Midnight Swimming Chapter 2 - A, a harry potter fanfic

Chapter 2

Hermione

August 1998

Hermione sits there on the sofa of the Weasley household, looking around a house that was once filled with never-ending laughter and warmth. They rebuilt the Burrow after the war, but the house they managed to piece back together didn't hold the same light or homely feel as it once did. Now everything seems bleak; a sad attempt to recreate what was.

Everything feels tainted.

Nothing felt right. There were fleeting moments where things felt close to the warmth and love that she used to know, but then reality of the loss and trauma of the war would hurl her back into this emptiness that she couldn't escape.

Ron bounces into the room with a biscuit in his hand and a small smirk on his face. She smiles back out of habit, not because she's actually happy. That's an emotion she hasn't felt in a while but knows how to imitate all too well. Ron breaks the biscuit in half and hands her one. Accepting his cooking, he plops down next to her and kisses the top of her head.

Guilt. Guilt she's known for what feels like an eternity. She's wanted to break things off with Ron for a few weeks but hasn't managed to conjure any of that Gryffindor courage she used to muster. She briefly danced around the subject with Harry, wanting his opinion, without outright saying she doesn't want to be with Ron anymore. But Harry couldn't put two and two together and would go on about how happy he was for them; how happy Ron was to finally be an item; how good they are together. Maybe he did sense it and was hoping Ron could be happy enough for the both of them.

As much as Hermoine doesn't want to admit it, being inside this house has become more and more unbearable with each passing day, having to suppress the desperate need for her parents as she watches Molly or Author simply walk about their own home. Nearly everyone wanted to "push past" the bad parts, and "move on" to better things. They want to forget, but she can't forget. If anything, it infuriates her how easy people are willing to ignore the devastation of what the war has done. The month that followed the war after they had won most of Voldemort's right hands and followers were put to trial, and either sent to Azkaban or to the gallows. After that, the papers had yet to talk directly about the war: the affects, the destruction, the remnants of the survivors…. Just looking forward to 'new plans,' 'rebuilding', forgetting… it seemed like.

Harry rounds the corner, "Awh, there you are," smiling at the sight of Ron and her, "so I have something I need to tell you guys."

"Wha?" Ron says with a mouth full of biscuit. It takes everything in her not to roll her eyes or glance at Ron with disgust.

"So, I've been talking to McGonagall and I've decided to forgo 8th year," he says, bouncing on the balls of his feet, shoving his hands in his pockets.

What?! No.

"What? Why?" Hermione's almost pleading.

Harry gives her a quick sympathetic glance, "I can't go back to Hogwarts. It wouldn't feel right to go back after everything that happened. And honestly, I couldn't go to another school either, it wouldn't feel right."

She knew exactly what he meant, how he felt, but Hermione doesn't have the option to also forgo 8th year. Nor does she have the luxury of going anywhere else. She doesn't have a home. A family. The war has taken that from her. As much as Ron says otherwise, his home isn't her home, his family isn't her family.

"You need to finish 8th year though, Harry."

"I know," he nods dismissively.

"School starts in less than a week!" Hermione's voice is almost shrill.

"I know, I know. Well, I'm not totally forgoing 8th year. I just won't be attending Hogwarts. I've talked to McGonagall about that. I'll just be doing my studies at home. I'll maintain the same curriculum as everyone else, I just don't have to be on school grounds. I'll just owl in my work."

As much as she wants to be understanding of Harry's decision, she's also hurt. She can't help but notice if it wasn't for Ginny being in the same house or Luna with the occasional owl, she doesn't have anyone outside of this house. The house that isn't her home. She needs the handful of individuals she has in her abysmal life. With Harry not there, it's a sad realization of just how few people she actually has left.

"Can't you do a trial run of it? Go for a week or so and see for yourself?" Hermione nearly begs.

"Mione'"

"But Ginny is going to miss y-'' Hermoine argues desperately.

"No," his answer is soft, but firm.

There's no changing his mind on this.

"She's the one who came up with the idea, Hermione," Harry adds tenderly.

Ron squeezes her hand to assure her that he's there for her.

"Don't worry Hermione, I'll be there with you."

His reassuring words do little to comfort her. If she's honest, it irritates her. The hurt she was feeling just moments ago has turned into anger. She clenches her jaw out of frustration and rises from the sofa, letting go of Ron's hand.

"I'm going to take a walk," she says to them on her way towards the door.

She can hear the creak of the sofa as Ron got up, "I'll-"

"Alone," her tone was more curt than she meant, but didn't bother to apologize. She's not sorry, and right now she's in no mood to spare anyone's feelings.

She grabbed her wand from her back pocket and flicked it to open the door. Once through the threshold she flicked it again to close it. Noting the loud bang of the door as it closed, she released a long exhale in an attempt to lessen frustration. She inhaled deeply, taking in the fresh air and immediately feeling more at ease.

She caught movement out of the corner of her eye and turned her head to see Ginny and Molly in the distance gathering food from their garden. Ginny's head shot up, probably from the sound of the door slamming closed. She waved at Hermione, and she waved back with a small half genuine smile. Hermione trudged on with her walk, not knowing her destination, just knowing she needed to get out of that damn house.

She's very grateful for Ginny though. Hermoine doesn't have to fake how lost and indifferent she's been feeling. Ginny always attempted to pull Hermione out of those thoughts without talking about the heaviness they probably both feel from the aftermath of the war. Hermoine also appreciates how Ginny knows how to just simply be there, sitting in long needed silence sometimes. Not discussing how everything is broken, how they've lost so many friends and family members, how nothing will be as simple as it used to be. Hermione didn't crave simplicity. She's not naive to think that they can survive a war and expect a simple life. What she craved seemed to be within reach, but it's as though it's vapor, like air, something one can't grasp with her hand. She can see it, know what it is, long for its existence, but it's not tangible. She can't physically have it.

She walks along a dirt path she's taken plenty of times after the war. She strolls along this path for a short while mindlessly, taking in the greenery of the property. A rabbit pops out of the bushes a few meters in front of her. She slows her steps to not startle the innocent creature so she can admire its blissful ignorance of how cruel the world around it can be. She thoughtfully watches the rabbit sniff the air then the ground and hops closer to her. Her steps gradually come to a full stop. The rabbit hops closer and closer to her, not noticing her. Its ears pop up and she notices one ear is maimed.

Maybe it does know how cruel the world is.

She hears the gust of wind before she feels didn't grab a jumper. Reaching for her wand to cast a warming charm, she stops.

I'll bear the cold.

She turns around and heads back to the house. As she makes her way back to the burrow, she takes out her wand and recalls the beautiful viridian box her wand was wrapped in when she received it from Harry. She couldn't comprehend why on earth Malfoy would wrap it so perfectly for her, let alone why he would give it back to her. He never thought she belonged in the Wizarding World.

Was that his way at a peace offering?

Or was he forced to give it back?

She presumed it's her last thought, the scar scraped into her was the evidence of that.

The following morning Ginny wakes her up by loudly shuffling through her own drawers.

"Looking for something?" Hermoine asks, wiping sleep from her eyes.

"Oh, Good morning there. I'm so glad you're finally up." Ginny sarcastically coos.

"What- What time is it?"

"11:39" Ginny states dryly.

Oh no. Their plans.

Ginny asked Hermoine to go with her to Diagon Alley for them to shop before the semester starts. Ginny said she wanted more girl's time and Hermione was all for one: leaving the Burrow and two: not to be smothered by Ron.

"Oh God, Ginny. I'm sorry!" Hermione flings out of bed with a sincere apology, "I promise I won't take long!"

She runs to the bathroom and locks the door. She turns on the shower and chucks her clothes on the floor. Not caring if the water is warm she hops in. Grabbing the bar of soap Molly made for her, she rinses it under the flow of the water and gathers suds in her hands. Washing herself with lightning speed making sure she gets all the important bits then places herself under the flow of the water to freeze for a moment.

Damn. My hair.

She forgot to put her hair up before getting in. She doesn't have the time to dry it and then style it after she gets out. It never turns out right when she rushes styling it with magic.

*Bang*

The door flies open hitting the wall. Startled, Hermoine drops the soap, then proceeds to slip and fall taking the curtains with her on her way down.

"Oi, Moine, Ginny says to hurry up!" Fred calls from the doorway, followed by his snicker.

She lays there for a few seconds, hearing only the water hit the curtain, rightfully annoyed by the intrusion.

"I'm so glad I'm an only child!" She bellows out to him, hearing Fred's chuckles.

"Mione, are you okay?!" she hears the worry in Ron's voice.

Now she's more annoyed.

"I'm fine, Ronald," Hermione says dryly.

He pulls the curtain off of her face, revealing his worrisome smile.

"No broken bones?"

"Honestly Ronald, just hang the curtain back up for me so I can finish." She says while Ron pulls her up attempting to still cover her since the door is still open.

"Right," he nods and hangs the curtains back up.

She rinses the rest of the soap off then turns the water off. Shoving the now hung curtains to the side, she notices the doors closed, but Ron's still inside.

Internalized eye roll.

His eyes skim over her naked body admiring her. Not caring, she reaches for her wand to do a hot air charm. Ron steps forward, reaching for her, in hopes for what she would assume to be a quick shag.

Another internalized eye roll.

"I don't have time, Ron." She dismisses him, swatting his hand before she grabs the towel behind him so she can cover herself.

"Moine, we haven't done anything for ages," he begs like a child.

My eyes are exhausted from all this internalized eye rolling that they're doing.

It's been a week. A week. And honestly, she had no intention of shagging him for a long time even before that. He caught her at the right time and said just the right things. He was merely lucky at the time, really. Seems as though he was more interested in getting himself off than it being for their mutual benefit the last time. And if she was honest with herself, that was probably the moment when she absolutely knew she wanted to end things with Ron. Sex was something that they were supposed to share, together. Wrapping the towel around her with her wand still in her hand she flicks it for her clothes to follow her while she exits the bathroom.

Ginny steps in the bathroom as soon as she exits. "You can shag her once we're back, Ronald."

Ron glares at her and Ginny gives him a spiteful smile in response.

"Honestly Ronald, your fat ass is too big for two people to be in here. Get out." she quips. "Hermoine, just get dressed and meet me by the floo." Ginny calls out to her.

"Oi, my ass is not fat!" she can hear Ron exclaim as she enters Ginny's room.

Hermoine nods to herself at Ginny's request and grabs her clothes from the trunk she's been living out of. As soon as she's dressed, she grabs her wand and her small satchel that she put an extension charm on then heads downstairs. Hermoine finds Molly, Fred, George and Harry in the kitchen eating.

"Afternoon dear," Molly calls out to her. "I saved some food for you. Grab it before someone else does!" she says before taking a bite of her food.

Hermoine gives her an appreciative smile then decides to just grab an apple from the table. Ron rounds the corner and takes the food that was for Hermoine.

"Ronald Weasley, that was for Hermoine!" She scolds her son.

He winces and looks at Hermione, still holding the food, "Sorry, Mione."

"It's fine, I'll just eat this. I'm not too hungry anyways," She offers while holding up the apple. Ginny joins them, also grabbing an apple off the table and opens Hermione's bag to put the apple in there.

Ron nods, takes a bite of now his food, before sitting down next to Harry.

George leans against the counter looking at Ron's bottom as he's sitting down. "Oi, you're right Gin. Ron does have a fat ass!" George calls out to Ginny. Everyone snickering at his comment.

"You ready?" Ginny asks Hermoine while still laughing.

"Yes," Hermoine responds, smiling and shaking her head at Fred's comment, with sounds of Ron and Fred arguing over whether or not Ron does have a fat ass in the background.

The girls walk over to the floo and grab the powder on the floo's edge.

"Bye guys!" Ginny calls out to anyone who would hear her.

"Bye girls!" Harry and Molly yell back at them. Fred and Ron are still arguing.

"After you." Ginny says to Hermoine, gesturing for her to use the floo first.

"See you in a sec." Hermoine says to her, "Diagon Alley!" then steps into the floo while throwing the powder.

Once they're both through the floo, they list off the shops they need to hit. Arms linked and steps in sync they walk off further into Diagon Alley to gather their supplies. Hermione's actually enjoying herself for once. The back-and-forth banter between the girls makes Hermoine almost feels like her old self. Almost.

After the girls have gathered all of their suggested materials and books, they head back towards the floo they came in. Ginny's eye catches something and stops walking, making Hermione stop with her. She follows Ginny's gaze on to a clothing shop littered in clearance signs. Hermione takes note of the black dress that's perched up in the display window.

Ginny pulls them closer to the shop, "Come on Mione! This witch wants a new outfit."

Hermione groans as she gives in to the pull of her friend. Hermione eyes the mannequin wearing the dress that's intrigued her. The short black dress that's showcasing the gray legs of the mannequins seems to be made mostly of tulle. The torso is tight around the now moving mannequin, accentuating its waist. The sheer thick black straps are tied together in a cute bow around its shoulders, excess tulle dangling on either side of the shoulders. The female portraying mannequin acknowledging Hermione's curious stare, lightly bows her head and then does a quick twirl. The skirt of the dress playfully dances in the momentum of the spin to then bounce as it falls gracefully as the mannequin stops. Hermione is slightly awe-struck by the proposition. Ginny gives her an intriguing look as Ginny's eyes flicker back and forth between the dress and Hermione.

The mannequin has gone back to its statuesque nature without anyone giving it their full attention. Hermione thoughtlessly browses through racks of clothing while Ginny picks out outfits. She gives Ginny her full attention when Ginny walks out of the dressing room showcasing the ensemble she chose. She gives her approval and rejection to outfits that suit Ginny best. Hermione glancing back at the dress every other outfit Ginny shows off. Once Ginny is satisfied by three outfits they head to the checkout counter, Ginny plops the items on the counter. Hermione's attention back onto the black dress in front.

"That'll be 45 galleons." The blonde, lanky, pixie-like woman informs.

Hermione rips her attention from the dress, to give Ginny a shocked expression.

I thought this place was on clearance!

Ginny turns her attention back to the dress Hermione was admiring and smirks, "Hold on, 1 more thing!" eyeing Hermione as she talks to the clerk.

"Accio Dress" The dress flinging off the mannequin, they watch as it covers itself with its gray appendages.

Ginny catches the ball of tulle and hands it to the unphased blonde woman manning the register.

"She'll be taking this," Ginny announces to the woman.

"Gin!" Hermione protests, "I'm not going to buy this!'' She goes to check the price tag. "It's 40 galleons itself!"

"You're right. You're not going to buy it. I am." Ginny snickers, handing over 85 galleons.

The woman takes the gold and gives Ginny a receipt in exchange. Flicking her wand the clothes fold themselves in the air and are wrapped in pink gift wrap as they lower into a brown bag branded with a picture of an animated mannequin blowing a kiss wearing what resembles the black dress Hermione is now in possession of. Well after Ginny gives it to her, Ginny's technically the owner.

"You can wear it for a date!"

Once out of the shop, they link arms again and continue their journey back to the Burrow. Hermione remembering who Ginny meant to go on a date with, Ron. Annoyance pricks at her and then guilt for feeling annoyed.

"Ginny, I wanted to talk to you about something…"

"You want to break up with Ron?" She asks without missing a beat, but her tone indicated it more as a statement - more neutral than Hermione presumed she'd be. She's unsure of how to answer.

"Things are different. Leading life after the war is different, Mione. I get it. I'm not mad if that's what you're trying to get at," Ginny says their arms still linked, but not looking at her. Hermoine feels as though Ginny is a tad upset but won't admit it.

"You're not?" Hermoine asks, turning her head to gauge Ginny's facial expressions. She wears her emotions on her face, so there's no way Ginny can hide from her.

Ginny looks back at Hermione, giving her a genuine expression, "I swear it. I'm not mad. A little disappointed, honestly, but never mad. You need to find yourself again. It's not fair to either of you if one of you is halfway out the door. Who knows, maybe you'll find your way back to each other. Some goodbyes aren't forever." Ginny's words hit Hermione harder than she anticipated. She's right, it's not fair to Ron. Although she's very doubtful they'll find their way back to each other, she hopes they don't anyway.

"I just don't know what to say to him."

"What do your muggles say? Just take the Band-Aid off?"

Hermione appreciates her attempt to relate to her beyond the magical world. "Rip the Band-Aid off," she corrects.

"Right, just do that. The longer you wait the harder all of this will be. He's going to be upset, can't get past that. BUT, Ron will forgive you. You've been friends for ages. You guys will always have your friendship to go back to."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

"It would be harder if you guys were never friends. If you guys just dated first and broke up, you'd have nothing to fall back on. That's why most people who don't build a friendship first don't last very long."

"I don't know, Gin, people who trauma-bond also tend to stick together," Hermoine retorts absentmindedly.

Ginny pinches her.

"Ouch! Ginny!" Hermoine lightly laughs, yanking her arm away from Gin, gripping the spot she pinched.

"Stop," Ginny laughs with her, linking their arms again.

"I just don't know the right time to do it."

"Just sit down and talk to him when we get back."

"Yeah, okay. I guess I can just do it when we get back."

A sense of relief flows through Hermione knowing that she has Ginny on her side.

"Wait, hold on. Where did you get all those galleons?"

"Harry gave me access to his vault." She quips with bouncing brows.

Hermione finds herself on the first level of the three-tiered dock on the Black Lake back at Hogwarts. She looks around, taking in her surroundings, trying to recall how she got here. The edges of her vision are partially blurred, feeling as though time seems to happen at a slower than normal pace.

I'm dreaming.

A muffled laughter is heard from the edge of the dock, she turns to see who's there. Her eyes immediately widened at the sight before her; her naked climbing up the ladder from the water. She instinctively walks over to make sure her mind isn't playing tricks on her. But it's the male figure directly behind her dream self that has her absolutely dumbfounded. Malfoy. Draco Malfoy. She's unable to move from her spot, in awe of this unfathomable dream, she watches the events unfold in front of her. He follows her dream-self up the ladder, biting her rear.

Oh God, what's happening?

Dream Hermione bends down to grab her wand, she's about to cast a spell before Malfoy stops her.

"No," Malfoy's muffled response is heard.

She watches as her dream self gives him a mischievous smile.

"If someone sees, let 'em." He responds as his eyes are locked on to Dream Hermione.

What the hell is going on?!

Her dream self-moves closer to him, droplets of the lake cascading down her body. Hermione's shell-shocked when she feels the tingling sensation on her own arm, neck and lips as she watches Malfoy grab her dreamself and they begin kissing. He slowly pulls her down to the wood of the dock. Their movements seem rushed yet slow. Rough yet gentle. Hermione gets closer to the pair, captivated by the insanity that's happening before her.

"Are you sure, Granger?"

Say no! What are you doing?

Malfoy pulls back, gazing at her dream self.

"I need you, Malfoy."

Hermione inhales deeply as dream Malfoy releases a satisfied exhale, shifting his body so that his muscular pale body is fully on top of her dream self. She watches awestruck as Malfoy teases his erection at her dream self's entrance. The tingling sensation happens once more, but this time on her clitoris, the feeling has both Hermione and her dream self-releasing the same enticing moan as he does this.

Hermione stands by the floo holding her trunk with all of her belongings in one hand and floo powder in the other. Trying to remember the exact moments that lead up to this moment. It all feels like a hazy bad dream. She remembers not breaking up with Ron when they got back. She remembers wishing she had. She remembers Ron talking to her at the breakfast table earlier that morning. She remembers her practically screaming at him, in front of everyone, that she wanted to break up. She remembers sending a Patronus to McGonagall requesting to set up her dorm early. And then she remembers walking down the stairs with all of her belongings.

"Mione' you don't HAVE to go, you know that right?" Ginny pleads with her while hanging on the rail of the staircase.

"I'm sorry Gin, but it's for the best. I'll see you in less than a week." She says to her.

Ron walks down the stairs, his eyes meet Hermione's. A mixture of hurt and anger flashes in them before he looks away from her.

"Goodbye, Gin."

"Bye, Mione'" Ginny says softly.

Guilt creeping in and not wanting to be rude, "Ron" she adds.

He scoffs and walks out of the room.

Right, best be off then.

She turns back at Ginny one last time before saying "Hogsmeade," throwing the powder, flames erupting from the ground for her to be sent to her desired location.

26th of August 1998

Hermione takes out the last of her belongings and places them in their newly designated spot. She steps back taking in the sight of her new dorm, much larger than the former years she notes. She releases a much-needed exhale, already feeling half a ton lighter.

*Knock, knock, knock*

Hermione turns to see Luna wearing pastel pink and yellow overall shorts with a white high neck top underneath. Her high-top sneakers resemble a cloudy blue sky,

Wait, hold on, the clouds are moving! How brilliant.

"I charmed them to resemble the current weather." Luna says in her lighthearted voice.

Always observant, Luna.

Hermione expresses her first genuine smiles in days at Luna. Luna's hair is pulled back in two dutch braids sporting her shiny and over obvious black eye.

"Dear God, Luna! What happened?"

Luna giggles to herself, "Neville and I were trying something new during a sexual activity and he elbowed me in the eye. All accidental of course."

The sexual activity or the black eye?

Hermione shakes her head laughing, "Sounds like it went over terribly."

Luna giggles again, "Not really, he made up for it. I rather enjoyed it." Her smile indicates that he made up for it sexually.

"Oh god!" Hermione exclaims, both of them laughing.

"I did cry out to a few deities too, Neville is a gracious lover," continuing her lighthearted voice.

Hermione bends over clutching her stomach as she nearly heaves from laughing so hard.

"I'll take your word for it, Luna." She says, wiping away tears from her laughter with the back of her hands.

Hermione releases another long-exhaled sigh, a sincere sense of cheer on her face.

Luna tilts her head to the sides, examining Hermione, "You haven't laughed that hard in a long time, have you?"

Again, always observant, Luna.

Hermione's smile fades slightly, "No, I haven't."

Luna nods thoughtfully.

"Why don't you clear it up with a healing charm?" Hermione chuckles.

Luna smirks, "I like to think of it as a love mark."

Hermione laughs wholeheartedly again.

"It's always quite amusing watching people's reactions when they ask about it, most people are either horrified or give an uncomfortable expression. You're the first to see it and laugh, so that's nice."

"Just wait until Gin knows. Trust me, she'll laugh just as hard, if not harder than I did."

"Oh, Gin knows, she just hasn't seen it yet. She made sure to send a howler of her laughing, to which you're right about laughing just as hard. She gave her approval of my love mark."

"Of course, Gin approves."

Luna grins, "Would you like to join me? I'm on my way to the Great Hall for lunch."

Hermione's smile returns in full force, "I'd love to."

Once they get to the Great Hall they sit across from each other, grazing on ham, cheese finger sandwiches, along with a few biscuits and some enlarged strawberries for good measure. They're chatting about what they've been doing since their last owl to each other. Luna tells her that she's actually been at the castle since her father committed suicide shortly after his release from Azkaban when The Ministry was restored. Hermione grabs Luna's hand in sympathy, squeezing thoughtfully, "I'm so sorry Luna, I had no idea. I'm so sorry for your loss."

"It's okay, only a handful of people know, or care for that matter. Thank you. I didn't have a ceremony, just scattered his ashes along The Nile."

Hermione's eyes bulks, "The Nile? Are you Egyptian?"

Luna smiles sweetly, "No, I just know he would have appreciated the journey."

Hermione returns a small smile.

"I broke up with Ron." Hermione states, slightly wincing as she says it, hoping Luna won't disapprove. She doesn't think Luna would really say if she did, let alone give an expression of disapproval.

"Well, you lasted longer than I thought."

Wait. What?

"It's not that I don't like Ron, I just didn't think it was a good match. It would have made more sense if you and Harry dated, honestly."

"Jesus, Luna, tell me how you really feel."

Her brows pull together, "I just did."

Hermione chuckles and she shakes her head, "Sarcasm, Luna."

Luna's expression relaxes then nods in understanding.

* . * . *

As Luna and Hermione make their way out of the Great Hall with linked arms, thoughts of previous years and familiar sense of happiness she used to know cross her mind. She recalls her first year and all the crazy that was thrown her way that year. Memories of Hagrid being in most of them fling forward. She smiles at the thought of her half-giant friend.

"Luna, would you like to come with me to Hagrid's?" Hermione asks.

"I don't see the purpose, Hagrid's not there." Luna responds in her lighthearted voice.

Not there? Where is he?

Gauging Hermione's face, Luna responds, "He's takin' this year off' to explore more magical creatures. I think he's actually with Charlie Weasley."

Hermione internally smiles at the thought of Hagrid chasing around magical creatures but knowing Charlie it would be dragons.

It's sad knowing that Hagrid won't be here for my last year.

But I understand, Hogwarts isn't quite the same as it used to be.

The girls make their way to the Gryffindor common room before Hermione is set to see Headmistress McGonagall for their meeting.

* . * . *

Hermione holds the parchment that McGonagall sent her earlier, requesting for Hermione to meet in her office whenever she finds the time. She ascends the stairs one at a time, hearing the shouting before seeing who the shouts belong to.

"I don't understand why you would deem this as appropriate, Minerva. Seeing how the last headmaster ended up."

"Is that a threat, Narcissa?"

The name brings back the one memory she wishes she could obliviate from herself. But the evidence would remain, making the point moot.

The sound of Hermione's sharp intake catches their attention, McGonagall already facing her, looks at Hermione. It's the dark hair with streaks of platinum blonde turning around to also face her, that sends an uneasy feeling throughout her body.

Narcissa's face shifts from fury into an unreadable one. Her eyes express guilt, clutches the notes to her chest, inhaling sharply again taking a step back.

Narcissa rips her attention back to former professor, now headmistress McGonagall, "I think my point has just been made." She hisses, gesturing to Hermione.

A face pokes through the doorway that's not Narcissa's nor McGonagall's, but Draco Malfoy's. The dream of her and Malfoy flings forward, recalling the way her dream self fully gave herself to him without hesitation is a startling concept. However, at this very moment having his intense gray eyes locked on hers the word unfathomable for that idea is not in her vocabulary. She takes in his elegant features trying her damndest to force the thought out of her head of how handsome Malfoy actually is. Her eyes linger on his lips, remembering the way her own lips tingle when he kisses her dream self. Draco's fixed, hard expression slips, lips parted, his face almost resembling something of surprise and guilt. Almost. His expression shifts into a resemblance of worry and something else she can't quite place as he bites his bottom lip retreating back to being unseen.

The sight short circuits her. She knows how she should feel; angry, worried, distraught, surprised, disgusted. The last feeling she thought she would feel for Draco fucking Malfoy would be intrigue, let alone arousal. She feels as though her body is being pulled towards him. Her hand clutches the note tighter in response to this unconsented pull and takes a single step back in protest of this invisible force, hoping her body will catch up with her mind.

Hermione watches the green flames as Draco and Narcissa use Headmistress McGonagall's fireplace to floo them out of her office. She takes several moments to breathe and compose herself before entering.

Focus Hermione! That dream meant nothing!

Surely, he's not coming back. He can't.

Hermione frantically searches for the memory of the night she earned her Mudblood scar, pushing it forward to shove this other unknown, forcing herself to think unwanted attraction she's desperate to fight. Focusing on the pain and torment of that night, the way she begged him to help her, yet he did nothing. Absolutely nothing. McGonagall's pained expression conveyed everything she needed to know. That he was coming back to Hogwarts. She briskly walked into McGonagall's arms. McGonagall, knowing the severity of his presence has on Hermione, grips her tightly, petting her head to reassure her that she's safe.

"I'm so sorry dear, I thought I would've seen you before they had arrived. They came early. I do sincerely apologize."

"I guess it was a matter of time before I ran into them again," she says with a thoughtful exhale.

Headmistress tilts her head, her expression still littered with apologetic sympathy.

"I guess this will be for the best. An exposure therapy of sorts."

The Headmistress hugs Hermione one more time, rubbing her back up and down to console her. Pulling away from Hermione she walks to her desk she says, "I should have consulted you before making my final decision, however after speaking with Harry, I felt as though immersing Draco in the very environment he should have excelled in, yet didn't, would also be an - as you quite frankly put it yourself - 'exposure therapy' for him as well."

Hermione mulls her words over. "How do you know that he's not going to threaten your life as well?"

Her expression going back to the sympathetic one from earlier, "Draco wasn't capable of ending Dumbledor's life even under the duress he was in. I'm sure he won't threaten my life, nor actually be the cause of my death."

McGonagall retrieves a dark green leather journal from her desk and walks over to Hermione to hand it to her. "I wanted to let you know that I've extended apparation abilities to a handful of trusted students this year, you being one of them. If you ever feel like you need an escape, you're allowed to apparate to and from the grounds, dear."

Hermione admires the intricate detail along the edges of the journal. She flips it open revealing that besides her name embedded in beautiful calligraphy it's been untouched on the inside but can feel the magic within it.

Unfortunately, I don't have anywhere comforting to apparate to.

Without making eye contact with her Headmistress, she absentmindedly nods at McGonagall's trusted gesture.

"This year at Hogwarts we'll be introducing group therapy sessions," McGonagall states to her as Hermione's gaze is still on the leather journal in her hand.

Headmistress points to the journal, "You're more than welcome to keep this journal for yourself after you've completed your final year here at Hogwarts, a parting gift if you will. It's intended for students who come across troubling times and need to bear their burdens and other experiences."

Hermione continues to stare at the journal.

"Some things can be lifted from the soul with the simplicity of ink and a quill."

Hermione returns her attention to her Headmistress, gazing at her thoughtfully.