Author's Note: So I've decided to dabble in the world of FanFiction. I'm not sure where this journey will take me, I'm just a strong believer that we live in a world that desperately needs more Dramione. This story has been in my head for quite some time now, its just a matter of getting it to paper and working out the kinks. Since this is my first story I would greatly appreciate any constructive criticism you have to offer.
So without any further ado, I bring you The Left Over You.
-Amber

Chapter 1
The World is Our Oyster

The war did not simply end with the death of Lord Voldemort. It dragged on with the many painfully mandatory meetings and hearings held by the Ministry. They were all in regards to the same thing, deciding which of the wizards and witches affiliated with the Dark Lord would be incarcerated and which would be pardoned.

Harry, being the noble man that he is, spoke on the behalf of the Malfoy's. He felt that he owed it to Narcissa for saving his life in the Forbidden Forest. So the Malfoy's got off with probation, albeit a rather intense one. All three members of the Malfoy family had their wands taken away and had the trace put back on them. On top of that they were put into a witness protection program and forced to move to a disclosed and secure location where they would be under constant supervision by the Ministry, and they are due to stay there for a year in isolation. No magic and completely cut off from the world. That's any pureblood wizard's worst nightmare. Despite that, this arrangement did not sit well with Ronald, who had made it very clear that he believed the family should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. I for one could not have cared less. Sure, I hated Malfoy for all the nasty things he called me in school but I'm not in that world anymore and have more important things to worry about than getting back at Draco Malfoy. All I really wanted was to get the chance to properly mourn my friends, the people I called my family and the place I called my second home. Hogwarts helped me to find my place in the world and introduced me to two of the most important people in my life. But the task on the forefront of my mind was that, more than anything, I needed to find my parents and see to the removal of their memory charm. I wanted to hold them, tell them how much I love them and how happy I am that they are safe. I wanted to be with my parents and I wanted them to remember who I was.

Harry, Ron and I were generously recompensed by the Ministry for all the time we spent in court and for our efforts during the war. We all tried to refuse, saying that we could not accept such a gracious gift, but really we deemed it inappropriate as money could not bring back the people we lost. Only Kingsley Shacklebolt, our new Minister of Magic, would not here us to the end of that. So we decided to do some good with our money and each donate over half of our shares to the reconstruction of Hogwarts. Harry tried to give all of it but I reasoned with him that it would be smart to keep some of in case of an emergency since he'd lost his parents money when Gringotts fell. So exactly one month after the war the reconstruction of Hogwarts began, and that's where we are now.

"I think we should see to having more secret passageways built. To help some other poor blokes get away with the stuff we did" Ron half-heartedly joked as we sat down by the lake, our day of laborious volunteering finally over.

"Hopefully no one else will ever need to get away with the stuff we did" I smiled, gently touching Ron's arm.

Despite the horrible circumstances it amazed me how so many people from the wizarding community came together in the wake of disaster to support each other. There are so many people helping rebuild Hogwarts and rebuild each other's lives. At the minute no wizard or witch is concerned with blood status considering that so much was shed in the war. Everyone lost someone and everyone is healing together.

"Well new ways to sneak into Hogsmeade are always fun. And George could maybe even make a new version of the Marauder's Map. I think- I think it would be good for him to take his mind off of- of…"

"Ronald." I cut my stammering friend off and grabbed his hand, Harry clasped his shoulder.

George, respectably, has not been taking the loss of his twin very well. Ron and the rest of his family have been trying to do right by George but it's hard on them all.

"I overheard McGonagall saying that she hopes to reopen Hogwarts for next September and that with the support and donations the school has received it might even be possible" Harry said to try and change the subject.

"Oh, we could go back to school!" I chimed in. The idea of having school as a constant in my life again, brought a sense of stability that I eagerly welcomed.

"Of course you'd be excited about going back 'Mione." Ron said with an overly forced laugh.

"Well of course I am! And you should be too! I mean we could get our NEWTs , which would open up many possibilities for working within the Ministry! The world is our oyster!" I exclaimed. How I longed for the comfort of books and the feeling of genuinely knowing what I'm doing.

"The world's a what?" asked a confused Ron.

"It's a muggle expression. It means that we are able to take all the possibilities life has to offer." laughed Harry. I could tell he was grateful for the subject change.

"I swear every day muggles confuse me more. What does shellfish have to do with the future?" Ron was shaking his head, clearly bewildered.

"I've never understood that, but my mother used to say it to me all the time." The idea of my mother filled my heart with a crippling sadness but I smiled for Ron's sake.

"Speaking of your mother, isn't your trip to Australia coming up?" asked Harry.

"That's correct. In two weeks actually," this time my smile was genuine, "some healers from St. Mungo's helped me get in correspondence with a prestigious healer from Alice Springs who specializes in the effects of memory charms and I have a good feeling about her. All that I need to do is find mum and dad now and take them to her."

My train of thought was interrupted by a very frantic Ginny Weasley in search of her boyfriend. It has been a chaotic month since the Battle of Hogwarts but somehow Ginny and Harry found the time to let their love blossom. Which I think is nice as they're so obviously meant to be together.

"Harry we are going to be late" the ginger girl huffed.

"Er- late for what exactly?" aked a sheepish Harry.

"Merlin, you can be so daft. We are late for probably the most important dinner of my life!"

"Oh! Oh! That thing!" Harry's eyes widened in horror as he realized his error.

"Yeah. That thing," Ginny said, clearly frustrated, "the dinner hosted by the captain of the Holyhead Harpies which we were graciously invited to and are now late for because we still need to go home and change."

"Um, are you two okay?" Harry asked gesturing to me and Ron who clearly was not despite our efforts.

"Yes, yes. Now go! We'll see you tomorrow." I reached behind Ron to push Harry towards his impatient girlfriend.

"Only if I've let him out of the doghouse by then!" Retorted Ginny before she grabbed Harry's hand and apparited them away.

"It's nice that Ginny is getting out there and making a name for herself in the quidditch world, isn't it?" I questioned and grabbed Ron's hand to hold it in my lap.

He didn't answer right away but I could tell he was deep in thought, his eyes fixated on the ground in front of him. So I closed mine and basked in the warm glow of the sunset and listened to the lake lap up its shoreline. The sounds of nature are ones that I've turned to recently to help me feel more at peace.

When he still didn't answer I pressed on, "Ron?"

"I think what Ginny's doing is selfish, it's too soon. We're still grieving and she's going on like nothing has changed." His voice was low, barely more than a whisper.

"Everyone grieves differently Ronald." I squeezed his hand tighter and rested my head on his shoulder.

Again he never answered me, so I scooted as close to him as I could and rubbed the back of his hand with my thumb, memorizing the feel of his skin. We stared out at the glassy water of the lake and eventually he rested his head on mine. We've never talked about what happened in the Chamber of Secrets, but we've had a couple moments like this one. In those moments I've wanted to talk about it but, it never seemed like the right time. It's hard to speak of love when you are surrounded by so much death. This moment is different though. I can't quite put my finger on why, but it is. Right now being with him feels so good and so right. Like Ginny and Harry I feel we're destined to be together. He's been my best friend for so long and we've been through so much together, it does not seem fair to either of us to keep waiting. This moment is right. So without thinking my way out of this feeling, I sucked in a breath to tell him what has been on my mind for so long.

"Ronald?"

"Yeah?"

"I- I love you."

He moved away from me and grabbed my shoulders forcing me to face him, his eyes frantically searching my face. For a moment I was afraid of what he was thinking but my uncertainty was short lived because the next thing I knew he was kissing me. I could feel his hands, one moving down my back and the other getting tangled in my hair. This kiss is different from the one we shared in the Chamber of Secrets; it's desperate rather than passionate. But this is okay. He's my best friend, we're meant to be together, we're in love.

He pulled away finally, leaving us both gasping for air.

"I need you Hermione." The desperation in his eyes is heartbreaking.

"It's okay. I'm here." I caressed the side of his face and he pulled me into a tight hug. He didn't let up; it felt as if he was holding on to me for dear life. I hugged back.

"I'm here."