Petty Reasons

~o0o~

The sound of running water echoed around the tiled room.

Hermione pressed her palms to her cheeks and let the coolness of them calm her down.

Breathe….Breathe….Brea…

She splashed some more water onto her face.

Nowhere did it say that Pensieves would make any lasting damage or have any major side-effects on a person physically. Hermione had checked; diving into a Pensieve was harmless. So why did her head hurt and her heart ache?

She had understood that there were mental repercussions to be had though. If not for coming to this conclusion by thinking logically, or even having remembered how Dumbledore would place his sessions with Harry on Tom Riddle so far apart, there was the fact that she found she was starting to understand Harry's new attitude. Something she'd never believed possible.

Watching someone's life like this-almost being a part of it, being able to observe every last detail, going through that emotional roller coaster- Hermione finally understood how a person like her best friend could go from hating the bullying Professor Severus Snape to having deep respect and reverence towards him. She didn't like it, but she understood.

She also understood how her own memories of Fred Weasley had quickly gone from not only being fond and nostalgic but cherished as well.

Hermione sighed.

It was a lot to take in.

So much.

But not too much.

For what it was worth, Hermione couldn't possibly bring herself to stop.

I'm doing it for him, she thought. She shut the tap off and ignored the tiny selfish part within that whispered that she wasn't only doing it for Fred, letting it stay buried deep in her mind.

He fancied me, she continued thinking. Proper fancied me. But he stepped aside, for Ron.

The reminder almost made her cry again.

What would have happened if she and Ron had sorted their feelings out earlier? Would Fred have made some other excuse or would he dared make a move on her?

How would she have reacted?

And would they be together even now?

The questions were endless, yet not all of them were new.

There had been an instance her fifth year, during Umbridge's reign, a moment where Hermione had just for a second seen the Weasley twin in a different light. A moment where she had considered…

It was during that year she'd gone from scolding and disapproving him and George to respecting them and seen that they actually respected her as well.

The year she'd realized that grades didn't equal intelligence when she, at the end of that year, had reluctantly admitted to herself that they in fact were quite brilliant, the two of them.

But that one moment with Fred… Her cheeks felt hot as she realized he might have picked that memory and added it to the vial. Whether to be excited or embarrassed over the possibility of reliving it she couldn't decide.

There was a loud knock on the door.

"Hermione, are you done? I need to get ready for bed," said Parvati.

"I'm almost finished!" she answered, jumping out of her thoughts.

She grabbed her towel and wiped away the remaining drops off her face. She let it hang around her neck, retrieved her bag of toiletries and emerged from the bathroom.

Parvati stood outside, looking impatient. That was a surprise.

The past few months the other witch had barely shown emotions at all. Unlike her sister Padma who everyone knew was an emotional wreck, Parvati carried herself with an invisible, impenetrable wall. She attended class and meals, never breaking, but it had come with a price. She never laughed anymore. She never giggled that giggle that had annoyed Hermione for years. She never gossiped or showed any interest in anything that wasn't school related.

She wasn't Parvati.

"Sorry, Parvati," Hermione said. "I hope you didn't wait too long."

The impatient look was gone and replaced with its usual expressionless one.

"No worries. I'll get in now, though, if you don't mind."

"Yes, of course-"an idea sprung to Hermione's mind. "Parvati!"

The other girl turned around. "Yes?"

"Er…would you like to join me, Neville, Ginny and Luna for breakfast tomorrow?"

The second emotion of the night made its way across Parvati's face. "Join you and Loo-Luna and Neville and Ginny? Are you sure?"

"Yes, well I know you might prefer sitting with Padma and the other Ravenclaw's but just give it a thought?"

"I don't need your pity, Hermione. If that's what you're doing, that is."

"No, not out of pity! I just-" she struggled to find the words. Wasn't it out of pity that she was doing this? Perhaps…but also, more than that: "we've been roommates for years yet we've never quite spent time together."

Parvati was quiet for a while. Then, "Okay. I suppose I could join you."

Hermione gave her a smile and tried not to take it personally when Parvati didn't return it.

Before closing the door, Parvati added, "And Hermione- we never meant to exclude you." She was talking about her and Lavender. "I-we…we were just very different people."

Hermione looked at her room mates face, searched her brown eyes and saw the look of someone who had seen too much too soon, a look Hermione knew too well. It was the look she herself had in the mirror. But it wasn't just that. Parvati's eyes were also lined with regret. Regret over time wasted. Regret over not spending time with someone because of petty reasons.

"I know."

~o0o~

Breakfast went better than Hermione would have expected.

While Neville and Ginny had accepted Parvati's presence in silence, Luna had been very vocal about how glad she was to make a new acquaintance and how she wasn't angry about all the things Parvati had whispered about her behind her back.

Hermione had been afraid this would have the dark haired girl storming off, but it had done quite the opposite. Parvati seemed to have found the honesty refreshing.

When asked she shrugged and said, "Most of the war consisted of uncertainty, fright and lies. I don't care much for whispering anymore."

When breakfast ended the group walked together for their joined Charms lesson. Parvati excused herself and went to her Ravenclaw sister while Luna stayed with her best friends, the Gryffindor's.

As they sat down at their usual seats, Hermione gave a nod to Seamus and Dean who entered the classroom. They returned her nod with smiles and sat down to her right.

"Hello, Hermione," said Seamus.

"Hi, Seamus. Dean," she added to the other boy.

"Hi, Hermione," he said. "Hello, Luna!"

To her left Luna smiled brightly.

The class got quiet when Professor Flitwick entered and began his lesson.

After spending an hour half-heartedly casting charms, all of which Hermione already had mastered, she was dismissed by their Charms Professor, along with the rest of the class.

As she gathered her things, Hermione couldn't help feeling a bit bitter about it. How was she supposed to not think about the war when she had nothing else to occupy her mind? The spells were easy, the texts took next to no time to read and even if they hadn't she wouldn't have missed much anyway by not reading them. What was there to teach her, the witch who'd hunted down Voldemort's Horcruxes and been part of his destruction? She'd lived through harsher things than what this school prepared its students for.

Hermione shook her head. Not good, she was starting to sound like Harry during fifth year.

Maybe she should, rather than fuss about her current school life, think more about her future. Her career. Elf rights and the rights of other magical creatures always were of great importance to her. Perhaps she could start from there? Not another S.P.E.W. but by entering the beast itself, the Ministry.

She gave a mental laugh when she and Ginny walked side-by-side while the others exited the classroom a few steps ahead. She'd snapped at Scrimgeour for even suggesting such a thing, but it made sense. If she wanted to change things then that was the place to start.

"What are you looking so pleased for?" asked Ginny.

Hermione blinked. She hadn't realized she'd been smiling. "Oh, just got an idea is all."

Ginny looked amused. "Can't wait to hear about it. Assuming you'll be revealing it in the not-so-distant-future rather than now?"

"You assume correct. I'll let you know when I have the details."

The other girl smiled. Then she slapped her forehead. "Blimey, I almost forgot! Bill and Fleur wanted me to tell you you're invited to Shell Cottage next weekend."

Hermione gaped. "Why would they invite me over?"

"Well, it's not just you. It's me too, and Harry's coming as well. He got a weekend off. Actually that's why we're doing this. Harry doesn't get too much time off lately."

Hermione sighed. "And what do you think Ronald will feel knowing he was excluded from this? I'm afraid this might be a bad idea," she said.

Ginny shook her head. "No, look, Hermione; Mum's been hovering over Ron's head and granting him full attention for once. He'll be fine. And to be honest, Harry's been scared you would drift apart from him because of this."

"Me? I'm the one who should be worried about them drifting away. They're best friends after all," said Hermione.

"You're their best friend too."

"I know, but it's never been the same way, has it? I remember how miserable Harry was during fourth year when Ron wasn't speaking to him. I'm not enough."

"Well, then it's good he won't have to choose, isn't it?" said Ginny, being protective of her boyfriend. "You'll both stay where you are and Harry won't lose any more family. Good?"

The brunette smiled despite herself. "Yes."

"Good," said her friend, pleased with Hermione's answer. "So join us for the weekend at Shell Cottage next Saturday, I've already arranged things with Professor McGonagall. Not that she could keep us anyway, since we're of age."

Hermione gave a small giggle. "I would love to see you try to explain that to her. If she had argued against us going, I mean."

"Not even I'm that bold, Hermione," Ginny scoffed. "And by bold I mean stupid."

~o0o~

That next Saturday was another clear, sunny winter morning.

Hermione stretched her tense limbs and removed the silencing charm surrounding her bed. It was one of the better sleeps she'd had in a while, but every night was unpredictable and so a Silencio before bed had become routine.

She proceeded to jump out of her four-poster and into the bathroom. A quick look before exiting told her Parvati was still sound asleep, or at least that her curtains were closed.

Once inside she hurried to the shower. The hot water felt amazing and Hermione allowed herself to relish in it longer than she usually would.

It was the small things.

Her face lit up as she picked up the soap and let her thoughts drift to relive yesterday evening's activities.

Last night had been great. Being a Friday, everyone had been excited for some House activities, and when Hermione volunteered to gather some food from the kitchens everyone roared with delight. To see Prefect Granger let loose was a rare sight indeed.

Not Head Girl though. No, that had gone to Latisha Randle, Ravenclaw, after Hermione had declined. She hadn't wanted to deprive someone in seventh year of the title, and frankly she simply hadn't seen the point.

After entering the kitchen and assuring the House-elves her knitting days were over, she and Neville had carried the food along the secret route she'd seen Fred and George use.

"Where'd you learn that?" Neville had asked when the hole in the wall appeared.

"The twins showed me," she said, thinking that it wasn't entirely a lie.

"Pretty neat," said Neville, "just…I didn't realize you were that close."

She'd given him a sad smile. "We weren't."

Neville hadn't really known how to respond, but being the person he was he didn't push the matter, especially not when his friend had looked so down talking about it.

When they arrived at the common room the party began in earnest.

Ginny performed her Patronus and let it gallop around the room while the younger students stared in awe at the pretty horse.

While it galloped by the fireplace Ginny met her eyes and gave her smile which Hermione returned. They had discussed their Patronuses not too long ago and concluded that the fact they even managed to conjure one still, had to be a sign things would be okay…eventually.

Seamus and Dean began singing and taught everyone the lyrics to "Weasley is our King", though the newer students weren't too clear on why their Quidditch Captain would be called King when she happened to be a girl.

Luna joined in the tower around nine, engaging a few in a very peculiar dance.

"The Wrackspurts tend to stay clear if you do this once in a while," she'd said, simultaneously twirling and waving her hands above her head, while Hermione tried her best not to giggle.

There was life, there was laughter. People wanted to forget. And they did for a while.

Hermione turned the knob and stepped out of the shower.

She wrapped a towel around her body and looked at the tiny, beaded bag sitting on top of the sink, her good mood draining a little. She detested what it reminded her of; the camping, the Manor, Ron splinching, the Horcuxes… yet she was thankful that it kept them alive that year on the run. And how it still allowed her to keep an insane amount of stuff in such a tiny space.

After drying herself with a drying spell, she reached down into the bag and pulled out some Muggle clothing, but with some slight difficulty since they appeared to have been squished under the Pensieve.

When emerging fully clothed she was met with Ginny waiting for her on the bed. "Looks like we match." Her ginger friend pointed to her jeans.

Hermione laughed.

They grabbed their luggage and headed for the Entrance Hall. With the exception for Sir Nicholas, they weren't met with anyone on their way. It was early on a Saturday, after all.

The great Oak doors swung open and the two girls inhaled the crisp winter air.

"You know…" said Ginny. "I hate that this place can still look so beautiful, don't you?"

Hermione looked from her friend to the vast school grounds.

"Nothing should be this pretty when so many horrible things happened here," Hermione agreed. "It doesn't make any sense."

The girls walked along the grounds, stopping only when they spotted a Thestral flying above the Forbidden Forest.

Ginny took hold of Hermione's hand from there on.

Once in Hogsmeade, they wasted no time and had Hermione Apparate both of them out of there.

Everything went black and Hermione's head felt like it was going to burst from all the pressure, but it disappeared as fast as it had begun.

They had arrived.

Shell Cottage.

And someone stood waiting for them on outside the house.

"Bill!" Ginny ignored her somewhat wobbled steps and threw her arms around her eldest brother.

"Hello, Ginny," said Bill, granting his sister a bear hug. "Where's Harry?"

Ginny let him go. "He's coming in an hour, I think. Hermione's here though."

Bill looked behind his sister.

"Hello, Bill," said Hermione, feeling slightly nervous.

That feeling faded as soon as Bill gave her his big, bright smile. "Hello, Hermione."

He reached out for a hug, but something caught his attention when he embraced her and he stepped away quickly. For some reason the eldest Weasley sibling suddenly looked incredibly pained and confused. "Say, Hermione, are you perhaps wearing a new perfume?"

"Er, afraid not. Sorry, do I smell bad?" She knew his senses were somewhat heightened since his half-turning, but could the wolf really smell her body odor? She showered this morning…

"No, it's not that, it's just…Nevermind, let's get inside. Fleur is dying to see you both." Ginny visibly fought an eye roll, while Hermione tried not to get offended Bill was keeping her at arms distance.

Well inside, they found Fleur stirring something that smelled heavenly in the kitchen. She might not do well with Mrs. Weasley's cooking but when it came to French Cuisine there was no one better.

Also, she's a working woman, who cares if she can cook, Hermione thought. Part of it might have been for her own benefit, since she was more of an academic than a domestic witch. Not that she was horrible, she could boil pasta if needed, but nothing like the dish Fleur was preparing at the moment.

The blonde woman heard the three of them enter and enchanted the wooden spoon to keep stirring. She turned and gave each of the girls a hug and a kiss.

"Welcome!"

"Thank you and thanks for having us, Fleur," said Hermione.

"Yes, thank you," said Ginny.

Though being on better terms with her brother's wife, Ginny still had some issues being too affectionate towards the French witch and therefore all her responses came across as flippant. Hermione was sure her friend tried, but it still bothered her. Fleur had been nothing but kind.

Only reason Hermione had been disturbed by her when she was younger was because she'd fancied Ron and the way he'd looked at Fleur had bothered her greatly. And…she might have been just the tiniest bit jealous at how beautiful Fleur was.

Another petty reason not to get to know someone.

"No troubles at all," said Fleur, looking at them. "But where is Harry?"

"He'll be along in moment," said Bill.

"Oh, well then," said Fleur, "let's make sure lunch is ready for him. He's been doing so much work during training. You'd think," she added, "that considering everything he's been through, he'd choose a happier career. Perhaps play professional Quidditch. He could join Viktor!"

Ginny gritted her teeth and tried her best not to hex her sister-in-law. "Harry likes fighting for good and keeping people safe." Her brother put a hand on her shoulder.

"We know," he said. "We just spoke about it the other day, see. That maybe he should have taken some time off, a vacation, if you will. You can't deny he's deserved it."

"No, I don't, but-"

Hermione didn't really think before she spoke up, but this had bothered her as well for some time. "You know, I can't help but agree."

There were no words to describe just how scary the look that Ginny gave her was.

Hermione gulped. "I mean, Harry's choice of career, er…I always thought he'd do well as a teacher actually. Don't you remember the D.A., Ginny?"

Her eyes were still ablaze but they softened a bit. "Yeah, he seemed very happy. And we did learn more from him than any other Defense teacher…"

Fleur nodded. "He's a very talented young man. He did save my sister, after all."

Ginny opened her mouth but before she could say anything both Hermione and Bill began speaking.

"So, what's for lunch, eh, love-"

"-you wouldn't mind if I watched you cook? So I could learn-"

~o0o~

A/N: Hello!

I'm sorry for the delay, but I had a big test for school so I was a bit occupied studying these last two weeks.

Thank you so much for the 50 reviews! Wow, amazing! Thank you!

And all the people who favorited and followed, thank you as well! I'm so grateful!

Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Until next time!
/Primrue