A few minutes after Kingsley left them, Mrs. Weasley and Minerva McGonagall approached the group. The oldest redhead sat between two of her children, drawing the attention of the three at that end of the circle. The transfiguration professor took a seat next to Hermione.
"I am so glad to see you in one piece, Miss Granger. And you as well, Miss Delacour. I don't believe that we will find much more privacy than we have at this moment. I know the offer that the minister just made to you all. And while I can't compete with the adventure of his offer, I hope for my sake that you will consider mine."
Hermione smiled warmly while squeezing her lover's hand.
"As you can tell," she said motioning around, "we need a lot of help here at the castle. And I was hoping that with your love of learning that I might be able to convince you to stay and help. It is quite obvious that you two will be staying together, so I hope that you will consider it." The elderly witch blushed and went to get up.
"Wait," Hermione said touching her arm gently, "we would be happy to stay, wouldn't we?"
"Oui, Professor. We are 'appy to stay and 'elp as long as you like."
"Dangerous words, Miss Delacour. I've been plotting since the day I met Miss Granger to find ways to keep her within these walls once she graduated. But since you two have agreed, come let's prepare food for those who are staying. I think it will be a small group. And then, I will show you to some empty chambers. They are near mine, and I believe they are untouched, but you should be able to ward them." She finished her last statement while looking directly at Fleur.
"Give me just a moment to tell the boys. I imagine they will be going with Kingsley tonight."
"I imagine you are correct, Miss Granger. I will be down in the kitchens. I believe you still know the way?" she asked in a teasing tone.
"Yes, it's been a few years. And you weren't supposed to know anything about that."
"You will learn, Hermione, that there is little that goes on in the castle that I am unaware of. Don't dawdle."
"We wouldn't dream of it."
The older witch nodded, knowing it was true. She strode away head held high. Hermione turned her attention back to the others in the circle.
"So what do you think you are going to do, Harry," she asked interjecting into the animated conversation of the other group.
"I think I will go with him. I always wanted to be an auror. And somehow I feel like I have earned it."
"Somehow in that you saved the entire wizarding world," Ginny said dryly.
"I agree with your girlfriend, you do deserve it. And you, Ron?"
"I reckon I will as well. After all, Harry here can't do it without me," he said proudly.
Harry rolled his eyes, but smiled. "I am guessing that if you are asking, then you aren't coming with us."
"No," she responded firmly. "I thought about it, but being an Auror, that's not who I want to be. It never was."
"But you are a great fighter," Ron interjected obviously confused by the turn of events.
"I'm really good at doing what needed to be done, but it's not my dream. And after all of this, I want more than 'just good enough.' Professor McGonagall asked us to stay and help here."
"Us," Ron asked even more confused.
"Honestly, Ronald. Fleur and I are going to stay."
"Why the two of you?"
"Because, Ronald, she and I are dating. I don't care to be away from her. This makes sense for my life, for my life with Fleur."
"You are dating her?"
"Ron, I don't know 'ow 'Ermione could make zis any clearer. She is wiz me. She will always be wiz me," the blonde said with a healthy amount of venom in her voice.
"Alright, alright I get it. I just thought it was because of what happened in Malfoy Manor." With that his sister hit his arm. "I mean, I am happy for you two."
"Thanks. Anyways, we are going to help get something together for dinner. Are you all going to stay?"
The men shook their heads. "I think Kingsley meant now," Harry answered finally. He stood and walked towards her. He wrapped her in a warm hug. "I am so proud of you. You are right. This is your dream. I promise to write when we have time. I love you, Hermione Granger," he whispered in her ear.
"I love you. You are the best brother a girl could ever hope for. Stay safe and give them hell."
"We will," he said grinning and releasing her.
"Come, mon coeur. Minerva will be needing us."
Hermione smiled up at her and took the offered hand. As they walked through the rubble, she didn't look back. They'd survived. Against all odds, a group of teenagers had fought one of the most powerful wizard and his followers and won. While there had been a tragic loss of life, their little circle of friends miraculously survived. The soft hand intertwined with hers squeezed lightly.
" 'ow are you, mon amour?"
"This has been a really long day. After dinner, I just want quiet time with you."
"And so you you will have it, ma petite. Let's put some of those magical cooking skills to use, oui? "
"Oui. Merci, mon amour."
"Any time for you, 'Ermione."
The kitchen was busy, though there were less than a quarter of the normal number of elves. The irony of her post-war task was not lost on Hermione. She walked to where her mentor was directing.
"Hermione, I am glad that you made it down here. But the help we need is a bit more hands on than magical."
"Honestly, that's preferable. I don't have a wand I want to use at the moment."
The Scottish witch raised an eyebrow at her, after all she had just fought a magical war. Without another word, Hermione took Bellatrix's wand out of her back pocket and handed it over. "I can't keep using this. When it was life or death, I had no choice. But now… I will just get a new one when things open up. I can do things the muggle way for a bit."
"I am sorry for interrupting," a voice from behind them said. It was female and slightly shaking with emotion.
Hermione's face brightened immediately. "Andromeda. It's good to see you. I am so very sorry for the circumstances. You have our deepest condolences."
The middle Black sister gently touched the young witch's shoulder. "They knew the risks as did we all. We will make sure that their sacrifices weren't for naught." She turned to the blonde. "I owe you a debt of gratitude. You ended my sister's reign of terror. She even killed my daughter. I know this is an odd request, but I would like to take Bellatrix's wand. I don't want to take any risks that it might fall into the wrong hands."
"Of course," Minerva said handing it over.
"Thank you. I won't have her turned into a martyr. She should be remembered for the monster she was, not some glorified fighter for purebloods. Here," she said holding another wand out to Hermione, "use mine until you can find a suitable replacement."
"Dromeda, I couldn't."
"Please take it. You have important work to do here. I'm going to take a bit of time in the muggle world. I didn't expect to be raising a toddler again. And besides, I have Nymphadora's wand if I need one."
Tears welled up in Hermione's eyes. People like Mrs. Tonks were why they fought in the first place. Even as a part of the Golden Trio she never expected such acts of selfless kindness.
"Thank you," she said holding the mother of her deceased friend close. "You have no idea what this means."
"You are wrong, Miss Granger," she said in a voice not unlike that of her sister. "This is what makes me different from the family I was born into. Minerva, I must go now. Teddy and I will come visit in a few days time."
"Travel safely," the Professor said quietly.
"What can we do to 'elp, Professor," Fleur asked breaking the painful silence.
"There is a table in the next room, that needs to be set. I think we will have a group of 20 or so that will be staying."
"We will take care of it," the French witch replied.
Dinner was a solemn occasion. Most around the table were hardly awake or grieving. The young witches were grateful when it was finally over and the Transfiguration Professor led them towards the wing of the castle that housed staff. As she suspected it it was largely untouched.
"Professor," Hermione began.
"Please Miss Granger, under these circumstances, I believe you can call me Minerva."
The young witch giggled. "Only if you will call me Hermione on a consistent basis."
"I will give it my best effort," she responded with a wink.
"How did you know this part of the castle would be left so unharmed?"
"There were a few details never outlined in Hogwarts: A History. The Founders took special protections over this part of the castle. I had hoped that Tom wouldn't have learned about them. It seems my suspicions were correct. Since some of our more unfortunate staffing changes, there have been a set of open rooms that used to belong to junior professors. It will be nice to have some life in these halls again."
"We are grateful zat you want us 'ere. Your support means a great deal."
"Miss Delacour, you have chosen to love my very favorite student. She is like the daughter I always wanted. And while during the war, I may have had to watch from a far, but I very much intend to make up for it now."
Hermione turned a magnificent shade of red.
"Zen we 'ave a mutual goal, Minerva."
"We do, but we will discuss this at length tomorrow. For now, we are at your quarters. The password is Shrivelfig. Have a good evening. I will see you both in the morning."
The older witch strode quickly away and then out of sight. The blonde spoke the password quietly and stepped back to allow the doors to swing open. She nudged her lover into the rooms and closed the door behind them. She spent the better part of five minutes applying all of the wards she could think of.
"Fleur, mon amour, that will do. We are safe now."
"I am not sure zat I will ever feel safe again. 'Ow did you do zis for so many years?"
"I," she began slowly drawing her lover to her, "I don't know. I just knew that I had to keep going. It's so hard to believe it's over."
"Do you really zink zat it is? Zat it is finished?"
Hermione touched the dirty but beautiful face affectionately. "For now it is. I don't think the world will ever be free of prejudice or those who hate differences, but perhaps the wizarding world in England can rebuild properly."
Fleur kissed dirty palms gently, breathing in the comforting scent of her lover with her eyes closed. "I love your optimism, ma petite." When she opened them again, she knew they would be glittering gold.
Hermione smirked at the shift. "Come, lover. You can have what you want, but not until we are both a good deal cleaner." She was pleased with the predatory smile she got in return and led the beautiful witch into the adjoining bath.
A/N
I considered leaving the story here. It would have been wrapped up nicely here. Uniquely Named might not be happy with me, though.