Hermione Granger took a big breath of fresh air once she stepped through the glass window exit of St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries onto the busy London street. The feeling of cool water enveloping her body helped her heart calm down and her breathing steady. She had done it. After putting it off for so many years, she finally submitted her application as a healer. She took an extra moment to breathe a little deeper one more time before she opened her eyes, then she began to make her way back to 12 Grimmauld Place where her two best friends were waiting for her.
It's been 5 years since the Battle of Hogwarts, and the wizarding community has managed to rebuild itself to the point where you would never been able to tell that a war had just took place, but the wounds of war run deep. Most wizards and witches have only truly started to heal. Hermione was one of them.
Once Hogwarts was rebuilt, Hermione decided to go back and finish her education. Harry and Ron both decided to move on and start their auror training. The ministry, of course, was more than happy to oblige. They were all very supportive of each other's decision, and the two made sure to always visit Hermione as often as they could. She would never voice it out, but a small part of her was glad that she would be going to back to Hogwarts by herself. It's not that she doesn't care for them anymore, she loves her two best friends more than ever after everything they've been through, but she just needed to be away from them for a while. As much as she wanted to celebrate their victory with them, it actually physically hurt her to be around them. Sometimes it would be a simple word, a surprise touch, or even the slightest ruffle, her chest would suddenly constrict and feel leaden at the same time while she was drowning in the air she was trying to breathe. She loved them more than ever after everything they've been through, but she knew that she had to heal away from them. It just brought back too many memories and reopened too many wounds.
While she was at Hogwarts, it was as if she was on autopilot. She was Hermione Granger, Gryffindor Hogwarts student once again. Except this time, she raised her hand noticeably less, she went to the library even less often, and people only ever saw her in class. Ginny and Luna knew that the only places Hermione ever goes to now are either the lake or the edge of the Forbidden Forest. For that entire year she simply couldn't bear staying inside those walls for too long. It was as if every corner of the castle had an invisible memorial dedicated to a friend they had lost, and she just had to get away. She fought against this pain everyday while she was in Hogwarts. She was strong. She was Hermione Granger, and she would see this to the very end no matter how hard it was for her to go back to her school. She finished at the top of her class, and she dedicated her speech to her fellow students that never made it on that very stage, or to the parents and friends who never got a chance to sit in the Great Hall with them.
After all the photos and congratulations, Hermione, Harry, and Ron decided to stay behind, and go around Hogwarts. The trio walked around in silence except for the moments when they'd reminisce in certain areas. They reached the seventh floor and found themselves in the corridor where the Room of Requirement could be found.
"Let's give it a go shall we," Harry asked his two best friends.
They looked at him with confusion, as he paced back and forth three times in front of the wall until a door finally appeared.
Harry took Hermione's hand while she took Ron's, and the three of them stepped into the room together. When they entered, all three of them gasped as Harry fell to his knees crying. Ron and Hermione sat on the floor with him as they all finally let go of all the emotions they'd been trying to control while going around their former home.
The room was filled with so many floating candles that it seemed like even they themselves were glowing. There were flowers in wreaths, bouquets, stands, and everything in between covering the room from floor to ceiling. On the walls were portraits and snapshots of all the people they've lost. Each portrait had names and inscriptions:
JAMES POTTER
Father
Husband
Friend
Hero
LILLY POTTER
Mother
Wife
Friend
Hero
SIRIUS BLACK
Godfather
Friend
Hero
ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
Friend
Mentor
Professor
Hero
REMUS LUPIN
Father
Husband
Friend
Hero
NYMPHADORA TONKS
Mother
Wife
Friend
Hero
PERCY WEASELEY
Brother
Son
Friend
Hero
ALASTOR –
"Hermione, what's wrong," she heard a familiar voice ask, breaking her out of her memories.
Harry and Ron were suddenly running up to her. She realized she was a few houses away from 12 Grimmauld Place.
"What happened? Do you need us to come back with you," Ron asked.
"What are you talking about? It went well! They accepted my application! The examination is in 6 months. What are you on about?" she responded quickly, still a little bit shaken.
Harry pulled a face while Ron stepped closer to wipe something from her cheek. She felt her face, and realized that there was wetness there. She had been crying.
She smiled at them and said, "Oh. That. Don't worry about it, seriously. I guess I was just looking back at everything that led up to this point; everything that happened after the war."
Her two best friends stepped closer, and hugged her.
"Hermione, we are so proud of you," Harry said as he pulled away.
"Yeah, well, when were ever not proud of you though," Ron added sheepishly. He had let go of the hug, but kept his arm around her while she leaned into him. This made her smile. Even after everything, she realized that some things never change.
"Oh stop it you two. What are you doing out here anyway," she asked.
Ron let go and stood beside Harry to face her. "Well, to be honest, we were going to go to St. Mungo's, and check up on you. We thought you were taking a little too long, and that you might have needed some help. I mean not that you ever really need any help, but just you know, just some moral support," Ron said while looking at the ground.
"Oh Ronald honestly," she chided him. "We've faced a basilisk and several death eaters, even Voldemort himself. I can get to St. Mungo's and back just fine," she added light-heartedly.
Harry gave her a pointed look, but smiled at her anyway. She couldn't help herself, she hugged her two best mates one more time.
"I wouldn't have gotten here without you two. Thank you both so much," she said while hugging them tightly.
"Now come on. Let's get back to your place Harry, I quite need a drink," she said while letting them go.
She got lost telling them about her trip to St. Mungo's, that she didn't notice that they stepped back a bit once she had opened the door.
"SURPRISE!"
"NOOOOO!", Hermione screamed, and a bolt of red light shot out from her wand.
Everything happened so fast. Ron rushed past her while Harry pulled her to him trying to calm her down. When she lifted her head from Harry's shoulder, she saw a group of people surrounding an unconscious Weasley twin.