In which we see a confident Hermione. Don't worry, Viktor will be on the scene soon!
Chapter 3
Wednesday, she went to visit Ginny with a souvenir from the weekend trip. Ron and Harry, polishing their brooms, sensed something subtly different about Hermione but continued their chat.
"Sooo, how was your weekend getaway with Brent? I'm living vicariously through you since I can't just go away with Harry whenever I feel like it."
"Soon, Gin, soon," Harry said and winked.
Hermione hooked an arm through hers. "Let's go outside for a stroll."
"Wow, must be good."
"Spare me," Ron mumbled.
Outside, the two talked about life and love and stopped in front of the kitchen window. Hermione glanced around and sat on the ground. She patted the ground next to her for Ginny.
"Has your mum ever talked to you about sex?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, the basic birds and bees talk, why?"
Ron tip-toed to the window to listen. Harry shook his head furiously and waved him away. Ron rolled his eyes and stayed at the window. Harry sighed and joined him. Hermione went on to explain how wanton she felt after just that first shag with Brent, and how she shamelessly took him again.
"Hermione, you're reading too much into this. You enjoyed it, right?"
"Fuck, did I ever."
Ron and Harry looked at each other pointedly. It must have been good to hear prim and proper Hermione using less than stellar language.
"And were the girls in the dorm ever right! Giving head is good, and did he ever return the favor-"
Harry covered his ears and silently mouthed, "NO!NO!NO!"
Ron felt sick to his stomach. I've loved her for years and all I got was a kiss. She sees this bloke for a couple of weeks and she's shagging and giving him head? What am I doing wrong?
"Hermione!" Ginny hissed and giggled. "Please, no more! You're making me crazy and I'll have to go find Harry!"
"Well, if you're going to do anything, safe sex of course, I recommend you go to the woods or something like that. I looked it up-"
Ginny snorted. "Of course."
"-and found that witches have a more innate connection with nature, so when you do as nature intended, the result is nothing less than spectacular," Hermione concluded.
Harry had a contemplative look on his face that Ron tried his best not to notice. So did Ginny.
"Herms, Harry and I haven't had sex yet, he swears mum will find out. Waiting until our wedding night is-"
"What? Marriage? Is it that serious between you two?"
Ginny grinned and nodded.
"That's just... wow. Really, that's great, I'm happy for you."
"What about Brent?"
Hermione chuckled. "We've come to an understanding. We're fond of each other, but it's mainly a fun, physical thing for the summer. We're both going back to school in the fall, far away from each other, studying our arses off. A relationship just won't work and I do plan on marrying a wizard and making magical babies. With those two factors in mind, I'm just enjoying our time together."
"So you do want it all? Career, family, all of it?"
"Yes, why not? Now all I have to do is find the right wizard for the job," Hermione said.
Harry and Ron left the window in a mild state of shock. Maybe they didn't know their friend as well as they thought. A fun, physical thing?
Two weeks before the start of school, Ginny apparated to the Grangers and excitedly showed off her Head Girl badge. No one was home when the post arrived, so she went to find Hermione.
"Congratulations," Evie offered. "I think Hermione knew it would be you when she turned down the offer."
"I'm so proud of you! You're seventeen now, let's go to Diagon Alley and I'll buy you a celebratory drink. We need to get our school stuff anyway."
"You turned down Head Girl? WHY?" Ginny asked, dumbfounded.
"Wasn't interested," Hermione said with a shrug. "You'll be better."
Ginny wasn't so sure. The Head Girl post was something that Hermione seemed born for. At Diagon Alley, Hermione treated Ginny to a ten-galleon-a-flute Elven-Made wine. Ginny protested that it was too much.
"Nonsense, I can afford it," Hermione said and sipped the excellent vintage. "You deserve it. Best get used to it."
"Why?"
"Harry has enough money for ten lifetimes and he plans to spoil you."
"How do you know that?"
"I was there with him at Gringotts when he settled his affairs and bought them a new dragon. He talks about pampering you all the time."
"He never talks to me about it."
"Because he knew you'd protest, like you're doing now."
"Oh."
"Drink up, it's delicious."
The morning of September 1st, Hermione met the Weasleys at King's Cross to see Ginny off.
"How are you holding up?" Ginny asked.
"It was harder than I thought to say goodbye to Brent," Hermione admitted.
"At least you have some good memories," Ginny said.
"The best," Hermione said and the train whistle blew.
"I'll be along tonight in time for the sorting feast. McGonagall wants the returning students present for the announcements."
That evening, Hermione apparated to the point McGonagall indicated weeks ago, a spot outside the rear castle doors.
She heard "Hermione?" and turned around to see who spoke her name. There stood Parvarti with three others; Neville, Dean Thomas and Susan Bones.
"Parvarti, Dean, Susan, great to see you," Hermione said and greeted them with quick hugs. "Do you know of any others returning?"
"Yeah, some of them arrived earlier," Dean said.
"Your sister?" she asked Parvarti.
Parvarti rolled her eyes in response. "Would you believe she went off and got married over the summer?"
As they chatted, pops of apparition were heard. Ernie MacMillan, Terry Boot, and Diana Madley joined the growing group.
"Ugh, that's the last time I do that," Diana said, rubbing her temples. "I'll floo from my flat from now on."
"Everyone ready?" Hermione asked.
"Are you Head Girl?" Parvarti asked.
Hermione shook her head and smiled. "No, someone better was chosen."
"Who would be better than our very own heroine, the smartest girl in school?" Terry asked.
"Ginny Weasley," Hermione answered.
"Is it true she's seeing Harry?" Parvarti asked at a conspiratorial whisper.
Hermione nodded. "Yes, but it's no secret," she whispered.
"And what about you? Hot and heavy with Ron yet?"
"Absolutely not," Hermione said shortly.
"Oh?"
"Ask me later."
"Oh, I will. My summer's been quite ordinary, aside from my sister's wedding. I need something new to talk about." She cocked her head to the side and peered at Hermione. "You've changed, but in a good way. Since my sister left, there's been a shortage of girl talk."
Some things never change! Hermione thought.
At the sorting feast, Hermione politely clapped for the new first years as they were sorted and welcomed the new Gryffindors. Minerva made the usual announcements, with her own flair of course.
"Now, to another matter. As you may have noticed, we have some among us who have returned to finish their education, despite last term's unfortunate circumstances."
Hermione and the others looked at each other pointedly. Unfortunate circumstances?
"Will these eighth years as I have come to know them, please rise? You've overcome much to return to Hogwarts and you deserve recognition, including an Order of Merlin heroine, Miss Hermione Granger. I bid all of you a warm welcome back to Hogwarts."
The Gryffindors began the applause that spread to the other houses and when Minerva clapped and spread her arms, the feast appeared at the tables.
"I've sure missed this!" Dean said and grabbed a fork.
After dinner, Ginny ensured that the prefects were taking care of the first years. Hermione was assailed by autograph seekers, mainly the younger years.
"Is Harry Potter gonna come back?" a first year asked her.
"No, he's with the Aurors now."
"Can you ask him to come and see us?" another asked.
Hermione loved their bright, hopeful faces, so she ruffled his hair. "Of course I'll ask him."
"Walk with me to my dorm, oh famous one?" Ginny asked when Hermione signed the last autograph.
"Sure, I've always wondered what the head girl dorm looked like."
After the sorting feast, a group of 8th years was waiting for Hermione on the path to Hogsmeade. "We're all headed to The Three Broomsticks for a drink, want to tag along?" Dean asked.
"Why Mr. Thomas, I'd love to, lead the way," she said and accepted Dean's gallantly offered arm.
She slipped her arm in his and the group left the grounds. At the pub, Hermione treated everyone to a first round.
"You're a real pal, Hermione," Dean said and saluted her with his glass.
Parvarti swirled her straw in her drink and got Hermione's attention. "Okay Granger, spill it. What's up with you and Ron?"
Hermione sighed. "Nothing's up, I don't feel what he feels for me. I told him in June."
"I'll bet he wasn't happy to hear that."
"No, he wasn't. I hated to hurt him, but I can't go against my heart, you know? I just realized that he and I will never be a couple, no matter how much he wishes it."
She told Parvarti the story of that awkward day at the Weasleys.
"I was angry at his presumption there in front of everyone. In a way, I think he tried to back me into a corner, declaring that we were supposed to be together, just because he and everyone else thinks so. I won't put up with that, not from anyone."
"Good for you, Hermione."
"What does Harry think?"
"He's stays out of my love life, it kind of creeps him out."
The table laughed.
"That's how it is when you're a girl and your best friend is a guy."
"So, what was your summer fling?"
"A fling you say?" Hermione asked with a smile, took a long swig of her ale and told Parvarti all about Brent. They were joined by Susan Bones, Diana Madley, and Nicole Macdonald, who listened in rapt attention. At the end of the story, Parvarti was fanning herself.
"That's one hell of a tale, Hermione," Parvarti said.
"I really need a boyfriend," Diana and Nicole chorused.
"And here I was thinking that my summer in Brazil was exciting. I didn't meet a single bloke," Susan said.
"What in the world were you doing in Brazil?" Hermione asked.
"My family wanted to get away from England for a while," Susan said with a shrug.
"You got a great tan though," Parvarti commented.
The next morning, Hermione waved at people around the hall on her way to the Gryffindor table. She sat and chatted with some first years and savored the tasty fry-up. Ginny arrived, looking tired and frazzled while looking at some notes.
"Juice?" Hermione asked and held a glass for Ginny. "And to think, it's only the first day."
Ginny rested her face in her hands. "Some fourth years decided to go to the lake and tried to contact the mermaids, of all things. The squid had issues with them, of course, so early in the morning. Ghosts, moving staircases, moody squids... oh, and let's not forget some second years who fancied a duel in front of the trophy room. I've taken fifty points before breakfast."
"Where's your counterpart?" Hermione asked.
Ginny barked out a laugh. "The head boy? He's already in the infirmary, thanks to Peeves!"
"Gin, take a deep breath and calm down. This stuff is part and parcel at Hogwarts, isn't it? Use the prefects, delegate the responsibilities, you can't do everything by yourself."
"You should have been head girl, not me."
"Ginny, stop that. The headmistress wouldn't have given you the position if she didn't think you could handle it, so take her for example. She's the head of this school, but she wouldn't dare try to do everything by herself, she delegates responsibility with the professors."
At breakfast, the DADA professor and Head of Gryffindor, a medically retired Auror, made his rounds of the table, passing out class schedules.
"Miss Granger, might I see you for a few minutes after breakfast?" he asked.
"Certainly, Professor."
"What's that all about?" Dean asked.
"I have two free periods, Mcgonagall wants me to assist the DADA professor for those two periods," Hermione explained. "It'll look good on my record."
"You don't have to take Defense against the Dark Arts?" Parvarti asked.
"No, I got NEWT credit for it. Charms too."
"Hey, what do I have to do to get credit?" a sixth year asked.
Hermione raised a single eyebrow and stated, "Leave everything you know and love behind, take your parents to another continent without their knowledge, live in a tent for the better part of a year while trying not to get killed by Death Eaters, freeze to death or starve to death, endure torture, see your best friend dead in front of your eyes and after all that- fight a battle to the death in this very castle among giants, acromantulas, and more Death Eaters, then you can get credit."
The table was dead silent when she finished speaking.