'Please, I didn't take anything,' Hermione sobbed under the weight of the witch on top of her. 'I don't believe it,' Bellatrix spat in her face. The older witch reached for an object attached to her belt with a laugh that was just short of being classified as psychotic. Bellatrix held the object delicately between her slender fingers. 'Do you know what I do to liars? Especially little mudblood liars like you?' Bellatrix asked the younger witch, chuckling as Hermione whimpered and twisted beneath her. Bellatrix trailed the knife down Hermione's exposed arm, leaning in close to her ear. 'I permanently remind them of the filth they are,' Bellatrix whispers as she digs the knife into Hermione's skin.

Hermione woke with a start, the scars on her arm searing in red hot pain. Taking a deep steadying breath she swung her legs over the side of her bed and padded to the bathroom. 'I can't believe Harry dealt with this kind of thing since he was eleven,' she muttered as she began to run the bath. As she turned to take off her oversized t-shirt she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her brown eyes were red and puffy and the bags underneath them were darker than they've ever been. Sighing, she ran a hand through her unruly curls and then proceeded to pull her t-shirt over her head.
It had been nearly two years since the Battle of Hogwarts, nearly two years since her torture at Malfoy Manor and yet the memories of that day plagued her dreams every night. She had tried everything to get rid of the nightmares but nothing, not even a dreamless sleep potion seemed to work. She had even tried getting herself piss drunk once, only to wake with a start early the next morning screaming in pain and nursing a hangover.
The sound of the bath overflowing broke Hermione from her thoughts. Hermione spun on her heel and rushed forward to turn off the taps. As she took her second step her bare feet slipped on the wet tile and she lost her footing, falling hard onto her elbow. 'Great. Just bloody-fucking great,' Hermione yelled as she turned off the water and collapsed onto her bathroom floor into a wet, sobbing mess. A knock on the door to her flat brought the young witch back to reality. She vanished the water on her floor with a quick flick of her wand, pulled her fuzzy white bathrobe over her shoulders and stalked to her front door.
Hermione threw open her front door in a rage that quickly dissipated as her brain registered who was standing on the other side.
'Have I come at a bad time?' asked Minerva McGonagall upon seeing the young witches puffy red eyes and tear-stained face.
'Professor? What are you doing here?' Hermione asked slowly as she stepped aside to let her former professor into her flat.
'I came to talk to you about some very important matters, but I could come back later if you need time to, er, gather your thoughts,' Minerva said uncertainly as she lingered on the threshold.
'No, Professor. Now is as good a time as any, just give me a moment to put on some proper clothes,' Hermione blushed as she realized she was only wearing a bathrobe in front of her former professor. Minerva snorted as she took a seat on the young witches worn sofa and waited for her to return.
'You said you had important matters to discuss, Professor?' Hermione asked as she re-emerged from her bedroom in a pair of sweats and a t-shirt.
'Please, Hermione, call me Minerva, I haven't been your professor for nearly two years,' she said with a laugh.
'As you wish, Minerva,' Hermione said, the name feeling unfamiliar and uncomfortable to hear coming out of her mouth.
'I'd like to offer you the Transfiguration position at Hogwarts,' Minerva stated with a smile, 'Professor Wimbledon has decided to retire and I could think of nobody better to teach the position than yourself.' Hermione sat dumbfounded on the couch. She couldn't believe that Minerva trusted her enough to teach her former subject; after all, she was only two years out of school and hadn't even taken her N.E.W.T's.
'Professor, I-' Hermione began. 'And of course it would just be logical for you as a former Gryffindor to take on the roll as head of house as well,' McGonagall interrupted as she stood.
'You're kidding. Are you sure Minerva?' Hermione asked.
'Of course I'm sure, silly girl. I wouldn't be here if I wasn't. I'll send an owl later in the week with further instructions and a house-elf to pack your things,' the elder witch smiled as she turned quickly on her heel and disappeared with a crack, leaving a very stunned Hermione Granger in her wake.