Not In Kansas Anymore

Chapter Eleven: Thanks for the Future

The sky was a sharp clear blue and not a cloud floated in it, the breeze moved the grass and rustled at the magenta dress Hermione was wearing, slowly a piano struck up somewhere at some point out of Hermione's sight and the procession began to move forward. First went Padma and Seamus, Lavender, who was scowling at Padma's back, and a boy who looked a lot like Dean, tall and black, Hermione could not remember his name though. Then she and Ron went and then finally Ginny and, to Hermione's great displeasure, Harry.

Hermione settled on the grass, smiling broadly as Parvati made her way up the isle. She had a thin material encasing her like she was on a cloud, she glided over the grass, and Dean looked like he'd been enchanted. Padma, as Maid of Honor, gave a little gasp at the sight of her baby sister.

It was a short and unorthodox ceremony, there were normal bits but then they preformed a Hindu ritual that Hermione was not at all familiar with, it involved holy water and lotus petals, Hermione found it very fascinating.

Hermione walked back down to the end of the isle and started passing out rose petals to the guests so they could shower the bride and groom as they exited toward their carriage. Hermione didn't know how, though she expected Parvati's charms had something to do with it, but two unicorns were complacently harnessed to pull the carriage up the grassy slope where the tent was waiting for them to go and eat afterward.

Ginny dug her hand into Hermione's basket because her own was empty and whispered, "Get ready."

Hermione smiled, she and the girls had been busy, waiting for this moment. They had found a way to put their personal signature on this marriage, their blessing if you will.

*

Hermione didn't know Padma very well, but she was Parvati's Maid of Honor so she invited her too. She was the last to arrive, Apparating on to the deck just after Ron flew in on his broom, loosing in his race with Seamus. Settling on the sofa with Ginny and Ron she said, "We got everyone together here because we want to do something special for Parvati."

"Yeah," said Ginny, eating a fistful of popcorn from the bowl she had made.

Lavender bounced her daughter, Mallory, on her knee. "She's always been there for use, weddings, funerals, babies, first jobs, and now it's her turn." Hermione was grateful to Lavender for not specifying whose weddings and whose babies.

"Wonderful!" giggled Padma, and Hermione knew why she didn't know the girl, she hadn't grown up yet.

Ron and Seamus both looked a bit lost, wondering why they were here. 'Discreetly', Ron said, "I think I need some fresh air. Seamus?"

"Yes, here Mallory, come with Daddy," said Seamus jumping up.

Hermione and Lavender cracked up simultaneously and Ginny managed to choke out, "Go! Run if you feel the need." Padma grinned weakly, missing something.

When the laughter had quieted the room lapsed into a thoughtful silence, only broken by Ginny's hand scraping the bottom of the bowl for more popcorn and her discouraged sigh to find it empty.

"We could get her something special?" suggested Hermione after what seemed to be a very long minute.

Lavender sighed. "I haven't got money to spare with the baby, Ginny's a waitress, you're back at the joke shop, and Padma's just a beginning writer for the paper."

Striking a chord of thought Ginny said, "Parvati likes symbolism, right? Well I think I've got her symbol for eternity."

*

Lavender muttered the spell right after Hermione and more doves shot into the air after the carriage. "Hope she likes it."

"She will," said Ron, already working to loosen his tie.

Hermione and Ginny picked up their skirts and followed the carriage through the trees up to a waterfall they had enchanted the unicorns to find. Next came the squeal from the carriage and the deep gasp from Dean. Then there was the shriek of, "Dean! Did you do this?"

"No."

Ginny whispered, "I'm glad she likes it because I'm not doing it again, unicorns are hard to enchant and I never want to see basil or yellow lotus again as long as I live." Hermione stifled her laugh and started to lead the way back to the food tent, Parvati and Dean didn't have a very long time to enjoy their view before the unicorns regained their senses and led them to the tent.

*

Professor Sprout moved along the rows of students, making critical comments about their plants and then helping them remedy their problem with a caring word and a gruff pat on the back.

Hermione's end of the year project was an herb garden of both Muggle and magical remedies. It was very neat and tidy and Sprout had only a smile to offer before moving on to examine Ron's pitiful Invisible Dusk-Blooming Choke Vine, it was pitiful because it was quite visible at nine o'clock in the morning. Parvati moved her plot next to Hermione's, it was the place that Harry had previously taken, but somebody had decided to fall off his broom that weekend and Madame Pomfrey wasn't letting him anywhere damp. Soil was damp and the green house was steamy, Harry lucked out of this class.

Parvati had a floating garden and Hermione thought it was gorgeous. "What are they?"

Parvati smiled at them fondly and sprinkled a pink liquid on the broadly blooming flowers and lily pads. "They're part of a Hindu meditation garden, I wanted to put a ginger plant in too, but Ernie is allergic so I couldn't."

"It's still really pretty, and smells nice. What is the smell?"

"Lotus flowers with pink rose water, it does smell good," she inhaled deeply.

Hermione smiled to herself. "The two main ingredients in a love potion, apart from fresh rose petals."

*

Hermione was panting lightly as she pulled Mallory off the dance floor and back to the table where most of the wedding party was gathered. "Your turn," she said to Ron who gladly took the small hand offered to him. Mallory was still very young but something about growing up in the wizerding world made it so she was a bit precocious. She couldn't do anything well but she could do it and she knew she liked being held while people danced.

A happy squeal made Hermione turn around as Parvati came over to the table after twenty minutes of duty greetings, she found tan arms wrapped around her and squeezed tightly. She was released and Ginny and Lavender each got their turn to have the living daylights squeezed out of them.

"Thank you!"

"For what?" they coursed in mock innocence, Seamus added, "How do women always lie so well?"

"The carriage!" screamed Parvati, jumping giddily around like a little girl, very reminiscent of her thirteen-year-old self. The self Hermione had nothing to do with.

"What carriage?" they asked. "See? Lying again!" said Seamus to Dean.

Parvati gave them a shrewd look and they each feigned stupidity. "Maybe it was Ron, in fact I'm sure it was him."

Ron chose that moment to dance by with Mallory. "Like hell it was me! Doves and flowers, me? He then danced away.

Lavender smiled warmly and said, "You liked it then?"

Parvati fell into a spare chair, her face blissful and expression serene. "Liked it? I loved it! It was genius the waterfall and symbol for eternity in the Old Celtic Rings and the yellow louts and basil both herbs of love! Eternal love, oh it was so sweet!" Parvati hugged each of them, tears in her eyes.

"Glad to be of service," said Ginny dryly massaging her neck.

Hermione was happy for Parvati. "We just thought it was your turn."

Wiping her tears Parvati accepted baby Mallory. "Thank you so much," she carried the baby on her hip out to the floor with Dean at her side.

Lavender sighed and said, "She'll make it, as a wife and a mother." Seamus came from behind and rubbed her shoulders. "Let's dance," said Lavender.

Hermione took a sip from her water glass and watched as the couples moved about on the floor. Ginny left to dance with Ron, who was growing both restless and bored. Hermione sloshed water down her front when a deep voice said behind her, "Can I have a word Miss Granger?"

Turning around Hermione met the twinkling eyes of Albus Dumbdlore. "Certainly."

He slid into Lavender's abandoned chair, his knees creaking slightly. "I have not seen you in a very long time young lady, shame on you for not visiting more often," he reprimanded, shaking a wrinkled hand in her face.

"Sorry sir," mumbled Hermione, a pinkish blush pushing up her cheekbones.

Dumbdlore chuckled good naturally and said, in a much more serious tone, "Actually I've come to discuss business and ask a favor of you."

Stricken Hermione's mind flew to the worst possible scenarios and she anxiously asked, "What happened? Is something wrong? What, tell me?"

Dumbdlore saw her conclusions before they were drawn and said quickly, "Oh, nothing quite like that, I'm just having a dilemma at the school."

Letting out a breath she had not known she'd been holding Hermione said, relived, "What can I do to help?"

*

The office was just has Hermione had left it the previous evening, the portraits were chatting with each other, actually most of them were fighting and threatening each other, but they all stopped to greet her when she tentatively opened the door. "Hello Miss Granger," said Professor Dumbdlore over the voices of the past Hogwarts Heads, he was sitting behind his desk writing what looked like a dreadfully long letter when Hermione came in. "Sit down," he made a sweeping gesture to the chair Hermione always took when she came to his office.

Settling down Hermione looked at her teacher curiously. "You wanted to see me sir?" She smoothed her clothes down a bit, wishing she had worn her school robes instead of shorts and a t-shirt.

Stacking his papers neatly Dumbdlore said absently, "Why yes I suppose I did." Stroking his beard for a moment he appeared to be in deep thought before abruptly saying, "I wanted to know if you would be interested in teaching here after you graduate next week?"

Taken aback Hermione wasn't quite sure how to reply, when she was younger she had always thought to be a teacher, but since the war had ended she was unsure of how to answer, in fact she hadn't really given it much thought at all. "I--ah--don't know what to say," she said.

"The customary answers are 'yes' or 'no', but you seem to be in shock so let me elaborate. I'd like you to teach in Potions in light of the death of Professor Snape, but if you need more time to think about it I can understand."

This was what Hermione Granger would have considered a chance of a lifetime, however the girl in the chair was a week and two months away from becoming Hermione Weasley and this was no longer the chance of a lifetime, in fact it didn't seem all that appealing anymore.

She was going to be a wife, and she had hoped of pursuing house-elf liberation, as much as Ron disliked it. Wording soundlessly she said, "I'm honored sir that you would even consider me--"

Dumbdlore shook his head and said, "One of the best witches Hogwarts has seen in eons, we should be honored to have taught and learned from you."

Sheepishly Hermione said, "Thank you, but I am going to have to decline your offer."

Dumbdlore looked as though he had expected it and said cheerily, "Well in that case I fear for the people sitting on the boards and committees at the Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures."

"Thank you sir, I'll be going now," smiled Hermione.

Serious again Dumbdlore did his best to look the part of a dignified Headmaster and said; "Good day Miss Granger and send Mr. Malfoy in, he should be waiting outside the door."

"Good bye sir."

*

"Would you reconsider teaching for me since I distinctly remember an act you pushed through the Ministry a few years back detailing the active rights of house-elves?" asked Dumbdlore, examining a plate of food he had pulled in front of him.

Once again Hermione was taken aback, but she had achieved her goal with S.P.E.W. and it was now a fully functioning branch of the Department of Regulation and Control run by the Ministry without her assistance. She had also lost her job at International Co-op, and teaching was a respectable profession, more so than sitting behind the counter at the joke shop.

For a hand full of drawn out minutes Hermione carefully weighted her options, she had always wanted to be a teacher, on some level, and it would be a round about way of giving back to the community. "Does term still begin on September first?" she asked coyly.

Selecting a watercress sandwich from his plate Dumbdlore said, "What a stupid question to waste breath on, but yes it does. Is Arithmancy a satisfactory course for you?" Hermione nodded eagerly. "Good," said Dumbdlore clapping his hands and standing up. "I shall see you soon Professor Granger," he held out his hand for a finale good bye but Hermione surprised him by hugging him tightly.

"Thank you," she said, not quite sure exactly why she was so thankful.

"You're quite welcome, I've waited long enough to get you for the job. And now I must go congratulate the bride and groom a last time before parting, proper etiquette and all that."

"Good bye," said Hermione. Excited she grabbed a champagne flute from a passing tray that was levitating among the guests, and went to find Ginny who was, by the looks of it, trying to maul Ron to death.

Hermione grabbed Ginny's upper arm to keep her from succeeding in her task; "I've got wonderful news!"

Ginny struggled against her saying sarcastically, "I know Parvati just got married but really Ron's demise is much more important at the moment."

Ron was backed against the gift table saying, "Honestly I didn't know how important that lip stick was to you."

"You ruined her lip stick?" asked Hermione incredulously, before letting Ginny go and observing her over the rim of her champagne flute. "In that case you deserve it, I brought her that lip stick. Scarlet Vixen is not cheap."

*

The pile of gifts was small, but it was far from inadequate. Four girls, three living on odd jobs and the fourth engaged, are not well off to buy lavish Christmas gifts for each other. Nor are they liable to get a decent tree either, the small, wilting tree the four had chipped in to buy for Parvati's flat was meager to say the least.

There was snow clotting the window ledges and ice lining the glass, not to mention deadly ice sickles teetering on the overhang in menacing spikes. It was four days until Christmas but Parvati was off on family holiday the next day, Lavender was visiting Seamus's family in Ireland, and Hermione and Ginny had decided to go watch Ron's Quidditch match the next day.

So against all tradition they were holding her Christmas party a bit ahead of schedule. Hermione sat cross-legged near the tree with the three other girls and began passing around boxes.

Forgetting anything of manners Ginny immediately ripped the paper off hers, Lavender and Parvati shrugged their shoulder and dove into their gifts too. Ginny let out a high pitched squeal. "Scarlet Vixen! Ooh Hermione I love it, I'm going to wear it tomorrow!"

Parvati glanced over her box of incense and said, "Hell, wear it today."

*

Exhausted Hermione Apparated into the Manor, her dress falling off her shoulders and eyes half closed. "Draco, I'm home," she muttered before falling on to her bed and sleeping soundly.

Or she slept soundly until a pillow bounced off her head. "Get up Granger," growled Draco. "God you are worse than the picture of my Uncle Orifice, get up!" he pummeled her with a second pillow.

"Go away," she tried to kick him but since her eyes were still closed she banged her foot on the headboard.

Stepping away from the violently thrashing Hermione Draco began to walk away saying casually, "All right, I just thought you'd like to know the library is on fire."

Screaming Hermione sat up quickly, fell off the bed, and crashed to the floor in a puddle of bride's maid gown and wrinkled sheets. "NO! How? When?" From under a hangover of bushy hair, Hermione looked at Draco who was fully dressed and saw that he was laughing. "Liar," she groaned, standing up and walking over to the wardrobe.

"Sorry, but you wouldn't wake up."

Groggily Hermione asked, "What time is it?"

Draco looked at his watch and said, "Noon, but we've got a lunch date."

Puzzled Hermione said from behind her dressing screen, "Lunch date? Toss me the blue shirt from the dresser."

For a moment Draco looked around and then saw the shirt, lightly he looked at it and then pitched it over the dressing screen. "Yeah, lunch in London, your friend, the Muggle called and wanted to talk to you. When I said you were still asleep she left a message and then asked me to come too. You know red is more your color."

Hermione popped her head around the dressing screen and asked, "Hope called, when did she get the number, I didn't even know you had a phone."

Scratching the back of his neck Draco said, as though he didn't really want to bring the subject up, "I had to tell her when you were in the hospital, she came to visit, don't you remember?"

Tugging the blue shirt down Hermione emerged. "No not really," she sounded like she didn't really wanted to talk about it either, looking up she then said, "When did you get a phone?"

"I have to have it around so I can funnel money out of the fund my great-great-great grandfather Xavier started, it scams Muggles into donating to the Society of - maybe I shouldn't be telling you all this."

Hermione wrinkled her nose in the mirror and said, "No, maybe you shouldn't be." Putting a dangling pair of earrings in Hermione gave herself a once over and turned to Draco. "Do I look okay?"

"Fabulous, like a Muggle, no body would ever suspect you of being a talented witch."

"Really?" Hermione looked at herself again, self-consciously running her hands down her slim torso. "Let's go!"

*

Hermione wasn't quite sure she liked the way she looked, she definitely looked better than she had the first time around. Her vanilla colored gown swept the floor over her petite feet, the top was form fitting to her slim figure, and a pair of elbow length gloves scaled up her arms.

Ginny twirled the veil into Hermione's hair, pointing her wand and curling the fine chunks of hair and spinning strands of glitter through the curls. Hermione critically examined her hair and face. "Do I look okay," she asked Ginny anxiously.

Ginny bumped her out from in front of the mirror and went about straightening her own green silk dress and spinning sparkles through her own hair. "You look splendid."

The door opened and Hermione turned to see the twins poking their heads through. "Shall we try this again?"

Nervous, but confident Hermione said, "Let's get this show on the road."

"Huh?" said Ginny having never heard the Muggle expression.

Ignoring her Hermione gave the mirror a last glance before walking to the door, Fred shook his head and kissed her on the cheek before flipping her veil down and shoving her bouquet into her hands. Her hands that he noticed were not shaking. He counted this as a good sign.

George looked at Fred sideways, lifted the veil again to kiss Hermione, and then extended his arm to her. Hermione smiled and took it, following Ginny out the door.

At the front of the line Hermione saw Hope clinging to Ron, her green skirt rustling anxiously and then the music struck up and Fred whispered, "You look lovely," anticipating Hermione's next question.

*

"Is there any chance in stopping at Flourish and Blotts on the way back?" asked Hermione impassively.

Draco twisted his face up a bit and said, "You've got the whole of the Manor's library and you want to go to Flourish and Blotts?" something in his voice sounded offended, maybe even a little hurt.

Looking at the face that was quickly arranging itself in an uncaring expression Hermione said, "Well...I sort of got a new job and forgot to tell you about it until Hope started talking about her transfer to the states and I need some reading material for it."

Dubiously Draco asked, "What job, and why can't you just use the Manor's books for it, or will the books be in danger?"

"No danger," said Hermione, this time she was hurt, "but Hogwarts is a ways away and I won't be able to Apparate to the Manor every time I need a book." She was walking backward through the empty streets of midday London, looking at Draco appealingly.

"Wait, wait, wait," said Draco, stopping in front of a bakery and pulling Hermione out of the path of a perambulator. "When were you planning on telling me...?"

*

This was how all of their conversations went, one would ask a question, the other would give and impassive, denial flooded, partially truthful answer, and the other would get mad because they were asking a rhetorical question.

Hermione cringed as she thought of all the times she had done it to Draco, in fact, it was usually her to ask the bum questions and him who had to encounter her wraith every time he had to give the bum question a bum answer.

In reality it struck Hermione as odd that their odd friendship was based only on questions and hateful comments. They spent the majority of their time having verbal fights of incredible volume, arguing over homework they were evenly matched on, and then calling each other horrible names.

Hermione gazed at the fire thoughtfully, wondering why he was out so late. Part of her worried he might be doing the Order's business, it wouldn't surprise her if he was since it was well past one o'clock and she was only up out of fear and worry.

It startled her when the door to Draco's dorm opened, her hand inched over the handle of her wand and she breathed a sigh of relief to see Draco himself wander out, wearing his silk pajama bottoms and no shirt at all. Many a girl would have drooled over this sight, Hermione had spent nearly a year living with him in the Head Tower and she was just glad to see him alive.

She scurried to him and gave him a hug, he stiffened under her grasp and she pulled away. "When were you going to tell me you're engaged to Weasley?" he asked. This startled her further as he had never sounded so cruel, even when he did ask a question first. He snatched her left hand and examined the ring. "Pity it's so poorly made," he said.

"I was going to tell you...eventually," she walked back to the sofa and pulled a blanket over herself even though it was nearly June and the fire was roaring.

"You weren't going to tell me were you?" he asked, his gray eyes harder than Hermione had ever seen them.

Stuttering Hermione began, "I was--going -to tell--you the truth..."

A harsh laugh escaped Draco and he said jarringly, "The truth is rarely simple and never pure." He looked emotionlessly at her for a prolonged moment before turning and walking back into his dorm shutting the door with a sharp snap.

His last words echoed in her mind and Hermione searched her memory for a moment before breath out loud, "That was Oscar Wilde."

*

Jumping to conclusions had always been a specialty of Hermione's and she was right with this conclusion, "You teach at Hogwarts?"

"Only because you didn't," he said and they started to walk again.

Silently Hermione deciphered the cryptic message and said knowingly, "Potions' Master."