DISCLAIMER. None of the characters used are a creation of mine. They belong solely to JK Rowling.
Time passed by for Hermione like every other fickle minded thing did. She hadn't been able to finish her seventh year in her original timeline but now that her knowledge-greedy mind had been awarded with the opportunity it almost felt like a wasted breath. She had no heart to pursue an education which had ironically been the only thing her world revolved around in her previous life.
The dreariness of the winter passed as months blended into each other with the blur of black robes, masks and spilled blood.
Now that April was ready to wane into the month of blithering June Hermione wasn't struck with a restlessness that came with her NEWTs. No. Unlike her classmates she had long ago forgone such insignificant matters.
Her restlessness had more to do with another scar that was to appear soon enough. Over the course of the year she had once again perfected impenetrable glamours over her skin. If someone ever removed them and chanced upon her face or possibly Harry's they would never understand what had come knocking at their doors to leave such harrowing scars. Her involvement in the current war was no less easy but was definitely not this scarring.
Every day she couldn't help but think of what she'd been doing when she'd truly been seventeen as opposed to this trickery against nature. Her mind kelt replaying the hourn of desolete loneliness spent under a tent in places she couldn't name.
She knew with the scar that would now rest against her forearm, her body would plunge into the aftereffects of the Cruciatus. She was glad she had exams to deal with. They would keep her away from Voldemort's watchful eye during the most critical month she would face in terms of her trembling body.
She had been quietly eating her breakfast beside the younger Black when she first noticed it. Her body shook with the effort of keeping still. She could feel the builiding convulsions as she leapt onto her feet and ran towards the only haven she could think of.
The Room of Requirement.
As she plopped down into the armchair she had often taken while at the Burrow, she felt silent tears trail down her cheeks.
Mudblood.
She gasped at her raw skin. She'd spent years with this.. disfigurement but nothing could have prepared her for the emotions thay resurfaced with the appearance of the word.
She trailed her fingers softly over the angry marks, the memory of hooded eyes boring into her pain that had felt unsurmountable. As the war went on Hermione had faced worse but that night when she'd been tortured by Bellatrix still remained as a hollow ache in her gut. She could never be prevailed upon to forget the very embodiment of Fear leering at her, ready to kill.
She shuddered instinctively.
Ron had screamed himself hoarse that night, she remembered.
What world was it that she was trying so hard to save? It would never accept her. She would never belong. She was carved with the disgrace she would always be. It looked so bright she almost relived the horror of that night when it had felt like fire was plucking away at her skin, devouring her whole.
She desperately pushed away her tears. The word had been acid to her ears. She'd loathed the feelings that came with being called a mudblood. It had taken her four years to accept that being one didn't mean you weren't human and deserving of respect and all that had been wiped away when she'd had the curse etched onto her body.
She sighed and strengthened the glamours over her body, casting a new one over her forearm. She pulled down her sleeve and got up on shaky feet. Her body still struggled to remain upright.
It would be a long, long month.
Graduation.
This was no graduation. This was a mere formality. Her feet were heavy, her forearm unconsciously tucked close to her being.
But there was nobody who noticed. Only Harry who stood farthest away from the overwhelmed students receiving hugs from their families amidst glitter and gold knew the reason behind her calculated steps.
Hermione walked over to his side, nodding reassuringly at him and interlacing her fingers with his, both of them thinking of what it might have felt like to truly have been a part of something that was meant to celebrate the beginning of the rest of your life.
Unburdened and free.
Harry mused, 'What do you suppose it would have been like for us?'
Hermione could almost picture herself sandwiched between her two best friends as the Weasleys celebrated at the Burrow, a huge buffet for dinner with piles of cakes and pastries.
She smiled wistfully, 'I don't know about anything else but I'm sure Fred and George would definitely have caused a ruckus to embarrass Ron. Maybe we'd have gone for a match at Quidditch in the backyard.'
'Even you, Mione?,' he snickered.
She rolled her eyes in response.
Harry breathed in deeply, 'Well, at least Ron will get to have his graduation.'
'Just not with us,' she mumbled.
'Not with us,' he repeated numbly. 'But, hey, maybe he'll be best friends with Neville.'
Hermione laughed softly, 'Or Merlin forbid he might be best friends with Draco.'
Harry looked at her, his gaze tender and a knowing look in his eyes. He cleared his throat, jerking himself out of his thoughts. 'Rab couldn't come,' he explained, shrugging his shoulders sadly.
'Another meeting?,' Hermione asked.
He nodded, his eyes lingering on a happier family a few yards away, standing close under the shade of the trees.
Hermione, too, felt longing envelope her. She could never have had this day with her true family but perhaps she could have been a part of this one's.
But sometimes the Universe just always fought against you.
She leaned her head against Harry's shoulder, his green eyes still glued to his beautiful redheaded mother wrapped in the warm embrace of his father, the love they shared palpable and almost tangible.
Had they known?
He rid himself of such gloom and pulled Hermione away from the crowd, humming under his breath as he led her deeper into the Forbidden Forest, hidden from prying eyes. Twigs broke under their feet as they trailed around silently.
The duo came to a halt underneath a weeping willow, a clearing they hadn't ever been to before.
'Is the potion helping?,' Harry asked her, concerned, sitting down on a fallen log, the sun sinking down beneath the clouds.
She grinned, 'Yes, now stop being such a mother hen. You make me write to you everyday. Honestly, Harry, I'm fine.'
'Well, I won't have to worry about that anymore since you're coming home for good now,' he mumbled. 'Gustav said it would help you. He was eager to try his hand at inventing something new.'
Hermione nodded, 'We can get the Cup now that I've graduated.'
'That will leave us only without the locket and the diary. Are you sure Regulus will let us know about the cave?'
Hermione looked at him gravely, 'I'm sure. You need to stop worrying so much.'
Harry whispered, once again tugging her away and towards the school grounds, 'I'm really glad you're here with me, Hermione. I would have been so lost without you.'
Hermione chuckled softly, 'You know I would follow you wherever you go.'
'I wouldn't trade you for the world, Mione,' he said. 'I hope you know that.'
'This isn't goodbye,' she frowned, nudging him lightly.
He laughed, 'I know but I just felt like you should know.' He sighed. 'I'll see you soon?'
'At King's Cross?'
'If it's safe,' he shrugged, giving her a gentle shove towards the castle, motioning at the thinning crowd.
Hermione waved at him as he Disapparated, leaving behind a faint pop.
Sighing, she turned around and trudged up the way towards the gates. She was greeted by the sallow faced Snape at the entrance to the Great Hall, a sullen look on his face.
He scowled, 'I've received the letter from Lestrange Corporation. I shall leave in a week's time.'
Hermione smirked. She could see he hated owing her. 'And? Is there something you'd like to say?'
'I am grateful for the opportunity you have provided me with,' he said grudgingly. 'I hope we never see each other again.'
'I am certain we won't,' she agreed. 'For what it's worth, you were a good friend while it lasted.'
Snape looked taken aback and slightly flushed. He mumbled, 'I suppose you were too.' He looked away and left.
She had only just fallen into a steady step when she heard someone call out her name.
She whipped around, startled by the familiar voice. She saw Peter, flanked by a reluctant Sirius on his side, walking purposefully towards her. Her brows furrowed in confusion.
Peter smiled timidly at her, 'Hey, how are you?'
Hermione felt apprehensive. Was it some kind of a cruel joke? 'I'm alright, thank you very much, Pettigrew. Might I ask why you're invading my personal space on an evening so fine?'
Peter visibly flinched at her indifference.
Sirius shook his head tiredly and muttered, 'I told you it wasn't any good. It's your own funeral, mate.' He spared Hermione no parting glance before storming away.
Peter looked apologetic. He looked nervously around himself, his eyes downcast as he rambled, 'Well, we may no longer run in the same circle but er.. I just wanted to tell you that, uh, James and Sirius are already in an Auror program and I'm taking up after my father's business. It isn't anything grand but, well, you know. And Remus, uh, you can imagine. The poor bloke's been looking but we live in a horribly short sighted society,' he said, bitter. 'Lily's going to be a healer, by the way. She no longer wants to join the goblins at Gringotts. Ruddy well, I'd say. Goblins aren't exactly easy to work with. What about you? What are you doing?'
Hermione couldn't help smiling. She raised a brow.
Peter blushed. 'Right, I'm sorry. I'm.. sorry.' He shrugged, 'James and Lily are getting married. Not very soon but in the near future.'
Hermione nodded, touched at his sentiment. He was just trying to say goodbye. The least she could do was cooperate. 'I'm glad they're both very happy with each other. What about you and Dorcas?'
He looked dejected now, 'We're very much in love but since her mother's taken her younger siblings into hiding it wouldn't very well be a good time for such a thing. The Meadowes family is respected and Voldemort isn't exactly forgiving,' he said, uncomfortable.
Hermione looked away in shame.
He clutched her hand, pleading, his tone furious but hushed, mindful of their whereabouts. 'I hope.. I hope you find your way back. Redemption isn't easy but.. if you ever changed your mind I'd help you. I will be there for you. I know your heart's not in it, Mi. It's Rodolphus. I'm quite certain of it. But please know that I..'
She shook her head, pulling her hand away. 'I chose my life,' she stated firmly. 'And I would choose it over and over again.'
He watched her leave, miserable and repentant, the silent plea in his eyes left unseen.
AN: Ha! Managed to sneak one in! I'm starting the trek tomorrow. Since I'll be away I'm going to try and get a couple of chapters done but then I do tend to lose myself in the mountains so I make no promises.
And again, the mudblood scar isnt canon in the books but well..
Once again, thank you to each one of you who's still here. I'm truly humbled by your support.