Disclaimer: I do not own anything but the story plot, JKR owns all of this, and yes I am extremely jealous.

Summary: Hermione is given the advice to write a memoir. She reflects on her past telling us the story of what her life was like after the downfall of Voldemort. No longer a little girl, the woman of 24 tells us her story. How she hid from the world but at the same time found herself falling in love. Even if she denied it from the start. ~ A glimpse into the life of 24 year old Hermione Granger as she tackles the obstacles of friends, family, work, luck, mistakes, challenges, lessons and love. Prepare yourself, you have no idea what you have just gotten yourself into.

Note: Thank you in advance for taking the time out to read this. It's a work in progress, which basically means I have no idea how often I can post. But hopefully with your support I'll find the strength to get at least one chapter up per week. I hope you enjoy this story and please when you're done review. The beginning of the story is told in first person and then it changes when we get to the actual story. Sorry if it's confusing but I think you will catch on.

Chapter 15 ~ A Rose is but A Rose

Hermione hesitated for a moment, not sure if she should allow Draco to speak or jump in and explain herself. Harry's face was livid, and she couldn't recall the last time she had seen him so angry. Pushing herself to her feet Hermione stammered. How in the world was she going to explain what was going on when in reality she had absolutely no idea herself. Turning her attention to Draco she shot him a pleading look hoping that he would
take the hint and begin to explain exactly why he had come to close to kissing her.

"Harry, its really not what you think at all. " Draco began, retreating backwards towards the kitchen. "I was trying to convince Granger that she wasn't thinking clearly about the whole situation. "

Harry unfolded his arms from his chest and glanced suspiciously at Draco. " What situation? "

Draco paused in his steps and turned back to Hermione. "You didnt tell anyone yet? No one knows? " With that he shook his head and sighed. "Listen Granger for what its worth, I wasn't going to kiss you, or tell you that I loved you or anything. In fact the only thing that I was going to say was that in our final year of school I realized how much I admired you. You were the most intelligent person in our class, and despite all the times I
harassed you, you kept pushing further into success. That takes a lot of strength Hermione, and if you can push past all those years that I constantly belittled you, then Im more then positive that you can make it through this...without pushing your happiness aside. " Without another word he entered the kitchen and continued with the food he was preparing.

Harry arched his eyebrow at Draco, words caught heavily in his mouth. " what is his talking about Hermione? "

" I really should wait for Ron to get here, but I cant wait any longer....Harry..." Closing her eyes briefly she sighed. " It really isn't easy trying to explain everything that had happened yesterday, but I'll cut straight to the point...."

Dropping her gaze slightly, Hermione swallowed hard. Her fingers were numb, and her heart thumped heavily in her chest.

"Hermione, just tell me. Im here for you no matter what. " Harry smiled and took a few steps closer to her.

"Harry, Im-Im Harry I have cancer…and I broke things off with George, and Im probably going to die, Im a mess and Im scared and I don't know what Im going to do. " Hermione shook furiously, her entire body convulsing into sheer hysterics.

Harry blinked hard, unsure how to react to the news of his best friend having a such a serious illness. Taking a few more steps to her, he reached out and engulfed her in his arms, lightly stroking her hair.

" Hey, Herm…everything will be fine. You're strong and you have so much support behind you. I just- I just don't understand why or how you could break up with George. I mean, I figured you would want his support the most. "

Hermione sighed and stepped away from Harry, her head dizzy from her intense emotions. " I don't want to ruin his life Harry, I don't want him to feel obligated to be with me, when most likely I wont life to see next year. "

Dropping to the couch she choked back on her tears. A clatter from the kitchen broke their attention as Draco screamed.

"Get this bloody thing out of here!"

A growl of some sort sounded, and Rusty sprang quickly into the room, cowering behind Harry. Draco entered the sitting room with a smug expression.

"Guess he didn't like the idea of me turning him into a stew…." Draco smirked and headed back inside, leaving Hermione and Harry with very confused expressions.

Shaking his head slightly, Harry moved over and sat down next to her. " Mione, you need to think about this, you need to decide if the one amazing love of your life is worth losing because your scared. Don't sell yourself short of anything, your Hermione, you're strong, and you will get through this. I need you, Ron needs you…and for Merlins sake George needs you. "

"I know Harry, and believe me it wasn't easy to turn around and tell him to leave…but its what I had to do, and I am going to stick to it. " Standing from the couch she moved over to the door of her room. Putting her hand on the doorknob she sighed and glanced quickly over her shoulder. " If Ron comes by, let him know about everything…I- I just cant bare to tell this story again…especially to his brother…" Pushing the door open she stepped inside and closed the door.

Moving over to her bed she closed her eyes and drifted into a deep slumber, hoping that when she opened her eyes again her life would be back to normal, and George would be lying next to her; as though it was some awful nightmare that she had just endured.

I had every right to be scared out of my mind, and I wasn't going to lie about it. I didn't want to die, I had so much left to live for, and I felt as though I hadn't accomplished anything . So perhaps I was being selfish, perhaps most of you think Im completely insane for doing what I did, but the thing is, most of you people are nothing like me. I have always been on my own, and to have someone try and support me through something like this…well, it just didn't seem like the right thing to do. But god did I love him. I loved him more then I have loved anything in my entire life…but the saying goes: "Its better to have loved and lost, then to ever have loved at all."

"Hermione?" Emily rushed up to Hermione as soon as she pushed though the office door. "Oh honey I heard everything. How are you? Would you like a butterbeer? Some Fire Whiskey? How about a foot massage, you tell me and I'll do anything…" Emily smiled genuinely.

Hermione couldn't help but smirk at the sight. After all it wasn't everyday that Emily actually did something sincere. Pushing by Emily, Hermione sat down in her large office chair.

"No Emily, Im fine, but thanks for your concern."

Placing her things away, she began sifting through the many papers piled on her desk. The work was piled high and she groaned at the thought of finishing it before the day was through. There was a soft tapping at the window and both Hermione and Emily turned to take a look. A brown and white owl, flapped happily outside, a red rose tucked tightly in its beak. Emily grinned and opened the window as Hermione went back to work.

"Herm, its for you…from George…isn't that cute." Emily cooed and placed the rose on Hermiones desk.

"Oh yeah, its adorable…Im dying…" she murmured sarcastically, taking a group of papers and filing them away.

"Listen, just because your all sour about your stupidity doesn't mean you cant take it all back. I know George would understand that you were just being an idiot. " Emily nodded as she said this which caused Hermione to chuckle lightly.

"You are relentless….but for the hundredth time, we broke up and that is that. Stop pressuring me to do something that I don't want to do. " Hermione picked up the rose and opened on of her drawers. There was a thunderous rising in the room, and Hermione gasped loudly as the rose began to shake violently in her hand. Dropping it to the floor, they both covered their ears at the piercing sound escaping from the rose.

"Whats it doing?" Emily shouted.

"What?" Hermione called out, her hands pressed firmly over her ears.

The noise grew louder, until it abruptly stopped, now chiming softly as a beautiful voice filled the room.

" Here I go again,

Trying to find the words I want to send

But fumbling to find them all the same.

And Im so lost here without you

Walking in circles trying to find you

Cant you see what you have done to me?

Come back home

So I can love you now forever.

I cant stand to live another day alone

Its so dark here in my head

And I fear that I am dead

If I have to spend another moment without you

Come back home…to me…

I love you. "

The soft singing died slowly and Hermione stared at the rose in complete awe. Emily stood from her seat and picked up the rose from the floor. Her mouth dropped open slightly, a few slurred noises coming from her mouth.

"W-I-eh-….. WOW! Hermione, nothing says I love you more then a singing flower! How can you deny this amazing boy from your life? " Emily grasped the rose and handed it to Hermione.

Hermione took it from Emily's hand and studied it for a moment. Her heart ached with emotion that yearned to run to George. She wanted so badly to feel him in her arms, believe that everything would be alright, but it couldn't be like that. Not when she was destined to die. Taking the rose she opened the window in the office and glanced down at the people bellow her. Her arm trembling slightly she brought the rose up to her nose and gave it a quick smell.. Closing her eyes she sighed, her words strained from her lips.

"A rose is nothing but a rose….." she lifted her arm out the window and let the rose gracefully fall from her fingertips.

Note: YAY Im back! Thanks so much for continuing to leave reviews. Im terribly sorry for not updating sooner, Ive just been tied down with so many things. First my computer crashed, then I was sick…the list just goes on and on. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and please review when your done. Or leave a flame. I have had about 3 million inches of snow here, and I would appreciate some fire to melt it all away. Love you guys, and thanks.