Chapter 1: Letters from Friends
Hermione Granger stirred in bed, unconsciously kicking the flower-patterned bedspread off her. She opened her eyes slowly, noticing the vertically lined wallpaper that surrounded her. Her hands immediately flew to her eyes, where she began to rub them drowsily.
Where am I? She thought to herself. This is not my flat.
Her eyes adjusted once more to the morning light that began to fill the room when she suddenly remembered that she was at her parents' house. She breathed a heavy sigh of relief and stepped out of her old bed and into the slippers at its edge. She began to make her bed. When she was done she grabbed the soft pink robe that hung on the hook on her door and put it over her nightdress before she headed downstairs to the breakfast nook.
When she got down to the nook, her mother sat at the table with a warm smile on her face.
"Good morning, dear," she said kindly.
"Good morning, mum," Hermione said, smiling back at her.
"Some tea?" her mother offered.
"Oh yes, please," Hermione nodded as she took a seat next to her. "Thanks mum."
Her mother slowly poured her a cup of tea from the white china set they had been using as long as Hermione could remember. She smiled as her mother handed her the teacup and was reminded of her childhood in this house. It seemed to her like it was only yesterday that she had gotten her letter to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. But in reality, she had already graduated from there and was now 25 years old. She had already been an auror for the Ministry of Magic along with one of her best friends, Harry Potter, and was now in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
"Dad's gone to work then already, has he mum?"
"Yes dear," her mother answered as she began shuffling through some envelopes at the table. "Oh and you have a few owls that came."
"I have?" Hermione asked, taking the envelopes that her mother handed to her.
One of them was an official letter from the Ministry. It was merely informational about a few witches and wizards that were bordering on misusing their magic. She skimmed over the names: Mimsy O'Connor, Tucker Wiles, Andrew Wells, Isabelle Gerlantes...were a few of them. She frowned a little bit, but then tucked the letter back into its envelope. The other three letters she received were from her friends. The first she opened was very nice. It was white and embossed with iridescent flowers all around it. At the front, centre of the envelope was her name written in beautiful, shining gold ink.
Miss Hermione Granger
She opened it carefully and recognized the handwriting to belong to her friend, Ginny Weasley.
Dear Hermione,
How are you? I feel like it has been a while since I've been able to talk or write to you. I've been a bit busy lately with some things around here. How is the Ministry treating you? I hope well. Do you see Harry a lot still? I'm sure he must love being an auror. You both picked jobs that suited you perfectly.
Ron is doing wonderfully, by the way. He's still with the bank. They've moved him up a little and he doesn't go on nearly as many treasure hunts as he used to, but still goes to many. And when he goes to the office, he works very late hours.
And Draco, well, he's actually the reason I've written to you. Hermione. Not many people know yet, but I wanted you to be one of the first, besides my family. Oh, Draco and I are engaged to be married.
"WHAT?" Hermione yelled, nearly spitting up her tea.
"Honestly, Hermione!" her mother exclaimed.
"Oh sorry, Mum," she said quickly, continuing to read.
----I know you must be surprised I do hope you're happy for me. Hermione, we want to have a Muggle-style wedding. This is also why I've written you. I want you to be the maid of honor. We need a little bit of help in planning it and I couldn't think of anyone else I wanted to be my maid of honor but you. You've always been like a sister to me. Well, I've got to dash. Mum's calling...probably something about the wedding again.
Give my love to your parents and Harry if you see him ever. Write back soon.
Love,
Ginny
"Oh my God!" Hermione whispered. "I can't believe it."
"What is it dear?" her mother asked, her brow furrowed in worry. "Is something wrong?"
"Oh no, not at all," she replied. "Far from it."
"Then don't keep me in suspense," her mother urged.
"Ginny's engaged," she cried, a huge smile on her face.
"Ron's little sister?" her mother exclaimed, sharing her shock. "Oh my goodness."
"Yes and she wants me to be her maid of honor," Hermione added. "She wants a Muggle-style wedding."
"Well, that's exciting," her mother said with a smile. "Who are the other two from?"
Hermione paused for a moment wondering what her mother was talking about. Then she glanced at the table again, looking at the two envelopes she had not yet opened. She took them up quickly.
"Oh, I nearly forgot," Hermione said, walking to the living room and sitting on the couch.
She opened the first one and drew a deep breath when she read the familiar messy handwriting.
Herm,
It was from her other best friend, Ron Weasley.
How are you? I hope you're all right. You must have gotten the letter from Ginny already. Amazing that my sister is getting married and to Draco Malfoy, no less. It's all crazy at home, she says. I know that Ginny's asked you to be her maid of honor. So hopefully that means you'll be come to visit soon.
I'm sorry I haven't been able to see you very much at all or Harry for that matter. We're all very busy. I'm always gone on treasure hunts and I know Harry goes on lots of assignments for Auror business. I write to him as much as I can.
Well, I better be off. I hope to hear from you soon.
Yours,
Ron
Hermione closed the letter silently. It seemed very short to her and she began to wish he had written more though not surprised that he didn't. She suspected he might still be a little bit upset about when they broke up and the events that had followed. She sighed, closed her eyes and tried to forget it. Then she took the last envelope and opened it. Another sigh escaped from her when she realized whom it was from.
Dear 'Mione,
This time, it was Harry.
How's it going? I hope alls well at the office and at home. I've only just got back from assignment in Egypt. It was pretty crazy. A wizard had decided to raise a mummy and ended up raising the dead cats as well. The cats were acting all strange too, you know, because they took the insides out before burial. Some Muggle tourists were involved and they got a scare out of it. It was a little stressful, catching the wizard. I had to chase him through a few towns before I could and he put up a nasty fight, tried the Cruciatus Curse------
Hermione grimaced in disapproval as she read the sentence.
-------- And then having to modify all the Muggles' memories. You used to be an auror; you know how it is.
I've gotten all yours and Ron's letters. It's nice to get them because it makes me feel good that I have something to go home too, even though I rarely see Ron or you (and you work in the Ministry! You get promotions too fast!)
But anyway, you're at your parents' right? I miss you a lot and haven't seen you in a while. I was wondering if you wanted to meet up somewhere and go out for tea or something. I hope you can come along if not, perhaps another time.
Always,
Harry
Hermione stared at both the letters, more frustrated inside. She couldn't help but feel strongly for the both of them. She knew, despite how much Ron and Harry still wrote to each other, still acted civil around each other, that there was a little bit of a riff between them.
"Why can't it just be the way it was?" She said to her self.
A voice inside her head answered for her.
Because of you.
As much as she didn't want to believe it was true, she knew it was. She only hoped there was a way for them to get their happy trio back to the way it was when they had started Hogwarts.
Soon Hermione's mother sat beside her. She looked beautiful and more motherly at that very moment. She felt like curling up to her like she had when she was a little girl and just had a bad dream. Her mother smiled back and took a hold of her hand.
"Who were the other two from?" she asked Hermione again.
"Ron and Harry," she answered. "I have to write Ginny back, tell her I'll visit her at the Burrow to help her plan the wedding. Oh but, Ron'll probably be there and Harry probably, too. Maybe we can---ohhh I don't know mum."
"Hermione," she began softly, putting her arms around her daughter, "it'll be all right. Just remember that you aren't a little girl anymore. You're not that little girl in Hogwarts. You're a beautiful young woman now."
Hermione nodded, hugging her mother back. She wasn't sure what she meant, but she was glad she was there holding her like she did whenever she had a problem.
* * *
Hermione was sitting in the garden outside her parents' house. Harry's and Ron's owls, Hedwig and Pigwidgeon, were still at her house waiting for her to reply to the letters she had received. She had decided to write Ron and Ginny first.
Ginny
I can't believe that you are getting married and before me at that!
After screaming with my mother about it for a bit, I'm finally able to write back to you. Let me say that I would absolutely love to be your maid of honor. I am so honored that you considered me. I still can't believe you're marrying Draco Malfoy. I'm very happy for you, though. Enough of this pureblood nonsense, I'm very glad he's come to his senses. I think it's wonderful you want a Muggle-style wedding, too. Your dad must be thrilled. I suspect you'll be a needing a lot of consultance. Lucky you chose me as the maid of honor right? Just joking. Has Draco picked a best man yet? Oh, I suppose I'll find out soon enough.
Anyway, work is going well. I'm moving up, it's quite a nice deal. I've just heard from Harry, too. He's just gotten back from assignment in Egypt.
Well I must go. Please let me know when I can visit you so I can make plans to take some time off from work. Give your family all my love. I hope to see you very soon.
Love from,
Hermione.
P.S. I am seeing Harry tomorrow. I will say 'hello' for you.
She closed the letter and Pigwidgeon fluttered to her side, nipping at her finger eagerly.
"Not yet, Pig," she said sweetly to the tiny grey owl. "I've got one more to write for Ron. "
Pigwidgeon squeaked in happy acknowledgement and waited while Hermione wrote her letter to Ron.
Dear Ron,
She paused for a moment, wondering exactly what she might say, but when she started writing it came so easy, like all the strife in the past was nothing but a memory. She suddenly remembered that she was fine and that Ron was still her friend.
I'm glad you wrote to me. I haven't heard from you in a very long time. I'm glad work is going well for you. So what do you think about Ginny marrying Draco? It's exciting, isn't it? I'm very happy for them and I'm very excited to be the maid of honor.
Work is just fine for me. There are some stressful bits where we have wizards and witches come in who are trying to skirt some of the most common regulations. Is it really that difficult for them to just do what's asked of them?
I've written to Ginny about visiting the Burrow. As I understand it, she's up in arms in what to do to plan the wedding. I hope I do get to get to visit soon though. It's like a second home to me. It will be very nice to see both you and Ginny again. Please write more often, as I miss it.
Always,
Hermione
She smiled and then folded the letter. Pigwidgeon noticed and twittered to her lap holding out its tiny foot out so she could tie the letters there. When she was done, she nuzzled Pigwidgeon at her neck before she flew off to deliver the messages. Then she drew out another piece of parchment and began to write her letter for Harry.
Dearest Harry,
Sounds, like you've had your hands quite full. It really worried me though when I read that the wizard had tried
the Cruciatus Curse on you. It still amazes me that there are still some wizards out there who dare do that kind of
dark magic. I can't believe you chased after him too, you could have gotten yourself hurt or killed. You're
always doing dangerous things. Sometimes I wonder why you still do it and then I remember it's you. Always the
adventurer.
Oh yes and have you heard from Ginny or Ron? I am sure that if you have we can talk about it tomorrow, if you like. I know you need your rest today. How about we meet up at King's Cross at 11 am. September 1st, remember? The term at Hogwarts starts tomorrow.
Yours,
Hermione
Hermione beckoned Hedwig to her once done with the letter. The snowy, white owl approached, holding her head up in a regal way as if she were ready take on some sort of daunting mission.
"Come here you haughty little owl," she teased, while Hedwig cooed at her affectionately. "Get this to Harry fast, all right?"
Hedwig nodded and flew off to deliver her letter. Shortly after, Hermione heard footsteps approaching from behind, rustling on the bright green, well-kept grass. She turned around to meet her father, still wearing nice grey slacks, a blue button-down shirt, and his white jacket from the dentists' office. A warm smile crinkled his face as he approached her, giving her a small kiss on the right cheek.
"Hi dad!" she said. "How was work?"
"Oh the usual...teeth," he replied nonchalantly, causing Hermione to chuckle. "Sending letters to work?"
Hermione's father pointed to the sky where the owls had taken off.
"Oh no, nothing official," she replied. "The last two were to Harry and Ron, actually."
"Ah... the triangle," Hermione's father teased.
"I'm so glad you find my romantic life so amusing dad," she said dryly. "Maybe I should date someone normal, a Muggle, like Mum says."
Her father frowned and shook his head, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
"Oh no, I quite disagree with your mother on that respect," said Dr. Granger.
"Do you?" Hermione asked, raising her eyebrows with interest. "Why's that?"
"Oh on the whole, us Muggles are rather droll."
"Dad, you're not droll!"
"Oh well, besides me," he laughed, "but all the others, they'd bore you to death, you know? You're far too extraordinary to date just some frumpy man...Muggle or wizard for that matter."
"Right," Hermione said, rolling her eyes.
"No, I mean it. Look at the life you've lived Hermione," he insisted. "It'll be some man who can live up to the two men that you compare all others to."
"Dad!" she cried indignantly.
"Oh Hermione, dear, lighten up," he said. "I meant it as a good thing. I'd rather you be picky than just settle."
They walked inside into the living area and sat on the couch. She sighed as she put her head on her father's strong shoulder. He patted her head in reassurance.
"I know Dad, I know you're right," she sighed.
"Just remember now that you're an adult things are different, you know?" he said, similarly to her mother. "You're not a little girl anymore; I think you'll be able to figure out what you want, what you need, if you don't know already."
Hermione looked up at her father, wondering what exactly what both of her parents meant by that. She wanted to ask, but decided it would just confuse her more. But for some reason, the words comforted her and she smiled back at her father.
"Thanks, Dad."