Hermione put her hands on the oversized key. She began spinning and feeling very dizzy. She felt herself being lifted up, then collapsing onto the ground. She realized it was over and stood up. She saw Dumbledore; they were in the same exact office. All the pictures of old famous wizards remained on the dark, brown, wooden wall. The beautiful wood chair with red coverings still sat behind the desk, and a leather seat still sat in front. Nothing had changed.

"It didn't work. . ." Hermione said sadly and turned around to leave.

"Yes, it did, Ms. Granger," Dumbledore said calmly and smiled. Hermione turned around.

"It did? It really worked?" she asked and smiled. "Thank you," she whispered.

"No one but a few people know what really happened," Dumbledore paused. "Professor Snape, Professor McGonagall, Professor Trelawney, Harry, Ron, and your parents."

"How am I going to get home?" Hermione asked. Dumbledore pointed to a paper plate.

"Portkey. Your parents will be waiting for you."

"Thank you, sir," Hermione said and picked up the plate. She was sent to her house. She clicked open the front door and walked in.

"I'm home!"

----------------------------------------------

Hermione was sent to the Burrow on the first week of August. When she arrived, she was pressed with questions. Obviously, Ron and Harry had told the rest of the Weasleys.

"Hermione, what were my parents like?" Harry asked. They were all sitting on lounging chairs in the backyard.

"Er. . . They were nice people," Hermione said. "I met you when you were a baby, you know."

"Really?" Harry asked. "I hadn't known she had taken me to school."

"You were born in the school, Harry."

"I was!?"

"Phath's stho coo, Hawrry!" Ron said through a full mouth. Hermione looked at Ron with disgust.

"Don't talk with your mouth full!" Hermione reprimanded him. She turned back to Harry.

"Yes. . . erm. . . So. . ." she trailed off. "I did learn a lot. I don't have to take a year over or anything. How did you two do on your O.W.L.s? How was the year?"

"We did very well on our O.W.L.s, actually," Ron said.

"The year was rather interesting." Harry began.

"Fred and George left the school because of Professor Umbridge," Ron said.

"She had been headmaster for a while. . ." Harry added.

"Dumbledore was sent away," Ron said.

"We fought Lord Voldemort, too," Harry said. Hermione face became contorted a bit at his name (for more than one reason). Ron winced.

"Yes, Ginny, Neville, Luna, Harry, and I."

"Ginny, Luna, and NEVILLE?" Hermione asked.

"Yes," Harry said as his happy expression began to fade.

"Sirius was killed," Ron said sadly.

"How?" Hermione asked, her face covered in sorrow.

"Bellatrix," Harry said, now staring at the ground.

"I'm so sorry, Harry," Hermione said. Ron decided to change the subject.

"Did you meet Voldemort? Malfoy? Snape? What was Snape like?"

"Er. . . Yes. . . I met them. . ."

"What were they like?" Harry asked Ron's question once again. '

"Erm. . . They were nice. . ."

"NICE?!" Ron roared, causing some of the Weasleys to stare at them. Ron was practically standing up now.

"Well, you see. . ." she paused. " I was sorted into Slytherin. . . so I had to spend a lot my time with -"

"You were in SLYTHERIN?" Harry asked.

"Yes. . ."

"How can you say they were nice?" Ron asked.

"Well, they were not mean. . . Tom didn't start killing people until after I left. Hermione said. "Anyway, I know a lot more about them than you do, and there are things that I am not about to tell you."

"Why not? We're your friends!" Ron protested.

"Because some of those things are personal Lily, Snape, and myself."

"So what about Snape? Who cares, tell us!" Ron exclaimed.

"Lily wouldn't want me to. . . I don't think," Hermione said, shaking her head.

"It has something to do with my mother?" Harry asked.

"Yes. . ."

"I want to know, then," Harry demanded to know.

"No. . . If you really want to know, ask Snape. Ask him what he has to do with Lily. Or, ask Dumbledore; he must know. . ."

"Fine, I'll ask Dumbledore and tell Ron," Harry said coldly.

"Fine with me," Hermione said. She stood up and left them. She went into the house and up to the room she was sharing with Ginny. Luckily, Ginny was not there. Bianca was sitting on the windowsill, staring at the sun.

"Like it here?" Hermione startled her. Bianca stared at Hermione and nodded, but there were no emotions of happiness visible on her face, Hermione was sure that once they got back to Hogwarts, she would be better.