The ripples on the water called out to her as they did, every afternoon; beckoning her to pour out her woes. A giant squid lazily waved its tentacles at the blue sky while the clouds seemed as if they were winking at her, whilst floating over the land.
Hermione Granger sighed - for what felt like the millionth time - as she embarked on her daily ritual of lunch by the lake, obsessing over her life, analysing it to the point of distraction, and stomping back off to the castle in a fit of frustration at the lack of answers she inevitably came up with, every single day.
The castle….she turned her head to look up at the castle towering up amidst the hills it nestled in and looming majestically over the Scottish countryside. It reminded her of another one, some distance away, much more impressive and much more ancient. If she closed her eyes, she could picture herself on the Quidditch pitch, sitting with bated breath in the stands. She could easily hear the roar of the Gryffindor team, the cheers and mad applause that thundered throughout the air at Quidditch matches and the deafening screams - a sure sign that Harry Potter, youngest seeker in a century, had once again, as usual, caught the elusive snitch.
Hermione opened her eyes haltingly to find tears streaming down her cheeks again, unbidden as always whenever she thought of Harry. Of course, since this was just about every minute of the day, she had taken to having a regular supply of tissues somewhere on her person.
Stop it, for God's sake, Hermione,' she scolded herself sternly. 'He's absolutely fine and he said he would be back, It's been only two months after all…and…and…and…' But it was a lost cause and her shoulders heaved as a heavy sob wracked her body, escaping her lips as a strangled gasp. 'Harry, oh Harry, please come back to me. Please, please come back to me…'
'When I first heard about you, I never thought I'd see the day when the SPEW's revolutionary leader would burst in tears so much over a man.'
A soft teasing voice, laced with humour cut through her gloom and hastily wiping her cheeks, Hermione turned around with a smile to find Luna Lovegood standing over her. She gestured to a spot next to Hermione, 'May I?'
Hermione grinned ruefully at her 'Sit down Luna, I guess the SPEW's revolutionary leader is looking pretty pathetic right about now. I'm a right buggered mess, aren't I?'
Luna shook her head and replied. 'Not at all, Hermione. You are in love. There's nothing pathetic with that.' She turned her gaze to the lake, while still looking sideways at her bushy haired friend and continued, 'What could be considered pathetic would be your adamant refusal to divulge the same to my emerald-eyed brother.'
Hermione scoffed and turned her head away from her, mock-offended and then stared at her thoughtfully, 'It still seems…unusual…when you refer to Harry as your brother…I mean, I can understand why, but well, I never ever thought…'
'That a dreamy, weird, crumple-horned snorcack hunting character like me would end up with Ron and have the The Boy Who Lived wanting to make me his sister?' Luna arched an amused eyebrow at her, but her blue eyes shined with mirth and her blonde locks stirred merrily in the breeze that had deigned to start.
'No, no, no' Hermione blushed furiously. 'I didn't mean it like that Luna, its just I guess…I was already with him as his best friend for six years at the time and he never, not even once…was affectionate and open with me, like he was with you…' she trailed off, feeling uncomfortable and a bit selfish.
She could see full well why Harry and Luna would be drawn to finding empathy within each other.
Both had lost parents, both were scorned at various times by the Hogwarts community. But the ease with which Harry had been able to talk to Luna made her uneasy and suddenly she felt that she had been nothing more than a horrible nag all their years together at Hogwarts. Seeing Harry affectionately converse with Luna, tease her like he really would tease his kid sister and be physically demonstrative such as hugging her and giving quick pecks on the cheeks had been painful for her…
'But then, you wouldn't want sisterly affection from Harry now, would you?' Luna's smile was sly and she waggled her eyebrows comically at Hermione, who looked stunned for a minute and then burst into laughter.
She suddenly realised what Luna had said and whipped her head around to stare at her 'Luna, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say all that out loud…I…I' she looked stricken and Luna gently pulled her into a hug.
'It's alright Hermione.' She released her, tucking a bushy lock of brown hair behind her friend's ear. 'Just remember that it's easy to be open with sisters, but not with girls you don't consider your sisters.'
Hermione opened her mouth to reply, but Luna interrupted her yet again, 'That's why Ron was so tongue-tied around you in Hogwarts.' Hermione closed her mouth feeling uncomfortable but there was no malice or jealousy in Luna's face.
Then again, Hermione thought, she didn't really have anything to be jealous about. After all, she and Ron were together for barely three months and besides trying to kiss exactly 2 times, they hadn't done anything else other than holding hands. It was this impasse of sorts that made both Ron and Hermione call it quits.
Would you really want to be with a guy or a girl who was technically known as your boyfriend or girlfriend and still behave exactly as if you were just friends?
Hermione bit back a smile as she realised that the inadvertent catalyst to the ending of their brief 'dating' had been Harry. He had been slightly reserved with both of them, feeling a tad left out although he had valiantly declared otherwise. Still, their 'dating' hadn't really altered the dynamics of the trio. They did go everywhere together, do everything together.
However, when three Hogsmeade weekends had been spent by them together as a trio, Harry had ventured to delicately enquire if the couple was alright. Ron and Hermione were truthfully surprised at his question and upon asking why, Harry had muttered that well…they didn't seem to want to do anything alone….just the two of them. He had made it perfectly clear that they could go to Hogsmeade weekends alone if they wanted and confessed that he had been only initially scared of feeling left out.
This had made Hermione and Ron consider their so-called relationship in a whole new light. Both realised that what they had been looking for in each other was security. They had fought like mad, seen each other in horrible mood swings…..
….and they were ok with it.
Which basically translated into a feeling of complacency that they didn't need to change themselves for each other and, things could continue at status quo. Hermione had admitted that they were both stagnant and lacking spontaneity. Neither had given impromptu gifts, they had never felt the urge to cuddle and for Heaven's sake they hadn't even done anything romantic! Ron had asked with a sheepish smile if they could just go back to being friends and Hermione had instantly agreed, relieved and cognisant that a large part of the reason they had been together in the first place was the general pressure that opposites attracted and the expectations of the Hogwarts community at large, that they would get together.
Hermione was jarred out of her reverie as Luna waved a hand in front of her face. 'Hullo, hullo…' she tutted exasperatedly.
Hermione gave her a small smile and suddenly crushed her in a hug. When she pulled away she was smiling through her tears. 'You are a wonderful person, Luna and I'm sorry I was dismissive of you when we first met way back. I am really happy for you and Ron and thanks so much for being my friend.'
Luna gave off a musical chuckle. 'Honestly Hermione, there's nothing to be thankful for. I am grateful that you welcomed me into your fold so warmly. With you as my friend, Ron as my guy and Harry as my brother, I really have nothing else to ask for.' Her face darkened as she remembered her father. 'It's been sad that we have lost so many.'
Hermione choked down a lump in her throat and nodded, 'I still miss Hagrid and even though Professor Dumbledore comes around here almost everyday, he isn't the same...I've never seen him looking so old and frail, Luna.'
'That's why he entrusted the school to you, silly goose. After all, who better than the witch to get the highest number of NEWTS ever, and scores second to only Voldemort and Dumbledore themselves?'
Hermione nudged her friend playfully, 'I wasn't aiming for that, you know.' She sighed wistfully, 'I was more concerned with keeping Harry alive at the time.'
Luna snorted and then sighed, 'You've done a brilliant job, Hermione. This school is the perfect place for kids to learn, grow and find themselves before they go to Hogwarts.'
Hermione shook her head, 'It was Harry's idea. The thought of all those children, alone and orphaned…he just couldn't bear it'
She shuddered as his haunted visage floated in front of her eyes. The gaunt look in his eyes as he had seen the hordes of wailing children, rendered defenceless and homeless by Voldemort's mad and insane rampage for power. She remembered as he came storming to her one evening, aglow with tentative plans for opening a school for magical children - a haven before Hogwarts.
'You think it could have been done without you?' Luna asked softly. 'Hermione, the reason he came to you before he even came to Ron or me was because you were the person he most trusted….and he still does, you know, even if he doesn't overtly realise it.'
At Hermione's surprised look, she nodded emphatically and continued, 'Honestly love, your opinion is what he respects the most. He might have had this brilliant idea but there was no way he could have pulled it off without you. And there was no one happier than him when Dumbledore conferred the running of the Marauder's Mansion for Young Wizards and Witches on you. I know he left and promised to come soon, but he's just been through so much...'
'I know, Luna. For God's sake, I was there at the time; he came back after defeating Voldemort so bloody, battered and bruised…I hate a part of myself for wishing that he wouldn't go. He, more than anyone else has the right to take a few months off…but oh gosh, I just miss him so much. I know the dark thoughts that haunt him. Luna, what if he is somewhere in pain with only his thoughts….you know how he blames himself for everything…' Hermione broke down in tears and barely registered Luna pulling her into a hug again and stroking her hair.
She gave a tearful laugh as she recalled how she and Harry had gone about trying to name the school. After combing through some ridiculous names, she had tentatively put forth the idea of naming it after the Marauders. This way Harry, you would be honouring your parents and Sirius as well….they sacrificed themselves to aid your defeat of Voldemort. This would be a fine way to thank them and preserve their memory. She hadn't expected Harry to react so enthusiastically and suggest to Dumbledore that she run the school - for Merlin's sake they were only nineteen years old!
Of course Harry had been very understanding telling her that she needn't do it if she were enrolling for something else. After all with her NEWT scores, the sky was practically the limit for her but the chaos of the war had jarred her. She wanted to do something that satisfied her heart as well as her mind and the prospect to help in rebuilding the wizarding world seemed very timely and appealing.
Another incident had further clinched her decision. As Hermione and Harry had walked towards Hogwarts to assist in the ongoing repair work, she had come across a tired and decimated wizarding family. The mother sat alone surrounded by two precocious little boys, looking bewildered and not quite believing that her husband had left her. Her sons were encased possessively within her arms and the lost, vulnerable look that adorned her wizened, grieving face was horrifically etched on Hermione's mind. In a blinding moment of clarity, she realised how a school for young wizards and witches would go a long way to restoring peace, order and security in the aftermath of Voldemort's defeat. For victory came with a terrible price - the loss of numerous loved ones, and their beloved Hogwarts all but razed to the ground.
Hermione shivered as she remembered how she, Harry, Ron, Luna and hordes of other students had stared in disbelief at the flames leaping up from various points in the castle. Harry's eyes had blazed a roaring green and Godric Gryffindor's sword hung limply from his hand as he got his first view in the daylight of the carnage that Voldemort had created, all in an effort to kill his teenage nemesis. His haunted eyes had shown only two purposes for the next year. Firstly, repair Hogwarts. Secondly, provide housing for the homeless children. Hermione had watched him struggle to accept that the war had torn families apart and knew that vivid and terrible memories of the Dursleys were now forcibly surfacing and confronting him, reliving themselves in his head through these homeless children. She had hugged and soothed and rocked and cradled his battered body and bruised mind as he struggled to come to terms with his life and move on from The Boy Who Lived.
Her heart had shattered inconsolably when Harry had come to her one morning after Maruaders was well underway and requested a favour. There was finality in his tone that made her flesh crawl and although she was relieved that he was intending to come back soon, it had taken all of her self-control not to scream and plead that she loved him, wanted him to stay and not go. But one look into his hollow emerald sockets had stopped her.
More than anyone, he deserved to take a little time off to think and when he had wrapped his arms around her, whispering fevered promises into her hair, she had broken down. Demanded that he come home soon, if not for anyone else, then at least for her. She despised herself for being so emotional and weak in front of him who needed her to be strong but then, Harry had always been her ultimate undoing.
Unconsciously, Hermione's hand reached up and clasped the locket around her neck, given by Harry on that fateful evening before he left. While requesting that she run Marauders in his absence along with Ron, Neville and Luna, he had presented her with a silver locket engraved in old English script with a heart-warming message that simultaneously managed to send pain rocketing through her body.
'For my number one girl - always you.'
Hermione had firmly told her dancing mind to shut up - he doesn't feel that way about you, idiot - and replied softly that she would preserve this locket to give to his number one girl in the future, his wife. Harry had simply grimaced and cynically remarked that love wasn't going to be finding his screwed up mind and personality anytime soon.
But a tiny part of Hermione clung to the hope that he would realise that she had always found him and that she might never have to take the locket off.
Lost in reverie as she was, she didn't hear the steady crunch of feet behind her or the gentle hand that had placed itself on her left shoulder.
She was startled when she felt another pair of arms wrap themselves around her from behind and relaxed when a familiar and loved voice sounded playfully in her ear, 'I am still getting used to looking for you anywhere other than the library.'
Hermione smiled and made a weak effort to wipe her tears as she found herself encased within Ron Weasley's bear-hug. Luna still held her hands and Hermione thanked the Lord yet again that she was surrounded by such warm and caring people. But I still want Harry; I need him and only him! When will he arrive…?
Apparently she had voiced the last aloud, as she felt Ron stiffen and awkwardly move away. She lifted her head from his shoulder in surprise and turned to find Luna looking at her boyfriend questioningly as well. Luna spoke quietly, 'Is anything wrong Ronald? I was expecting you a while back…are Mum and Dad alright…Fred, George and Ginny…'
'They're fine' was Ron's curt reply as he strode over towards the edge of the lake.
Hermione and Luna stared at each other and then took off after him. 'Ron, what in the world is going on?' Hermione panted as she struggled to match his ludicrously long strides. It would seem that Ron Weasley wasn't content at towering over everyone at an impressive 6'1. Luna was literally jogging.
Ron abruptly stopped nearly sending Hermione and Luna careening into each other as they both scrambled to get in his path. He shoved his hands in his pockets and steadfastly looked at the sky. 'I got an owl today.'
Both women exchanged uncertain glances and Luna spoke up. 'Love, that doesn't sound like such bad news, now.' She laid a hand on his arm and then squeezed his fingers with her other hand. 'Who's it from?'
Ron's gaze quickly shifted to Hermione and then back to his girlfriend. He opened his mouth and closed it with a snap again, muttering something inaudible. Hermione groaned and stomped her foot in frustration, looking very much like her eleven year old self. 'Ronald Weasley, what on earth are you going on about?'
'Before coming here this evening, I received an owl from Harry Potter. Said he's coming home.'