~Chapter 1~
Hermione looked back at the remains of Hogwarts after the war. There were too many dead bodies, too many injured. She stood with Ron and Harry and tried to feel happy that Voldemort was finally gone. Dead. Everyone tried, but they couldn't. There were too many white cloths shrouding the bodies. Harry glanced over, concerned. "Hermione? Are you okay? You look kind of pale." She looked up and tried for a weak smile. "Yes, I'm fine Harry." Hermione felt a warm pressure on her hand and saw Ron smiling at her. "It'll be fine, 'Mione. We'll be fine."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
A few weeks later, an owl tapped at Hermione's muggle home. She stood up and let it in. It hooted softly before nipping her finger. "Ouch!" She looked around for a bag of owl treats and found one on the nightstand. As it ate the treat, she unraveled the parchment that was tied to its leg.
Miss Hermione Granger,
We are pleased to inform you that Hogwarts is rebuilt and again a magical school for witches and wizards. If you will be joining us for the next academical year, please fill out the form below and send it to us at once. Thank you for waiting with us until Hogwarts was rebuilt.
Headmistress,
Minerva McGonagall
At once, Hermione filled out the form and attached it to the owl. It hooted again before flying out the window. She decided to go over to the Burrow to see her fiancé, Ron.
~.~.~.~.
Harry glanced over Daphne's shoulder. She sighed and took his hand. "Harry? Are you okay? You look worried. Is it Hermione?" He looked up and met her eyes. He sighed and dropped his gaze. "Yes. She's supposed to be coming over later today."
"You haven't told her about us?" Daphne frowned, her green eyes shining with disapproval.
"No… She's getting worse with her hatred of Slytherins."
"Harry. It's been nine months. I think it's time for you to tell her about your girlfriend?"
"Yes I know. That's why I'm so nervous today. I'm supposed to tell her today."
"Good. And while you're at it, why don't you tell her about your friendships with a few select Slytherins? Such as Draco and Blaise?"
Harry groaned and put his head in his arms. Daphne walked around the table and gave him a hug. "Oh, Harry. It'll be okay. She's your best friend. She'll understand. And if she doesn't, then well, she's not really your friend."
Suddenly the floo brightened up with green flames. "Harry?" Hermione called out. "Where are you?" Harry moaned again and called out, "In here, 'Mione!" Hermione appeared in the doorway of the kitchen, her smile slowly disappearing when she saw Daphne. "Expelliarmus!" Daphne quickly brought out her wand and shouted Protego!" Daphne visually relaxed as the shield protected her. Hermione scowled. "Harry. What. Is. She. Doing. Here?" Harry laughed nervously.
"Uh… Hermione? We need to talk." Hermione scoffed.
"Bloody right we need to talk." Hermione walked out the kitchen. Harry quickly gave Daphne a hug and followed Hermione.
~.~.~.~.
BAM! Harry winced as Hermione shoved him towards the wall. She took the collar of his shirt and pulled him up to her face.
"WHY IS SHE HERE?" Hermione roared.
Harry readjusted his glasses and pulled Hermione's fingers off of his shirt collar.
"Hermione please, calm down." He sighed.
"YOU'RE TELLING ME TO CALM DOWN?!"
Harry raked his fingers through his disheveled hair. This wasn't going to turn out well.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you this earlier." He began.
"Yeah you better be." Hermione hissed.
Harry pulled a chair from a nearby dining table.
"But Please," He sat himself down. "Can we talk?" Hermione gave him a look that will haunt his nightmares and sat down on the chair across from him.
"Promise me you won't ask any questions until I finish. Okay?" Hermione eyed him suspiciously then nodded.
Hermione crossed her arms and listened to Harry as he began to talk.
"After the war I never felt the same. Voldemort, Hogwarts, everything. Every day I was either being bombarded with interviewers or receiving praise from every person that saw me."
"But I hated that. I just wanted to be treated like a normal person. I don't think it's fair that I'm getting all the praise when hundreds of other people risked their own lives." Harry paused. "Or even sacrificed their own lives..."
Hermione's heart sunk as she remembered all the people who died in the war.
"Even in the midst of all the attention and gratitude I got, I never felt complete. I couldn't remember the last time I wasn't either fighting or worrying. After Ron left to go back to his family, and you left to your home, I felt like no one was there for me. My two best friends were gone. I wasn't feeling happy then and I felt worse after you guys left. Then suddenly, everything changed; I met Daphne. It didn't matter to me that she was Slytherin. She-"
"Slytherin?" Hermione growled. "Don't you remember? Most of the Slytherins either ran away or betrayed us in the war! They're nothing but-
"Hermione," Harry warned.
"-heartless cowards who flee at-
"Hermione."
"-any sign of trouble! They're malicious, awful, and-"
"HERMIONE!" Harry cried. Hermione froze.
"WILL YOU SHUT UP AND LISTEN?" Harry snapped. Hermione nodded sheepishly.
"Daphne was there to comfort me unlike you!"
Hermione sunk in her seat.
"She was there to help me unlike you! She was there to cheer me up UNLIKE YOU! SO WHO ARE YOU TO ACCUSE HER? You weren't there to help me but she was!"
Burning tears began to tug at the back of her eyes. She turned her head away to hide her face.
Harry closed his eyes. He had just realized what he had said. Oh no, Hermione... What have I done?
Harry reached his hand out on her shoulder. "H-Hermione I'm so sorry, I-I didn't know what I was-" Hermione stood up, salty tears rolling down her cheek. "I think I heard enough." She brushed his hand off, turned, and ran back to the kitchen, heading for the chimney. She grabbed a handful of floo powder.
"Hermione!" Harry cried. Daphne stood up from her seat at the kitchen table. "Hermione? Wh-what are you doing?"
Hermione wiped away the tear that formed at her eyelash and yelled the first thing that formed in her head:
"Hogwarts!" She tossed the powder and jumped in.