Trying To Work On A Cover

Fics I loved - Part 4 - Girl On A Train

I practically inhaled this fic today as I was making dinner. I nearly sliced my finger open because I was more focused on the reading than I was on the tomato-dicing, but that's a story for another time. It's a quick read and I wholeheartedly suggest you head to AO3 right now and give it a go. It will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Trailblazing & Stargazing - Chapter 19

The following morning she went back to her office to get caught up with everything that had passed while she had been gone. She payed a quick visit to the muggle liaison office to arrange for her parents’ new passports and then went to see Cho about the reform.

“Hermione! Welcome back! Is everything alright? You’ve been gone a few days.”

“Hi, Cho. I had to rush to Australia, my parents weren’t well. But now everything is fine and they’ll be moving back here soon.” Hermione said with a broad smile. “How is the second draft coming along? When will you take it to the Wizengamot again?”

“The second draft is ready, we had most of it ready even before the first hearing, we just tweaked it with some help from the Slytherins and Neville. Tomorrow we’ll go in for the second time, I’m aware it will be another farce so I won’t get my hopes up.” Cho sighed, resigned to move on with the game of snakes and ladders that was having anything approved by the Wizengamot.

“Let me know how it goes. It will take time but I’m sure you can have it passed. It’s a good reform, it will change things for the better.” Hermione said encouragingly.

“Let’s just hope we can get the concept to sink into those bearded skulls!” Chuckled Cho.

After a full day at work, Hermione flooed back to her house. She changed into dark blue muggle skinny-jeans, white trainers and a soft, merino wool jumper in emerald green,  all courtesy of Pansy Parkinson, minus the sneakers. She pulled her hair up in a messy bun, grabbed two bottles of wine and flooed to Grimmauld Place.

“Honey! I’m home!” She shouted as she exited from the fireplace at her friends’ kitchen. She heard steps coming down the stairs and Harry popped his head through the door, his hair sticking up in every direction, even more so than it usually was.

“Hey ‘Mione! Welcome back! Ginny’s still getting dressed, we were… er… delayed.” He blushed.

“You know, I could have survived without knowing you just finished shagging. I’m sort of going through a dry spell.” She huffed. Harry shrugged and wrapped her shoulders in a hug before taking her to the living room. A few minutes later, Ginny came down the stairs.

“Did you bring me a baby kangaroo?!” Ginny joked as she hugged her friend.

“I’m afraid that would have been illegal, and impractical too. But I brought wine.”

“That’s even better than a kangaroo! Sit down, to celebrate your return from down under, we’re having your favorite food. Paella!” Ginny shouted enthusiastically.

Trailblazing & Stargazing - Chapter 20

The month of February was a whirlwind. The Grangers had moved back into their home in Hampstead Garden Suburb, the reform was brought to the Wizengamot for a third time and, as expected, rejected. It would, hopefully, be approved in the second week of March. The Werewolf Integration Act had caused quite a stir and the Ministry had, again, received several howlers.

Her life had been, overall, hectic, but on Friday the 26th she had time to meet with Ginny and Luna for lunch. They met at the Leaky Cauldron because, as lovely as she was, Luna had a tendency to risk breaching the statute of secrecy when out around muggles. Her friends were already sitting at a table when Hermione arrived, she stopped at the bar to order her drink before joining them.

“Hello Hermione!” Said Luna in her dreamy, tinkling voice as she lowered her Spectrespecs from her head to her nose. “You are surprisingly wrackspurt-free. I’m glad to see things are turning out all right.”

“Hello Luna! I am, in fact, doing rather well, all things considered. How are you?” Hermione said as she sat down with her friends at the wooden table, hanging her bag on the back of her chair.

“I’m doing well, settling down in Hogsmeade, I’ve already met with Minerva and Hagrid about my teaching position next year. But Ginny has news. Her head is full of wrackspurts but she won’t tell me why, she wanted to wait for you and not have to repeat it.”

“What news, Ginny?” Asked Hermione as she accepted her butterbeer from the waiter.

“I’ve received an offer from the Harpies. They want to hire me as second coach, I’d become Head Coach when Sylvie Goray retires next year.” Said Ginny before taking a long sip of her butter beer.

“That is great Ginny!” Exclaimed Hermione.

“Oh, yes. A thrilling prospect!” Chimed Luna.

“It is, and I’m honored. But I’m not sure. I haven’t told Harry yet.” Ginny sighed, slouching.

“Why not? Surely he’d support you.” Hermione placed a comforting hand on Ginny’s arm.

“He would, but working as a coach would mean I’d be away most weekends. During the week Harry comes home late every night. We would hardly see each other anymore.”

Trailblazing & Stargazing - Chapter 17

Hermione made herself some coffee and waited on the sofa. When the time came, she took the broken mirror out of her pocket and unfolded the napkin, the moment it activated she touched it and she felt like she was being pulled inside a tornado. She landed roughly at the Portkey Arrivals gate at the Kingsford Smith International Airport. She went through the Wizarding security checks and then she met Ron. “Hey, ‘Mione! How are you?” He hugged her tight. “Hello Ron! I’m a bit drowsy but I have a potion, give me a moment.” She took the anti-disconbobulating potion from her beaded bag and drank it in one single gulp. She felt better and mentally thanked Malfoy. “Look at you, Ron, all tanned! You look like an Aussie already!” “I must say, things are going really well for me here.” “I’m so happy for you! And thank you, for looking out for my parents.” “You know I always cared about them, that hasn’t changed.” “What did the healers say?” “I’m taking you there right now so you can talk to them directly.” He held out his arm, when she took it, he apparated them to the Ursula Southeil Hospital for Magical Maladies. They entered the hall and Ron purposefully strode towards the information desk. “Hey, Mate.” He said to the wizard on duty. “I have an appointment to see Healer Alinta Cavanaugh.” The wizard checked the parchment in front of him “Second floor, ambulatory number 24, turn right when you get to the second floor, fifth door on the left side.” “Thanks Mate.” As they climbed up the stairs, they met quite a few healers along the way. Unlike the healers at St. Mungo’s, who wore very unpractical robes, the healers here wore regular muggle scrubs in different colors. Hermione and Ron reached the ambulatory and knocked. The door opened and a witch about their age, with dark hair, dark eyes and traditional tattoos on her forehead and chin greeted them, she was wearing blue scrubs. “Hello Mr Weasley. You must be Minister Granger. I’ve read a lot about you.” “Hello Healer Cavanaugh. I sure hope your source material wasn’t the Daily Prophet or you’ll have a really poor opinion of me.” “Oh no, don’t worry. I hate the Prophet.” She gestured dismissively.

Of Drought and Downpour - Chapter 6

https://archiveofourown.org/works/57564421/chapters/146469688

The sky was clear, blue and endless, not a single cloud in sight. A warm breeze made the treetops sway and carried the smell of flowers, resin and pine needles. The sun shone bright, warming her skin as she walked towards the Quidditch pitch. Hogwarts was showing her its sweetest, most welcoming side on this glorious summer day.

“Ms Granger!” She heard a deep voice calling her. She turned around and saw Firenze, quietly approaching her at a languid pace.

“Professor Firenze, how are you?”

“Mercury crosses the Dragon’s path again. Venus is aligned, at last.” The centaur said.

“Ah, yes, absolutely. Have a good day, Professor.” And here she was, thinking he would say something useful, for once.

“Have a good day, Ms Granger. Perfect weather for Quidditch.” He smiled looking at the cloudless sky.

Hermione rolled her eyes as she continued on her path. She climbed the many stairs to the top of the stands, Daphne and Astoria were already sitting at the far back and waved at her, smiling. She walked towards them, shooting a glance behind her, towards the pitch. Ginny had just joined Harry and Ron and they were tossing the quaffle back and forth as they hovered on their brooms, not far from where Hermione was standing. 

Hermione Granger and the Dramione shippers - chapter 10

Breakfast in the Great Hall

If ever there was a Guinness world record for brightest blush, Hermione was sure she would win it. She felt her cheeks reach the temperature of Mount Vesuvius’ Pyroclastic cloud that burned Herculaneum.

“How?” She asked in a whisper, to avoid drawing attention from the few students still lingering in the Great Hall. She was, pointedly, not looking at him.

“It appears, we are both curious, Granger. I think I should smirk now. I heard it does something to your insides.” And he did, in fact, smirk. But her insides were too twisted to react to it. “Anyway, you gave me enough information, so I went on a quick trip to Hastings, yesterday. By the way, sorry for standing you up. Did you have a good time with Pomona?”

Hermione nodded slightly.

“Good. Perhaps we could start a new… what’s it called? Ah, yes, ship. Would it be Pomione or Hermona? Although, I must say, I’m pretty fond of Dramione. I’ve read some… rather creative things.”

Trailblazing & Stargazing - Chapter 32

https://archiveofourown.org/works/53573164/chapters/148747408

Harry struggled to keep up with Ron as he flew through the sky, much faster than the battered, old cleansweeps they had found in the shed should be able to go. Ron’s anger probably reinforcing the broom’s own magic. That would be an interesting theory to test, Harry thought before focusing on the chase again.

Eventually, Ron slowed down and Harry was able to catch up to him. His face was streaked with dry tears, Harry couldn’t tell if he’d been crying about Hermione or if his eyes had watered because of the wind.

“How could she do that?” Ron asked, stifling a sob. Crying then, not wind.

“Ron, mate. I swear the ferret isn’t that bad anymore.” Harry tried to calm him.

“How long have you known?” Ron’s voice was shaking, his eyes narrowed as he scowled at his friend because of his betrayal.

“Probably even before she knew it. They have been dancing in circles around each other for a while. I’m not sure how it started, but they have been getting closer ever since the new year ball at the Ministry.” Harry wasn’t good with these things, he never knew what to say. Words and feelings were not his strong suit. Words about feelings, were a skill he’d never mastered and probably never would. Awkwardness was definitely something Albus had inherited from his father, along with the green eyes.

“Why didn’t you tell me? I would have come back, tried to talk her out of it. Now I look like the villain and, I swear, I’m not!” Ron sobbed loudly.

“It wasn’t my story to tell, mate. And I don’t think she would have wanted you to talk her out of it. I’m pretty sure she did that all by herself at first.” Harry tried, unsuccessfully, to steer Ron’s broom back in the direction of the Burrow.

Of Drought and Downpour - Chapter four

https://archiveofourown.org/works/57564421/chapters/148002913

“Daph! You’re back!” Screeched Ginny as she sat down at their table at the Green Viper. “Tell us everything!”

“Well, my work there was done. Fredrik was absolutely wonderful, I honestly thought of staying, but I don’t think he was The One. I considered a few things and I decided to come back. My life is here. I missed my troublesome friends! And I see we have a new member!”

“We missed you too!” replied the others.

Luna introduced Willow, who had since become a well integrated member of the group. Daphne listened to her in awe as she told a few of her adventures on the hellmouth.

“I dated a werewolf, before I became a witch. My best friend dated two vampires. Not at the same time, obviously.” She told her very attentive audience.

“We had a werewolf teacher, he was the best.” Said Hermione. “But vampires? Aren’t they soulless beings?”

“Angel, the first one, was all handsome and broody and had been cursed with a soul because he was a real baddie. He was a puppy with Buffy though, still broody but with googly eyes. That is until he lost his soul because they had sex.” She shrugged “With Spike, we called him captain peroxide because of his bleached platinum hair, it was a perfect enemies to lovers story. They hated each other, then, when Buffy came back from the dead, they began fucking like rabbits and he went out and got himself a soul just to be worthy of her.” She sighed. “Oh, and my other best friend dated a one-thousand-year-old vengeance demon who had come to Sunnydale to kill him.”

“And I though Hogwarts was a dangerous place.” Said Daphne in shock. The others chuckled.

I listened to Things without Remedy on Spotify and I absolutely loved it. The story is well structured, the writing flows easily, it has everything. Also, the acting in the poetic is amazing. I am absolutely and completely in love!

Trailblazing & Stargazing - chapter 26