Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in my story. All of it belongs to J.K. Rowling. The plot just popped into my head while I was reading DH.
Chapter 1
Hermione awoke gasping for breathe. Her dreams had been once again on the horrors of the battle but this one had seemed different. For a start she couldn't remember it, just the overwhelming feeling of fear. Flashes of death eaters and the bright lights of curses the only thing she could recall.
Looking around the room she noticed that Ginny wasn't in bed and that it was nearly ten o'clock. Quickly, she got up and changed then went to the bathroom to clean up. When she finished she walked down the stairs and was greeted by a busy looking Mrs. Weasley.
"Good morning," Hermione greeted her. The kitchen was already bursting with homemade food, and freshly laundered clothes, with Mrs. Weasley in the middle of it.
"Oh, good morning deary. I see your up now, Ginny told me you were tossing and turning last night so I didn't want to wake you," her voice filled with motherly concern.
"I'm fine, it just took a while to fall asleep. Where is everyone?" Hermione had only just noticed the house was quiet. Even during mourning it had been relatively loud.
"Oh, I sent Harry, Ron, and Ginny to the Lovegoods inviting them to dinner. I don't think we'll have the time for a nice dinner anymore now that school is so near, which reminds me that your letter arrived. We'll be going to Diagon Alley tomorrow so make sure you know what you need. And then you'll be spending the last week with your parents" Mrs. Weasley started mumbling things that needed to get done to herself leaving Hermione. A habit she seemed to have acquired along with excessive mothering.
Hermione went to the counter and picked up her letter with less enthusiasm than previous years. Opening the envelope slowly she could remember the first time she received it, thinking it was a joke.
"Mum!" a short, bushy haired, eleven-year-old screamed. She was staring at a letter in her hands, her eyes wide. In her hands was a thick piece of paper with emerald green writing.
"Yes, Hermione?" said Jean Granger, out of breathe from running. "Is something wrong?"
"Someone's sending us weird letters, look!" she gave the letter to her mother and waited impatiently for her mother to finish reading. "Well?"
"It is quite unusual," was her mother's more than disappointing response.
"Mum, it was talking about wizards and witches and places that don't even exist! I've never heard of Hogwarts and there's no such thing as platform 9 ¾! I mean ¾, really?" Hermione was quite upset, she liked orderly things, and the thought of a race or even just a place that she didn't know was a troubling thought to her.
"Sweetie, just because you haven't heard of something doesn't mean it doesn't exist." Jean said patiently. "Now did you read the whole letter?"
"No," Hermione said mulishly.
"Then here," her mother handed back the letter and sat down on the couch.
Dear Miss Hermione Jean Granger,
We are pleased to inform that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Pleased find enclosed list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1. We await your owl no later than July 31.
Yours sincerely,
Minevra McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress.
Then below it:
Miss Granger,
You are no doubt wondering as to the ludicrousness of this letter. Let me begin by explaining that you are a witch. A witch born from two muggle (ordinary) parents- muggleborn.
Now the wizarding world is in fact real but is kept hidden under the Statute of Secrecy, which explains why no muggle alive knows of may purchase the enclosed items at Diagon Alley which is located at the heart of London.
For exact locations you may find it on the parchment along with your school items list mentioned above.
If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to owl me.
Yours sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore
Headmaster.
Hermione's eyes were as wide as saucers by the time she was done reading. She looked up and saw her mother's amused expression.
"Is it true mum?" she asked, awed.
"Well there's no reason why it shouldn't be," her mother said, then sighed "I guess you wont be going to Saint Agatha's School for Young Ladies." Hermione could not help but grin at this, she had never wanted to go anyway.
Something wet fell onto the letter currently in her hand, surprising her. Hastily she wiped her eyes and tore open the envelope only to have a hard object fall on her toe. Swearing, she looked down, there shining up at her was a badge, but not the one she was expecting. It was the Head Girl's badge. She looked at in shock, having forgotten that she was likely to receive it.
"Are you okay deary?" Mrs. Weasley said from behind her. She was sure she looked ridiculous hopping on one leg.
"I'm fine," she said, dazed. "I think I just made head girl though,"
"Congratulations dear!" Mrs. Weasley said. "Oh I knew you would get it, how exciting it must be for you," Mrs. Weasley was starting to plan how best to celebrate the occasion saying it was perfect timing with the dinner. "It's a shame that Harry or Ron didn't get the Head Boy badge though,"
"They didn't?" Hermione asked, surprised. She had thought for sure one of them would have gotten it.
"No, but maybe it's for the best." Mrs. Weasley said. "after all they don't need anymore responsibilities." It seemed as if she had forgotten Hermione, indulging in her new habit. Hermione quietly slipped out of the room with her badge and letter, unreasonably angry.
'after all they don't need anymore responsibilities' what does that mean? Hermione thought, Wasn't I there with them? don't I deserve a break too? but as soon as she thought these things she started feeling guilty Professor McGonagall and Mrs. Weasley probably didn't mean it that way. They probably thought this was what I wanted, I do want it, she said and pushed her anger away.
"Hey 'Mione!" Harry and Ron said. It was dinner now and Hermione was ravenous, having skipped breakfast.
"Hello Harry, Ron," she greeted. Her mood was better now that she was surrounded by people to occupy her. Both boys took the seats next to her and started eating.
"We heard you made Head Girl," Harry said, as Ron nodded. "Congratulations! But we always knew you'd get." Hermione smiled and turned slightly pink, having always been uncomfortable with compliments.
The rest of lunch passed in talk of quidditch and the upcoming school year. They were all excited yet apprehensive, unsure how to proceed. It was the first time in Hogwarts history that it made all the students repeat a year and no one knew what to expect now that lives didn't hang in the balance. It would also be the first time Harry, Ron, and Hermione would come back, officially, after Dumbledore's death.
"Hermione?" Ron asked, from his tone it seemed like it wasn't the first time he had.
"Sorry. Yeah?"
"Do you think it will be different?" he asked
"Yes Ronald, of course it will be," she said loftily, then added in a softer voice "everything's changed now. But hopefully for the better," Ron and Harry had similar expressions of sadness, the sorrow in her voice was unmistakable. Silently Hermione berated herself, Sadness is the last thing we need.
"It'll be okay," Ron said giving her a one armed hug. She fidgeted under it, trying not to let her discomfort show. She had broken things off with Ron a few weeks ago when grief had made it clear that her love for him, in that way, had died along with many others.
"I think I better see if your mum needs help," she said, worming her way out. Ron's ears turned pink.
"We'll help out too," said Harry, making Ron seem hopeful only to have him look peeved when she replied
"Oh, its alright. You don't need to." quickly, she walked away before they could offer anymore help. In the kitchen Hermione helped Mrs. Weasley carry more dishes outside.
"Thank you for the wonderful dinner," Hermione said.
"Oh, it was nothing deary," she replied. "Oh here comes Luna, would you go and open the door, dear?" Hermione handed her the dishes with a nod and opened the door to let Luna in.
"Hello Luna, you look bright" Hermione said, and she most certainly did dressed up in baby blue and sunflower yellow with a crown of daisies.
"Hello Hermione," she greeted in her dazed, dreamy voice. "I heard you made Head Girl, I knew you would."
"Thanks,"
"Yeah, that's why I'm wearing the daisies. Daddy said they attract pigmy pluums, they give off good luck you know."
"Uhm, pigmy pluums?" Hermione asked. That was a new oddity to her, no doubt some other type of fabrication from the Quibbler.
"Yes, they have tiny little ears, a bit like a hippo's only purple and hairy. Though if you want to call them you have to hum, preferably a waltz"*
"Oh, right. Pigmy pluums," Hermione said, deciding not to argue with Luna anymore. It saved her a few headaches at least. Walking into the kitchen now Luna said suddenly
"I think I see Ginny, I'll see you later," and abruptly walked off into the garden. The sky was turning dark now and outside lanterns had been lit over two tables. Though the window she could see everyone enjoying themselves while eating dinner. She turned away from the window to rejoin them for cake when she almost walked into Tonks.
"Wotcher 'Mione!" she said, laughing.
"Oh hello! I didn't notice you come in. How is everyone?" Tonks was one of those few people you just could not be downcast around.
"They're here too, Remus was just having Teddy calm down. They'll be here in a bit." as if on que the kitchen door swung open revealing a harassed yet happy looking Lupin and squiggling bundle with bright green hair.
"Professor!" Hermione said, surprised. He looked younger every time she saw him, no longer weighing a family as a burden made him seem like his real age.
He smiled ruefully at her. "It's been five years since I've been your professor, you know." Hermione smiled but didn't reply. Instead she walked over to see Teddy.
"And how are you?" she asked him. His deep eyes glittered, changing from a dark brown to light green. He laughed and started squirming even more. "oh my," Hermione said, smiling. So lucky, she thought. To not be burdened, to be innocent of life's faults.
"We're starting to think green is his favourite colour, the little show off," Tonks said, picking him up. Carefully she set him on the floor where he proceeded to crawl around, inspecting every inch of the cramped kitchen. "Course I had hoped it might be something a bit more… well happier," she tugged a lock of her bubble gum pink hair as an explanation.
"Well I like green," Lupin said.
"Course you would," Tonks said, "just like a male to say pink isn't good enough."
Hermione smiled.
"I think I hear Mrs. Weasley calling," she told them before Lupin could reply.
"We'd best not keep Molly waiting then," he said. Lupin bent to pick up Teddy, bouncing him to his delight.
It was close to midnight again, the 'party' having passed in a blur. Hermione's memory had changed from precise to barely there. Sometimes it remembered everything in minute detail and sometimes it seemed as if minutes or hours passed in what felt like seconds, only distant bits of what happened remaining. .
Trying to remember what had passed only hours ago she was frustrated that it was, at best, a blurry recollection. Luna in her ridiculous blue and yellow colours… Remus and Tonks and Teddy, who had grabbed Hermione's leg once almost making her fall…Mrs. Weasley's large cake of chocolate and raspberries. There was nothing concrete, substantial.
Shaking her head, she got down on her knees in front of her trunk and opened it, when she had found what she was looking for she got up and walked back to the window. Carefully she lifted the object in her hand and turned it around until it caught the light, no one knew she had it, if they had they would have never let her keep it- a short silver knife that held so many memories.**
"Hermione?" a sleepy voice asked from behind her.
"I'm sorry, Ginny, did I wake you?" she tucked the knife into her shirt before turning around. Ginny was half up, half awake, looking tousled.
"Oh, not really. I was just wondering if you would go to sleep soon. I don't think you've been getting enough--" she broke off with a long yawn.
"Don't worry about me," Hermione said walking back to her trunk, pretending to get some socks from her trunk as she slipped the knife in. "I never needed much sleep," she looked up to see Ginny already asleep and smiled slightly. Laying down, she stared at the ceiling, hoping tonight would be a dreamless night.
*found in DH, chapter 25, page 511
** found in DH, chapter23, page 472
AN: you can all thank Umbridgeskitty for this chapter!
reviews/constructive criticism is greatly appreciated.
I hope I'm not rushing everything.
-A
11-12-08