Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

A/N: It starts out Harry, Hermione, and Ron are 20yrs old and Voldemort was defeated.

She's in America

"America?" Harry asked, disgusted his emerald eyes widened.

"Yes, America." replied Hermione trying to act as if it was nothing.

"Why?" asked Ron

"So I can find who I truly am.

"Mione forget what they think. I have. Come stay with me. Forget them. Ron and I know who you are and what you stand for. That's all that matters. Forget them."

"But that's just it Harry. I can't. I wasn't meant for this. I not supposed to be famous. So maybe I'm not even supposed to be here. In America, as a muggle, no one will know me. I'll be like I used to be, another face in the crowd."

With that she turned and began to run, Harry ran after her reaching for her, Ron was not far behind him, but as Harry yelled her name she apparated away.

5 years later

Five years and Hermione Granger had not so much as talked to a wizard or witch. She lived as a muggle; though she had not given up on magic, but she used it sparely.

She however was a subscriber to the Daily Prophet (she paid a galleon extra for the over seas fee), so she could keep up with Harry, Ron, and the rest of the wizarding world. Harry and Ron were two of the most famous wizards and every move they made was reported.

Harry was currently an auror even though he had been offered much higher positions. Ron was Minister of Magic and the richest wizard in Europe. Hermione couldn't think of someone who deserved the money more.

She found it strange that all she saw and heard she could tie back to Harry. Every date was compared to Harry, and as shallow as it sounds she had once turned down a guy because he had green eyes like Harry. It was strange how she would do anything to be reminded of Harry yet hated it when she was. What was stranger still was that though she missed Ron she hardly thought of him.

How could she be in love with her best friend as of 5 years ago?

At first she attempted to rid him of her thoughts by telling herself he had forgotten her. But it turns out Harry was still looking for her. Reports in the 'Prophet' told of a ticket to America he bought. Rewards to tip offs to where she was hiding and he had even entered an article himself begging her to come home.

As much as she tried to make busy New York her home it was all in vain. She missed England and her friends.

Harry's POV

He had tried to quit drinking but failed, somehow he wanted her to show up and tell him off about it. He reasoned that his 'breaking of the rules' would attract her. Then he would stop. He'd stop drinking for her. If only she'd show up.

He drowned the last of his firewhiskey and threw the glass against the wall. He looked around, he had not turned to lights on for days and he couldn't remember the last time he had cleaned up.

He stumbled to get up. Staggering to the kitchen he groped for another glass and the bottle of liquor in the dark. Successful in that task he walked back to his living room cutting his foot painfully on broken glass.

He strained his eyes to look at the cut in the dark. He raised his wand to heal it but hesitated; maybe she'd come and fix it for him if he left it there.

He hadn't been to work in twelve days, by now he was probably fired. Somehow he didn't care, this for some reason was his goal; to sit here and rot away, slowly.

Rousing Harry from his thoughts was a loud knock at the door. He didn't answer. It came again and again, louder and louder.

"Go away!" Harry yelled.

It came again this time followed by a voice. That voice belonged to Minister Ronald Weasley. "Harry I'm NOT leaving!"

Harry threw his new glass against the wall and started towards the door. He threw it open and there stood his friend that had not deserted him, his only friend.

Harry stared.

"So you're... er... the Minister now, eh?"Harry slurred.

"Yeah..." said Ron, he stood back in took in the sight of the once glorified Harry Potter. He was a mess, his raven hair rumpled even more than usual, emerald eyes clouded with loneliness, he was awfully pale too, and smelled strongly of alcohol. Ron preformed a sobering spell and gripped his friend by the shoulder, "No more firewhiskey, Harry, this time I mean it." He led him down the stairs leading to Harry's flat and led him to go eat.

Hermione's POV

The more she thought about it the more she wondered why she ever left England. She had great friends and had graduated from school, ready to move on to a wonderful job.

But as a muggle none of that mattered.

She had to go to a muggle college so she could get a job. She had never gone to a muggle middle school or high school so at interviews lots of questions were raised, oh and not to mention the bloody bills she had to pay!

Why had she left?

To find herself... yes, that had been the reason. How dramatic she had been! She had a great life waiting for her and she threw it all away! Why not move back? Would that great life still be waiting?

She glanced at her calendar, it was July 11th, if she packed and left for England by the 13th she could get a flat and surprise Harry on his birthday.

She was in England on the 14th. She went to a high paying research job on ancient dark arts, she told them who she was and then preformed a spell to prove it; immediately she got the job. The job paid 950 galleons every two weeks; she got her first pay check the 28th, and she bought a flat. She spent a whole day on finding out where her best female friend lived, Ginny.

-

Hermione walked up a pathway to a small but nice house. She checked the address one last time and prayed it was the right Ginny Weasley. She came to the door and knocked.

"Coming!" shouted a familiar voice.

The door opened and a frazzled looking red-head peered out.

"Hermione?" she asked her eyebrows furrowing.

"Yep... Ginny?"

"Yeah."

The red head grabbed Hermione's arm, as if scared she'd leave again, and shut the door.

"Where have you been?" screamed Ginny, frightfully like Mrs. Weasley.

"Er," was all Hermione could say.

"Hmm, Miss Granger, if it is still Granger?"

"Yeah, it's Granger."

"Good!"

-

Hermione and Ginny talked for hours until the subject turned to Harry.

"How is he?" Hermione asked uncomfortably.

"Not good... Hermione he's become an alcoholic. He misses you." Ginny replied sadly.

"An alcoholic? Why."

"I asked him that and well he said something you may not want to hear."

"Tell me."

"You sure," Hermione nodded, "he said he's 'drowning you away'."

"What?"

Hermione was tearful. She was the one who kept Harry back. For five years her memory held him back, and now he was a drunk.

She brushed her tears away, hoping that the fact that Harry had not accepted a promotion was not her fault too.

She gave a fake smile to Ginny hiding her emotions.

"If you want to you can stay here tonight." Suggested Ginny

"No I-I'll go to my flat."

"Ok"

Ginny walked Hermione to her car and wrote down her phone number.

Hermione drove home, crying all the way.

-

Harry had been sober for 17 days. Turns out he was not yet fired, another benefit of being the boy-who-lived-loads-of-times.

Ginny had called him to tell him that things were looking up, and that this year would be a great one, she just knew it. Harry thought to himself that she might know something he didn't know.

Still no sign of Hermione.

His birthday drew closer. He wondered if Hermione ever remembered.

July 31st had come at last. Hermione had talked again to Ginny briefly and found out where Harry lived. Ginny of course knew and gave Hermione directions.

Hermione had bought Harry a present, an expensive silver watch that had an emerald green face. She had also baked a cake, with red icing stating Happy 25th!

She climbed the stairs to his flat, balancing the cake and gift. She sure did hope he was home. She rang the door bell, no response. She knocked,

"Go Away!" shouted a gruff voice from inside.

She pulled up all of her Gryffindor courage and knocked again and again, daring the voice to bellow again.

"Is that you Ron?" asked the voice and the door flew wide open; Hermione, who had been leaning slightly against it, wobbled and made a spectacular save of the present and cake.

"No. Definitely not Ron, though the money would be good." said Hermione

"You! On my birthday?" cried Harry. He seized the parcels from her hands set it on a table inside and like a flash came back and held her in his muscular arms, rubbing her back, whispering over and over " 'Mione, 'Mione, my 'Mione came back."

Hermione took in his sent. It was still the same, pine trees and rain. She pulled away from the hug slowly. She stepped back, keeping her hands on his shoulders, and took a good look at The Harry Potter.

"I missed you." She whispered

"I missed you too."

Harry hid his hand behind his back with his wand; with the flick of his wrist his flat was clean.

"Want to come in?"

Hey y'all this isn't really my first fan fiction but it's first one that I'm gonna continue and stuff. So review please!