./DISCLAIMER\. I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE HP CHARACTERS, ALTHOUGH WE ALL WISH WE COULD.

A New Beginning

***Flashback***

Her innocent fingers ran in slow motion across the cherry red desktop. She glanced around her surroundings, taking into perspective this could possibly be the last time in which she would be found in this room again. Such a thought formed a lump inside her throat. For the past 7 years of her youth it became more than just a room for her. It was Hermione's home away from home.

It was here that she accomplished numerous outstanding reports for her classes. Where she read countless books and earned herself the right to be a valuable member of the 'Golden Trio'. It was in this very room in which Hermione realized for the first time she loved Ron, more than a friend to be exact. The room in which she realized she was going to help Harry defeat Lord Voldemort once and for all.

This room meant more than just a room for the young girl. It held so many memories she would always cherish and carry on throughout life. Rubbing the red and gold curtains in between her delicate fingers, which hung around the bed post of her once bed. Her lips parted to let a small sigh escape her lips.

"This is it" she whispered softly to herself in the empty room. Or at least she thought it was empty.

"Hermione? What are you still doing here?"

Startled by the voice as it caught the young girl off guard, she quickly withdrew her wand from her robes. Pointing it towards where the voice she heard came from seconds ago. "Ginny?"

"Of course it's me! Who else would it be?"

"Sorry Gin, I thought you were someone else"

"Well now that you know it is me, could you please lower your wand? Or at least point it elsewhere besides me."

"Sorry" she answered while fumbling through her robes placing her wand back in its rightful spot.

"What are you still doing here Hermione? Shouldn't you be downstairs with all the other Gryffindors?" Tilting her head to the side, red locks of hair fell down Ginny Weasley's shoulders. She caught a better glimpse of her best friend, Hermione, in the sunlight as she stepped closer. "Or at least be changed and ready."

"Oh dear!"

"All you can say is oh dear girl?"

"I guess…..I guess I lost track of time saying good-bye…"

"Good-bye? Hermione you should be happy to be out of here already, I would be if I were in your shoes." She responded plopping down on top of Hermione's bed. Making herself comfortable across the matching red and gold comforter. "Bloody hell I mean you, Ron, and Harry will be gone soon. I'll be here alone after that."

"I suppose…"

"Come on don't think that way. Now let's get you cleaned up and ready for your big moment, you sure deserve it."

"Uh…Gin?"

"Yes?"

"…I need help getting ready…"

"Oh Hermione! I thought you would never ask!" An excited red haired girl jumped to her knee's with a smile spread across her rosy red lips. For all the years Ginny knew her best friend she had begged her for permission on a brand new makeover. Better late than never she thought to herself. This was going to be fun for Ginny, but painful to Hermione's pride.

After a grueling hour, but what seemed like an eternity to Hermione she finally heard the word she had been waiting for. "Done!" Ginny shrieked with excitement, placing the finishing touches on her best friend make-up.

"Wouldn't it have been easier to have used magic? Not to mention quicker?"

"No."

"How come?"

"Because I have been waiting for years to do this and I sure bloody hell was not going to speed it up."

"…"

"Besides magic can't do wonders like I can" another smile spread across her lips as she stared her master piece. Ginny couldn't believe her eyes at who she saw in front of her. The girl who stood before her an hour ago was nowhere to be found. This was entirely a new girl who sat impatiently in front of her.

"…...I really do not like the sound of that then…"

"Are you questioning my mad skills Hermione Jean Granger?" An almost hurt look formed across her face as her smile quickly faded.

"N…n…no of course not Gin. It's not that at all."

"Good! Because it is too late to go back now, or else you Miss Granger will be running late for your own graduation."

"Could I at least see the extend of the damages done before walking out?"

"Damages? Hermione, are you trying to hurt my feelings intentionally?"

"No of course not Ginny! I didn't mean it that way."

"Well whatever way you meant, there is no damages whatsoever if I do say so myself."

"Ginny?"

"Yes Hermione, you can view yourself in the mirror now." With a swift movement of her wrist and wand in hand Ginny had a full length mirror appear. "Now don't be angry at your clothing, I thought a change was in order."

Gathering herself before she stood up, Hermione could only picture what Ginny had done to her. Mentally she pictured the same old self only cake of makeup on her face. But she was completely caught off guard in who she saw in the mirror. It no longer reflected the same girl she stared at this morning. No, in fact this girl was beautiful and had confidence bursting out of her. She was never the pretty girl around school like Cho Chang or Fleur Delacour.

But the girl who stood before her in the reflection beat any girl she had ever seen before. This girl was beyond beautiful, looking like a real life model. Hermione's once bushy hairball now gracefully straightened reached just below midway her chest. It sparkled with lush and gleamed with shine. Her chocolate brown eyes glistened from the minimal white eyeshadow and black cat eyeliner Ginny had used on her eyes. Her lips radiant from the glitter of the red lip gloss, brought out her fairly white complexion.

But the beauty of her face was not all that stood out from Ginny's wonders. Hermione was used to covering up as much skin as possible, could not believe what she was wearing now. It was the most skin she had ever shown before in her lifetime. A simple black gown she once owned and wore once she could no longer recognize. Ginny had altered not only Hermione's appearance but as well as her clothes. Squeezing her breast together and pushing them upwards causing her to show some cleavage through the tight corset top. Beneath the corset top, the remaining half spread open like a ball gown. Aligned the black gown with red crystals spread throughout the bottom half. Although the full-length gown covered her feet, Hermione could clearly spot the lace up red high heels Ginny had also thrown in.

"Oh my god Ginny…"

"Now let's not forget the finishing touches." With that she waved her wand once more having a ray of glitter shot out from her wand. Finishing Hermione's look with a sparkling red ruby lay in between a necklace of diamonds, matching pair of earrings soon joined, as did a single diamond bracelet. "There! I believe that should complete everything."

"Oh my goodness Ginny…"

"What? You don't like it now?"

"No, that's not it…It's just that oh my god…"

"Muggles have this tale I believe they call it Cinderella. Consider me your fairy god-mother for this special occasion."

"How could I ever thank you Ginny!"

"Don't be so silly, what are best fri…" But before she could even finish the sentence, Ginny felt a pair of arms quickly wrap around her neck and sobs near her ear. "No don't cry Hermione! You'll ruin your make-up!"

"Did I ever mention how amazing you are?" She responded in between her sobs and wiping away the teas that had fallen down her cheeks.

"Don't be so humble Hermione. Now let's get a move on before you are late entirely." Before Hermione could think of protesting a huge tug was felt through her left arm. Rushing down the stairs from her tower and into the Gryffindor common room. There she was greeted by jaws dropping and stares. Mainly the gawking stares amazed at the beauty before them.

The room was decorated according to the same color plate as Hermione's room. Red and gold twinkled throughout the room as much as possible. A comfy, homey, couch sat in the middle of the room, standing in front of a warm fireplace. Off in the corner of the room there was a pair of third year students playing magical chess, waiting for the arrival of Hogwarts Express. Even then she managed to throw off their concentration the moment she approached the room.

"Gin?"

"Yes?"

"What is everyone staring at?"

"At you silly!" Chuckling softly to herself, but loud enough for Hermione to hear. A rush of blood rose in her delicate cheeks, Hermione blushed of embarrassment.

"Now get a move on!"

The rest of the way to the grand dining hall was an utter blur to her. Besides the constant stop and stares, she couldn't remember a thing. She could only recall the gasp Harry and Ron let out the moment they saw Ginny dragging her in like a rag doll. Both guys wore matching black pants, crisp white dress shirts, and a black suit jacket. Only difference between their matching attire was Ron's bow tie and Harry's regular tie.

"H-h-h-hermione? Is that really you?" Ron asked, rubbing his eyes swiftly hoping it wasn't a dream. Ron ran his fingers through his red locks of hair, not daring to remove his eyes off his girlfriend. However before she could bother in responding, Professor McGonagall voice blasted through the room.

"To your seats students as we rehearsed it this morning." Soon after hearing their new head mistress speak, the students began taking their seats along the designated areas.

"Good luck! Don't fall when you are up there!" Were the last words Ginny had a chance in saying to her best friend before she too disappeared into the crowd. Exchanging a final glance, Hermione took her seat which waited for her already.

"Good evening parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. It is my pleasure in standing here before you all and presenting the finest wizards and witch, Hogwarts has to offer you..." Nervous, anxious, and ready to puke Hermione could hardly focus on anything Professor McGonagall said that night. The ceremony went as followed and her nervous grew as time wore on.

"Aria Alexis Allen...Eros Xavier Anderson" this is it she thought to herself. Reminiscence of the past 7 years of her life spent in this school occurred while waiting patiently. It was in this school she met her best friends whom she saw as the older brothers she never had. Where she helped bring down the most evil wizard their time has had, and more importantly where she fell in love with her best friend. But this was it, her own moment to shine. "Eric Draven Hernandez...Gabriel Hildalgo..."

Feeling her heart dropping into the pit of her stomach, all her hard work and effort was rightfully going to be awarded to her at last. "Hermione Jean Granger" Butterflies buzzed through the young witch stomach, color rapidly again bubbled in her cheeks. "Oh my god…" Could be heard throughout the audience, surprised with her new look. Dead silence filled the air as she, Hermione Jean Granger, flickered with such confidence and beauty receiving her diploma.

"Sam Malin...Draco Malfoy...Samantha Maroto…"

The rest of the ceremony was left a bigger vague impression in her memory. Although her memory flourished with bits and pieces spread about, she only knew it was on the best days of her life. 'This was it' she couldn't help but think to herself, the ending to a chapter and the beginning to a new one.

Last thing Hermione could recall from that night was the picture she took with her best friends Ron and Harry. Jokingly reminding the guys they had to write to each other every day during summer vacation no matter what. A smile beamed on both her and Harry's faces. Ron however looked as if he was about to puke, with a light green tint in his face. It was then somehow, someway he managed to get on one knee and utter the words every girl wants to hear in her lifetime.

"Will you Hermione Jean Granger marry me?"

Besides it being the night she had officially finished her education with Hogwarts of Witchcraft and Wizardry, gotten engaged, and started the first day of her life forever.

***Flashback end***

Tears welled up in her chocolate brown eyes, staring at the picture which stood on top of her dresser for years. A painful memory of what once used to be. She ran her fingers slowly and lightly over the picture frame. A painful memory indeed for her now to stare at, a time of happiness which no longer stood there for her now. Mumbling words underneath her breath, Hermione knew she had only a few minutes left before he would come back for her again. Packing up the last bit of her belongings into boxes and sending them off to her best friend Harry's godfather Sirius home.

"Are you absolutely sure I could stay there for a few days? I wouldn't want to intrude or anything."

"Of course Hermione you wouldn't be intruding. Besides it's just a little fight you two had right?"

"Yeah…just a tiny fight…Thanks Harry…"

Five years ago if anyone had told her, her life would be the way it was now she would have never believed them. Life used to be perfect for her and everything was finally going her way. She was 22 years old and finally going up the ranks as a healer in the wizard community. Great shock to many, considering she was muggle born. Her best friends still loved and cared about her….Well two out of the three did…

But Hermione knew she could no longer stay and wait for him. Waiting for him to come back and settle another argument with her over childish acts. No, this time it was the last straw he would lay a finger on her. Glancing at the full length mirror near her bathroom door from her peripheral vision. Her right hand slowly rose up to her cheek and tears ran down from the stinging pain. A bright red hand print now imprinted over her porcelain skin. It was over and she knew it. For the past few months, she knew something she once had with him had vanished.

"I'm sorry…." Were the last words she uttered from her mouth, taking one last glance in the room in which they shared so many wonderful and painful memories. Slowly slipping the single diamond, white gold band from her finger and neatly placing it underneath the picture from their graduation. It was over and it was time to move on…

./A-N\. I know it's starting out slow, but it will all speed up soon enough :) bear with me on this.