She HAD to put a stop to this! What was she doing, letting him carry on like this? How could she stop him? How could she tell him? She didn't want to lose him!

Hermione frantically paced the room, wringing her hands together. Her eyebrows furrowed and her strides became longer and quicker. She crossed her arms and started biting her nails. A disgusting habit - one she hated - but she would find herself biting her nails when she was in a deep thought.

She thought of Harry. She had to stop him from thinking that they were a... couple. Hermione shuddered at the word. It seemed so... official and a huge step to her, as she had never been in a relationship. Although her dream about Ron, which she wasn't sure was a true dream, like the one Harry had about Dumbledore in Kings Cross, or a dream made up by her mind. Ron had said he wanted her to stay with Harry but... she felt nothing but friendship towards him. She really liked Draco. On the other hand, she didn't want to betray Ron by loving Draco.

Hermione let out a quiet shriek of desperation. Why couldn't things be easy for her? Everything was so hard, all the decisions and the deaths.

"Hey," Hermione turned around to see Harry, peeking his head through the door, watching her. She turned back around and closed her eyes, willing for him to leave or... turn into Draco, "Babe."

He walked in the room. His footsteps loud in Hermione's ears. His hands snaked across her waist, from behind, folding on her stomach and burning her. His lips pressed to her neck. Hermione stood still.

"Are you okay? Neville told me how you killed Greyback after he killed Ron." Harry whispered, "I wish you had thought rationally before murdering someone in cold blood."

Hermione's eyes opened wide. He was lecturing her on killing someone who killed her boyfriend? How dare he! She hadn't been thinking rationally but she didn't regret killing him. In fact she would do it again in a second.

"We're not killers or savages." Harry muttered, his chin leaned on her shoulder.

Hermione kept quiet. She didn't have the courage to speak to him anymore. She guessed she needed time. Gritting her teeth, she sighed lightly and turned around, her hands on Harry's chest, she pushed him away slightly.

"Hermione, dear... Oh sorry, I didn't know you were..." Mrs Weasley entered the room and her face grew red as she saw Harry's arms around her. Hermione pulled back, going red herself.

"Yes, Mrs Weasley?" asked Hermione, glancing at Harry as he let go of her quickly.

"I wondered if I could talk to you?" she glanced at Harry and added, "Alone?"

Harry seemed to get the message as he muttered an "okay" and left the room. Mrs Weasley closed the door and came in. She sat on the bed and Hermione sat next to her, fidgeting with her hands, nervously.

"We're leaving tomorrow." Mrs Weasley stated, looking at Hermione.

Hermione looked up and frowned confused, "Leaving? Leaving for where?"

"For the Burrow. We need to go home."

Hermione sighed and looked down at her feet. Home. Where was that for her? She had forgotten about everything outside Hogwarts, except Draco of course. She had forgotten that people were carrying on with their lives and she was still wishing time would rewind.

"You're welcome to stay with us. I would love that," said Mrs Weasley, "Or will you look for you parents?"

Of course. Hermione's parents were still in Australia, rich and happy. They had no idea the pain she was going through. She hadn't really thought of her parents because she knew they were happy.

"I won't look for them," whispered Hermione causing Mrs Weasley to raise her eyebrows, "They're happy and rich as well. I'm old enough to take care of myself."

"Are you sure? They are your parents, dear." Mrs Weasley patted her arm, "You will-"

"I'm sure," said Hermione with a serious and final tone, "I'll live in my parents house. Where is... Where's Harry going to live?"

"I think he bought an apartment..." Mrs Weasley said, unhappily, "Listen to me. If you need anything, and I mean anything, you will apparate straight to me or Harry. We're here for you."

"Thank you Mrs Weasley," Hermione smiled as she sounded just like her mother.

"No problem. We're leaving tomorrow, I'll give you a chance to get packed." Mrs Weasley left the room.

Hermione got up and went o her cupboard. Opening it, she realised it only had two pairs of clothes, which were from Professor McGonagall. Hermione had nothing to pack so she paced the room. Again.

----

The next morning, Hermione woke up, feeling nervous. She got out of bed with some difficulty and went to her cupboard. She found jeans, t-shirt, underwear and a towel in there. She went into the bathroom and stared at herself in the mirror.

Was that really her?

The red underneath the eyes. The spots, probably due to stress. Her hair seemed unruly as usual. There was a small cut on her face, Draco's spell must've missed that cut.

She turned away from the mirror and took her clothes off. Stepping into the shower, she relaxed and let the water hit off of her body. She shampooed and soaped and cleaned herself. Finally getting out, she slipped into the jeans and shirt. Dried her hair and tied it up into a high ponytail.

"You look good." Harry said as Hermione walked out of the bathroom.

Hermione managed a smile. He lay on her bed, holding a book. He looked to the book then to her.

"You're not staying alone," stated Harry, sitting up, "You can stay with me in my apartment."

Hermione turned towards him. It sounded like he was telling her what to do.

"I'm living in my parents house." Hermione said, throwing her dirty clothes in the cupboard.

"No you aren't."

"Yes I am."

"No."

"Yes."

Harry got up and threw the book on her bed. Running a hand through his messy hair, he glared at her.

"You are not staying alone, do you understand me? I won't leave you. I need to take care of you. I love-"

"STOP!" Hermione shrieked at him.

For the first time after the War she had raised her voice at Harry. She was getting angrier and angrier as he spoke. They stared at each other, the awkwardness bit at them.

"I said I love-" Harry tried again, frowning at her.

"Stop it! This has been going on for too long!" Hermione rushed a hand through her hair, furiously, forgetting she had tied it up, "I'm going to live in my parents house. Do not try to control me!"

Hermione screamed and went out of the room, muttering profanities at Harry. She saw the Weasley's in the Common Room.

"I'm... I'm going to leave now." Hermione tried to keep her voice under control.

They all looked up and she noticed Neville and Luna sitting beside Percy. Mrs Weasley hugge her and told her to take care and visit. George and Percy nodded at her and Ginny seemed to be ignoring her. Neville and Luna, who were surprisingly holding hands, hugged her and told her to stay safe.

She waved one last time and left the Gryffindor Common Room. Walking down the stairs, it hit her that this would probably be the last time she would be in Hogwarts. She didn't know whether to be happy or sad.

Sad because she had spent a good part, most, of her life in Hogwarts, studying and making friends. Happy because she cpuld now leave the haunting memories of Ron's dead body falling to the floor with the dull sound vibrating loudly in her ears.

She got to the door of Hogwarts. Looking back she saw the Great Hall in front of her. She sighed heavily and walked out of Hogwarts. Walking to the field where Ron was buried, she spotted his grave from the hundreds of graves.

"Bye Ron, I love you." Hermione whispered.

Her heart heavy, she walked out of Hogwarts and made her way to Hogsmeade.