July 1998

   Hermione sat on the picnic blanket she had spread out on the field just outside the Burrow, book in hand.

   It was the middle of summer, the sun was up high, a gentle breeze blowing through the tall grass.

    Crookshanks lay by her feet, purring softly.

  Could one believe that it has only been two and a half months since the Battle of Hogwarts?

     There had been funerals almost day after day for several weeks, and the 'Golden Trio' had thought it would be respectful if they attended every one of them. At Colin Creevey's funeral, Harry had placed a signed photo of himself on the young boy's grave.

    There was a small, private funeral for a selected few for Professor Snape. Namely, her, Harry, Ron and Headmistress McGonagall. Harry had told them what he had seen in Snape's memories. 

    They even went to Lavender Brown's funeral. Hermione found out that the girl got her blonde locks from her mother. Ron had been a bit awkward at that funeral, considering that the two used to date before it ended in an unusual and slightly messy breakup.

       Ron.

    After the kiss they had in the Chamber of Secrets, things have been awkward between them. Ron didn't seem to know what to do, how to act or how to think, and Hermione didn't know what to do. She had given him space because of the circumstances, what with his brother's death and all. But she didn't know what else to do. She didn't know what they were. Whether they were together, whether the kiss just happened on impulse and then forgotten, or whether they were just back to the way they were. Friends.

     Harry had been putting on a front, telling everyone that he was fine. But Hermione could see that he wasn't. He had survivor's guilt. She was pretty sure he was thinking why everyone had to die for him while he still lived.

     Ginny, well ... Ginny stayed by Harry's side, quietly supporting him. Hermione would sometimes catch the two out in the back on their broomsticks throwing a quaffle about to pass, with Ron joining in now and then. The two also went on walks together, disappearing for hours on end.

     They received letters from Neville and Luna from time to time, and an occasional from the Patil twins, Finnegan and Thomas.

      They were all faring well, trying to live and move on, but not to forget those that were lost.

     Hermione had wondered what was happening to the Malfoys. A newspaper a few weeks ago told of how Lucius Malfoy had turned himself in to the hands of the Ministry and was sent to Azkaban and was awaiting his fate. Narcissa Malfoy's trial had been around a couple of weeks ago and Harry had insisted they go. When the trial started, Hermione realised why. Harry had vouched for her, saying that she had lied and saved his life twice and if it wasn't for her, Voldemort would have won. Draco had been at his mother's trial, sitting at the back of the room.

      Narcissa was set free.

    Draco's trial had been next, and although he was a Death Eater, the Dark Mark on his left arm proving it, the Ministry decided that because he was a minor and because he did throw his wand towards Harry at the start of the battle and because he didn't actually kill Voldemort, they let him go as well. But both he and his mother were to be monitored for a while. For how long, Hermione couldn't remember.

     After that, any news about the Malfoys had disappeared, they hadn't been seen or heard from since.

      A screech from above pulled her out of her thoughts and looking up, Hermione looked up as an owl flew overhead, dropping something on the grass near to her.

       Reaching over, she saw it was a copy of the Daily Prophet.

     The headline for today was talking about how another Death Eater had just been tried and sentenced to the Dementor's Kiss.

      Ever since the end of the war, the Death Eaters had all been in hiding or on the run. Each newspaper that was brought in day after day was all about the hunts for the Death Eaters, articles on house raids as the Ministry searched all the houses owned and lived in by any Death Eater, articles on those who were being tried and sentenced, and those who had already been given the Kiss.

      Well known names of Death Eaters hadn't been caught yet, two of them being Rodolphus Lestrange and Theodore Nott Sr. 

    Hermione sighed as she flicked through the paper. She was getting tired of the news just being filled with dark, grim and dreary stuff. Surely she couldn't be the only one who was sick and tired of all the Death Eater news. She knew Harry was sick and tired of them. 

      Picking up her book, she gathered up the paper and went inside.

   She found Molly Weasley busying herself in the kitchen.

      "The paper has just arrived," Hermione announced, placing the newspaper on the table.

    "Oh! Thank you, dear. Yes, yes, just set it down there," Molly smiled as she dashed to grab a plate. "Anything interesting in it?"

    "Just the usual," Hermione shook her head.

    Molly stopped and set her mouth in a thin line as she glanced towards the newspaper from where she was standing.

    Hermione knew what she was thinking. The 'usual' in the papers was the usual of two and a half months.

      Molly sighed.

     "What we need to read are thinks to cheer us up and to put a smile on our faces," She said, going back to work, "I highly doubt that the news these days are bringing smiles."

      Hermione agreed with her.

    "Right, well, dinner is ready," Molly brushed her hands on her apron, "Hermione, dear, would you mind calling them in?" She asked.

      "Not at all!" Hermione immediately set her book down on a nearby lamp table and left the room. She called up the stairs. "Dinner's ready!"

      Several doors opened and shut and a stampede of footfalls on the staircase could be heard.

   Hermione re-entered the kitchen and helped Molly set out the plates.

       "Oh, the newspaper has arrived," Harry immediately noticed the Daily Prophet on the table, a small frown slowing crossing over his face.

     "Yes, it arrived a few minutes ago," Hermione said, passing the cups over to Ginny, "I wouldn't bother reading it if I were you. It's just the same as how it's been for the last few weeks."

     "Well, what do you expect?" Ron asked, though it came out more as, 'W'll, wot oo you ecpec'?' He had nicked a roll from on of the plates on the table and was chewing on it.

     Hermione rolled her eyes. If there was one thing that hasn't changed, it was Ron's love for food, and his disgusting eating habit of talking while his mouth was full.

     Harry had decided to stay at the Burrow to at Arthur and Molly's invitation. George had stayed for a couple of weeks after the battle for Fred's funeral and to be with the family during that time before he left to deal with Weasley's Wizard Wheeze's, claiming he 'needed something to keep his mind occupied and busy'.

      Two weeks after George had left, Bill and Fleur left to return to their own home. And a week after that, Charlie left too, returning to his dragons. Percy had left and returned to work at the Ministry only a couple of days after the funeral, saying that with everything going on, he needed to get back.

     Hermione guessed that he also wanted to immerse himself into work to try and not think about Fred's death.

      The only Weasley children left at the Burrow were Ron and Ginny.

    Hermione and Harry had been staying at the Weasley's since the battle. Harry didn't want to be all alone at Grimmauld Place, and Hermione didn't have a home to return to after she obliviated her parents' memories of her.

     "These came for you four this morning," Molly said, bringing letters out from the pocket in her apron. "I thought I would leave it for a bit before handing them to you."

      Hermione took the letter addressed to her and looked it over.

   The wax seal on the front was the Hogwarts crest.

       "Letters from Hogwarts?" Harry had already opened his.

    "Surely they haven't fixed Hogwarts up already?" Ron's eyes skimmed through his letter.

   "It says that most of the castle has already been repaired and that they're hoping that it will all be finished by the end of August," Hermione said.

     They were really planning on starting the school year in September? Surely not. Surely they would leave it a year?

     "I can understand Headmistress McGonagall's intentions though," Molly said, passing round the plate of sandwiches. "She's using the school as a distraction, as a way to move on. And give people something new to think about. It's the kind of news people like to hear. Things returning to how they were, back to normal."

    But everyone in the room knew that things weren't going to be 'returning to how they were'. People had died, friends, family, loved one. Things were never going to be the same again.

      Hermione read over her letter several times.

      'Dear Miss Granger,

    We are pleased to inform you that you have been invited to return for a special 8th year to finish your education at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

     Should you wish to accept the invitation, please send your reply immediately.

   You have also been offered the position of Head Girl. If you accept to return to continue your education, you will be given the position.

      Sincerely,

   Headmistress McGonagall'

    "I've been offered the position of Head Girl if I decided to return," Hermione said, placing the letter back in its envelope.

      "Are you going to go back?" Harry asked.

    Hermione was silent as she took a bite out of her sandwich. Perhaps this was the news she had been waiting for. Maybe studying, getting herself immersed in books and tests will help distract her and take her mind off everything. Maybe Molly was right. 

    "Perhaps it will be a good thing," Hermione started, "It will be a good distraction, it will take our minds of things."

    "Ginny?" Harry turned to the red-haired girl next to him.

    "I have to anyway. The invitation for the 8th year is for you three. I'm still in 7th year," Ginny replied, "The 8th year invitation would only be if they started the school again next year."

    " 'Mione, are you going?" Ron asked.

    "We'll go if you go," Harry said.

     Hermione's thoughts flew around her head. What would she do with her time if she didn't accept the position? Sit around all day reading the daily newspaper which held only the news of Death Eaters and the war that just ended? She wanted to do something.

      "I'm going," She declared.

* * *

     The responses were sent off, and a week later, official Hogwarts letters arrived with the usual list of everything they needed to get and for Hermione, it included the pin worn by the Head Girl.

    "We'll take a trip to Diagon Alley and get all your stuff ready," Molly said, looking down at the list.

     "Dress robes again?" Ron frowned.

     "Don't worry, we'll get you proper ones this time," Molly assured him, laughing.

     Hermione ran her thumb over her pin. She wondered who the Head Boy was going to be. Maybe someone from Gryffindor, or maybe Ravenclaw. Most probably Ravenclaw. During her time at Hogwarts she had spent some time studying with a few Ravenclaws.

      "Can't believe we're going back so soon," Harry murmured.

    The others agreed with him. In all honesty, they hadn't really thought what was going to happen concerning Hogwarts and education. The past few weeks have been a blur.

    "You lot go off and do something while I finish off a few things then we can go to Diagon Alley. If we start now, we'll have plenty of time to go back if we forget everything," Molly said.

    Hermione went up to the room she shared with Ginny and grabbed her writing supplies before heading back down and out into the sunshine.

     She decided to write letters to their friends. She first started with a letter to Neville, then another one for Luna. She also decided to send letters to the Patil twins. She got out another sheet of paper and began a letter to Seamus Finnegan and would start another one for Dean Thomas.

     She had once thought that Neville and Luna would end up together, but the two decided to just remain as really good friends.

    Hermione wondered how many of them would be returning for the special 8th year. There can't be very many. She would be surprised if parents would even let their children return after everything that had happened.

    People's trust in the Ministry wasn't the absolute best. And with what has been happening at Hogwarts for the past, what, seven years? She still wondered how on earth Hogwarts was still a 'safe' place.

       In all honesty, it probably was a safe place until Harry arrived on the scene.

   "Hermione dear, where are the others?" Molly asked, sticking her head out the door.

      "I think they're playing quidditch round the back somewhere," Hermione gathered up her things, making a mental note to post the letters after they come back. "Are we ready to go?"

     "Yes, yes," Molly nodded, "how about you go grab your cloak and bag and I'll fetch the others?"

     Hermione nodded.

   She went back up to put her writing things away in her trunk before grabbing her cloak and a small purse.

     Ginny entered just as she fastened the cloak round her neck.

    "Oh, you're ready," Ginny said, place her broom on top of her trunk. "Hang on a sec and I'll come down with you."

     Hermione waited by the door as her friends quickly brushed her hair out and grabbed her own cloak from her wardrobe, grabbing a small bag while she was at it. 

     "I'm ready," Ginny announced, fixing on her cloak.

     The two girls made their way down to find that Harry and Ron where already down there waiting for them.

     Molly was by the fireplace with the flowerpot in her hand, ready.

  "Right, Ron, you first," Molly waved her son over.

      Ron stepped into the fireplace, took a handful of Floo powder, said the destination clearly before dropping the powder and he disappeared with a burst of green flames.

     "Harry, you're next," Molly said.

  Harry entered and he too disappeared into the green flames.

      "Hermione dear, on you go," Molly gestured towards her, smiling gently.

   Hermione stepped into the fireplace, and took a handful of the powder. She took a deep breath. 

      "Diagon Alley!" 

* * *

Thank you for reading!

Clara x