A cold breeze blew through the old castle as the moon rose high into the star-filled sky. It was mid October and the autumn air gave a refreshing chill to the dark stone corridors of Hogwarts. Everything was quiet, all the students, for once, were tucked away in their beds. All except one.

Hermione Granger sat in a small alcove on the 5th floor looking out over the moonlit grounds. She had been plagued with nightmares from the war. Not that that was unusual. Her dreams had ceased to be a place to escape and be free and were instead forcing her to relive the horrors of the previous year. She had returned to Hogwarts to retake her 7th year and pass her NEWTs, even though the ministry had told her they would happily give her the grades without any need for any real examination. This just didn't seem right to her. Harry and Ron had jumped at the chance and ran off to start their auror training while she had been left alone, again. There were very few students returning to retake their 7th year. Most that had only did because they had no other choice.

Hermione sighed and fingered the worn pages of the book on her lap. She thought a change of scenery might help her relax but her other hand still refused to relinquish its unyielding grip on her wand. If only she could get rid of the horrible memories and be done with it. But that wasn't what she wanted. Not really. The memories were what kept her strong and reminded her to value the life she had. It would be an insult to forget the sacrifices so many had made.

Elsewhere in the castle, several floors below where Hermione sat, Severus Snape prowled the halls on his regular patrol. He'd had a particularly taxing day as the second year dunderheads he was forced to teach had all but destroyed his classroom. In his opinion they were lucky to have not lost several limbs in the explosion. They were even more fortunate that Minerva had arrived so quickly or else he would have freed the culprits of those appendages himself. He was truly amazed any of his students managed to survive with their apparent lack of self-preservation instincts. He had clearly stated that the potion would be volatile during its last stages. But had any of them listened? Of course they bloody well hadn't. Insufferable Gryffindors and their absolute disregard for authority. When would any of them learn that, contrary to popular belief, he did want them to be somewhat successful in his class. Why would he purposefully jeopardise his reputation with poor examination results? Not that anyone who took his class got them. He made sure of that. He may be scary but his intimidation tactics earned results. No one could deny that.

Snape continued to stalk through the corridors, taking hidden passages to areas he knew students frequented in the dead of night. He could really do with taking some points away, even if it was from Slytherin he would be satisfied. Unfortunately for him, however, he hadn't come across one student. No first years sneaking around, no third years playing pranks. Even the dark alcoves and the astronomy tower were free of the hormonal teens he so enjoyed to ridicule. Tonight really wasn't Snape's night.

Feeling a bit put out, Severus made his way down the last corridor of his regular route, his hopes to catch and punish rule breakers all but destroyed, when he caught the gentle sound of humming coming from the end of the hall. He silenced his footsteps as years of spy work had taught him to do and, with a cruel smirk, swept over to the unsuspecting student.

Hermione sat and quietly hummed an old lullaby her mum once sang to her. It managed to calm her to an extent and she began to twirl her wand between her fingers, allowing her mind to wander. She absently traced a line of condensation on the window pane and thought back to the last time she saw her parents. It was a few weeks before the final battle, when she was forced to Obliviate them. Kingsley had been kind enough to keep her informed of her parents' lives in Australia for some time. But now, she no longer wished to know. It was only more painful to hear about how happy they were and know that even if she stood right in front of them, they wouldn't recognise their own daughter.

Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a very familiar low baritone snarl behind her.

"Miss Granger, I don't believe war heroes have any more privileges to midnight strolls than every other student in the castle." She spun around and sure enough, there stood her snarky potions professor, all dressed in his long sweeping black robes as usual

"Professor, I couldn't sleep. I was hoping a stroll would help me relax somewhat," she calmly replied. After the war, she no longer feared the dark wizard. It had been revealed once and for all that he truly was a good man. And after helping to take care of him for a month while he recovered from the snake attack, it was difficult to convincingly cower under his glare if only to keep up appearances. Snape, however, didn't appreciate the casual nature their conversation seemed to posses.

"10 points from Gryffindor, Miss Granger, and I will see you for detention tomorrow night. Just because you are head girl you are not permitted wander the corridors at night without good reason. Now return to your dormitory at once."

"Of course, Sir," she replied sweetly, hoping to provoke him further, if only to amuse herself and take her mind away from more serious matters. Snape cocked an eyebrow and glared down his unfortunate nose at her.

"Do you wish to make it 20 points and a weeks detention?" He was practically growling at her.

"No, Sir."

"Then cease the disrespect and sort out your attitude, Granger."

And with that he stalked away, black robes billowing behind him. Hermione sighed, stood from her window seat and headed back towards Gryffindor tower. She didn't expect sleep to find her and prepared for the inevitably long night ahead.