Chapter 2 - Back at the Grim, Old Place
Graduation went very smoothly. There were no untoward incidents, except when Hermione noticed Ginny going to one of the most private areas out on the Hogwarts grounds right after graduation. She assumed that this might have something to do with Malfoy. I really have to talk to that girl after all of these required activities are over, she thought, not voicing it out to the red-head's older brother who was, at that moment, charming his way towards several Ravenclaw girls.
She was about to leave the whole affair when she was stopped by Professor McGonagall on her way out. Noticing her favorite teacher looking very stern and serious, she figured that what her mentor was about to tell her was either important or there might be something wrong that had just happened. Harry. Oh no.
"Professor, what is it?" she asked without preamble, unable to hide the panic that was starting to rise in her voice.
"Miss Granger," McGonagall started, "I want to thank you for everything that you contributed to this school and not to mention to the whole Wizarding world. I also want to extend my congratulations to you and to both Mr. Weasley and Mr. Potter. Speaking of which, where is he? I didn't see him during the whole program."
Hermione breathed a sigh of relief. So this is not about Harry then if she's looking for him. "He didn't want to attend the whole ceremony, Professor. I think you already know why."
McGonagall simply shook her head slightly and looked far away. "That boy. Albus was right about him…" she muttered under her breath.
"Professor? I don't want to be rude, but I really need to get going. I was just about to go pick up Ron and head home. Is there something you really wanted to tell me?" asked Hermione once more.
"Oh, yes. Yes, Miss Granger. I will get to straight to the point. I am well aware that you have just graduated from Hogwarts and just defeated Voldemort but I would like to make this offer to you," she paused. "I have watched your skills develop throughout your entire schooling at Hogwarts and I'm proud to say that you were really a remarkable student, one of the best and one that I could boast of."
"Thank you, Professor."
"I do not think that you would accept this straightaway but I would like you to think hard about it and come to me should you reach a decision. I am offering you the post to teach Transfiguration here at Hogwarts. Since I am now the Headmistress, and Hogwarts is now back in full operation, I do not think I would still be able to teach, unlike the previous year," said McGongall. "Young as you are, I know that you would be able to impart all your knowledge to other students effectively, if Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley were any indication," she smiled as she said this.
Hermione was speechless. She gaped at Professor McGonagall, not really believing what she was just told of. After a few seconds, she said, "Thank you, ma'am. It is - well - your offer is - Merlin - it is a privilege!" She shook her head in disbelief but grinned outrageously, nonetheless, at her mentor. "I will definitely think it over, Professor. This is quite thrilling!"
"I hope that you'll let me know what you think of as soon as possible. We only have a couple of months to prepare you and your lessons should you accept right away. If not, I will still consider you for the position should you decide that you would still need a couple of years to reach a new comfort level with your abilities or pursue other careers first," said McGonagall.
"I really don't know what else to say, Professor, but thank you. And I would really think hard about your offer." Then Hermione did something that surprised both her and Professor McGonagall. She hugged her mentor. McGonagall surprised look turned into a smile as she returned the hug.
"Now, off you go," said McGonagall, wiping her eyes. "Before we start getting all emotional, really." Then she smiled once more at her best student and untangled herself, "You will let me know what you think of my offer then, Miss Granger. I wish you the best in everything." She then turned around and started to walk back towards the crowd.
Hermione walked back towards the crowd as well to look for Ron, grinning despite of herself. When she spotted Ron, he was still talking to several of the Ravenclaw girls, one of which had a long, dirty blonde hair. Hermione knew that blonde hair anywhere and she was surprised she would be here. She was even more surprised when Ron placed a hand on the small of her back and she laughed, along with the other girls, at what Ron was saying. Hermione arched her brow at the scene that was unfolding in front of her. I think I need to speak not only with Ginny but with her older brother as well.
She continued to watch for a while as Ron interacted with the Ravenclaw girls and was amused when Luna Lovegood (yes, she was the girl with the dirty blonde hair) placed a hand on the arm that was holding her, and was still laughing at what Ron had just said. Thinking that she would let Ron enjoy the rest of the afternoon for a while, she turned around and walked alone towards the gates of Hogwarts to go home.
Home meant going back to 12 Grimmauld Place. It had been their home since their 7th year at Hogwarts. The Trio always went back to Grimmauld after a Horcrux-search, when they found it too tiresome to return to Hogwarts, or just when they needed to escape the school. They would stay for a couple of days to get their bearings before finally informing the Headmistress of their return. Thus, 12 Grimmauld Place officially became the Trio's home, despite it being the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. After the final battle, two weeks ago, the Trio decided to move in together for real. This way, they wouldn't have to go too far if they needed each other, which they were sure would always be the case, particularly Harry's. Both Hermione and Ron knew that Harry needed them now especially after the war, since it was only the two of them who understood what Harry went through.
Molly Weasley, Ron's mother, at first was fighting tooth and nail with her son when he announced that he would not be returning home right after graduation and would be staying with Harry and Hermione at Grimmauld. She said that they were too young to be living together, even if Ron (and Arthur) continually argued that he was already of age and that he could already handle himself. If she only knew what they went through during their Horcux-hunting days. She even questioned who would look after them if they live alone at Grimmauld. She thought that it would be disastrous for the Trio to live under one roof. Ron, too tired of his mother's molly-coddling, left The Burrow a week earlier and was already staying at Grimmauld with Harry since then. Eventually, Molly got over her "coddling Ron" phase and reluctantly gave her blessing for him to leave The Burrow, permanently.
Hermione only moved a couple of days ago. She wanted to spend some quality time first with her parents, for she knew that it would be the last time she would stay for real with them. Especially since, during the war, her parents were relocated to a safe place that Harry suggested where no one knew where they were except for the Trio themselves, with Hermione being the Secret Keeper of her parents. They were among the hit-list of Voldemort since they were Hermione's parents. She wasn't able to visit them during the entire war and she only saw them a couple of days after the Final Battle were over.
When Hermione arrived home, having Apparated to the only Apparition point that they set up in Grimmauld, she immediately noticed Harry's cloak, hanging by the door, which meant that Harry's "alone moment" was spent there.
"Harry! Are you in here?" she called as she hung her cloak beside Harry's. She walked towards the kitchen hoping to see him there, but to no avail. She went to the living room and the library, only to find Crookshanks lounging in one of the couches in the living room and no Harry in the library. It's too quiet. This is odd. Where is Dobby, anyway?
Dobby, the house-elf, came knocking on Grimmauld a week after the war. He told Harry, who was then already residing at Grimmauld, that he would rather work for The Great Harry Potter, sir, than work at Hogwarts, when Dumbledore was already gone. Harry agreed, only if Dobby receive payment for his services and Sundays off, which delighted Hermione when she heard what Harry did.
"Harry!" she called once more. When Harry didn't answer, she proceeded to the second floor. When she got to the middle of the stairs, she heard something crash upstairs. She immediately got her wand out. Call her paranoid but she'll never know what or who was able to get in their house while they were all gone. The Final Battle ended only two weeks ago. For all she knew, Harry left his cloak at went out and whatever or whoever made that crash upstairs was something unwelcome in the house, despite all the wards they made before settling in. It was still best if she was on her guard.
Slowly, she went up and proceeded to Harry's room first, which was across her room in the middle of the hall. It was her best guess that whatever or whoever made that crash came from Harry's room. She saw that Harry's door was slightly open, which proved that her guess was correct. Oh, where is Ron when I needed him? I should have brought him home with me.
Standing outside of Harry's room, Hermione peered inside through the gap and saw someone, a guy, standing in the middle of the room, head down, apparently looking at something. There was broken glass on the floor and some odd stain on the carpet. No doubt, the crash that she heard came from that. The light was dim inside the room, owing to the fact that despite the sunny afternoon outside, the draperies on the windows were drawn down and there was no artificial light to light the whole room up. She had no way of knowing who was inside Harry's room.
"Stupefy!" she cast the spell non-verbally and saw the guy flopped face-down on Harry's carpet. As quietly as she could, she opened the door and trained her wand on the person before rolling him over.
"Harry!" she shrieked when she finally turned over the person. She quickly released him from the spell and ran over the windows to open the draperies. Once light flooded the room, she turned and saw that Harry was still lying on his carpeted floor. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Harry, I didn't mean to place the body-bind curse on you. It's just that I thought you were somebody else not trustworthy that I immediately cast the spell. You know how it is these -" she stopped rambling when Harry raised his hand saying he understood.
Gingerly, Harry stood up, walked over to his bed and sat down. Hermione followed and sat down beside him. "It's ok, Hermione. I understand. I didn't realize you were home, didn't even feel the shift in the wards because I was plain too shocked," said Harry.
"Shocked? About what?"
Harry pointed to the parchment lying a few feet away from them. Hermione stood up and got it then went back and sat down on Harry's bed. "What about this?" she asked.
"Read it."
Hermione simply shrugged and proceeded to read it.
Dear Mr. Potter,
It is our privilege to inform you that you are to be inducted this coming August at the Ministry of Magic to be a Junior Auror. We reviewed your OWL scores and other performances at Hogwarts and found them very well despite your being unable to take your NEWTs. We also took into account your recent achievements in your last year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Headmistress Minerva McGonagall recommended you to us and ensured us that you excel in most areas that are required to be an Auror. We also received several recommendations from Mr. Remus Lupin, currently Defense against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts and Mr. Alastor Moody, retired Senior Auror.
We hold these recommendations in great regard and are therefore pleased to inform you that you are already qualified to be the youngest Junior Auror in the Wizarding history should you decide to accept our offer.
We await your owl no later than the 30th of June.
Sincerely,
Auror John Anderson
Head, Auror Department
Ministry of Magic
Hermione stared at the letter in her hand and read in once more. When she finished, she looked up and saw Harry grinning at her. It was the first time she saw him smile once more and she returned the grin. "Oh, Harry! This is wonderful!" she exclaimed and hugged him tight.
Harry laughed when Hermione launched herself at him. "Are you going to accept it?" she asked when she pulled apart. Harry didn't reply at once but continued to smile and stare at her, unaware that he still had his arms around her and they were on his bed. Hermione cocked her head at the side and slowly placed her arms down from Harry's shoulders. "Harry?"
"Uh, well -" he stammered and realized that he was still holding Hermione. Quickly, he withdrew his hands and looked at Hermione sheepishly. Hermione only smiled. "It's only the middle of June. I have until June 30 to answer," he said, shrugging.
"So this is why you were plainly too shocked to even notice I was already home."
Harry nodded. "I was walking around London for a while, just thinking, when I decided to go home already. I promised you that I would be here tonight, after all. So when I got back, I went immediately to the kitchen and saw Hedwig there with a letter for me. I got it and didn't read it at once. I got a glass of water then went up to my room and started to read it," he explained.
"Ok, I think I knew what happened after that. I heard the crash and then I cursed you," finished Hermione, smiling at Harry. "Where is Dobby, anyway? He would have come running here when he heard that crash you made."
"I checked the kitchen and we were running out of supplies. I sent him to Diagon Alley to stock our cabinets."
Hermione nodded. "Anyway, about the letter - I hope you accept it, Harry. It will do you good."
Harry went back to his serious demeanor once more and looked away from Hermione. "I don't know, Hermione. Like I said, for the meantime - I really want to be alone. Or with just you and Ron around. I don't know if I could handle being an Auror after everything that I went through." Hermione sighed but nodded her understanding. "It means a lot to me, Hermione. You know, getting asked to be an Auror and all that was a dream for me. But now, I don't know…" he trailed.
"I understand, Harry. But maybe you could owl them and say that you are much honored with their offer but would like to give it more time to think it over. Maybe have your answer after another couple of weeks?" she said. Harry just nodded and looked down. Hermione scooted over closer to Harry and held his hand. "Whatever it is that you want, you decide upon, you pursue, remember - I will be there for you, together with Ron," she smiled as she said this.
"Thanks. Speaking of which, where is Ron?"
"Oh, I left him back at Hogwarts. He was too busy -" she stopped when she felt the Apparition wards go off. Harry felt it too and turned to look at Hermione. "Looks like, he's here already," she finished.
Together, they got out of Harry's room and walked downstairs. They found Ron in the kitchen, rummaging through the refrigerator. Hermione rolled her eyes at seeing Ron. Typical. She thought.
Hermione and Harry taught Ron everything there was to know about Muggle appliances and Muggle things seeing as both grew up in a Muggle home, they really didn't want to do everything by magic inside Grimmauld. And so they bought every Muggle convenience there was (like the refrigerator, television etc.) and re-circuited the whole house so it would have artificial lighting rather than the torches that hung around the halls, which came of course, from Harry's Gringotts vault, much to Hermione's chagrin. "Hermione, I have a lot of money and gold that I inherited not only from my parents, but from Sirius and Dumbledore as well. I could choose never to work, if I wanted to," he explained back then.
"Oy, you guys are already here," said Ron as he got out some chicken and salad and butterbeer from the refrigerator. "Why did you leave me back at school, Hermione? I was looking for you after I talked to Luna and several of her friends."
"Well, Ronald, that was exactly the reason why I left in the first place. Care to share what happened? And why was Luna at school? She doesn't have an older brother like Ginny, does she? Or was she there for the same reason that Ginny was, except that it was not because of an older brother, but probably because of just someone older?" she asked, amused as Ron grew steadily redder. "Well?"
"Fine, I'll tell you but don't you dare laugh!" Ron conceded.
Harry and Hermione refrained from laughing, barely. The Trio proceeded to have a fun and peaceful afternoon that day, a rarity for all of them since the Final battle.
------------------------------------------
(A/N: Once again, this chapter was done with the help of my wonderful beta, Lady Starlight, who always makes me laugh with her comments and reactions to whatever I wrote. Mwah!)
-->