"Mr. Watson, Mr. Campbell, you have exactly four minutes to get to your rooms without running. Seeing that it would take at least seven minutes to get there in a full run, and you only have four… ten points from Ravenclaw each. Now, without running, go quickly to your rooms. Oh, and gentlemen," the boys who had been scurrying away stopped and looked over their shoulders, "don't let it happen again."
"Yes Professor" said the boys in unison as they turned race walking to their rooms.
Hermione said this practically without breathing and with such routine that her private thoughts were barely interrupted. She had been thinking that after 5 years with almost non-stop activity she needed a vacation away from everything and everyone. She had graduated in three years from Oxford as a Potions and Charms Mistress, and had been hired immediately by Minerva. The initial terms of her employment were to assist Professor Flitwick and the Potion Mistress, Henrietta Johansson with the lower level classes.
As Ron would say, Professor Johansson was two years past her expiration date. Consequently, a "slip and slide" incident involving the contents of a punch bowl at the Halloween Ball initiated a nervous breakdown for the unstable potion's mistress. Fortunately, she saved face with the student body, because many thought it was a new dance craze. Soon after, she wisely retired; leaving Hermione to take over all of the potion classes.
Even though Hermione didn't want to think about Professor Snape she often wondered how he had kept all the potions classes fairly accident free. She had had ten non- fatal explosions, all but two seen in the Hospital Wing, and that was just in the remainder of that first year. So this year she took a page out of Professor Snape's book and began using a sterner demeanor, and it seemed to be working. She also continued in Charms as before with the lower level classes; it kept her busy, but then she liked busy, less time to think.
Unfortunately, it wasn't just less time to think, it was less time for everything. She had imagined herself with two published research articles and a serious relationship by now. Neither had happened. So here she was mid May of her second year with nothing but her job.
She had tried dating at Oxford but it was a bust, nobody was truly interesting to her or she to them.
John Trent had made it through more dates than most, but ironically, she had loved John's family, but not John. Oh, she loved John as a friend but that was it.
This was the theme of her life, ' friends, friends everywhere, and none to date.' She had literally gone out with all the available Weasley's at least once or twice; but it was nigh unto incest. She had even dated Neville a couple of times... nothing. Then there was Madam Pince's nephew, he had been surprisingly cute, but undoubtedly gay, and apparently still in the closet, at least with his family. There was one blessing though; she and Harry never tried dating, they just knew better.
Hermione seemed to be the girl men dated before settling down. Nice to know you have a function in life she thought. Charlie married a gal he had dated previously from Romania, Tasha. He was the Care of Magical Creatures Professor and Tasha was expecting their first. Bill had already been engaged to Fleur at the time of the final battle; they recently had their second. Neville married Ginny. He was working from home; having a very successful export business of rare plants and potion ingredients. Hermione bought almost exclusively from him. Harry was dating Luna and it looked serious from all indications. Ron was still playing the field as was George, but she thought for different reasons. Ron was just having fun. George…. George seemed afraid to be attached to anyone again, although he seemed to come back to Lavender over and over; she had matured a lot and had dated Fred briefly in school, so there was an unspoken understanding.
The bottom line, Professor Granger was the eternal sister to all the men in her life, and probably, the soon to be spinster known as Aunt Hermione.
Tomorrow was just another testament to her state of affairs. She was attending the senior voice recital of her "little sister" Nina, who was actually John's sister. Nina had a beautiful voice, and other than seeing John and the Trents, they always were trying to get her and John back together, Hermione was looking forward to it.
Since the interaction with the Ravenclaw boys earlier, she had made it around the castle once, and she wasn't even on duty. This was par for the course, Hermione frequently delayed going to her rooms and more specifically going to bed. She often volunteered for night patrol or would study after hours in the Library. Madam Pince had even given her an extra set of keys. Sometimes like tonight, she would just wander around the castle often ending up in the Astronomy Tower.
She stood there looking over the ledge, sometimes jumping would flash through her mind, but not tonight, she had had a rough day and was actually sleepy. Defeated, she headed to her rooms.
That night the nightmares came as always; they came sometimes with dead friends, sometimes basilisks, spiders, or Snape; and sometimes all of them combined. They would vary in detail and location; she might be in the chamber or some place normal like Rosmerta's, or the Great Hall, but the one's with Professor Snape frightened her most. He/it never hurt her in the dreams, but often she saw the image of him on top of Voldamort with his fangs out. Snape was always transforming when Hermione thought that there would be no surprises; when she thought she was safe. In one recurring dream, he would be teaching potions and would come to look in her caldron; and when he would go to stir it for color, all of a sudden, his hand would become a spider pincer, and then she would look up and see an eight-eyed creature hovering over her. She always woke up in a sweat and very often screaming. She took dreamless sleep potion, but was scared of abusing it; also, she noticed after taking it over a few successive days, she would become agitated; apparently, people needed their dreams.
Hermione, like many of her comrades in arms, had been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. Sometimes she demonstrated it in an exaggerated startle reflex, in other instances, she would zone out and lose time, but most often it was demonstrated in anxiety attacks; they would begin with a claustrophobic feeling, which she had learned to identify quickly and intercept with a calming draught.
Hermione woke the next day and dressed in her everyday robes. She pulled out a non-wrinkle muggle dress and shrunk it down so it fit in her pocket. She needed to stop at the apothecary before going into London.
Hermione apparated into Diagon Alley and made her way leisurely to the apothecary; window-shopping here and there, until she found herself at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes.
The bell rang and George looked up, "Hermione! Hey Ron, Hermione's here." George came out from behind the counter and gave her a big hug.
"George how's business?" Hermione asked breathlessly in his tight squeeze.
"Good, how are teaching the dunderheads?" George said realizing he was squishing her.
"Same." she said straightening her robes.
Ron came from the back, "Hermione, how are you, how's teaching the dunderheads?" George looked at Hermione and they both laughed.
"You two have been working together too long." Hermione said smiling.
"What?" Ron said confused looking from one to the other; " I'm missing something aren't I?"
"I'll explain it later." George waved him off, turning towards Hermione, "So what brings you to the alley today Professor Granger?"
"I just needed to stop at the apothecary," she stated looking around the shop.
"Really, why not Hogsmeade?" said Ron.
"Jiggers has the best for what I need," Hermione said quickly changing the subject, "Anyway I just stopped in to say hi, I have a few other things to do too."
Just then, a customer walked in and said, "Excuse me… could you help me? It's my son's birthday and here's the list."
Ron said, "I'll be happy to help you with that Madam" and then in a whisper turned to Hermione and gave her a big hug. "See you soon."
"Ok", she said in a low voice giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Well," turning to George, "I better leave you to it."
"Yeah, it was sure nice to see ya'."
"You too", she looked into his eyes, "How's Lavender?"
"Good" he said sheepishly irritated, "I guess anyway, she seemed good when I saw her last...you know me."
Giving him a kiss, "Yes George I know you."
"See ya 'Mione"
"You did that just to aggravate me George Weasley"
" That'll teach ya," he smiled and turned.
Smirking, Hermione left the store and headed down to Slug & Jiggers.
"Good day Mistress Granger" an older male voice announced.
'Good Day Mr. Jiggers, do you have anything new today?" Hermione asked politely just making conversation.
"As a matter of fact I do," said the portly man excitedly.
"Really," Hermione said distantly while examining the fresh herbs, obviously Neville's.
"Right here Mistress Granger," sticking a bottle in her face, "A sweet dreams potion from a new label. I can barely keep it on the shelves."
Hermione looked at the bottle. "What an odd brand name. What is this name Vilassar?"
"I had wondered myself and looked it up, apparently it's a city in Catalonia," the man said looking at the bottle thoughtfully through his nose tipped spectacles.
Hermione examined it. The label had a stark look, but the name itself was romantic. "How many doses per bottle?" she asked.
"That's just the thing, it is concentrated and is enough for two weeks." He said; proud that he had found something that truly interested her.
"Really, how fascinating." She held the bottle to the light. "Well, I will take one to try and one to test."
"Very good Mistress Granger, should I add that to your regular order?" he enquired.
"Yes, I wonder if this label has that also." She said thinking aloud.
"Why yes it does," he said interested.
"Well" she said with an air of decision, "let me try this first before doing anything rash."
"I know Mr. Lupin must appr-"
"Mr. Jiggers, discretion." she reminded him with a polite scolding tone.
"Yes of course Mistress I apologize."
"Well, Hoogan's potion has suited quite well." Hermione said absently.
"You know I think this new label will give Hoogan's a run for its money." Since Mr. Jigger's customer was now thinking of other things, he cleared his throat and said, "Will you be paying for the next three months Mistress Granger?"
Coming out of her thoughts, "What? Oh no. There are five moon cycles left before the summers over, let's do that."
"Very good." he said.
The bill settled, she left making her way towards the Leaky Cauldron. It had been Hermione's habit to come in every 4 months or so and look at Mr. Jigger's merchandise and pay for Remus's wolfsbane potion. The proprietor would then send it to him anonymously. She berated herself for not mastering the potion like Professor Snape, but she hadn't had the time either, at least that is what she told herself.
As she walked, she thought, 'poor Remus', she knew her thoughts were of a literal and figurative poverty. Even being a war hero hadn't helped his status and financial situation. Minerva had offered him the DADA position, but a great offer came from a private company and he turned her down. Then when they found out he was a werewolf it suddenly 'fell through', and by then Minerva had already hired Jeremy Kister.
On the brighter side, Harry was passing on cases to Remus that the Aurors didn't want to deal with and that probably should be handled privately anyway. Remus was doing well with these and his name was getting around. He was also living at Grimmauld Place. Harry didn't want to live there, but he didn't really want to get rid of it either, so it was a perfect solution for both of them. Besides, Harry was fixing up Godric's Hollow, which was another sign he was serious about Luna.
So now Hermione was off to the conservatory, bracing herself for to be accosted with love by John's family. Hermione changed at the Leaky Cauldron and got some looks when she came out of the restroom. She thought it was because of the muggle clothing. She wasn't naïve though, she knew she had a nice body, but she usually just buried it under her robes and put out an oblivious asexual vibe. At times this didn't work, which in turn made her feel uncomfortable; she liked being invisible.
Hermione arrived with perfect timing, just long enough to say a proper hello to John and the Trent's, and yet short enough she to be excused to find a seat. Nina sang beautifully, she even sang an Italian song titled with her name. Then toward the end Nina sang a sad sounding song. She first did the song in English, it was about a soldier going to war, and then she sang it in what sounded like French but not quite, but both times the song ended distinctly with the name Vilassar.
Hermione gave the girl a gentle hug, "Oh Nina that was wonderful!"
"Thanks for coming Hermione," and then in a conspiratorial whisper said, "and for putting up with my family."
"It was my pleasure. Now may I ask a question? That song about the soldier, was that some sort of French?"
"No, well they have a similar base, but it was a Catalonian folksong", Nina responded trying not to be rude, but still looking to see who else was in the auditorium.
"And that name Vilassar?" Hermione hurried sensing Nina's distraction.
"I believe it's a city there."
"Thanks Nina, I'll talk to you later, your public awaits you." Hermione hugged her and left.
Nina's words stuck with her, as did the name on the bottles in her pocket. Twice in one day, Trelawny would say it was a sign. Maybe it was. She would try the potion from Vilassar and if it worked, she would owl the travel agent and see if Catalonia was as nice as it sounded; if so she would see about a cottage for the summer.
Hermione slept that night like she hadn't slept in years, and when Snape came to her, he almost looked pleasant, no surprises. She dreamed of many things that night… all truly sweet.
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Catalonia- is today one of the 17 autonomous communities that constitute the Kingdom of Spain.