My Prerogative
Disclaimer:I own nothing but my ideas, am not in any way benefiting financially for my effort. This is purely fictional and meant for my utter enjoyment of previews.
Summary:The events that lead to the legend that is Hermione Jane Granger. Starts after the final battle and continues on with her growth from there.
Chapter 1: The Fallout
"I have made my decision Ronald, and I would appreciate you respecting it" Hermione said calmly. Ron had been futilely trying to suppress his anger throughout their whole discussion but he just simply could not. How can she just leave like that? I mean they have just defeated You-know-who and he has lost his brother, how can she just leave me like that? "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU HERMS! HOW SELFISH ARE YOU?!" He bellowed. "How can you leave me when I need you? Don't you care about me at all? I just lost a brother and now you are abandoning me?"
See it's been three months since the final battle and although there were many celebrations, people were really starting to feel the loss. Hermione Ronald and Ginny were in the living room listening to Hermione telling them she had to go fetch her parents. Harry and Ginny had gotten back together again thanks to her throwing herself at him. The papers had a field day. "The exact replica of James and Lily" the headlines would read. But now it had really hit home. The loss; the guilt, everything as they were building their lives all over again. That is when Hermione's troubles began. The Weasleys had been somber but now were on their way to recovery. That is when she decided she would take her N.E.W.T.S and see where her life would take her. She was moving back to her parent's place and maybe attend a university in her muggle world. Ron on the other hand couldn't fathom why on earth she would want that.
"Abandon you? Selfish am I? Honestly Ronald, it would seem like I am disappearing off of the face of the earth. I'm going to my parent's place; I haven't spent time with them in along time. I've been here for you all this time and its time I think about me, don't you think?" she replied. "Well I'm sorry to inconvenience you; yes I know big words too, what with my loss and all. You have all your family members so I won't keep you from your perfect life." He shouted. "That's it I've had it!" she screeched, "If my taking time out to be with my family whom I haven't seen in a year, who you can simply apparate to whenever you need-", "It's always you isn't it Hermione, you always HAVE to have it your way!" He interrupted. Then SMACK! This was immediately followed by dead silence.
Ginny and Harry who were silently watching their daily soap opera were dumbfounded for two complete reasons. Harry because he couldn't believe Ron would try to guilt trip Hermione from spending time with her family and finding direction in her life. Ginny because she couldn't believe Hermione would slap Ron. She was beside herself with joy. 'Finally that meddling know-it-all would leave her and Harry's lives and their relationship alone' she thought. She could hardly contain herself but she quickly put on her shocked face. "Y-you hit me" Ron stammered. "Well you deserve it!" she was seething,
"How DARE you Ronald Weasley! How dare you say that about me! I have done nothing but put myself on the line for you, you family and everybody else-". "Oh come off it miss perfect!" this time it was Ginny interrupting her. "So you went on some search and got a little crucio'd by Bitch-attrix, you think you are some saint now." Ginny was furious, "Well NEWS FLASH! Nobody asked you to! The only reason Harry brought you along was because being the nice guy he is, valued your friendship of five years. I say five because you were not a friend at all in sixth year.
Too caught up in your jealousy for not being top student in potions, really Hermione who you kidding? You know you are only good enough for books so I think my brother should cut his losses. You really are of no use here." She sneered. "Is that what you think Harry?" she asked tentatively, "that I'm good just for books, that I was caught up in my petty little envy of being top in class?" Hermione simply could not believe this. "Well you were pretty pissed when I beat you in potions." Harry reluctantly stated. "See Herms, everybody all agree with. You are just selfish." Ron also put in.
To say Hermione was more that flabbergasted would be more than an understatement. But she would not take this lying down; she's done it long enough. So with only a thought all her luggage appeared next to her, shrunk and ready to go. Then she turned her attention to the three persons in front of her, her so-called friends. With a deep breath she started on the little red-head bitch with the most condescending voice she could master. She never thought she'd actually use it but the airhead begged for it, "Ginerva, I seem to recall you crying to me that your little boyfriend over there never paid you enough attention." Ginny was eerily giving a headless- nick impersonation at that moment, what with ghostly white facial features, "How he seemed to think of you as his best friend's little sister.
How you came for my tutoring so that you could impress him with your spell work, to comfort you and give you tips. I remember all of that and I never thought less of your star-struck pathetic ways. I drew the line when you wanted to make him jealous by dating only boys in his dorm but I never turned my back on you when they called you scarlet because of your little 'reputation'. So yes Ginerva, you did ask for my help". And with that she turned to Ronald.
"I have put up with your petty issues of insecurity and idiocy long enough Ronald. You abandoned Harry in the TRI-Wizard tournament yet I kept helping you both mend your friendship. I entertained your little arguments not because of some 'sexual tension' but because I knew you had to learn things somehow, and getting a 'rise' out of me did wonders for your ego. Even after giving up our search, I still accepted your return without holding a grudge against you. I honestly thought you had finally matured when you made that comment about house-elves, that you started thinking about someone else's wellbeing and I thought maybe there was hope for you yet. How wrong was I? You are still the same insecure pompous little boy who never has enough."
"You still think that just because you can use magic that makes you better than those who can't, better than muggles, betters than my parents, better than me. Boy, am I glad that we never started a romantic relationship because it definitely would not have lasted; I hope your eyes open one day and you actually see the world you are so afraid off. I'll leave now before you even call me a 'mudblood'."
"Harry, in you I am most disappointed. I thought you alone knew me, you alone understood me and you alone truly cared. I've never had a problem admitting I was wrong before but this is most painful. I was wrong, I was so wrong about you. The little book fiasco was my looking out for you. You never think Harry, which has always been your one flaw, always jumping into situations without any idea of outcome or plan, using that spell on Malfoy? Had he died, you heart would not be able to take it. You would have shut down with because I knew how death affects you. You always save everybody yet nobody saves you, I wanted to save you from that, to take caution against it."
"Test the potions, the spells instead of accepting them at face-value. To say that I would be so petty that it would take me losing the number one position in class would make me resent you so much as to shatter our friendship? It was the broomstick issue all over again. At least then you let me explain. This time you just shunned me. Was I holding it against you? No! But you think so little of me that a pretty face would blind you. I never left your side and I never ever expected anything from that. A little gratitude would have been nice but that is not why I stood by you. I loved you, you are, no, were my friend and looking out for you is automatic for me. But when I want to look out for myself, take care of myself, I'm being selfish. Normally I would not object but enough is enough. I will no longer be walked all over. I used to think I didn't deserve your friendship but now, now I know it is you who does not deserve mine."
She turned from him and everyone and gave them one last smile, "I don't regret anything these past years with you guys. But now I have my own journey to walk. It would have been nice to have the support of my friends through it but then I never had it, have I? I've always been on my own, so I should be used to it. Whatever happens I am going to face it, after all we survived Voldermort. I pray we all find joy and happiness. But as our friendship goes, we are done. Good bye". With that she was gone, to her own life, to her love, to her future. She truly did find the strength through these years. From a lonesome, insecure know-it-all to who she will forever be, Hermione Granger was just beginning. It scared to death but now she no longer had any fears. Whatever happens happens. Watch out world, Hermione is heading your way. Those were the thoughts going through her head as she approached the apparation point of the Burrow. With a CRACK she was gone.