Love is Hope: Life after fifth year

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When Hermione had finished explaining about what Harry and she had fought about the night before, Ginny had stuck in her head to ask what they were doing... Being as it was quite late, the rest of the boys were planning on coming up. Ron had promised to speak with Harry without divulging too much of her confidence to him. She also promised him, she wouldn’t breathe a word of their “encounter” to anyone but Ginny, since she already knew. Hermione thought it only fair to give him time to get over his crush for her; besides, it would give her time to get accustomed to the idea that one of her best friends had had feelings for her, and that any potential relationship from there on, was already non-existent.

It was a bit like feeling desired one moment, and unwanted the next... But she’d get over that, no problem there. Of course there was the surreal factor that she had been kissed for the first time... Now Hermione may be nothing of a silly giggling girl, a deep secret part of her still felt giddy about that...

Of course Ginny hadn’t let her go to sleep before extracting all information. The younger witch was so floored by her brother’s mature behaviour, that she made Hermione tell it over and over again, until the older witch threatened to hex her.

The next morning everything was business as usual. Harry didn’t snap at her, she didn’t either, and on the surface it seemed nothing happened. Of course nothing REAL *did* happen, but Hermione still felt a little tension underneath. When she looked at Ron questioningly about Harry’s behaviour he just winked at her.

“So, Hermione, tell us since we know now that you saw the motorcycle. What did you think of the Muggle thing?”

Hermione was unsure if it was the right thing to do to start talking about that all of the sudden, and Harry seemed startled too. Last night she found out that the motorcycle had been a gift from Sirius for Harry’s sixteenth birthday, and the cave *had* been an old practise room for duelling. But Ron’s teasing tone, and the fact that he was talking so freely to her without awkwardness, made her feel giddy.

“Why I think it’s a beautiful one, of course. I mean it’s a black Harley, what girl wouldn’t swoon at the sight of it, not to mention the sound... Hmm”

She closed her eyes for effect, making them think she was imagining the sight and sound. When she looked at her two boys again, she saw them gaping at her. Harry had definitely come out of his sulky mood because he asked teasingly: “Ok, where’s Hermione and what have you done to her?”

Happily she answered: “Hermione is about to be late for her Ancient Runes class, so see you two for Defence next!”

With that she skipped out of the Great Hall, leaving them being amazed. She didn’t know what had gotten into her, she almost acted like a girlie in love. Unfortunately, as the day went on, she remembered the amounts of work that had yet to be done, so the giddy mood was quickly replaced by a determined one. Never shy of a challenge, she set to work during her free time in the library, and studied with renewed passion.

***

The weeks progressed, and soon Christmas break was coming up. Hermione felt like she was in a roller-coaster of changes. Though everything seemed to basically stay the same, at the same time everything was different. For instance Neville; this year he had found a new confidence in himself, and was progressing consideringly in all classes he was enrolled in. Hermione was left wondering if it was the new wand, the DA lessons of last year, or the encounter with his parents’ torturer at the Ministry, or all of them combined...

Another change was found with the Ravenclaw Chang. Cho was finally laying off, she’d even come to defend Hermione when Parkinson was on one of her tirades. And because of Cho notifying the Headmaster, Snape had been unable to do anything to stop Parkinson from loosing her prefect badge. A fifth year by the name of Rosalinda Rempinga had taken her place, and from what Hermione had heard from Ginny, that girl hadn’t much more of a heart then Parkinson, but at least she was a lot less *loud*. Hermione knew what Cho had done was as close to an apology she was ever going to get from the girl, but she supposed that was alright.

She still didn’t know, though, what it had been that Cho and Harry had talked about on the Hogsmead trip. As far as she could tell, they weren’t a couple. They didn’t act so awkward towards each other anymore, so she imagined they’d talked things over... Harry was certainly not telling, and Hermione wasn’t risking the peace between them to badger him about it. She still had to push her boys to study from time to time, but they seemed to be getting along without her better and better... Hermione still helped Harry with Potions as much as she could, but he was getting better at them. True, he would never become a potions master, but he should be able to collect a NEWT, if he continued the way he was working now...

The biggest change she supposed was Ron. They had their awkward moments, but their ‘daily friendship’ was developing in something more ‘light’. Where before they could bite each other’s heads off constantly, the fighting had gotten a more sarcastically teasing dimension. Ron would make sarcastic comments, and Hermione would glare at him, but their wasn’t that whole angry tension accompanying it anymore. Hermione wouldn’t go as far as to call it flirting, but it’s what her roommates called it.

Ron was loosing more and more of his shyness, and was discovering he had some popularity of his own, being the Quidditch captain... He still blushed behind his ears easily, but he was starting to discover that easy Weasley charm deep within him. Hermione thought and Ginny agreed, that he was taking more and more after Bill.

Ginny was revelling in being single and prefect; though at first glance the two had nothing to do with each other, she used her position the way boys usually used it: as a way to flirt, well a little anyway... the only one who wasn’t considered ‘prey’ were the students younger then her, the Slytherins, and her brother and Harry, who was more like a brother to her anyway.

Ron had confessed to Hermione he had had this ideal picture perfect in his head for the future: him marrying her, and Harry his sister, then they would’ve all been family. She’d been touched by the sentimentality Ron had, but explained to him they already were family; nothing could change that. In fact, the first who’d get it in his or her head to try tearing them apart would be hexed by her personally.

Harry had never been the most chipper boy, but he wasn’t excessively sulking. He had this special aura around him of someone who seemed older then he really was, because of all he’d seen in his short life. And it was getting more defined every day. Though Ron still let Malfoy get to him, Harry used sarcasm and calm as his weapons, besides, Malfoy had toned down a little since his dear Pansy lost her badge...

The DA sessions went on, and Hermione was impressed at the progress they were getting; they had witnessed some pretty wild duels. Slytherins were still refusing to show up, though... Of course it helped that the Defence against Dark Arts teacher actually did his job... The Legilimency lessons were progressing also, and Harry was actually getting quite good at it. To Hermione’s relief he was to find the answers to Arithmency theories in her mind, which meant her most intimate thoughts and memories were relatively safe, since he only had to sort through her memories of studying. Gradually he was to try small Legilimency without the spell, just trying to see if people surrounding him were lying to him or not...

But this still left Hermione unable to do real Occlumency, and that was starting to weigh on her. She was grateful for the two weeks of vacation that were coming up, though. Even if her homework and written assignments were delivered on time; she felt like she could do with some more reading. And those two weeks would be the excellent time to catch up at ease.

She had wanted to go to her parents this year, since it had been such a long time she’d celebrated Christmas with them, but she knew this wouldn’t be possible as of yet. The risk for her, and them was not one she was willing to take. So she agreed to follow Harry and Ron. Today was the last day before break, and she was still unsure about where they would go. Would they stay at Hogwarts, or go to the Grimmauld Place? The Burrow would be nice, but seemed out of the question if they wanted Harry to be with them. Hermione understood that having them being in the dark themselves about their where-abouts, was the best tactic of leaving the other side in confusion. But how was she to know if she needed to pack or not?

They were all at the Great Hall for dinner, when Dumbledore stood to make an announcement.

“Tomorrow some of you will leave us to celebrate these coming holidays with their families. I wish you all a merry Christmas, and a happy new year! And may you all return safely back to us. I have never tried to hide from you all what dire times we are facing, and I urge you all to be vigilant, and careful. Remember, united we are strong, and we mustn’t let hatred consume us, but fight it... On a happier note I would like to warn all students that a ball will be held in honour of the new Minister of Magic. This tradition has been delayed long enough, and we will honour the new Head of government, as is our custom. All fifth years and above are to attend, younger students may chose to participate if they wish to. It goes without saying that you are expected to show up in dress robes, so I dare say some of us will have some last minute shopping to do over the vacation. The ball will be organized by the teachers with the help of the Head Boy and Girl, as well as the prefects, and will be held the first Saturday evening after the holidays... Now off you go”

Naturally the ball was all Hermione heard about from her roommates, even the next morning they were still going on about it. When most of the students left in the carriages, Hermione was left with Harry, Ron and Ginny in the Gryffindor common room, waiting for news on where they were to go next. They didn’t have to wait for very long, Remus and Tonks came in and told them to pack so they could go to the Grimmauld Place. Running upstairs they got to work as soon as possible.

Hermione was still contemplating what books to bring and which to leave behind, when Ginny told her to hurry already. Coming down they saw Harry and Ron already waiting at the fire place. Leaving their trunks there they went in search for their chaperones, who’d mysteriously disappeared. Scrambling out of the entrance hole, they were moving quietly, for no other reason that it seemed disrespectful to disturb the almost eerie stillness of the castle.

Hearing Tonks’ voice from around the corner they stopped dead in their tracks: “Remus... The mistle... toe’s... gone... now... Mmh, we should go back... Mmh, or not yet”

Hermione, having a pretty good idea at what was going on there, was trying to lead the rest back to where they came from. Harry and Ron seemed inclined to follow her but Ginny’s smile said she just *had* to investigate further... Before they could decide either way a cold voice barked behind them, making them jump quite high.

“What, pray tell, are four young Gryffindors doing lurking about in the corridors? Miss Weasley, I do sincerely hope you will not make it a habit to seek trouble like your older friends and siblings... Well, I do expect an answer, preferably today”

Just at that moment Remus and Tonks rounded the corner. Again, you could barely see anything about them that gave away their real intimacy. “Professor Lupin, Auror Tonks, I caught these cretins eavesdropping on you. Or did I not? What have you learned that was so important to stoop so low?”

Hermione repressed the urge to tell him he should be the one to reconsider blaming other people of eavesdropping. Before anyone could loose their temper, though, Remus said: “That’s quite alright Severus, they were told to come and get us when they were finished with their packing”

Dramatically billowing away, Snape didn’t pursue the matter further.

When they arrived at Grimmauld Place with a secure Floo-connection, and had settled in, Harry and Ron barged into Hermione and Ginny’s room. “Ok, Hermione, spill, how long have you known!” Ron didn’t really seem angry, just annoyed. And Hermione knew very well what they meant.

“Ok, ok. You remember the night I arrived here, Harry? You went off, when the conversation turned to Sirius...” waiting for the nod, she continued, “Well, Remus didn’t stay very long after you left, and then Tonks and I decided to go talk to you both. That’s when I came to study with you. So, then, remember you asked about my notes being on the kitchen table the next morning?”

She proceeded to tell the whole story. Ginny was positively beaming at the passionate affair that had been going on right under their noses. But all three of them were outraged that she hadn’t told any of them sooner.

“Well, excuse me, Lavender, Parvati, and Padma, if I didn’t realise this made some great gossip! Besides, it’s evident that they don’t want this to get out. I mean, you wouldn’t notice for a second; they just act so casual whenever someone else is with them... It’s almost as if it isn’t true”

“But it is,” For the second time in a short while they were startled out of their wits.

In the opening of the door were Tonks and Remus. Remus sported a sad expression, when Tonks seemed more like a little relieved: “I knew you’d seen something that day, thanks for keeping it quite, Hermione”

Remus continued: “And we’d appreciate it if you all could keep it that way” with that he left the room.

Ginny went up to Tonks: “This is so great! I knew you fancied him, damn I like being right! But what has *his* knickers in a twist? Why doesn’t he want it known?”

Hermione said: “Well, it’s obvious isn’t it? First there’s the age difference, and the fact that Professor Lupin’s a werewolf and Tonks is an Auror. The news of their relationship would make more then one eyebrow lift”

“That doesn’t matter to me Hermione, you should know me better then this”

“But it matters to him,” Harry shocked everyone in the room with this bit of insight. “And the fact that you could both die protecting me kind of puts things in a tense perspective, not sure of having a future. And then there’s Sirius’ memory that stands between you. You were his little cousin, and Remus was his last best mate...”

Ron looked at Harry incredulously: “Ok, that’s it. No more studying with Hermione. She’s rubbing off on you!!! I don’t want two Hermione’s as best friends! So knock it off!”

The tension was lifted with that, and laughter filled the room.

“Blimey, I almost forgot! You have to come downstairs! We have a surprise for you!”

All curious, they followed Tonks, and soon the question as to why the kitchen had looked so deserted was answered. Someone had redone the big classy dining room in more cheerful colours, red, gold and a little bit of green. A big Christmas tree was standing in one corner with a lot of presents under it. The room was filled with joyful Christmas carols, and people of the Order.

Hermione saw all of the Weasleys, except for Charlie and Percy, standing there, Moody, Dedalus Diggle, Mundungus Fletcher, Emmeline Vance, Sturgis Podmore and two other people...

Hermione couldn’t believe her eyes: “Mum, dad!” She sprinted up to them, jumping in her mother’s waiting arms.

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