NOTE: This was written To be between the final battle, and the epilogue. :) (somewhere in those 19/20 years in between :D )

Disclaimer: I own nothing but this mini-plot I just pulled out of my head. JK Rowling owns the rest of it. (Until she reads this, and decides to hand over all of it to me, because I'm so fabulous. Doubtful, but it could happen. .. maybe.)

Author's note: I'd love a banner if anyone is interested. Please do not put your name on it, but just my pen name. I promise I'll give credit, I always do. Reviews are always loved. If you do review, I promise I'll respond, and give you virtual cookies that are good for the next chapter you read ;)

Entire story is in third person. I'm sorry if I suddenly switch to first person. I don't mean to, I'm just used to writing that way, but I'll try my hardest not to!


Burning Bridges

Chapter One - The Owls Arrive

The Trio, the Weasley Family, and the others who had survived the Final Battle against Voldemort, were sitting in the backyard of the Burrow, a week after their return home. The trio, Harry, Ron, and Hermione, had hardly gotten any time to themselves when they returned. Everyone had wanted to know how they had found the Horcruxes, about their infiltration into the Ministry, and how they knew what to do while they were out in the world on their own.

Unfortunately, the Trio wanted nothing more than to rest, regroup, and get the funerals over.

"I can't believe he's gone." Ron muttered to himself, as he and Hermione sat on the couch that day, after everyone had left.

Harry and Ginny had gone for a walk, appreciating the fact that they were together again. As for Hermione, she couldn't help but want the same thing for her and Ron. They hadn't been apart, in the way Ginny and Harry had, but she wished that Ron would just agree that he likes her like she likes him, and they could just get it over with. Instead, the thought of their kiss in the Room of Requirement left their heads spinning in confusion.

"I know, Ron." Hermione sighed. "Me either. I don't think any of us can."

"Then why is everyone celebrating? Even George?" Ron growled angrily.

Hermione knew Ron wouldn't admit it, but she knew he missed Fred extremely, and couldn't have bore the pain if George had gone, too.

"Because they know that's what he would want them to do." Hermione replied simply. "Besides, look at all of the good things. Harry and Ginny are back together, Percy's come to his senses," Ron almost laughed at that, "and you and I have-" She cut herself short, causing him to turn and look at her.

They weren't sitting hardly half a foot away, but Hermione moved to the other end of the couch none-the-less.

"We've what?" Ron asked, raising an eyebrow inquisitively.

"I- I just meant to say that.." She trailed off, afraid that he would be mad at her. After all, he hadn't said anything about it. Perhaps he only kissed her back because he knew they could die, and wanted to feel like.. She didn't know what.

There was silence from the other end of the couch. Hermione glanced up, and found Ron smirking. In fact, he looked quite smug with himself. She couldn't figure out why, though, so she sat up, swinging her legs onto the couch so she could stare at him directly. "What?" She pursed her lips and watched for his reaction to the question.

"You meant our, ermm.." The infamous Weasley blush showed up again. "Our uh.. kiss?" He suggested nervously. He didn't look so smug anymore.

"Oh." She blushed too, and looked down at her hands, which were wrapped around her knees. "I - I'm sorry, Ron. I didn't mean to.. I just.. You finally agreed on the House Elf thing," She tucked her stray hair behind her ear, and began mumbling.

"Why are you sorry?" Ron asked, causing her to look up, eyes wide. "You didn't mean it?" He frowned.

"No, I did. I just.." She shook her head sadly. "I thought you had only accepted it because we could have died.. I would have never, in other circumstances.. I mean.."

Ron's laughed caused her to look at him indignantly.

"How can you laugh about that?" She scowled at him darkly.

"Hermione, no matter when you'd have done it, I would have done the same thing." He said, then caught himself, and his eyes widened in shock. Had he really just said that? Hermione truly thought she was hearing things. Then again, she knew she mustn't be, because she couldn't imagine correctly, no matter how many times he said it, the way he said her name. She absolutely loved the way he said her name, and no one said it the way he did, so she knew he must have meant it.

"R-Really?" She asked, blushing again. The tips of his ears were pink still, and he nodded.

"Yeah.." He muttered.

He glanced up at her, and she smiled rather brightly. He smiled back, on instinct. Her smile usually made him want to grin, too - especially if he was the one who caused it.

"So.." She began. "What should we do about it?"

"Let's just.. See how it plays out, I guess?" He suggested.

"But we don't have to say anything to anyone do we?" She asked nervously.

"Harry already knows, Hermione." Ron pointed out.

"But he doesn't have to know what we decide to do. I heard him talking to Ginny. He thinks we're not going to do anything about it. At least not yet." She informed him. He smirked again. A perfect, in her opinion, lopsided half-smile to the left of his face.

"Ron, Hermione!" A voice called. Harry. "We just got owls!" He and Ginny burst into the room, looking excited. "I've just opened mine. They're going to let me train to be an auror, even without finishing Hogwarts!"

Ginny handed the others their owls, and Ron opened his, then jumped up and clapped Harry on the back, "Me too!"

Hermione smiled, and opened hers nervously, as the two boys continued talking. Ginny sat next to her. They had recently become closer, unlike sixth year, when Ginny had almost hated Hermione. A smile broke out across Hermione's face, and she looked up at Ron, who was acting out a scene in which he would flick his wand, and then - according to the explosion movement of his hands - something would, you guessed it, explode. She laughed inwardly, and looked back at her owl. They were going to be aurors. That was brilliant. But not Hermione. She wasn't invited. She would be going back to Hogwarts, first to help with repairs, then finish out the year. While Harry and Ron were going to train for four years, Hermione would finish her Hogwarts education, and then take a Healer training course for two years.

"What's yours say?" Ron asked. Ginny frowned at him, having read over Hermione's shoulders. "What's wrong..?" He looked from Hermione, to Harry, and back to Ginny.

"She's not going with you." Ginny said simply.

"What? Why not?" Harry asked, walking over. Ron took the note from Ginny, who now held it.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Ron howled angrily. "Can't you just ask to get in?"

"But Ron, don't you get it?" Harry asked. "Hermione doesn't want to be an auror."

"But.. why not?" Ron asked, staring at Hermione.

"I'm just not supposed to be one." She shrugged. "I'm meant to be a Healer. I just know it. I never wanted to be an auror."

"But, can't you just try?" Ron asked pleadingly.

"No." Hermione shook her head, took the letter from him, and ran upstairs.


**I know, pathetic fight-ish scene. But, I'm just going to go next chapter to when Harry and Ron get back. I tried to make them sound a bit more grown-up here, but I didn't really want to get into an all-out fight, leaving the option open to the reader. Besides, it's seems like a long chapter, as I was writing it. Thanks for reading, PLEASE REVIEW!!**