983. It had been 983 days since the Battle of Hogwarts, or more popularly stated, almost 3 years.

The sense of loss following the battle was crippling. So many people had died: Tonks, Lupin, and Fred. Hermione found she even mourned the loss of Lavender Brown. They would remain immortal in her memory, never to change.

The same could not be said for Hermione. A lot had changed since her years at Hogwarts. Standing now at the main entrance to the castle, Hermione Granger was no longer the passionate young witch she used to be. Her brief romance with Ron Weasley had faded within a year of its beginning. Hermione just didn't feel the love anymore. In fact, she didn't feel much of anything. She just felt…numb.

"Miss Granger?" said a familiar voice.

Hermione shook herself from her trance just in time to see Minerva McGonagall coming toward her.

"You're half an hour early!" said the headmistress.

"I know. I thought I would take some time to look around the castle. Try to remember…" Hermione's voice trailed off. She was going to say that she wanted to recall what it was like to feel, but she couldn't bring herself to wipe the bright smile from her former professor's face.

"Yes, it does bring back memories." Replied McGonagall, a brief glimmer of sadness passing across her eyes. "Would you like some more time, or shall we get down to business?"

"Yes, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?" Hermione asked, seeking a distraction from the painful direction of the conversation.

"Come." Said McGonagall turning into the castle. Hermione followed her to the headmistress's office, and waited as she sorted through a pile of papers upon her desk.

"The Ministry of Magic has brought an…issue to my attention recently that I feel you will find most interesting." Announced McGonagall, finally.

"Really?" replied Hermione, skeptically. "What is it?"

"We have a proposition for you! A sort of job, if you will." McGonagall paused for a moment and continued when Hermione made no objection. "Of course, you remember how when you take a life, your soul splits in half." Said McGonagall. "Well, it turns out that when you save one your soul multiplies. It's rather fascinating, actually. Every time you save a life, you're soul duplicates, but it's not the same as it was with…well you know. Your other soul exists in an alternate dimension!"

"In what form?" asked Hermione, with a vague amount of interest.

"It has no form." Stated McGonagall matter-of-factly. "It simply floats about in the universe. But here's the most interesting part: if your soul has duplicated across dimensions, you can follow it and travel to these different worlds! You are probably wondering why I am telling you this, but you see, you, Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley saved a great many lives in our war with the Dark Lord. Surely, your souls have been duplicated ten-fold! The Ministry has recruited me to ask you to be the first to travel across dimensions!"

"Just me?" asked Hermione. "Why not Harry or Ron?"

"Well, Mr. Potter's employment as an auror forbids him from participating in such a risky venture. And Mr. Weasley… well. So you see, you are the best candidate for the job. I would have to warn you, however, that there is very real risk involved. It is not known if you will be able to return."

"I see." Said Hermione, pondering the situation.

"I will give you time to reflect." Announced McGonagall. "But the Ministry will need an answer within a week."

Hermione did think about McGonagall's proposal. Looking around her small apartment, all she saw were dusty books she no longer had the heart to touch. Her parents could never regain their memories of her, Harry was busy on his auror missions, and Ron…well. What was left for Hermione to stay for?

"I will do it." She resolved one night as she counted the raindrops on the outside of her window. "I have nothing to lose."

And so Hermione put everything she owned into storage only taking the necessary clothes and provisions she would need on her journey. Crookshanks went to live with Luna Lovegood, and a week later, Hermione was reporting to the Ministry of Magic, ready to begin again.