I'm truly sorry guys, if you were expecting more Romione in the first couple of chapters, but we needed to get the aftermath of the battle and Fred's death before I could further their relationship. I'm not the best writer, so thanks for sticking with me. Disclaimer: all characters belong to J.K. and Warner Bros, and I'm not either of them, otherwise I would be filthy rich, and I wouldn't be here. (Also there wont be as much updating on weekdays, because school sucks.)
Hermione was lying on the floor of the Malfoy Manor, writhing in pain, or at least she could feel it, but she wasn't in her own body. She was like a ghost, watching the scene from a distance. She watched as Bellatrix bent low and whispered in her ear, "The sword was supposed to be in my vault, so what's it doing in your dirty little mudblood hands?" she gave Hermione no time to explain.
" Crucio." Bellatrix screeched the curse out to the heavens, and Hermione felt excruciating pain sear across her body, she was screaming, pleading to Bellatrix. "Please! We haven't set foot in your vault."
"Lies!" Bellatrix yelled as she pulled out her sliver blade, preparing to carve her arm. "No stop please!" Hermione begged, "It's a fake, it's not real, please!" Bellatrix was shaking her.
" Wake up Hermione! Wake up!"
Bellatrix was slowly growing red hair and freckles.
"Wake up!"
Hermione's face was covered in a sheet of sweat. Looking at her was Ginny Weasley. "Hermione." she whispered. Hermione started to shake. "It was so vivid Ginny, like it was real, like I was there again." Ginny hugged her, "Just a dream Mione, should I get Ro-" Hermione interrupted her.
"No, please, don't tell him, I don't want people to worry."
"Hermione you were screaming." Ginny said, desperation creeping into her voice, "Are you sure you don't want me to get him?"
Hermione shook her head. "I'll be fine."
The weeks that had passed were uneventful for Ron, but not so much for Hermione, her nightmares started to get more and more regular, and more vivid too. Eventually she learned to put silencing charms on her room in the Burrow after she realised that when screaming in a dream, you were probably screaming in real life too. She'd managed to keep the nightmares quiet, so that only Ginny knew or suspected anything. She didn't know why she hid the dreams from the others, but a part of Hermione felt weak, because it seemed like she was the only one with the problems.
After an amazing dinner made by Mrs Weasley, Hermione went up to Harry and Ron and plonked herself onto a chair.
"You know what we need now?" she asked.
"What?"
"Jobs."
Harry and Ron laughed, "Well," Harry began, " I AM the chosen one, so I think I'm safe there." He joked.
"No seriously Harry, you've got to start thinking about the future, I mean, what if Ginny has kids, how will you support them?" Harry's face paled. "Ginny your not pregnant are you?"
This time it was the girls' time to laugh. "Not yet anyway." Said Ginny jokingly.
Hermione giggled, "But seriously you guys, I've been looking in the Daily Prophet and there are a few jobs we can get, in the Ministry or otherwise."
"The Ministry? Really?" Harry asked sceptically,
"Harry, the way Kingsley is leading it, we could totally revolutionize it, imagine," Hermione's eyes glazed over, "in five years time, we could even campaign for house elf rights! We could-" "Alight Hermione we get the point." Ron butted in.
"Ron, this is important, besides you really should get back to school to finish your N.E.W.T.S-" this time it was Ginny who interrupted her,
"Didn't Kingsley say he would allow anyone who fought in the battle to become aurors without N.E.W.T.S? Harry and Ron high-fived, "Yeah Aurors!" Hermione and Ginny exchanged looks and rolled their eyes, giggling again.
Charlie's head popped round the door, "Who wants to play quiddich?"
Harry and Ginny rushed out of their seats, racing towards the door.
Ron stayed behind. "Not playing?" he asked jokingly. "Ron, you of all people know my flying skills!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Okay, okay, we know your feet can't go more that 30cm off the ground. So how about this, me, you, Friday night and a fancy restaurant?"
Hermione smiled slyly, "Are you, Ronald Weasley, asking me on a date?" Ron laughed "depends, yes or no?" "Hermione smiled again, "Only if you get a job." And with that she ran from the room, Ron hot on her heels, both of them laughing.
And soon enough, Hermione, Harry and Ron all had jobs, Harry and Ron both as Aurors, and Hermione starting a career in the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, probably in hope of House Elf Rights. Ron cornered Hermione, "Well," he said, " We've both got jobs now, so how about that date?"
Who went to the twitter #HpHalloweenBall? I did, dateless though. But that's probably because I'm as graceful as Grawp. Again, probably more updating on weekends, we're starting to get assignments and tests and stuff so I might be a little busy. Thanks to those who reviewed, you can have cookies for your kindness! Also this chapter was a bit shorter than the other two, but is it more readable? I'm getting better at this, so by the last chapter *Glup* it could maybe even be perfect!