CHAPTER 3

GINNY'S ROOM

For some reason, Hermione was still sleeping and the world hadn't ended yet. It didn't make any sense because she always woke up before 7 and it was already 1 noon. Surprisingly more, it was Ron's birthday and usually it was she who wished him first. Well, it was time to wake her up.

"…mione. Hermione. HERMIONE."

"Hm," she murmured in her sleep.

"HERMIONE"

"Oh Ginny! What is it?"

"It's 1 o'clock."

"Why would you wake me up at midnight?" cuddling in closer to the quilt.

"Shit!" she exclaimed as she woke up with a start.

"Ron, Harry and Luna are all downstairs."

"Luna. Oh…" as the events of the night replayed in her mind. She had hoped it was all a night mare. Apparently she was married to a stranger. If her status of being the brightest witch of all times was true enough, she had the faintest idea of who it could be.

Reluctantly she got up from the bed, "You go ahead, Ginny. I will join you in a minute."

Ginny left and Hermione closed the door of the room both she and Ginny shared.

In twenty minutes, she was ready and went downstairs dreading the fact that she had to face Ron.

"Ah look! The sun is up," the twins never ceased to amuse her.

"Hello darling. You should have woken me up when you came, Hermione. Did you eat anything?" Molly was being the sweet-heart as always.

"Yes Aunt Molly. Besides Harry was there," glancing at Ron hand-in-hand with Luna.

"Hi Ron. Happy Birthday!"

He just nodded in acknowledgement.

For some reason, she was happy that she wasn't married to Ron. If he could move on so easily…

Harry cut into her thoughts, "Mione, we are going to Hogsmeade. Do you want to join us?"

"No, I think I will stay here and help Aunt Molly."

"No dear. Go and have fun. Besides, everything is ready."

"Ok."

In fifteen minutes, the group apparated to Hogsmeade.

HOGSMEADE

"Ron and I are going in to have our lunch date. Catch you guys later," said Luna as she dragged Ron along to Three Broomsticks Inn.

"I will go with the twins to Zonko's joke shop. Want to join me Harry?" asked Ginny.

"No. I have to pick up some books from Tomes and Scrolls. I will join you later."

"Ok. Bye Hermione."

Harry and Hermione walked their way to the book shop.

"What book do you want?"

"None"

What? That was surprising! The Boy-Who-Lived rarely lied but never to his girlfriend.

"So, can I assume you want to talk about what happened yesterday?"

"Yes"

"There is nothing we can do. And I'm not going to break it. There is so much at stake."

"I know. I know. But this S.S…"

"For all we know, it could be Stanley Shunpike"

"The conductor in Knight Bus?"

"Ya"

"It could be prof…"

"Do. Not. Say. It. I would rather wish it was Salazar Slytherin."

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

The classes had been as boring as usual. There were two boys scheduled for detention and he still didn't understand what made them think that forfeiting it would be a good idea. He had to report them to Dumbledore. It was ironically safe to say that a visit to the Forbidden Forest was in order.

PASSWORD

"Sherbet Lemon"

He entered his office to find the head master in the middle of his afternoon nap. He turned to go when he heard Albus call his name.

"Well. Well. Well. What is my favorite teacher doing here without giving his students detention?"

"I came to report that Mr. Teddy Lupin and Mr. Jason Riley are bold enough to forfeit my detention."

"Ah those two gentlemen! I, myself, sent to the Whomping Willow with Argus Filch. They will report to detention tomorrow."

"Ok. I will help myself out."

"Wait, Severus. It's the weekend. You should go to Prince Manor. Maybe you can clean up."

"I'm not going to live there for a while."

"You just got your inheritance. It would be nice if you pay a visit."

"I guess."

"See you later, professor."

He missed the twinkling of the head master's eyes on seeing the faint glow on Severus' finger. It was a wonder that the owner hasn't noticed it yet.

BURROW

"Ron, don't you think you should talk to Hermione? You didn't even break it off with her officially."

"Harry, she rejected me not once but twice. I'm pretty sure she knows it is off."

"Still"

"Harry, I don't care for her any more. I shouldn't have gone out with her in the first place. I wish she doesn't come here anymore. I can't understand how she doesn't get the hint. I hate seeing her."

"Ron, don't be too harsh."

The bashing went on, both of them oblivious to the fact that Hermione was in the next room hearing everything crystal clear."

PRINCE MANOR

Snape entered the house. The inside of the house was coated with cobwebs. Thousands of dust particles danced and swirled in each ray of light that shone through.

"Tergeo"

The house looked good as new. The simple cleaning spell was enough. The house wasn't bad after all. He had no memory of the house and was sure wouldn't have any for days to come.

He had no idea how wrong he was.

BURROW

This was it. This was the last straw. She was never going to step into this house ever again.

Wiping her tears off, she stepped into the fireplace activating the Floo Network. She had lost the will power to say good-bye. She could owl Harry later. Sprinkling some floo powder, she uttered the name of the place that had been her safe haven for years, "Home."

(TO BE CONTINUED)