Chapter 13

Whatever was going on didn't seem to diminish over the few days. There weren't any more 'attacks' because she was never really alone anymore. The girls were nasty and the boys were disgusting.

Hermione skipped the Hogsmead weekend because it just left her too open to the Slytherins' tender mercies.

She was getting sick and tired of reading the Daily Prophet as well. Lucius Malfoy had been re-instated in his position at the Ministry as well as his position on the Board of Governors for the school. It had only been a matter of months since his trial for subversive behaviour and being a Death Eater. The speed at which he had been welcomed back into wizarding society made her feel sick. What made it worse was that most of the senior staff at the Ministry had been removed or left because of the war, which left Lucius Malfoy more powerful than ever. There weren't many people with the clout to oppose him now.

It really was shaking her confidence in everything that was right and good in the world. She had been so completely confident that everything good and proper would prevail, but it was all just sliding backwards. The Slytherin's were worse than ever, although that could be specifically targeting her.

Professor McGonagall, as much as Hermione adored her, just didn't have the diplomatic skill of Dumbledore. The school was a bit of a mess, with teachers trying to settle into new positions and new structures. The utter mess of the year before still needed to be cleaned of the impact of the deranged stewards of the previous year.

Hermione suffered through another week of harassment before she was called to the Head Mistress' office.

"I hear from the staff that this is proving to be a difficult year, particularly for yourself." Professor McGonagall started. "It would appear that you are a target for ire from certain factions."

"It is originating from a specific place." Hermione said.

Professor McGonagall seemed to be considering her words. Hermione was absolutely certain that the teachers would have heard about her 'relationship' with Draco Malfoy.

"If you give me something concrete in terms of inappropriate behaviour, I may be able to act on it. I am afraid," she continued softly, "that it needs to be a claim with substance."

Hermione knew that Lucius' reinstated position on the Board would probably mean more damage being done to the claiming parties unless the claim would be beyond a shadow of a doubt. She also knew that other than calling her Mudblood, Draco hadn't actually done anything. It had been everyone else and none of them, on their own, had done anything sufficiently horrible to warrant anything beyond a detention. And somehow, she didn't think detentions would have the least bit of impact.

"Another option," Professor McGonagall continued, "would be to leave and finish your studies on your own. You are advanced enough, and disciplined enough, to complete the year away from the school. You would have to come back for the NEWT exam, or course."

Hermione mulled over the idea. On one hand, Hermione bristled at the thought of leaving as it felt like giving in. On the other hand, she wasn't enjoying herself in the least bit and staying would mean the continuation of a year that had in most respects been downright awful.

"There are no advantages to you for staying, provided you complete your NEWTs." McGonagall said.

Except to my pride, Hermione told herself. Was her pride worth another five months of hell and misery? If her friends were with her, she could handle it without batting an eyelid. They were back, but it wasn't quite the same and it was hard to just forgive, let alone forget that they deserted her.

"It might be best." She conceded.

"Think it over for a few days." The Professor said. "If you decide to go ahead, the resources of the library and your Professors are at your disposal by owl."

Hermione spent the next few days thinking about the idea of spending the rest of the year at home. She would miss out on the Slytherins harassing her, Draco's killing looks, watching Harry and Ron in their complete absorption in their girlfriends' lives, and the general unpleasantness of the post war wizard world. Other than wanting to stick it to Draco, there wasn't much reason for staying and every reason for leaving. She struggled with justifying her delight at rubbing Draco the wrong way as a good enough excuse to stay.

Seeing Blaise blowing her an exaggerated kiss as she walked past him in the crowded hall the next day, pretty much made up her mind. There was nothing here for her anymore.

She told her friends that evening as they were sitting in the common room. Lavender being there as well, which unfortunately meant the whole school would know by morning. Harry seemed to struggle with her decision the most, but try as he might, he couldn't really come up with any reasons to stay. They all seemed to reach a quiet mutual understanding that it was all for the best, even though it would represent a permanent end to the life they had lead for the last seven years.

They weren't children anymore and it was starting to show. Even without her fiasco with that certain prominent member of the other half of society, they had all been drifting apart even before that.

Hermione spent the next day packing. She did the rounds and said goodbye to her teachers and to her house mates. She was going to access the floo network at Hogsmead and travel to the Leaky Cauldron before taking the tube to her parents' house.

Harry, Ron , George, Neville and Ginny all got permission to walk her to Hogsmead and they'd leave just after lunch on Saturday. Lunch was a quiet affair, with attempts at joviality that was falling a bit flat. Hermione expressly ignored Draco. This was for moving on, so she would not get drawn back there again. No more Draco Malfoy. On an even brighter note, no more nasty Slytherins at all. Well almost, she'd be back for NEWTS in a few months time, so it couldn't be a perfectly clean getaway.

Lunch was over and it was time to go. Hermione shrunk her trunk and stuck it in her backpack. They walked through the courtyard towards the Hogsmead path. When they got away from the castle, Hermione turned around and said goodbye to the castle that had been her home for a good part of her life. She'd loved it here. Loved the castle, the stones, the amazing things she had seen and learned here.

She was distracted by a spot of black in the Astronomy tower. She knew that spot and the blond crop on top of it. Damn him for imposing on this moment, she thought. Doesn't matter, she told herself as she turned her back on it all.

"I can't believe you're going." Ginny said. "I can't believe we are all going to be going in a couple of months. That's it, its over. We're officially grown up."

"I don't know." Ron said. "Maybe that we fought a war, pushed us into the grown up world already. I can't wait to leave."

Hermione didn't know what perverse impulse made them all laugh, but it turned into a general belly laugh. Even George laughed and it must have been one of the first real laughs he'd had in quite a while. It felt like it had been years since they laughed properly.

The snow crunched under their feet as they walked.

"Why don't you stay in my apartment?" Harry offered. "It's just sitting there. You should use it."

"But you will need it."

"Not for a few months yet. You can find your own place by then."

Hermione hadn't even considered it. She had assumed she would go home to her parents, but the idea of having her own space was appealing.

"Here, take the keys. Even if you decide not to, its there if you want to spend some time there."

"Thanks, Harry." She said and took the keys. She hadn't actually thought about what she was going to do, it had all been about leaving. Maybe she should get a job. That sounded awfully adult.

After the hugs, kisses, and promises to write, Hermione swore that she would seen them soon enough when NEWTs were on. Then it was time to go and Hermione stepped into the fireplace and stepped out at the Leaky Cauldron. A few more steps and a nod to the barkeep and she was back in the muggle world. The hustle and bustle of muggle London was a shock compared to the sedate pace of Hogwarts life.

She had to go see her parents, even though staying at Harry's apartment in Diagon Alley sounded more appealing by the minute.

She arrived at Harry's apartment later that evening. It was freezing from lack of use, but it only took half an hour for the roaring fire to heat up the small apartment. The feeling of freedom was palpable. Tomorrow she would go shopping, buy all the stuff she needed for starting her adult life. The cupboards were completely bare. The bathroom was also sparse, but she drew a hot bath all the same and soaked for a good hour.

Tomorrow, the rest of her life would officially start.