A/N: Set after the fall of Voldemort, Severus is not dead, Hermione is changed etc.

Disclaimer: All characters and setting belong to JK Rowling.

Chapter 1

Bulgaria

It wasn't that she had really changed; well yes she admitted to herself, she did look different well...at least on the outside. She supposed that she also felt a little different, not abnormal or weird but more... she twirled her wand between her fingers; searching for the most appropriate word..."rebellious," the word slid from her mouth like a fine wine to an empty room.

Hermione Granger was currently standing in front of the full-length mirror in her bedroom at the home she shared with her parents. It was the end of the summer and she was heading back to Hogwarts for her seventh year. Sixth year had been rather hectic she reflected with the search for the horcruxes, the battle and the eventual death of Voldemort not to mention the weeks spent re-building all of their lives. Immediately after she had recovered from the battle, Hermione had taken a portkey to Australia to bring her parents home. Luckily she was the brightest witch of her generation and giving her parents back their memories had been relatively simple.

She had spent the summer away from the magical world as much as possible bar the occasional owl to her friends and trips to Diagon Alley for books and school supplies. With all of the time to herself without being surrounded by doom and gloom, without having to worry or busy herself with research; Hermione had began the summer with no idea of what she was going to do and she loved it!

She had spent many days with her parents; they had been quite shocked when they discovered they had a daughter but as she had explained her reasoning they had forgiven her although it took some time for all of them to reacquaint with each other mainly Hermione had concluded due to the fact that she had been through a lot in the last year. She had read a lot, no matter how rebellious she felt she would never stop in her quest for knowledge in all its forms. This thirst had led her to Bulgaria to visit Viktor which was long overdue. They had always kept in contact and although nothing romantic ever came of it, Hermione was thankful for his friendship.

While in Bulgaria she had experienced a world that she had never had the pleasure to enjoy previously. Having turned eighteen she had soaked up the vibrant and buzzing nightlife that its capital, Sofia had offered to her on a platter. Days would be spent with Viktor, his friends and exploring the beautiful country and at night they would head out and party the muggle way. She had experimented with alcohol and sex although steered clear of all drugs, she was letting loose but not that loose! It had been half way during her stay there when she had decided to do something radical, something that would shock her parents the day she returned and something that her new friend Andrei had been delighted to provide. Hermione Granger had chopped off all of her hair.

She grinned as she ran her fingers through the now messy pixie cut. Andrei had been a darling, fussing over her in his hair salon and he had insisted that she trust him. Trust, a concept that Hermione was well versed in did not give it to just anyone but she gave it to Andrei. She hadn't been disappointed. The man had gone above and beyond her expectations, the cut had revealed a face that had lost any resemblance to a child; oval in shape, sharp cheekbones, full lips and deep amber eyes with flicks of gold. It had been astonishing! The colour however was something she had never thought would suit her but surprisingly did; she admired the white-grey hue gleaming on her head with the morning sun. Her parent's reaction had been amusing but not half as entertaining when they caught sight of the small diamond nose stud. Hermione smiled at her reflection. If only they had seen the tattoo!

It had been her last week in Bulgaria and she had been talking with Viktor. They were discussing the war in his living room both nursing bottles of Zagorka beer which she had become quite fond of during her stay there. It was during this talk that Hermione had confessed to having created a Bucket List at the start of the summer, Viktor being very interested in this concept had asked Hermione if he could examine it. She had obliged and his grin widened the further down the list he read. Hermione had felt increasingly uncomfortable about this as the list was quite personal and she had composed it with the greatest care. Finally he had looked up, taken her by the hand and apparated them both to the city centre.

So at 7pm in Bulgaria, July 22nd Viktor Krum helped Hermione Granger cross the first thing off her Bucket List in a rundown tattoo studio run by a charming bearded fellow named Grigor. Four hours of mild pain later, found her sitting in a wine bar laughing heartily at an anecdote, a clear bandage covering the fierce black and white imoogi winding around her ribcage.

A/N Reviews always welcome.