Well hello! This is my first foray into Harry Potter fanfiction! I have long been a lover of Dramiones and HP fics in general so I decided to write my own. Please enjoy! I appreciate any and all feedback as well.

500 Days Before

The long days of summer felt like they could go on forever when June began but now that September was looming ever closer, time passed at full steam. Hogwarts was over, now it was time to begin secondary studies. Hermione looked back at her school days with a fondness that seemed ill suited considering the events of the previous years. Most of this affection was directed towards their mandatory eighth year and how blissfully normal it had been. No dark lords with their brainwashed cults to fight. No teachers trying to kill them. No more ministry corruption to defend Harry against. It was all so normal.

Ron and Harry had opted out of going through higher education, instead choosing the path of becoming aurors. It made sense for them considering they had no aspirations towards further learning and had a strong desire to go after the remaining Death Eaters that still hid away. There would always be some form of dark wizard out to try and conquer the world. Such was the way of magic and its ability to give limitless power at minimal to no cost.

"...dragons! Hey! Mione!" a seemingly disembodied hand waved in front of Hermione.

Startled, the girl jumped back in her seat but felt a bit foolish when she realized that it was just Ron.

"Are you still with us?" Ron asked.

Hermione gave him a smile "I'm here, I promise."

The trio was seated in a Diagon Alley coffee shop. A wealthy muggleborn wizard took inspiration from the popularity of Starbucks and started opening his own chain of cafes under the banner "Mink". They had been such a hit that there were now four in Hogsmede and three scattered throughout Diagon Alley. There were further plans to expand throughout wizarding Britain and the rest of the world. Graham Mink, the founder, was rumoured to have plans to move into the muggle world as well but nothing was certain on that front.

The opening of Mink coffee chains during Hermione's eighth year had signalled a massive shift in the wizarding world's mentality. Other muggle inspired ideas were being realized and integrated at such a rapid pace that the few remaining outspoken blood purists had no chance to protest. Things had been moving towards positive change over the past year and it made Hermione happy.

Two more people appeared at the trio's table while Hermione reflected a bit more. Neville and Ginny had walked in and beelined towards them. Ginny's arms were piled with shopping bags from various stores in Diagon Alley. Neville had been roped into carrying most of them. Hermione saw different coloured fabrics peeking out and knew that the redhead had gone on another clothing spree. Being a war hero was paying her well and she could spoil herself for the first time in her life.

"More clothes?" Hermione teased.

"You know it," Ginny replied and stuck her tongue out.

Neville had disappeared to steal two chairs from a vacant table and everyone shifted a bit to create room. Ginny flopped down and her bags scattered on the floor. With a flick of her wand, they were contained to a neat pyramid at the back of the coffee shop where she could still keep a close eye on them.

"So I was telling Harry and Hermione about my trip to visit Charlie," Ron announced. "Do you want to hear about it, Neville?"

Neville looked nervous. He knew how Ron could be when he started on with a story: it never ended. The boy stood up and glanced towards the till. "Tell me when I get back. Coffee, Gin?"

Ginny nodded, relieved that Ron's story had been delayed. She had been regaled with it more than a few times and was ready to silence Ron with a spell if he told it again. Ron glared at his friend and pouted. He had been looking forward to finding a new victim to trap for a while.

"So, September is almost here," Hermione declared.

The group collectively groaned.

"Oh hush, these are our futures and we need to be serious about them. We're going to be the next generation of adult witches and wizards."

Ron waved a hand. "Mione, we love you, but you're sounding like McGonagall during the graduation ceremony."

"She had a point though!" Hermione huffed. "We're being given a brand new world. It's like a newborn baby and it has so much potential as long as we raise it correctly."

"What influence can five people have over the entirety of wizarding Britain have?" Harry asked, nodding at Neville who was handing money to the person at the till.

"Plenty of influence. Look at all the greatest witches and wizards of their time. Many of them acted alone and did many things."

"That was a different time," Ron added in. "We all just want some peace and quiet for once, Mione. The world can wait for a bit."

Hermione was beginning to feel tears pricking her eyes. The changes occurring right now affected everybody but her friends seemed to just care about having an easy life. She wanted more than to just sit back and let others handle everything for her.

Ginny noticed the change in her best friend and placed a hand on Hermione's arm. "Let's just enjoy being kids for a bit, Hermione. We have to become adults again in a week but for now, we deserve a break."

Everyone except Hermione nodded in agreement. She looked down at her lap and wrung her hands; a nervous habit she had developed while on the run during seventh year. The return of Neville to the table brought about a welcome change of atmosphere.

"Who died?" Neville joked.

Within seconds the table was once again filled with happy chatter and Hermione finding herself being swept up in it. Harry, Ron, and Ginny loudly argued about quidditch and which team was the best. Neville and Hermione fought to hear each other over them as they talked about a newly discovered plant that was supposed to work as an anti-venom for basilisk poison. Normalcy had returned to the group, at least temporarily.

495 Days Before

The world was composed of "before and after" Hermione mused as she read the Daily Prophet. She had her feet propped up on her coffee table and a mug of tea on the arm of her chair. The latest attempt at a Death Eater reformation had been quashed and the entire front page as well as four inside pages had been devoted to the story. It was easy to picture how Ron and Harry would be pouring over the story, hungering to begin their auror training.

It seemed that every few weeks, a former Death Eater or Voldemort sympathizer tried to bring about a new age of blood supremacy. It had been just over a year since the world had been granted peace and old ideals took a long time to change, assuming they ever did. These attempts were quickly ended and they were becoming increasingly easier to thwart. As sympathizers and Death Eaters were either imprisoned or executed, their numbers shrank. It was a surprise that they were still trying at a reformation.

The next several pages of newspaper were devoted to minor current events, economic predictions, an advice column, a daily recipe to try, and coupons for various mail order services. If not for the front page article, it would seem that the Daily Prophet was having a slow day. Towards the back, just before the muggle-style crosswords and horoscopes, there was an article that caused Hermione's breath to catch. The headline read "Pansy Parkinson Found Dead".

According to the article, Pansy had been offered a chance at redeeming herself if she gave some more information about Death Eater activity. Her father had been a devout supporter but was never caught. He went on the run and was apparently central to several Death Eater reformation attempts. The ministry had been correct in knowing that Pansy had some form of contact with her father and offered the girl a chance at a bit of glory.

Hermione recalled reading about the very public announcement that Pansy was aiding efforts to end the Death Eater reformations. It did not take much to realize that word would have gotten to her father about this. Regardless of if they were family or not, the man would be paranoid. Most likely, he ordered Pansy executed.

Today's article said that Pansy had been found dead in a back alley, her throat slit. The autopsy report revealed that she had been laying on the ground for at least six hours before being found. Not even the dignity of an Avada.

A wave of sadness hit Hermione. Not even particularly directed towards Pansy either. More towards the loss of life and potential. Pansy had been trying to redeem herself and even if for selfish reasons, it was better than nothing.

492 Days Before

"Let's go see mum before school starts," Ginny said.

Hermione was sitting on her old bed in the room she had shared with Ginny. The single window was in dire need of a wash and the mattress was much too soft but it all felt like home.

"I would love to," Hermione smiled.

Ginny grinned and went back to brushing out her hair. It was down past her waist now and frequently got knotted without regular care throughout the day. With a few more strokes she was done for that session and began to root under her bed for a pair of shoes. She picked out a pair of black flats that her mother would approve of and pulled them on. Hermione slipped on the trainers that she had left on the floor by the bed before leaving the room with Ginny.

Once they were outside, the girls apparated in front of a busy building. They strolled in just as they had so many times before and made light conversation as they approached the lift. Witches and wizards in robes of every colour imaginable raced by. It was apparently busy on the main floor that day. Surprisingly, nobody was going towards any other floor and they had the lift all to themselves.

As they rose higher and higher, Ginny became quiet and tense. She had withdrawn into herself. Visiting St. Mungo's was always hard but the ward Molly Weasley was kept on was especially difficult. It was a tragic place where more than a few of their schoolmates parents' found themselves. They had seen Neville there more than once but no words were ever said. They were never needed.

Hermione counted the doors as they walked to Molly Weasley's room just as she always did. She knew the number without even thinking about it but there was a comfort in doing something repetitive. Door twenty-four on the left was their stop.

Ginny grabbed Hermione's hand for support and the pair walked in. Molly was staring out the window just as she did every day, dressed in a nice outfit that one of the nurses had chosen. It was heartbreaking to see the strong woman who had become everybody's mother in this catatonic state. She had never looked away from the window since arriving there and seemed to be looking into some other world.

"Hi mum," Ginny announced.

"Hi Molly," Hermione echoed.

The two sat on the chairs next to the bed and Ginny continued. "We've got loads to tell you. Sorry we haven't come by in a while. I just found out that I'm going to be joining the Hollyhead Harpies! I start bootcamping September eighth and Dad's just over the moon…"

Hermione stopped listening as she noticed different things in the room. She could feel Ginny's hand shaking while holding onto it. Even though her friend was putting on a brave front it was obvious that this conversation was hard to have. Maintaining a bit of normalcy took a lot when the person who was supposedly listening never participated.

The sound of footsteps in the hallways caused Hermione to look behind her. She was shocked to see Draco Malfoy walk past the door. He paused and sneered at her before continuing on his way. Acid burned at the back of Hermione's throat, leaving her with the knowledge that some things never changed.

Hermione turned back into Ginny's one-sided conversation, happy for a distraction from the bitter taste in her mouth. "... captured. Ron and Harry won't shut up about who's going to capture more Death Eaters. Gods mum! They're so annoying sometimes!"

470 Days Before

Hogwarts had nothing on the British International College of Wizard Learning. Known simply as "the college" in casual conversation, it was the pinnacle of higher learning. Hermione fit right in. She had been accepted into the law department so that she could eventually become a lawyer. Normally the program lasted two years but Hermione was ambitious enough to try and condense it to one. Her days were filled with running from classroom to classroom of the ancient castle. It was larger and grander than Hogwarts with a faculty comprised of more than a few ghosts. They proved to be the best professors and Hermione sponged up every piece of information from the lectures.

She had taken Fridays off so that she could get further ahead and lock herself inside of the library. She had found a secluded table at the very back on the first day and had gone back to it ever since. This part of the library seemed forgotten based on the thick layer of dust that had been on the table when Hermione had found it.

Today she was studying her torts textbook, trying to find inspiration for an essay. Her courses at the college found ways to challenge her that Hogwarts never had. This course in particular was proving that not even Hermione Granger could breeze through every class. Her professor assigned them bi-weekly essays on obscure topics that were barely covered in any books. This time, the topic was a practically unknown case where two American wizards had battled over their father's wand as inheritance and one ended up severely disfigured.

A tapping on the window provided a welcome distraction as Hermione looked up and saw Harry's new owl Avalon with a letter attached to her leg. The bird waited patiently as the letter was untied and read. Laughter bubbled out of Hermione as she read it.

Dear Hermione,

Ron and I are doing really good. We're training every day and it feels like we're really doing something with ourselves. We had mock duels today and I'm exhausted. Ron managed to singe off his eyebrows with a hex that was supposed to be directed at his opponent. He looks a lot like first year Seamus did. Don't worry! We weren't in any real danger. Next time we see you, we'll explain how the duels worked. How's school going for you? Say hi to Neville for us will you and tell him to reply to the last letter. If you can find time to reply then I know he can. Talk soon.

Love,

Harry

PS: Do you know anything that would fix Ron's eyebrows?

Hermione quickly penned down a reply and gave Avalon a treat. The beautiful barred owl, gave a hoot before heading off again. She missed her boys a lot and had not seen them since school started.