reinderrocr

Saturday, August 30, 2003

As Professor Hermione Granger located an empty compartment and was seated, her mind wandered back to her first ride on the Hogwarts Express, twelve years prior. Has it really only been twelve years? It seems like a lifetime ago, she thought to herself. It's amazing how something as insignificant as searching for a lost toad can change you life forever.

Now thinking back on it, and with the aid of hindsight, she was glad that Harry and she had the cherished relationship when they did. It had given her very fond memories to look back on.

The defeat of Voldemort certainly wasn't simple and without the gifts, it would have been impossible. But defeat him, they did. After his essence was banished into oblivion, the trio returned to Hogwarts.

They were, at last, free of the constant dread of the Dark Lord. None of them could keep the smiles off their faces as they grew closer and closer to their school and families.

Those smiles were quickly replaced with frowns and then looks of fear and anguish. For as they approached Hogwarts, instead of seeing a great celebration, they all witnessed the true face of war in it's stark reality.

Smoke was rising from the ruble that had once been the location of the Great Hall. Voldemort had ordered a Death Eater attack on Hogwarts shortly before he'd been destroyed. The Headmaster and two of the professors had lost their lives in the attack, along with twenty-one students.

Harry blamed himself for their deaths because it was at his insistence that they had taken refuge in the castle.

A service was held and the hillside beyond the Quidditch field was turned into a memorial cemetery to honor those who had lost their lives. Harry didn't attend. When Hermione returned to her room she found a simple note on her bed.

It was signed Harry. Hermione ran as fast as she could to his room, but to her despair she found he was already gone.

Hermione lowered her head to her cupped hands. Tears came to her eyes. She missed Ron and Harry. Remembering such times only increased the pain and sorrow the separation had caused. Unexpectedly, she was shocked back to the present with a loud rapping on the glass of the compartment door.

The lovely red haired girl on the other side of the window said, "Can I join you?"

"Actually, Professor, I'm traveling to the same place you are," Ginny said. "You're looking at the new Muggle Studies professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I assume we both took the train for the same reason, fond memories."

Hermione tried to hide the shocked expression she was sure covered her face. "You are going to teach Muggle Studies? Ginny, don't hate me for saying this, but what do you know about the Muggle World?"

"First, Hermione, I could never hate you

and in memory of them she had wanted to fulfill that dream. However, when Professor McGonagall asked her to take over as Transfiguration Professor, she had found it impossible to turn her down. Not only was it an extreme honor to be offered such a position directly out of school, but also she had such respect for Minerva that it was impossible to say no, especially after her former teacher had almost died saving the lives of two students during the devastation.

"Congratulations, Ginny. I'm so proud of you, but then you did finish first in your class, so I shouldn't be surprised.

Ginny interrupted, "Knowing that I'd be teaching along side you is one of the reasons I decided to take the job when it was offered by Professor Snape. Hermione, we were such good friends and then ... well when Harry broke up with you and well I know he dated Katie for awhile, but ..."

"Ginny, it's all right. I know what you're trying to say. Harry and I, well I guess it must have been all hormones. We were just so comfortable with each other and I suppose I just convinced myself I was in love with him. Harry, on the other hand, should have broken up with me much sooner. Not once did he tell me he loved me, probably because he never really did. Ginny, I don't blame you for our breakup. And yes, there is nothing more I'd rather see happen than us become good friends again.

He never apologized; do you realize that? Never an 'I'm sorry, Hermione'. He just walked out of my life without so much as a goodbye. Harry, at least, left a note."

Ginny moved to the other side of the compartment next to Hermione and embraced her tightly, not at all fooled by the amusement Hermione had attempted to convey. "Well, at least the devil got his due."

"Were you at that game, Ginny?" Hermione questioned.

"Yes, I didn't really want to go, but Fred and George had insisted. 'He's your brother', they said. It's the championship game. More importantly, the tickets are free. So we went, and on the fourth day the sun set and Ron turned into a werewolf.

I couldn't blame her. She's a beautiful girl. I imagine up till then she had to fight the boys off. Just eighteen years old and she had the most beautiful long blonde hair and her figure, she'd even give you competition."

The fact that Ginny paid her such a nice complement in the middle of such a serious conversation caught Hermione quite off guard and she turned a bright red.

"Ginny, isn't Ron due to get out of Azkaban soon?"

"Yes," she said, nodding her head, "he's scheduled to be released next Wednesday"

Fred and George have offered him a job managing their store in Hogsmeade until he gets on his feet."

Hermione's face turned as white as the blouse she was wearing. "He's going to be here? Here in Hogsmeade?"

You were there that first year after her death. What was he like in class?"

"He certainly wasn't the Professor Snape that taught you," Ginny answered. "It was like he was there, but just going through the motions. He seemed like he didn't care anymore. Oh yes, he taught the class, but he was completely calm and quiet. It was like he was some sort of zombie from an American horror picture. He didn't yell. I don't even recall him taking house points away the entire year."

"Hey! Hold on, girl. Sounds to me like someone has developed a little crush on old Snapie." Ginny wiggled her eyebrows at Hermione.

"No, it's not like that at all, Ginny," Hermione said, blushing brightly. "He is an attractive man and honestly, we have taken in a few shows together, but purely as colleagues. It was totally platonic. I could never picture myself in a relationship with Severus."

Once again she changed the subject. "Do you do the same Animagus trick to start your first year class that McGonagall did? I nearly peed my pants the first day of classes when that cat jump off the desk and transformed into old McGonagall."

Hermione blinked once and shook herself slightly, attempting to adjust to Ginny's frankness before answering the other woman's question. "I tried that my second year, but it didn't work out quite as successfully for me as it did for Minerva. The first years were too frightened to enter the classroom. It seems a wolf lying on the professor's desk is a bit more intimidating than a cat.

Oh, I nearly forgot to ask. What years will you be instructing in Muggle Studies?""

"First through seventh," Ginny quickly answered.

"Goodness, Ginny, are you sure there are enough hours in the day?"

"Oh," Ginny smiled. "This isn't your normal two or three times a week class. Since there is becoming

I have no idea when I'm going to prepare lessons and grade tests, let alone sleep."

"Hermione, if you're anything like you were in school, you'll make time. I assume there have been some changes since I left. Who else is on the teaching staff this year besides us?" Ginny asked.

and unfortunately Trelawney will be roosting in her tower again." Hermione suddenly had a disgusted look on her face.

"You don't like Trelawney, do you?" Ginny asked.

"It's not that I don't like her, it's just that she's so... well fake. I hate that she goes as far as predicting students' deaths. She did it to Harry year after year and now she's doing it to Jamie. It really bothers the poor girl and she's such a gifted student."

"First name? Sounds a little like she's the teacher's pet," Ginny said, giving Hermione a smirk.

"No, not at all, she is just a very special girl," Hermione answered, rather defensively. "Jamie's at the top of all her classes and like Harry, was made seeker of her Quidditch team in first year. The girl is absolutely beautiful, but doesn't have a conceited or mean bone in her body. You'll love her, believe me."

Hermione blushed because she often wished she could have a daughter, a daughter exactly like Jamie. Unfortunately the father she wanted for her child wasn't in love with her. In fact, he was no longer even a part of her life.

"Well unless you're suggesting that Harry and I conceived a baby when we were both nine years old, I'm afraid that's out of the question. Actually, I've met Jamie's parents. They are very nice people and have another daughter named Emily who will be starting Hogwarts next year. Let's see, where was I? Madam Hooch will be back for flight instruction and Professor Longbottom will once again be teaching Herbology.

Professor Monroe quit as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, so I guess we're back to one-year guest appearances again. I haven't heard who the lucky victim is for this year. As long as it's not another Gilderoy Lockhart type, I imagine we'll be okay."