Edited 5/23/23: Minor Grammar/Spelling. I also expanded this slightly from the original!

Hi, VERY short chapter... I had a realllly rough weekend and work today was ugh, but I promised a chapter a day so here you go!

Saturday, May 23, 1998

She didn't enjoy any part of that Saturday. Normally the triad spent the day doing things together, but nothing Theo, Draco, or Ginny did could pull her out of her funk. She was under a heavy curtain of sadness that couldn't be lifted. It was her parent's anniversary, and while they were probably spending it together doing some sort of travel, she was alone, on her couch, sobbing.

Around noon, Lulu brought some comfort foods and her parent's wedding album, which she spent hours looking though, until Harry appeared next to her. He'd always felt like a sibling and having him next to her was helping a tremendous amount. He was one of the few people who knew the Grangers as more than "Hermione's parents."

Occasionally over the summers Hermione and her parents would pick up Harry and take him to the shops or dinner. It was a highlight of all four of their summers. There had even been a conversation amongst the Grangers about fostering Harry, but that had been quickly shut down by Dumbledore. Who had informed them that he needed to stay with his family for protection. Both of her parents had thought that was an absolutely foolish response, but realised there was nothing they could do to sway the Wizengamot or the Muggle authorities.

They looked down at the photo of her parents kissing, Richard's hand laying on Jean's rounded belly. She smiled at them fondly. Jean looked the classic late 1970s bride, lace, long sleeves and a classic A Line skirt.

"They love each other so much," she said with a sigh.

For a long while, she rested her head on Harry's shoulder as they watched Draco and Ginny chase each other around outside the window on their brooms.

"I think I'm going to end things with Ginny," said Harry heavily.

Hermione knew that Ginny wasn't feeling as invested in the relationship, but didn't know that Harry felt similarly. "Why? What happened?" she asked, softly.

"It's just- it's not the same. Ever since we got back from the Horcrux hunt…"

"Do you love her?" she asked.

"I'm not in love with her," he said thoughtfully, "I'll always love her, but I don't think we're it for each other. Not all of us can marry our childhood sweetheart." He grinned down at her and she smiled back.

After dinner, Hermione saw Harry pull Ginny aside and she felt a pang go through her. Adulthood was not shaping up the way she'd thought it would.

Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think or if you have any thoughts about what might happen next!