AN: Hi everyone! Thank you for the nice reviews for the first chapter of this story! It means so much. I work two jobs and writing is my favorite pastime but I don't get to do so that often.

This chapter has been loosely based on my own experience, I was engaged and afraid to break up with someone I knew wasn't right for me. I realize that Hermione can seem selfish in this chapter, which she is and I WAS! But just know that sometimes breaking up with someone is really difficult! Feel free to nicely give some feedback, as my writing is pretty rusty. Thank you again 3

Chapter Two: More

Hermione Granger wanted more.

After the war, she had gained many things. Some she had wanted and excited her, but others that she overtime realized she did not fancy as much. She loved her job, she became head of the Department of Magical Creature Regulation. Admittedly, Hermione did not have to work that hard for the position that she held. Assisting Harry Potter in defeating the Dark Lord basically spoke for itself. And her constant objections, speeches, and lectures about house-elves and their treatment proved that her passion was there. That was a gain that she had loved.

She also loved the respect muggleborns had started to acquire after the war. While prejudice truly never dies, she had felt an admiration for her birthstatus that she never felt before. Young muggle born witches and wizards vocally looked up to her. And while the flattery she received from them was greatly appreciated, what she loved most about it was seeing their pride in themselves. It warmed her heart that they could feel proud in something she was told to feel nothing but shame in.

Although a hopeful career and growing respect is something good the war had created, there were devastating things the war left Hermione with. She kept monsters locked away in her mind for so long, eventually they managed to pick the lock and swarm her mind. What were those monsters? Night terrors, severe depression that she only masked with a smile, guilt and fear. Not the same kind of fear she felt for Voldemort or Bellatrix. It was a type of fear that was hard to explain to others. She was constantly afraid of making the wrong decision in her life. The fear of starting something new or ending something old. A fear that she would never accomplish something as great as defeating the darkest wizard again. Fear that she had already peaked and now the rest of her life was just mundane. And that is what she felt her life was becoming: mundane.

Aside from a career that gave her a sense of excitement and purpose and nightmares that haunt her constantly, her life was excruciatingly normal. And simple. And she hated that. She wanted more. Hermione wasn't sure what more meant, but she knew that she wanted it. Maybe she wanted more adventure. She spent her adolescence running away from danger and feeling the actual rush of being alive. Now she spent her time working an 8-5 and tending to her boyfriend.

Her boyfriend. Now that was a whole issue in itself. Hermione loved Ron. When the war was finished they held each other in the darkest times. They saw one another in the most vulnerable positions. Not only that, but they truly found each other attractive. It had only made sense that when Ron blushed and asked Hermione to be his girlfriend, she happily agreed. Harry and Ginny had fallen completely mad for each other. It all made sense. It was all perfect!

But, over time, their love weakened though neither one wanted to admit to it. Ron was completely fine with riding on the glory of being Harry Potter's best mate and helping defeat Voldemort. Ron loved the spotlight, that was nothing new. Everything that Hermione was afraid of, Ron loved. He was fine with his adolescence being the best years of his life. He felt he had accomplished everything he needed to. He felt ahead of the game! He enjoyed the routine that he and Hermione fell into. Wake up, say goodbye, go to work, come home, watch a movie, and sleep. While she kept this to herself, Hermione grew bitter towards him for it. She felt like she needed more in a partner. Someone with drive. Someone who would push her as well. Hermione didn't want a fucking routine. She needed someone who excited her. And Ron did not. He was safe, simple, and, truthfully, mundane.

But fear kept her with him. The fear of being alone forever or missing out on something great Ron could give her kept her with him. The fear of Ron, the Weasley's, or even Harry hating her for just thinking about breaking up with Ron kept her with him. And she felt guilty for staying with someone out of fear, but the guilt also told her to stay with him.

Guilt was a funny thing. She imagined all the people on the wrong side of the War being guilty. Some were guilty fucks that deserved to die, but Hermione learned that some were not. When she went to testify in Malfoy's trial, she had to look at his own memories. Memories of him begging and pleading with his mother to run away. More memories of Voldemort threatening him. The memory of Snape killing Dumbledore and Malfoy being called a coward by his own father. She wondered if the guilt that Malfoy held inside of his heart felt like the same guilt she felt inside her own. Was the guilt she had when she took her parent's memories away the same guilt Malfoy had when he took the Mark to protect his mother? Was the guilt she felt when she would kiss Ron goodbye and feel a sour taste on her lips the same guilt that Malfoy felt when he watched his Aunt carve a slur onto Hermione's own arm? That seemed impossible to be true but the guilt she felt was overwhelming. All she knew was the guilt that was written on her own face was the same guilt written on Malfoy's face.

While trying to fight those aforementioned monsters that were locked inside a closet in her mind, she changed. Maybe it wasn't a life-altering change that made her a completely different person, but it was a change that allowed her to start moving on from her past. It was a change that allowed her to look at the MUDBLOOD scar on her arm and be proud of who she was. Not only proud of who she was after the War, but proud of the girl who was writhing in pain in Malfoy Manor. She was looking towards her future, towards whatever more could be. Sure, fixing oneself never really ends, but she finally felt like maybe she could move forward.

Hermione woke up on the wrong side of bed, that was for certain. She wasn't sure if it was the night terror that kept her awake in the rude hours of the night, or if it was the sound of loud clanking dishes that woke her. Either way, she was irritated.

Tossing over a little too aggressively, Hermione tried to suppress the noises coming from the kitchen with a pillow. To no avail, she sighed and lifted herself from the bed, sitting up with her feet hanging about the ground. Just before she mustered up the energy to actually stand up out of bed, she heard the bedroom door open.

"No, no, no, you stay in bed!" Ron said cheerfully. He had a mug of tea and some biscuits carefully held in his hands. He had his signature cheeky and almost thoughtless grin on her face. Before she could let out a sound, Ron continued by singing a familiar melody. "Happy Birthday, to you! Happy Birthday to you!"

It took everything in Hermione's power not to outwardly groan. It wasn't that she hated her birthday, she actually quite loved this day. Having a birthday in September meant cooler days after the summer heat, sunny and welcoming. When she was young, her birthday felt like another year closer to accomplishing her goals. Another year closer to growing up and seeing the world and living a life of her own. Now, it only felt like another year stuck as the Golden Girl. Another year stuck as Harry Potter's sidekick and Ronald Weasley's girlfriend.

Slapping on the most sincere smile as she could, she turned to Ron and accepted the mug and biscuits that he gave her every year. "Oh Ron, thank you. It's so very sweet of you to remember."

He grinned. "How could I forget my girlfriend's birthday? She is going to be cheering for me while I play quidditch today in her honor." He chuckled.

It would be a lie to say that her face didn't drop noticeably. Seriously? She thought. It's my birthday and this git thinks I want to watch him sweat during quidditch, the same game I have had to watch for years? She let out an audible sigh. "Ron, you know I love watching you play, but I have to work today. Many things are needed to be done and I can not fall behind!" She allowed the true disappointment she felt to show in her face, although Ron would think it was for a completely different reason.

He furrowed his brow and looked right into her eyes. "You can't be serious, you need to work on a Saturday and on your Birthday?"

She winced at the anger in his voice. "I am serious." She wasn't serious. "I really do not want to fall behind." That was true, which is why she was already ahead in all of her work. "I'm sorry, but I will be home for dinner!" Her voice strained, trying to sound excited.

Some light returned back into his eyes. "Okay, I understand. I have to leave in a few minutes, but I will see you tonight." He walked over to her and placed a kiss at the top of her head. "Happy Birthday, Mione."

Once he left the flat, Hermione crawled back into bed and cried silent tears of guilt.

Pretending to work in the office wasn't too difficult. She brought her latest book, locked the office door, and began getting lost in the words. Distracting herself came quite simply to Hermione. She worked long hours, busied herself with staying ahead of her work. When she ever felt a lull in her day, she always turned to reading. While at Hogwarts, she spent most of her times reading books about spells, potions, dark magic. Now, she read about love, adventure, and more love. Romance novels became her favorite. She hoped and dreamed that the words she read would one day become a reality for her. She wanted passionate love that kept her on her toes, the way her novels would.

It wasn't before long she had realized it had been a few hours since she began reading. Suddenly, a loud banging came at her door.

"Who is it?" Hermione asked, half way expecting it to be Ron again.

"It's me, open up Birthday Girl!" A familiar female voice came from behind the door.

Ginny. Hermione and Ginny had become closer after the War. While dating Harry, Ginny became a constant in Hermione's life. Always there to pry into her life. The redheaded girl loved to be quizzical, always pressing Hermione for any personal information she could get. And Hermione honestly didn't mind. For some reason, she felt more comfortable sharing her doubts, fears, and troubles with Ginny than she did with Ron or Harry. Ginny never judged. She always gave sound advice even when she knew Hermione wouldn't listen to her.

Hermione giggled and opened the door happily. Ginny marched right past her and took a seat right at Hermione's desk.

"Avoiding my brother again, I see? Even on your most special of days!" Ginny's voice dripped with sarcasm.

Hermione tried to defiantly deny Ginny's assumptions, but her voice only came out as a squeak. "I am not avoiding Ronald!"

Ginny scoffed and shoved a copy of the Daily Prophet towards Hermione's direction. "Lucky for you, I am not here to interrogate you on your birthday, but instead deliver some interesting news."