Hagrid burst into his hut, startling Ron & Harry. He laid Hermione carefully on the bed and began to make tea. Hermione's sobs had dissipated into child-like hiccups and she curled herself into a tight ball on the bed. She was completely unaware of the presence of her best friends.

The young men exchanged a knowing glance and sat down on the bed, Harry at her head, Ron at her feet.

They each laid a hand gingerly upon her, making her look up in wonder. At the sight of her best friends her eyes filled with tears again, which made her laugh bitterly.

"I'm so bloody tired of crying," she told them, "but I'm glad you're here." It came out almost as a whisper and the trio fell into a tight three- person hug that had been perfected over 16 years of friendship, the depth of which only they understood fully.

They held each other and cried. Hermione's pain filled the room and spread to each of it's occupants.

After several minutes, Hagrid sniffled and wiped his eyes. Hermione looked up and gave him a warm smile through her tears. He handed her a large mug full of strong tea.

"Thank you, Hagrid," she said and they both knew the thanks were for more than just the tea.

Hagrid smiled. "Drink up 'Ermione," he said, collecting himself. "It'll calm yer nerves a bit."

She nodded and looked at Harry. "I assume you've been filled in." she began. "I imagine they've told you I've become a complete head case and can no longer function properly. I suppose you've heard that my students have started to compare me to Snape and that History of Magic is now the second most dreaded class at Hogwarts."

"Wasn't it always?" mumbled Ron, and Hermione turned her attention to him.

"I guess you've been informed that the entire Hogwarts faculty is concerned for my safety and my son's. They're worried that I may harm Jasper or myself."

"Will you?" asked Harry candidly.

Hermione sighed. "No," she said honestly. "I would never hurt Jasper, and I'm not suicidal. I just need time to figure out what I really want." At this the young men exchanged another knowing glance. "And I'm never alone," she continued. "Remus hovers constantly. I know he loves me, but he's terribly annoying." Harry and Ron chuckled. They'd both experienced Remus's overconcern before and related completely to Hermione's complaint. Hermione went on. "Minerva's always around, Merlin bless her, and sometimes I think Jasper's better off in her care." She looked into her half empty mug in shame.

"Never!" Hagrid piped in, "Yer 'is mum, 'Ermione! 'E's always better off wit you!"

"Thanks, Hagrid. I needed to hear that." She looked up. "I guess I've just lost sight of what's important to me. What I desire most. I'll figure it out. Like I told Remus, I just need time."

Ron jumped in. "You've had time, luv. Harry and I are here to . speed up the process a bit."

Harry took Hermione's hand. "There's something we want to show you. Something we should have showed you a long time ago. Dumbledore's had it hidden, but he told us where to find it. Come on, we're going for a walk."

Hermione stood to follow. Whatever these crazy boys had in mind, she trusted it. She handed Hagrid her empty mug and kissed him on the cheek, then the three walked out of the hut, blinking in the bright midday sun.

The boys dragged Hermione across the grounds and through a door she'd never noticed before, probably because it was almost completely covered with green vines.

Harry leaned close to the door and whispered, "Rose Red."

The door swung open to reveal a large room that seemed to have been neglected for years. Dust and cobwebs were the room's only decoration, except, of course, that the entire room was filled with mirrors.

Hermione raised her eyebrows and looked first at Ron, then at Harry.

"I get it," she stated cynically. "Your big plan was to set me in front of a mirror, have me describe what I see and tell me how beautiful, and kind, and clever I am and that I should be infinitesimally happy for all of my gifts.

"Yes . and no ." Harry said cryptically, just as Dumbledore had to him, so many years ago.

Hermione huffed and protested. "Well, forget it. Remus already tried. All I saw was a 27-year-old woman with frizzy hair and circles under her eye."

"Ah, but this is different," Ron said proudly. "The trick is finding the right mirror. Come on Harry, let's split up. I'm sure we'll know it when we find it," and he disappeared amongst the mirrors, which all looked remarkably similar.

"Just wait here a minute Hermione, this won't take long," and Harry too disappeared.

Hermione shook her head, but remained. She had to admit to being a bit intrigued and curious as to the characteristics of the so-called "right mirror."

She began to wander amongst the mirrors as well, trying to find the others, talking to them all the while.

"Really, I don't feel this is entirely necessary, and I don't see what it will accomplish. In my experience with mirrors, they are all quite alike. Truly, with the exception of some of the more annoying varieties of wizarding mirrors, which tend to talk inceassantly, a mirror is just a ." she trailed off, having seen something in one of the mirrors that she couldn't quite explain, " . mirror," she finished lamely and cocked her head to one side, unable to tear her eyes away from the remarkable sight before her.

By this time Harry and Ron had found her and were watching her intently.

Ron breathed a sigh of relief and Harry spoke up.

"Hermione," he said, "welcome to the Mirror of Erised."