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Chapter Three

It's Good To Be Back

She stood up and walked to one of the windows.

There was a moment of complete silence and Hermione looked out at the Hogwarts Grounds. In the distance she could see Hagrid's cottage and the sight of it made her heart ache. She wanted to go back in time and turn the story around. And this time she'd fall in love with someone her own age. Like Ron. Sweet, sweet Ron! The man she had married when they all left school. The man who never judged her, but just simply loved her in a way she had never thought possible. The man she had later ripped the heart out of, by divorcing. How she wished she could take it all back! She sighed and felt her eyes water. It was impossible. She couldn't take it back! If it hadn't been for Isabel she'd be far gone now.

Isabel…she thought, feeling the tears burn in her eyes, the light of my life. The apple of my eye!

Minerva studied the woman standing by the window. She wished that there was something she could do to ease her pain, knowing there was nothing. They had to find out on their own, no matter how long it took. Personally, she didn't approve of the way their relationship had started out, with Severus as Hermione's professor, but she also knew that you couldn't help who you fell in love with. After all, she had done the same thing.

Well, maybe not the exact same… she thought to herself.

Few, or no people, knew about her relationship with Albus, and she intended to keep it that way. Nobody needed to know. Nobody, except for maybe Hermione.

"Hermione?" She was thrown out of her own thoughts. "Yes?" With a sigh escaping her lips she turned around. "I'm sorry, Minerva, I just drifted off for a second." Hermione walked slowly back to where Minerva was sitting and sat back down. "Where were you?" The question made Hermione's heart skip a beat. "Nowhere." She sighed for the umpteenth time that evening. "Everywhere. I was thinking about Ron and…" Minerva cut her off. "Ah, Mr. Weasly. What has become of him?" Hermione gave a little smile before answering. "He's a sad, drunken Quidditch player." She looked at Minerva as she said it and the other woman's eyebrow shot up in surprise. "We all knew he wanted to be a Quidditch player, but why is he a drunken one?"

Oh, well! Playing Dumbledore's little game are we, Minerva?

"I thought you knew?" She figured two could play that game and it seemed like Minerva understood, because she chuckled and sighed.

"Ah, yes. That's quite right. You married him, did you not?" Her eyes turned to Hermione, who nodded.

"He…I mean, we drifted apart and he couldn't deal with it. Ron didn't drink much at first, but when I told him I wanted a divorce, he just gave in to his beloved Fire Whiskey." Hermione sighed again and shook her head slowly. "At the moment, that didn't sound too bad, really." She nodded, as if she was agreeing with herself. "Yes, I think I'll take a walk down and Apparate to The Three Broomsticks. I haven't seen Madame Rosmerta in, well, forever!" Hermione looked at Minerva. "Maybe you want to come along, Minerva? I really need the company. And it so happens that I know Madame Rosmerta keeps a bottle of the finest Fire Whiskey that is, behind the bar. Don't ask me how!"

McGonagall shook her head. "I'm sorry, Hermione. I have too much to do. But maybe Madame Rosmerta has got some time to keep you company?" Hermione shrugged. "Maybe. Well, I'll see you later, professor!" Minerva nodded and left her old quarters. The last thing Hermione heard was a double toned "have fun" and she chuckled. "You've spent too many years with Dumbledore, Minerva. It's like we never lost him at all." she whispered.

After changing into something more muggle like, she grabbed her wand and walked downstairs. Everything was so familiar. It was almost like she'd never left.

"Good evening, Sir Nicholas!" she smiled at the Gryffindor House Ghost.

"Well, well! Good evening, Miss…Professor Granger! Good to have you back!" He took off as she said "thank you" and she took up the pace.

Once outside the Grounds she Apparated down to Hogsmeade. She felt like walking so she appeared outside The Hog's Head.

Nothing's changed! Everything's like it used to be… And it's really good to be back! She thought as she reached the door of her destination.

The Three Broomsticks was just as she remembered. The smell of Butter Beer hung heavily in the heated room and Hermione looked around for Madame Rosmerta.

She found her taking orders from… Oh, bloody Hell! Snape! Hermione swallowed and walked towards them, failing to see the dark shadow following her. "Rosmerta!" The woman looked up with badly hidden irritation in her eyes. "Yes?" It took her e few seconds to realize who was talking to her, seeing it had been eleven years, but suddenly her face broke in to a big smile. "Hermione Granger!" They hugged each other. "How are you? You look great! Even now, after…" Hermione stopped her before she could reveal all her problems. "Yes. So I've been told once, or twice. But not everyone knows, Rosie." The woman in front of her nodded. "I see. Well, what can I get you?" Rosmerta studied her for a second. "Something stronger than Butter Beer, I take it? You've come to the right place!"

Hermione found an empty table and sat down. She felt eyes on her and looked at Severus, but he wasn't looking back. She looked around the room and noticed a hooded man, appearing to be looking directly at her. Hermione shuddered and felt the hairs in the back of her neck raising. Only one man had made her feel that. But it couldn't be, could it?

Before she could decide whether or not to find out, Rosmerta came with a glass of Fire Whiskey in one hand and the bottle in the other. "Here you go, my friend. No ice, no water. It looks like you need it." She sat down and put the bottle on the table. "So do you mind telling me what you're doing back here after eleven years? Did you finally take that position offered at Hogwarts?" Rosmerta poured another Fire Whiskey as Hermione consumed the first one in one go. "Yes. It's the Transfiguration teacher position." She sighed and gulped down the Fire Whiskey. "And I had to get away. Besides, Isabel is attending this year. So I figured; why not?" Rosmerta nodded and poured yet another one. "Yes, I got the last picture you sent of her. Very much like her father, is she not?" Hermione put her face in her hands. "Yes, and that's the only problem. Besides from that, she's a very sweet girl. But however I twist and turn things, she still reminds me of him. She's pretty enough, don't get me wrong, and so was he. In a scary kind of way." She laughed nervously at this and remembered the man behind her. By the way the hairs were still raised in the back of her neck, she could pretty much tell he was still there. And she knew; it was the man she feared.

Better late than never, right? And remember to push the button! Yeah, you like that, don't you? 'lol'