Chapter Four: Preparations

(i) Thank you everyone for the kind reviews. I'm really pleased to hear your opinion of the story.

(ii) The characters and world of Harry Potter belong to J.K. Rowling. I make no money from this, just endless enjoyment.

(iii) And last, but by no means least, a big thank you to my lovely beta, Chelsea.

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Hermione spent the rest of July, following Professors McGonagall and Snape's visit, studying. The meetings at Hogwarts had gone well, and Hermione had accepted the post of Teaching Assistant for Potions. Following discussions with Professor McGonagall, who had insisted Hermione call her Minerva, Hermione had decided that she would sit for her NEWTs in Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, Arithmancy, Astronomy, Herbology, Ancient Runes and DADA. Thus, her days were spent reading and revising furiously. Harry and Ron ridiculed her efforts, Ron even commenting that it was obscene to sit for eight NEWTs. Hermione tried to grin, to pretend that they were merely teasing her as before, but the pain in her heart at their callous behaviour ate at her constantly. She tried to explain to Harry, who at least would occasionally listen, that studying was her mechanism for coping with the trauma of the war.

As she became more and more involved in her revision, Hermione tried to ignore Harry and Ron's increasingly alarming behaviour. Hermione felt that, as long as the boys pretended to come home at night, even as they continued to live their hedonistic lifestyle, nothing too bad could occur. All this changed on Harry's birthday.

On his birthday, The Daily Prophet printed an article on Harry's new career in Quidditch, an obvious publicity stunt by the owner of the Tornadoes. However, the article was accompanied by a series of photographs showing off their new star...Harry...out and about, enjoying London nightlife on his eighteenth birthday. Hermione had not been invited to the night out, and Ginny had not been given permission. Harry looked pleased and drunk, but what captured Hermione's attention was Ron. For in each of Harry's pictures, in the background stood an extremely smug looking Ron, generally kissing and fondling some scantily clad woman. Hermione had tried to ignore Ron's drinking and womanising, but this was just too much to dismiss. The photographs in the newspapers ensured that Hermione had to do nothing other than to display The Daily Prophet prominently on the breakfast table the following morning and wait for Ron to emerge as he usually did around noon to stuff his face with Kreacher's marvellous cooking.

Ron did not even attempt to deny the silent accusation in her eyes. He merely smiled cockily at her and said, "I guess you know I've found other women...real women...who are willing to show a bloke a good time. You're not the only cunt in town, Hermione, and since you're not ready for sex, and I was..."

His voice trailed off then. He suddenly seemed to realise that he was not only speaking to his ex-girlfriend, but also his long-term friend. He tried to grin sheepishly, but he failed.

Hermione did not respond for a long moment. Then, looking Ron squarely in the eyes, she said, "I understand you wanting to have sex. What I don't understand is why you had to lie. You could have just said we weren't working and broken it off like a man. Not waited for someone else to do the dirty work for you, like a cowardly child." Hermione laughed bitterly then shook her head as if to clear her thoughts. "I should feel hurt, jealous; instead, I just feel an odd sort of relief."

Ron shrugged again. He did not seem to care.

Once Hermione and Ron's relationship was officially over, living at Grimmauld Place became almost unbearable. The boys seemed determined to party all the time, to have strange women around, to drink and make as much noise as was possible. Desperate to find some peace and study, a week following Harry's birthday found Hermione writing to Minerva. She had, after all, nowhere else to go.

Minerva, on receiving Hermione's letter, immediately realised the unsaid pain underlying the request to relocate the Hogwarts earlier than anticipated. Minerva, like many others, had seen the photographs in the newspaper and could easily guess how uncomfortable the situation at Grimmauld Place now was.

Severus did not refuse Minerva's request to house Miss Granger. It was to his benefit if the girl was ensconced within Hogwarts. She could be better prepared for her duties.

Minerva's letter welcoming Hermione to Hogwarts arrived that very same evening. Hermione was so moved at the kindness in the letter and the speed in which the dispatch had been sent that she wasted no time in packing her belongings. Her year on the run had taught her well, and soon all of her things scattered around the library and the rest of Grimmauld Place were carefully packed in her beaded handbag. One last quick run around the house, confirming that everything was packed, a letter each to Harry and Ron informing them of her departure to Hogwarts, and Hermione was ready.

"Kreacher," called Hermione, her cloak and bag placed on the kitchen table. When Kreacher appeared, she said, "Thank you, Kreacher, for the excellent care and the wonderful food. I am leaving for Hogwarts tonight."

Kreacher did not respond.

Hermione smiled gently. "I know you will take good care of Harry and Ron, so I shall not tell you to."

Kreacher bowed low. "Miss be the best Mudblood Kreacher know."

Hermione laughed. "Thank you again, Kreacher," she said, before walking out the door and disappearing with a loud crack.

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Hermione Apparated in front of the gates just as the first stars were appearing in the night sky. She wondered if she should have given warning that she was turning up almost instantly, but then she thought back to the carefully worded letter and suspected that Professor McGonagall expected her promptly.

In fact, not long after she approached the gates and touched them with her wand, she saw Hagrid lumbering towards her, his lantern bobbing in the evening gloom. Hagrid's warm hug, though bone crushing, was extremely welcome to Hermione, who was feeling particularly fragile emotionally. His cheerful welcome, his patter about the rebuilding of the castle and the putting to rights of the grounds, filled the minutes as they walked companionably up to the castle.

On reaching the Entrance Hall, Hermione was next met by a smiling Minerva, who opened her arms out to the girl. The sympathy so clearly visible in her Head of House's eyes was Hermione's undoing. She flung herself into the waiting arms and cried as though her heart was breaking. Severus, just leaving the Great Hall after a late supper, quietly backed away and stood in the shadows watching the reunion. He had read Miss Granger's letter and had listened to Minerva speculate as to the reasons behind Miss Granger's request for an earlier than expected arrival at Hogwarts.

Another lost waif finding a home in Hogwarts, thought Severus, not unkindly, for he acknowledged that he, too, was one such waif. His house in Spinner's End held no pleasant memories for him, and he, too, considered Hogwarts his real home.

Hermione enjoyed the quiet solitude of Hogwarts. She had fallen in love with the suite of rooms she had been given that lay quite close to the Potions classroom. She loved best her own tiny study, done up with walnut panelling and numerous bookshelves, all waiting for her collection. It had a sturdy desk, an almost feminine straight-backed chair, upholstered in a warm russet velvet; a comfortable, if well-worn armchair in smart brown leather, with a matching footstool which sat, most importantly, in front of a large fireplace to keep it all warm, since even in summer, the dungeons she now dwelt in became quite cold in the evenings. The room held no paintings, although the floor was thankfully almost entirely covered by a large and thick, if somewhat faded, Persian carpet in emerald green. A large faded tapestry depicting the goddess Venus rising from the waves led to her elegant bedroom. The bedroom itself was ivory and gold, with a large four-poster bed with elegant roses and vines carved on it. Another fireplace took up one wall, with a large window magically charmed to show the view from the Clock Tower which overlooked the old courtyard, occupying another. Yet another thick and faded, but stunningly beautiful, Persian carpet covered the flagstone floor, this time in shades of Prussian blue. She also had her own tiny bathroom in sumptuous white marble, and Hermione felt that she had been given the perfect place to reside. Her new domain was guarded by a painting of a haughty young witch with flashing green eyes, dressed in a long black cloak, by the name of Esmeralda, who upon discovering that Hermione was willing to chat, became much more cheerful and friendly.

She spent her days in the library and in her little study or out by the lake enjoying the glorious summer sunshine as she lay under a shady tree, her books spread out in a semi-circle around her. She helped finalise the Muggle Studies syllabus, as well as assisting anyone who wanted a second pair of hands. After the difficult days on the run and the trauma of trying to keep the boys together, even as they resented her for her interference since the fall of Voldemort, these peaceful, industrious days were a balm to Hermione's body and spirit.

As the hot days of August came to a close, the seventh and fifth year students sitting for NEWTs and OWLs returned. Hermione, despite the pain in her heart at the lack of communication from Harry and Ron following her move to Hogwarts, did as well as was expected of her. She had always been good at using work to distract herself, and on realising how much she had been used by her so-called best friends, she had promised herself to focus on getting the best results possible. Having Minerva's silent support and Pomona Sprout's motherly concern helped, too.

It surprised Hermione to see how many of her classmates sat for the delayed NEWTs. Watching them all, she realised that very few of her batch-mates would be returning to retake their seventh year. From the Gryffindors, only Neville, Dean Thomas and Hermione would be coming back. This did make sense however, for Hermione realised it would be mostly the Muggle-borns who had missed out on an entire year; the others had all been permitted to attend under Voldemort's reign.

Once OWLs and NEWTs were completed, the castle once more returned to a final weekend of solitude, as last-minute preparations for the arrival of the new students were undertaken. Hermione watched and assisted wherever she was needed. She somehow felt that coming back to Hogwarts had been the best decision she had ever made.

For Muggle Studies, Severus and Minerva recruited Andromeda Black Tonks. Andromeda was keen to leave her past behind, having lost not only her Muggle-born husband but also her daughter and her son-in-law in the war. Unlike other purebloods, Andromeda knew the Muggle world fairly well, and the selection was pleasing to everyone, even the Ministry and the Board of Governors. Her arrival early Saturday morning with her grandson Teddy Lupin caused almost ecstatic joy among the Hogwarts house-elves. There had not been an infant in residence at Hogwarts in over half a century, and the elves were delighted at the opportunity to devote themselves to Teddy's care. Hermione found this very amusing, especially now that she better understood the house-elves' need to serve.

Andromeda's arrival was soon followed by that of Bill and Fleur Weasley. They arrived around lunchtime, with a plethora of luggage. That evening, a special celebration was held in the staff room for the new team. The party, with its delicious food, laughter and gentle conversation, made the castle resemble not only an educational institution but also a home to Hermione. Surrounded by cheerful, happy people, Hermione felt like she was finally a real part of the Hogwarts family. A feeling of peace descended upon her, and she felt ready to take on her new role as Teaching Assistant.

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A.N. Love it or hate it, please to let me know what you think.