A/N: So, I have two other stories that are currently on HIATUS... I'm nt sure when I'll get back to them as this is my new project, and my inspiration for the other two has dwindled as of late. This is my first H/Hr fic, I hope I can do it justice... please R&R and let me now if you have any adice/critiques/suggestions.

Introduction:

It had been a month since the defeat of Voldemort, many had been lost and Hogwarts was nearly destroyed completely. A reconstruction crew had been formed shortly after the war had ended. Harry and Hermione were staying at the Burrow with the Weasley's as they had no other place to go. Hermione went to Australia to try to repair her parents' memories, but to no avail. When she returned to the burrow she looked as if she was even more broken than she was when she left, which no one believed to be possible.

They all had a lot of healing to do, after the death of Fred, Remus, Tonks, Moody and many others, they all felt as if they were shells of who they were before the destruction of the world as they'd known it. The war was over, they were victorious, but they couldn't bring themselved to feel any sort of pride or joy... all they felt was pain and anguish.

"Hermione?" Harry said softly, knocking on the door of the room that she shared with Ginny.

"Yes?"

"You know that you can't keep yourself locked in here forever... you're going to have to come out eventually." He walked over slowly, pausing only for a moment before he took a seat next to her on the bed.

"I know that, Harry, I just... how can I go and live my life when so many people lost theirs?"

"Don't you see? It's because so many people lost their lives that we should live ours! They gave their lives to the cause, a cause that they believed in, a cause which was dedicated to letting us have a life! You're doing them all a great injustice by sitting here and wallowing in grief!" Harry leaned away the slightest bit, expecting her to blow up on him. She didn't, she just looked at him and started crying.

"You're right! How can I be so selfish?" she said through her choked sobs, she leaned into Harry's chest and cried for what seemed like ages. Harry put his arm around her and pulled her close to him, trying to comfort her the best that he could. He rubbed her back softly and kissed the top of her head, telling her that everything was going to be okay.

"Hermione, you're not selfish, you are amazing and never for one second should you think you're not. You're going to do them proud," she know that he was talking about her parents, "without you, this war would have been lost. I couldn't have done any of this without you and you need to realize that." He smiled at her, kissing her on the forehead once more.

"Thank you, Harry..." she didn't move her head from his chest, she just held on to him very tightly and fell asleep.

Noticing that she'd fallen asleep, Harry gently moved her off of his chest and lied her down on her bed, pulling the covers over her and making sure her head was rested safely on the pillow. He gave her one last kiss on the head and made his way out of the room, looking back only once to smie at his sleeping friends peaceful face/

"So, Harry, have you decided what you're going to do now that the war is over? I heard Kingsley is letting those who fought the war become auror's without taking their NEWTS." Molly said over breakfast the next morning.

"I'm not actually sure yet, I spent nearly my entire life worrying about Voldemort, it's kind of hard to think about a life without being in constant danger." Harry smiled softly.

"What about you, Hermione?"

"Oh... I received a letter from McGonnagall the other day, she offered me an apprenticeship under Snape." Hermione said non-chalantly.

"Oh dear! That's wonderful!" Molly exclamed, while Ron looked at her dumbfounded.

"You never told me about that 'Mione, when did you get the letter?" Ron said, trying not to sound too hurt about the fact that his girlfriend witheld such important information from him.

"Oh, about 4 or so days ago... I guess I just wasn't sure whether or not I was going to follow through with it..." She stared down into her barely eaten breakfast.

"Well, dear, you have to! It's a wonderful opportunity, and I know you would regret it if you didn't go through with it, even if it is under Snape." Molly said.

"I know, I am going to go through with it, I actually just decided this morning. I was going to tell you after breakfast," she said to Ron before pushing her food around a little more, taking very few bites.

"So, back to Hogwarts with you then?" Harry said as he approached Hermione on the front steps.

"I suppose so," she paused for a moment, "it's not going to be the same without you and Ron around."

"Well, actually, I decided to go back and finish my 7th year... I figured it would give me time to figure out what I actually want to do with my life." Harry gave a small chuckle.

"Oh, Harry, that's wonderful!" She gave him an awkward, but excited hug. "You'll be able to spend more time with Ginny then too!" She smiled at him, but it didn't seem to reach her eyes.

"Yeah, right." He smiled, still one arm around her.

A/N: Okay, I know it's probably not the best of introductions, but I promise it's going to be better. I am going to really try to give my readers a well rounded story, I don't want to move things to fast, I want them to fall realistically into place. Please R&R and let me know what you think, I want to continue with this story, but I get extra motivated when I know I have an audience.