Hermione Granger dug her heavy shovel from the dirt and gave a great sigh. She glanced around at the thin, wiry strands of wheat surrounding her from every direction and was jealous of Harry Potter, once again. Among other things, Harry had bought a farm after the war ended, as he loved everything about them. He invited Hermione, Ron, and a few other remaining Hogwarts students to come stay at it the whole summer this year. They had all happily agreed. The teenagers had all lost some of their innocence and free spirit in the battle and wished to gain it back. Hopefully, working on the beautiful farm would put them in a good mood again.

Hermione knew it put her in a good mood. Even after planting wheat and other crops all day with Ron, she felt amazing. There was never a time in her whole life when she felt this… free. The wind licked at her faced as she watched the sun set, turning magnificent shades of purple and orange before it finally flickered out.

"Hey! Hermione! Where are you?" a deep voice burst out of the silence, sounding very close. She kept very quiet, playing her daily game of hide and seek with her best friend. Soon after, a mass of freckly limbs attacked Hermione as she shook with laughter and fell over. Hermione continued giggling and tried to push Ron Weasley off of her. He finally got up, but not before licking her face like a dog and messing up her already unruly tresses.

"You're so strange, Ron!" she yelled while grinning and smacking him playfully.

"Hey, what can I say, I'm a great catch," Ron said while smiling.

Hermione and Ron had decided that it would be best if they just stayed friends after the war. It would never work out between the two of them, simple as that. Besides, they didn't want to ruin their great friendship with an awkward relationship that ended badly.

"Let's go back to the house," Hermione said, lighting up her wand with a simple lumos, and pushed lightly Ron to get him moving. They walked the whole way back in a comfortable non-silence, whacking each other and making harmless insults in the moonlight. When they reached the back door, Ron pressed his lips to her forehead quickly, much like an older brother or father figure would do.

"Goodnight, sis," he said, giving a small smile. Harry and Ron had taken to calling her their sister lately. Hermione actually loved this; she always had longed for a brother and now she had two.

"Goodnight, Ron," she told him and walked into the girls side of the gigantic yet lovely farmhouse. The house was built with two separate sides, a big wall with a pretty wood door separating them, so the girls and the boys decided that they would each stay in one side of the house. The wall was Hermione's favorite part of the house. It was covered completely with a variety of things; old mirrors and doors, dried flowers hanging in picture frames, and paintings done by both famous artists and the current occupants of the residence. There was something warming about it that she loved so much. Many sleepless nights had been spent just looking at the paintings, wishing she could live here forever.

"Omigosh, how was your date!" Cho Chang practically screamed in Hermione's ear. She rubbed it tenderly while making a sour face at the pretty Asian girl.

"One, you could hardly call working all day then walking back home a date. Two, how many times do I have to tell you that there will never be anything other than friendship between Ron and I? And three, you just broke my bloody eardrums!" Hermione told her rather enthusiastic friend. Cho only responded by laughing.

"Oh, I know, I just wanted to annoy the hell out of you!" she explained happily, making Hermione scowl at first, then laugh out loud at Cho's craziness.

"Besides, we all know Luna will end up with Ron in the end," the raven-haired girl said, smiling impishly as Luna Lovegood blushed a deep scarlet.

"Will not!" she yelled at Cho. Hermione poorly concealed her grin and went to go comfort the petite blonde.

"Cho, be nice," she reminded. Cho harrumphed and then went back upstairs.

"Really though," Hermione told Luna, "You two would make a cute couple. I personally know that Ron has a thing for blondes." Hermione then walked away, leaving Luna with her mouth wide open.