"Alright children, form two orderly lines, we're going to start walking." Sorrowful as Hermione was in the aftermath of her rejection by Severus, the smiling, eager faces of her students as they lined up to leave for Hogsmeade was certainly a nice distraction. Third-years chattered excitedly about what they might get in the sweet shop and which school supplies they needed to pick up.
Hermione helped Rolanda check permission slips off as Lucas checked the rosters, determining which students were permitted to leave the castle grounds. To her right, Professor Sinistra was scolding several fifth-year boys and threatening to strip them of their Hogsmeade privileges if they did not stop hexing each other in the hallways.
Professor Rowland and Madam Hooch lead the front of the group as they trot down the walking path to the village. As they walked, Madam Hooch explained various facts about the village, its founders, and the Magical advancements that were made in the area.
Hermione remembered when Hagrid once gave them that same speech (albeit with a lot less specificity in regards to actual dates or numbers, and highly embellished for dramatic effect) as they walked to Hogsmeade for the first time. She was happy that Hagrid had found happiness with Maxine and his new family, but the castle didn't feel the same without him.
The group ended their tour in the middle of Hogsmeade Square. "Alright students, third-years will meet back here at 4 pm sharp, or risk losing future Hogsmeade privileges. " Madam Hooch stated.
"Harsh," Rowland said softly to Rolanda, who chuckled and elbowed him in the ribs, as they watched the children scatter.
Hermione waved to her fellow chaperones and took off towards the west side of the village for patrol. According to Severus' new security procedures, they were each assigned to quadrants, she was to survey her quadrant and assess for threats every 5 minutes, and if there was trouble, call for backup immediately. Rowland and Hooch were watching the East and North quadrants, respectively, and Professor Sinistra was keeping an eye on the South.
Hermione walked around her patrol area unhappily but smiled at passersby anyway. Her thoughts these past few days always came back to Snape. Did she just let herself get rejected twice by the same man? Had she learned nothing?
Worst of all, she felt confused, which was her least favorite feeling. Hadn't she heard his thoughts? Hadn't he shown incredible protectiveness over her? Hadn't he exposed his own jealousy over Rowland?
No, Hermione knew she was not making it up in her head. Perhaps Severus might overcome his denial one day, but today was not that day. She needed to move on.
The dappled sun hit her face as she surveyed the square. Having refocused herself on the task at hand, and found she was quite content for the next two hours to patrol in silence and periodically check in with her fellow chaperones.
When it was time for her lunch break, she notified Professor Sinistra, who would cover her area. She had a bit of time before she was to meet Harry and Ron for a butterbeer in the Hog's Head.
Upbeat carnival music could be heard coming out of Zonko's, which was currently packed with students. She decided to brave the bustling shop anyway and to her surprise, the crowd of students parted for her to pass.
Oh, right. I'm a teacher, duh. She smiled at the children and told them to enjoy themselves. As she browsed the racks of pranks, magic tricks, and various ways to get out of class, she saw a small blue sign shaped like a cloud that read "Patented Daydream Charm". Hermione choked back a sob of surprise, thinking immediately of the twins. So, George had started distributing to Zonko's; good for him.
Hermione took a deep breath and stepped forward. No use wallowing in memories. These charms were meant to be enjoyed. As she browsed the various daydream charms, she wondered who in her life could use one.
The descriptions seemed a bit cringey, obviously designed by a young clueless wizard trying to guess what witches daydream about, but it made her laugh as she imagined them thinking these up. The boxes all displayed swooning women being propped up and caressed by hunky men with various shades of luscious hair. She browsed past the tall, smiling pirates, viking lovers, clean-cut princes in fine suits. She couldn't imagine purchasing any of those.
At least they got the hair right.
She picked up a box that featured a very serious-looking hero that Hermione did not mind the look of. What struck her was that he wasn't even looking at the camera, he was looking at the woman in his arms. His eyes were hungry as though he might die if he did not hold her, if he could not gaze upon her. Hermione felt a shiver on the back of her neck as she took in the man's hungry expression and his silky black locks.
Hermione slammed the box down. Nope. Not this. This is pathetic.
She grabbed a box that was meant for a heterosexual male and featured a handsome buff man preparing to sword fight with several ugly undead skeletons who held captive a busty redheaded woman. He was brazen and confident, his sword glinting in the sun as he made to rescue a restrained damsel held captive. That could be fun.
The middle-aged shop attendant approached her. "May I help you, Miss?"
"I was wondering if this Daydream Charm would work on a poltergeist?" She handed him the box.
He scoffed, raising his eyebrow in disbelief. "Made yourself friends with a poltergeist, have you? Well, I don't see why it wouldn't work. Loads of jinxes work against poltergeists, maybe some charms too."
"I'll take it." She thanked the wizard and handed over a galleon.
The man laughed kindly as she walked out, "Do let me know what happens with your poltergeist. Market research, you know?"
Hermione wanted to thank Peeves for watching her door and being so astonishingly professional. Perhaps Minerva threatened him into compliance, but she appreciated it nonetheless. At least she knew no one would get away with vandalizing her quarters again.
Hermione stepped into Tomes and Scrolls. As she scanned the aisles, she noticed that the Magical History section was much wider than she had remembered, they must have expanded it. Sure enough, there was a new section with a small, neatly painted sign hanging off the shelf.
Second Wizarding War
1994-1998
Hermione halted, her heart pounding, and backed up a step. It seemed wrong that this section of the bookstore existed. The Second Wizarding War. It sounded so simple like all of the exhaustion, fear, worry, pain, and death could be captured in a book.
Hermione felt the irony in this notion very deeply. She sighed. Modern contemporary warfare was an area of interest for a great many people. She had been a part of a major historical event in the Wizarding world. She would never be free of this, not really. It was an event that the world had witnessed and now would take apart for the remainder of time.
She wondered morbidly what these volumes might say about her, about the other survivors, about her dead friends. She had stopped reading articles about herself the day the war was won when it no longer provided any tactical advantage. She had not missed reading about herself at all. But these books were written by historians. They could not be so bad, could they?
Hermione instead found the Herbology section. No need to focus on the past, I have seedlings to raise.
She quickly found the title she was looking for, paid the smiling witch at the counter, and made her way toward the Hog's Head with her new copy of Spellbound Sprouts: A Modern Guide to Ancient Fauna.
The sun beat down on her happily as she made her way to the Hog's Head for her lunch break. It took her only moments to spot Ron's bright red hair near the bar. Harry caught her eye and waved her over, smiling broadly.
"Hermione!" Harry wrapped her in a big hug. The boys looked well, Harry's perfectly untidy hair tickling the back of his neck.
Ron wrapped his arm around her too, but a bit more stiffly, not that Hermione was complaining. To be honest, it felt more natural for them to be awkward around each other than it ever had when they had been intimate. It felt much like before they had ever dated.
They handed her a pint and she pulled up a stool. "You need a haircut, Harry." She joked, sipping her butterbeer, which was perfectly chilled.
"I'm growing it out."
"Haven't you heard, Mione? All the top Aurors in the country have ponytails." Chimed in Ron, who was eating bar peanuts loudly. "I, for one, refuse. I'd hate for anyone to confuse me with Charlie and ask me for help with a dragon."
Hermione laughed but Harry didn't seem to hear him. His expression was serious. "Hermione, are you ok? Kingsley briefed us on everything that's been going on. I feel awful that we haven't been here, but with classes and training-"
"Harry, it's ok." Their faces were riddled with guilt. "I'm being extra careful. Besides, from what Kingsley said, there's probably at least one Auror watching me right now."
"He mentioned that." Harry put his hand on hers. "If there's anything you need, Hermione-"
Ron finished for him, "-we're here for you."
"There is something actually," Hermione said, perking up. "Ron, I need some intel, and you know more about the Sacred Twenty-Eight than anyone I know, besides your mum. What do you know about the MacMillans?
Ron thought for a moment, his brow furrowed. "Well, the MacMillans are an old, rich family. Not rich like the Malfoy's, but respectable enough. Ties to the Ministry, very political." Ron sipped his beer. "Now that I think of it, I remember Mum telling Dad something about one of the MacMillan boys running off and marrying a muggle. It caused quite a scandal."
"When was that?" Hermione asked. "About 12 years ago, maybe?"
Ron looked at her puzzled, "Could be. I was quite young when I heard it. Why?"
"When I was attacked last week, my bag was taken. It was later traced to Felicity MacMillan, second-year Ravenclaw. I think that whoever attacked me realized they couldn't get into it, making it essentially worthless."
"Unless they used it to frame someone they don't like." Harry finished. "Like a half-blood girl from a pureblood family."
Hermione drained her glass and set it down. "Of course, this is all speculation until I verify that Felicity is indeed the child in question."
"I'll ask Mum tomorrow when I see her," Ron ordered another beer.
Hermione felt a pang of yearning to be fussed over by Molly and sit by the fire of the burrow with her books.
"Hang on," Harry interjected, "Who the hell has a grudge on a 12-year-old?"
"Well, she happens to be top of her class."
"I'm sure there are a fair few pureblood students who don't like that."
Hermione remembered the venomous looks in the eyes of her classmates who thought she must be cheating if a muggleborn witch could beat their scores. "The problem is that too many people feel this way, even if they weren't Death Eaters, few pureblood families raise their children to respect non-purebloods. Severus thinks-"
"Hang on, Severus?" Ron asked, bewildered.
Hermione sighed. "Ronald, did you honestly expect me to keep calling him 'Professor Snape'? We're all adults here."
"Yeah but Snape's-"
"Severus is my colleague and my friend. He's helped me a lot."
Harry looked uneasily at his friend. "He's earned his peace, Ron."
"No, you're right. I just…wasn't prepared for a first-name basis, I guess." Ron was flushed and running his hand through his flaming locks. "Listen, I may not be knitting him sweaters anytime soon, but he led me to the locket, didn't he?"
Ron chuckled, "Besides, he's bloody powerful. I'm glad someone like that is watching out for you, if we can't be there."
Hermione beamed at him. Ron deserved more credit; he'd grown up a lot in the last few years after the war. "I'm happy to hear that because I have no room for anyone's judgment. Severus is my friend, and I simply don't give a shit what anyone else thinks about it.
After the boys left, she met up with Professor Sinistra and took her post back up, covering Aurora's area.
Hermione's afternoon went by uneventfully until the sun started to dip and 3:45 came around. She began to round up students and send them walking towards the village.
"Miss?" Lucas called out gently. "Miss can you hear me, it's time to head back."
She heard Lucas' concerned voice around the corner, which she followed. Rowland stood facing the treeline, his eyes on a small girl. Hermione recognized Miss Cartwright.
The girl stood motionless, her back to him.
"Eloise?" Hermione called out. "What are you doing out here?"
Lucas looked back in relief.
The girl made no sign that she had heard them.
Hermione stepped closer. "Miss Cartwright, why aren't you at the castle? First-years are not permitted to visit the village. Come with us. We will need to notify your Head of House."
Hermione reached her hand out to touch the girl's, but before she could make contact, Eloise took off, quick as lightning.
"Hey!" Hermione started, but Eloise had already slipped in between the trees and out of sight.
Hermione pulled out her wand. "Chaperones, this is Granger and Rowland. We spotted a first-year on the east side near Spintwitches; when approached, she ran into the treeline. Something isn't right here. Request for backup."
A moment later, the formidable black form of Severus Snape stepped out in front of her. She jumped, gasping as they stood chest to chest. All thoughts of Eloise and responsibility threatened to leave her. His syrupy brown eyes bore into hers, hard and alert. His lank hair fell over his brow as he held her in his gaze.
Severus looked at her questioningly, his body taut with tension. "You rang?"