.

"Ginny? What's wrong?"

"You're not going to believe it!" Ginny exclaimed, her face red with rage as she handed Hermione a sheet of parchment. "Remember how the Prophet was going to start doing those real time articles, where it updated on its own?"

"Vaguely?"

"Well, look at the newest headline in the gossip section, there's a photograph too," she added. Hermione looked down at the photograph of Ron and Lavender wrapped up in each others' arms, their lips locked as the clock in the background chimed silently.

"He was with her? Instead of seeing me off?" she nearly screamed.

"Apparently didn't realize he was going to get caught," Ginny said. "Want me to hex him for you?" she asked. "I can do it next time he shows up here to see you?"

"No, I've got a better idea," Hermione said, her eyes landing on Luna who was currently talking to Colin Creevey. "Colin! Do you have your camera?" she called out. He ran over holding it up.

"Hermione? You wanted a photograph?"

"Yes, me and the newest professor," she said, grabbing Percy and pulling him to her. Percy glanced at her, at the paper in her hand, at the photograph of Ron and Lavender. His eyes widened as he looked at Hermione again.

"Percy, would you like to help me get a bit of revenge on Ron?" she asked. "It would involve me definitely not taking numberology with you though," she added with a smirk. Percy blinked, his thoughts putting together Hermione's plan.

"I would like that very much," he stated.

Hermione turned to Colin.

"Ready?"

"Ready!" he said, holding up the camera and snapping a photograph just as Hermione and Percy's lips met for the first time. The kiss lasted a minute before they parted.

"Ginny, make sure Ron sees that," Hermione said, linking arms with Percy as they headed to the castle to get some dinner and discuss how their new relationship was going to affect Hermione definitely not taking numberology.