Hello everyone! Thanks for giving this a read. Just a warning, this story is definitely going to be rated M. It's based on something that happened to me that I need to get out there. Thanks for your support!

It started before I did. While spending Christmas at the Burrow during my one year belated seventh year at Hogwarts, Charlie Weasley asked what I planned to do after graduation. So I told him. I'd applied for an apprenticeship with Professor Snape. While I had no idea what I wanted to do forever, I figured a mastery in potions would get me a long way no matter what I decided I wanted later on. And Charlie, who I've only met a few times, sat me down and gave me a horrifying warning.

"Hermione, Snape hits on anything that moves. You're an attractive girl, he's going to go after you. I worked with him as an apprentice after graduation for about a year. The way he treats women is disgusting."

"Thanks for the warning Charlie. But that stuff doesn't bother me."

It was true. After the war, little things like a man flirting with me didn't bother me. If only I had known.

Fast forward through the school year. My application was accepted. Snape accepted me! So the day after graduation, I sat in his office with Professor Dumbledore to sign my apprentice contract. I was to have the summer off and to return to the school with the rest of the staff on August 2nd to begin my apprenticeship in anticipation of the new school year. I was beyond thrilled. I had just accepted the best job I could have ever imagined. Two years ago, I hated Snape. There were a thousand reasons to never take a job with him. But it was a job, and not only that, one that I wanted. Besides, after the war, even this far after the war…

It was the night of the final battle. Harry was in the forest and Ron and I were fighting with the others. I tripped, I was hit with a curse, and I remember nothing until waking up days later in St. Mungos, where I was greeted with a horrifying new reality.

"Miss Granger, I'm glad you're awake. How are you feeling?" the elderly healer asked. How was I feeling? I reached for my wand beside me to dim the overly bright lights. Nothing happened.

"Now now dear don't try to exert yourself, you're just barely recovering from a nasty curse."

"What happened? Harry, Ron, the others?"

"Your friends are quite the heroes. You are yourself dear, they'll be relieved to hear you're awake."

"It's over then? He's gone?"

"Yes. It's over. Now, how about we get you up and walking?"

I slid to the edge of the bed, and slowly stood. I took a step at the healer's urging and nearly collapsed with pain. She quickly levitated me back to the bed.

"What happened to me?" I asked, terrified by the battle that I didn't remember.

"You were hit with a curse. We don't know what it is, but it seems to have drained your magic severely. There was no permanent damage to your core," she continued at my horrified look. Magic was my life now. Without that… I would have nothing left. "However, the curse also shattered the right half of your pelvis. That would be the cause of the pain you've just experienced. We used a combination of healing spells and skelegrow, but we weren't able to completely repair your bones."

Maybe it was weakness on my part, emotional trauma, physical pain, but I burst into tears.

"Don't worry dear, your bones should heal more on their own. You'll be able to walk again in 6 to 8 weeks. By that time your magic should be completely recovered too." She handed me a tissue. "Is there someone I can floo for you?"

"Harry, please get Harry," I sobbed.

I was able to leave the hospital a week later, with the help of muggle crutches. Harry, Ron and Ginny were staying at Grimmauld Place, and it seemed most logical that I went there. The boys cleared out a room off the kitchen and made it into a bedroom for me so I could be on the same floor as the library and the kitchen.

For months, all we did was sit around and talk. The boys played exploding snap or chess, and I read. Ginny would join in with them sometimes, but some days she sat in silence looking out the window, or took a nap. It was probably the best summer I'd had since leaving the muggle world. Neville and Luna would come by sometimes, and of our other classmates would either send letters or stop by. We rarely went out, given our recently found fame and my inability to function, but it was a good time nonetheless.

At the beginning of July, all four of us received mail from an unfamiliar owl. On the defense, I attempted a simple detection charm on the letters, finding no harm, and no symptoms of exhaustion. The charm worked. The healers were right, my magic was recovering. I was beaming, and ripped open my letter.

Dear Miss Granger,

I would like to inform you that Hogwarts will reopen to all students on September 1st. Regardless of your age and current status with the school, you are welcome to return to complete your education this fall. Please send word with your decision and what year(s) you wish to enroll for should you decide to return.

Sincerely,

Headmaster Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore

I looked up from my letter to see the boys still reading. Ginny and I locked eyes, and I nodded. After a second, she did as well. We had to finish what we started.

"No bloody way I'm going back, mate, imagine doing homework now?" Ron exclaimed.

"I don't know, Ron, it might be nice to go back. Think, another year of Quidditch!" Harry said.

"Besides," Ginny added, "what else are you going to do? Get a job?"

Ron's face fell.

"Oh. Right. Well I guess."

And so we were all going back. By the middle of July, I was able to walk on my own. Not very fast, or for very long, but it was something. My magic grew stronger each day, and that helped too. I was slowly going crazy in the drawing room at Grimmauld Place surrounded by my best friends but isolated from everything else.

Thankfully before that happened, it was time to gather school supplies from Diagon Alley. We all went out together. Harry apparated with Ginny and came back for me since Ron wasn't able to side-along and I couldn't do it by myself yet. Neville, Luna, Lavender Brown and Dean Thomas met us outside the book shop, and we proceeded to purchase our supplies. I was amazed by how different the street looked than it had when I was here last in the midst of the war. Once empty streets were full again, lined with brightly colored signs and all sorts of shops. It was a different world, although not so different from the one I entered that very first day with my parents and Professor McGonagall.

Before I knew it, it was time to catch the train to school, for the very last time. It had been months since the attack. I was mostly back to normal, although I was unable to carry heavy objects or walk for an extended amount of time. My magical abilities were within range of an average witch my age, and I only had difficulty with the toughest of spells. The professors were all aware of my limitations, and I was sure I couldn't be the only one.

That school year was the same as any, except there was less stress and less danger. I had learned some things during the war—things I needed to see. It changed me.

But that last year of school isn't the story, just it's beginning. It all started that first day of my apprenticeship with Snape.