*Disclaimer: I don't own anything, everything belongs to J.K. Rowling!*

Chapter 2: The Past – A New Beginning

August 31st, 1998

"I don't understand, Hermione." Ron pleaded with the witch, grasping her wrist and pulling her close. She leaned in slowly and planted a soft kiss on his lips before freeing herself.

"Professor McGonagall said I could return to take my NEWTs properly. It wouldn't feel right if I didn't." Hermione said, rushing from her portion of the dresser in Ginny's room to her suitcase. She packed only the essentials like when she was on the run with her two best friends.

The entire room was a slight disaster, clothes and random trinkets thrown about the entire room. Living with Ginny the past few months had been difficult, but Hermione didn't stress as much because she spent the majority of that time falling asleep in Ron's room.

"But why now?" Ron urged. A lot of the students who had fought in the war had been offered full NEWT scores without having to actually attend the final year. It was a last minute decision that Hermione had made – to return to Hogwarts – but it was the right one.

"Ron, my academics mean everything to me. My NEWTs will give me a better chance at the career that I want."

"And what career is that exactly?" The fiery redhead retorted. Hermione pretended she didn't hear him. The truth was, she wasn't exactly sure what she wanted to do. She knew she wanted to help people and prevent any more wars from happening, but being an Auror involved too much physical fighting, being a MediWitch wouldn't give her a chance to help improve the magical world as a whole and she wanted to use her most precious asset as much as possible: her brain.

"Will you spend your last night with me?" Ron requested softly. She whipped her head around. He was looking down at the wand in his hands, picking at a splinter in the side.

"Oh, Ron." She slipped into his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. He looked up at her with sad eyes. It made her heart ache a little bit. She pecked him on the lips. "Of course I will." His eyes lit up.

"And maybe tonight we can–"

"Ron!"

"Cuddle! I was going to say cuddle." Hermione's eyes narrowed. Ron grinned broadly and pulled her in for another kiss. Ron and Hermione had still not had physical relations. While Ron thought it may have something to do with Hermione not being knowledgeable in the subject of sex, she just wasn't ready to make that sort of commitment. Little did the wizard know, Hermione had done her fair amount of research on the subject and felt she would be more than equipped to handle the situation should the moment present itself.

That night there was a grand celebration in the Weasley home with lots of food and drinks, although most of the drinkers that night were using it as a way to cope with all that had happened that summer. It had been a few months but it still felt as though it were yesterday to all of them.

"Thank you all for your support." Hermione said, raising a glass of wine. "It means a lot to me that you're all here," she looked at each and every one of their pale faces. Most of the group looked emaciated from the rough times they had experienced in the last year. Harry, thinner than ever, had his arm around Ginny, who had a new woman glow to her. George had a faux smile etched across his face, but they all knew he would never be able to feel the joy of life now that his other half was forever gone. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were both struggling to maintain a solid expression of happiness. Luna, who had traveled just to attend, looked tired but still dreamy as ever.

"I know we went through a lot, but we made it because we had each other. We will always have each other. That's the thing about love; even through death, you can still feel them in your heart." Tears started to stream from her face before Molly rose.

"Thank you, Hermione, darling. That was beautiful." She touched the girl's cheek with the love of a mother. "Now how about we lift the spirits-" George lifted the bottle of firewhiskey he had been holding, "And play a round of Gobstones!" No one really wanted to play, but everyone knew it would help Molly more than anything.

"Actually I'm going to step outside." Hermione said, taking a sip of her wine and setting the glass down on the kitchen table. She walked through the kitchen door and out into the garden. The gnomes rustled about in the hedges but didn't dare draw towards Hermione. She was infamous to the gnomes for her binding curses.

"Strange to be going back." Hermione looked around and watched Harry emerge from the dark. He must've slipped out just as she had.

"It feels like the right thing to do." She crossed her arms over her chest and looked up at the night sky. There wasn't a cloud in sight, which seemed appropriate now that the dark times were finally over.

"What's this? Hermione relying on her gut instead of logic?" She gave him a friendly glare. Harry smiled, which made his face look strange like it didn't have enough skin on it. His jaw was too defined.

"I don't know what it is." She finally admitted out loud. "It's as though something is drawing me back there. But there's no such magic that I know…"

"Memories can be the strongest magic, you know." Silence befell them as Hermione contemplated this. It was a strong possibility. Hogwarts was a home away from home after all. Most of her first moments had happened there. First friendships, first fights, first kiss...

"Hey, you lot." Ron stepped out of the kitchen and into the garden. He walked up to Hermione and draped his arm around her shoulder, lovingly. "How's about we go to the hill for one last adventure?" He pulled out a bottle of glowing, green liquid from his coat pocket.

"Ron, I really can't. I have to be up early enough to Apparate."

"It'll be fine, I promise."

Ron was right. The trio made their way to the hill and sat on top, drinking and star gazing and reminiscing all of the trouble they had gotten into at Hogwarts.

"Remember, when Professor Sinistra's robes came up during one of the lessons! Swear it must've been jinxed."

"Ron, that was during our first year, how could you possibly remember that?!" They laughed until Harry's watch alarm went off.

"Ahh, that'll be a night for me. You lovebirds coming? Ron, I know you've got the same interview at the Ministry as I have tomorrow." With that, they all headed back to the Burrow and made their way up to Ron's room.

Harry fell asleep on the spare cot almost immediately, while Hermione slipped into Ron's bed with him. He held her tight and stroked her hair until she fell asleep, whispering about his plans to visit her as often as possible while she was back at Hogwarts and that one day he would marry her.

**** This one probably felt short, didn't it? Don't worry, the start of Dramione is just around the corner! I might even upload another chapter tonight!****

~Thank you to DuchessofSpud, SwayPippin, tris-everdeen99, and CajunWitch for your reviews!~