When Hermione decided to return to Hogwarts after the War, she understood that her decision would face adversity. She was granted, by the acting Headmistress, Minerva McGonagall to return early, giving her two weeks before the school started.
The first thing Hermione did when she apparated outside of the Hogwarts gates, was to visit her old head of house. "Miss Granger!" McGonagall's face lit up upon seeing Hermione. Hermione smiled sheepishly before she was pulled into a warm and enveloping hug. "Professor, it's so good to see you!" she said before she was ushered into a plaid armchair opposite the desk. "Tea?" "Yes please!" McGonagall remembered how Hermione took it, black, with one sugar. They sat sipping on their tea for a few minutes, before Hermione broke the silence. "Are you okay?" Hermione asked. Hermione looked directly into McGonagall's eye. Her eyes were so sincere, Minerva couldn't help but remember the bushy haired school girl that graced her presence.
Hermione's appearance had changed so much since then. Her hair, although it was still a mass of curls, had grown, and wasn't so bushy. She'd gotten taller and matured, her body had filled out. She wasn't obviously beautiful, and didn't paint herself with makeup, or wear garish clothing. But, she was attractive, none the less. Minerva took a sip of her tea before replying. "Things, have been, hard." She answered, her Scottish accent as thick as it had ever been. "I can finally, grieve Albus. I miss him, I honestly do. Although, he always finds ways to keep me company." McGonagall pointed to a sleeping portrait of Albus Dumbledore. The elder witch smiled, and Hermione noticed a glimmer in her eyes, that reminded her so much of the professor in mention. It seems some things never change. She thought to herself.
"But Hogwarts, running it, although chaotic is wonderful. It feels so much like home again. I've made it my duty to see that the students here see so much light and goodness we never have to face the likes of Tom Riddle again." Hermione nodded thoughtfully, and then her thoughts drifted to a particular professor. "Professor McGonagall," she started, but was cut off. "Oh Dear, call me Minerva when we're alone, honestly, you're more like a teacher anyway." Hermione blushed and nodded, then started again.
"Minerva," She tested out carefully. "How is, Professor Snape?" The elder witches lips pursed, and for a moment Hermione regretted asking. "He, keeps to himself. As you know, he was cleared of all War Crimes, thanks to everyone's testimonies, and Dumbledore's memories." Hermione nodded solemnly, she remembers the trial. "He's fully recovered from Nagini?" Minerva nodded. "He seems odd though, but dear, don't tell anyone I talked about this, Snape would confundus me into the next school year." Hermione shook her head vigorously, "Oh, I wouldn't dream of it, Pro- Minerva." Minerva looked out into space for a few minutes, consumed by her thoughts, until Hermione continued.
"Proffesor, has anyone been assigned head girl yet?" "No dear, why?" "I was wondering if I could stay in the head girls rooms. I'd be happy to complete all Head Girl duties of course, only I was wondering if there was anyway I could be afforded a little more privacy this year." McGonagall, looked at her, slightly puzzled. "Of course you can my dear, I'd have asked you anyway, even if you hadn't brought it up. But why the privacy? I thought you got on well with everyone in Gryffindor?" Hermione's thoughts brushed over her initial time at Hogwarts, remembering the cruel taunts and degrading insults. But she neglected to mention it to the Headmistress. "Umm, it's slightly embarrassing Minerva." At this, Minerva chuckled, "You've not turned into a werewolf have you?" At this Minerva sobered. "Oh Merlin, Hermione, have you?!" "No, no, not at all!" Hermione insisted.
"After the war, I don't know, maybe some PTSD as muggles refer to it. I've been getting nightmares, bad ones, and I would prefer to be alone when I wake." Minerva's brow furrowed, and her true age showed. "My dear child, are you alright?" She spluttered, after moments of silence. Hermione nodded. "Of course you can, is there anything I can do to help?" Hermione shook her head. She didn't want to burden the old witch with her problems, the headaches, the fainting, the bad days. "No, honestly Minerva, I will be fine. Can I go to my rooms now?" Minerva stood. "Of course my dear. I'll take you to them, and then you can look around the castle. I hope you'll like the new library. Well, not new. Just restored to it's former glory." Hermione smiled.
Of course, most of Hermione's time was spent in the Library, and she found that nothing had changed. Madame Pince had returned everything into it's original state, and although she was never entirely friendly, granted Hermione a space to herself. In return, Hermione occasionally charmed Lemon Drops to appear on the Librarians Desk.
The War did nothing to stop Hermione's appetite for reading. However, the headaches Hermione had meant that staring at a book, or anything for too long made her head feel funny, and thus she resigned to reading for shortened periods of time. She frequently debated asking Poppy for some potions, but the thought made Hermione's body tense up.
Firstly, she was embarrassed. Everyone else seemed so calm after the war, better in fact. And there she was suffering first hand. Secondly, the ailments to her body were followed by an overwhelming sense of numbness and unhappiness, and she didn't want to have to explain it to anyone.
Of course, things still made her happy, but she would lie awake at night, she didn't cry anymore, but if she could, she would have. These were usually accompanied by panic attacks, which caused her entire body to seize up and her breath to become ragged. One day, exactly a week before the beginning of term, Hermione was thumbing through 'Hogwarts; A History.' when her thoughts escaped her and she felt a panic attack coming on.
Deciding it was best not to freak out in the middle of the library, were a few students were dotted around, Hermione tried to keep her body from shaking as much as she could to exit the library without causing a scene. Once out of the library, Hermione ran down the corridor, trying to find an empty room or small space to hide in. She kept her eyes trained on the ground in front of her, not wanting to open herself to the possibility of encountering anyone. However, the panic attack worsened, and Hermione could feel her legs weakening. She starts hyperventilating, and her eyes have a hard time focusing on anything for a long period of time. The corners of her vision become fuzzy. She turns a corner, her brain is too fuzzy to realise there is someone coming directly her way. Before she can realise what happens, she runs directly into none other than Severus Snape. She pelts into him, full force, and the two topple over.
