Disclaimer- Harry Potter doesn't belong to me. All credit belongs to J K Rowling.

Chapter One

Hermione Granger was now at the age of twenty-five and was still clueless as to what she wanted to do with her life. She had attended a muggle university for seven years to obtain her masters in Chemistry, but now that she had the degree, she was unsure what to do with it.

School was her life. After finishing her degree, she felt as though she was lost in the world. All that Hermione knew was that she had to find a job and stick with it because student scholarships and loans didn't help you in the real world.

Hermione had also considered returning to the world of magic and seeing what job she could obtain there. As appealing as that sounded, that also meant that she would have to face the ghosts of her past.

Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley were one of the two most famous couples in the wizarding world. Rumors were spreading that the couple were soon to be married to have many children as was the Weasley tradition. One look at the couple would make people sick seeing how love the two were.

In reality, Ron had a ring and was to purpose to Hermione, but that future was taken from her one cold night in December.

It was the year after Harry Potter had defeated Voldemort and there were several Deatheaters still on the run. This lie in the back of the Golden Trios minds as they struggled to continue their lives without the existence of Voldemort.

Maybe Ron had not been keeping his guard up. If only Hermione were with him. If only she hadn't insisted that she stay at the Burrow with Harry and Ginny to continue helping Ginny and Mrs. Weasley make Christmas dinner. If only he had stayed home and not went out to get the Firewhiskey for the Weasley men. All the "if only"s, but nothing that could save her darling boyfriend. Fate had a dealt a mean hand.

As Ronald Weasley was leaving Diagon Alley, he was hit with the worst unforgivable curse: the Avada Kadavra.

The Aurors were still unsure as to who the killer was. All that was concluded was that it had to be a Deatheater out for revenge. This person was still at large.

The day of the funeral, Hermione left the wizarding world to rejoin the muggle world. She started school that semester and remained in school until she obtained her degree. School work took her mind away from her old life. School was her means of escape from the reality of losing her best friend and lover.

She didn't completely rid her life of all things involving the wizarding world. She still kept contact with Harry and Ginny. They were allowed contact as long as they never brought up her dead boyfriend's name. It was obvious that she was not over Ron, nor did she have any intentions to try to get over his death. She, instead, wiped his memory from her life completely.

Harry and Ginny rarely have the opportunity to see their friend and only did so when they came to see her. Hermione never entered their house in fear of the memories that might hit her if she did. Then, there was the matter that Harry and Ginny's youngest son was named Ronald, Ronnie for short.

It wasn't that Hermione wasn't happy for the couple. She had made the exception to attend their wedding and was there for the births of their three children. She was ecstatic for them. They just were a reminder of the life that she should have had as well. She was sure that she and Ron would have a least two children by now, but, again, that was all taken from her with two spoken words.

Hermione was still thinking about her dilemma when a knock sounded at her dormitory door. She opened it to reveal Emily, her best friend.

Emily glanced around the room. "Have you not started packing?"

"No, I don't like the idea of leaving this place. It's the only home I have had in years." Hermione replied sadly.

"Oh, Herm," Emily said pulling a stray blond curl out of her blue eyes. "I am sure you can find a decent apartment that will put this old dorm room to shame."

"I need a job for an apartment, don't I?"

"I thought you had filled out applications. I remember all those apps that you had stacked up the night I wanted you to come to that party."

Hermione shook her head. "None of those jobs appeal to me Em. I have always seen myself as a teacher and there are no openings for that."

"With your GPA, you could find a job anywhere." Emily said as she walked over to Hermione's book shelf and started packing books into an empty box.

"I don't know, I am going to keep my options open."

"Well, if all else fails, I am sure my folks won't mind if you stay with us for a while until you can get on your feet."

Hermione sighed, "Thanks for the offer Em, but really I could intrude."

Emily waved her hand at her best friend. "It wouldn't be a problem. My parents love you."

"I'll think about it," Hermione said even though she knew she wouldn't.

After the woman finished packing up the remainder of the room, Hermione bid her friend a good night, changed into her night cloths, and fell into a restless sleep filled with nightmares of Ron dying at the end of her wand.