Hogwarts: Aftermath of the Final Battle

Hermione lifted her head, looking around all she saw was the destruction and devastation that was paved through hatred and the thirst for power of a egomaniac. The battle was over. They had won. It was finally over.

She fell to her knees. And sobbed. She cried out for the loss of her friends, her family, and her enemies. The actions and charisma of one man, one, brought so much death. He destroyed so many live. The lives of those who didn't really know what they were doing, too caught up in obligations, youthful ignorance, and their parents teachings. All for what? The domination of a nation, the show of power, of a manic psychopath.

She screamed. In anger and pain. She screamed for those that had fought and given their lives for the freedom of others.

Harry joined her soon. He was calm, with an almost dazed look on his face. He didn't say anything. Just sat down next to her in understanding. Soon they were surrounded. Hermione could hear someone saying something. But it was faded. There was a rushing in her ears. Almost as if she was stuck in a Telly with nothing showing on the screen.

"Mione." Ron was in front of her now. She could see his lips moving but couldn't hear what he was trying to say. "Mione! Hermione! You need to calm down!"

She continued to sob, her voice and energy drained. Folding her arms over her knees she buried her head in her arms.

Harry looked to Ron a worried look creasing his face.

"Ron, she's hysterical. She needs to calm down."

Ron's face match Harry's, "I know Harry but she isn't listening!"

The crowd was slowly dispersing around them, finding others who needed help. Harry looked around for Madam Pomfrey. Neville and Luna were helping the wounded. All around the order was gathering the dead and injured and bringing them inside. Along the wall to the entrance of Hogwarts there were bound and petrified Death Eaters.

But Madam Pomfrey was no where in sight. Harry sighed looking at Ron once more he lifted his wand and sent a soft stunner to Hermione, catching her before her head hit the ground as she fell unconscious.

"Harry!" It was a shout of outrage from Ron.

"What? What other ideas did you have, Ron! You said it yourself she was becoming hysterical! There was nothing else we can do. We need a calming drought but do you see one readily available anywhere? No! I didn't think so." Harry was at the end of his wits. He was emotionally and physically exhausted. All he wanted was a bath, a hot meal, and to sleep for days on end.

Sighing he picked up Hermione bridal style and carried her past the carnage to the makeshift medical bay where Madam Pomfrey and Mrs. Weasley were tending to the injured. Across the bay he spotted an empty bed where he quietly set Hermione down so that she could sleep off her hysteria and walked towards Mrs. Weasley to let her know that Hermione was there. On his way he was stopped just short of an adult. There lying next to each other, holding hands, was a peaceful looking Remus and Tonks. It was the calmest expression he had ever seen on his face. Harry couldn't help the tears that slipped from his eyes at the sight of the last father figure in his life lying lifeless.

Sucking in a breath, he wiped the tears from his eyes and continued on to find Madam Pomfrey or Mrs. Weasley. There would be time to grieve later.

He spotted Mrs. Weasley and immediately went to her side. She was sitting next to Fred. Too afraid to look Harry inquired on his health.

"He's alive, barely but he's holding strong. We were able to get to him in time." She smiled weakly, looking more like a grimace than anything. Harry let out a sigh of relief.

"Hermione is in a cot about 10 spots down. She's uninjured but is emotionally distraught. We stunned her and she is sleeping now." Mrs. Weasleys smile turned genuine now.

"Harry I know we lost a lot of people tonight. But I can't help but be grateful that my family is safe. Does that make me a bad person?" Molly had tears dripping down her face at this point.

"No, Mrs. Weasley, that makes you a mother." With that Harry gave her a hug and went to help transport the injured to St. Mungos.

Three days passed after the final battle. The dead were counted and the Death Eater trials had already begun. But Hermione slept on in a magically induced coma. Harry sat next to her, knowing that she would be infuriated that she missed the trials. On her behalf Harry demanded fair treatment. Fair trials for each Death Eater. Every trial brought up the painful memories of his Godfathers encounters in Azkaban. He wouldn't let something like that happen again.

~6 Months Later~

Hermione groaned as she sat up from her desk. Looking around at all the paperwork she had left she sighed heavily. It was going to be a long night. Standing up and stretching she glanced at the clock. It was 5:43 pm. Walking out of her office she saw her secretary staring at the clock longingly.

"You can take off early." She chuckled as Charlotte jumped.

"That obvious, huh?" Charlotte said sheepishly.

"Ha! Yeah, hot date tonight?"

"How'd you know?"

"Just a guess. Go ahead home it'll be another hour or two before I am done with the paperwork anyways." Hermione threw the last bit over her shoulder as she filled a cup of tea and a dash of honey.

"If you're sure… Have a good night!" With that her secretary was out the door before she could say goodbye.

Shaking her head she entered her office sighing once more at the stack of paper work left over. When the war ended this is now how she thought she would be spending her time. Stuck in a sea of paper work. Left in an endless loop of the ministry's bureaucracy.

Letting her mind wander as she continued to fill in blank space after blank space. She had wanted to make a difference. To bring a little light to the world after the horror the war had wrought. Immediately after finishing her NEWTS job offers started flying in. The boys had wanted her to join the Auror workforce, bringing in the left over Death Eaters, but she was so tired of fighting.

She joined the department for the Regulation of Magical Creatures instead, thinking she could finally make things better for the underdogs. Instead she was stuck in a corner office with a large window, filing paperwork. It was busy work at best.

The only good that came from her job was the people. Hermione couldn't stop the smile from spreading across her face. She loved the people she worked with. They had become a second family for her, it was her lifeline. Especially after finding her parents again. The obliviate had been absolute, there was no reversal.

Signing off on the last parchment, she let out a sigh of relief. Standing, she filed the last of the paperwork away. With a swish of her wand her belongings were in her hand and she was out the door.

Flooding home she was greeted by Crookshanks.

"Hey buddy, sorry that I am so late for dinner." He purred rubbing up against her legs, she was forgiven apparently. Chuckling at his eagerness as he ran towards his bowl ahead of her, she filled it with the premium cat food, adding a couple treats in for him as well.

Tck Tck Tck! Surprised she glanced quickly at the window, her wand already in her hands. Sitting on her window pane was a tawny owl that she recognized as Speck, Kings' new barn owl. Quickly walking out the window she let the poor thing out of the rain and took the letter from his leg as she distractedly fed him some treats.

Opening the letter as she sat at her table, she couldn't help the feeling of dread that fell over her. It was late, an odd hour to receive an owl from the minister.

Hesitating as she pulled the letter out of its envelope, she slowly unfolded it, as if the extra time would save her from the contents hidden within.

Dearest Hermione,

I hope this letter reaches you well. It's been too long since we have been able to sit down and have a good chat. Rolling her eyes she couldn't help but compare the man to Professor Dumbledore, it had been less than a week since she had seen him for dinner with the Weasleys. As much as I wish this to be a social visit, I did find something interesting in the recovered records from the previous administration that I believe is pertinent to you. Please meet me at my office tomorrow morning at 8 o'clock so that we can go over the findings together.

For Freedom We Fight,

Kingsley Shacklebolt

P.S.

I know your mind is going at breakneck speeds. Please do not worry, I do not think this news will be bad. Shaking her head she decided to take a bath to calm her pounding heart. Doubling back to the kitchen to grab a glass and a bottle of wine. It was going to be a long night.

Perhaps he just needed her help researching something from the previous administration. With that thought her nerves had calmed a little letting her relax fully