Disclaimer I own nothing.

It was one of those odd days. When the sky couldn't decide whether to be sad and dreary or happy. The two would mix so it would rain softly but the sun would be shinning brightly. That was exactly what was happening today. Hermione found herself musing around the house about everything that had happened as of late. Every once and a while she'd stare aimlessly out the window as the sweet rain fell her brown eyes following each clear drop as it sped toward to the ground. All this while an endless number of things haunted her mind. The first thing.

Draco.

Hermione had finally chosen.

Draco.

She wasn't going to linger in the past.

Hermione and Draco had been on many other dates but never went past kissing. This didn't bother Hermione much; it turned out Draco was an amazing kisser. As of late their kisses seemed to become steamier. Hermione blushed as she threw a quick look at the couch where she remembered making out with Draco. He had stopped when she said she was uncomfortable going any further just yet. He seemed to have sensed the fact she didn't want to talk about their now famous drunken night. He treated her different, he cooked for her, and was always romantic but not in the forced way that Ron seemed to fancy. He never brought something as pre-planned and as boring as a flower that would begin to wilt before the day was over.

She looked up to where she had placed Ron's latest rose on her desk. She couldn't help but think who was the first idiot to come up with the idea for giving flowers to someone you liked.

It was completely useless! For about two seconds it would smell nice and only if you stuck her nose all in it. Sometimes there would be bugs all in the flower so when you sniffed it the bug got sucked up in your nose. That reminded her of yesterday's incident, she winced at the memory. Nothing much was to be said but a bug did happen to go up her nose at the blame of one of Ron's roses. Many curse words followed, excessive nose blowing and by the end of it all Ron was left very red.

As a rose.

How fitting.

Hermione rubbed her nose absently. Last night after the horrible complication involving her nose. They left in their best clothes, for Harry and Ron new velvet suits and for Hermione a simple dark blue dress. They had been awarded Order of Merlin, First Class, they had all been appointed to be on both the International Confederation and Wizengamot. Making them all some of the youngest ever to be in those esteemed groups. Not to mention the money they all received. Now that shocked Hermione. Ron was very pleased and was currently making plans to build onto the Burrow. Harry stored it back with the gold from his parents. Hermione donated hers to various groups.

There had been a large banquet with food and famous Witches and Wizards from around the world. It seemed the Trio had all been put into categories.

Harry was the Hero, who won for his dead parents.

Ron was the funny carefree sidekick, from a well known pureblood family who had supported his best friend.

Hermione... well Hermione was in to categories (Oh goodie! she thought) A) The Brain of the group B) the Wild crazy party girl.

Hermione's reaction to category A: Okay I can deal with that.

Hermione's reaction to category B: What the hell?!

Then she took a look at the latest Newspapers. Apparently Hermione had been seen in France, Italy, New York, London, Timbuktu, and Freaking Denmark. In each of those places in one night, partying.

Wow some people are really stupid.

Harry escorted Ginny to the whole thing. Harry had apparently showed up at Ginny's apartment in L.A. Hermione smiled still remembering how he had come to Hermione's a complete mess asking what he should say when he got there. Hermione remembered tying his tie and telling him how to act. After all of the mess Ginny and Harry seemed to be a couple again and Harry had confided in Hermione that he was thinking about asking her to marry him.

This shocked Hermione seeing as they only went out a few months at Hogwarts and now they had only been together a few days. But then she studied Harry's face when he was with Ginny and Ginny's when she was with him. They loved each other. There was no ifs and or buts about it. It was simple and after everything Harry had suffered, he deserved it. He deserved to have a real family with the one he loved.

Hermione smiled and said she would support it on one condition.

She was to be the Godmother of their first kid.

She hadn't seen where this was going until Harry turned to her and said, "Then maybe Ron can be the Godfather."

Hermione choked on her champagne.

This wasn't the only pressure she had been given this week. Earlier today when she went to the Burrow to ask Mrs. Weasley if she could bake some of her famous cookies for the party, Mrs. Weasley didn't even try to hide how pleased she was with Harry and Ginny. She then hinted about how absolutely happy she would be if Ginny would have a double wedding with Ron. After hinted one again about how Hermione and Ron were "Meant for each other."

Hermione looked at her watch and realized she'd better go if she didn't want to be late for the walk thrpugh of the graduation ceremony.

Hermione walked calmly don't the halls of the place she once called home. Her small heeled shoes made a soft click noise on the stone. She had walked all the way from Hogsmeade and her feet were sore. She was a bit early and thought about going to see Hagrid but then remembered he no longer worked here. Hagrid had taken private lessons and was now a fully educated wizard. He moved to Romania and was now working where Charlie had worked.

Hermione personally didn't know how he could worked where Charlie had once been. Charlie had died earlier on in the war before Hermione had been betrayed. She never really got to know him but he seemed polite enough. He was the first of the Weasley's to be killed in the name of the Light side.

Suddenly she heard loud footsteps around the corner. Then with a great whooshing of sound kids came from everywhere. Soon enough with the flashes of hissing greens, jumpy yellows, pompous blues, and bold reds surrounded her as tons of students rushed around her.

Suddenly she saw McGonagall pushing through the storm of students to help her.

"Professor McGonagall?" Hermione asked.

"Miss. Granger? Is that you?" asked the other women. Her hair was now completely white but still pulled back into a tight bun that seemed keep any wrinkles from her face.

The students stopped rushing and one who had a piece of toast still in his mouth from breakfast let his jaw drop sending his toast to the ground.

"You must be Emma's Aunt," stated a boy in Slytherin Robes kindly, "I'm Logan McCormack"

Hermione was a bit shocked by this display but shook the boys hand never the less.

"Are you the Hermione Granger?"

Hermione turned to look at a tall black headed Ravenclaw girl, "Well, not many people name their children Hermione so--"

"My cousin's, she was just born, is named Hermione! My Auntie named her after you." stated another very young girl with short blonde hair who seemed to be in Gryffindor.

"That is quite enough Miss. O' Hare," McGonagall's voice snapped out like a whip.

The girl jumped and looked down not meeting McGonagall's stern eyes, "Yes, Headmistress," she said quietly before hurrying off and running into the nearest classroom.

"Here, Miss. Granger, I'll show you to my office, Mr. Weasley and Mr. Potter are already there," She added waving Hermione through the now slowly moving crowd.

Another boy with a rather large build came up to McGonagall and acted very excitedly, "Potter? You mean Harry Potter. The Harry Potter?"

"YES SHAWN! THE HARRY POTTER! THE HERMIONE GRANGER! THE RONALD WEASLEY! NOW GET A GRIP ON YOURSELF!"

With that she stormed away making it harder for Hermione to catch up with her.

"As you can tell your fan base has increased ten fold as well as Mr. Weasley's but Mr. Potter's, I'm afraid has been large almost since the day he was born, Auterus " she stated dryly.

The stair case jumped into action and by the end of it left a clear path for Hermione and Minerva. McGonagall went first and Hermione was hurrying to follow. Right before McGonagall put her hand on the door knob she turned stunning Hermione somewhat at her actions.

McGonagall let the smallest of smiles show, "It's nice to have you back in the castle, Miss. Granger no student after you have seemed to be able to filled your shoes," with that she turned again, her robe slapping Hermione's in the closed space, and opened the door.

As McGonagall walked towards her desk Hermione noticed that she had not changed much from when Dumbledore was once here. Hermione even spotted Dumbledore's portrait around the corner. He was talking happily with another portrait. Hermione's eyes traveled to the two, now three chairs that sat in front of the Headmistresses desk. Ron sat slouched in one and Harry was looking sullenly toward Dumbledore's portrait.

Hermione cast a worried look towards him before taking the seat between Harry and Ron. McGonagall folded her hands on the desk and began to talk about the arrangements the time they'd have everything. Soon after she allowed them to leave. Harry and Ron let Hermione walk first out the door.

"Well, I think we have everything covered," said Hermione calmly.

"Yep," agreed both Harry and Ron.

There was a certain silence, one that usually doesn't happen unless the person who's quiet is pissed at you. It would seem each one of them was remembering the grand castle in their own way. They still walked but more slowly as though they really didn't want to leave. When they saw a group of students (a girl and two boys) and they all felt a certain amount of jealousy towards them. They'd get to stay in this safe heaven-like place. They'd return to their common room and moan and groan about homework. They'd get to celebrate a victory in Quidditch against another house team. Or may they'd win the house cup. But you could bet they'd never have to face Voldemort. They'd never be betrayed by one another. they'd never leave one another behind.

They would never feel like they had missed out on something that they should have had.

Once they reached Hogsmeade where it was safe to apparate Harry and Ron headed off towards The Three Broomsticks but Hermione just stood still.

Ron noticed all at once when Hermione didn't follow them. He tugged of Harry's sleeve and sent a questioning look toward her.

"Aren't you coming 'Mione?"

"O-umm-actu-I have-umm-I'm meeting someone," Hermione said after gripping out her answer.

"Anyone we know?"

"Uh-no-well, not well," there was a pause, "I'd better go, see you guys later."

After she had left Ron turned to Harry a worried look on him face.

"You don't think she's meeting another guy do you?"

Harry scoffed, "Are you kidding? 'Course not, mate. She's as good as your again."

Yes I'm going with the whole Dumbledore's dead thing. Far too many people try to think that he's still alive or that he'll some how come back. But NO! I think he had more honor in death. That everyone has more honor in death then they ever do in life. By the way Auterus is Latin for strict so I just thought it would fit for the way McGonagall ran her school.

Elaina