(Hermione's POV)
October 1998, 5 months after the war
I get off the train and step on to the platform of King's Cross station. I push my trolly looking as to where my friends might be or if they were there yet.
"Hermione!" I turn to see Harry one hand intertwined with Ginny's and the other waving at me. Ginny is smiling at me and next to her is Ron. He gives me a small smile and I know there's still that awkwardness between us.
After the war, Harry, Ron, and I stayed at the Burrow drinking ourselves into oblivion. You'd be surprised at how much you can learn to tolerate alcohol after drinking for so long. Two months after the war, Ginny had grown tired of our binges and snapped some sense into us. Of course, a few hexes were thrown at us when we chose not to listen, but eventually, we stopped- having our binges that is. We still drink, just not as much or as often. But after she had given us a good slap of reality, I decided it was time for me to look for my parents in Australia. Before I had left, Ron and I ultimately decided our relationship isn't working out. We really only saw each other as siblings after all. I guess the idea that death was upon us had caused us to make such an impulsive decision on our relation, but when we won the war, everything between us had seemed to have vanished. I left for Australia and that's where I've been.
Upon seeing my friends, I feel my emotions and reality finally hit me like a train. I'm an orphan. A breath catches in my throat and I fight the urge to break down. I stand frozen, gripping the handles of my trolley for support so that my wobbly legs don't give in.
"Hermione," Harry calls worriedly and it's enough to cause the floodgates to open. I run crying into the arms of my best friend Harry Potter and he clutches on to me for dear life. I break under his hug and sob uncontrollably into his chest.
"Hermione, please tell us what happened," Harry pleads.
"My parents...my parents are dead," I cry harder and he holds on to me tighter.
"Come on, let's get you to the Burrow," he rubs my back comfortingly. He takes my hand leading me to an empty area and apparates us to the Burrow.
With a pop, we're at my 2nd home and I wipe my tears away. Harry puts an arm around my shoulders and I'm surprised when he doesn't lead me inside, but rather to a clearing under a tree.
"Sit," he says softly.
I take a seat on the green, green, grass and stare off into the distance, noticing Ginny and Ron apparating with my belongings in hand and they head inside their home.
"What happened in Australia," Harry asks while taking a seat next to me.
I lean my head on his shoulder, unable to talk just yet. He knows not to pressure me to confide in him so we sit with only the winds of the fall breeze to fill the silence.
"When I got to Australia—" I finally speak, "—when I got there, I spent so much time trying to find them. I thought they had moved around the country a bit or they weren't there at all, that is until I was passing by this one street and noticed a private dental practice that was named 'Wilkins Dentistry.' I ran in and asked the receptionist where my parents were and she told me they had been in a fatal car crash back in early June. I felt my whole world stop and I just... I left and contacted you that I was coming back." I feel tears run down my cheeks and Harry wipes them away and wraps an arm around me.
"I'm sorry 'Mione," he whispers.
"I should've gone to them sooner. I should've left right after the war. If I had then they'd be here and not dead. This is all my fault," I exclaim.
"No Hermione, it's not," he pulls away to look down at me.
I don't respond. I don't have the energy to argue anymore. He knows this and just sighs, pulling me back into his comforting embrace.
"I haven't told Ginny or anyone this yet, but I was planning to move to Grimmauld Place. Sirius had left the headquarters- house to me. I want you to move in with me. I just think it'd be good for them to grieve for Fred alone as a family and we wouldn't feel like a burden to them. Plus, I think living on our own will be good for us."
I can't bring myself to talk just yet so I nod in agreement. Harry and I really only have each other now.
We sit in a comfortable silence for what seems like hours and finally, Harry stands. He pulls me up with him and gives me a reassuring smile, "We better go let them know so we can get our things ready and head out first thing tomorrow morning."
We walk hand in hand inside the Burrow and I'm greeted with sad smiles. Ginny and Ron must've told them what happened.
As we eat breakfast, I watch everyone conversing with one another. However, everything is off. Gone is the lively chattering that used to fill this place, now replaced by more subdued conversation. Harry is sitting next to me with Teddy Lupin, his godson, sitting on his lap.
"Dadaaa," Teddy babbled and I can't help the smile that plays on my lips. I'm amazed at how much Harry had adapted into parenthood. Granted, Teddy Lupin wasn't his actual son, but he might as well be. Before Andromeda died, Harry had told her he and Ginny never planned to replace Teddy's real parents and that he's sorry Teddy was calling them so. Andromeda adored him for thinking that way, but she told Harry that they will now be the only two parental figures in his life now that she was passing, so it's okay if he addressed them as so. She told him that if anyone were to be step-parents to Teddy, she, Lupin, and Tonks would be glad it was him and Ginny. She told him that when Teddy's old enough, he will know about his parents and how strong they fought and how much they loved him. Harry saw himself in Teddy as they were both around the same age when they had lost their parents to the awful war. It pained us to have realised this.
"Umm... excuse me, I need to make an announcement," Harry said loudly to get everyone's attention.
"What is it dear," Molly smiled, but only received a sad one in return from the raven-haired boy.
"Hermione and I are moving to Grimmauld Place," Harry sighed.
The room became quiet and I felt all eyes on us. Ginny snatched her hand from its place on Harry's back and she turned her attention to her plate of food on the table.
"But...but why mate," Ron asked with furrowed brows.
"Hermione and I are both orphans now. While we're both more than grateful for all you've done for the both of us, we just don't want to burden you any further...especially now," Harry faltered.
The room erupted into fits of protests and I noticed Ginny letting out ragged breaths to keep herself from crying.
I shut my eyes and took a deep breath, "Please, I think we all need this. Please understand. We promise to visit you often," I reassured sadly.
"What about Teddy," Molly cried.
"Teddy will always stay with me, and if I need someone to watch him, I know I can always count on you lot to take care of him right?" Harry looked down at his godson and felt that after Andromeda's mournful passing, Teddy is now the center of his world.
"Mama," Teddy babbled, reaching out for Ginny. Ginny reached for the baby boy and left to her's and Harry's shared room, sobbing silently. Harry sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
I watched the disappearing figures and I can't help but feel a surge of amazement for the youngest Weasely and my best girl friend. At such a young age she had gone through war and is now a step-mother to a beautiful boy. There was no doubt she was one hell of a woman. At the same time, I felt guilty. I felt like I was tearing her, Harry, and Teddy apart. Maybe she can move in with us?
"Of course we'll always watch Teddy dear. He's family," Molly assured, rushing to Harry and engulfing him in a warm hug.
"You better go after her mate," George stared pointedly at Harry then nodded to the stairs.
Harry nodded and stood, quickly going after the two most important people in his life, along with his best friends and extended family of course.
"Hermione dear, are you two sure about this?" Arthur asked uncertainly.
"Yes, Mr. Weasely. As much as Harry and I need this, you need this as well.
Everyone nodded reluctantly and we continued our breakfast in an uncomfortable quietness.