A/N: This is an old story of mine that I wrote on another account. I had two accounts, but I can't seem to find the other one. Oh well! So I've made some adjustments and have decided to reupload it, hoping to finish this through to the end!

I hope you enjoy it, and please let me know your thoughts! Love

XXXXXX

Click, click, click!

The camera shutter clicked three times as her finger pressed down on the button. She let the device drop and hang from the cord around her neck. Delicate fingers curled over a black marker and journal, scribbling down the street names, the time, and the date. Her wand lay unused at the bottom of her messenger bag, as it often did these days. In truth, she did not know how long it had been since she had used her magical abilities. It had to be months, and if she really dug deep for the answer, Hermione Granger would find that it had been almost a year. It was mostly a habit, carrying the elaborate stick around with her as she found she never had use for it. She'd grown up exclusively in the muggle world until she was eleven so she certainly didn't mind doing things for herself.

Her legs dangled over the edge of the fire escape as she shoved the journal back in her bag and picked up the camera again. She pointed it at the couple in the restaurant, watching the man lean in to kiss the lady's neck. The red headed woman giggled, placing her hand over his thigh and sliding it upwards. Hermione held down the shutter, snapping a few more photos. The slide of the hands, the lick of the neck. She was unfazed by this part of her job. A few months after arriving in the city, she took the opportunity to answer an ad for a private detective's office. The older man had needed help and only a few weeks in, Hermione had realized that she was good at it. She could sneak around quietly and efficiently enough to do the job extremely well. This was not a business she wanted to stay in for the long run, but for now, it paid the bills.

The brown haired witch looked down at her watch and hissed, "Shit." Quickly, she removed the camera, stuffing it into the bag and hoisted herself off the fire escape. The ladder clinked as she let it drop as far as it would go, climbing down before jumping the rest of the way. Her feet hit the ground gracefully and she wiped off imaginary dust from her pants. People walked past the alleyway but paid her no mind. In this city, it wasn't uncommon for folks to take short cuts through buildings. She swung her bag over her shoulder, sliding her mobile out of her jacket pocket. The Empire State Building loomed large behind her as she stepped out onto the busy street and dialed a number, bringing the phone to her ear.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite wee Brit." It was a male who answered her call and she couldn't help but roll her eyes. Still, she smiled. "What can I do for you today, Ms. Granger?"

"You're going to kill me, but I am running late. I am so, so late, Bran, you've absolutely no clue." She stopped at the end of the Avenue and slipped onto the edge of the bike lane, raising her hand. A yellow cab swerved from the opposite end of the lane and stopped in front of her. She nearly had to hide her surprise at how quick that'd been. Luck was on her side. Hopefully.

"And what exactly are you late for?" Brandon McAllister's voice was teasing and she didn't enjoy it one bit. It's not that he wasn't charming or handsome, but he was technically still married and Hermione didn't have time for such things and this poor man had been flirting with her for a little over a year now. She slipped into the cab and closed the door, giving the taxi driver instructions. She could hear Bran's smile as he listened to her. "You're coming to visit me? I feel flattered."

"Oh, shut it. I have a meeting with Allison Wades in-" Hermione lifted her wrist, brown eyes worried as she looked at her watch again. She began to nibble on her lower lip. "- fifteen minutes and I'm not there yet. I'm not even close to there, Bran. Besides with all this traffic-" She sighed desperately, trying to get a view. She stuck her head out of the window, sliding back in after a moment. "-It'll take me at least twenty minutes before I get there. And I know! I know," She continued before he could interrupt. The intake of his breath had been enough warning. "I should have checked the time earlier, I just got distracted with work."

"You're rambling, Ms. Hermione. And you don't ramble." He paused, smirk lacing his words. "What do you need from me?"

Hermione took a deep breath, sitting back against the seat. "I need you to stall. I need you to use whatever charm Mrs. Wades clearly thinks you have and stall her, Bran. Please." A pause. "I am begging you." And she indeed was. The amount of times she had ever asked him for a favor were few and far between.

Bran smirked at that, she knew he did. She could practically hear it. His voice deepened a bit. "On your knees? That's a pretty picture."

Her face twisted, nose scrunching. "Don't be disgusting, you have a wife." She sat back against the seats, legs crossed.

"Only for the next two weeks. We finally sign the divorce papers on the 16th." She tilted her head at that, sitting up a bit straighter. Divorce? He could tell she was curious. "I know I should've told you, but come on, what guy wants to openly admit to his female friends that he not only did he catch his wife fucking his brother, but that the court ordered couple's counseling was such a failure? It's such a cliche!"

"Oh, Bran...I- I'm so sorry, I really thought that you'd have worked it out. You seemed so eager to." She shook her head, disgusted at the idea of someone hurting their spouse that way. "You deserve better than that."

"I know that now. Which is why, I will stall Allison." She grinned and opened her mouth to speak, but he cut her off. "IF- and only IF- you agree to go out with me this week." Hermione nibbled her lower lip, fingers pinching at her earlobe, a habit when she was nervous. It's not like Bran was ugly. He was tall and lean with dark eyes and sandy hair and he was of great intellect. "Hello? Did I scare you off?" He sounded worried.

She snapped back to the current situation and let out a soft chuckle, licking her lips. "No. No, you didn't scare me, Brandon." A soft sigh escaped her and she rolled her eyes, smiling. "Alright! Fine. Pick a day and I'll let you know if I'm free."

"Yes!" He sounded excited and she couldn't help but admit to herself that she was a little excited, too. It'd been too long since her last date. She was picky about who she brought around the home. "I'm walking to Wades' office now. How far are you?" She looked out of the window and then at the traffic.

"Realistically, about ten minutes. The traffic is horrible during rush hour." Chocolate eyes dart out of the window and spot an alleyway, imagining how easy it would be to apparate. She shook her head to clear that thought from her head. She hadn't done magic like that since she'd moved to New York City almost six years ago. Most of the spells she used were to help set up the house she'd moved into, but after that, Hermione had settled into a routine that required it less and less each day. Eventually, she decided to give it up. There would be no reason to ever lift her wand again. All magic ever brought was pain and turmoil. Well, most magic.

Fingers closed on the locket around her neck, a smile painting her lips. It was ridiculous to class all magic as terrible, but she had to admit, her life had just become…easier without it. So, almost a year ago, she gave it up. Bran's voice brought her back and she blinked.

"Okay, then. That means I've got to distract her for at least…fifteen minutes? I think I can do that."

Hermione smiled at that, tension leaving her shoulders. "Thank you, Bran. You're a great friend." She heard the click ending the call and slipped her phone into her jacket pocket. The cab slowed to a stop as they hit another traffic light and she groaned, leaning forward. "Sir, I will pay you double if you can please, please, drive a little faster."

XXXXXX

Ginny walked down the steps of the apartment she shared with Harry, her long red hair up in its signature ponytail. Her lips curled into a smile as she saw her fiancée sat on the love seat, his back to her. His jet black hair was as unruly as ever, especially from behind. The fireplace danced with flames, illuminating the living space. It was on days like this that she was most appreciative of the life she was able to live.

Quietly, she walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling him jump. A soft chuckle at his reaction, her fingers sliding through his hair. "Sorry, love. Did I scare you?"

Harry let out a sigh of relief, looking up at her with bright eyes. "You? Scare me? As if." Ginny giggled and pecked his cheek, jumping over the back of the couch to sit beside him. He let go of the photo album on his lap long enough to wrap an arm around her, pulling her in to curl up against him. She took note of what he was looking at, brows furrowed together. The pages with his father and mother were long since put in picture frames that rested on the mantle. These were of their time at Hogwarts. His time at Hogwarts. His friends, the Weasley family, Hermione. Ginny frowned silently, sitting up to look at the love of her life and traced the worry lines on his face.

He reached up and took her hand in his, interlocking their fingers. "I miss her, Gin. Every day, I miss her. She was like my sister. My only sister. And now- I know it's silly but these days are when I feel I need her most." His throat bobbed as he rushed the words out, as if he was afraid to lose the courage to say them. "The upcoming wedding and the fluster and flounce and all of it, it can be a bit…much. I mean, I would marry you tomorrow, in the middle of the Forbidden Forest, in a brown paper bag if it meant I could have Hermione with us there." Tears welled in both their eyes and Ginny leaned forward to embrace him. His arms wrapped around her small frame and he closed his eyes, whispering. "I'm sorry. I don't want to make you feel like you're not enough. You are. You-"

"Hush, Harry." Ginny shook her head at him, pulling back slowly, her hand cupping his cheek. "Don't do that. I know what it's like to lose a sibling, remember? Hermione was like my sister, too. I miss her, too. We all do. And now with the wedding in mind, she's the only person I'd want as my maid of honor. She's the one I'd want to cheer us on. But we don't even know where she is, if she's even still….alive." She said it cautiously and even though a pained look crossed Harry's face, she knew he understood.

It'd been nearly six years since they'd last seen their friend. In the middle of the night, they'd received a letter with news of her departure. They'd been devastated. They'd read it so many times they each knew it by memory. Even Percy.

To my family,

I am so incredibly sorry that I could not do this in person. I'm afraid my Gryffindor courage has failed me here. There is no easy way to tell you, but I'm leaving. I don't know for how long and I don't even know where, but I do know that I have to.

I know you all have nightmares, even two years after the war. I still have them, too. It pains me, seeing our world attempt to rebuild. The horrors come back at night and they bring with them all of the things that could have happened, all of the deaths that did. I know you see them, too, lying in their own blood, screaming from the pain and the torture.

I've made my decision and as you're reading this, I've already gone. The owl who arrived with this had specific instructions not to give it to you until I'm no longer in the country. I know you will be upset with me, but I had to do it this way. If I told you in person you would have tried to convince me to stay and it would have worked. For you, all of you, I'd stay. And the pain would eat at me from the inside. I promise I will write to you. Maybe not every day, maybe not every month, but I will try as often as I can. I hope to see you all again someday. Just let me work out what I need to. I love you all and the family you've given me.

Thank you, Hermione Jean Granger.

Of course, after two more letters, spaced out between 10 months, no more came. They hadn't heard from her in five years. Ginny sighed and lay her head against Harry's chest, closing her eyes and wrapping her arms around him. "We'll see her again, Harry. I'm confident in that. You must be too."

Harry sighed, rubbing his eyes of the tears that threatened to fall. "After six years, I'm not so sure." He wrapped his arms around his fiancée and let them comfort one another. How he loved Ginny. His wonderful, hot-headed, stubborn Ginny Weasley. She was his and he was hers. As it was always meant to be.

At 26, it had taken Harry too long to propose to his girlfriend. In his defense, he wanted it to be perfect. And it was. He graciously asked Minerva McGonagall, Headmistress of Hogwarts, for permission to use the Quidditch field. After it was eagerly granted, he filled the entire stadium with rose petals and candles, something Ron would never let him live down. He still brought it up every time they passed a flower shop. Harry and Ginny got engaged over the summer, so they were uninterrupted by all of the school kids. The weather was great, as it always was at Hogwarts and when he removed Ginny's blindfold, she had gasped. The ring was enclosed in an elaborate Snitch-like box. He didn't even have time to get down on one knee before she'd flung her arms around him.

The memory made Harry smile and he leaned in to press his lips to her cheek. She grinned at that and giggled, something very rare for Ginevra Weasley. "Harry." The 25 year old sat up and turned to straddle his waist, a mischievous glint in her eye. He couldn't help the goofy grin that appeared on his face. "You know what your lips do to me."

Harry laughed as she wiggled her brows and nodded, his arms wrapping around her waist.

"Of course I do, love. That's entirely the point." Ginny let out a loud laugh as he pulled her down onto the couch, her legs around his waist. They wasted no time ridding each other of their clothes, the light from the fireplace dancing upon their skin.

XXXXXX

"Late, late, late. I am so late!" Hermione practically jumped out of the cab as it came to a stop, grabbing her things and getting ready to head inside when the driver called her to his attention. She came to a stop and turned around, fishing through her wallet. She'd almost forgotten to pay him! "Fuck, sorry. I- uh…" She looked through the folded bills and handed him a fifty dollar bill. "Keep the change. Thanks for the fast driving." She nearly ran to the door, flinging it open and almost bumping into a tall dark-haired woman. "Oh! Sorry!"

The woman regarded her with elegance and poise. She wore a tea dress and cardigan with her hair down over her shoulders. "Ms. Granger! There is no running in school, you know that!"

"Huh? What?" Hermione moved a strand of curls from her face, looking at the teacher with confusion etched in her face. Her eyes widened and a blush creeped onto her cheeks. "Oh! I'm so sorry, Grace. It won't happen again."

The woman's lips curled up into a grin and she shook her head, patting her shoulder: "I'm joking, Hermione. You really need to lighten up." Relief flooded through the witches' chest. She was an adult, surely she could push down the need to please every teacher now. Grace was stepping aside, ushering her in. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Yes, I'm supposed to be meeting with Mrs. Wades in…." Hermione checked her watch and made a face, worrying her bottom lip. "Five minutes ago. I've- I've never been to her office. I mean, I had a tour, but-"

The taller woman nodded, clapping her hands together gently. "Oh, of course! I'll walk you over! School is almost out, so the children will be flooding this hallway in a few minutes." Grace walked the younger lady down the highly decorated hall. Art covered almost every inch of the walls, some good, some bad. Some with themes for the upcoming holiday season, some about things the children were learning about. "We want to get to the principal's office before all that starts! Otherwise, you'll never meet with Allison. She's got after school duty." Hermione nodded and smiled, pushing hair from her face.

Grace Steinberg had a way of acting too perky and honestly, it made the former Gryffindor on edge. She wasn't used to people being so happy. It wasn't until a minute of silence passed that Hermione noticed Grace was looking at her oddly. She cleared her throat, snapping the woman out of her reverie. "I'm sorry, dear. It's just- Principal Wades is very particular about the people she meets with. I'm- I'm not sure you're dressed properly."

Hermione looked down at her clothes and realized she'd forgotten to change. Usually she would have been presentable, in dress pants or a skirt, her hair loose but tidy, makeup and a blouse, but not today. No, today she had to forget. Had to run late. She wore a pair of dark wash boyfriend jeans and a plain black t-shirt under a green utility military jacket. Her hair was up in a ponytail and she had on a pair of black sneakers. Her lips turned down into a frown and she looked up at Grace. "I have nothing else to wear."

"Oh!" Grace gave her a tight-lipped smile before plastering a grin on her face. "Well, I'm sure Allison will make an exception for today." Her words cut, but the tone was cheerful and Hermione had to curl her fingers into her palm to stop her from saying anything. The school bell rang just as they turned another corner and were immediately bombarded by noise. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I have to go. I'm on bus duty today. The office is just down this corridor to your left. You can't miss it. It's all glass." Grace smiled and squeezed her shoulder again. "Good luck. I hope to see you again soon."

Hermione rolled her eyes as she watched the woman retreat down the opposite way they'd come. She straightened as the children, ages 5-10 began running around, excited that the day had ended. Hermione smiled as she headed down the hall, towering over the little ones. She was about to step into the office when she heard a squeal and she turned in time to catch the small body jumping into her arms. "Mama!"