A/N: This last one's for GISingerJayne! Thanks for returning to me, Jaynie, I missed your reviews. I was indescribably excited to see your message! Good luck on finals and SAT's…I hated those. Was talking with a professor yesterday about how I probably couldn't get into college if I applied now. Do you know where you want to go?
To all: I hope you enjoyed my bit, there's more coming. I've started work on the untitled story that will tie in my two existing stories…give me till the end of the weekend at best or the end of next week at worst. Finals, projects, presentations, oh, my!

New A/N: In a bizarre and random occurence, the last chapter of this story was never uploaded! Thank-you to Tonya, who randomly reviewed this story, prompting me to go back and re-read it. Um, yeah, so...sorry. It's been over a year now. Whoops. Other than this added note, I left the story as-was, author's notes and all.

Hermione collapsed on her bed with most of her things packed. She sighed tiredly as she looked at the pile of books and cd's on her bed.

"Sir, do you have a small backpack or something I could use? They took my satchel and I never got it back." He reached under the couch without looking at her, pulled something out, and tossed it to her.

"My bag! How did you get it?"

"Draco swiped it last time he was at the Lestrange's. You may want to modify the color or style," he suggested.

Hmmm. I want…a khaki bag with metal buckles…and a shoulder strap. And patches. She waved her wand and transfigured the bag quickly, then placed her books, journal and cd's in. On the last day of therapy, Elena had given her a cd of harp pieces arranged and played by Nicanor Zableta and a book. The Four Quartets. Not much of a T.S. Eliot fan, but I'll see what it does for me.

The women had parted with hugs and Elena made Hermione promise to come back once a month to check in. Before they'd parted, she'd instilled some advice: "Live your life, Hermione Granger. For better or worse, do what you feel is right."

Hermione looked up at Snape and waited for him to close his book.

"Yes, Miss Granger?"

"Already back to that, are we?"

"Practice for the morning."

"Naturally. I'm starved. How would you like an authentic Muggle dinner, cooked by the inimitable Hermione Granger?"

"What exactly would this dinner include?"

"I was thinking of steak, potatoes, corn, salad, and strawberry shortcake."

"Far be it from me to deny the inimitable Hermione Granger a chance to serve me."

She grinned and stuck two fingers up at him.

"Twenty points when we return for profanity to a teacher." He grinned back and offered her his arm.

Two hours later, they had finished shopping and Hermione was turning over the steaks. "Think Remus will be back for dinner?" she asked casually.

"I really could not say," Snape replied, leaning against the counter with a glass of wine. Hermione took a sip of her own wine and shrugged, shoving the steaks back in the oven. "Well there's enough for him if he does, and if he doesn't…leftovers for one and all."

Twenty minutes later, they'd set the table and were sitting down when Remus entered.

"Ah, just made it," Hermione said with a smile.

"Smells delicious," Remus complimented her. He washed his hands at the sink while Hermione poured him a glass of wine.

When they were all seated, Hermione raised her glass. "To the end of this bloody nightmare." They toasted and drank.

"Ten more points for language, Hermione," Snape teased. She stuck her tongue out at him again.

"If you persist, I will cast a most unpleasant hex on your tongue," Snape warned.

"Oooh, I'm scared," Hermione taunted.

"You should be; I've had that hex. It's pretty unfortunate," Remus responded.

Hermione laughed, warmed by the wine and the company. "I think I can handle a hex. Besides, my hexes aren't too shabby either."

"She's got a mean petrificus totalus," Remus noted.

"Who's side are you on, Lupin?" Snape growled. "Cease your instigation!"

It was Lupin's turn to laugh. "Sorry, Severus," he apologized, not looking sorry in the slightest. He turned to Hermione. "Are you ready to go back to Hogwarts?"

She smiled. "Yeah, it'll be good to see everyone again. I just hope I'm not nutters when I get there."

"You give yourself too little credit," Snape replied, swallowing a mouthful of steak.

"I hope that's the case," she answered with a grin and downed the rest of her wine.

Dinner passed pleasantly and Hermione decided to retire early in preparation for her return to Hogwarts come morning.

No, no, you're not nervous, are you Mya? Of course not!

She looked up from her journal as Remus entered. "So," he asked gently, "How do you really feel about going back to Hogwarts?"

Hermione smiled. "I'm not sure. I don't want people to treat me differently, you know? Like I'm some sort of broken toy. I'm the same person I always was."

"Give them time to get used to it and they'll get over it. Draco will ease the transition for you," he encouraged.

"Yeah, I'm sure he will, at that." She smiled and hugged him tightly.

"Get some sleep," he admonished gently.

Hermione pulled away, grinning and snuggled down. "Goodnight, Remus."

"Goodnight, Hermione."

"Love you," she mumbled and was asleep.

Remus stared at her. "I love you too," he whispered.

Hermione awoke with a smile to her empty bedroom. I think I'm gonna be just fine. Now, I'm going to do as Elena suggested: live my life. I'm going to give up on Remus for now. It's probably false emotion in any case and I'm not in any condition to get involved. And if I repeat that enough, I can get the rest of me to see reason. Hermione grabbed her stuff and ran downstairs.

She ate a hasty breakfast amidst Molly Weasley's clucking. She finished and stood, gazing at the assembled group. Tonks grinned at her, Remus was smiling sadly, Molly looked fretful and Snape was impassive.

"Thank you all for taking such good care of me," Hermione said quietly. She hugged each of them in turn, trying not to linger too much on Remus. Squaring her shoulders, she turned to Snape, picked up her bags, and followed him out the door.

Back to the grind. Thank the gods.

"I never thought I'd be so grateful to go back to chiding Harry and Ron to be useful."

"Therapy apparently has not been as successful as we'd hoped."

She grinned and winked as she disapparated.

They both apparated at the edge of the grounds and began walking silently. Hermione shouldered her bag, which contained her shrunken luggage, adjusting it so that it wouldn't pull at the still somewhat sore muscles on her shoulder. The scars would have to be treated by Madam Pomfrey to avoid extensive scarring.

Snape glanced at her but said nothing.

So this is how it's gonna be. Back to the status quo.

They hit the entrance to Hogwarts and Hermione took a deep breath before entering. It was midmorning so all the students were in class.

"You may go to your room, Miss Granger. I shall expect you at dinner tonight, you may rest or pull your things together until then. You schedule for the new term is on your desk; according to the other professors you are ahead in your classes. I expect you in potions tomorrow on time and ready to work." Snape turned and stalked off.

Right. Of course.

Hermione Jane Granger took another deep breath and looked around. She was back in her normal life, for better or worse, and it would go on. Her friends were still here, she was alive, and the future was poised to come crashing down like a wave on the shore.

Hermione straightened her shoulders and walked to her room, ready to face the future: confident, proud, alive and damned proud of it.

A/N: Alrighty, my dearies, that's it. Now I know some of you thought I'd go all the way through her seventh year (since there are only a few months left) and the 'Final Battle' or whatever you wish to term it, but! In order to do that, I'd have to introduce Callah and her backstory…now, I'd be happy to do so if anyone would like me to…but I require at least one request for it. I've also got some ideas on how to further develop the Remus/Hermione relationship for a story like that (since in the sequel to this one, they pretty much fall into bed with no lengthy explanation).

Anyways, I hope everyone enjoyed!