Disclaimer: I don't own the characters. I don't own the world. I only own a pen and a brain, and sometimes I'm not so sure about that!


"What do you mean you're not going?" squeaked Hermione, sitting up in protest.

The day had been going rather well before this nasty little intrusion. She and Ron had snuck off to the hill for a picnic lunch with Harry and Ginny. It was a beautiful day, relaxing even to her standards. Clouds puffed lazily through a crystalline sky. Fat squirrels chased each other through the grasses, bickering over a crust of bread they had stolen from someone's paper plate. It had been wonderful to get away for a few hours, from the bustle of reporters, ministry members, and well wishers, all wanting something else, all needing just a brief minute of her precious time. She was sure that Harry was probably worse off, but it was still so bothersome when they took away the little time she had from her main goal.

Today was nice. Today was peaceful. Just her friends, the sunshine, the birds, hope, and…

Reality hit her in the stomach.

"Look Hermione," Ron sighed sheepishly, avoiding her gaze, "I decided not to go back. I mean Hogwarts was great and all, but that was our past life, you know? After everything we've been through, I feel like it wouldn't make sense to go back. We've all grown up so much."

"But what about graduating? What about your future? How are you going to make a good life for yourself if you don't get a decent job?"

"I can take the exams and finish my requirements that way. Don't look at me like that; I don't need to go to Hogwarts to pass some exams. We all have enough life experience to pass, and you know it," when Hermione just looked skeptical he continued, "It's not as if I can't get a job without that year either. You and I both know that the publicity is enough to get a good position nearly anywhere. I've already got an offer from Oliver Wood's team, Puddlemere United."

"Quidditch?" Hermione gaped, "but Ron…"

"Look, Hermione," he cut her off quickly, "I know what you're going to say, but could you please not? I've put a lot of time and thought into this decision. I'm not going to Hogwarts. Maybe I won't take up that offer, maybe I will. But I'm not going back to school. Can you please try to understand? For the first time, I actually have enough money to do what I want with my life. Those Wizarding Hero Awards may not have meant much to you and Harry, but for the first time I have the freedom to choose. I can finally go do things. I can travel. I can go on adventures. I want to do something more with my life than just graduate with the rest of my class and work for the ministry. Now I finally can, and I'm going to."

He tried to tug her back into his lap, but she pulled away and turned to Harry, who had been trying desperately to pretend he couldn't hear the conversation.

"Harry? What about you? You want to go back to Hogwarts, don't you?" her voice shook, and her heart begged him to say yes.

His brow furrowed, and he tried to talk gently, "Hermione, listen. Do you remember that auror the other day? The one who I was talking to about rebuilding the ministry?" She barely moved her head, and he continued, "Well, he said that there was a position opening up for an internship at the ministry. It's an auror position, Hermione. I could be an auror by spring!" He tried to hide the enthusiasm in his voice, but Hermione saw it in his eyes.

"So no one is going back to Hogwarts with me?" Hermione whispered, her voice shaking.

"Listen, Hermione," Ginny began, but Hermione stood and dusted herself off.

"I have to get going, I just forgot an appointment for this afternoon," she muttered, the words sounding faked even to her own ears. She looked at Ginny's worried expression, and managed to muster enough strength to say, "don't worry about me Gin", before turning and making her way swiftly down the hill, eyes swimming with unshed tears.

It was nearly a week before Hermione let anyone into her apartment. She was staying at ministry headquarters while the war aftermath was sorted out, and had locked her door without a word to anyone. Both Ron and Harry tried to talk her out, but she had ignored them, as well as their countless attempts at bribery. A pile of books, chocolates, and flowers lay untouched by her door, and her windows were barred securely from all owl entry. Every move to comfort had been used; every charming tactic the boys knew had been utilized.

Frustrated, they turned to the only weapon they had left: Ginny.

Three sharp knocks told Hermione that her time for grieving had officially ended. She buried her face in the pillows, grumbling to herself. Couldn't she be allowed to mope for the next few hours? She was sad for crying out loud! Pun intended…not that jokes made her feel any less miserable.

Three more knocks snapped her from her thoughts, followed by a sharp, "Hermione Granger, open this door right now!"

Grumbling about the lack of door bells in wizarding society, Hermione removed herself from her comfy nest and clomped toward the door, wrapping her comforter around her shoulders. She unlocked the door and opened it a finger's width.

"What do you want, Ginny?" Hermione sighed.

Ginny pushed past Hermione determinedly, "I want you to stop all this nonsense! Who cares if the boys are too pig-headed to finish school?" She looked back at Hermione, who was still standing sheepishly in the doorway, "Come on, then!"

A slightly more put-together Hermione settled onto the couch while Ginny bustled around in the kitchen. She sighed as the redhead returned with two steaming cups of tea and settled next to her expectantly.

"Well?"

"'Well', what, Ginny?" Hermione took a sip, surprised by how much better the tea made her feel.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Ginny smiled encouragingly.

"Not really," said Hermione blandly, taking another sip of tea.

Ginny frowned, "Yes, you do."

The brunette made a face, "Wouldn't I know if I wanted to talk before you would?"

"Not necessarily," sighed her friend.

"Well, I still don't want to," snapped Hermione stubbornly.

"That's too bad. I'm not leaving until you talk," Ginny set her jaw and crossed her arms, waiting.

Hermione raised her eyebrows, but the redhead stared her down calmly.

"Fine!" Hermione scowled, "I'll talk, you crazy weasel!"

Ginny shook her head, smiling slightly, "Don't talk like Malfoy, it isn't becoming. Now, are you going to vent, or what?"

Hermione frowned into her tea, "Sorry, Gin. I'm just so frustrated."

"About?" Ginny prompted.

"This whole not-going-back-to-school-thing. I don't understand why they wouldn't want to go back. I have so many good memories there, and I know they both do too. Why would they want it to end?"

Her friend sighed sympathetically, "They're just in a different place than you are. That doesn't mean that they don't miss Hogwarts, it just means they're ready for the next step in their lives."

"Why aren't I, then?" Hermione grumbled.

Ginny shrugged, "I really don't know, Hermione. Maybe you just have a different path than those two, or maybe you just aren't ready for a life of chasing dragons yet. It doesn't really matter as long as you're making the decisions that will be best for you."

Hermione sighed, "What if those decisions break apart my friendships? What if we follow such separate paths that we don't stay friends?"

Ginny grinned, "Honey, there's no way that you won't stay friends with those two! You survived a war together. Not to mention over seven years of friendship with my brother, which is saying something in itself!"

Hermione managed to laugh a little at that, and Ginny hugged her when she saw the smile.

"There's the old Hermione I know!" she grinned, "Who needs boys, anyway?"

"I sure don't," Hermione confirmed stoutly, despite her inner trembling.

Ginny smiled, but then her face softened, "You know, Hermione, those two boys that we can live without sure are worried about you. Do you think you could let them apologize? It would mean a lot to them."

Hermione's stomach rolled, but she forced a smile, "Sure."

Dinner at the Hog's Head went as smoothly as could be expected. After the first awkward apologies passed back and forth, Hermione did her best to make conversation like usual. Everyone tread carefully, but Hermione made a point of chattering. She asked Harry when his apprenticeship would start, and soon everyone was far more comfortable. By the end of the night even Hermione was laughing, and her aching heart seemed miles away. She decided that Ginny had been right; the best medicine for sadness was spending time with those she cared about.

At the end of the night, Ron walked her back to the apartment.

"Listen, Hermione, I'm really sorry about this whole thing," he sighed, shuffling his feet nervously.

Hermione did her best to smile, "I know Ronald, and I get it. You need to go see the world and find yourself. I'm really glad that you can, and I want you to, if that's what you need."

Her head screamed at the blatant lies and she knew for sure that Ron would see the truth. She forced her eyes up to meet his, pushing her quivering heart back down her throat. Biting her lip, she gazed up at him, shaken by the oblivious expression he held.

"Thanks Hermione," Ron beamed, grin lighting up his features. Suddenly, it dropped, replaced by a bashful look, "Listen, I know you've already sent the owl back to McGonagall, but I was wondering…if you might…like to come with me instead." He ground out the last part so fast she could barely understand, "We could travel together, maybe. If you wanted to, I mean. It was just a thought, but I thought maybe we could go together…do that whole 'finding ourselves' bit as a team…"

Hermione cut him off with a huff, "Oh Ronald!"

Laughing at the puppy-dog-expression written across his features, she shook her head, "I can't go with you. I need to go to Hogwarts just the way you need to travel. As much as I would love to say yes, I have to go back."

He nodded, scuffing his foot at the carpet, "I figured you'd say that. I dunno, I guess I was hoping we could figure out where this thing was going…"

"Well, where is this thing going?" Hermione could barely breathe.

"I dunno…I thought…well…" he stammered.

Hermione tried not to kick something; so much for declarations of love. She decided to be rational; that always seemed a safe bet.

"How about this…" she sighed, "Why don't you go travel, I'll finish school, and we'll see where we are then? We don't seem to be on the right paths now…"

Ron was nodding enthusiastically, "If nothing changes, we'll see if we can make a relationship work. And if not…"

"We can just stay friends!" the two smiled at one another, but Hermione could feel her heart shattering.

"Well, then…" grinned Ron, "See you around, Hermione."

She nodded softly, and let herself into her apartment.

"See you around, Ron."