Title: The Silver Arrows
Author: ruler_of_nestleyland
Summary: A/U (Alternate Universe). Hermione comes back to England from France in search for a Quidditch team to accept her. Harry's the captain of a team called the Silver Arrows. They're introduced. What happens next? Read to find out. Seriously, it's not as bad as it sounds. Rating might go up as story progresses. <b>(NO BOOK SIX SPOILERS.)</b>
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the plot and my own characters.
A/N - You guys are awesome! I got a great response on chapter one and I'm really grateful to all who read, and especially those who reviewed. You guys seriously rock. Every time I'd get a review alert, I'd go all ^___________^; Hehe! You guys make my day! So without further ado, chapter two!
Chapter 2: Hermione Granger.
Hermione Granger was not a satisfied woman.
At 20, she was jobless, and living in her best friend's apartment, which couldn't anger her more, as she'd always been contingent on no one. She couldn't believe her luck. She'd come all the way back from France to play professional Quidditch in England, and couldn't find a team Chaser-less. Of course, there might have been teams she hadn't checked, but she'd looked over most of the teams in England, but most of these teams lacked either Seekers, or Keepers. Why not Chasers?
Hermione'd even taken to checking Quidditch teams in Scotland, but gave up quickly, as England was where she wanted to stay. She had been living in France for the past ten years, thanks to her parents. She didn't really blame them though. Her maternal grandfather was French, and when he died, he left a huge manor for them in France. Since Hermione's parents were suffering from mortgage of their house and a difficulty in their career as dentists at the time, they had no choice but to leave England and fly to France, as they had a much better state of living there. Hermione got her letter soon after, and she was admitted to Beauxbatons.
Hermione wasn't very happy about the move though. She'd always loved Britain, and the sudden thought of being plunged into a foreign country where she didn't even understand what people said, unnerved her very much. But as she adjusted to the place, she'd learned French fairly quickly, and spoke it fluently. Her English was still flawless, because she'd continued to speak it with Abby (Irish) all the time to maintain it, and her British accent was untouched as well. An accomplishment that made her proud. Not many people had the same accent once they lived in France and spoke the language. There was always that annoying nasal drawl of the words, and the quite irking elongation of vowels. Like, "theenk", instead of "think." It annoyed Hermione to no end.
Moving on, though.
She didn't have many friends in her elementary school, she was quite satisfied, as the library, in addition to Jake Willis, occupied all through the year.
She was in France, but she'd still kept contact with Jake through the mail, and the two were very close. Hermione was not one to let friends just slip like that. It had been almost ten years or so since she'd last seen him, and with all the excitement, forgot to contact him when she got there. She did though, two weeks earlier, but had received no reply, and wondered if he was out of the country, busy, or the like. She didn't dwell too much on it though, as other things seemed to occupy her pretty quickly. Like sticking her nose in newspapers or magazines to check if there was any hint of chaser tryouts anywhere. But to no avail.
The brunette was indeed getting very frustrated. Which made her best friend quite impatient with her.
"Stop sulking around Hermione. It's not the end of the world. You'll get a damn job soon."
"When, though?" Hermione scowled and throwing Witch Weekly down on the coffee table, flopped down on the couch next to Abigail Taylor. "It's been almost two months! I'm sick of sitting around, doing nothing!"
"Hermione…" Abigail cocked an eyebrow in disbelief. "Why don't you just get a job at the Ministry or something while you're looking? It'll give you something to do."
"I don't want to work at the bloody Ministry", she snapped. "They're more disorganized than ever. I've never seen a worse Ministry of Magic."
"Well what about being a waitress or something?" Abby suggested hopefully.
"I think the pregnancy's going to your head…Shall I take you to St. Mungo's?"
Abby scowled and pulled her paperwork towards her, and pressing the tip of her eagle quill on the parchment started scribbling furiously.
"I'm-" Hermione started to say apologetically, but something-or someone-was suddenly thrown face down at their feet from the fireplace. Both Abby and Hermione blinked. A feminine groan sounded from the figure and the blonde turned over.
"Jess", Abby smirked. "What a pleasant surprise."
"Pleasant my ass", Jessica Parker stood up and dusted her jeans off. "If only you'd take those damn wards off, Abby…"
"Nope. My Anti-Apparition wards aren't going anywhere", Abby laughed. "Besides, it's fun seeing you get thrown into our living room every single time you floo in."
"Yeah, funny." Jess rolled her eyes and then sat, cracking a grin at Hermione, who hadn't said anything so far. "How are you, Hermione?"
"Jobless", Hermione replied flatly, and Jess chuckled. She got the same response every single time she visited.
"Sucks, doesn't it?" She smiled mischievously, and Hermione looked suspicious.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Like what?"
"Like you've got something up your sleeve, Parker."
"No, I don't. Were you at the match last night?"
"Nope, couldn't get hold of tickets. Heard you won, though. That's great."
"Yup. You didn't hear what happened, though?"
Hermione's brows creased. "No, what?"
"Know Kyle? Kyle Travis?"
"He's your chaser, isn't he?"
"Yeah."
"What about him?"
"Well.." Jess said, the grin broadening. "He was injured."
"Yes, and?" Hermione said impatiently.
"He resigned."
"I don't ca-What?" Hermione blinked, her mouth dropping. "He what?"
"He resigned", Jess looked at her nails trying to appear nonchalant and stood up, walking to the fireplace again. "Oh but I didn't think you wanted the job…So I'll just be going now to tell Harry-"
"You…You want me instead of him?" Hermione said, dazed, while Abby laughed.
"Yeah, but I knew you'd say no, anyway…" Jess fought to keep her face straight while she grabbed some floo power. "So I'm outta here."
"You go anywhere and I'll hex you into the next century!" Hermione jumped to her feet, as if snapping out of a trance. "When do I join?"
Jess laughed. "Harry's going to interview you tomorrow morning, 9 AM sharp. Tryouts after that."
"Oh my god!" Hermione exclaimed and hugged Jess, almost knocking her backwards. "How can I EVER thank you?"
"Let me breathe", Jess gasped out, and Hermione released her, smiling sheepishly.
"Sorry." She said, although she didn't seem sorry at all.
Jess shook her head and snorted. "I get you a job and you almost kill me. How original", she teased, then went and embraced Abby.
"Thank Merlin you did", Abby said with a teasing look toward Hermione. "I don't think I could've taken her whining much longer."
"I'm not that bad!"
"Yes you are", the other two girls said in unison, and Hermione rolled her eyes, but she was smiling.
"Okay, I have to go now", Jess said glancing at her watch, and picked up some floo powder again, that was knocked out her hand when Hermione had hugged her. "Thought I'd pop in before practice. Bye guys! Harry Potter's Office!" And she was gone in a rush of violet green flames.
"You're going to work with Harry Potter." Abby smirked as she sat back down. "The most sought after bachelor in the wizarding world, Herms."
"Don't call me that. And so what if I am? Besides, I might even not be accepted…"
"You will. You're just too good. If he doesn't accept you then the guy's plain not right in the head."
"I hope so", she said dreamily. "I can't believe I'm finally going to play professional Quidditch.."
"I think I'm even happier than you."
"Shut up, Abby", Hermione smiled and leaned back, her fingers laced behind her head.
Abby chuckled and put a hand over her slightly swollen stomach, moving it around in small circles, sighing wistfully. Hermione sighed happily after a few long moments, but then her brows furrowed when she looked at her friend.
"Abby talk to me…He said no, didn't he. That's why you came back here. So you don't see him again."
"No, I-"
"I'm sick of you lying to me. I've been ignoring it but I'm not going to anymore. What happened, Abby? What did Anthony tell you? I know he said he couldn't stand by you when you give birth, but why? Why'd he do it? I thought he loved you."
Abby sighed, then clasped her hands, looking down. "That it was all a mistake and shouldn't have happened, Hermione…He told me that", Abby said in a small voice and looked up at her friend, her eyes shining with unshed tears, while Hermione gazed back, stunned. That bastard!
"He said his parents already had someone in store for him, and he'll have to marry her. I loved him, Hermione, I-" She couldn't go on anymore and started sobbing into her hands.
Hermione stared at her friend, her face fallen and her heart going out to Abby. She hugged her gently and stroked her hair, murmuring soothing nonsense into her ear while she cried her heart out.
"If I knew this before, I would've gone to him and kicked his ass so hard he wouldn't be able to sit for as long as he lived. I would've ripped that hair of his off his scalp and fed it to him! I thought he had a good reason for this!" She said furiously when Abby calmed down. Abby let out a shaky laugh at her best friend's words.
"He's been playing me all along. And I fell for it..."
Hermione sighed. "He's not worth it, Abby…He was never worth it. I always knew there was something funny about him, but couldn't place a finger on it. Stupid heartless asshole…"
"It's okay", Abby straightened and wiped at her cheeks, looking determined now, and placed a hand once again on her belly. "I'll raise this child alone. I won't let it feel the absence of its father, Hermione...Maybe, just maybe, if Anthony wants this child, I won't let him near it. He can be damned to hell."
Hermione smiled. "You won't be alone, Abby. Jess and I are here for you. And you will find someone who truly loves you, I promise."
"I doubt it", Abby murmured.
"I don't, though. And you'll see. There's someone out there for you."
The other brown-haired woman shrugged, and Hermione put a hand on her shoulder.
"Whatever happens, I'm here for you, Abby. You can count on me."
Abby smiled. "Thanks, Hermione."
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A/N - R/R!
Next chapter: Hermione Granger meets Harry Potter.
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