Hello you guys, I'm back! Well, I'm hoping I haven't been forgotten, which I probably have. I've been awfully busy for the past year and I still am, but I really wanted to write something, so here we are!

And to the new readers I'm hoping are reading this story, :P, also feel free to check out my two other stories you can find on my profile page :D

And anyone who reads this fic, please please please leave a review! Your reviews are the only source of encouragement for me as a writer! Just tell me what you think about the story, anything I could do to make it better, just whatever!

This is a Dramione(Draco and Hermione) story, and in this story, Ron and Hermione were never together, never had feelings for each other. They're just the best of friends.

Disclaimer: I have only thought of this little plot here. Not an amazing entire magical universe, no. Cause that was done by JKR!

RER(Read, Enjoy and Review)!

After The War

"Today, we raise our wands to all those souls who sacrificed themselves for the future of this world. A very bright future. And on this day, we shall promise to them, wherever they may be, that we shall work hard to the best of our abilities to build that future."

As Kingsley stopped speaking, Hermione bit down hard on her bottom lip trying her best to keep from making a noise. Unable to keep it in, she let a strangled sob escape her throat. Harry put his hand on her shoulder, wordlessly comforting her. Hermione gave him a slight nod telling him she would be okay. She then turned to face Ron on her other side.

His once sparkling blue eyes had lost their liveliness. Now all you could see were two empty wells that conveyed the extreme sorrow they held deep within them. She could clearly see the tears that threatened to fall from his eyes.

It wasn't fair, Hermione thought as she was reminded of Fred yet again. It just wasn't fair! What had Fred done to die at the hands of a Death Eater?! The rules of life were just not fair. She never really understood them. Why should the Weasleys who had done nothing but good, suffer? Oh and the Malfoys! Despite everything they had done, all three of them were well and alive! Well, Malfoy Sr was now in Azkaban but why shouldn't he have died? What had he done to deserve life? But being locked in Azkaban for life was probably worse. Then again, it probably didn't go that way for Lucius Malfoy. She supposed he was used to living the dark, gloomy life; it wouldn't make much of a difference to him. Shaking her head, she brought herself back to the gathering at the Ministry of Magic. Her eyes immediately flew to the Malfoys.

Draco Malfoy stood straight and tall, but his head was no longer held high. His face was mostly emotionless and blank, yet Hermione could see a flicker of something else in his eyes that she couldn't quite comprehend. What had happened to all that 'I'm a Pureblood and that makes me superior' mania? He had only gotten off from going to Azkaban because of his mother's plea to the Wizengamot that although he was officially a Death Eater with the fancy skull and serpent tattoo, he had never wanted to become one. He had to do it because their lives were in the hands of the Dark Lord. And her plea was accepted only because she had saved Harry Potter. And for that, Hermione was thankful to her. Looking at Narcissa Malfoy, she almost felt sorry for her.

Gone was the regal Lady Malfoy whose pictures she had seen years ago in the Prophet. Now, all that remained was a shadow. A shadow of a former life she once led. The Lady Malfoy looked run down. Not how a 'Malfoy' should look at all.

"Thank you."

Kingsley's deep voice caused Hermione to shake her head yet again and come out of her musings. She couldn't feel sorry for this woman. She just couldn't. This was the wife of a notorious Death Eater. Turning away, Hermione focused her attention on the Minister for Magic.

"I would like to thank each and every one of you for your contribution in rebuilding our establishments that were destroyed by Lord Voldemort." Kingsley said, putting extra emphasis on the word 'Lord' and moving his fingers in a quotation mark motion. "This has been an extremely hard time for all of us. But that chapter is over now. This moment onwards, we begin anew. Afresh." He smiled broadly at the crowd.

"Starting tomorrow, the Ministry of Magic will begin to function properly as it should have ages ago. Good luck to you all." With that, Kingsley left the stage and everyone began to disperse.

Hermione turned to Harry only to see that was lightly patting Ron's back, who had silent tears streaming down his face. Hermione's heart broke. No one deserved this. No one at all. Well, maybe some people, but she wasn't going to let herself think about that again. She blinked to hold in her own tears, then took Ron's hand and began to lead him away to one of the fireplaces with Harry behind them. They got to the nearest fireplace and one by one flooed away calling, "Granger residence!", unaware of the pair of eyes observing them.

Hermione stumbled a little as she stepped out of the fireplace into her childhood home. As always, she was once again filled with memories of her past at the sight of her home. Having a small dinner with her parents, cuddling with her parents as they watched her favourite movie, coming into the house with her parents after playing to her heart's content in the snow outside. Her parents. Her parents, who were now in Australia thinking that they were Wendell and Monica Wilkins. Believing that there was nobody in this world for them except each other. All because she had modified their memories. The emotional part of her hated herself for what she did that day. But another part, the logical part of her said that she did the right thing. It had been the best way to keep them safe from that insane psychopath.

Hermione had initially planned to get herself a house in a Muggle locality, somewhere away from the city and her old home. But having given it some thought, she had felt like she wanted to come back. She had wanted to come back to the place she could not face after it was devoid of her parents. She had wanted to sit down on her bed and cry in her childhood room, she had wanted to eat breakfast in the very same kitchen alone, for the first time in her life. She had wanted to grieve. Everybody else probably didn't understand how she felt. But she had wanted to stay at her home and relieve all those happy moments she had once shared with her family and cry to her heart's content. She had needed that.

And Ron, well, he just wasn't himself since Fred's death. In fact the entire Burrow had lost its cheery atmosphere. Molly had lost her beautiful, welcoming smile that usually lit up her face. She mostly never talked now, and never left the house. She, along with George went up to the twins' room and stayed there the whole day just going through Fred's things, remembering. Arthur simply went out of the house in the morning and came back late in the evening. No one knew where he went, and no one ever asked. Although Ron wanted to be with his mother, he just couldn't. It broke him to see her the way he had never seen her before. Blank and emotionless. None of the other Weasleys had attended the gathering that day.

As for Harry, he now had Grimmauld Place, but it just felt too big and too lonely for him. And the fact that he continued to blame himself for everything that had transpired during the War didn't help either.

So Harry, Ron and Hermione hung out at her place all day, then Ron would return to the Burrow for the night. Harry would either go with him or stay back with Hermione.

"I would just love to get my hands on Augustus Rookwood." Ron's voice brought her back to the present. He spat the name as if it was the dirtiest thing he had ever come across.

"Ron, we've talked about this." Harry said, sitting down on the couch beside his friend. "I do share your stance on this, but that filth is in Azkaban awaiting the Dementor's kiss. That's pretty bad enough."

Ron sighed. "I know mate. But I'd still like to give him a piece of my mind." He placed his hand over his eyes, trying to stop his tears from breaking out again. He then shook his head and turned to Hermione, whose eyes were slightly moist as she stared around the living room. "So Mione, what's happening with restoring your parents' memories? What did the people at the Ministry say?"

"Yeah, I spoke with the Obliviators, and they –" her voice broke and she sunk down to the floor, her tears making a reappearance.

Harry and Ron rushed over to her. "What is it? What did they say Mione?" Harry asked.

She sobbed louder. After a minute or two, she brought up her hands to rub at her eyes. "It's difficult. Very difficult. It would have been a lot easier if it were just a small omission. But I- I removed everything. I took out a huge part of their lives, made them forget they had a child and changed everything about who they were!" She hit the floor with her fist. "And if we try to restore their memories the usual way, they might just lose their minds and go insane." She started to sob uncontrollably now, holding her head in her hands.

"Mione wait, what do you mean, 'the usual way'?" Ron asked, trying to get her to lift her head.

"They said there are other ways we could try." Her voice came out small and muffled. "But they're very complicated and risky, and it's highly improbable that they will work."

"Don't you speak that way Hermione." Harry said, his voice comforting but taking on a stern tone at the same time. "You are the brightest witch of our age. If you can't figure something out, then nobody can. So stop crying and use that brain of yours to get them back here." He finished with his hands folded against his chest.

"And don't give us that 'it's complicated' crap." Ron's statement made Hermione smile wanly. "I don't know what I would do without you idiots." She said.

Ron smiled and ruffled her hair affectionately. "Now go and wash that ugly face of yours." He said playfully. "Harry and I will try to whip us up some food."

She smiled once more and stood up, her smile growing wider as she grinned and punched Ron in the arm. "Ow!" he exclaimed as he laughed and followed Harry into the kitchen.

She shut the bathroom door behind her and turned around, catching sight of her reflection in the mirror. Dear god, she was a mess. Suddenly, on impulse, she slapped herself hard on both cheeks.

"I'll do it." She said, her words laced with a never before seen determination. "I'll get you back, Mum and Dad. No matter what it takes."

Okay, that's the first chapter, this one was all about Hermione and her life after the War. I really hope you liked it!

And I'm going to try really hard to update weekly, I promise :D

And the part about Hermione wanting to come back to her old home; I don't know how many of you have felt that way, but after I lost my Grandfather, which was three years ago, I used to pick up items that belonged to him; his sweater, his pictures and just sit down and cry. I still feel that way sometimes, like I want to cry and remember every moment I've shared with him. So that's why I put that part in there. Please do share your experience if you've ever felt this way too, cause sharing stuff really helps and you feel light headed after, which is how I feel right now :D

Thank you guys for reading my story, and please do leave me a review!

Until next time,

Sasha.