1
Chapter 1 of 12
magalenaIt's nine years post war. Hermione has just had a traumatic break-up with her fiance, Theodore Nott. Hurt and disillusioned with her life, she retreats to a cottage in rural Ireland that she inherited from a great-aunt. You'll never guess who else has been living a peaceful life in the Muggle world in the same small village for the past eight years.
ReviewedDisclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter; I make no money here.
AN: This story was a gift for morethansirius in honor of all her contributions to the SS/HG fandom and was posted originally at the morethanmolly comm. on LJ. I post as madeleone on LJ.
Many thanks to my beta dreamy_dragon73 for all her help; she makes it all readable. Thank you also to talesofsnape for the lovely banner.
Hermione, at age twenty-eight, was now officially unemployed and unengaged. Her ex-fiancé had also been her department head at the Ministry, and it was decided by the powers that be that she could hardly keep working for him once she’d broken the engagement. Well, she could hardly be blamed for breaking the engagement after catching him fucking her assistant right in Hermione’s office on her very own desk. The sleazy bastard!
So now, she was at a crossroads: where did she go from here? As so often when she needed advice and reassurance, she’d come to her mentor and friend, Minerva McGonagall.
“At least I learned the truth about Theo before the wedding. Thank the gods for that!” exclaimed Hermione vehemently. “When I stormed into his office the next day and threw his ring in his face, he tried to act like it was no big deal and like things should just go on as if nothing had happened. He said that it's common among his peers for husbands to have mistresses or affairs. As if I would stay with the cheating prick after what he'd done.”
When she had disabused him of that idea, he’d proceeded to say many cruel and hateful things, telling her that he’d only planned to marry her for her celebrity status in order to help advance his career. And furthermore, he had proceeded to let her know how totally inadequate she was as a woman, as a lover. The things he'd said to her had been so invidiously cruel and hate-filled that she had been eviscerated emotionally by his viciousness. Even now, she couldn't bring herself to repeat the hurtful insults Theo had hurled at her to Minerva or anyone.
“Harry and Ron offered to sort Theo out for me. But I didn’t want the boys to risk losing their jobs; Theo’s connections at the Ministry run deep, and he could make things difficult for them.” And deep down, she had somehow believed some of the awful things he'd said about her; she felt like he had left scars on her heart. “I really believed myself to be in love with Theo Nott, Minerva. Perhaps, I so desperately wanted someone to love me that I was blind to reality, or maybe he was just that good at subterfuge.”
Hermione was the most confident person in the world when it came to her job, research, academics or friends, but she'd never ever been very good at male-female relationships. She did, in fact, feel inadequate, incompetent and now a total failure, so every cruel word out of Theo's mouth only reinforced her own lack of self-worth in the relationship department.
It had started with Viktor back at school. It had been awkward, and when he'd kissed her after the Yule ball, she hadn't felt the excitement her roommates had described when talking about snogging boys. Instead, it had been rather disturbing. It was wet and sloppy, and when his tongue had snaked its way into her mouth, instead of being turned on, she had just felt grossed out.
Then with Ron, it hadn’t been bad. It just hadn't been all that exciting, not what she'd been led to believe, at least. She'd craved the closeness that sex had brought, had loved the cuddling afterward, but the actual act just didn't live up to the romance novels. She’d just never understood all the hype about sex. She was actually glad when they decided to break it off and just be friends. She loved Ron much better as a friend than a lover.
She'd had a few short-term boyfriends, but over the last few years, she just hadn’t had any permanent relationships until Theo. She thought she'd finally found the real thing: affection, mutual respect, compatibility. She realized only now how horribly wrong she'd been, and that he’d only been playing up to her weaknesses and using her reputation as a springboard to become Minister of Magic.
Minerva’s voice pulled her out of her reverie and back to the present.
“I know that right now you are hurting. But perhaps this break-up is the impetus you need to make a fresh start,” Minerva said, patting Hermione solicitously. “They do say all things happen for a reason.”
Hermione sighed as she stared out of the window of the Headmistress’ office. “Maybe you’re right, Minerva. But this is one hell of a way for fate to teach me a lesson.”
“Tell me the truth, dear. What is it you’ve always wanted to do? What is that secret dream that you’ve always kept hidden in the back of your mind? Old dreams never die, my dear, they are just filed away. When the time is right, they can be pulled out and put to use.”
Hermione pondered the question for a while. She'd never wanted to do the things a normal little girl did, hadn’t wanted to be a nurse or a secretary or a teacher. She'd wanted to be a scientist or an astronaut or an explorer. She'd spent so many hours lost in the pages of books. Suddenly, a smile broke through. “I love books. I’ve always wanted to write. When I was a little girl, I used to make up stories all the time and dreamed that some day I’d be a writer.”
“Well, that sounds perfect for you, dear. Take that dream out and dust it off. You’ll never know unless you try.”
“Oh, Minerva, thank you! This is brilliant. You’ve truly given me something to look forward to—a new beginning.”
“But how will you manage without the income from your job while you try to establish yourself.” Minerva worried.
No problems there, thanks to Draco Malfoy,” responded Hermione with a huge grin as she hurried on to explain. “Zabini is Malfoy's best friend, and Blaise works with Harry and Ron, so he heard first hand about the whole fiasco with Theo. How the higher-ups opted to sack me rather than transfer me to another department or, Merlin forbid, fire Nott instead. Anyway, Blaise was telling Draco about it, and it seems that he, Draco that is, has a huge grudge against Theo for numerous past wrongs, including but not limited to Theo stealing his fiancée Astoria Greengrass from him five years ago. So, he offered to represent me in a suit for unfair dismissal. He got me triple the normal severance package plus a hefty compensation of twenty-five thousand Galleons. By the time he was done, the Ministry didn't know what hit them.”
“And how much is left after Mr. Malfoy took his share?” asked Minerva skeptically.
“Amazingly, Draco did it pro bono. Apparently, he wanted to stick it to Nott very badly. When I insisted that I should pay him something, he said to consider it reparations for past misdeeds on his part. The only thing he wanted from me was a favor, for me to set him up on a date with my friend Luna. Seems he's had a thing for her for quite some time and couldn't get her to go out with him.”
“Mr. Malfoy and Miss Lovegood? Well, that's an odd couple if I ever heard of one,” stated Minerva. “Still, one never knows where one will find love; it grows in the strangest places and between the most unexpected people sometimes.”
tbc
Story Actions
To follow, favorite, like, and more either log in or create an account.
Leave a Review
Log in to leave a review.
Latest 25 Reviews for New Beginnings
81 Reviews | 5.06/10 Average
oh well done you, that was fab! I really enjoyed the switching points-of-view in this story, that was very well done.
Response from magalena (Author of New Beginnings)
Thanks so much! :)
Really really enjoyable. Thank you!
Response from magalena (Author of New Beginnings)
Thanks for reading. :)
“Couple of eejits, if you ask me,”LOL......And yes, Luna's decisive action is hysterical....Harry is going to be in big trouble...
Response from magalena (Author of New Beginnings)
So very true! And I'm glad you like Luna's resoning. LOL
Oh, dear. Harry meant well, but he really did throw a wrench in things, didn't he?
Response from magalena (Author of New Beginnings)
Yes, he did mean well. There were a ton of people who wanted Harry's blood for his actions. But in his own way he really was trying to protect Hermione from getting hurt.
Loved her reaction to Harry keeping Snape's secret. Fantastic.
Response from magalena (Author of New Beginnings)
Glad you're liking it. :)
Aw, Harry had to come out and make sure she was okay. She may feel alone, but she's certainly got some good friends looking after her. Things likely feel dark right now, but it feels like they are just about to really turn around for her. And I loved the interaction between Severus and Harry. The protectiveness, and the ability to calm back down and be civil. One would hope this would be how it would go.
Response from magalena (Author of New Beginnings)
Yes, Hermione has very good friend in Harry. I'm glad that comes through to readers in the story. Thanks for reading and commenting.
You've made Draco a little too likeable, lol. He's adorable here. Luna is a lucky girl ineed here. Severus better get himself back to that pub to help her pick up the pieces...
Response from magalena (Author of New Beginnings)
For some reason I really like the pairing of Draco and Luna. I also like to imagine after the war and everything he went through at Voldie's hands he would have realized the error of his ways and cleaned up his act. Severus to the rescue! :)
Lovely start. I have to giggle at the thought of Snape in a car. I don't know why, it's just funny to me.
Response from magalena (Author of New Beginnings)
Well, he was raised in the Muggle world and now he wants to blend into the Muggle village he lives in, and I did give him a nice sporty little car. :)Thanks for reading and commenting. :)
"She hated to cook, was she eating at all?" LMFAO! Why, yes, she's just holed up in her house starving to death because she refuses to make toast. I like how cute and silly this story is. It's really giggly-worthy. :)
Response from magalena (Author of New Beginnings)
Thanks I was hoping to evoke a few giggles along the way. :-)
Aw, poor Paddy. She took it out oh him pretty badly didn't she? :( I hope there's more Paddy! He's a cute little side character. :)
Response from magalena (Author of New Beginnings)
Thanks so much for reading and reviewing. I'm glad you like Paddy, some of my characters seem to take on a life of their own. :) I liked him a lot too.
I've also run into the chosing Ireland as a place to call home because of the lack of snakes a few times in other stories - not just here and in A Fresh Start. I think it's something that a lot of people can touch upon because it fits Snape's situation so well. I must admit, if I was bitten by a huge snake and lived by the skin of my teeth I'd probably want to go someplace far away from snakes. It's only logical.
Response from magalena (Author of New Beginnings)
Thanks, I knew it wasn't an original idea, but thought it was a funny answer (and truthful) to Harry's question. So when my beta pointed out that it reminded her of dicky's fic, I wanted to mention it as I certainly wouldn't want anyone to think I stole the idea.
LOL!! First, very clever mix up of Severus Snape and Russ Spaveene. It sounds like some obscure British name JK Rowling would make up."...so he began to think that perhaps she wasn't stalking him. Ironically, he began stalking her instead to find out what she was up to..." LMFAO. Paranoid much, Snape?And this: "It appeared that there would be no more visits to Bluebell cottage for young Mr. Murphy, damn his horny little soul to hell. " makes me think that for some reason Snape is already Jealous of poor Murphy. When he really has no rational reason to be. LOL! Oh. I like this story. :)
Response from magalena (Author of New Beginnings)
Thanks so much, I'm glad you are enjoying it so far. And yea, I found it amusing that he was worried about her stalking him then when she didn't he felt compelled to stalk her. LOL!And as for his reaction to poor young Timothy, you are absolutely right, he really has no rational reason to be jealous. So why does he feel that way???? :D
just loved the relation between harry and hermione.that is how it is supposed to be.an easy going snape is good for a change too.great work!
Response from magalena (Author of New Beginnings)
Thanks for reading and reviewing. I'm glad you liked the relationship between Harry and Hermione, I believe that as they are the best of friends and both of them are only children they have kind of adopted each other as family. And I like to believe that Severus could afford to be a bit more laid back so many years after the war and now living a quiet life away from it all. :)
A very nice ending! This has been an enjoyable fic to keep track of. Thanks for your contribution to the good ship SS/HG.
Response from magalena (Author of New Beginnings)
Thanks so much for the lovely comments, glad you enjoyed.
Oops, how to explain that little party! :0
Response from magalena (Author of New Beginnings)
He must have really been distracted to forget the crowd he had in his house. :D
Wouldn't want to be in Harry's shoes about now! :)
Response from magalena (Author of New Beginnings)
Poor Harry, he really did want to protect Hermione, I don't think she appriciates it though.
I like Greg as a good guy. He just needed set on the straight and narrow. :)
Response from magalena (Author of New Beginnings)
I know, I love writing a reformed Greg. He just showed up and demanded a part, I just had to let him in. ;-)
“Yeah, well, Ron loves food, but he's no chef.” Love that line. :)
Response from magalena (Author of New Beginnings)
Thanks, it's so very true! :)
We don't have snakes either. Wonder if he'd consider New Zealand? :)
Response from magalena (Author of New Beginnings)
Really, I did not know that, good thing to know for future reference. :D
Handy thing owning the only watering hole in town ! :)
Response from magalena (Author of New Beginnings)
It's the place to be! LOL
Can't stop spying, can he? ;)
Response from magalena (Author of New Beginnings)
Nope, it's in his blood. He wants more information, it's driving him crazy. Why is she there? Is she looking for him? Does she already know he's there? etc. etc.
The cottage sounds like a nice retreat. But who is the owner of the pub? ;)
Response from magalena (Author of New Beginnings)
I want to live in her cottage! The owner of the pub? I'll give you three guesses. LOL
LOL, too funny with Aberforth and his goats! Love your ending, thanks for sharing!
Response from magalena (Author of New Beginnings)
Thanks so much for all the reviews and I'm glad you enjoyed the story.
Fantastic! I so love what they did to Nott and letting Hermione in on the fun. LOL
Response from magalena (Author of New Beginnings)
Thanks, for all the lovely reviews I'm glad you like it. Of course Hermione wanted to get back at Theo on her own and it was only fitting the other women he'd mistreated got a chance to help too. :)