Chapter 1
I woke up in the burrow with a smile. He was dead. We had defeated him, although also destroying our beloved school. With the use of magic however, Hogwarts didn't take too long to fix and they were already sending out letters to the students. I went to the bathroom, brushed my teeth, and headed down the burrow's endless stairs.
"Good morning dear! How are you?" Mrs. Weasley asked a little less cheerful as usual. "Still shaken as I imagine we all are…" I say sadly remembering all the dead bodies of friends and frenemies as Lavender Brown's death goes. Harry and I both knew Fred's death was going to affect the family harshly yet George seemed pretty strong for when we saw him.
It had been a week since the war and I had visited my family recently, realized they were alive, cast the counter curse, and brought them back to the UK. I then came back to my wizarding family since they were who I needed to be with at the moment.
Harry came down the stairs, eyes swollen, red, and puffy. Every night Harry had woken up like this, Ginny had told me. He had been feeling guiltier than ever since all the deaths. Colin, Lavender, Fred, Lupin, Tonks, Snape, and countless others. I run up and hug him since I had only come in last night when everyone was asleep. "Hermione!" he said faintly. I looked in his eyes and said "Even if you weren't alive Voldemort would've gotten them and more." I say trying to calm him down as he smiles for a second and then it leaves as quickly as it came. He nods and then steps back. A lot of pressure though was off his shoulders seeing as everyone dangerous was dead or in prison and those people were never coming back.
Ginny and Ron come down the stairs and I'm hugging Ginny in seconds. Ron comes up to hug me and looks hesitant since our relationship hasn't really been determined yet. I knew that we only kissed because we were in the heat of the moment. We were emotional and thought we were going to die so it makes since to just live a little. I knew he had zero feelings for me even though I knew I couldn't live without him. That last day though seemed like we were together.
I end up hugging him because I couldn't resist. Then I back off, fix his hair, and then sit down in the Weasley living room onto a couch. "So Hermione, I take it your parents are ok?" Ginny asks carefully. "Yeah, they were fine I did the counter curse then walked inside to see them in the same position as the day I left. I sat down explained everything and then asked if I could stay with my wizarding family until everyone's settled. They said I could after I spent some time with them and now here I am!"
"Brilliant!" said Ginny. She seemed to have moved on from Fred's death pretty fast. There would be a massive funeral for all those lost in the battle tomorrow to bring closure over the entire wizarding world. "We've been pretty good for everything that's happened. George is still in a little shock and not quite himself but really no one is…" Ginny said with a little bit of a sad tone to her voice.
"Well, I'm glad I could be here for tomorrow." I say cautiously trying not to cause anyone to burst in emotion which I'm sure has been happening every time someone breathes the wrong way.
"Oh dear, owls from Hogwarts it looks like!" Mrs. Weasley says shocked. We all stand up and run to the kitchen to see the letters we have received. I open mine to reveal a long note
Dear Ms. Hermione Granger,
We are pleased to inform you of another magical year at Hogwarts as today is only the 15th of June the school should be up and running by the first of September. We shall understand if you do not wish to finish your 7th year at Hogwarts but we think it's for the best as career opportunities are best with a complete education. We are very sorry for any losses you have had at the recent war and understand that Hogwarts might not be the best way for you to be brought closure. Thank you for considering and we hope to see you back.
~From your new Headmistress
Professor Minerva McGonagall
P.S. Thank you for your braveness throughout the war. He wouldn't be gone without you and Mr. Weasly.
"Oh my Merlin! Yes! Thank god. I would've never gotten a job without my last year of Hogwarts." I say. Ginny seems to be the only one happy too. Then Ron gets happy and we realize he's just a slow reader while Harry looks unhappy. "Harry? What's wrong?" Ginny says for all of us. "Look, I don't think it's a good idea to go back. Hogwarts isn't going to be the same without him." I swallow nervously and walk up to him. "I understand Harry but the only way to be an Auror is if you take your last course." I step back as Ron walks up and says "C'mon Mate you have to go. I'm not going without you." "Great thanks mate just what I need more guilt and pressure." Harry whisper screams and then shoots upstairs.
Ron steps forward to go after him but I motion that Ginny should go up as she starts for him up the stairs leaving me and Ron there awkwardly. "So, Hogwarts." I say anyway but smoothly. "Yeah,…school." He says just as awkwardly and I walk into the kitchen to help Mrs. Weasly make breakfast.