The vibrant blue sky was edged with dark looming clouds that just screamed rain. The strong breeze that preceded the storm to come that evening didn't deter the snowy white owl that coursed the wind currents like a glider. She had been given her destination, although the location was one she knew well. The scene below her was familiar, as she flapped her wings to slow her descent to the open second-story window, located on the front of Flourish & Blotts.

The smallish amount of light provided by the warm sunshine and sounds from the street below streamed in through Hermione's open window. Head bent over her desk, she used special glasses to examine the precious parchment laid out there. Slowly moving her lips as she read, her eyes widened and she allowed her lips to curve into a smile. 'This is most definitely a forgery,' She thought to herself. 'The syntax is all wrong; the letter structure isn't even acceptable, looking to imitate 15th century Hungarian Palaeography!' (A/N: An actual alphabet. I looked it up! lol)

Hermione settled back in her chair and closing her eyes, reached behind her and rubbed as she stretched her neck. A shadow followed by a soft breeze lifting her bangs back from her face caused her to open her eyes.

"Hello, Hedwig."

Thesnowy white owl blinked back at her as Hermione leaned forward to take the small rolled up parchment from her leg. Hermione stroked Hedwig's soft feathers and reached into the small dish in her desk drawer to give her an owl treat. Hedwig affectionately nipped her fingers as she accepted the offering. Hermione opened the letter and gave a sigh.

Mione,

Please come over for dinner tonight at 7. We haven't seen you in ages. Send your reply with Hedwig.

Love, Ginny

Hermione sighed again. She took her quill and signed that yes she would be there promptly at seven. Hedwig blinked as Hermione attached the return parchment to her leg and gave her a few more strokes.

"Thank you, Hedwig. You are an amazing owl."

Hedwig nibbled on her fingers again before she flew over Hermione's head and out the window.

Hermione huffed her breath, causing her bangs to float up and shook her head. Dinner with Harry and Ginny. That was a novelty nowadays, as she thought back on the past 6 years. The constant companionship of her friends had ended as soon as they had defeated Voldemort. This surprised everyone but the trio. They had discussed that they would need time to get back to the 'real world', as Harry called it. He had gone off to find Remus Lupin, their DADA teacher from 3rd year. Ron returned to the Burrow, looking forward to sleeping in, and of course, eating. Mrs. Weasley would be certain to make all kinds of favorites for the houseful of children who had returned from the war.

Unfortunately, not all of them had. Charlie had been killed when he was organizing an attack utilizing the dragons during the battle at Hogwarts. That was a brutal and horrible day, that was, she thought to herself. The school was no longer the same place as it was when the three had walked through the large wood doors to the Great Hall to be sorted. Repairs had been made but the scars could still be seen. 'We certainly seem to be able to hide them better than the buildings,' she smirked. It was a senseless death in a senseless war, started for the senseless reason of power. Power to control others and subject everyone to another's will. 'But in what world did death and destruction EVER make sense', she fumed. Her eyes filled as she felt the pain and sorrow of those days threaten to overwhelm her. She blinked back her tears and stifled the need for a good, old-fashioned cry. This is why she didn't like hanging out with her best friends all the time. It just brought all the painful and damaged history out. And once she started down that path, it would just bring fresher, more painful history to mind.

WhenHermione had returned from the final battle, she wanted to go home, plain and simple. To hear her mother's voice surround her and smell her father's aftershave as he picked her up to hug her, like he still would do, even after she had gotten almost too big to do so anymore. When she got there, they did those exact things and she felt comforted, for a time. After almost 3 weeks of waking up with cold sweats and rapid heartbeats, she realized she needed a focus again. They had all three received their degrees from Hogwarts, as they had kept up a correspondence course of sorts while they were searching for horcruxes and battling Death Eaters left and right. It was more honorary than anything really. The amount of magic and experience they gained from that year was equivalent to a crash course in Auror training. She had applied to many wizarding schools of extended study before her 6th year of school and most had sent acceptance letters. She decided to attend several of them over a period of years and gain as much knowledge as she could about ancient languages. Latin was a base at Hogwarts for many spells and enchantments, but other countries had their own incantations that were just as powerful, and to Hermione, fascinating. But she needed to study the language forms and structures to understand them.

Her travels took her many different places and she met so many interesting people. It was an eye-opening experience for her, in that she was welcomed to share in their knowledge. Most wizarding communities were secluded and kept secret, just to preserve their identities and knowledge. That had changed during the war somewhat, but no more so than after the final battle. The idea of all they knew and held dear being ripped away from them by force tended to make people hold on tighter, but after the war, doors opened and ancient texts were available to some. Especially to one of the trio.Hermione was warmly received and encouraged to participate in many discussions, lectures, and meetings to relate her opinions and views of things. She was flattered by the complete acceptance she had experienced. She knew it had to do with her membership in the trio, but she hadn't minded accepting this gratuity. It allowed her to expand her knowledge, which was always a plus. It also gave her the opportunity to teach that just knowing a lot wasn't enough sometimes.Hermione made sure to include Harry's bravery and skill and Ron's strategic mind and loyal heart to each and every person who would ask her about those times. In academia, these traits were sometimes overlooked. She wanted people to know that without them, all would have been lost. 'Books and cleverness indeed,' she snorted.

A cool breeze was coming through her open window and the warm sunshine had disappeared behind the grey clouds that were spreading like wildfire across the sky. Hermione looked at her watch and gasped. She had been thinking on things for two hours. It was now five thirty. She reached up and closed the window. Her eyes feel on the text lying on her desk once again. "I can discuss this with Evan tomorrow," she muttered. Her cloak already around her shoulders, she tidied up her other things and making sure she had her wand with her, grabbed her trashbin and walked out of her office. Turning to lock it tight,Hermione placed the bin down at the doorjamb. After she placed the requisite enchantments on her office, she hurried down to the first floor. Others were finishing their end-of-day routines and getting ready to leave as well. She waved at Evan Dearborn, the manager of Flourish & Blotts, and headed out into the now blustery Diagon Alley.

As Hermione focused her mind on Harry and Ginny's front yard, she turned and felt the familiar sensation of squeezing through a too small opening for a moment. Her eyes opened to the warm sunshine beating down once again and the clouds on the distant horizon. "Storm is still a ways-"

"Auntie Mione!" a small voice shouted before a littlegirl with freckled arms and vibrant auburn curls launched themselves at her waist, as if their life depended on it.