Disclaimer: I only rated this as an M for future violence or profanity that may occur. I own nothing! The only thing that IS mine is the plot. Everything else is owned by others, obviously! Since it is 2015 when I'm writing this and technically the book ended (inside the actual series though in real life that's when it all started) in 1998 it has been 17 years and Hermione is 35 (I gave her an extra year of age because of the time turner). Sean is currently 45 according to the Grimm Wikia. This means that they are only 10 years apart in age and not 28 years so PLEASE keep that in mind! Please Read and Review. This is my first story and I appreciate feedback
Chapter one: The Leaving
Hermione closed the last of her suit cases and began to shrink her furniture as her now ex-sister in law, Ginny Malfoy, sat ranting about her brother's most recent flavor of the week. "Honestly Mione, I've no idea what you ever saw in that bumbling idiot." Ginny huffed in frustration and moved a strand of her hair out of her face.
"We were all young once, Gin, and I seem to remember that during school you even had a crush on Harry before you started dating Draco after the war ended." Hermione moved Crookshanks off of her kitchen table and began to shrink that as well before moving on to her oven. "We simply grew apart, I suppose."
"Yeah, I know that Mione. You grew into an important career change and he grew into an enormous git with a cheating and press problem! I mean I know that he is my brother and very deep down I will always love him, but even mum isn't on good terms with him for all the lies he's told the Prophet about you! She only sends him one care pack a week instead of the usual 5 and he is banned from bringing anyone to Sunday dinners. She's afraid that you don't think you are part of the family anymore because of the way Ron portrayed you to the Prophet in the divorce." Ginny watched on in a resolved sadness as her best friend, her sister finished shrinking the last of her belonging and began to put the shrunken items in her small, frayed beaded handbag that still had an undetectable extension charm on it from the war.
Hermione sat next to Ginny and looked at her home of several years with her former husband and best friend. She didn't really feel as angry as Ginny appeared to be, though. She was honestly more hurt that a friendship of 23 years had ended in such an appalling way. She had come home from working in the Department of Magical Creatures to tell her husband that she had been promoted and given a new department to develop for the Ministry. Instead, she found him in bed with his old flame Lavender Brown. Hermione didn't blame Lavender as she had been out of the country since the war learning to cope with the changes caused by Fenrir Greyback attacking her during the final battle. The other brunette had no way of knowing that Ron had lied about being divorced from Hermione for three years. Both women had actually bonded over the experience and their new found disgust of Ron. Lavender was expected to join Hermione in her newly developed department before Hermione had discovered Ron's cheating and Hermione had decided to keep the half werewolf on as her employee. "I still feel that you are all my family Ginny. All of the Weasleys are like a second family to me and your parents are a second set of parents. I love them as much as I love my own mum and dad. I'm not leaving to spite anyone and neither is Lavender. I need a change, Gin. I want to move somewhere that not every one cares about my past as the bookworm of the Golden Trio or my recent divorce. I want to go somewhere that I could be anonymous if I wished to be and the people still speak English. There is a large and diverse magical community in Portland. Not everyone there are wizards and we need to establish roots and communication there for the rest of the wizarding world. The magical beings there are the same as the ones in Germany and France, but according to the reports that I've been studying there has been a lot of interesting conflict between those in Portland and those in Europe. Furthermore, the beings in Portland appear to be somewhat more accepting of other magical species. This could be our first chance at a true treaty with magical communities in the States since the Salem Witch trials ending! I refuse to miss out on this opportunity simply because the press believe that I'm running off to hide and lick my wounds."
To Ginny, Hermione sounded rehearsed for the argument that her relocation has caused between the two friends. She knew that there was no changing her mind when she started to sound like this. Therefore, she simply sighed one more time and wrapped her arms around Hermione as a final hug goodbye. "I know that you aren't just running away, Mione. I'm just going to miss you. You'll be too far for even floo travel. Who will go shopping with me or let me complain about Draco cursing in front of Scorpius again? Will you even be able to get back for Rebecca's birth?"
"Ginny, I don't go shopping with you now. Luna and Hannah are the only ones besides Narcissa that can handle your all day shopping trips as it is, and you complain about Draco influencing Scorpius to everyone in the family. You complained to the waiter about it for 20 minutes when we went out to eat together last week! I'm not choosing sides; however, you do realize that you curse just as much in front of him as Draco does, right? To your final question, that is what international portkeys are for. They'll allow a Ministry department head to come back quickly with a family emergency and you are my family, Gin."
"Thanks, Mione. I guess that what I'm alluding to is that I'll miss you. I don't want you to leave but I understand that you want to. Just take care of yourself and be careful in the states, ok? I love you sister.'"
"I love you too, Gin. You were the last person that I had to talk to today. I'll need to leave soon so that Lavender and I can be on our way to the portkey. I promise to write you frequently and remember to call me when you are in muggle London and away from the interference that magic causes to technology." With this final goodbye Ginny left through the floo so that Hermione could disconnect her floo network for the first time she had moved into the house. Hermione took one final look around the room, placed a disgruntled Crookshanks into his carrier, and disapparated out of the house.