Chapter Two
6th of June 1997-11:23pm
Hermione crawled as quietly as possible into bed, sliding her wand back under her pillow, she wandered how Draco had got it in the first place. She actually had a lot of confusion about what had just happened with Draco. With no chance of getting any answers, since as he had said, there was little chance of them ever seeing each other again. Hermione sighed and closed her eyes, there was no point thinking about it any further. She quickly slipped back asleep, her confused mind taking a break.
"Hermione wake up!" There was blur of ginger, as Ginny shook Hermione with a strange amount of strength, considering her skinny size. "The dark mark's been cast in the sky" Ginny shrieked, pointing out the window at the dark skull in the clouds. Hermione jumped out of bed and grabbed her wand, both the girls ran around the room waking Lavender and Parvati. All four girls ran out of the dormitory, running into some of the Gryffindor boys, including Ron. "What the bloody hell is going? Harry's missing and there's a dark mark in the sky. Everyones crowding outside in the court yard!" His ginger hair was sticking up in all directions and his eyes were huge like saucers. "We've got to find out what's going on" Hermione clutched onto Ron's arm and ran down the stairs, following behind Ginny, Neville and Luna.
Hermione's heart was pounding as they all finally made it down to the court yard and began squeezing through the crowd of students and teachers, trying to get to the front. "Harry" Ginny cried, running over to Harry, who knelt on the floor, near a body. Hermione watched as her two friends embraced and then her eyes wandered to the figure lying on the ground.
Her sobs caught in her throat as she recognised the kind, old face of her headmaster, lying peacefully on the cold ground, his skin turning a rather white complexion. She knew in every bone of her body, that he was dead.
She felt her knees buckle slightly, so she turned and leant her head on Ron, using him as a support. Ron wrapped one arm around Hermione's shoulders and pulled her in close. Hermione held back the tears, keeping her eyes on the three people, all who she cared about deeply, in the middle of the group. She glanced around and noticed that slowly people were starting to lift their wands in the air. Hermione followed suite and whispered the spell Lumos, lighting up the end. It was touching how everyone joined in raising their wands, in respect for Dumbledore's death, Hermione thought. Lighting up the dark night. Hermione watched as the Dark Mark faded away and everyone lowered their wands, leaving only the sound of crying, echoing across the stone walls.
20th of June 1997-11:23pm
Hermione waved her wand "wingardium leviosa" her suitcase wafted up into the air and landed in the storage area above the seats, as she directed it to. She sat down across from Harry and Ron, both of whom were still solemn. Neither of them had really spoken since Dumbledore's death. Harry had spent the rest of that night with his head in Ginny's lap, crying. Ron had walked around the common room, sniffling and mumbling "bloody hell" again and again. Everyone had been in a state of shock and no one wanted to say something that was insensitive or gave the impression of being un affected by the tragedy.
The school had returned slightly back to normal in the past weeks, but it would never be the same. Not without Dumbledore.
But for Hermione there was an extra sense of loss. Harry had told her about what had happened that night. How Draco had been un able to kill Dumbledore, but he had run off into the night with Snape and hadn't returned. How could she miss that blonde ferret boy? Even a little a bit, seemed impossible, but it was true. She wish she could have known everything before, so that she could watch out for him in the corridors, check if he really was watching her, waiting for a smile. Maybe then she could have smiled at him instead. School wasn't going to be the same without him.
28th of November 2001-3:56 pm
Hermione trudged through the snow, that had plastered along Diagon Alley. She had needed to quickly pop out and collect one of her last care of magical creatures books. She needed to learn as much as possible over the christmas holidays, to get a place at the ministry. Hermione wrapped her long, hand knitted woolen scarf, tighter around her neck and entered Flourish and Blotts.
Obviously she wasn't the only one needing to buy their last books before the christmas rush, where every single store would become crammed full of people, desperate to buy presents. Hermione knew exactly what she needed. She slipped past a group of Ravenclaw students, buying potions manuals. It saddened her slightly, watching them laughing happily, dressed in the familiar Hogwarts uniform. The best times of her life had been at that school and she still missed it. Everything had been exciting, dangerous and fun. Now life was kind of, normal. She lived a normal, wizard life, with a bit of muggle thrown in.
Hermione grabbed a large black book, marked 'Mythical Beasts of Mount Hermon', it was large and looked quite new, probably since the creatures had only just been found and so the books were still trying to correct their information, but it would have to do. The Ministry demanded that she know every creature out there, well known or not. With a quick push through the large, coated groups. Hermione got to the desk and payed for her book, placing it inside her bag of holding for safe keeping. She then moved outside and stood under a shop window, pulling out the small pin cushion from her bag, that she and Ginny had bewitched as a port key back to their flat. They both carried around one. Hermione touched the silk fabric and felt the familiar, head whirling feeling, as she was apparated back to her living room.
"Thanks. Now there's snow everywhere" Ginny grumbled. She was sitting down on their largest purple sofas, a hot chocolate clasped in her hands. The spoon twirled round by it's own accord and four small marshmallows literally danced across the brown liquid surface, as if they were ice skating. One of George's new ideas probably. Hermione had always thought it had been brave of him to carry on the business he had created with his brother. It payed respects to his memory, specially since George refused to remove Fred's face from the packaging. The business had been a huge success, with every Hogwarts student spending most of their spare money apparently on Weasley sweets and tricks. Of course Ginny demanded that she try every one of the products, sometimes with horrendous consequences. The Balloon Bubble Gum had worked too well and Ginny's whole body had inflated, until she was hovering above the floor. Her cheeks too swollen, so she couldn't even spit out the gum. In the end she had to wait two hours for the side effects to go away.
Hermione took off her winter boots and coat, before returning to the living room. She pointed her wand down at the floor and grinned, as the snow melted away. Scourigify really was a great spell, specially since it meant they never had to do the dishes or own a dishwasher. "What snow?" Hermione said, faking confusion. "Very clever" Ginny mumbled, taking a sip from her drink. "Can I have one of those?" Hermione asked, walking towards the kitchen. "Sure, the marshmallows are in a blue tin, next to the bread bin. Just make sure you don't take more then four, other wise they collide into each other and your hot chocolate goes everywhere." Hermione nodded and began preparing her hot beverage. "So what you done today?" She asked cheerfully, peering at the new love bites on Ginny's neck. "Harry been over?" Ginny just glanced back and smirked, "possibly." Hermione could always tell when Harry had been over, while she was away. Because when she returned, Ginny was always exhausted, covered in love bites and very, very happy. Like over the moon, could dance in the rain, happy. "What about you? Any good looking boys in Diagon Alley?" Hermione sighed. Ever since her and Ron had broken up, two years ago, Ginny had been personally boy hunting for her, so that they go out on double dates. The horror. The truth was, no one ever caught Hermione's eye. Ron had been her true love, but after a while they had realised that their love had been based on their emotionally fueled life together as students and it wouldn't work as well in the normal world. So they broke it off. Much to the disappointment, but understanding of everyone else.
"Not unless your counting those who are still students at Hogwarts and I certainly am not. Not really the kind of girl who goes for a toy boy." Ginny laughed heartily and pulled her knees against her chest, so that Hermione could squeeze on the sofa next to her. "Oh well. You'll find someone soon, or I'll find someone for you. I'm hell bent on it." Hermione smirked and winked at her best girl friend. "I know you are."
As they sat drinking their hot chocolate. Their owl, Dobby, flew up and perched on the window outside. Tapping at the glass with the top of it's fluffy brown head. Ginny got up and opened up the window, letting a breath of cold air in, with the owl. She took a small white letter from it's beak and stared at the front. "Letter for you" she sighed, "I never get any mail!" Hermione took the letter, studying the ever so slight weight of it at one corner. "It's probably just a letter from the ministry about my application."
Hermione gently pulled the letter open and slipped the parchment out. Admiring the perfect, neat black hand writing. This person had obviously done calligraphy. She gazed at the words and tried to make sense of them. They were annoyingly and tantalizingly vague. "It's been a long time since we've talked. It would be good to see you again. I will be waiting for you at the Leaky Cauldron, tomorrow at 8pm. X" It was so mysterious, Hermione had no idea who it could be. Ginny took the letter from her and read it, as Hermione peered at the small object inside the envelope.
Her heart jolted as she noticed what was inside. "I wonder who it's from?" Ginny said, turning the letter over in her hand. "I think I might know" Hermione whispered, gently taking out the object. It was a small red rose petal, that had been pierced with a dainty red, heart earring. Hermione knew exactly who the letter was from, she just didn't know whether she should go. Follow her heart or her head.
Hey guys so I've decided to carry on this story, so hope your excited and you've enjoyed the second chapter. Review pretty please!