Fan Fiction ❯ The Second Serpent ❯ Chapter One ( Chapter 1 )

Tobias's DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Harry Potter series.

Belle's DISCLAIMER: I still do not own Harry Potter….that is the honor of J.K. Rowling, I can only dream.

Tobias's Note (T/N): From here on everything involving Harry and Hermione will be in first person, which will be a majority of the story. The rest will be in third person.

Belle's Note (B/N): I apologize for any mistakes I may make, I haven't been able to read The Order of the Phoenix yet due to the inability to get my hands on a copy. Sadly, Sirus death was given to me, but I know very little of Tonks and such, so forgive my ignorance.

The Second Serpent

By Belle & Tobias

Chapter 1:

I smiled as I got dressed in my usual green and black robes, my long hair in a braid down my back, and my blood red cloak on my shoulders. I looked over to see Ron sleepily eating the breakfast I fixed for him and I couldn't help but smile as he rubbed his head and his hair stuck up.

"Good morning," I said as I walked over to him, gently kissing his forehead before smoothing down his hair. He looked up at me and smiled in a dreamy way and I feel the blush on my cheeks. "What?"

"Hermione Weasley," he said as he sipped some coffee, a gift to me by my parents, they don't know I can't handle the stuff, but Ron seemed to love it. "I like the sound of that." I blushed more as he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me into his lap.

"Ron!" I giggle as he kissed my neck; I caught his cheeks, stopping him before I got nose-to-nose with him. "I have to prepare for classes. You should too." He smirked at me and pointed to the corner of the kitchen and I gasped.

"I finally did it!" he cheered as he stood up and pulled me into his arms swinging us around in circles. "I beat Hermione Granger! I got myself organized by myself and beat her to the punch!" I glared at him for a moment before I began to tickle the nape of his neck.

"I don't believe it, Percy had to have helped you," I teased as I slipped out of his arms and wrapped my arms around his shoulders, he looked hurt that I thought he couldn't do it alone. "I'm very proud of you Ron." I kissed him and he smiled. "And I love you." Ron smiled as he started to move his hands in the `Ron wants to make out' movements I had gotten used to in the past years. I pulled away shaking my head, he pouted as he looked at me.

"Why not?" he asked and I smiled at him.

"Ron, I have to prepare, I need to get the animals and a few more books," I said as I grabbed my wand and pulled on my hat. He looked at me longingly. "I'll be back tonight and I'll make you dinner." He smiled.

"I'll be waiting," he said with his crooked grin. I Apparated to Diagon Alley.

*****

I watched as Hermione went shopping for things for her students. She marked down something and hurried to Flourish & Blotts. I sighed and stretched on my perch on Gringott's. I had decided to make a trip back here when I heard about certain rumors. The Dark Mark had become active again, and certain Death Eaters were being found dead. I wanted to make sure everything would be safe this year. That and I heard about her and Ron's engagement. I was very happy for her and Ron, very happy. I frowned, as I saw Hermione gone down Knockturn Alley.

I got up and began following her, leaping from rooftop to rooftop. She spoke with someone who led her down a side alley. Inside was a man who was selling numerous dark creatures. I chuckled to myself as she inspected them all, even a boggart which took the form of…...a dead me? I frowned as Hermione ordered it put into a dark suitcase. I quickly ducked away as I saw her look up. When I peered back over the side, I saw her leading the cart out of the back of Knockturn Alley to Delivery Drive. I smiled as I saw Professor Dumbledore there. Hermione looked up at me, but I ducked behind a fireplace. I looked around from the other side, and watched as Dumbledore followed her gaze. They spoke briefly, and then Hermione shook her head. I sighed. It was time to leave, too many close calls for today. I closed my eyes and concentrated. I flexed my legs and burst from the roof, taking to the sky.

*****

I chewed my lip as I thought about the creepy feeling that I was being watched I had had all day while shopping for my upcoming classes. I shook my head before I Apparated back to the apartment and used my wand to start up the cooking, levitating the spices and ingredients for dinner while pre-heating the oven. I had put most of my creatures into Hagrid's hands to take care of.

"Well, look at that, it's the ever so seductive Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, Professor Granger…or should I start calling you Professor Weasley?" Ron asked as he came out of the bedroom dressed in a pair of jeans, he was obviously out of the shower because he was drying his shoulder-length hair. I smiled as I looked at him, he knew I loved his hair long and had grown it, usually tying it back in a short, very sexy ponytail. He also knew I loved him fresh out of the shower…tricky bastard.

"I don't know, do you think you can wait for this June?" I asked as I looked at him and he smiled, we had agreed that after being friends for 18 years, co-workers for 11, dating for 9, being lovers for 5, and living together for 3, we were going to be getting married at the end of this school year.

"I don't know, maybe we should just go to Vegas and get married now," he said as he pulled me close, dampening my robes.

"I'm rather pleased how much you know about the Muggle world but no, I refuse to marry you in a cheap Vegas chapel without any of our friends or family," I said as I stroked a strand of his hair in his face.

"Damn, well it was worth a try," he said as he nuzzled my neck and I laughed. He was already letting my braid down, freeing my long, curly hair.

"Come on Ron, dinner first, then we can play," I batted my eyelashes at him.

"Mom sent another Howler," he mentioned as he sat on a stool and watched me begin making us dinner. "She wants to know when you're going to join the family and give her some grandchildren with red, curly hair."

"Not funny Ron," I stated.

"I know, it was so hot it burned my robes," he stated and I laughed.

*****

I watched the students load onto the Hogwarts Express. I was about to leap onto of it, when I saw the most interesting sight. Ginny and Draco Malfoy, leading a girl who must have been a first year to the train. They both hugged and kissed her and saw her off onto the train. I couldn't help but laugh. GINNY and DRACO! I NEVER saw that one coming! I searched some other of my old friends and saw Neville and some woman with blond hair, seeing their own son onto the train. I was glad Neville had found someone. He had become really dashing in a way too. He must have been cutting back on his sweets. I laughed as I leaped onto the train.

*****

I stood next to McGonagall as she welcomed the first years and I bit back a sigh as I saw Ginny's daughter among the crowd. I had warned Ron not to favor her this year and I had told him I would not be showing her any favoritism. I had watched Jamie grow up at various Weasley family gatherings. I had only been attending them since Harry had vanished. Malfoy attended very rarely, which I was thankful for.

"First years follow me," Professor McGonagall said and I sighed as I hurried back to the Main Hall to my place between Ron and Professor Snape.

Sorting was interesting Neville's son, Harry, was in Gryffindor, sadly Jamie was in Slytherin, she truly took more after her father. I shook my head as I listened to Dumbledore's speech, trying not to let Ron play footsie with me.

"Professor Granger, we need to talk," Professor Snape said and I looked at him. He looked around and acted like he had dropped something. He pulled up in sleeve allowing me to see his Dark Mark, it was getting darker and my eyes widened as he sat up and nodded at me.

"Professor Snape, would you like me to look up ways to remove that problem you've been having?" I asked and I realized that Ron had seen what I had. His hand rested on mine, squeezing it gently.

"I would greatly appreciate it, Professor Granger," he sighed and I nodded, Snape had not taken the past 15 years as well as he would have liked, a streak of white hair hung in his face and the back of his neck the hair was salt and pepper. I looked out at the tables, tears filled my eyes, we had been sitting there together for five lovely years, and we shared experiences few others did. I wiped my eyes and found Ron's hand.

"I think when we finally do have children, the first son is going to be named after him," I said and Ron smiled as he stroked my cheek.

*****

I smiled as I watched Hagrid take care of the creatures for Hermione's practical parts of her classes. He finished feeding a Grindylow, and then went to take care of some Hippogriffs. His next class came up, and he welcomed them with open arms. I chuckled and turned to gaze at the castle from my tree perch. I saw Ron walking the halls, and I couldn't help but laugh. The new Muggle Studies teacher, who would have thought? But I guess Dumbledore thought he could do that. And he must have wanted to be close to Hermione. I frowned as I heard two voices, laughing right below me. I looked down to see Ginny's daughter and Neville's son going into the forest. I rolled my eyes. I could see her Slytherin badge plainly and his Gryffindor badge. I decided to follow them.

*****

"Oh come on, Harry! I want to see these unicorns dad told me about!" the girl called, tossing her red hair. I sighed. Leave it to Draco to tell his daughter about something like that. He probably made it out that HE saved ME! What DID surprise me was that Neville would name his son Harry.

"But Jamie, MY dad told me that there are monsters in here and NOT to go in here!" he said. I sighed. That was Neville's son all right.

"Oh come on, what monsters are in here?" she demanded. I heard a large crunch and saw one of Argogg's children coming to them. Neville stepped in front of her and waved his wand at it.

"Lumos!" he cried. The spider just hissed and came faster. I smacked my forehead. If this spider wasn't afraid of sun light then what would lumos do? Harry tried to drag Jamie along, but the tripped on a tree. I leaped from my tree, onto the spiders back. I slammed my palm onto it's back, crying, "Necrosis!" A burst of lighting shot from my hand, and kept coming until I closed it into a fist. By the time I did, the spider was thoroughly fried. I jumped down as it collapsed and helped them up.

"Come on." I said, putting an arm around each of their waists. "Hold on tightly." Both kids did as I told them and I took to the air, flying back. I saw Hermione and Ron leading some other teachers into the woods. I quickly accelerated to my top speed and then came to a halt above the Owlery. The resulting boom drew the teachers back. I quickly set them inside before they could see me.

"Keep this between us my friends." I said quietly. They nodded mutely, and I gave them a little salute before blasting at full speed again back into the woods, causing another boom, this time from the owlry. Hopefully that would draw them back. I smiled and did a few loops around Gwaump before flying to Hogsmade.

*****

I raced through the woods looking for Jamie and Harry, I was going to reprimand them the SECOND I saw them.

"Hermione!" Ron cried and I followed his voice and I gasped as I gagged, quickly covering my mouth and nose from the incredible stench rising off of the burnt corpse of a giant spider.

"A giant spider?" I whispered and looked at the corpse. "This took powerful magic. Neither of those two are capable of this."

"Speaking of those two, where are they?" Ron cried and there was a boom from the Owlery. We grabbed hands and ran as we could to the owlery to see Harry and Jamie standing there covered with feathers.

"You two are in unbelievable trouble," I stated giving them my most intimidating glare as Ron stood beside me, giving his niece a look that was just as withering as mine.

I sighed as I finished reporting to Professor Dumbledore with Ron, we fell onto our bed when we Apparated into our room.

"I can't believe they wandered off like that," Ron sighed and I gave him a look.

"What?" he was dense sometimes.

"Ron, how many times did WE go wandering off into the Forbidden Forest?" I asked and he smiled sheepishly.

"Well that was different?" he said as he smiled at me and I got up and headed to the kitchen to make something to eat. I still refused to eat anything cooked by a house elf.

"Oh, how so?" I asked as I watched him pull off his robes and drop them on the couch.

"It was us," he stated as he smiled at me and I sighed.

"Yea, all three of us," I said and he looked a bit sad.

"I didn't forget about Harry," he stated and I nodded. "I think we're alive because of him."

"I imagine we are," I sighed as I looked over at him before smiling. "Come on and help me."

"Will my eating dinner depend on this?" he asked and I nodded. He sighed and came up behind me. "I swear, why can't I just seduce my dinner out of you?" I gave him a look. "Alright, alright. I'm helping." I looked at him.

"You're standing behind me holding me," I stated trying not to be amused.

"Like I said I'm helping," he turned and began to set the table.

"Thank you Ron," I said sweetly.

*****

I sighed as I quickly changed my appearance. I was glad I found out I had the same skill Tonks did. I realized I must when I could re-grow my hair when I was younger. I walked into The Three Broomsticks.

"Malt, pint." I asked at the bar. The tender, nodded and drew me a glass. I set the right amount down and sipped it as I watched some others. Then I noticed two people talking with black clothes and hoods on. I strained to hear.

"It is true then?" the male said.

"Aye. His heir has come and with no Potter either, he shall finish what his father began."

"Excellent. He started at Hogwarts this year then?"

"Yes. He has already found the Chamber of Secrets. There may be no Basilisk anymore but the notes Slytherin left behind, will be more than adequate."

"Then by the end of the year, Dumbledore and all the other teachers will either be with us, under our control, or dead! Hogwarts will once again be under Voldemort control!"

*****