Chapter 1: A Regretful Goodbye

Hermione couldn't take it anymore. School had become a total nightmare since she started her final year at Hogwarts, and even though she was so close to completing her schooling, she just couldn't stay another night there. Once the horrible rumor had started about her and Harry Potter, Ron couldn't shake the feeling that there was something between the two of them each time the three of them were together. Slowly but surely, their friendship fell apart, and Ron ended their relationship.

Since then, every day felt more and more unbearable. She spent her days wilting away like a dying flower, avoiding the stares from students as she walked from class to class. In each one there would be at least one group of students huddled together, peaking over their shoulders to look at her as they whispered amongst each other occasionally laughing and giggling. Hermione would just roll her eyes and attempt to pay attention in class, but when all she could hear was the murmuring of childish gossip, eventually it got to her.

Hermione finally finished the last bit of folding and stuffed the pile of shirts into her trunk. She slammed the trunk shut and the lock finally clicked. She knew she would change her mind if she thought about it anymore. She hauled the trunk behind her as she walked through the school. The occasional student would see her and stare or run to their closest friend to spread whatever gossip they had about Hermione's simple action.

She turned the corner and entered the hallway where she could either climb the stairs to the Great Hall or exit the school to head for the train station. She sighed, knowing that Ron would be reading in the Great Hall right now between classes. She wanted to see him, to hold him, and apologize for all the pain the last couple of months must have caused. If nothing else, then to at least say goodbye. Her head hung low as she debated whether or not it was worth it. She had been through so much already these last couple of months, enough that she felt forced out of school by her fellow peers. Not even Harry could convince her to stay.

Hermione and Harry's relationship had been tainted by the numerous accusations by the other students; some of them strangers, and others who had been with the three of them from the very beginning. Now she had no one, not even Harry who was now terrified of being seen with her. Even though she knew nothing had ever happened between the two of them, it no longer mattered. It seemed like the entire school had been convinced otherwise.

She chose to head for the train station. Things with Ron were over, he had made that clear the last time they saw each other. So there was no reason to cause any more hurt between the two of them.

'Maybe somewhere in the future.' She thought.

Hogwarts got smaller and smaller behind her as she hauled her trunk to the train station. After checking her trunk in at the front desk of the train station, she handed her ticket to a tall man in a well-fitted uniform and he tore the top of it off and returned it to her. He pointed down the tracks to a spot under the sign that read nine and three-quarters. The memories came flooding back, back to the start of every school year when she, Ron, and Harry would eagerly await the train that would take them back to Hogwarts. Her chin trembled as her heart was breaking.

She wondered if she'd ever see Ron again, but no matter how much she wished the circumstances were different, Ron still believed she had cheated on him with his best friend. There was no convincing him otherwise, but still, she hoped one day she could explain everything. She couldn't stand the thought of Ron believing such rubbish. Did he even know her as well as she thought he did?

Thundering bells approached as the train home screeched to a halt in front of her.

'This is it.' She thought. But for whatever reason, she stayed perfectly still. She couldn't budge. Her heart was pounding in her chest as her throat tightened. She couldn't hold back the tears anymore. She broke down and began to sob into the palms of her hands, embarrassed that someone might see such a pathetic girl.

A train conductor leaned off the front step at the front of the train and shouted: "All aboard! Destination London, England! Departure in 20 minutes!"

Hermione wiped her eyes with her sweater sleeve and choked back the rest of the anguish. She had 20 minutes to make what felt like the biggest decision of her life. Would she give up and leave the wizarding world behind? What would she say if she returned to Hogwarts?

'The rumors must have already spread like the plague to all the students, even Ron,' she thought. And while it was heartbreaking to let go, she knew she couldn't go back and deal with that level of embarrassment. No, she had to do this. She could not go back to that school with the way everything had ended. It seemed practically impossible.

Groups of people boarded the train, and each one of them looked to be delighted to board as they must be heading back home.

She looked around, watching the faces of everyone who boarded, wondering if Ron might come to stop her. She didn't move from her spot. She waited for anyone to tell her to stay, a sign from the universe that could tell her going home wasn't the answer. She peered over her shoulder and saw a few rugged strangers leaving against the wall of the train station. One of them leaned against a corkboard with signs and flyers displayed all over the board. And then she saw it.

She looked back at the train, knowing there was little time to truly decide. She ran up the the cork board.

"Excuse me, please." She said. The man gave her a belittling side-eye but stepped aside. She snatched the flyer from the corkboard. In big cursive letters was:

"HIRING! Seamstress wanted in Hosgmeade. Living quarters provided and additional compensation pay!"

"This is it!" She told herself. The men surrounding the corkboard slowly inched themselves away. They must have thought she was deluded. She ran back to the front desk of the station and spotted a group of men about to load her trunk onto a trolly.

"Stop!" She shouted. She ran through a maze of security ropes and pleaded with the desk agent to give her back her trunk. The woman at the desk looked completely bewildered as she instructed the men to retrieve the trunk from the trolly.

"You do know that for your bag to arrive in London with you, it cannot go on the train. It's far too large!" She told Hermione.

Hermione shook her head. "I'm not going to London. I'm going to Hogsmeade instead."

The woman's face looked at Hermione with deep concern as if Hermione had grown two heads. Hermione grasped the handle of her trunk and hauled it behind her back to the front entrance of the station.

"Please miss!" Called the agent. "All purchased tickets are non-refundable. If you don't travel today then you'll have to buy another ticket!"

She pretended she couldn't hear her. A refund didn't matter in the slightest. If she couldn't return to Hogwarts, then maybe she could stay in Hogsmeade for a little while to clear her head.

'And what a perfect opportunity!' She thought. 'I'll even have a job so I can save money for…well, whatever!'

This was her chance to stay close to her true home at Hogwarts, and if her and Ron's relationship were to ever be mended there was no chance of that happening if she returned to London. If nothing else she could start a new life without completely losing the magic. She admitted to herself that it all seemed crazy, but nothing felt scarier than leaving everything behind. She embraced the adrenaline, and without looking back at the train station she headed to Hogsmeade.