Finding the Right Place…Chapter 1
Disclaimer: None of these phenomenal characters belong to me. They are the wonderful brain children of the amazing JK Rowling.
Rating: R/NC-17 (some chapters)
Pairing: H/Hr (eventually)
Summary: Sometimes love finds us in the all the wrong places. We just have to wait until it finds the right one.
Author's Note: Please forgive the amazing long wait for this chapter. I decided to go about telling the story in an entirely different way, and I just didn't know how to do it…
Dear Harry,
This vacation with my parents is just what I needed; a beautiful beach and a good book is just what the healer ordered. This place is marred only by the fact that I already miss you and Ron dreadfully. It's quite a bit distressing not to know how you are faring in training or what trouble Ron has gotten into with his brothers, especially after knowing your whereabouts just about everyday for the past seven years. My parents keep asking why I'm so distracted. I usually respond by saying 'I wonder if the boys have wandered into any Devil's Snare,' knowing full well they don't quite understand the reference.
Putting into words just how hard it was to say goodbye to you on the platform is impossible. Tonks told me how hard Auror training is on its new recruits and, even though I desperately would love to be a healer, I wish I was going with you. But Dumbledore was right; training with real Aurors will help prepare you for whatever Voldemort throws at you next. I look forward (hopefully) to be seeing you at your new home over holiday. I'm sure that by then we will have loads of stories to tell one another.
My parents were quite upset when I told them I would only be home for a month before leaving for Excelsior's Healer program. Just imagine if I had had to leave directly from Hogwarts like you did. I really wish they understood more about our world…
The thought of starting a new year of classes without you, and Ron of course, is a little daunting. I think despite all the growing up we did over the past few years we are still fundamentally the same. I'm still that same bushy-haired know-it-all that's afraid she'll never have any friends, just as much as Ron is still a red-headed hothead, and you still stare in awe at quidditch matches. (By Merlin, I hope I don't have to be attacked by a troll to make friends at Excelsior.)
I anxiously await your first of many letters. (THERE HAD BETTER BE MANY LETTERS!)
Wishing you the best,
Hermione
Dear Ron,
I hope Fred and George haven't coerced you into too much trouble by the time my letter reaches you. The island I'm staying on is quite lovely, save for the fact that I can't enjoy the scenery with two best friends. I hope everything is well with you, but then I know I have Ginny to keep you in line in my absence.
I worry about you and Harry both but at least you have the rest of the Weasley brood with you. Harry is the first of us to be off on his own and knowing that it's into the Auror program makes it even harder. I know that the training is necessary because of the war but I can't help but wonder if Harry would have chosen this path on his own. If you hear from him please let me know how he's doing. I know he'll be completely honestly with you and won't censor any difficulties he may be having like he would do with me, especially now. Write please.
Your friend,
Hermione
Hermione,
Sorry to say, but from what Dad has told me, we won't be hearing from our dear Harry for at least a month. New Auror recruits are totally sequestered (I'm finally using that word of the day calendar gave me for Christmas). There is absolutely no contact with the outside world for at least the first few weeks. That's what I call "constant vigilance". Not to worry, I'm sure our boy is doing smashingly.
And what's with that comment about him censoring himself with you? Just because he planted one on you before we left doesn't change seven years of friendship. Don't be so shocked. There isn't much a man won't share with his mate after a bottle of firewhiskey. I'm sure the next time you see each other everything will be right as rain. Emotional range of a teaspoon eh?
In other news I've been holding down the fort as Fred and George have been exhaustively researching their next line of products. I think even Mum is impressed. I do have to report that I have unwittingly the subject of much of their research. Mum was NOT impressed with my temporary tail…
By the way, your new owl is wicked. Bit of a smug little guy though isn't he? It looks almost as if he's rolling his eyes at Pig. Anyhow, I've got to go. I promised the twins I'd do inventory.
Your friend,
Ron
P.S. Try not to worry too much. I'm sure he's fine.
Dear Ron,
I'm so glad Harry told you what happened. I really wanted to ask your advice but wasn't sure if I should. Do you really think things will be alright between us? I don't think I could stand awkward pauses and uncomfortable silences with Harry.
The kiss itself was a bit strange. He surprised me so badly he must have felt sure he was kissing the equivalent of a dead fish. It was a shock to see him as a man and not that skinny little boy I've known since I was eleven. I hope you're right Ron, I don't think I could stand it if you weren't. In any case, I should know as soon as he writes, right?
I can't believe I leave for Excelsior within the week. I'm just about shaking with anticipation of all the interesting things I'm going to learn. I'm so glad Dumbledore was about to make arrangements for me to go back and forth between Excelsior and Harry's new place. It's going to be strange being there again without Snuffles or Harry but at least I'll be able to stay informed as to what Fawkes' group is working on. I assume you and the rest of your family will be frequent guests as well. If all goes according to plan I'll be seeing you soon.
Best,
Hermione
P.S. What this about getting pissed with Harry over a BOTTLE of firewhiskey? Honestly!
Dear Hermione,
Be grateful you don't have any nosy brothers; having a personal life is almost impossible. Neville was finally able to convince his Gran to come and visit the Burrow and Fred and/or George managed to put something in his pumpkin juice. Every time poor Neville so much as looked in my direction he started to cluck like a chicken. Someone has got to teach those boys a lesson and soon!
Ron said you'd be around in the next couple of days. There is so much I'd like to tell you but I wouldn't put it past the twins to read my mail. I guess I'll just have to tell you in person.
I almost forgot! Dad ran into Tonks at the Ministry. She told him Harry's at the top of his class! Can you believe it? Guess after seven years you finally managed to rub off on him, pity it wasn't in more than one way. (wink) All that training must have him looking all types of gorgeous; just don't tell Neville I said so.
See you in a couple of days!
Your friend,
Ginny
Hey Mate!
Training is exhausting! You wouldn't believe some of the things we've had to do. It almost makes 4th year look like a picnic. I wish I could tell you more but they've given us special parchment to use for letters home. They'll incinerate if we divulge too much information.
My partner is full of piss and vinegar. Thomas makes a dementor look like a kitten. No mercy that one has; if nothing else at least Thomas keeps me on my toes. All of this training has kept my mind off of that mess I made with Hermione. It was a mistake to make the first move. She's never been one to shy away from speaking her mind. I should have taken that as a sign.
Sorry to be brief but I only have another few minutes and I promised to write Hermione the moment I got a chance.
Say hello to everyone for me,
Harry
Dear Hermione,
You would be so proud of me. I managed to put that old planner to use and am at the top of most of my classes: both practical application and theoretical. It doesn't hurt that my partner Thomas is as fanatical as you are with exams. Don't start pouting, you know it's true.
I hear Fawkes' group is doing well and I'm hoping to be able to check in with them by holiday. It's been so quiet almost like the calm before a storm. Dumbledore said my confrontation with Mr. Riddle last year at the ball severely drained his energy, and his followers must be having a hard time regrouping. I'll feel much better after I can speak with everyone. Dumbledore wasn't joking when he said I'd have little to no contact with anyone outside my training group. I sometimes worry I'll get home and everything will be different.
I know you are certainly enjoying your healer program as Tonks tells me you are rarely seen without some sort of text in your hand. For Merlin's sake promise me you'll have some non-scholastic fun.
Sorry but I've got to go as I only have another minute or so to write this. I may not be able to write for sometime.
I miss you,
Harry
Dear Ron,
I finally heard from Harry and he says he's at the top of his classes. I'm so proud of him. I can only imagine how hard he must be working. It sounds like his partner is really pushing him. Did you receive a letter as well?
It looks as though my time at Excelsior isn't going to be as lonely as I thought. I seem to have made a couple of good friends and have even asked to dinner by a Mr. Ian Marshall, a fairly soft-spoken fellow and just about one of the smartest people I've ever met. I'll tell you all about it next owl.
Best,
Hermione
Hermione,
Yes, I did hear from Mr. Potter and I was right. He is doing smashingly. Now what's this about dating some randy sod neither Harry nor I have met? You know any bloke you date has to pass the Wicked Weasley Examination, or have we forgotten the Ernie Fiasco of last year? I expect a full report omitting any portions which will make my reaction imitate the "slug incident". (There had better be none; it's your first date with the git for Merlin's sake.)
Ron
Ps I had dinner with Luna yesterday and she told me to ask you about the possible healing properties of Tinkerton toenails.
Dear Harry,
I'm so pleased that you're doing so well. I told you everything would be fine. I don't know this Thomas fellow but I like him already. Tell him I said to keep up the good work. Life at Excelsior is going exceptionally well though I do confess I do find my commitments to my studies and Fawkes' group a bit tiresome. I do them both happily however; anything I can do to help you in the end is well worth the effort.
Everything is well at home. Luna and Ron seem to be getting along quite well, and surprisingly enough Molly loves her. Ginny and Neville are still together and, much to everyone's shock, Neville's Gran invites her for tea every weekend.
Please continue the great work with your training and it'll all be over before you know it. Try not to worry too much about home and what's going on, I'm sure things will be the same as always. I have a fairly important exam tomorrow in potions but I really wanted to write you. You're in my thoughts, Harry.
With love,
Hermione
Dear Hermione,
I have absolutely had it with my partner! Because of Thomas my entire class was lost in the woods for 17 hours! I can't believe the two of us had to huddle together for warmth; what a compromising position we must have been in when they found us in the morning. What wouldn't I have given for butterbeer and a slice of warm pumpkin pie right then?
Well, I'm afraid I have some really good news and some really bad news. The good news is that Thomas and I have been placed in the accelerated program, meaning we finish basic training in six months and start our field placement training within the year. The bad news is that this will be the last letter you will be receiving from me for six months and I will be essentially unreachable. We are to focus solely on training.
Dumbledore is the only one who can contact me in case of emergency. As much as I wished things would have happened differently I have to admit that you were right. Being away from you is difficult enough; if our relationship had changed I can't even imagine what I would be feeling right now. Promise me that you'll take care of yourself and make sure Ron doesn't get into to much trouble.
With all that I am,
Harry
Author's Note 2: I realize that this chapter may seem a bit rushed but I didn't want Harry to all of a sudden be gone for a year. I wanted to show why he was gone and hints of what is going on back at home. Rest assured the next chapter will be written in normal prose and will have everyone reunited with some surprising changes. (or perhaps maybe not so surprising) Tons of angst, fluff, and action to follow. I promise.