CHAPTER 2

The interview went as they expected all the reporters wanted to know was did you really break into Gringotts? Is it true you escaped Gringotts on the back of a Ukrainian Ironbelly? Did you also break into the Ministry? Gossip, it looked like, was all they gave a damn about. They didn't know the truth of being on run. The realities behind the heroic deeds of bravery, when the only other option was being caught and murdered.

They would never know how hungry they had been all time because they couldn't risk going anywhere to get food and had to make do with the berries and fruits, sometimes a rabbit if they could manage to kill one or maybe even squirrels. They didn't know about the sleepless nights they spent, fearing someone would catch them if they let their guard down. The best part was, they also didn't seem to want to know about the reality, only the things they wanted was the best piece gossip that could be extracted from them.

The three avoided the subject of Horcruxes all together as they planned before entering the hall. Hermione answered most of the questions as she was the most eloquent of the trio. They were calling them the golden trionow. Harry and Ron piped up in places where Hermione seemed to slow down to catch her breath. All in all, the interview lasted for about three hours. It was dinner time when Professor McGonagall made them all leave telling them Harry, Ron and Hermione were still tired.

They had dinner in the great hall with those who were still at Hogwarts; funerals for those who died fighting were going to be held the next day. It was unanimously decided they would be buried where Dumbledore was buried, in respect of giving their lives fighting for the good. Voldemort's body was taken away by Kingsley Shaklebolt, who informed Harry that his body would be chopped into pieces and thrown into the sea surrounding Azkaban. Great hall was the first place everyone started repairing after the battle. Everyone who could help did, right now it looked as good it could after the end of a battle.

Professor McGonagall took them aside and told them that she could have two elves prepare a guest suite in the castle for them and they were welcome to stay as long as they liked. They thanked her but refused and told them that Molly had already asked them to come home as soon as possible. Professor McGonagall bade them goodbye and told them to use the floo network in her office if they wanted to.

They arrived at the Burrow in swoosh of whirling green flames on after the other. Molly hugged them each and kissed their cheeks.

"I forbid you three to ever leave without warning for such a long time. I lived in fear for all three of you each day, expecting the worst news. I nearly had a heart attack when Remus told me you three were captured and taken to the Malfoy Manor. Are you three alright? Did they do something to you?" Molly asked

"Those gits locked me and Harry in the cellar and Bellatrix Lestrange tortured Hermione with the cruciatis curse and engraved her arm with mudblood. Dobby, you remember Dobby right mum?, he rescued us along with Griphook, Mr. Ollivander and Luna. He took us to the shell-cottage, to Bill and Fleur as you know but Bellatrix's dagger hit him as we apparated from the Malfoy Manor." Ron told her, his face reddening with anger. Hermione held his hand for comfort as he explained the details to his
mother.

After a lot of explanations and assurances to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley they were allowed to go their rooms. Hermione went with Harry and Ron to discuss what they were going to do now. They were joined by Ginny in Ron's room. She sat on the foot the bed with Hermione since the beds were already occupied with their respective sleepers.

"Harry will you move to Grimmauld Place soon?" Hermione asked.

"I plan to. Ginny will you move in with me?" Harry asked Ginny with a bit of red tingeing his cheeks.

"Of course you idiot. I don't plan to let you out of my sight for a while now." Ginny smiled at him.

"Ron, Hermione come with me too? That house is going to be empty without you both with me."

"Okay." Hermione agreed, knowing that she was still not comfortable being around Ron after his leaving them in November. She had still not forgiven him entirely. What scared her more was the fact that she didn't think a part of her could ever do that.

"I can't." Ron sighed laying down on his mattress and staring at the ceiling. "Not when Fred just..." his voice trailed off. Ron was staring hard at the ceiling trying hard not to blink. Hermione realized that he was trying not to cry. She squeezed his hand that she was holding. He squeezed it back. "Mum needs us."

There was silence in the room when they realized that the only sound in the house was that coming from the splash water in the kitchen. Even though they had won the war, they did not feel the happiness, the jubilation that was supposed to be there. Only the absence of fear that had hung around for the past three years and the emptiness it brought along.

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Three days later Harry, Hermione and Ginny were all set to leave for the Burrow. After breakfast they apparated on the doorstep of Grimmauld Place and then went inside. Harry took the master bedroom on the second floor and Hermione took the room beside
it.

That very day an owl arrived for Harry and Hermione each, from Kingsley to ask if they would like to attend Malfoys' trial to be held on the 11th of May.

"Did you receive the letter to attend the Malfoys' trial too Hermione?" Harry asked curiously.

"I did. Are we going to attend it?" Hermione said.

"I think you should attend. Didn't you say Harry that Draco didn't recognize you when he easily could have? He saved you from being killed that night at the Malfoy Manor and Narcissa Malfoy lied to Voldemort and again a Malfoy saved your life; I think you should at least attend the trial." Ginny said.

"Okay, Hermione you will come with me too?" Harry asked her, his voice still filled with uncertainty.

"I suppose I will too." Hermione said. They wrote back to Kingsley that would attend the trial and asked him to tell them time at what the trial will be held.

"You realize we will have to go and buy new formal robes to go to the ministry right? All we have are those of our Hogwarts ones..." Hermione asked him

"Yeah I suppose we can't really avoid this trip to Diagon Alley." Harry said in a resigned voice realizing that he would have to be in a space full of public where people would inevitably flock to him. That day, they did nothing but grocery shopping and bought other items of daily need. They did it all from muggle London to avoid being stared at. They bought new clothes for themselves with Ron accompanying them. Ron was asked to attend the trial too and he said he was waiting to talk to them first. At night they went back to the Burrow as they had promised Mrs. Weasley they would. Finally at 11 pm, tired they bade their goodbyes and departed back to Grimmauld Place.

Hermione cleaned her bedroom spotless and spread the new sheets she had bought that very day (pink with gold and white flowers). Then she sank into her bed and fell asleep after tossing and turning in her new bed, dreading tomorrow's trip to Diagon alley.

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A/N: The date of this chapter is assumed to be 6th of May 1998.

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SummertimeSparrow

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