Hello! sorry for the lateness of this chappie. My laptop decided it didn't like its screen no more and just stopped working. So its taken me a while to get use to my old one once more. So yeh...Sorry. :P
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The winter was quickly approaching them and the castle became colder as snow and icy winds battered against its walls.
Hermione lay in her bed, huddled beneath the covers trying to keep warm. Long johns, jumpers and bed socks covered almost every inch of her body as she fought of the icy cold that lay just beyond her bed.
She shivered subconsciously as she heard the wind rattling the windows of her dorm, howling into the darkness as time slowly ticked by.
She hid her head under the covers, her hand sneaking out to grab her photo album before it joined her under the covers, a softly spoken lumos lit up the little cavern she had created for herself.
Hermione lightly trailed her finger over the front cover, smiling at the love that nestled in her heart as she opened it up, an action she had done frequently over the last couple of months. She flicked through the first couple of pages quickly before coming to a stop at one of her favourite photographs. It was such a simple photo but it showed such love and friendship she couldn't help but smile as she studied it.
It was in that dingy pub once more, causing Hermione to wonder if they ever ventured anywhere else in their university days. She had often heard that all students ever did was drink but surely it was a bit of an old wives' tale. She rolled her eyes before studying the photo more intently.
In the photo was Russ and her mum, both of their heads thrown backwards in laughter, seemingly had been for a while as tears were running down her mum's cheeks. Her mums hand was gripping Russ's shoulder tightly in an attempt to keep her upright and the other holding onto the table. Russ's hand lay upon her mum's knee, his eyes closed tightly as though in pain though the broad grin on his face showed otherwise.
It was such a happy photo, showing times of when they were young and free. Though when she truly thought about it, it was the times when Russ was probably working for You-Know-Who. The two images just didn't mesh.
She looked at his annotation; it was obviously hard for him to talk about. At the start of the sentence he had obviously began to write but had fallen into deep thought as there was a large spot of ink where the quill had rested, causing the ink to slowly spread outwards. As she stroked a finger over his writing, she had wondered if it was thought of good memories or sad.
I'm not truly sure what we were laughing about in this photo. Many a time when we all got together, your mother would laugh at the most inane thing that one just couldn't help but join in. Her laugh was so infectious. I often wonder whether the people in that pub thought we were mad.
She turned the page over to look at the following photo. The photo was one of her father and a man who was tall and broad. His eyes were a soft blue and his hair was a soft brown. He was smiling softly into the camera, a pint in his hand and his other hand was being pushed through his hair, obviously caught mid action. Her father was sat next to him, his tongue stuck out of the corner of his mouth as he concentrated on building a tower of beer mats upon the table. His hand reaching out towards a tower holding another beer mat.
Rob trying to build a tower of cards made out of beer mats. He could never reach further than the second level of his little pyramid of beer mats. I don't think he had hand eye coordination to put the beer mat on the tower without knocking over the others.
The man who was sat next to him was John. A nice man, kind and loyal to those who were his friends. He and Rob were good friends. Unfortunately a year after university, he was killed an IRA bombing. I never had the heart to tell Rob and Dawn it was actually Death Eaters.
When she had first read that she couldn't help the few tears that had run down her cheeks. Her parents had lived in such a dangerous time and they hadn't even known it. She had wondered how often Russ had protected them from the true nature of the world that had surrounded them. He had done it again just a couple of months ago to protect them from the harsh nature of war but how often had he lied about the world that had surrounded them.
She turned over the page, vowing to herself that it would be the last photo of the night as she felt her eyes becoming heavier with fatigue.
This one always made her giggle whenever she saw it. It was just so unexpected when she had first saw the photo that she had choked on her shocked laughter as her eyes widened.
Severus Snape stood tall and proud in Manchester City Football kit. The full kit. His pale white legs were like a beacon against the pale blue shorts, shirt and socks that were pulled up to his knees. A small smile pulled the corner of his lips upwards as he stood with his back to a wall. His comment just topped the photo. It simply read...
Just...Don't.
Hermione walked slowly towards the Seventh floor for the next DA meeting, anticipating what spells they would get to practise today.
Umbridge's lessons were becoming more and more stifled with bureaucracy as Umbridge pushed the Ministry beliefs down their throats rather than the needed defensive spells.
But obviously there was no need for defence in today's time. Everyone knows that You-Know-Who only comes for tea when he knocks on your door; the only reason he killed James and Lily Potter was because they tried to serve him Garibaldi's with his Earl Grey.
He absolutely abhors raisins so they brought it on their selves.
Ridiculous.
She clutched her library book closer to her chest as she neared the seventh floor, enjoying the peace and quiet of the school. Students didn't really come up here unless it was needed so it was calming walk not being pushed or dragged through crowds. Rather liberating.
She paused in her steps as she heard the shout, "Wait up Granger! You'll give a Red Head a heart attack if you don't slow down." She rolled her eyes and turned around on her heels to see George running quickly towards her.
"Alright George? Looking rather flushed if I say so!" She said with a quirk of her eyebrow.
"Hush now Granger. Get your mind out of the gutter." He said with a quick grin as he leaned on his knees to gain his breath for a few moments before standing up straight once more.
Hermione blushed briefly before managing to control it, this boy really brought out the worst in her. She was unsure if it was a bad thing or not so she tried to control her tongue.
As they both walked down the corridor she turned her head, surprised by how tall he was compared to her as she only came up to his chin. Shaking her head slightly to bring her thoughts together she said feigning a sad frown, "I hear poor Draco Malfoy was badly beaten up the other day."
George faulted slightly in his walking before continuing, "So I heard, its' dreadful they can't find his attacker as well."
"I heard there was some sort of jinx that meant he couldn't even talk about it. Shame really but such a hex could be good to stop something like a safe house being found out, an asset to the war. Whoever it is really should talk to the Headmaster." She said with an innocent expression, her eyes wide and lips pouting slightly.
"I suppose they should. However we shall never know if they will or not. Shame." George said with a broad grin and wink. "I should think he knows not to touch you again if that's what karma had in line for him."
Hermione looked to the floor for a moment, rubbing her hand slightly with her thumb as she remembered the quick attack and looked up to George, her eyes twinkling from unshed tears. She gripped his arm for a brief moment and gave him a blinding smile, causing his heart to falter and splutter, "Thank you George."
Standing on her tip toes she kissed him lightly on his cheek, smiling at his dumbfounded look and walked in front of Barnabas the Barmy's Tapestry to get into the room with the rest of the DA.
George remained immobile for a few seconds before shaking his head, unaware they had reached their destination until now. Granger really was testing his limits.
He followed her quickly afterwards, joining Fred's side who simply raised an eyebrow at his apparent flustered state. George watched as Fred's eyes drifted to Hermione for a brief moment who was talking animatedly with Ron before snapping back to George. Leaning towards George's ear, Fred whispered, "Watch out George, you might lose more than your heart if you get too attached." George looked at him questioningly, causing Fred to roll his eyes and whisper, "Your sanity as well you fool. Ron won't like it but all the more reason to." He said with a broad grin before turning his attention to Harry who had started his lesson.
Hermione stood opposite Ron as they mock duelled, practising their expelliarmus and their shields. Hermione distractedly flicking her shield up as though she wasn't thinking, causing Ron to become more frustrated he couldn't disarm her, he could tell she was miles away.
"Are you okay 'Mione?" Ron asked her as she flicked his spell away for the fifth time.
She shook her head and looked at him as though forgetting he had been there, he wasn't sure he liked that feeling.
"Yes sorry Ron. Just thinking about homework due in soon." She said with a small, false smile.
"You sure? You can talk to me you know?" Ron said with a shy smile. "I hate to see you sad."
Hermione looked at him and smile warmly to him; he truly was a good friend. She nodded to him, "Yeah I'm good. I was thinking earlier about Umbridge and her lack of teaching. Do you think we'll be okay with our O.W.L's?"
She didn't have the heart that she had been thinking of her previous...clashes with his older brother. Her and George had always gotten along, the twins welcoming her as though a little sister, teasing and prodding her in a good natured manner. That seemed to have change over the summer, they still regarded her nicely but they seemed to be more...aware that she was female. Thinking about it, it was mostly George who was that way with her. Maybe he was doing it to get some other girl Jealous? The sharp pain in her stomach showed her dislike to that idea. She was unsure why it bothered her so...
She brought herself back to the present as she saw Ron's broad grin, "You know 'Mione that you can easily pass your OWL so stop worrying. The Toad won't stop you getting an O." He said raising his wand once more, "now come on and let me practise my Shield. You're too good for me to practise my expelliarmus."
Hermione grinned raising her wand in front of her, shooting a weak expelliarmus to test his shield first.
As Hermione, Harry and Ron walked back towards the tower after being one of the last few left behind they talked quietly of their previous week. Harry briefly mentioned his remedial potions class's with Russ to boost his Potion's grade.
It couldn't have made Hermione happier at the prospect of Harry improving his potion's, knowing how important it was for his future career choice. She wasted no time in congratulating him on getting past any bitterness to further his education.
She missed Ron's and Harry's uncomfortable looks and guilt that pasted their expressions before they quickly changed the subject.
"So you coming to Padfoots this Christmas with us lot this year Hermione?" Harry said quickly to change the subject.
Hermione bit her bottom lip as she thought it through, Christmas was almost a month away and she hadn't thought about what she would do this Christmas. A wave of grief washed over her as she realised she wouldn't see her parents this Christmas. Breathing in she pushed it away, something that could be felt later on when alone and turned slightly to the boys.
"I don't know. I haven't spoken to Russ about it." She said with a small smile.
"Just so you know, you're welcome at our place. As it Professor Snape if he's lumped with you" Harry said with a small grin, letting her know he was joking.
She lightly pushed him in the shoulder and rolled her eyes, "If anything i'm 'lumped' with him. Poor bloke can't do anything without thinking what he will do with me. Must be hard for a bachelor to have himself suddenly having to think where to put a 16 year old girl."
The boy laughed with sinister glee at the Professor's plans being disrupted, causing them to be shoved once more.
"Be Nice." She reproved before they all entered the common room, all thinking over their Christmas plans.
Tell me what you think.
(btw...shameful plugging but Check out my other story. You might like it.- its a bit different to this one.)