Hermione and Ginny were up on the top balcony of the two story apartment and loving it. Ginny was on the old orange pinstripe couch under the bedroom window with Hermione sprawled out in the navy beanbag with little white flowers next to her, both nursing a butterbear and catching up. Ginny was ecstatic Hermione was back and had decided to move into the apartment since Anna had moved out 3 weeks ago. Renting a place by yourself was tough!

"So Hermione how'd you score the job? I mean advertising assistant in Pendulum Magic Records and Entertainment are the biggest wizarding musical, arts and entertainment distributors in the wizarding world! The fact that you came from a muggle company I didn't think you'd get much leverage from that. No offence."

"Well it wasn't just my refrences, we had to put together a portfolio and hand that in as our resume. The guy I'll be working under didn't actually know who he was getting as they look at you work rather than your name, gender or stupid bloody bloodline."

"Blood doesn't matter much anymore, not since the big bad was kinda shut down."

"Amen to that"

Both leaned forward and clinked beers.

Since starting at midday after Hermione had shifted the last of her stuff in they had decided to start 'celebrating' a little earlier, rather than waiting for the boys.

Ginny went quiet and looked into her bottle as if it were telling her the secrets of the universe.

Hermione sighed. She had expected this actually a little earlier.

"Why'd you leave like that Mione?"

"Gin… honest? I left to find myself. In the wizarding world I was Harry Potters best friend. Whenever I went anywhere it was "Hey where's Ron or Harry" never "Hey Mione how are you doing?" I wasn't a person I was a tag along. I couldn't take it.

I wanted to go out and become a person, Hermione Granger not 1/3rd of the 'the Golden trio'. Gin you've gotta understand. Your always referred to as 'the youngest Weasley' or even 'Ron's little sister'. Don't you ever want to jump up and down and scream 'till your blue in the face and tell people you're a person too?"

Ginny looked up and smiled faintly.

"Yeah I know the feeling all too well"

"So what better way to find myself and prove to everyone than go somewhere where no one knew the name Hermione Granger or Harry Potter. Where magic is a thing in fairytales and where blood and school houses and rivalries don't matter."

Hermione looked out over the balcony to the front garden. A little bit of scrub lining the side fences and path. Minimal lawn and a small wrought iron fence that matched the balcony railing. The street was fairly quiet with minimal traffic as many people walked as they were only 3 blocks from the main party district and local witching supply stores.

Ginny looked at Hermione. Really looked at Hermione. She understood. People could be so closed minded at times and it was infuriating. 7th year was hard on everyone. Harry at breaking point, constantly looking over your shoulder, training for war, pretending NEWTs were the only thing that was on your mind. Going to class everyday and playing the student or Professor was a way of comfort. In routine nothing can hurt you its all mapped out and there is no outside world past the gates of Hogwarts.

"Mione"

The young woman looked up.

"You've dodged the part where you left everyone out"

"You my girl are too smart for your own good"

Ginny Smirked.

"Careful there Malfoy if the wind changes you'll stay like that!"

They both burst out laughing.

"Gin… If I had kept in contact I would have fell. Having a reminder of what I belong to would have drawn me back. It killed me to cut everyone off. But it was the only way. I belong here everyone I love is here and if I had that constantly there I wouldn't have been able succeed. I missed everyone so much. But I had to. I just had to."

Tears started to stream down Hermione's cheeks. She was trying convince herself rather than anyone else.

"You, Ron, Harry were my lifelines. I wouldn't have made it 2 minutes in the wizarding world without you. I've always pushed to be the best and now that I am I don't know if I want it. It doesn't mean a knut if I've ruined everything back here. Ron and Harry have no idea I'm back and I don't know if they're going to like it either."

"And Draco Hermione"

"Draco… he was my everything Ginny. I've never met anyone else like him and I hope I never will. The love of my life…And I walked away."

She got up and started pacing. She with shaking fingers drew a cigarette and lit it up.

Not all muggle living was so bad. A habit first picked up when she left the wizarding world to cope.

"He loved you ya know. I was skeptical. A Slytherin and a Gryffindor? Never. Especially not these two in particular anyway. But then after the temper tantrums from the boys."

A smile crept onto Hermione's lips. She flicked her ash over the railing.

"We seen Draco, Not Malfoy. If someone could be like that and make you happy then bring 'em on, the more the merrier. Since the day in the 2nd floor east corridor I knew he was the one for you. He was your soul mate and id never seen anyone so happy as you were."

Hermione turned back and looked at Ginny, hugging herself she smiled.

"Things change"

"They certainly do. And so solves the mystery of the missing Granger"

Both chuckled.

"Thanks Ginny. 5 years is a long time."

"All is well. At least I know. So its over and done and sleeping dogs should lie. So you ready to face the boys? I reckon they'll be ecstatic personally."

"Yeah probably. At least I can get sloshed and not have to worry bout the morning as the weekend is a glorious thing. What's that sound?"

"The devils in disguise taking a corner too fast."

"Geez Harry you want to slow down a bit, you nearly hit that old bat back there!"

"Take it easy Ron, no point not having a fast convertible if I can't drive with suave"

Harry wiggled his eyebrows looking over at Ron cowering in the passenger seat.

"How you ever got a licence is beyond me, no one should have let you have one"

"Now, now ickle Ronnikins I can drive like an old lady, I just choose not to, I like my stereo up and my foot on the pedal"

"We're not going to make it to Ginnys in one piece!"

Ron held on for dear life as Harry threw them round a corner.

That was the best thing about wizarding roads. No one ever used 'Those blasted muggle contraptions' so it was open road to people who were….daring enough.

And who not daring enough than the boy-who-lived-twice-to-face-that-not-so-evil-dude?

Yeah that's what Harry thought too.

"So why are we having dinner at Ginny's on a Saturday night again?"

"Because she said we had to otherwise be faced with a bat boogey hex or worse my mum."

Both boys shuddered at both outcomes. Ginny had a knack for certain hexes and Mrs. Weasley was an angel but mess with her baby girl and beware her wrath son or not.

"And here we are"

Harry threw the car across the road and came to a halt out-front Ginny's apartment.

Ron was green.

Both climbed out the car, well one climbed the other crawled.

Every time Ron got out of the car he swore black and blue to NEVER get into a car with madman Potter again, but usually three days later he was nursing another queasy stomach.

Harry and Ron looked up to the balcony. They could hear two voices. One Ginnys yes, the other… familiar. Harry shielded his eyes from the blazing sun. Right in that bloody spot.

"Hey Gin who you got up there?"

More giggles.

"Lil sis I'm not interested in no more blind dates."

Next thing a women the same age as them swung up onto the balcony a butterbeer in one hand the other leaning on the banister. She had soft chocolate curls that went just past her shoulders, tall and curvy with those eyes.

Honey brown eyes. They were familiar…all too familiar.

"Ronald Weasley id never say never, if I were you you'd never know what you could get.

What Harry Potter cat got your tongue? Or don't you recognize me? Id be upset if you forgot 7 years of friendship in a heartbeat!"

Both boys whispered "Mione?"

They looked at each other in realization. Then they bolted. Ron scrambled to his feet and cleared the fence while Harry took the gate. They scrambled to front door only to be knocked over by a girl engulfing them at the front door.

Harry pulled back just enough to look at her face.

Mione's Face.

It was her.

She was here.

She was with them again.

"Your back!..."

"Ive missed you…"

"Ive missed you too.."

"Don't you ever leave again…"

"Mione…"

"Oh boys…"

"Why…"

"Where…"

"When?..."

Hermione pulled back just a little to see there faces.

They were shedding tears.

For her.

"Calm down I'm here now and I'm not going away again."

The boys pulled her in again and they stayed that way for another few minutes just being together again.

Ginny appeared in the doorway, full apron and adorning oven mitts leaning on the frame.

"Ready for some dinner Boys and Girls? It's just about ready."

She disappeared back inside.

The boys let go and just smiled, no Hermione thought, they glowed.

They said nothing and Hermione wiped away their tears using her thumbs.

They linked arms and disappeared into the house with a soft click of the lock.

A pair of sparkling blue eyes watched from across the street, so relieved and happy things had gone well for the young witch. She watched as the three friends linked arms and went inside the house. It had been so long since she herself had seen that kind of happiness radiate of someone.

She had been weary of upsetting the girl if things had gone awry with Harry and Ron.

But now….

Narcissa smiled before she apparated back home, the plan beginning to form in her mind.