Hermione Granger awoke in the early hours of the morning. She normally did not wake up this early, but something startled her out of her slumber, something rapping at her window. She rolled over and looked out to see an owl perched on the sill. Who would be sending me a letter this early? Harry and Ron certainly aren't up yet. "Hang on" she mumbled at the impatient owl, as she climbed out of bed. She threw on her robe, and opened the window to allow the bird inside, giving it a friendly pat as he scrambled through the window. The owl hooted with delight. "I don't have any treats, but let me just get you some water. It's rather hot out there isn't it?" After bringing the owl some water, she gently took the letter from its beak. As the owl gratefully drank its water she read:

Dear Ms. Hermione Granger,

I hope this letter reaches you well. I am writing to inform you that, should you wish, you may attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this upcoming term. You are not required to attend; with your grades and having been a member of the Golden Trio, you could certainly get a job in any field you wish. Be that as it may, I do hope to see you for the upcoming term. Please send your answer back with this owl.

Sincerely,

Headmistress Minerva McGonagall

Hermione knew what her answer was before she had even finished reading the letter. She neatly wrote her response on a fresh piece of parchment she kept by the window for just this reason.

Dear Headmistress,

I am doing quite well, thank you. I hope you are as well. I will of course be coming back to Hogwarts, thank you so very much for the opportunity. I simply cannot wait to see you on the start of term!

Sincerely,

Hermione Granger

She decided to give the owl a bit longer to rest while she went downstairs to make breakfast. The house still feels so empty without mum and dad, and Crookshanks too; I can't wait until term starts to get out of here. She hadn't even looked into finding her parents yet, but it'd probably be best to wait anyway. There were still a few Death Eaters at large who, she was sure, would love to get revenge on a member of the Golden Trio. As she nibbled on some toast (saving the crusts for her feathery guest) she thought about how nice it would be to walk the halls of Hogwarts again, it felt like a lifetime ago since she'd had any semblance of normalcy in her life. She walked upstairs, fed the owl her toast crusts, and sent it on its way with her letter.

Hermione decided to visit the Burrow for lunch. She had last seen her boyfriend, Ron, a few days back. She had left him last saying she had needed a few days to herself to think about her career, as she still several ideas on the table. It was easy for Ron, he'd known what he wanted to be since before his OWLS, an Auror; and her indecisiveness drove him insane. He couldn't seem to understand how difficult and important of a decision this was for her, they hadn't parted exactly happy with each other.

She quickly apparated to the Burrow, strode up the path, and knocked on the door. Molly greeted her enthusiastically.

"Good to see you dear! You know you don't have to knock, come on in."

"Good to see you too Mrs. Weasley, sorry I didn't owl you to let you know I was coming. I haven't gotten around to getting my own owl yet."

"Oh, nonsense dear; you know you're always welcome here. No need to announce yourself, your practically family. Now, what brings you here?" Molly said with a knowing smile.

"Thank you, I came by to talk to Ron; know where he might be?" Hermione asked, blushing a bit.

"He's out back playing Quidditch with Harry."

"Harry's here too?" Hermione asked.

"You know those too, they're inseparable. Besides, I think Harry gets lonely in that big house of his by himself."

Hermione knew the feeling. "Thank you Mrs. Weasley," she called over her shoulder, already headed for the backdoor. Once she got to the pitch she watched the boys play for a moment, admiring their grace, before making her presence known with a shout. Ron quickly went to hug her once he got off his broom, but she stopped him with an upheld hand. Seeing the hurt look on his face she quickly said, "Sorry Ron, but you're all sweaty, you can hug me all you want after you shower," she crinkled her nose "actually, you both could use a shower," she said with a laugh.

"Alright 'Mione, come on Harry" said Ron, with a smile. As they went off to clean themselves, Hermione decided to make them lunch, knowing they'd be hungry. She waited in Ron's room with the plates of food. Once they were done she gave Ron a huge hug and a kiss on the cheek before giving Harry a brief hug.

"I made sandwiches," she announced happily. While the boys picked up their food, Hermione asked, "Did you guys get letters from McGonagall?"

Harry nodded politely, seeing as his mouth was full, while Ron spoke through his food a much mumbled "Yeah," crumbs flying from his mouth.

"Ronald, please don't talk with your mouth full, it's disgusting," snapped Hermione. She then continued "I have decided I am going back to Hogwarts, I think it'd be wonderful to see the castle again. I hope we can all go back together."

Ron swallowed, "Hermione, what's the point in going? You could get any job you wanted."

"Because, first of all, I don't even know what I want to do with my life. Second, I think finishing my education is important. Are you guys not going?" she asked.

Harry shook his head no, took a moment to swallow the food in his mouth, "Me and Ron already signed our contracts to become Aurors, Hermione. We can't just back out-"

"And you just decided to go without even talking to me," Ron interrupted. "I mean really Hermione, did you even think about me, about us, at all when you decided this?"
"Don't interrupt Harry like that! And yes I did. Whether or not you were going, I knew I was. I had hoped we'd all be going back together, but either way, I need to do what's best for me Ron," Hermione huffed. "Furthermore, if our relationship can't survive our separation for the term, than maybe this just isn't meant to be Ronald!" she shouted, nearing hysteria.

"Well how is this relationship supposed to work, when you do things like this Hermione!" he yelled back. Hermione glared at him, tears in her eyes. Before either of them could so much as blink Hermione had vanished.

Hermione had performed wandless magic. She'd apparated herself back home where she broke down in sobs. How could he talk to me like that? And in front of Harry too. He humiliated me, all because I made a decision without his permission first. Hours past like this with Hermione hardly noticing. She suddenly stopped crying, she'd heard a noise. It sounded like someone apparating into my house. If it's Ron, I'll kill him. She quietly went downstairs, wand at the ready, only to see Ginny Weasley.

"Sorry my brother's a git, Harry told me everything," Ginny said by way of explanation. "Of course you should go back to school if it's what you want, and I'm not just saying that because I have to go," she smirked.

"Thanks Gin, I needed to hear that,"

"No problem, but I didn't just come over to tell you you're right. Want to have a girl's night in?"

"Sure, why not," Hermione had never had a girls night, but she was willing to give it a go.

"Awesome!" Ginny seemed positively gleeful now. "How about we start with a make-over," seeing the look on Hermione's face she quickly added "It'll cheer you up, I promise! Besides, it'll be fun!"

"Alright," said Hermione, unwilling to damper Ginny's spirits.

"Yay, alright you take a shower, I'll get everything ready,"

Three hours later, since Ginny had tried several different styles on Hermione, she finally allowed Hermione to look at herself in the mirror. The result was stunning.

Oh wow, Gin, this is amazing!" Hermione said, stunned. "How did you do this?"

"I've picked up some spells in my time," Ginny said with a smirk, "want me to teach them to you? They'd only take you an additional fifteen minutes in the mornings."

"That's it? Of course! Wait, why'd it take three hours now?" Hermione asked.

"Well, I couldn't decide on what I liked best," Ginny laughed. Ginny then taught Hermione several spells each for different hairstyles, and make-up options. Hermione learned quickly, and vowed to use the spells quite frequently in the future.

Hermione and Ginny stayed up until midnight talking and watching television, which Ginny understood from Arthur's fascination with "Muggle stuff". As they both were getting quite sleepy, and neither felt like setting Ginny up a bed, they decided to just sleep together in Hermione's bed.

"Thanks for everything Gin, you're a great friend,"

"No problem, it's what friends do," Ginny smiled.

"Goodnight"

"Goodnight, Hermione"