CHAPTER 1
This book begins immediately after the last chapter of The Deathly Hallows (before the epilogue).
Happy Reading!
After Harry had finished talking to Dumbledore in the Headmaster's study, all Hermione could think about was how exhausted she was, how her stomach was roaring in want of food. They had not eaten anything since the few sandwiches Aberforth Dumbledore had given them last night along with pumpkin juice.
She bade good-bye to Harry and Ron who departed to Gryffindor dormitories to sleep before they were caught by someone or the other trying to thank them for saving the world. She herself was stopped seven times from third floor to the kitchens. All of them wanted to tell her how grateful, how thankful they were for saving them.
Finally after a while Hermione made it to the kitchen. House-elves were busy preparing food for all those who were still in the castle and could muster to choke food down their throats. The impact of Voldemort being dead, the war being over and another five dozen people being dead hadn't quite hit her yet.
All she could feel was the need for her to eat and sleep and the bone wearing exhaustion that had never somewhat left after Bellatrix Lestrange tortured her with the cruciatis curse and carving mudblood on her forearm. She sank down on one of the stools when one house-elf approached her.
"Would Miss Hermione like to eat something? I have the best apple pie prepared." Said the elf who had large blue guileless eyes.
"Thank you, if it's not too much trouble I'd like a cold glass of milk as well." Hermione replied with an exhausted smile.
"Sunny is most pleased to serve Miss Hermione." The elf Sunny bobbed his head and went away to fetch one for her. After eating her fill, Hermione went back to the Gryffindor common room purposefully avoiding all busy corridors or hiding behind things to go back unnoticed.
She decided not to go sleep in the dormitory that was assigned to her in her sixth year but the one which was of Harry and Ron. She found them easily enough and slipped into the bed next to Ron for comfort. Ron stirred when she lay next to him and immediately his eyes searched around the room, looking around for danger.
When he realized it was only Hermione a soft smile took over his face. Hermione smiled at him too and fell asleep a few moments later snuggled by his side as the adrenalin wore off and the exhaustion took over her body. For the first time in a year
she fell asleep knowing for sure that world would a better place when she woke up.
OoOoO
"Ron, Mione wake up!" Harry gently nudged them. Hermione and Ron woke up disgruntled with their eyes darting left and right to check what was wrong. It was a hazard of being on the run for so long, to immediately assume they were in danger. When they realized that they were safe their breathing eased a bit.
"What's happening?" Ron asked.
"Everything alright Harry?" she asked.
"Yeah, everything is fine. Just a few reporters who wanted to talk to us about the battle." Harry said feeling annoyed himself. "They expect us in the great hall in half hour."
"What time is it?" She asked him.
"Half-past two." He replied.
Nodding Hermione kissed Ron's cheek and said she would meet them both there after freshening up. She gave them their clothes and brushes out of her mole-skin pouch and went to the prefects' bathroom to have a quick shower and clean up. She was ready fifteen minutes later and decided to wear her only other pair of clean jeans with plain black blouse.
After tying her semi-wet hair into a bun on the back of her head, she went downstairs ready to face the onslaught of questions and fake smiling at reporters who wanted to know and confirm all the questions and rumors that erupted during their year at run. As much as she didn't want to she knew that she would have to answer them soon. So why prolong the inevitable right? The sooner she gave enough details to feed their stories the quicker it would end.