Disclaimer: This is a fanfiction so clearly, I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.

Without giving too much (really any) of the plot away I want to warn potential readers that this will end up being an emotionally intense story. Themes of alcoholism, dubious consent, self- harm, violence, PTSD, grief, lemons, etc... will add more if more comes up.

Hermione drifted in and out of thought as she sat on the floor in her empty childhood home. She never thought that this would be the way the fates repaid her for helping to win a war that threatened the very equilibrium of the world. Thus, it could not be negated that she was devastatingly alone in the world.

Earlier that month she had attempted to go to Australia and reverse the oblivation charm she had placed on her parents and was met with swift disappointment. When she went to the ministry to obtain all the proper paperwork for an international portkey she was denied entry by the Australian Ministry. Not only were they unwilling to allow the war heroine entry based off her part in the war they also had strict laws against any type of magic performed on muggles. They were understanding about her situation; however, they were very clear about upholding their bureaucracy. So, it seemed for the time being she would have time to further research into their legal system and hope that she was able to find some type of loophole to get her parents back to London with her and remove the memory charm.

As she drifted back into the present moment, she realized she was still holding onto the envelope with the Hogwarts seal on it delivered by the beautiful tawny owl just a few hours before. Normally, Hermione was quick to open and devour any piece of mail sent her way but the sting of the rejection from her self-imposed orphanism was all consuming. She had not been herself in quite some time. It had been ages since she had even thought about cracking the spine on a new piece of literature.

She touched all around the edges of the envelope and smoothed her hand over it before flipping it over and breaking the seal.

Dear Miss Granger,

We are pleased to invite you back to Hogwarts School of Witcraft and Wizardry for your 8th year. As this is unprecedented, it should be noted that attendance is not required, only offered. Refer to the enclosed list for all necessary books and supplies needed.

Term will begin on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.

Yours Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Head Mistress of Hogwarts

Hermione sat and ruminated on the letter. She knew that Ron and Harry would likely decline going back. They were already offered to begin Auror training, riding the wave of their own success in the Wizarding War. Neither of the boys ever really enjoyed school and got average marks at best. Even then, that was only due to Hermione's insistence that their work was completed. How they would ever get on without her she didn't know. Then again, they had not seemed too keen on her as of late. A tear slipped from her eye at this thought, but it was all she could manage.

Since the war ended just over a month ago everything had irrevocably changed. Harry had sought solitude in Grimmauld Place after breaking things off with Ginny. He had not offered her an explanation and quickly removed himself from engaging in any social affairs with the Weasley's. Vaguely she realized she hadn't heard from him since the end of the war, either, not that she cared much. He was due to attend the trials at Wizengamot to help decide the fates of those on the losing side. She did not envy him in this, she wished nothing more than to never see the face or even hear about the existence of any of the perpetrators who had helped steal her childhood from her and her classmates.

Ron was finally getting all the attention he craved in the form of an all-out press tour. Minus two thirds of the Golden Trio, he was more than happy to accept all the praise in her and Harry's absence. Git. Following their epic kiss during the final battle they found quickly there was no romance to be had between the two of them. Rather than try to force anything they went their separate ways that very same evening. Ron had to tend to his clan as they all mourned the loss of Fred. Molly was inconsolable after not only having to defend her daughter's life by taking one but then losing one of her brood. It was too much for Hermione to be present for anyways, she couldn't comprehend the complex levels of grief that were being emitted all around her. Though she understood the distance due to lack of any healing, she couldn't make sense of why she was made an outsider so quickly to a family she loved dearly and thought of as her own.

That's because you don't have a family anymore. You made sure of that didn't you? Her inner voice was relentless in its assault of her current lot in life.

This was what it had come to. Only 18 years old, no parents, her closest friends were all but gone, Crookshanks had been killed when the Burrow was attacked so she had no familiar to comfort her and the only thing she ever loved – books and learning, felt foreign to her.

Sitting on the floor of the empty home suddenly became too much for her. The silence was resounding, and her legs had gone numb at any rate. Pulling herself from the floor she lazily walked through her childhood home. She tried to see the memories she shared with her parents there, however an unknown side effect of her obliviation charm made the memories intangible to her as well. The collapsing pressure of loss was too much to bear. She knew she had parents and that she loved them and wanted them back in her life, but she couldn't even remember why. Memories sat barely blocked under the surface, their presence known but incapable of being touched if even just to view in a pensive. A cruel twist of magic indeed. Even for witches and wizards who were naturally able to touch source magic there were still prices to be paid for magic used to harm others, no matter how benign.

The Ministry had given her, Harry and Ron all substantial rewards for defeating the Dark Lord and helping to round up his loyalists. At least in this way she had peace of mind in not having to worry about where she would obtain the ever so necessary galleons to exist with.

An idea suddenly struck Hermione, the crack of her apparition was all that was left behind in what had effectively become a mausoleum from a past life.