Author's Note: This is my first shot at writing a Fanfic, so reviews would be very much appreciated! (Even if you have nothing good to say). The main pairing will be Bellatrix/Hermione, and my goal is to keep them in character as best as possible. Hope you enjoy!

Warnings: None in this chapter that I can think of.

Disclaimer: This is a non-profit, amateur effort not intended to infringe on the rights of JK Rowling or any other copyright holder. All recognizable characters are not my own.

Chapter 1: Rebirth

"The story doesn't end here

Don't fear for our hero ain't near the end, my friend

Let's take it back to how it all began: with a proposition."

Streetlight Manifesto, Everything Goes Numb

There was a stirring. A deep, almost imperceptible stirring. Quiet and patient... and oh, so magnificent. Recovery was slow. Agonizingly slow. But power will come to those who wait.

Wait.

~~~~~~~~~~-Liminal-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hermione sighed as she signed and notarized the last report on her desk. 7pm, she thought, and it's the Fifth Anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts tomorrow. I'm not ready.

Hermione thought things would be simple after the war, or even just simpler. She knew there would be grief and pain, but she wouldn't have to run anymore. She wouldn't have to worry about keeping Ron or Harry alive, she wouldn't have to wake in fear of the slightest sound, there would be no more insane plans to find the next horcrux. She wouldn't be living constantly on edge anymore; she would be… well, free.

And in a way, she was right. Despite the amount of losses, Voldemort's defeat came with an all-consuming, cool relief. They made it. So many people died, but they survived. It was enough to make even the strongest of them cry like a child.

After things settled down, it wasn't hard for the Golden Trio to get well-paying Ministry positions, and Hermione was comfortable working in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. She wanted to start a revolution, she wanted to be a trailblazer for Muggleborns in the Ministry and put an end to centuries of corruption. There was no better place to start than here.

But it wasn't long before Hermione had to take off those rose-tinted glasses. She was the only Muggleborn to be at this high of a position in the Ministry, and even Hermione had to admit that she wasn't much more than a very well-paid, glorified paper-pusher.

Just last week she witnessed a Muggleborn assistant get ousted in favor of some rich Pureblood. The report said he failed to perform to satisfaction, but everyone knew Galleons played a bigger role than anyone's work ethic. No one would care about the Muggleborn with no connections getting fired for no reason. Kingsley was a good man, but he couldn't clean up everything.

With a wave of her wand, Hermione sent her papers off; she was tired. She gathered her things, said goodbye to a few coworkers, and took the floo network home. Dusting off as she entered her flat, she dropped her things on the floor and quickly picked out a dress for tomorrow. She had to look nice, it would do her no good appearing as though she were rushed. She pulled out a soft gray dress from her wardrobe.

Fitting, she thought, I can appear just as plain as my life has turned out to be. Her fire had left her long ago. Things with Ron didn't work out, her position in the Ministry meant nothing, and to the world she was still just Potter's Muggleborn. No longer Hermione Granger, brains of the Golden Trio- just a talented, nameless Mudblood. It made her sick. Clutching her arm, she let her colorless tears fall onto her angry red scar. I was meant to be more than this.

The war was every color. The green of the Forest of Dean, yellow dancing across the golden fields surrounding the burrow, the beautiful black of the night sky. Even in all it's death, the war was alive. It was alive and breathing, as if you could grasp your soul right in front of you. Hermione's magic would radiate as she pushed her limits. But Merlin, the temperature of Tonks' hand was blue, there was just so much, too much red-

After the war, Hermione needed something to occupy herself with - a distraction from all the post-battle commotion, all the death. What better to focus on than a seemingly irreversible memory charm? She couldn't live with the guilt of meddling with her parents' lives for much longer. And so went years of mind-breaking work and research, and she finally perfected a reversal spell. Albeit, she hadn't actually tried it, but she was sure it would work. It had to.

Hermione had the spell worked out for months, but she couldn't bear to use it. She was afraid; afraid to face her parents, afraid of what they would think of her. Would they understand? Would they even be able to face me? Will they ever trust me again?

Gods, stop thinking like this! You took down Voldemort, you survived torture under Bellatrix Lestrange, but you can barely show your face in public or even begin to approach your parents. Where's your famous Gryffindor bravery? She sighed, nothing like a good old mental pep talk, I feel ridiculous.

She would not allow herself to cry or hide any longer. Tomorrow, she would go to Hogwarts with Harry and Ron. She would see all her old friends, she would restore her parents, and it would be ok. All would be well.

~~~~~~~~~~-Liminal-~~~~~~~~~~

Hermione arrived at Hogwarts early that afternoon. Well, here goes nothing, she thought as she apparated to the front gates.

"'Mione!" Hermione jumped as she was immediately enveloped in a giant hug, glasses poking uncomfortably into her face.

"Oh Harry, I've missed you." It was true, they three of them never spent quality time like they used to. People drift apart, and Hermione accepted this. "Where's Ginny? And Ron?"

"We're all waiting in the Great Hall. The elves really outdid themselves today, Ron's eating more than he did when he was a student! Can hardly blame him though, with how long you took to arrive," Harry smiled.

Hermione was surprised, she was sure she wouldn't be the last to come. "I'm sorry, I was up late last night and I hadn't picked out what to wear yet, and I was just working so late I-"

"No harm done 'Mione. But listen- I worry about you. Ginny says you won't accept her invitations to lunch anymore, and Ron and I haven't seen you since Christmas. I just want you to be ok."

The sincerity in Harry's voice was heart-wrenching. He adjusted well after the war, and the Auror Department was such a good fit for him. Hermione was almost jealous of how things just seemed to roll off of him.

"Thank you Harry. I won't lie to you, things have been hard. But I can do this."

Harry looked at her with somber eyes. "You've changed so much Hermione. We all have. Come on, let's go meet the others."

Hermione took Harry's arm as he lead her into the Great Hall. Harry was right, the first thing the hit her was just how great everything smelled. Foods she couldn't even name were piled high on every table.

As they walked further, Hermione spotted the trademark red of Ginny, Ron, and George.

"Hello!" she gave a wide smile to everyone present, "Merlin, I've missed you all."

"Mione! I'm sure Ron's missed boning you more!" George laughed.

Ron blushed, almost choking on a piece of pumpkin bread "George, she's only just sat down. Spare the lady some dignity." He turned to Hermione. "Hi 'Mione, you look beautiful."

"Hear that? Ron said she's beautifullllllll"

Hermione sighed, choosing to ignore George. "Thank you Ron. And Ginny, how was your Quidditch Tour? I didn't think you were back yet, tell me all about it."

Hermione didn't really care for quidditch, or even really small talk. But conversation came easy, she missed her friends. Before they knew it, it was time for Harry to give his speech.

He looks so accomplished. Hermione looked on as Harry was about to address the large crowd of people. The Great Hall had never been so full, even for the Tri-Wizard Tournament. This suits him.

Harry cleared his throat, casting a Sonorous Charm before speaking.

"Thank you for coming here today. I know this is a hard day for all of us, the remembering. And I know that many of us would choose not to, but… we need to be brave. We need to make this world safer for everyone. This is what everyone who died for us would have wanted. And though we have come a long way, there is still much progress to be made. There are still rogue Death Eaters active under our noses, and resistance groups grow stronger every day. It is our duty to protect what we and others have worked so hard for. We honor the sacrifices of Emmeline Vance, Colin Creevey, Darla Somfrey…." Hermione listened as the list went on and on. This was the part she hated most. Waiting for the deaths to end. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

It felt like hours until Harry was finally finished speaking and returned to his seat next to Hermione. "How's work in the Auror Department been, Harry? Have you found any leads on the remaining or uprising Death Eaters that I don't about?"

"Nothing more than you know, 'Mione. At least we have the most powerful in Azkaban already. Lucius sold out information in return for House Arrest, though I doubt Draco is happy to have him back."

"It's a bloody shame we can't get anything out of Lestrange though. There are plenty still out there, the bastards won't quit. I'm sure she knows something," Ron grumbled.

Immediately memories flooded back of Malfoy Manor, of all the pain, the torture. "Ron, when you're all trying to get information…. Do you torture them?"

"Well yeah 'Mione. How else are we supposed to get anything useful? Nothing like they'd do of course. And soon the Dementors won't even be in there, there has to be something there to make it a prison."

Hermione felt sick. She knew there needed to some kind of means for a safe society, but she still couldn't condone that kind of pain. But pain for pleasure on the other hand…

But Hermione was getting ahead of herself. It was getting late into the afternoon, and she still had things to do. She said goodbye to all her friends and left the celebration with a bittersweet taste in her mouth.

It was time to meet her parents.

Author's Note: If you're upset about not seeing Bellatrix, don't worry! I promise you, she's coming soon, within the next couple chapters. Also I'm sorry if this wasn't that exciting of a read, I was trying to set up some background. Thank you for reading, let me know how I did :)