Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter nor its characters. I just want to write whatever cross my mind.
It is my first HP fanfic, my very first fanfic in English. I am a big lover of HP who plays such a big part throughout my youth. Now in my adulthood, I want to write my story in this fantastic universe.
All reviews are welcomed.
Chapter 1 Can I stay here?
The Golden Trio parted ways after the Battle of Hogwarts and all the funerals that came after.
Harry went back to Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place. He would like to spend time in the place despite all the bad and heartbroken memories there. It was where Sirius Black spent his youth and time after Azkaban. He did not want to bother the Weasleys, yet he promised to visit them when time fits. He just did not know when.
Ron was in the Borrow with his family. Weasleys were in sorrow for the loss of Fred Weasley. House needed to be rebuilt after the war caused massive destruction to the village. Their hearts were to be mended from the loss.
Hermione has nowhere to go. She does not want to trouble any of her friends when everyone already has so much on their shoulders. She does not want to go to the empty house she used to live with her parents whom she has sent to Australia before their run as Wendell and Monica Wilkins. The house remains as it was as the mortgage was repaid years before, thankfully to their parents' well paid occupation. But the memories there stops her from going back.
Now, she is sitting beside the Black Lake and wondering where to go.
"Miss Granger, what are you doing here?"
A solemn voice from the back startles the young witch. She turns with a wand in hand, then lowers it as she realizes who's there.
Minerva McGonagall, her former Transfiguration Professor and Head of House, now Headmistress of Hogwarts.
"Professor, I…" Hermione mutters.
Raising her elbow, Minerva is unused to her favourite student's reaction. Though she never admits to it, Hermione Granger has been her favourite student of all time. She encourages her in her studies and worries for her as the younger witch always ends up with lots of trouble together with the other two young wizards.
"I am glad you remained alert all the time. But I am no harm to you." Softens her expression, "is there anything I can do for you," pauses, "Hermione?"
The younger witch loosens her stiff body, mouth opens and closes a couple times, and seems to be searching for the right words.
Minerva walks closer and eventually sits down beside Hermione. She looks into the latter's eyes, repeats, "is there anything I can do for you?"
Took a deep breath, Hermione finally bucks her courage and asks, "can I stay here?"
Averting her glance, she continues, "I can help with the clean-up and rebuilding. I might not know much on how to start but I am willing to help on whatever you see fit…"
Minerva cut her words and smiles, "Sure you can stay here. Your help would be lovely for us."
She does not question why the younger witch does not go home or go with her best friends. She could sense that her favourite student does not want to share that yet, maybe not with her. She would let it go, just as she let her go in her first year.
She stands up and holds out her hand to Hermione, "well, let's figure out how to accommodate you."
Hermione is surprised at how easy she gets passed for this unusual request. She grabs her professor's hand and stands up.
Slightly squeezing the younger's hand, Minerva lets go and turns around towards the ruined castle.
/ OoOoO /
The two arrived in the old Great Hall. All the dead bodies have been processed, either to their families or to the Ministry. The latter is also a mess but at least they still have the Aurors Unit to work on those dead bodies of Death Eaters.
The two stand quietly at the entrance, both have the images of all the heartbroken scenes from recent days. Then they walk past the corridors before Hermione breaks the not-awkward silence.
"So, where could I stay?" Hermione looks at her professor.
Minerva lets go a sigh. Many chambers were damaged, especially the towers for Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. Even still somehow inhabitable, it is not an ideal location for a longer stay. Over the past few weeks when funerals were held, most people either lived in Hogsmeade Village or anywhere they could as simple as lay down. Students go back to sort whatever was left behind in the war and a few did stay there during the time when the war just ended. Hermione herself is in her room, alone. Her ex-roommates either went home with families or had to be in St. Mungo's if not in the Hospital Wing.
"I could still stay in the Gryffindor tower. It might not be in its best condition, but, as long as I could stay within Hogwarts is fine for me." Hermione offers. "Or, I can use my tent." she adds.
Sighed. "Yes, that might be the only option we could offer now." Even if the castle was damaged, it still offers better protection than a tent, despite Minerva's trust in her student's magic intelligence to build a safe tent.
Hermione shrugs, "at your service, mistress."
Minerva rolls her eyes uncharacteristically. She is sometimes amused how the younger witch is never intimidated by her image, not that she minds, still.
With the first issue resolved, Hermione would like to start helping on whatever the headmistress found fit.
"Where could I start?" She looks up to the tall witch.
"Hospital Wing. It was not severely damaged but we still have quite a number of patients there." Been through three wars, Minerva still not found herself comfortable with all the casualties.
The two leave for the Hospital Wing. Meeting with Madam Pomfrey who is busy treating the patients, the mediwitch immediately welcomes the younger witch. Madam Pomfrey and Hermione start dividing and prioritising tasks, stock-taking the potion inventories and checking on patients' status.
While the two have hands-on Hospital Wing, Minerva excuses her exit to meet with other remaining staff and volunteers. They need to discuss how they should address the restoration of the castle.
It would be an enormous project. Minerva signs.
/ OoOoO /
The next morning arrives. Sun lit the Gryffindor tower from the broken wall but Hermione was already up before the sunrise.
She has not been sleeping well since their run. The fear of potential threats, the uncertainty on how to accomplish Dumbledore's missions and the aftereffect of what happened in Malfoy Manor. She still feels the craved word on her wrist burning from time to time.
Mudblood.
She saw the word when she woke up from the Shell Cottage. Fleur took care of her over the time there but she could not find a way to erase that. She said there was dark arts in the wound and she could not perform more advanced magic to heal it more.
With no time paying attention to that at that time, and also nothing really could do, Hermione just ignored it since then. More was happening than that stupid word on her wrist.
But now, when most things seem to come towards an end, the memories and pain find their way creeping in.
Before she could drill down further, a silver tabby emerges into the empty room, "if you might, please come to the staff room we met yesterday."
Hermione recognizes it is the Headmistress's Patronus.
She hurries to perform some cleansing spells on herself, which she had done a lot over the last year. She showers every day but staying in ruins was not helping to keep clean by all means.
Just before she steps out, she performs a disguised curse on her wrist. Without further hesitation, she heads to the said meeting point.