Note: Apologies for the long wait, I had to deal with real life for a little while! Thanks to those who have left reviews and to those who are reading and following this story. I really do appreciate the support. Thank you!
In her haze of tiredness Hermione didn't notice the increase in the volume of chatter when she entered the great hall for breakfast on Monday, nor did she see the looks directed at her. Whilst waiting for her food to appear, an owl dropped off her copy of the Daily Prophet. She blinked seeing a photograph of herself and Harry, but reading the headline woke her up abruptly.
Harry Potter Enticed by Hermione Granger, Again
The Daily Prophet can exclusively report it appears that Hermione Granger is unable to keep her hands off married hero Harry Potter, again. We have reports that Harry Potter and Hermione Granger are carrying out a sordid affair and have been spending nights together at Hogwarts, where Miss Granger currently holds the position of Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts, and spending nights together at the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade. Our sources tell us that Miss Granger preyed on Harry Potter after finding out his wife, award winning quidditch player Ginny Potter, was pregnant.
This is not the first time that muggle born Hermione Granger has been romantically linked with the boy who lived; it is believed that they dated during the last Triwizard tournament, but she ended their relationship to be with internationally renowned Bulgarian seeker Viktor Krum, but it appears that Miss Granger's hunger for powerful men has brought her back to the married Harry Potter. Some people may say that it is not up to us to judge other people's personal lives, but it brings into question the integrity and morals of someone who many look up to, someone who has influence on our children. There is no doubt that Miss Granger is certainly intelligent and beautiful, but do we really want our children being taught by someone so amoral?
Since graduating top of her year from Hogwart's School of Wizarding, Miss Granger moved up the career ladder rapidly at the Ministry of Magic's Defence Against the Dark Arts Department during her two years there. It is rumoured that she used more than her skills at magic to charm her way up the ladder so quickly. But working for the Ministry was unable to satisfy Miss Granger and she was recruited by the secretive private defence company Barriers. At Barriers Miss Granger held the position of a high ranking chief of one of their major sectors, but due to the secretive nature of the corporation it is unknown which sector, but it is believed that Miss Granger was earning a high six figure salary. She took a surprising turn in career this summer when she became a new member of staff at Hogwart's School of Wizarding as the Professor of DefenceAgainst the Dark Arts. (Story continued on pages 3-5).
Hermione couldn't decide whether to be disgusted by the article or to laugh at the absurdity of it. Placing the newspaper down she finally saw the looks given to her by the students and realised that she couldn't just treat the ridiculous story the same way she had in the past. She had worked hard to gain the respect the pupils and her colleagues and she wasn't going to let the article ruin that for her, but that meant that she was going have to talk about the damn thing. Looking around, she could see that the students were throwing surreptitious glances her way. Well, why not deal with it right now whilst everyone was in the same room. After taking a large gulp of her orange juice, she took a deep breath and stood up and called for everyone's attention.
Fleur felt helpless, not knowing what she could do to help Hermione. She knew that Hermione valued the respect of her students, she had caught glimpses of Hermione teaching and she had smiled at the passion with which she taught and she had seen the respect and trust that she had garnered from staff and students alike. She grimaced at the thought that that was what she had been reduced to, taking the longer route to her classroom, hoping to be able to catch glimpses of the brunette, but she was unable to stop herself. Hermione had somehow reduced her to behaving like a teenager and it irked her, especially knowing that the feelings weren't completely unreciprocated. But she was couldn't stop herself looking at her, couldn't stop herself wanting to trace the Englishwoman's face with her fingers, it had changed a lot since she was last able to. The final traces of adolescence had been erased and in its place was a beautiful young woman. And she couldn't help herself wanting to do something, anything to help her now, the article had made her feel sick with the lies that she knew it told.
"Could I have everyone's attention please? Excuse me, could I have you attention please?" She waited for everyone to settle and felt prickles of nervousness as all eyes turned to her.
"I think most of you have seen this article by the Daily Prophet this morning," she raised her copy of the newspaper. "I just wanted to take the opportunity whilst everyone is here to tell you that what it says is untrue, Harry Potter is one of my closest friends, but we are only friends, nothing more. I don't know why they would write things like this, but the rumours are untrue."
Fleur could seeing Hermione fiddle nervously with her glass of orange juice, and could see that many of the students were not entirely convinced by Hermione's words. But this she could help with.
All heads turned at the sound of wood scraping stone as Fleur pushed her chair back and stood upright, walking slowly towards Hermione. Fleur saw the brown eyes widen slightly and her fingers tighten around her glass, but she responded with a small smile and saw Hermione's eyes soften. The silence in the hall was palpable and Fleur utilised it with years of experience. The click of her heels were deliberately loud, her footsteps slow. When she reached Hermione, she placed her hand on Hermione's arm, feeling the quiver underneath the robe.
"I do not think that anyone 'ere would be foolish enough to believe these silly stories Professor Granger."
She knew that her voice carried clearly throughout the hall, knew that by publically showing support, her own popularity with the students, along with her thrall, would help to dispel most people's doubts about Hermione's honesty. She was satisfied when she saw the students break into chatter and carry on with their breakfast. As she turned to return to her unfinished breakfast, she felt a soft hand grab hold of her own. Turning, she saw Hermione open her mouth, hesitating. Fleur savoured the feeling of her own hand in Hermione's, trying to resist the urge to rub her thumb against Hermione's hand. Her own eyes fixed on Hermione's troubled gaze.
"Thank you." She could see that Hermione knew what she had purposely done, she knew that Hermione could read everything about her and she didn't know how to stop her.
"You would 'ave done the same for me 'ermione. If you need someone to talk to, I'm always...here." She couldn't help her gaze falling to Hermione's lips, her body remembered the softness of her lips, the gentleness of her kisses.
She felt Hermione squeeze her hand gently before releasing it, the rush of air cold against her skin. Hermione sat down, her hand tingling from the contact, looking at the porridge which lay in front of her, her appetite gone. Down the table, Fleur was looking at the remainder half of her croissant dispassionately, the only thing she wanted she was somehow unable to have. Separated by only a few places, they both push their food around, thoughts lost elsewhere, both thinking about the same thing.
Hermione,
I read the article in the Daily Prophet yesterday and know that it was all a load of rubbish. I'll always believe in you. Every day I hope to hear good news from you, and I'll continue to wait.
All my love,
Ron
Hermione sighed and tossed the letter onto a growing pile on her desk. Ron had owled her a letter every single day since she had seen him in Hogsmeade. Always on crimson parchment, always with the same phrases:
Hermione,
I'll wait for you. I love you.
All my love,
Ron
She hadn't replied to any of his letters, there was nothing to write, but for some reason she was unable to throw them into the fire where she felt they belonged. And so they collected in a crimson tower on her desk.
A knock on the portrait covered door make her jump, she wasn't expecting anyone.
"Come in." The portrait swung open and Hermione nearly knocked over her bottle of ink in surprise when she recognised the visitor. Apart from her dark red hair now being styled in waves, and a wedding band on the left ring finger, there had been very little change in the appearance of Ginny Weasley.
"G...Ginny!"
"It's been a while Hermione," she replied, a distinct lack of smile on her face.
"Ginny, listen, that article yesterday-"
"I know it's not true."
"Oh." Hermione was confused as to why Ginny had come to see her. Their last meeting had been highly unpleasant, the fiery redhead had had to be restrained as she tried to slap an unresisting Hermione; an uneasy truce had been built between them for Harry's sake, but she knew Ginny had hated her for what she had done to her brother. Hermione searched her mind to find something to say, and after coming up with nothing, resorted to the English's answer for everything.
"Would you like a cup of tea?"
"Sure, thanks. Umm...do you mind if i sit?" Ginny asked gesturing to the chairs.
"Of course, take a seat!" Hermione busied herself with the kettle, curious as to why Ginny was in the castle.
She passed a steaming mug of tea to Ginny and sat down in the armchair next to fire, opposite Ginny, who remained silent.
"Look Ginny, I really am sorry about what I did to Ron-"
"It's fine Hermione. It was years ago. I'm...I'm sorry for how I reacted." The redhead took a sip of her tea, eyes focused on the photo above the fireplace.
"I deserved it, there's no excuse for what I did."
"Let's not talk about it. I'm actually here because...well...I wanted you to know that I didn't believe anything that stupid newspaper wrote about you and Harry. And I'm worried that there's more behind it."
"You're worried there's more behind it? I don't know what you mean," frowned Hermione.
"The article wasn't completely untrue about everything..."Ginny replied slowly.
Hermione nodded in agreement, she had been surprised about how much they had known about her job at Barriers.
"I'm pregnant."
"You are? Wow, that's amazing! Congratulations! I bet Harry's over the moon!" Hermione started to get up to give Ginny a hug, before remembering the situation between them and sat back in her seat awkwardly.
"Thanks," she smiled finally, reminding Hermione of the girl she used to call a best friend. "The thing is, I only told Harry and my family over the weekend, no one else should know...I just wanted to be sure about it. And then that article appeared on Monday mentioning my pregnancy...maybe they just thought they made it up with the rest of that crap about the affair, but I worry..."she trailed off.
A frown crossed Hermione's feature, the conclusion she came too didn't make sense, was something that she was sure couldn't happen. She worried about phrasing the next question.
"You think that...the article may be something to do with someone in your..."
"Family. Yeah," Ginny finished bluntly.
"Ginny, I really can't imagine anyone in your family doing this."
"Neither can I, but the timing's too much of a coincidence. I dunno, maybe it was just a coincidence...but Harry told me about what happened to you and Ron recently..."
"You think Ron has something to do with the article? No! He would never hurt Harry like that!" Hermione could feel her mind turning over as she said that, but she couldn't believe that Ron was capable of such behaviour. Ginny raised an eyebrow,
"I notice you didn't say he could never hurt you like that."
"I...I don't think he would hurt me like that. " Her eyes flickered to the pile of crimson letters on her desk, it seemed impossible that someone could say that they wanted her and want to hurt her so maliciously at the same time. "Besides, he loves Harry like a brother, and of course there's you. He would never hurt his own family."
Ginny sighed, leaning back in her seat, unconsciously rubbing her hand gently over her still flat stomach.
"I don't think he would hurt me either...but he knew about the pregnancy. And he's been different since...well...since what happened with you and losing Fred. He kinda withdrew into himself, but he'd have these temper outbursts sometimes even over really little things. And the temper outbursts scared everyone in my family, but we all just thought it was grief. They stopped a couple of years ago, and he became more like the old Ron, but still...maybe he's not the same...Merlin, I can't believe I'm saying this about my own brother."
A heavy sense of self reproach settled in Hermione's heart as she listened to the changes to Ron, there was no way in which she could not feel at least partly responsible.
"I didn't know that, I'm sorry, Harry never told me about any of this. But still, I really don't think Ron would do something like this. With what he said to me and then doing something like that, he'd have to be playing a really sadistic game of sorts and I don't accept that he would do something like that. Are you sure your family just didn't tell other people about your pregnancy...you know how news travels in the magical community, and you being so well known too."
"They promised me that they wouldn't tell anyone until I announced it, I want to wait until the quidditch season is over, we only have the final game left. You're right, it probably was just a coincidence, I can't see Ron doing any of this, maybe hormones are making me overthink things," she shrugged, smiling awkwardly. A brief silence fell over the room as neither woman knew what to say.
"Are you excited about the pregnancy?"
Ginny grinned in response.
"Yeah, super excited! And scared stupid too about the birth and also about being a mother, it makes you realise that you won't be responsible just for yourself anymore, there's another whole life you're responsible for! But I think, overall, right now everything is just beginning to sink in, we have plenty of time yet." Ginny stood up abruptly, a blush staining her cheeks. "Anyway, I better go, you're probably busy. I'd just wanted to...well...you know."
Hermione was dismayed by the sudden urge to leave, she had fleetingly thought that they would be able to become friends again, maybe hurting Ron had just been too high a price to forgive. She stood up forcing a smile on her face.
"Thank you for your concern. And congratulations again about the baby." Ginny smiled in reply before taking a few steps towards the door. She stopped when she had her hand on the door handle, turning around to look at Hermione.
"I really enjoyed talking to you again Hermione. I'd forgotten how easy it was to talk to you, I've really missed having a close female friend. Maybe we could do it again sometime?"
A wide smile crossed appeared on Hermione's face as she nodded.
"I'd really like that."
Ginny smiled shyly, her green eyes glinting mischievously.
"Me too." A loud knock on the door made them both jump. Ginny opened the door, the smile on her face becoming a poisonous glare in a split second. The small smile on Fleur's face faltered as she saw who it was, the colour draining from her face. Ginny didn't say anything, just looked at the Frenchwoman with abject loathing. She turned her head, glancing between Hermione and Fleur pointedly, a questioning look on her face before giving Hermione cold eyes before walking out of the door, intentionally brushing roughly past Fleur.
Fleur realised immediately that her timing had been disastrous, seeing the dejected expression on Hermione's face as she watched the redhead walk away.
"Merde. Je suis desolee." The sound of Fleur's voice knocked Hermione out of her reverie as she found a contrite looking woman in front of her.
"Come in," Hermione rubbed her face tiredly, as she perched on the edge of a chair.
"I 'ave errr...brought you a little gift. I just thought that you may want something to 'elp cheer you up after all that bile that people 'ave sent you this morning, ces idiots," her accent becoming more pronounced as she became annoyed at the memory.
"You know what I was sent this morning?" Hermione asked, an eyebrow risen in askance. She had only opened one of the numerous letters that had arrived that morning, in the hall, and been unable to comprehend the amount of the hatred spewed towards Hermione. She knew that many of the other letters would contain similar sentiments and had decided to open them back in her own room so she could quickly throw them in the fire. A large pile of ash in the centre of the fire was testament to the amount of hatred the newspaper article had generated.
"I saw your face this morning when you opened the letter during breakfast." And I wanted to hold you when you looked like you wanted to cry. Fleur proffered a small crumpled white bag.
Hermione laughed delightedly when she saw it, knowing what was inside. It was the first time she had laughed in a long time, and it felt so good. Fleur grinned lopsidedly, extending her arm to give Hermione her gift. Hermione opened the white bag, laughing again as the mass of gummi bears confirmed her suspicion. Without thinking she took out a green one and brought it up to Fleur's lips. The laughter died as they both felt the intimacy of the gesture.
Fleur quickly took the gummi bear in her mouth, nearly choking on it, averting her eyes from Hermione, who saw the darkening of blue in the blonde's eyes. Equally flustered, Hermione quickly created distance between them, placing the crumpled bag on her desk.
"I should go, it is becoming late. And I am sorry about earlier, I know that I 'ave made it difficult between you and Ginevra."
"It's ok, I think I was hoping for too much too early with Ginny. And thank you for the gift, it means a lot what you've done for me."
"I 'ave done very little." She paused. "And I meant what I said yesterday, if you need to talk..."
"Thanks," Hermione replied quietly. She watched the door close behind the Frenchwoman, appearing to close out all happiness with it. But then she caught a glimpse of the bag on her desk and felt of glimmer of something inside her. She wasn't sure what, but it wasn't something bad.