Prologue

"Are you sure this is what you want to do?" Harry asked, trying very hard to be as impartial as possible. Hermione appreciated the gesture, but knew deep down, that her best friend did not agree with her decision in the slightest.

"I'm sure, Harry." She stopped packing items into her beaded bag. She had two large suitcases filled with non-essential items, but the majority of her flat was in her trusted purse. "I had always planned to go to university. I just let things get in the way of that." She leaned against the wall, and gave her best friend a small smile. "After my parents died, I couldn't leave yet. I had to see justice was served. And it's been over a year since then."

"I just don't want this to be you running away," he replied, placing the final box atop the stack by the door. Moving to stand next to her, he held her hand, squeezing tightly.

Shoving him by her shoulder, she scoffed. "Honestly, when have I ever ran away?"

"Too true," he smiled. "I know I keep asking, but are you sure you have to go all the way to America? Couldn't you stay here? You could stay out of the Wizarding world, but still live in London, you know."

"I'm sure. No matter where I go, I'm recognized. And not for just being intelligent, like I once was. The looks, they're in admiration or pity. I'm never sure which." Falling to the ground, Hermione curled into herself, laying her cheek atop her knees. "Sure, I'm the girl who helped you when you needed it, and I get that I'm special for it. But I hate how there are girls who think getting 'Mudblood' tattooed onto their arms is something to be proud of."

"It's not that-"

"Harry, do not patronize me. I'm smarter than you," she smirked, bumping his knees with her elbow until he sat next to her. "I'm always going to be the Muggle-born best friend of the savior of the Wizarding World. By being your best friend, I've ensured I'll never be anonymous again. And that's fine, I love you. You're the brother I never had. It's just, we were never normal you know? And I understand that you've managed to sort of find your place in the world. But, me. I don't know, I can't find it. And I've tried, Harry. Oh, how I have tried. I just don't think the Wizarding world is ready for me yet."

"You could always become an Auror. Everyone gives a wide berth to the Aurors." Harry shrugged. Hermione felt sorry for the man, knowing that no matter what the man did, he would never get away from the fame. He was literally a toddler when it began.

"I've had enough excitement, I think." Eyes sparkling, she smiled at her best friend. "Let's see, solved a ridiculous life-threatening puzzle at the age of twelve-"

"Eleven," Harry interrupted.

"I was twelve. I'm almost a full year older than you." She shook her head, deciding to count on her fingers. Stretching out a second finger, she continued. "I can hardly recall being thirteen because I was petrified for half of it." Splaying a third finger, she tapped on her knee. "Breezed by my fourteenth and possibly fifteenth - I refuse to really do the math - using a time-turner, saving a convict." Tapping the fourth finger on Harry's leg, she grinned at the man. "Fourth year, I was rather busy keeping you alive."

Raising his palm, Harry signaled for a high-five to signify the fifth reason. "And fifth year you nearly died." Wrapping his fingers around her hand, he squeezed tightly.

"Well yes, but so did you. Like I said, I don't run away," she sardonically added. With her other hand, she pointed with her index finger. "I don't really like to think about sixth year, but yes, that was a bust. And seventh year, I followed you on a wild goose chase instead of going to school!"

"Sometimes, it's hard to reconcile the eleven year old girl who was more afraid of being expelled than dying with the young woman who trekked through the wilderness with me." The teasing smile on Harry's face made Hermione laugh.

"Yes, I was an odd child. I'll admit that." Shaking her head, she reached over to give him a one-arm hug. "But I miss being that child. My parents worked hard to give me the best education possible. Be it magical or otherwise. They left me a small inheritance just for schooling. In whatever I wanted."

"Do you know where you're going? And what you'll study?"

"Well, America, obviously. My mother actually attended Uni there. It's in the boonies of Virginia. And I have no idea what I'll study. Mum did pre-med."

"In America? But she's British!" Harry's eyes widened in surprise. Sometimes Hermione forgot that for all the adventure her best friend's life had become, he was still very much a sheltered young man.

"My grandmother was a British soldier during World War II. She worked closely with the Americans. At the urge of one of her old colleagues, she sent my mother over there to expand her worldview. I think my mum would have liked it if I followed along."

The pair sat in silence, watching the sunset through the window, dust bunnies floating in the air. Hermione glanced around her now empty flat. The place had been her home for the past two years, and while excited to moving on with her life, she was sad to see it go.

After the fall of Voldemort, she returned to Hogwarts to complete her seventh year - to the confusion of her two male companions. Harry, ever the supportive friend, smiled, and saw her off at the platform on the first of September. Ron, upset with her decision, as it kept her away from being with him full-time, boycotted seeing her off. It was the start of the end of their brief relationship. It was an eye-opener, to say the least.

They had attempted a long distance relationship. But when Hermione finally found her parents during the winter holidays, and brought them back at the insistence of the older Order members, Hermione knew it was the end of Ron and Hermione, the couple of the Golden Trio. Her parents, having seen the pair interact together when she was at home studying for her NEWTs did not hold their tongue. Respecting them, she informed them she would think on it.

That January, while back at school, rogue Death Eaters had attacked her family home, killing both her parents. Hermione was distraught, blaming herself for bringing them back too soon. In a fit of rage, she went so far as to blame the Order members (the elder Weasleys included) who insisted it was safe for their return. Instead of consoling her, Ron had defended his parents vehemently, going so far as to allow Hermione to blame herself. After that, she stopped talking to the boy.

After completing her NEWTs, she took time off from everyone. She travelled to America, visiting the grave of her maternal grandmother in Arlington. Spending the week in Virginia, Hermione found herself at her mum's alma mater. And surprising herself, decided to partake in a walk-on tour of the campus. While science wasn't her forte (a fact she tried very hard not to blame on Professor Snape's teaching style and how Potions was the closest thing the Wizarding world had to Muggle science), the prestige of the school caught her attention. Sitting in on an entry level physics class, she found herself fascinated by the professor. The man was in his late thirties and was so in love with the subject, she couldn't help herself but be intrigued.

Coming back to her flat in Diagon Alley, she originally intended to use her record-breaking NEWTs scores to find a job at the Ministry. With every intention of working with Magical Creatures, she was upset to find that her would-be superiors found the position to be beneath her.

On top of that, Ron had insisted on trying another go at their doomed relationship. Hermione was determined that it would not happen, but for him to insist on the relationship during a weekly Weasley brunch, and for Molly to corner her. It was all too much.

Hermione had to hold back her frustration when thinking back on that final confrontation. Molly was adamant that Hermione was acting immature in not taking back her son. Going so far as calling her a child.

Clenching her teeth, she recalled her words to the woman. "I stopped being a child around the time I found myself in the middle of war. Probably earlier. I was sixteen when I faced a group of Death Eaters. I incapacitated Death Eaters as a teenager. That ages you, don't you think?"

"Hermione, you okay?" Harry asked, pulling Hermione from her thoughts.

"Yeah," she sniffed. "Just thinking."

"About?"

"The last Weasley brunch."

"You know what Molly said was a bunch of rubbish, right? Not even Ron could believe her nerve. And we know how little he understands about emotions," he chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.

"Too true. It just hurts that the woman could lay out my life like that. To tell me that I had nothing left of the Muggle world because my parents were gone. Gone only because I brought them back too soon. At her insistence, mind you."

"Yeah, I recall the gasps of everyone in the room. George is still not speaking to her."

"I don't want to come between them, you know." Hermione looked at him from the corner of her eye. Deep down, she knew she was in the right. Not blaming Molly, of course, but that taking the time out to go back to the Muggle world was the right decision. She knew that the Weasleys - not even Arthur - understood her decision. But Hermione knew that she needed to leave the world that took her parents away. At least for a little while.

"Don't worry about it. All will be well in time."

"You sound like Professor Dumbledore," she giggled.

His lips quirked. They both just smiled at the memory of their eccentric headmaster. "Are you ready to live like a Muggle again?"

"Honestly," Hermione turned so she was looking him straight in the eye. "Not really, no."

"Didn't think so," he replied, smugly. "How are you handling your school records? Not only did you not attend a Muggle secondary school, but I'm fairly certain the British school system is vastly different than the American one."

"If you ever repeat this to anyone. I promise you I'll deny it." The smirk on Hermione's face looked like a Slytherin's, and she mentally chuckled at the thought. "But there's this things," she tapped her wand against her opposite hand. "Called magic," she whispered in awe, eyes wide in fake astonishment.

They both dissolved into hysterics, practically rolling on the floor.

"You know, I'm going to miss this."

"Oh, Harry." Hermione held back tears, and pulled him into a tight hug. "You can always get a mobile. International calls can be pricey though. A computer, perhaps? We can always exchange emails. An owl would be a bit obvious."

"Aren't you lucky I understand Muggle," he play shoved.

"Definitely. And you'll have to show Ron. Once I'm not mad at him. And I'm sure George would appreciate it. He could probably come up with a Wizard equivalent. Actually, I think I'll work on that as a side project if I have the time."

"You shouldn't. You need to make friends, immerse yourself. You'll be too busy at the library, anyhow," he joked, laughing once more.

"I'm sure it'll take me awhile to find myself holed up in the library." She thought it amusing that her bookish tendencies made her so obvious. Truly, she knew she'd be in the library before classes even started. She was at a disadvantage in that she didn't have the same schooling as her classmates. While her parents insisted she spend her summers learning as much as she would have had she been a typical Muggle, it wasn't the same as spending years in a classroom learning the subjects. She had a lot to catch up on.

"Yeah, sure." He rolled his eyes, because of course, he didn't believe her "You'll be there before you even go to your dorm."

Smiling, she shrugged. "Probably."

Looking at her watch, she jumped off the floor. "I need to get to Heathrow. My flight leaves in a few hours, and they suggest arriving at least two hours before takeoff."

"I don't understand why you didn't apply for an international Portkey. You hate flying." He stood up after her, patting the dirt off his trousers.

"It's an aeroplane. I'm inside something that runs of physics and aerodynamics. Not a stick between my legs." She pushed him towards the door to her flat, making sure that he grabbed her bags.

Stepping out of her flat, she looked back through the door. Yes, she was sad to see her past go, but she was also excited for what her future held. Smiling, she shut the door and turned back to hug her best friend. "I'm going to miss you, Harry. But it's going to be nice to get away from all the trouble you like to cause."

Wrapping his arms around her waist, he hugged her tightly. Kissing her cheek, he joked, "I'm sure you'll find your own trouble to cause."