There was no other place like Hogwarts.
Hermione knew that from the moment McGonagall stepped into her parents’ house and declared herself, and therefore Hermione, a witch. Before that moment Hermione could only classify herself as the weird student with no friends and abnormal obsession with books. But now? Now she can proudly call herself a witch.
Brightest witch of her age, as many would call her.
Yet, as the first year of attending magical school progressed, witch quickly realized it’s not as different as she thought. Wizarding world was just as problematic as muggle one. Hermione spent years being a victim of blood purity. Yet she survived. Not without physical and phycological marks. But she was alive.
She was well and breathing. Sometimes hiding in the alcoves from the panic attacks, but now, without Voldemort and upcoming war looming over her head, she finally had time to heal, and mend broken relationships. Especially with those people, who were forced to choose the wrong side of the war.
The start of eight year was rocky. Children were wary of Slytherins and almost every first year burst into tears as the hat placed them in the house of Salazar Slytherin. Animosity between the houses got so big that almost every day there was at least two Slytherins in hospital wing. And as sad as Hermione was to admit it, mostly it was the fault of Gryffindors who weren’t even at the battle of Hogwarts. It was the ones, who got a taste of power and got addicted. Another Voldemort in the making. That thought was the last straw for Hermione. She, heroine of the war, had to be the first to mend the bridges.
So, she gathered all her Gryffindor courage and stepped into the Great Hall. Yet, instead of her usual route, she turned left. She could feel the weight of everyone’s eyes as they fell on her, wondering what she was doing on the side of death eaters. Yet she found empty seat, put backpack between her feet and started filling up her plate.
“Granger,” her childhood bully sneered. “have you finally gone mad? This is Slytherin table.” He started at her almost hoping that she was part of his imagination and will go away as soon as he blinks. Yet she only grabbed spaghetti bowl from Pansy’s hands and started filling up her plate. “Granger.” Malfoy repeated, his voice stern.
“Ron ate all spaghetti there was on Gryffindor table.” She shrugged. “There’s no way I’ll survive potions with Slughorn without my daily dose of spaghetti.”
And that was the moment an unlikely friendship started brewing. Hermione started joining some Slytherins for study groups in the library. Complimented girls on their makeup skills. Even joined them on the Hogsmeade trips. Of course, at first Ron threw a biggest fit. He was so angry that she was fraternizing with the enemy, you could see smoke coming out of his ears. Harry was wary. He didn’t like most of the Slytherins. They made sure to make his life more difficult than it needed to be. But he understood the same thing Hermione did. That even if most of them are either children of the death eaters or have the mark themselves, they were forced into it. Just like them, they didn’t choose to fight in a war, they were made to, because some madman was trying to kill everyone. The only difference was that they had no choice. Choice was made for them by their parents and most of them were not like Sirius. They didn’t have an amazing friend they could run to. They were just children. They were scared children. So it didn’t take much to convince Harry to at least try.
Seeing the example of two thirds of the golden trio, everyone else followed. Students started mingling with each other more. Inter-house couples stopped hiding their relationships and most of the animosity stayed on the quidditch pitch.
It finally was the type of school Hermione always dreamed of. Even more. She was finally happy and about to be even happier as his hands traced her body almost as of memorizing every curve. His lips left a wet trail as he kissed her neck, savouring the taste. “Don’t leave marks,” she moaned. “My dress doesn’t cover the neck.”
He smiled against her neck. “So?” He chuckled. Marks meant that someone left them. And that means that she’s taken. He was not about to repeat another Triwizard tournament Yule ball and have every wizard stare at his witch. Well, she wasn’t his witch then, but that’s not the point. He took a step back and put his large, calloused hands on her face. He wasn’t sure, how was he able to keep his hands from her for so long when after having a taste, he couldn’t think about anyone else.
“Draco!” She whined. “People will have questions. Harry and Ron will have questions. And I’m not in the mood to deal with Weasley temper.” She pecked his lips and pushed her lover’s hair from his eyes. “We can finish this later. Maybe I’ll let you do something more than just leave a mark.” And with that Hermione slipped out of the broom closet.
„What are you doing out here alone?” Hermione spun around, her wand ready to perform spell in her defence. “Whoa, I just came to check on you. No need to kill me Mione.” Ginny laughed. Red head looked beautiful. Dressed in emerald silk dress she stole the show. Everyone at the Yule ball couldn’t take their eyes off the youngest Weasley.
“Sorry,” Hermione apologized. Old habits die hard. “it was getting stuffy in there. Needed some fresh air.”
Both girls laid on the ground. Astronomy tower was the most beautiful place in all of Hogwarts. Even after all horrors it has seen, its beauty stays the same. The type that makes you forget about everything in the world.
“You know,” Hermione started. “Harry couldn’t take his eyes off of you.” She teased her younger friend. Even after years of pinning after clueless Harry, her crush stayed just as big.
“Really?” Ginny’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “Good. Don’t know how many hints it will take him to finally ask me out.” Both girls laughed. It was common knowledge that Harry had massive crush on Ginny and she had one on him. Yet the boy-who-lived was convinced that Ginny saw him as an older brother.
“You should just put him out of his misery and ask him out.” Hermione suggested. She was more traditional type when it came to relationships and considered it man’s job to ask another out, but Ginny and Harry were anything but traditional.
“Hm, maybe I’ll just snog him.” Ginny wiggled her eyebrows. “Sounds way more fun than just talking.”
Comfortable silence overtook them. Since Ginny outgrew her awkward stage of hating Hermione for being close to Harry, they became really close. Hermione was the only child and didn’t have girl friends and Ginny grew up with only brothers, so the two of them just clicked. Girls supporting girls and all that jazz. Talking about all kind of things while hiding from Ginny’s brothers in astronomy tower. Rating the guys with the best arses. And now, as they once again lay on the floor in astronomy tower, Hermione was reminded of much more simpler days. When her only concern was bad grades. When she didn’t have to worry about her future. When she didn’t have to do anything to keep Harry alive.
“The stars look beautiful tonight.” She said tracing constellations with her fingers.
“You know what else looks beautiful?” Ginny asked, turning her head to look at her friend. “You and Draco snogging in the broom closet.”
“WHAT?” Hermione yelled quickly standing up and taking cautions steps away from red head friend who was currently laughing like a hyena. Ginny always knew ferret would be the only guy to match Hermione intellectually. Apparently, sexually too, judging from barely visible marks on her neck. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Relax,” Ginny stood up and took her friends hands in her own. “Boy don’t know anything. I just caught you sneaking out of the broom closet and Draco following seconds later, looking awfully proud of himself.” She chuckled. “Didn’t take much to add two and two together.”
“You’re not mad?” War heroine whispered. Even after starting to mend all the bridges the war has destroyed between people, she was still afraid of other not approving of her choice in partner. Especially when the partner in question is bearing the mark of death eaters. Even if it wasn’t his choice.
“Of course not. Just tell about this to twins before you tell your two idiots.”
“Why?” She asked puzzled.
“They wouldn’t miss for the world to see pissed of Ron. Especially after he realizes you’re dating a ferret.”
Hermione laughed, with silent tears brewing in her eyes. “Thank you.” Girls pulled each other in the hug. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”
“That’s what friends are for, right?” They separated and turned around, ready to re-join the ball that was still in full swing just downstairs. “Just one question.”
“MMhh?”
“Is he into BDSM? After whole ferret thing he does seem like a sub who likes to wear a collar.”
“GINNY! “