Chapter 2: Over the Edge

Moments later Hermione reappeared in front of 12 Grimmauld place and immediately began to pound on the door relentlessly. It was raining heavily and Hermione was quickly soaked as she waited. A short time later the door was opened by a bright-eyed, flaming-haired, young woman. She looked shocked at the sight of Hermione who had taken on had appearance of a startled cat who has fell into a river. Ironically Crookshanks was bone-dry in his carry case. Instead of asking her why she was here, all Ginny said was 'I'll put the kettle' before ushering Hermione through the doorway.

After stepping through the threshold, Hermione removed the bag from her shoulder and placed that and Crookshanks case to the floor. She then locked eyes with Ginny and before she knew it she was in her arms, her body shaking with violent sobs. Ginny half dragged/ half pushed Hermione into the kitchen and gently eased her into the nearest chair. She quickly busied herself with making Hermione a strong cup of tea with an extra helping of sugar. She plonked the cup in front of her and began to wipe away at Hermione's tears.

'What's wrong darling?' worriedly asked Ginny. She had never seen her like this.

Hermione mumbled incoherently for a few tense minutes. She slowly began to tell Ginny about her and Ron's argument.

'That sexist pig! You wait Hermione, till I next see him. He won't know what's hit him' Ginny said furiously as Hermione finished up her story. At her words Hermione smiled feebly, 'And congrats babe, I'm so pleased for you, I can't wait till Harry get home. He'll be so proud of you and he might go and knock Ron out'.

'Thanks Gin, you always know the right thing to say' Hermione gushed, her tears now subsided, 'I was wondering if I could stay here? ...It would only be for two days before I go to live at Hogwarts'.

'Hermione, you can stay here as long as you like. You know you're always welcome here. I'll go make up one of the spare rooms whilst you finish your tea' Ginny finished with a warm smile.

'That's not ness-' Hermione began.

'Shh, You're not going to sleep on the sofa are you silly. Sit tight, I'll be back in 2 minutes'.

Hermione watched Ginny's retreating figure and took the time she had alone to reflect. Maybe it's a good thing we over, she thought, we were better off as friends anyway. I'm too young to settle anyway, that only works for some people. She thought of the pure wedded bliss which Harry and Ginny shared and realised that her and Ron had never looked at each other, the way they did. Yes, defiantly for the best, hopefully in time we can become friends again. I don't want to lose him in that sense. Hermione's thoughts were cut off as Ginny re-entered the room.

'I've put your things upstairs; I don't know how you managed that bag darling, I had to levitate it' Ginny started as she noticed Hermione's deep expression, you okay babe?'

Hermione nodded. Wordlessly Ginny walked over to a cupboard and a came back to the table with a bottle of red wine. She conquered two large glasses with her wand and filled them both to the brim. Hermione laughed at her and they clinked they're glasses in the air. The one bottle turned to five as the two women spent to the evening and the early hours of the morning laughing and gossiping before falling to sleep on the sofa in the lounge. Harry arrived home at 5 am and upon noticing his bedroom empty began to looking round the house for his wife. When he found her and to his happy surprise Hermione sprawled on the sofa, he chuckled lightly at the sight. He put a blanket over them and went to bed, laughing as he got undressed at the hangovers the women were going to harbour when they awoke.

Snape sat in his rooms, nursing a firewhisky in front of the enormous stone fire in his private library. He sat in his favourite vintage, black leather chair, with his legs over the armrest as he thought aloud.

'... don't understand what I'm missing...I was so sure this time...what else can I add...why it won't work, I don't know' he muttered to himself. He took a gulp as he mused; appreciating the burn that the alcohol caused, 'Hmmmm...' he downed the rest of his drink.

'Evanesco' he murmured causing the glass to disappear. He retired to bed at just gone 1.00 in the morning and he fell in to a fitful sleep; full of conflicting ideas and nightmares of the scariest sort. He awoke at 7.00 the next morning feeling more tired than he had before he went to bed. He dressed in his usual black and swept around his rooms tiding. The eerie silence filled the drafty dungeon. When the old grandfather clock in the corner of the room declared it to be 8.00, Snape headed down up to the Great Hall for the breakfast. Not many of the teachers attempted to start conversation with him anymore this early in the day. He wasn't known for his social skills and was even more irritable in the morning. It didn't help his mood each day having to listen to the constant babble of chatter what the students made each and every day. How people could be that alert so early was beyond him. He preferred his own company; he had been by himself so long that he welcomed loneliness like an old friend.

He silently took his place at the teachers table and waited for his food to arrive. Moments later a bowl of porridge and a black coffee appeared. Bland and boring, a bit like me, Snape thought darkly as he took a bite of his breakfast. It was lukewarm but he couldn't be bothered to complain. He listened mutely to the conversations going on either side of him. To his left Madame Sprout and Professor Flitwick were talking about to the reliability of the Centaur's star-gazing. To his right Hooch and the Headmistress had begun chatting about a new edition to the staff.

'So Minerva, who's lined up to take over transfiguration whilst Evanna is gone' enquired Hooch as she helped herself to a poached egg.

'Oh, it's an ex-student actually. I've been wanting to get her as a teacher her since she left. Hermione Granger, you remember her? Minerva told her as she took a sip of her strawberry tea. Snape spluttered on his coffee. Granger, did I hear her right, Great... the know it all Granger, this is going to be fun, he thought bitterly. He finished his breakfast in angry stupor . He rose and began to prepare for his first lesson.

Miles away at 12 Grimmauld place, Hermione and Ginny had begun to stir, awaken by their joint pounding headaches and dry mouths. They're hangovers from hell began as Snape's fifth years filed noisily into his classroom. This is going to be a very long term, Snape re-affirmed as he began a lecture on draughts of the living-dead.

Sorry for the shortness of this chapter :S

A long chapter three soon to come :D

(: r&r :)