We spend the next week attending funerals, then everyone wants to hear about Hermione, Harry, and Ron's adventure of hunting horcruxes. So we gather in the kitchen one day to listen to their story. I've also noticed really nasty scars on Hermione's forearm, and I want to know how she got them.

Harry details the first part of their journey: infiltrating the Ministry of Magic to destroy Salazar Slytherin's locket, learning of Dumbledore's connection to the evil wizard Grindewald, getting attacked in Godric's Hallow, and learning about the Deathly Hallows. Ron takes over to talk about Malfoy Manor. Mum, who had grown pale hearing about all their close calls, is full of praise for Hermione's quick thinking.

"Lucius Malfoy asked Draco if we were us, since we were disguised," Ron says. "I never understood why he said he didn't know."

"He was trying to protect us," Hermione says, speaking up for the first time. "He told me after the war. He wanted to see Voldemort defeated."

Everyone takes a second to process this before Ron continues his narrative, causing Mum to gasp. "Greybeck threatened Hermione first, saying he would take what was left of her after they got what they wanted. Bellatrix tortured Hermione to find out where we'd gotten the Gryffindor Sword, using the Cruciatus Curse. But she never gave in. She lied the entire time, no matter what Bellatrix did. It was amazing."

"She carved Mudblood into my arm with a dagger," Hermione says softly. "And she broke most of the bones in my arms and legs. Fleur had to use Skele-Grow to heal me. Madame Pomfrey told me the scars will fade overtime, but it's going to take awhile."

I feel sick to my stomach. I had no idea how bad the war had gotten. Hermione was so nonchalant in speaking about what she went through, but she could have died so many times. And the scars don't seem to have faded at all yet. She still has one near her hairline from the head wound during the final battle as well. She can cover it with her hair, but it's there. George, beside me, is twisting his hands together. I have a feeling this is making him sick too.

Harry takes over and tells about the rest of the hunt for the horcruxes. The story ends at Hogwarts. "You know the rest."

"There's one thing you haven't answered," Mum says. "Why did Severus kill Albus?"

"Snape was deeply in love with my mother from the time they were children," Harry replies. "He was a double agent, but loyal to Dumbledore. Dumbledore didn't want Draco to have the burden of killing someone, so he asked Snape to do it instead."

Hermione excuses herself and Harry sighs when he looks after her. "Without Hermione, I wouldn't be alive right now. It was because of her that we found the horcruxes, that we had safe places to stay, and that we escaped Godric's Hollow."

"I couldn't believe how bad she looked when you were at Shell Cottage with us," Bill says. He turns to the rest of us. "Ron was carrying her and she was unconscious and covered in blood. I wasn't even sure she was alive at first."

I wince, my chest constricting. I would have broken down if I had seen her like that. Beside me, George takes a deep breath. Mum looks like she's about to cry.

That night I wake up to the sound of crying outside my window. When I look out, I see a dark shadow sitting in the garden, then recognize the curly hair. Hermione.

"What's wrong?" I ask softly when I reach her.

She jumps, pulling out her wand. Then she realizes it's me and relaxes. "Nothing."

I know she's lying. "'Mione…"

She sighs. "My parents are dead."

"What? How?"

"Kingsley Shacklebolt did some checking for me. They died in a car crash last month." The tears start falling again. "I have nothing left."

I hug her tightly. "That's not true."

"My parents were all I had."

I shake my head. "You have Harry. You have my family. You have me."

She doesn't acknowledge that I've spoken. "I'm going back to Hogwarts. I want to take my Seventh Year so I can join Harry in Auror training after I graduate. I would also like to teach at Hogwarts someday."

I smile. She will be a good professor. "What subject?"

"Either Transfiguration or Charms."

"You would excel at both."

Hermione wipes her tears away. "Sorry for being like this."

I wrap my arm around her shoulders and pull her close. "I'm sorry about your parents."

"I've saved every penny I've owned in the shop. I think I might be able to afford a place of my own after I graduate."

That gives me an idea. "George is moving in with Angelina soon. You could have his old room in our flat above the shop."

"Really? I wouldn't want to intrude."

"Really. I wasn't looking forward to being alone. As long as you continue to help in the shop, your room is free."

Hermione throws her arms around me. "Thank you so much!"

I tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Anything for you, 'Mione."


Harry and Ginny and Ron and Hermione begin dating less than a week later. The former comes as no surprise, but the latter bothers both George and me. We'd seen Ron break Hermione's heart and we don't want it to happen again. I'll also admit that I'm a little jealous; I've grown to care for Hermione very much.

We try hard to make the summer as normal as possible. Hermione, George and I spend mornings and afternoons at work, then go back to the Burrow to join Ginny, Harry, Ron, Mum, and Dad for dinner during the week. On the weekends we play Quidditch and wizard chess, and swim in the nearby lake. Hermione still isn't quite comfortable on a broom, but we need the Quidditch teams to be even. She actually isn't a bad Chaser either.

My family had been informed of Hermione's parents' death a few days after it happened. Everyone has been sympathetic, something I'm not sure she appreciates. She dislikes being the center of attention when it has to do with that sort of thing. Mum had also insisted on Hermione staying with us, which she has appreciated. Harry has been especially comforting for her because he knows how it feels to lose a parent. I'm grateful I can't relate there. I don't know what I'd do without my parents.

Summer unfortunately has to come to a close after all of our fun. Hermione's really excited to finish her last year, of course. I've never seen her not excited about school. Ron and Harry are going back to finish their last years as well, and Ginny's on her sixth year. We spend the last night wondering how many others will be going back. I bet Slytherin is going to be empty.