While the rest of the survivors congregated in the great hall or somewhere in the school, she found herself walking the dark path towards the boat house. When Harry left on his mission towards the Forbidden Forest she headed towards the headmasters office. Having found the room all but destroyed, except for the pensive that floated softly above the table. It took her all of two seconds to enter into the same memories that had been left there.
She wondered at the ghost of lost love and childish hatred for the two people who created the one friend she had stood by for so many years. Marveled at the length in which Severus Snape had gone to, to protect a boy who he all but despised, just for the love he had for his mother.
But most of all, the length of which Dumbledore had gone to reach the end. When she surfaced from the pensive her eyes landed on the painting of the sleeping headmaster. She knew that he would only open his eyes once the true successor had taken their rightful place as headmaster or headmistress of Hogwarts.
As much as Professor Snape had been in the role, it was not because he had earned it.
"I don't think he will ever truly forgive you for this." she whispered before she returned to the great hall to wait for word of what had happened in the forest.
And after, after Hagrid had carried her friend in his arms tied and harnessed like some rabid animal her heart broke and her soul felt incomplete. When the battle had recommenced she had no chance in voicing her hurt and anger at those who needed to hear it.
She would wait to hear his reasoning before she tore into him for making her feel like he was gone… even if only for a few moments.
Now, she continued on the sloping stairway towards the boat sheds and the body of a man who many owed their lives to. Her steps somewhat uneven as the adrenaline left her body and she became conscious of the injuries she had suffered.
As she made the final step towards the one particular building she heard their voices. People who she didn't know, but understood they were here on official business.
"Leave him. Toss him into the water if you want." the first spoke, the disgust clear in his voice.
"Are you mad? Bone's would have our hides and our wands if we tampered with the scene." the second voice squeaked.
"And she would be in line after me." Hermione stated, her wand pointing at both the arour's in front of her.
"He's a coward. He was with You-Know-Who. He would have gladly handed you over to the Dark Lord with that sneer on his face." the first said as he lowered his wand.
"He did exactly as Dumbledore asked of him. He was the reason the Order was able to out maneuver the Death Eaters." she stood taller, her shoulders back as she watched them step back.
The pop of someone aparating behind her didn't have her lowering her wand or turning around. The battle over and all the Death Eaters had either been killed or were being hunted down. With their dark mark having exploded once Voldemort had died it was easy to see who was and wasn't a Death Eater in disguise.
"What seems to be the problem here?" The woman behind her came to stand between the two sides of the boat house. Her wand pointed at Hermione as she spoke with the two men.
"The kid thinks he may be some sort of hero. Think she may have been hit with something and her brains are a bit messed up Madam Bones." the second one spoke as he relaxed.
"Do you have proof?" Madam Bones asked, her eyes growing wide as she realized who she was currently pointing her wand at.
"Yes, there is a pensive in the headmaster's office. He gave Harry his memories… it's all there. Everything he did was to make sure Harry came out victorious against Voldemort." she watched as even now witches and wizards flinched at the name.
"And what were the two aurors doing that had you pointing a wand at them?" she asked as she too lowered her wand.
"They were desecrating his body, arguing what to do with it." she would not hold back the sneer in her voice.
She watched as Madam Bones cast her wand over Snape's remains, a shimmering film covering him before she turned towards the two aurors before her. A flick of her hand had them standing at the two doors of the boat house, guarding the scene.
"Show me." Madam Bones nodded towards the steps.
They did not talk as they made their way back up the stairs. Hermione's mind unraveling the memories further within the timeline. It was Snape who had sent them the sword. He had led Harry to the lake. There was no redeeming him as a professor, in many eyes he would always be disliked and discredited for his views. But she would be sure he was not vilified for his role in this war.
You can't change someone's past, but you can help right their future and she was going to do so. She was sure that Harry too would help her.
"Do you need a healer?" Madam Bones asked as they came to a stop at the castle doors.
"Maybe later." she shrugged as she continued on towards the spiraling stairs. There she saw Harry standing there.
"We need to talk." He whispered as he threw his arms around her.
"Later. Now we need to prove Snape's true role." she watched as his eyes spoke more than his words could.
He now knew she knew what had happened. The high tension in his shoulder slumped as he nodded and took her hand in his. He directed them towards the spiral stairs, helping her as she stumbled a few times. As they entered the office, the pensive still floated where it had before.
"The memories are still in there. I was trying to work out what to do with them. If this helps save the memory of him, you are free to take them." Harry pointed as Madam Bones stepped up towards the shimmering bowl, before pointing her wand.
They watched for the second time as the images painted a different picture to what everyone believed.
"I'll make sure they get to the right person." Madam Bones tapped the silvery liquid before collecting them in a vile before turning away and leaving the two to talk.