Autor's Note

Sorry for the delay.

I got sick and a few members of my family died so my mood for writing and editing was very dark and even when there are parts of the story that are going to be a little dark is not core or the mood, so I preferred to wait until I feel better.

Thank you for your patience.

Hermione had spent the entire morning thinking...

She was confused, back when she was a child, she had always pictured herself as a researcher, she didn't have any idea of what exactly, but the idea of being surrender by books, by knowledge, it was her childhood dream, after her discovery as witch, she had fear that her dreams will be different, she knew that life had chosen a different path for her, so she look for a different goal, got involved in some kind of politics…of all the possibilities…politics…she saw the unfairness of the wizard world, the cultural ideas still reigning among the wizards, or at the very least, among the British ones, part of her want it to be different, she knew that the social disdain based on financial status was not exclusive of wizards, but the blood-based prejudice, that was an interesting challenge, maybe work on tolerance, may prevent another war, or just help the magic creatures, she did felt bad for creatures like Dobby and Winky, even after understanding the reasons of the bound, but more important, she think about Remus and how was treated, like a second grade citizen, despite the fact of being a brilliant wizard, simply because he was a werewolf, he was bitten as a child, and took the precautions to be contained during wolf moon, but still segregated him too much, now, for better or worse, she had an advantage, she was a war hero, a member of the "golden trio" has the papers had call them, and they had the eyes of the wizarding world watching them, her in particular, after all, she was muggle-born, amazing and talented, yes, but still muggle-born, maybe that can be a game-changer, but on the other hand she still wanted her life to be hers...

So she spend the entire morning visiting schools, just, walking over the common areas, the libraries, and imagine herself on them as a student, she end up collecting information, then spent hours in the old dusty library near home…her childhood kingdom, but was overwhelmed by the possibilities, she knew, that at the very least, she was going to need an economy or business class for her muggle affairs or a trustworthy account manager, just to keep up with the inheritance of Snape, apart from that, she was completely clueless, in the wizard world she had less complications, she could get an internship at the Ministry itself in most of the departments, pending the results of her N.E.W.T.s, she may had a better grasp of what to do with her life after that, but in the meantime, she did gather information about college and realizes that she needed the muggle GCSE's, and probably the magic world didn't have an equivalent available, she made a plan to meet with Mr. Weasley later on and ask him about it, in any case she found out the dates and places for presenting it, and it was kind of perfect, each year the test was applied between mid-May and mid-June, so she will have a full year to study, in case the wizards didn't had the equivalent, while she finished her Hogwarts education, a part of her was glad to have all that time to make a decision, since Mr. Brandon and Professor Snape were right, it was a painful truth, but she had spent the last 5 years preparing for a battle that had passed, and she had prevail, she had prepare herself to die if need it, but never on those years she thought about having a future, because part of her didn't think she will have one, she prepare herself to fight, to win at any cost but not once she thought about what will happen next, how to repair the relationship with her parents after they regain their memories, a part of her did consider stay with Ron and have babies and follow the path of survivors, but she knew that it was not the answer and then, while pondering her future, from his grave Severus Snape give her a lesson, life is meant to be lived not survived, so she indulged on her secret fantasies, the desires and longings she had, even some she hadn't admit to herself, that included Viktor, even when she never thought of it as possible, she thanked all the stars for that opportunity, and then to Professor Snape for the opportunity he had provided her, she knew that her parents were loaded, and whatever she want to do, they will back her up, but having a way to support herself and not needing to explain to her parents was equally liberating, she only need to do whatever make her happy.

By the time she looks at her watch, it was time for dinner, so she picks up her things and went home, while walking back, she notices the flower shop down the street and notices the woman arranging a bouquet, she went in...

– Hello dear, my name is Ella.

– Hello Ella, my name is Hermione, I think you know my parents, Jane and Hugh Granger.

– Yes, your mother is a very nice lady, and your father is always buying flowers for her, he is a hopeless romantic. – Hermione laughs a little at that – I really missed them, but a sabbatical was a good idea with all the weird things happening.

– What do you mean? – Hermione ask a little scared.

– A couple of nights after they leave, there was a very shivering cold, coming from nowhere, and everywhere at the same time, it disappeared a little later, but it was very frightening, even some of my flowers were frozen-death by morning, – Hermione paled a little – anyway, can I help you with something? Maybe seeds for your mother or a nice little bouquet?

– Yes, – she tried to compose a little bit – mother received a beautiful bouquet and I want to know the meaning of the flowers, I tried to look it up, but… – Hermione looks a little embarrassed – they are like twelve different ones, and is not my forte to tell them apart, maybe my friend Neville, – she rambles a little – he is studying to be a Herbologist, but not me...

– Relax dear, you are rambling... – she reaches out to her and they start walking through the flower shop.

– Right, sorry I do that sometimes... – she is distracted and a little bit embarrassed.

– Don't worry, dear, I think I can help you, – she picks up a few flowers in the way. – This is the exact bouquet I sold to the handsome foreigner that came in a couple of nights ago. – she present Hermione the bouquet.

– You meet Viktor? – Hermione laughs at that.

– Yes, and he is a catch young lady, rambles a little and is sulky, but he is handsome and polite, tell me, is he your boyfriend?

– No, we… Yes, he is my boyfriend, sorry, we just start it, and it's very new...

– I had a feeling it was... – she smiles knowingly – you young folks tend to live as you were immortal, but in reality, you just waste time. – Hermione smiles a little, Ella doesn't need to know about the war or how close they were to die... – anyway, the flowers he took were this... – she points the ones in the bouquet – this is common sorrel, it means patience, this two are tulips, red is love, purple is loyalty, this, wisteria, means youth and the begonia means shyness. He was rambling and it kind of click with his personality.

– Yeah, sounds like Viktor, – she looks at the vase near the door with a missing flower – Is that…?

– What dear? – Ella pretends not to notice.

– Those are sunflowers, right?

– That's correct. Do you know the meaning of them?

– Viktor said… – she is a little blush. – something, but is there some story behind them?

– Oh, that is the wrong question dear, you see the bouquet was for your mother, the meaning were his intentions with you, so the direct meaning is the important one, since he had never met your mother, but the sunflower, that was personal, the common meaning is not relevant, and if him already tell you what is the meaning for him, perhaps you should believe him, – she is smiling a little bit. – people choose flowers for different reasons; you know what does it mean to him. For each person, the sunflower has a different meaning depending on the color and if is vibrant or dull, the one he took is linked to strength and positivity, but he might think differently. – Hermione was smiling – so tell me, do you want the bouquet?

– Oh, yes, yes, thank you, – she took out a bill and pay for the bouquet – thank you, have a nice day.

– Have a nice day dear. – she leaves with the bouquet, leaving Ella with a smile.

– Mom, – a young girl was leaving the back-office store – Did you sell her a bouquet she didn't need or even ask for?

– Yes. You see Luce, the reality is that people not always need flowers or seeds, if you ever want to take care of the shop you need to make sure that every single customer that comes in leave with at least a flower in their hands, we are not in wedding season, so we need every sell we can get or any potential customer that pass by.

Hermione walked in and it she was still in awe for the warm feeling of having her parents at home just relaxing, before the war, when she was back from school, during the week both of them were at the clinic, and she just reheat the food her mother but since they got back, she will find them either preparing dinner or reading or just watching TV, like if they were just waiting for her, and then talk about their day and they kind of feel like there were dreaming or something, the first days were hard, they barely let her out of the house, later they were a little more relaxed, went back to work, but one of them was always on the house with her, the first time she was without them, were for the reading of Severus will, and even then her mother took time from the clinic to bring her to the Ministry, they were relaxing bit by bit, but had made a commitment of having dinner together every day.

– Hi mom, hi dad. – she passes by looking for a vase to put the flowers in.

– Darling, why did you get another bouquet? – said her father reaching at her with his hand.

– Oh, the lady in the flower shop down the street explain to me what this mean, – she said holding his hand – and I feel bad for not purchase them after she kindly told me the meaning. – Her father suppresses a smile while palming her hand. – What?

– Was it Ella the one that sold you the bouquet?

– Yes. – she answers dubious.

– That old bat... – Hugh was laughing as well as Jane.

– What? – She asks confused.

– I swear Hugh; she could sell sand to a fish...

– Indeed.

– What? – She asks even more confused.

– Nothing darling, she is just a very good seller... – Jane said.

– Darling, – Hugh said suddenly serious – care to explain why you didn't tell us about Viktor been a free agent, an active participant in the war, almost dying, been a worm book, and son of orphans of war? well something like that, according to this – his father shows her The Prophet, an special edition – he almost dies defending his school, his grandparents on his father side were muggles and were killed at world war two and his grandfather, on his mother side was killed by a – his father quickly scans the paper – Grindelwald fellow, he mentions being friends with a French witch and coming to her wedding, as well as the fact that you agree to be his girlfriend... – Hermione gets very pale at the last bit. – care to explain?

– Um...um... well-wait, since when did you receive The Prophet? – she took a seat on the couch.

– Since you started at Hogwarts, – Said Jane reading the paper after Hugh – admittedly, we are not experts or anything, but we tried to be part of your world or at least keep on the current events. – she said while keep on reading the paper. – will you answer the question of your father? – she said while putting the paper away and wiping the tears out of her eyes.

– Yes, um...wait, you were away a year, how did The Prophet know you were back?

– I was taking care of a few businesses downtown and decide to go to Diagon Alley, that bartender, Tom, was very understanding , to check the books you will need for the next year, you know, to avoid the crowds on the week before school starts, I imagine you don't want all the attention you certainly are going to get given the events at Hogwarts and the fall of Voldemort, I pre-order most of it, so they will have them ready as soon as the list is released, we just have to pick them up, – Jane smiled a little bit – and I guess now that your relationship is known by the public, you will need this prevision, oh, I also buy some of those candies you bring after your first year, – Jane show her the bowl with wrapped candies – they are delicious, so I take advantage an went to the offices of the paper, turns out they were very understanding, given your level of involvement, they had withhold our papers when we disappeared, they were very decent about it, even asked me if I wanted all the papers from the missing year or just the ones that mention you, so I just renew our subscription and end it, I don't think I want to know about the year we lost, let it be on the past.

– It's for the best, – agreed Hugh. – Stop staling dear, answer me.

– Well, actually, Viktor told me about been a free agent on our date, – she took a moment to look at them – he told me about his family back on Hogwarts, but, I didn't think it was my story to tell, – she said sincerely – regarding his French friend, – she put a little smile – her name is Fleur, and, well, they meet on the tournament, back on my four year, and bond over the years, when she agreed to married Bill Wesley, he was so happy and he came to the wedding, just before the war started, – she took a deep breath – regarding being his girlfriend, well, I want to father, I… – she swallow hard – I been so focus on survival that I didn't – she looks at her father – Dad, I feel suddenly lost, I don't now about the future, what I'm going to do with my life, I…I have resources of my own – Hugh tried to interrupt – I know father that you an mom will be there for me and will give all I need but, is not the same, I don't know anything about your family's but, you guys seem like you knew what you wanted since forever so, you didn't waver or explain, you just went and got it. I don't have that, I don't know yet what I want, – She smile and blushes a little – except for a chance with Viktor, I wanted it back then, but I didn't allow myself to think about it and he was also young, we weren't ready for it, or at least I wasn't, so I took the chance now and I really want you both to be ok with this, not your permission but your support, as you said, we both are high profile, and is going to be hard to be together, but I want it father, will you be ok with it? – She stumbles with the words at the end. But Jane and Hugh were crying and smiling at the same time.

– Hermione, – Hugh sounded like is voice were to break, and Jane was sobbing – we trust your judgment, we always have, and we love you, we support and backup every decision you take, you don't have to worry about it, just do wherever makes you happy, – Hugh looked at Jane and they seem to make a decision and then look back to Hermione – before you say all that we planned to embarrass you a little bit, taking advantage of you naïveté, but in some things you are older than your years, on others you are the little girl I used to carry on my shoulders, but no matter what you'll always be my little girl, but now – Hugh said with a little gravity on his voice. – we think you are ready to hear and to know our story, that in some weird bizarre way is being mirrored on you, somethings at least, and I'm so happy that in my elder age, I'm not yet old your mother and I are not our parents so, is time and we actually need to tell you some things, about our family, we were waiting until the weekend but – Hugh looked at Jane who nodded and look at her as well.

Is time we told you the stories, you had always asked about, about grandparents and such. – Hermione saw the grim on her father's face and the tremor in her voice and noted how they seated very close to each other, like borrowing strength from each other.

– Mother, is no longer necessary, I... – Hermione stammers – I have you both, – she signs – let's just say that is not important anymore, don't worry, I can see how much pain is causing you just thinking about it...

– Thanks honey, but – Jane was sad – once we finish, you'll know why is necessary...

Hermione sensed the change in the room as her father took his mother's hand while starting the tale...