I sincerely apologize for the late update. I'm usually a bit quicker with updates, but I've been having terrible writer's block lately and it's unbelievably frustrating. If some of it seems choppy I'm sorry, but I'm getting over it now.

As always thanks to everyone who has favorited or reviewed and keep it coming :) If there are any mistakes just point them out and I'd be happy to fix them. Hope you enjoy-

It took awhile for it to sink in, the fact that Parvati wasn't hers anymore. It took about a week for her to stop expecting Parvati to apparate outside her apartment door, or to come to her department at the Ministry looking for her. It took about a week to remember that Parvati had told her with a face full of conviction that if she was ever asked to leave she would go. It took about week for Hermione to realize that she had loved Parvati and had lost her.

The simple solution was to seek Parvati out and apologize profusely, as it was mostly all her own fault. After a week and a half, Hermione was deeply considering doing it the next day, but changed her mind when she saw a lesbian couple at a muggle coffee shop. She was getting a quick coffee before work as she had trouble sleeping the night before and had a pile of work on her desk (courtesy of her inability to function properly since her break-up with Parvati), when the couple caught her eye. There were off to the side waiting for their order to come up, holding hands and talking quietly with lots of smiles and low giggles. They looked around their mid-twenties but the way the acted, or rather just their happiness, made them seem like giddy teenagers. Hermione was rummaging through her purse for muggle money, when suddenly, one of the girls spontaneously kissed the other one sweetly on the lips. Hermione caught it out of the corner of her eye, and so did a few other people in the shop. Most people were ambivalent about it as if nothing had happened, a few looked away uncomfortable, and fewer than that had the audacity to give them a rather dirty look. The two women however, were oblivious to the facial expressions and thoughts of the people around them as they both grinned widely at the sudden kiss and continued talking as before. A minute later their coffees were ready and they were gone, not noticing the contemptuous look one man was giving them as they walked out. They were so wrapped in each other, so wrapped in their own little world of conversation, that they did not even notice or let alone care about what other people thought. That was when Hermione decided not to go after Parvati. Really, that was all Parvati had wanted- to kiss Hermione briefly on the lips in public and to have Hermione care more about the sweet gesture than the people around them. Parvati, Hermione decided, deserved someone to give her that.

Hermione left the coffee shop a few minutes later with caffeine and the resolve that she was not good enough for Parvati. She did not deserve her.

After Hermione resolved to not rekindle her relationship with Parvati, time moved in a caffeinated, tired, sleepless blur. She drank sick amounts of coffee, worked incredible hours, and hovered somewhere between a day dream and actual sleep at night. Although she was setting herself up to have some serious repercussions with her health, she had never been more efficient at work. In three days she had cleaned up the week and a half of back lag on her desk. In two more days she was ahead of schedule and taking on new projects and reports. However, instead of her supervisor being pleased at her intern's progress she urged Hermione to go home and rest. Her urging did little to stop Hermione though, she was the first one to the office in the morning and the last one to leave at night.

Hermione's reasoning was simple, the more she kept herself busy the less time she had to dwell on Parvati, or Ron, or the fact that her and Parvati seemed to be on the face of every magazine. So, she broke her back at work writing reports, and running errands, and doing field work helping the other wizards and witches in her department. She was trying to set her life right again- to find some purpose higher than love to motivate her- but found a dreary cycle of eating, restlessness, files, spells, reports, eating and more files. It all became a blur to Hermione as the days blended together with a constant nagging in the back of her mind reminding her of the one she lost and the whispers around the auror office about Voldemort's supporters regaining power and the possible disappearance of a handful of dementors from Azkaban.

As Hermione buried herself in her work, Parvati was dealing with it in an equally unhealthy way.

xxx

Shite, Parvati thought looking at the headline. The world is going to shite again.

The headline read, Muggle Deaths on Rise Despite Capture of Supposed Cult Leaders and showed a group of prisoners being sent off to Azkaban. They were something of fanboys of Death Eaters, although never having been death eaters themselves during the time of Voldemort, there were a group arising in the middle of Britain preaching the same bigotry as before. Muggle deaths were on the rise for the first time since the defeat of Voldemort, and although more and more members of this new cult were being shipped off to Azkaban everyday, it did nothing to stop the increasing number of violence against muggles.

Parvati, tossed the paper aside and tried not to think of how busy Hermione's workload must be getting because of these creeps. She tried, but as with everything else she had been attempting lately, she failed. She tried not to think of Hermione, but she wanted Hermione. She wanted to think of her, and wanted to be concerned for her, and wanted to want her again without this horrible feeling of inadequateness and self-loathing. Parvati had never really dwelled over relationships before. That was, Parvati had never really invested herself so much in a relationship either. It tore her apart that Hermione was gone, that she had told her that she loved her and it had not mattered. Hermione had let her go- had not even looked at her one last time as she left.

Lavender tried to be a good roommate and friend. She made Parvati's comfort foods, tried to engage her in conversation, begged her to cry and get past this; but Parvati found it hard to do anything else but stare blankly at the wall of whichever room she was in and think about how stupid her love for Hermione was.

But, of course time moves on in that careless way it does and Parvati was back at St. Mungo's at the end of the week trying not to think of her horrible weekend. At least work provided her with some distraction- it was after work that was idly becoming the problem. Lavender tried to get her to let loose, go out, and find a rebound but that was about the last thing Parvati felt like doing. It did not take long for Lavender to deem the situation out of her hands, and send a letter to Padma urging her to take some time off and come back from India for awhile and see her sister. Luckily, Padma had become something short of a celebrity among the healers of Mungo's. The researchers she was with in India had done nothing short of mentioning her brilliance to many of the healers of the hospital, so when Padma came in asking for a temporary internship she was gladly taken on.

When Padma got to Lavender's and Parvati's apartment, she was greeted gratefully by Lavender. "I'm so glad you're here Padma. . . she's taken it a lot harder than I figured. I don't think it's helped that it's gone so public."

Padma nodded remembering the handful of magazines that were covering the story excessively and inaccurately as she said to Lavender, "Leave it to me."

She entered the living room and took a seat on the couch next to her sister. Parvati didn't acknowledge her presence or offer any words, but just continued to sit as she was sitting and stare at what she was staring at. She was half mad Lavender made such a fuss to bring her sister over, but half pleased that she had. They sat in silence for a few minutes, until Parvati finally decided to open up and croaked, "I feel so stupid."

Padma brushed Parvati's hair out of her face and tucked it behind her hair. "Tell me," she said.

Parvati's eyes went downcast before they lifted up and looked at her sister. A second later she was crying, big wallowing tears racing down her cheeks and falling in her lap as she choked out the story. She told her about the shouting match with Ron, the way Hermione would not even look at her, and the way she left even though she knew she shouldn't have. She feebly lifted her arms as a signal that Padma recognized and she enveloped her sister in a hug.

The two sisters stayed there hugging in silence (save for the occasional whimper from Parvati) for a short while. Parvati was glad that her twin had avoided to lecture her about what to do and just listened. She knew what she had to do to get Hermione back: she would have to swallow her pride, eat her words, and apologize profusely. However, she held steadfast to her pride and was growing quite concerned with each passing day that Hermione did not want her back as she made no attempt to contact Parvati whatsoever. . . Of course, Parvati reminded herself, she had told Hermione not to.

When it was finally getting late, Padma chose to excuse herself from the room telling her sister she had better get some sleep. "You should get some sleep, you have work tomorrow and so do I. I'm going to be working at St. Mungo's for a little while too before I go back to India."

Parvati nodded and Padma stood up touching her sister's shoulder affectionately before turning to leave.

"Padma," Parvati said standing up. Her sister turned and looked at her. "Thank you," she murmured.

x x x

Although, Parvati seemed to be improving with each day she found herself thinking of excuses to see Hermione in passing just to see how she was doing. She took errands to the ministry that could have been completed by lower interns at work in the hopes of seeing her walking by. Of course, the errands were never on Hermione's floor anyhow and the chance of her seeing Hermione on some obscure floor in the large ministry in the flood of people was little to none, but it did not stop her from craning her neck in the crowd and keeping her eyes out for a bushy-haired witch rather than where she was going. Parvati would not even know what she would do if she saw her, but she just wanted to see her in person rather than the same picture of them snogging that seemed to find it's way on every magazine and newspaper across the country. She stopped looking at them when she was at the market one time and had absentmindedly opened it up to a recent article inside showing a picture of a flustered Hermione being surrounded by reporters at a wizard cafe with the caption of Hermione's apparent quote, "It was just a drunken mistake." She had frowned at the picture and the caption knowing it was a lie and feeling sorry that Hermione was taking so much heat from it.

Although it was hard for Parvati to feel too sorry for Hermione as she had witnessed the same paparazzi crowding eventually forcing her to find a different way to work and ensuring she avoided certain wizarding hot spots and restaurants. This greatly annoyed Lavender who was irked at her best friend's new habit of staying in on Friday and Saturday nights. However, Parvati did not mind it as much as Padma had no trouble staying in and spending time with her especially since Padma was experiencing the same paparazzi treatment as Parvati- the consequence of being her identical twin.

However as another week went by she was finding it a favorite pastime of hers to fantasize about scenarios where she and Hermione would accidentally bump in to each other and magically patch things up. . . the making up, of course, was followed by a thorough and well imagined romping session. . .

Besides going to the ministry, she really had no idea about where to casually run into Hermione. All of Hermione's favorite places were probably overrun by the press as hers were so she knew she couldn't run into her there. The only person she could think of to ask was Ginny who she knew should be back from her honeymoon with Harry by now. She had the slightest inkling that Ginny would understand and at least talk to her about how Hermione was doing. She even had an excuse to owl Ginny as she had not even gotten her white dress at the burrow that day, but avoided doing it not quite sure how Ginny would respond to one of her best friend's ex-girlfriends. Before Parvati could make up her mind though, the situation played out itself.

x x x

There was a knock on the door, and Parvati left the kitchen to answer it with a half-annoyed, half-amused look on her face. "Really, Lav?" she said grabbing the doorknob and twisting it open, "How many times are you going to forget your-"

Parvati stopped, slightly gawking at the redhead in front of her.

"Hi Parvati," Ginny said meekly holding up a familiar looking summer dress. "You left this at the burrow."

"Thanks," Parvati replied awkwardly. She looked away sheepishly. "Come in," she said opening it wider to let her through. "I didn't know you were back from your honeymoon yet," she lied casually as she led her to the living room and draped the dress over the side of a couch. She had in fact, been counting the days. Ginny was her only real link to Hermione and she was not intent on losing track of that connection any time soon.

"Oh we've been back for awhile- a lot sooner than planned. Some business with the auror's- you know it's all over the papers. That whole 'pure-blood' thing is on the rise again, that new cult worshipping Voldemort like he's a God, dementors on the loose. . ."

"There's dementors on the loose?" Parvati asked Ginny alarmed as they took a seat. She did not remember seeing that in the papers anywhere.

Ginny bit her lip and looked as if she were wracking her brain to remember something. "Actually that might not have gone public yet- they're not really sure if there are some missing. . . complicated auror stuff I probably shouldn't have told you. . ."

"Don't worry my lips are sealed."

"You know it'll probably come out soon I'm surprised they've kept it under wraps for this long." Ginny sighed thoughtfully. "That's the ministry I guess. At least the leadership is better now."

Parvati agreed. "Sorry you're honeymoon got cut short. I'm surprised they sent for him."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "No, no one sent for him, but he heard about this one case he was helping out on got some headway and he wanted to come back. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, vanquishing dark wizards seems to be a hobby of his even when he's on vacation. . . You know it's funny that he's still only officially an intern but they treat him like a full-fledged auror. I mean I know why they do, but he can still officially be cut from the program if he doesn't pass his tests."

Parvati laughed. "Even if he failed his tests how could you deny the wizard that killed Voldemort an occupation as an auror?"

"It would be ironic, and we could very well see it how it plays out if he doesn't start studying. . . I swear I wish Hermione was becoming an auror just so she would keep on him about it."

There was an uncomfortable silence that followed. At least that's how it felt for Parvati. Ginny still looked perfectly at ease, but unknowing how to continue the conversation. "Can I get you anything to drink?" Parvati asked awkwardly gesturing towards the kitchen.

"I'll take a butterbeer if you have it."

Parvati nodded and left the room to grab some bottles.

"Oh, I heard your sister's back in town," Ginny called from the living room.

Parvati nodded as she made her way back to her guest offering her a bottle. "For awhile. . . I swear all the healer's love her- she's making me look really bad," she said with a half smile as she took a seat across from the newlywed.

Ginny smiled. "Blimey, you want to talk about being overshadowed by siblings? I think I beat you on that."

"Well I can think of one you could never be overshadowed by," Parvati said sorely thinking of Ron.

The two sat in silence for a minute and Parvati shifted uncomfortably in her seat taking a swig of her butterbeer. She knew the topic was going to come up and had a feeling Ginny was waiting for it. Not wanting to let the tension build from the silence any longer she asked quietly, "So how's Hermione?"

Ginny gave her an expression half torn between amusement and pity. "About as miserable-looking as you, although she would never admit to it. . ."

"I'm not miserable," Parvati denied automatically.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Yes, well neither is Hermione. . ."

"So what did she tell you?"

"She didn't diverge me the details except that you told her you weren't coming back-"

"Because she told me she to go!" Parvati practically shouted as she jumped up from her seat. Some butterbeer splashed on the carpeted floor. "I never wanted to leave!"

Ginny raised an eyebrow at her sudden outburst, but then her expression turned careful and thoughtful. "She just came out to one of her best friends, her best friend's family, and the whole wizarding world in a very indelicate way," she explained slowly. "Of course she wanted some time alone to digest it. It doesn't mean she meant forever."

Parvati felt her face grow hot, suddenly feeling very stupid. "Then how come she hasn't come back yet? She hasn't owled me or come to see me-"

"Parvati," Ginny said in an exasperated voice, "you told her not to come back. And, if you haven't noticed you haven't been at her doorstep to see her either."

"But- but you weren't there Ginny," Parvati said trying to ignore her very good point. "You don't know. . . I told her," Parvati swallowed and felt the corner of her eyes produce tears. "I told her I loved her and she wouldn't even look at me." Parvati stood there and looked away dejectedly feeling as ashamed and pathetic as the day that had all happened.

She felt Ginny's eyes on her as she said something that could have easily sounded snobbish and cruel if it wasn't said in such s soft sympathetic voice. Parvati shifted uncomfortably where she stood as Ginny countered, "But, if you love her Parvati, you wouldn't be acting like this."

x x x

Hermione walked into St. Mungo's trying to look cool and collected. In reality she was sweating bullets and her heart was beating frantically against her chest. She unthinkingly crinkled the forms in her hand before she realized what she was doing and tried to repair the damage by smoothing it over.

The forms were statements that needed to be signed by a muggle victim. Usually, muggles were in such a state when they were victimized by wizards- trauma from the attack and the complete absurdity of seeing magic left them in a pretty incoherent state, but this man was different. He was a muggle, but was actually quite familiar with magic in the sense that he had married a witch and fathered a magical child. Although his wife died shortly after the birth of their son, he understood the basics of magic and could recognize it. He gave his recount of the attack, albeit a bit shaken up, it was a solid testament to the mistreatment muggles were facing and a great testimony to be used when the attackers were caught. Hermione just had some forms for him to sign allowing her department to use his statements.

But, she wasn't there because he had to sign some forms. Really, anyone could have done it, but when the forms had been prepared and the boss asked who wanted to take them to St. Mungo's Hermione opened her mouth before she had the sense to close it. She knew why she wanted to go, yet she was feeling faint and panicky as she walked into St. Mungo's. She smoothed her robes and tried not to notice how hot they were making her as she made her way to the fourth floor.

Hermione had only been in St. Mungo's a few times and only to visit patients. She realized she had never gone just to see Parvati. How many times over the summer had Parvati visited her in the ministry? It was more than a handful of times that Parvati had stopped by and dropped off lunch at her office so they could eat together and catch up as Hermione talked about her workload and complained about plans for Ginny's wedding. It had not occurred to Hermione until just now that she had not once bothered to drop off a lunch for Parvati or just come in and say hi for a few minutes. It was now that Hermione didn't even know what floor Parvati worked on. She assumed Parvati just worked where they wanted her, but that seemed silly that they would not specialize their interns on one place, as well as unproductive. She racked her brain for information. Had Parvati ever told? Had Hermione ever asked?

She tried to shake off the rather disappointing feeling and focused on what she was supposed to be doing. This trip was about a muggle who was victimized and tortured by a group of pure-blood biggots. It had nothing to do with Parvati. . .

Yet Hermione couldn't help but keep her eyes on every passing face rather than where was walking. And, as she was about to go through the door where the muggle man was, a pretty Indian girl came out of a room at the end of the hall talking to a healer as she glanced through some notes on her clipboard looking as familiar and wonderful as ever. . .