"Hermione, dear," said Mrs. Weasley. "You never did finish your seventh year of magical education. What are your thoughts on that?"

Hermione and Mrs Weasley were sitting in the living room of the burrow, talking over tea and biscuits.

Hermione sighed. She hadn't thought about it. "Well...I suppose...eventually, I've got to finish my education if I want to get a job in the magical world." Mrs Weasley nodded. "I've still got your spell books in the attic, I'll go-" Hermione cut her off. "Eventually," Hermione said. "But not yet."

***

The sun was setting quickly as Hermione made her way to Ron's house. Her wand was in her pocket.

She knocked three times on his door. A few seconds later, it swung open. "Hey, Hermione," said Ron. He let her in. "What's up?" He asked. Hermione took a deep breath. "I want you to help me with magic." She said. Ron stared at her for a moment.
"You're going to start using magic again?" He asked. Hermione nodded slowly, thinking.
"I'm trying to get over my fears.
I'm doing well, my parents are fine and your mum's been making me the dreamless sleep potion to help with the nightmares. I think if I try hard enough, I can gain back my magic ability."

"Alright," said Ron. He picked up an old copy of 'Hogwarts a history' and placed on the counter. "Swish and Flick." He said.

(Flashback)

"Ron, stop, stop," Hermione protested. "Your going to take someone's eye out." She took out her own wand.

"It's 'Levi-O-sa.' Not Levio-SA." She swished her wand at the feather sitting between them.
"Wengarduim Leviosa," she said. The feather floated up off the table.

"Show off," Ron grumbled.

Ron was fuming after class. "Honestly Harry, she's a nightmare," Ron said. He put on a high pitched annoying voice and said, "It's Levi-O-sa!" Ron and Harry heard a sob from behind them. A bushy haired, tear stained someone brushed past the two boys. "Ron," said Harry. "I think she heard you."

(Flashback ends)

Hermione and Ron worked on levitating for a few hours and then moved onto transfiguration.

Hermione was impressed at how good Ron had become at magic. And she hated to admit it, but it was strange that Ron was better than her at spells. Whenever she tried to levitate the book, it just flopped around lamely or flipped over off the table. It was extremely frustrating.

At the end of the day, Hermione was frazzled and exhausted. She pulled out her phone and let Ron play with it until she dozed off.

She awoke at Hogwarts...not Malfoy Manor again, luckily. She was alone in the great hall. Then a voice sounded from the high table at the front. "Try me on, why don't you? Where is it you truly belong?" The Hogwarts sorting hat was sitting on a stool at the front of the room.

Hermione walked up to it and stuck the hat onto her head. "Hmm..." It said. "Kind...smart, intelligent...respectful, loyal..."
Hermione spoke up. "What about bravery? I am in Gryffindor, after all." The hat thought for a moment. "You were brave, certainly. But people change. You aren't a true Gryiffindor, now. You let your fear of magic overcome your bravery. Your poor parents were stuck in Australia having no idea who you were. Your friends went three years without talking to you because you were too scared to go back."

Hermione was crying now. "I'm still brave. I can do it, I know I can. I can get it all back."

***

Hermione went back to practice with Ron every day for the next week. She was getting better and better every day.

Her dream was still haunting her. She didn't want to let her fears overcome her. The memory of her parents stuck in Australia still made her feel sick.

'It can't get that bad again,' she thought. 'Ive got to be brave.'

But it was easier to say than to do.
Every time she had a nightmare about the war, it seemed to knock her down further and further into an endless abyss of despair. She would wake up screaming and crying. And once she stopped, all she wanted to do was pick up her wand and snap it in half.

And then I was just that much harder to keep going with her lessons with Ron.

It was just that much harder to be brave.

***

After three months of practice, Hermione was almost as good as she was in her third year. It was all coming back to her. She used spells almost every day, but she still got little twinges of regret and pain whenever she used magic. She was much more comfortable with the muggle way of things.
'Thats it,' she thought. 'Bravery is about leaving your comfort zone.'

Dear Ron,
I can't practice with you today. I've got to go to Diagon Alley to see if my vault is still working at Gringotts. I've also got a few things to buy.

Thank you so much for the help. It's been so great. I really think I can beat this fear of magic if I learn to face it. It's still scary, but I know I can do it.

Love,
Hermione

Hermione sealed the letter and dropped it off at the post office on her way to Diagon Alley. She found the little restaurant called the Leaky Caldron and tapped the correct bricks to get onto they alley. (She couldn't aparate yet.)

Hermione left the crowded bar and walked out onto Diagon Alley.

Her heart was beating a million miles and hour. This was one of those times where she doubted her decision to re-enter into to the magical community. She remembered the time she had impersonated Belatrix Lastrange in order to break into her vault. The very thought made her stomach churn.

She kept her head down and walked into Gringotts Bank. The sight of the small Goblins at the front desk made her jump slightly. She wasn't re-adjusted to the weird twists and turns of magic just yet.

She walked up to the goblin that looked the least weird and scary and said, "Um...can...can I open vault 341?" The goblin looked down at her with a grimace. "To whom does this vault belong?" the goblin drawled. Hermione hesitated before answering, "Um...me. Hermione Granger." The Goblin nodded and hopped off his tall stool. He hobbled into a small room behind him where they stored the keys to the vaults.

A few minutes later, he came out with a large dusty key. He blew it off and handed it to Hermione. "Haven't seen you here in a while, have we Miss Granger?" The goblin said coldly. "Um, No, I guess not." Hermione replied quietly.

The goblin lead her down to the carts where they would ride down to the vaults. Hermione hopped in after the Goblin. They zoomed away into the darkness.

Within minutes, Hermione felt sick.
It had been nearly six years since she had been on a roller coaster.
And she had never really liked them.

They got to the vault and the Goblin let her in. To Hermione's disappointment, there were only about 10 or 12 galleons in her vault. She took a few out and left Gringotts.

She strolled down the streets of Diagon Alley, looking for her next stop. Flourish and Blots.

Hermione found Flourish and Blots right next to Madam Malkin's Robe shop. She hurried inside and looked down her list of books she needed. "Simple household Spells," she muttered under her breath. Somebody spoke from behind her.

"Can I help, you 'mam?" He said. Hermione spun around with lightning speed. She was staring into the face of Draco Malfoy.