Sitting still and quietly all by herself, Hermione Granger glanced up from her book and out at the pastures of cattle surrounding the fast moving train. Although she could only see each animal for a split second, something about the scene relaxed her, even though she doubted that would ever be the case.

Everything's going to be okay. You can do this she thought to herself, as reassuringly as she could. For the past four years, Hermione had been living in a small condo in the city of Paris, shutting herself out from the rest of the world and the ones she loved. It all began right after she completed her 7th year at Hogwarts. Hermione had been in a steady relationship with Ron, Harry was working with the ministry, and she and Ginny had become closer friends then ever before. As the school year ended, and she took her N.E.W.T exams (which she passed with flying colors), something wasn't right anymore. All of the sudden, she didn't want to be with Ron. She didn't want everything she had ever hoped and dreamed of in her life. She wanted to be free, to travel, to start over with new people in a new place. When she told her friends of these plans, they all scoffed at her, claiming it was ridiculous. The only one who listened was Ginny, but even she had something to say.

"I don't see that to be practical, Hermione. Stay here. I am sure my father could get you a job in the Ministry," she had told her. Hermione smiled, but then walked out of the room and new it was time to leave.

The next day Hermione moved to Paris. At first, she tried keeping in touch with everyone, especially Harry and Ron. She sent Ron an owl saying she just needed some time alone and that they should spend some time apart for a while. He agreed, though unhappily. For about 6 months they wrote letters every other week. Then every other month. Then sparingly, until one day they had stopped all together.

Hermione had wondered why no one had chased after her and even bothered asking her what was wrong, but she figured no one would listen, so she kept it to herself. Once she bought a place in Paris, she found a job with a Magical Creatures Rights organization, and worked there. But three months ago, she was given the chance of a lifetime to work for the Department of Magical Creatures in the Ministry in London in a head position, and she knew she had to take the offer. So she packed her bags, found a small apartment in Diagon Alley and was moving in shortly.

***

When the train pulled into the station, Hermione jerked her head up. She had been taking a nice nap, which was interrupted by their arrival in London. Hermione grabbed her luggage and made her way through the station. Even after all these years as a witch, she still preferred Muggle means of traveling over apparating. On the train she could think about everything, and not have to worry about a thing for a small while, until she was forced to return to the real world.

She walked the rest of the way to Diagon Alley, which was conveniently located nearby. Although she had all the bags with her (well, at least all her clothes. She had moved the furniture via magic the week before), and rarely like calling out attention to herself, she still had to go through the Leaky Cauldron in order to get to her building. Stumbling into the bar with pounds of luggage, she tripped over a loose nail and dropped everything onto the floor.

"Oh my! I am so sorry! I just kept walking and I didn't see that happening and oh my gosh I will clean it up if you jus-"

"Settle down now, it's alrigh'. I can jus' tell Tom what happen'. I'm sure he won' mind."

Hermione looked up and saw a huge man covered with a gangly beard and comforting eyes.

"Hagrid?" She said.

"Oh, my is tha' Hermione Granger?" Hagrid asked.

"Ye-Yes. It is. It's so nice to see you after all these years."

"It's good to see you too Hermione! Where have ya been all these years?"

Not wanting to get into any details about her life in Paris, she quickly mumbled something about having to return to her house and headed out the back. There she tapped the familiar combination on the brick walls and watched it open up to a new world. She was home again.

Hermione stood there in awe, taking the scene in for a split second, when she realized she didn't want to have to deal with her baggage anymore. She pulled her wand out, cast an invisibility spell to hide it from any thieves, and then conjured up a charm to have it fly back to her new apartment. When this was done she began to walk down the cobblestone streets.

All of her favorite stores were still there, and she visited all of them, buying useless things for her new home which she really didn't need, but still cared to do anyway. After going to Florish and Blotts, Madame Milkins, and countless other shops, she had reached the place she had been anticipating: Wesley's Wizard Wheezes.

She gazed at the windows, noting the new products (all of which, incredibly genius), and seeing what she had missed out on. After a few moments of silence, she decided to step inside.

As she pushed open the door, her heart was racing at 1000 miles per minute. She could barely breathe, although she couldn't quite understand why she felt this way. She and Ron hadn't spoken in years, and she did date other people in France…so why was this a big deal.

Walking inside was like reentering her past. It didn't look any different, but the smells were the same. Hermione smiled as she sniffed in the ever so familiar Weasley scent, one that she loved with all her heart.

"Good afternoon, M'am. It's good to see you!" a voice called out from the corner. Grinning to herself, Hermione turned around and saw George Weasley holding his hand out for a shake and greeting her into the shop.

"Hello, George," Hermione said in the friendliest voice she could imagine.

George glanced sideways, then looked back at her, shrugged his shoulders and said "Well…have a nice visit here," and walked away.

He didn't even recognize me. Hermione thought. Have I really changed that much? She looked into a reflective surface on the countertop. In her eyes, she looked the same. But she had watched herself crack, rather then seen bits and pieces of that episode. Tears began to form in the corners of her eyes, as she dashed towards the door, when all of the sudden, another voice, a much different one, called out from behind her.

"Her-Hermione? Is that you?"