Thank you for your responses! Gives me hope that this might be something you'll all enjoy. Anyone guess who the new Minister will be? Here's the next segment. Enjoy.

LCailan

2 – The Burden

It's been another year since Harry's funeral. Last year was hard, I remember. This year is just a little less so; I think there might be hope for me. Strange, really, how the tiniest things remind me of him. I had a treacle tart this morning; Luna brought it from the local barista along with my favorite cup of coffee. She probably thought I was mental, but for a few seconds I wanted to weep. Those had been his favorite. If it's this bad for me, I can only imagine what Ginny's been going through all these months! I miss her smile; I miss the way she used to make me laugh at the silliest things. I miss her more than I am going to admit - to anyone. I don't even know when she stopped coming around but I do know it hurts. It's been ages since I've last seen her. And Ron! Merlin, nothing's been the same, really. Not with him and not with the relationship. Our relationship. I'm afraid. It's not that I don't think he loves me, but I just...I wonder what he's thinking. I wonder if he sees the scarlet letter on my forehead; I wonder if he's reminded that I'm Muggle-born each time he sees me. Gods, I am mental! Ron wouldn't do that, but I fear that in this new society, it doesn't matter what people used to think, but what they are thinking now and those small changes that are going on around me...

2 years later

Hermione looked out of the window that faced the street where she lived in a run-down flat owned by a little old lady who had at one time been a seamstress. No one lived upstairs and the downstairs had been occupied only infrequently during the twenty-four months she had been staying there. It wasn't much, really; the space consisted of a cramped living room, an even smaller bedroom, a kitchen and one bathroom. The windows were tiny and the walls were in dire need of cleaning and a shiny, bright coat of paint. Even the furniture that occupied the space was small and worn. Hermione knew it wasn't much but even this dilapidated flat in a rather dodgy part of London was almost too much for her to afford. Indeed, she had missed last month's rent and in a last ditch effort she had asked Luna for a small loan, at least enough to cover her rent for the next month. Hopefully business would pick up at the cleaning service where she was currently holding a job.

Luna smiled when Hermione answered her door.

"Coffee!" she said with a smile. "I could never stand the stuff," she added watching as Hermione drank greedily.

"I need it," replied the brunette. There was nothing better than a good, strong cup of coffee with thick cream. She was lucky that Luna cared enough about the small pleasures in life, for sometimes there wasn't enough left in Hermione's monthly budget to afford such things.

"Long night?" asked Luna, taking a seat on the worn, green sofa by the small window. She tucked her lithe frame against the cushions, pushing her long, wispy hair over one thin shoulder.

Hermione groaned into her steaming beverage, taking another long, saving sip.

"You don't even want to know," she muttered.

Luna sighed and the two women exchanged a look. Hermione knew that look; she saw it often now amongst her few close friends - those left that were still not ashamed to be seen with her. The felt sorry for Hermione; they wanted her to have a better life. They wanted to do something to change the fact that in the last two years, too much had changed in London. In fact, too much had changed in all of wizarding England. All seemed detrimental to the future and survival of Muggle-borns.

Former Hogwarts students who wanted to continue schooling were subjected to long, drawn-out interviews as a way to weed out those who were deemed 'unsuitable'. It seemed to Hermione that many of those rejected had been Muggle-born. It had nothing to do with the fact that her desire to continue her education had been single-handedly destroyed by a rejection letter she had received the previous week. It had been the fourth in less than a year!

After her first rejection the previous year, frustrated and disappointed, Hermione had moved onto her second choice; she had begun looking for work.

Unfortunately, more and more, the Ministry of Magic no longer employed any man or woman of Muggle-born descent. Hermione believed that most of the good employers in London were hesitant now to hire any witch or wizard who was not of good standing - and that included proper blood status. In the grand scheme of things, that left Muggle-borns out in the cold; they could not further their educations and many if not most of them could not find work. Those that did found themselves blending more and more into the world of Muggles, shunning the inherent magical abilities they had been born with to take menial jobs in restaurants, Laundromats, cleaning services and discothèques...

Completely mundane, dissatisfying jobs that I'm too smart for! Here I am, young and healthy, willing to work hard and continue to educate myself and I can't! In fact, I can't even pay next month's rent! It's madness!

A distraught Hermione took another swallow of hot coffee and cream, avoiding Luna's eyes with expertise. After months of feeling unspoken sympathy she was beginning to resent her friends. After a year she was downright furious.

The silence stretched out much longer than seemed comfortable before Luna finally spoke.

"I'm talking to my boss about possibly hiring you on, Hermione. You can't work such grueling hours forever!"

Luna had been accepted to the university the year previous (the same time Hermione had received her rejection letter) and had begun to work in the city park to pay for schooling. Hermione had hoped there would have been a foot in the door for her, but even strangers were hesitant to have anything to do with someone of Muggle birth.

"It's not as if I want to, Luna."

Hermione's reply was curt - icy almost. She didn't want to sound jealous or frustrated, but in spite of her best efforts she wasn't able to keep her true feelings from surfacing. She was blessed that Luna had the patience of a saint.

"It won't be like this forever, you know. I'm sure of it. The world isn't static, Hermione. It constantly waxes and wanes with the moon and the seasons. You'll see. You're brilliant; they can't deny brilliance forever. No matter what they think of your blood status."

Luna spoke words which sounded hollow and empty in Hermione's ears, but she would not upset her friend. Luna had been a saving grace lately.

"Thanks, Luna," she found herself saying lamely.

As she finished her coffee, Hermione hoped it was enough. The silence that followed was not nearly as tense and once more Luna spoke to break it.

"I'm having a small party at my flat to celebrate the full moon," she said with a smile. "I was hoping if Ron had enough time..."

Hermione glanced up abruptly.

"Lately, he's had none," she replied cutting off anything Luna would have said.

The blonde girl nodded pensively. The subject of Ron was yet another sensitive one and Hermione felt bad that she was having trouble talking about anything lately without becoming strangely defensive.

"Still busy?" she asked in a voice a bit more hesitant now. When Hermione glanced up she could see Luna was gazing at her with sympathy.

"He's still in Auror training," she replied tersely. "I'm sure you know it takes up a lot of time."

Instead of replying, Luna rose from the worn couch, a frown on her pretty face.

"I'll be going then, Hermione. I hope you can make it to the party even if Ron won't be able to."

Luna's voice registered hurt and Hermione wasn't able to ignore it even if she had wanted to.

"Luna," she blurted apologetically, moving quickly to grasp her friend's hand in her own. "I'm sorry. Really, I am."

Luna paused, her body poised and tensed one moment and then relenting the next. She turned, biting her lip.

"I know you are," she replied gently. "Hermione, it's not easy for you right now and I know that. But you can't just push away people who care about you. It won't help."

Luna's blue-gray eyes locked with Hermione's brown ones for a moment and her gaze was clear and never wavered. Hermione only hesitated a moment before replying.

"I know. Everything such a mess though. Work is a mess and I hate it. I hate not being able to go to school, to be an Auror like Ron or anything, really! I have potential and I feel more and more isolated from everything and everyone I've known for years! And the worst part is I can't bloody do anything about it!"

Hermione's outburst echoed in the small space of her flat.

"Ron doesn't get it, you know? He keeps on with this thing about how one day something will change and how I'm brilliant and..."

She fell silent with a frustrated sigh, her eyes moving to the ground between them.

"Things have changed between us. That's what bothers me the most, Luna. I can handle his long hours at training and my envy over what he has just because of his blood status. I'm just...I'm terrified of losing him. I feel like I lose a bit of him each day. Look what happened with Ginny and I! What if...what if it happens again?"

Gone was Hermione's anger, having been replaced by a poignant vulnerability. Luna moved to hug her tightly and the curly-haired brunette breathed in the whimsical scent of flowers and fresh air that always seemed to cling to Luna wherever she went. It was comforting and Hermione didn't want to let go. At least she still had Luna and she wouldn't forget that. She couldn't; it was all that she really had sometimes.

Ginny had taken a few months to gather her mind right after the rainy day they had buried Harry in Godric's Hollow. Hermione had believed that with everything the two had shared, she would have Ginny's friendship forever. But then Ginny had stared to distance herself -not only from Hermione but from her brothers and parents as well. At first they had all given her the space she requested although there was a sense of concern just beneath the surface. After all how could they understand what Ginny was going through? Hermione, at least, could not have imagine the poignant pain of loss. Of course she had known loss; they had all lost someone that last year leading up to the final battle.

But to lose the other half of one's heart must have been the worst sort of loss.

Ginny remained reclusive for several months after which she told her family she would be moving to Holyhead. Hermione, focused entirely on her application process to the university, had assumed that when Ginny got settled she would Floo.

But she never did.

Hermione heard through Ron and the rest of the Weasley family that Ginny had threw herself entirely into Quidditch, endeavoring to land a spot within the British and Irish Quidditch League. She channeled all her energy, her heartbreak and loss into playing the sport. Within months of her move she had landed a try-out and soon after was playing as a fill-in for the Holyhead Harpies.

Hermione hadn't spoken to her much. Not since that day-

"Don't push me away, Hermione," said Luna when she let her go. "I'm still here and I'm not going anywhere. Ginny...she just doesn't understand, is all. You know she's a good person but we aren't all going to understand. And if Ron uses the loaf he was given he'll realize how amazing you really are and won't ever let you go."

Hermione nodded, uncertain of this but knowing that she had to cling to that hope. Being alone terrified her, especially in such a changing world. And the pain she felt when she thought of Ginny's rejection was still as fresh as the day it had happened.

I won't think of it; Luna's right. I can't think of it.

"You're right," she forced herself to say, forcing herself to smile as she did so. Luna returned the smile.

"So you'll come then?" she asked hopefully. "Even if Ron is acting like a prat?"

"I'll come, I promise."

"I'll see you tomorrow then. You'll want your regular coffee?"

"Yes, thanks..."

Hermione spoke shyly, hesitating a moment as her friend passed through the door of her flat.

"Luna?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you. For everything...I can't-I can't say enough."

Luna only smiled before hurrying down the stairs towards the exit, leaving Hermione alone. She stood framed in the doorway of her shabby flat and she thought of Ginny.

It had been six months since the last time Hermione had seen Ginny. She had taken a few days off from the dress shop to visit Holyhead and surprise the youngest Weasley. Ron had dissuaded her from doing so; he had said Ginny might not want the surprise.

I should have listened to him!

Hermione hadn't then. Ginny had been at Quidditch practice the day Hermione had arrived in Holyhead. The day had been sunny and breezy - near perfect for a practice. She had Apparated near to the stadium where the Harpies practiced, admiring the way the gold flags blazed in the afternoon breezes. She had watched, unnoticed, from the stands as Ginny flew, dipped, dived and spun in the air as if she had been nothing but a leaf blown around by the wind.

She was good at Quidditch; Hermione remembered that! She had wanted to cheer on her old friend just like she had done at all the Hogwarts games.

When practice was over, Hermione had dashed down to the main field, bubbling with excitement, assuming Ginny would be as thrilled to see her as she was to see Ginny. A group of the girls walked towards her when they noticed a stranger on the field and it had only taken Ginny a few seconds to recognize the newcomer.

"Hermione."

"Ginny! Wow, you were brilliant up there! I hope you don't mind the surprise! I thought...well, I haven't seen in you in ages and I..."

Hermione remembered the icy feeling of knowing she wasn't welcome. Somehow, the way Ginny had looked at her, her lack of enthusiasm - all of it - spoke to her almost as if Ginny had spoken herself.

"Are you...okay, Gin?"

"Hermione, you shouldn't be here."

"What?"

"This is strictly a non-public practice. Quidditch rules are changing. We can't have..."

The others around Ginny had been wearing looks of curiosity. Some would not look at Hermione; she supposed others must have known something about Ginny's previous life. But it was Ginny she had focused on and the hesitation she saw in her face. As if she had been searching for the right way to break bad news.

Hermione felt the old anger rush through her as she slammed the door of her flat and hurried to the only window in the living room. Below, in the courtyard she watched as Luna Apparated away and she felt supremely lonely.

Quidditch rules had changed. Hermione remembered that now. Just like everything had changed when the Ministry had been taken over by Voldemort. Somehow even with the Dark Lord's demise (thanks to Harry) prejudice had still existed.

Why had they fought that war? Had things changed any in two years?

Hermione sank down on the sofa, shaking her head.

Ron had been the first to break it to Hermione. The Department of Magical Games and Sports had issued a decree that forced the Quidditch Leagues to become more stringent in their selection process. At first not much had changed. Anyone who wanted a shot at getting into the League would try out. Soon it had become clear to anyone who followed Quidditch on a regular basis that all Muggle-born members were slowly being replaced by more and more pureblooded players.

Quidditch would soon become an elite sport played only by those whom the Ministry deemed worthy. It had been a difficult reality for Hermione to face and one of the first realizations of what the world was turning into.

But I don't play Quidditch! I had only wanted to watch Ginny.

She remembered the hesitation on Ron's face when he spoke.

It's not just that, Hermione. I think they try to dissuade...everyone else from being involved. Ginny hasn't...well she hasn't had to deal with these changes yet. I'm sure she was thrilled to see you but in front of her teammates...

Hermione stared at the wall above her window. The leaden feeling of rejection flowed through her once more as it always did when she allowed herself to think of Ginny and her cold reception that spring day months ago.

It's because I'm Muggle-born.

Ginny had been ashamed of Hermione.

It's because I'm Muggle-born.

Even those who sympathized with those of Muggle birth were starting to hesitate. It was getting worse. Muggle-borns couldn't go to school, couldn't work jobs that would allow them to thrive, couldn't even play sodding Quidditch!

What's next? Slavery? Imprisonment? What the piss did I fight for all those years if all I feel is completely trapped with nowhere to go and no true friends? When will the Ministry help me? Help US?

Hermione fought the urge to weep, tightening her fingers into fists and pressing against the worn cushions of her sofa until her knuckles were white. She had long ago stopped crying; it did no good. Taking several deep breaths, she fought to calm herself.

After all, she had Luna and Ron. Some people had no one! Luna was helping her pay the rent and Ron...

She stopped thinking. Thinking never did any good. Closing her eyes, Hermione rested her head against the back of the sofa and sighed.

Ron was working for the Ministry. An organization that was becoming increasingly more and more biased against those of Muggle birth. Though not yet panicked the twinges of concern were beginning to stir in Hermione's belly each time she turned on the television or listened to the wizarding wireless network. Who would be the new Minister? And would he help or further harm the fate of those like she was? She didn't want to cry; she didn't to know. She was terrified.

But at least she still had Luna, didn't she? Luna tried to understand the prejudice and she was strong and independent enough to shun those hateful beliefs that were beginning to take hold in wizarding England. And she was patient.

I must never take her for granted and I must try to be more patient, like she is.

Worry overwhelmed poor Hermione as she curled up to try and take a restless nap in the flat that she could barely pay for.

In a few months it would be December; it would be the holiday season and she wasn't sure how she would make ends meet.