Chapter 5

All characters belong to JK Rowling.

Hermione was puzzled at the sight that greeted her as she appeared at Grimmauld Place's fireplace. Instead of the aged living room, Ginny had cleared the furniture that was in front of the fireplace. The door leading towards the dining room was opened and Hermione found her asking Kreacher to put the food on the table that was pushed to the wall. Ginny herself was arranging a few bottles of wine, firewhiskey and butterbeer at another table.

"Ginny, I thought the celebration will be at Leaky?" asked Hermione. Ginny raised her head and answered, "Ah, yes, but Hannah mentioned that one of the Ministry departments is having a get-together at Leaky tonight. Don't think we want to have them watch us as we celebrate, do we?" Hermione winced and shook her head.

Now that she was done with her school and examinations, she was sure the Ministry would start asking her to make appearances at events. Kingsley was the only one who knew about her Cambridge plan from the Ministry and he had been a great help in deflecting her "duties" so far. And she hoped to continue to avoid meeting any Ministry staff for as long as possible. Hermione sighed, she had heard stories from Harry and Ron about the nonstop events that they were asked to attend. Even Ron, who initially loved the attention, was starting to get tired as he barely had time off between his Auror training and these events.

Hermione came back from her thoughts and looked around the dining room. The dining chairs were put away and instead, there was a huge space in the middle, extending towards the living room. The food served was mainly bite-sized and there was plenty of alcohol on the other table. She asked Ginny who would be attending and hearing that most of the Dumbledore's Army would be present, Hermione cheered. She quickly went up to her room to get ready for her second round of celebration.

At around seven, the fireplace at Grimmauld Place started to come alive. Ron and George were the first to appear. Patil twins and Michael Corner arrived next as they were working in the same department in the Ministry. Neville had knocked the front door, mentioning that he just came back from St. Mungo so he was not able to floo in. As the night deepens, more and more people appeared.

Hermione was not sure how but as the weeks went by after their graduation, her D.A friends found out about her Cambridge plan. They were shocked and sad but also had been supportive. Although, with the exception of Neville and Luna, most of them were not aware of the main reason behind her decision. Just like with the Slytherins, she kept the story about her parents as vague as possible. Her official reasoning behind Cambridge to most people was because of her thirst for knowledge and they simply accepted it. She was Hermione Granger after all.

Funnily, even though her peers knew about her plan, nobody had spoken a word to the Daily Prophet. She was expecting Rita Skeeter to make a headline about the Golden Girl leaving the wizarding world. And that was when Hermione realised, just like fifth-year, what was a secret to the Dumbledore's Army, would remain a secret. She did not even need to jinx anyone to keep it a secret.

It was close to midnight; the party had been happening for a few hours now but everyone was still having the best time of their lives. Seamus noted that this was as close to a graduation party as they could get with all the D.A. members. Everyone cheered on that statement, including Hermione. The eight-years had a small party at Gryffindor's common room but it was different. Harry and Ron were not there then.

Hermione, having drunk more than enough alcohol since afternoon, was starting to feel slightly dizzy. She walked towards the fireplace and sat down on the floor, back resting on the fireplace. Half drunk, half sober, she started to observe every single one of her friends. George and Angelina were snogging at one corner. Hannah, who joined the party rather late, was talking to Ernie and the Patil twins about her new role as Leaky's landlady. Seamus, Dean and Michael were having a heated discussion about quidditch. Harry and Ron were talking about their gruelling training recently. A tear streamed down her cheek as she watched all these people that she loved. How often would she see them once she moved to the muggle world?

"Such a party, eh?" Hermione quickly wiped her tear as Neville joined her. He sat down beside her, holding a glass of firewhiskey. Hermione nodded and laughed, saying it was the best way to end her examination stress. They watched Luna and Ginny danced together before falling into a comfortable silence for some time, their bodies still swaying to the music.

"I envy you, you know," said Neville quietly, hands fiddling his glass. Hermione turned her head and stared at Neville, looking puzzled. What was there to envy about completing a muggle examination?

"You have a thread of your parents' wish, by going to Cambridge. I know people always told me my parents will be proud if they can see what I did during the war but… I will never know that," Hermione was about to interrupt when Neville quickly added, "Don't get me wrong, of course, they will, but I wish my parents left a dream for me, even if it was something small like joining Hogwarts quidditch team. Just so when I achieve it, I have the satisfaction of completing their wish."

Hermione stared at her own glass then as she listened to Neville. Deep thoughts starting to sober her up.

"How does it feel? To see your parents alive and yet they can't recognize you?" As she asked the question, she realised that Neville was the only other person that understood her. Their situations were different yet similar. He gave her a sad smile, now looking into the empty space in front of him.

"Wish I can say it will be alright after a while but I don't think I should be lying to you. It will always hurt, Hermione. Every time I visit them at St. Mungo, I never fail to hope for a miracle, for them to recognize me even it was for one second. But I know, it is probably better this way because if they did, I will start getting greedy. I will wish they recognize me for one minute next, one hour then and it will just be torturing every time they did not."

Hermione did not even try to hide her tears this time. Neville looked horrified when he realised, he made her cry. He apologized profusely but Hermione shook her head. She said she needed to hear the reality. She needed to accept what was to come. Neville, on the other hand, started blaming the alcohol and tried to hurriedly cast a cheering charm to her as a last resort. He failed. Hermione told Neville that she would be alright and just need some time alone in her room.

With a great dash, she hurriedly ran to her room, casting a silencing spell and let the tears came out. She was not sure what caused her tears, the realisation that she would be leaving the wizarding world or never experiencing her parents' love again or perhaps both. She cried and cried and started thinking about how it seemed the world was against her. She sacrificed her own parents for their safety during the war and yet people like the Malfoys and the Parkinsons were still rejecting her. Draco and Pansy still had their parents. If she was going to continue the bitter train, Daphne and Blaise never even tried to participate in the war and they still had their family. None of them lost someone dear to them. People said her side won the war but now, at this moment, it did not feel that way.

She did not realise when Harry and Ron entered her room as her sobs were louder than the door opening than their footsteps. Quietly, they both sat beside her, one best friend on each side. Hermione sensed their presence however chose to continue her cry. They knew her, they would not try to make her stop crying. They would just sit there, being there for her.

"Neville sent both of you, huh?" asked Hermione once she calmed down, her voice was raw from all the crying. Harry gave her a thoughtful smile and nodded. He patted her back.

"He came to us like as if his pants were on fire or something," quipped Ron. Hermione laughed.

"I am supposed to sell my house," Ron and Harry looked puzzled at the sudden announcement.

"That's great, Hermione. Do you need help? Although, you managed to sell the clinic without our help, doubt you need it this time," Harry tried to keep the conversation light. Hermione shook her head, wiping her eyes. Fresh tears were threatening to come out.

"I thought it will be easy. Selling the clinic and the cars were easy but I can't seem to sell the house. I keep thinking what if my parents' memory return one day? They will come back to England and see their house is sold, their daughter's gone and no way to find me." She took a deep breath before continuing.

"But speaking to Neville, the reality just sinks in. My parents will never return to England for me," a cry broke out as she spoke the harsh fact. She managed to continue in between her sobs, "That house was the only thing left that shows we were a family once. When it's gone, there is nothing tangible to show that. I removed my face from all the family pictures. I don't even have a single photograph of the three of us!" Tears were falling down on her cheeks again. If only she was a little bit reckless, a little bit careless, there might a picture of them somewhere. Harry patted her back again, encouraging her to continue.

"I don't want to sell the house, but I don't want to go back either. If I stay there, it felt like the house was taunting me, at how it was my own fault that I am alone in the house. I don't know what should I do. It's like if I ask you to sell 4 Privet Drive, Harry!"

Harry chuckled sadly, "Well, 4 Privet Drive is not mine and that house carries more bad memories to me anyway. But I see your point, that's why I am keeping this house. I hated this house too initially, it reminded me of Sirius. He hated this house because of his childhood and later because he was confined here, unable to do anything. I thought of finding another place to live for the past year but I guess, once Kreacher cleaned up the place, I find it harder to not live here. Living here made me feel a stronger bond with Sirius and my parents."

"So, are you saying I should stay at my parents' house?"

"No, I am saying just be me for the past year. You are going to Cambridge anyway, let the house be until you graduate. Take the next three years to decide if keeping the house is what you want. Whenever you are in London, feel free to stay here if it becomes too hard to go back."

"And you can stay in the Burrow when you are going to the wizarding world. Mum is probably happy to have another daughter and Dad will ask you about the latest muggle items he acquired," Ron continued.

Hearing their words, she hugged her two best friends and tried to thank them in between the sobs. Perhaps, she should feel grateful that even though she lost her parents, she still had such wonderful friends and their families.

"Besides, I can ask Kreacher to clean your house weekly or something. I am desperately trying to give him tasks to do."

"Harry, no! I am not going to ask Kreacher to clean my house! I can do that myself!"

"Alright, how about if you pay him every time he cleaned your house? Please, Hermione, I am desperately trying to keep him busy!" Hermione laughed hearing Harry's plea. She agreed to continue this Kreacher discussion when she was feeling better tomorrow.

The three of them then became quiet. Hermione took Harry and Ron's hand and held them tightly.

"I am going to be ok, right?" whispered Hermione.

"We are going to be ok, Hermione," said Ron as he squeezed her hand back. Harry nodded and squeezed it tightly too.