Of Love, Lords and Gods: The Adventure of A Lifetime
Author: BlueSora
Prologue
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June of 2000
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Everything was going just fine in Hermione Granger's life.
It was a cloudless day in June while a nineteen-year-old Hermione Granger sighed with content as she stepped out of the town Muggle library to take her lunch. She had been working in that library every summer ever since before her sixth year at Hogwarts. It wasn't her permanent job, if that's what you're thinking. Her lifelong-desired career wasn't to become a boring, uptight librarian (and she was definitely not boring or uptight). She just did it to spend her free time. She wanted to become the Head Director of the Research Department for the Seemingly Incurable Cases at St. Mungo's. A long shot from her excellent skills as an Auror, but she decided that she wanted to help people in her own efficient way (as she used to say to Harry and Ron). She was just about to practice for her chosen career after taking a well-deserved vacation, but halfway during the school year of 2000 at Hogwarts (a year and a half after she graduated), Professor Flitwick met an unfortunate accident with one of his students, causing his advancement to a much-needed break.
Professor Dumbledore owled her immediately, saying that she was the only one available and best fit to substitute. She hesitantly accepted the job offer at first, but had continued teaching Professor Flitwick's classes for the rest of that year all the same (and she found that she quite liked it). She was to resume teaching the following year. (Apparently, the injured professor was taking his sweet time recuperating.) Not that she was one to complain, she had enjoyed teaching very much, but that didn't stop her yearning to start practicing for the career she had been dreaming of. She pondered on this for a while but her love for the school and its members over-ruled her desire to practice. Besides, she thought, she was still young and the teaching experience could be used to her advantage.
Now, here she was! Hermione Jane Granger, one of the "Extraordinary Trio", aided in defeating Voldemort, female best friend of the famous Harry Potter - Boy-Who-Defeated-the-Dark-Lord (or should I say, He-Who-Now-Rots-Six-Feet-Under) -, and a substitute Charms teacher at the only and most prestigious magic school in Britain.
Every summer, she would make it a point to stay here in Muggle London for a while with her family and other relatives. Ever since her parents died, she and her younger siblings had lived under their grandparents' roof, bless them. All of her relatives had been very supportive, especially her friends. After the Second War and the Light Side's victory, everyone involved were determined to start anew.
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She hummed a classical Muggle song as she walked towards the café. She didn't ignore the friendly smiles that were sent her way as she passed. She wore her hair in a loose ponytail and was wearing a white cotton blouse, a soft floral knee-length skirt, and white sandals. She smiled back while trying to rearrange the bag she carried that contained mostly research work. Most of the people here in town had come to know her as the "friendly" librarian ever since she started working at the library. It was a friendly neighborhood, that's why she had come to love it.
It was friendly, peaceful and quiet. Some of the most important things she had longed for.
She reached her destination after a ten-minute walk, and pushed the door to enter. It was a fairly-sized place, the walls were painted a creamy white and framed artworks, and photos were hung on it to give a pleasant effect. The small tables of four and two were scattered all around, painted a very light brown to blend well with the walls. It was supposed to give a homey atmosphere to the customers. The waitress behind the main counter (Jamie) who had come to know her, waved hello and gestured Hermione towards her usual table. She sat down and looked at the menu on the table, although she already knew all the dishes by heart. Jamie came over, holding a pen and paper, greeting Hermione with a bright smile on her face.
"So, are you having the usual today, miss?" Jamie asked. Hermione laughed.
"Jamie, how many times have I told you to call me Hermione?"
The perky waitress just chuckled and replied, "Just teasing."
"I know, I know." Hermione said while she tilted her head as if looking for someone. "You didn't happen to meet someone looking for me here, did you?" she asked the waitress in the most nonchalant way she could muster.
The waitress raised an eyebrow and grinned, suddenly curious, "Oh, having a lunch date, are we? Who's the lucky guy?" she teased.
"Oh, shut up! It's not like that. He's one of my best friends." Hermione defended, although there was a slight tinge of pink in her cheeks.
"I see," Jamie said, and there was a slight twinkle behind her eyes, "I'll get your order then?"
Hermione paused, "No, I think I'll wait for my friend first."
Jamie grinned again, "Okay. You know where I am." and the waitress headed off to entertain other customers.
Hermione shook her head. Honestly! Brushing the incident off, she checked her watch, as she grew more anxious over her meeting with Harry. She was really looking forward to this. She hadn't been in contact with either of her two best friends for a few weeks now, due to their individual lives and careers. Oh, they would see each other often, definitely. But with Ron playing Keeper for the Chuddley Cannons and Harry with his numerous works at the Ministry, there were incidents when the three of them would have no contact with each other for the longest of times. Ron was currently on tour with his team, and Hermione was thankful that Harry had found time to squeeze in this meeting between his work. Hopefully, this day would turn out a lot better than she expected.
Yep, you could definitely say that Hermione Granger's life was simply going smooth.
Little did she know… all of their lives were about about to turn upside down.
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A/N: More will be unfurled in future chapters. :) Hope you enjoyed! Up next: Lunch with Harry