Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series or its characters.

"That's it?! Just like that you're leaving?!"

"Hermione I can't take this anymore. This relationship is going nowhere."

"So naturally you take me out to lunch, in a very public area I might add, to break up with me."

Hermione crossed her arms as she fumed at the flushed man sitting across the table from her. She and Christopher had been dating for a month after she was allowed to leave St. Mungos. They had been going out on dinner dates, movies, walks, shopping trips, all normal stuff that couples do. She didn't know anything was wrong until now.

"Better than doing it at the Burrow."

"So why are you breaking up with me? What aren't you happy with about us?"

Christopher ran a hand over his jet black hair, his blue eyes avoiding Hermione's face. "This relationship is like we're in the Hogwart's dormitories. Cuddling, a quick make out session here, a kiss and hug there. We are never alone! I thought our relationship would pick up once you were out of the hospital but even then it's been…" He waves a hand in the air looking for a word. "PG. Some days I'm lucky to get you out of G."

Hermione's eyes narrow. "I was in a coma after damaging my spine you nitwit, which I am still recovering from by the way. So forgive me if I'm not in the mood to be thrown against a wall while you hump me." She sips her tea. "As for us never being alone that's not my fault."

"You never want to stay at my place. Our indoor dates always have to be at your place and Fred and George always join us."

Hermione scoffs. "Have you seen your place? It's a garbage dump. Last time I went there I stepped on a dead mouse! And all you did was kick it to the side!"

"And the twins?"

"It's their freaken apartment! I can't kick my roommates out of their own flat!"

"They are purposely there when I come over."

"They come home after work. It's a pretty typical thing for an adult to do after a busy day."

Christopher snorts. "Yeah. Being able to make a potion that turns your hair into moss is hard work."

"You really need to get over that. The moss disappeared after a couple of hours."

Christopher rolls his eyes before rising from the table. "Look I gave it my best shot. Owl me when you finally decide you're an adult and are ready to move into your own flat."

Hermione fumes as she walks up the path leading to the Burrow, muttering insults under her breath.

Christopher had struck a nerve.

Fact of the matter is, Hermione hated being alone. She couldn't stand the thought of finding a flat by herself. She moved in with Fred and George after she left the hospital. In the past month the three of them had become close, helping each other with their physical injuries. For Fred and George she made sure to change the bandages and gauze daily, sometimes hourly, and helped out with their shop. For Hermione they helped with her physio- therapy and made sure she didn't strain herself.

She liked living with the twins, they were much better living companions that Ron and Harry were during the war and she enjoyed getting to know them. She could even tell who was who just by listening to their voices, something that their own mother was unable to achieve.

Hermione is brought out of her flashback as she enters the Burrow to the sound of one Molly Weasley having a meltdown.

Bill and Charlie were playing chess, Ron and Harry were seated on the couch, and Ginny was draped over a chair fiddling with her braid.

"What do you mean you're not going back to Hogwarts?! What about your education?"

"Mom the war was my education. Besides Harry and I will be starting our Auror training next month."

"Ginny!?"

"I'm going back mom."

"Only cause Blaise will be teaching there." Ron snickers.

"Ginevra under no circumstance are you to sleep with your own professor!"

"Mom!"

"It's indecent! And I for one- Hermione! Oh Hermione darling. Please convince these boys that their education is more important than any Ministry job! After all I'm sure the Ministry would be more than happy to accept you boys once you've finished your education."

Hermione raises an eyebrow before carefully sitting down in a chair near the fireplace. A month had passed and her back would still become stiff at times.

"I think whether or not Ronald and Harry return to Hogwarts is up to them Mrs. Weasley. It's a fine decision if they choose to return to Hogwarts but I'm certainly not going to tell them what they should do."

"You're not?"

Harry elbows Ron in the ribs. "Shaddap. She's on our side."

Hermione smiles gently at them before turning to a befuddled Molly. "Fact is I won't be accompanying Ginny and Luna to Hogwarts either."

Molly's mouth drops.

"Did I hear her correctly Forge?"

"Why I do believe so Gred."

"Twould appear that"

"Our favourite roomie"

"Shall be staying with us after all!"

The twins stroll into the living area with identical shit eating grins on their faces. Just looking at them had Hermione grinning cheekily. They each took an arm chair, George ruffling her hair as he got himself situated.

"Luckily for you two I hate moving."

"But Hermione!" Molly protests, her arms waving about. "You are the brightest witch to ever grace Hogwarts! It'd be a shame to ruin your reputation and not graduate!"

Hermione closed her eyes as Fred's hand went to her neck and began working his calloused fingers over the knots.

"I cannot say that I am overly concerned with my reputation Mrs. Weasley. Fact is I'm tired. And I would much rather spend some time working rather than pulling all nighters with textbooks."

Harry nods his head in agreement. All of them were tired.

"That's nonsense! You always did so well in school-"

"Yes but-"

"And you'll be perfectly safe with Professor McGonagall as Head Mistress."

"I don't want to return Mrs. Weasley."

"Well that's just silly of yo-"

"I. Will. Never. Go. Back."

Everyone in the room freezes.

Ron glances over at Harry nervously. They hadn't seen the look on Hermione's face since the day she had gone to her parents and erased their memories of her.

Hermione's POV

The long nights.

The hexes.

The curses.

The screams.

The copper scent of blood.

Mudblood.

Mom and Dad.

The fire.

The smoke.

The murder.

Neville.

Almost got Fred too.

"I will never go back."

Molly gapes at me like a fish before storming out of the room, shaking her head and muttering under her breath.

I breathe in deeply as Fred's hand continues rubbing my neck and I feel George playing with my hair.

I need to calm down.

"In that case, can I have your textbooks and notes?"

I laugh softly. "Sure Ginny. If you can read my scribbling you can have em."

I glance over at Bill and Charlie to see them hastily return to their game of chess. By the looks of it Bill was winning.

"So you going to join the Ministry as well 'Mione?" Ron asks, running a hand through his messy red hair.

"No. I've accepted a job at Flourish and Blotts for now."

Ron's eyes widen in disbelief. "But that job is so… boring!" He ignores Harry's glare.

"Shut up Ron." Ginny snaps.

Ron doesn't seem to know when to shut up. Or use his head for that matter.

"Well it's true! Nothing eventful happens there. It's just books. No adventure whatsoever."

"Maybe that's what she's going for numb nuts." Charlie mutters as his pawn is set on fire by Bill's bishop.

Harry and George smirk before heading towards the kitchen, no doubt looking for food.

Ron scowls before following them.

Ginny rolls her eyes before returning to her Witch Weekly magazine. The war had been kind on her. Ginny only managed to get her arm broken twice in battle only because she had stolen George's beater bat and waited for death eaters to go running by behind trees and the statues in Hogwarts.

Well that and her infamous Bat Bogey curses.

So many deaths…

"Come back Mia."

I blink twice before glancing up at Fred, his blue eyes watching me in worry.

I cover his hand that is now on my shoulder and smile.

I love it when he calls me Mia.

He has really nice blue eyes.

"I should go apologize to your mom."

"She was butting her nose where it didn't belong."

"When is she not doing that?" I wink as the twinkle comes back into those deep pools of blue eyes.

I carefully rise from my seat, intent on not making my back crack like an old woman's.

Fred's POV

"So where's Mr. Fancy-Pants Christopher?" Ginny asks, tossing her girly magazine aside.

Where is this Christopher indeed?

The git.

"He's no longer in the picture Ginny."

Say wha?

"Really?! What happened?"

"Duh duh duh. Another one bites the dust!" I sneer at Ron as he returns to the room, food spewing out of his mouth as he 'sings'.

"Impeccable timing Ronald. As always." Hermione grimaces. She resumes looking at Ginny, shrugging. "Just didn't work out."

I grin like a fool. "It's because my quick wit and sexy charm have finally won you over hasn't it?"

Hermione sighs mockingly. "Getting there Fredrick. Now if you only had George's face than I'd never be able to resist your advances."

Her smoldering look had Freddie Jr. twitch at the possibilities.

Before her insult kicked in.

Oh snap.

"I knew I was the better looking twin!"

"Shaddap George!"

I narrow my eyes at Hermione as she smirks at me before walking away.

You think George is better looking?

We'll just have to see how you feel about my sexual prowess.

Little angsty but meh, what can you do? Next chapter will be humorous.