Just borrowing the characters from JK Rowling and spinning into my liking for several thousands of words, hence this would be a long read. Something to kidnap you from time to time, from your current life :)

There will be a dabble here and there of details that were written in the books and included in the movie, but some I have taken the liberty to expand or cut in order to suit the story. But definitely this is not for those who have set certain exclusions on love... Do NOT read if you can't find beauty in women loving women.

The story principally starts on May 7, 1998 - few days after the battle of Hogwarts and spanning several years, with several Seventh of May as crucial pit-stops for the lives of Hermione Granger and Minerva McGonagall.

SEVENTH of MAY

Year 1998 | 1st Seventh of May

Chapter 1

Morning | Severus Snape laid to rest

Hermione Granger— heavily weighed down by the recently ended war and the enveloping aftermaths that plague war survivors had retreated at her parents' old house in London. They are still in Australia with altered memories and she has yet to deal with that aspect of her life once the borders open and be given permission by the Ministry to travel into another continent.

For nearly three days, she found herself ineffectual in her old bed on a self-imposed seclusion, mostly wasting away that even basic sustenance of eating and sleeping had been neglected. Consequently, she had become more lightheaded with each passing second. But the heaviness that had settled on her chest is too dominant that it seemingly fended off anything else but misery...

She barely managed to drag herself out of the house when she had to attend funerals; heavily glamoured to hide her sunken eyes and much pale complexion. She appeared only to handful of services for people she had considered good friends like Fred Weasley. Or Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Lupin. While Remus and Tonks are— were not exactly friends, they were close associates brought on by their relevant roles during the war.

The truth is, Hermione would rather not attend at all, not even Fred's — who was almost a brother to her… It is not for lack of respect for the dead, nor lack of sympathy for the left loved ones. One look at the Weasleys especially at the enduring twin brother George—Hermione knew, mentally fucked or not, indifference is not one she'd feel.

But really, what substance can she give right now that would truly matter to the Weasleys? Can she bring back Fred? Or just pay with default platitudes expected in a civilised society? What an irony when their society was just in fierce strife to alienate each other a few days ago? And honestly, who has the strength at this time when just getting out of bed takes extreme effort?

And while she understood that funerals are for goodbyes, in her mind, all of them have been saying goodbye to each other for quite sometime. They might as well started their long farewells the night that Sirius Black got killed, and Voldemort's return had been publicly acknowledged. That was when the official gun start of the war was fired. Harry's trip to the graveyard during the tri-wizard was the teaser...

As the morning light penetrates Hermione's window slowly but surely, she looked at the muggle calendar hanged at one wall and magically flipped to find the correct month only to realised that it was of previous year so she abandoned the cardboard. She cracked her brain to calculate the date. Today is the fifth day following the final battle- Seventh of May. Today is when they are due to finish with the last of the funeral service for all the lost lives of friends and foes. And reverently, it would end with Severus Snape—to be laid to rest.

Admittedly, she would not get out of the house today if it was not he being laid to rest. For Hermione, to attend is to take part in penance for wrongly judging Severus Snape. But foremost, to attend is to be there for Harry.

She knows her best friend too well. Undoubtedly he would exclusively claim all the guilt about not stopping Voldemort sooner…Take all faults in not saving the many fallen fellow students, friends and professors— especially Severus Snape.

So she found herself taking a shower where she stayed underneath the hot water until it almost burn her skin in order to overlap another ugly burn in her. She then glamoured herself to hide her misery like the previous days. She knew she has to put Harry first — at least for this morning. Despite her own internal struggle, she decided to lend her best friend some fortitude; something she did not know if she has to give… as she herself has been drowning in vagueness.

Standing behind Harry with Ron at her side, Hermione is very careful not to let her sight wonder, for it may lead her mind to confrontation she rather not deal right now. Not when she does not have the indulgence of seclusion. She kept herself in-check to not draw unwanted attention. She concentrated at Harry's back or at her shoes, while listening to the eulogy for their dead professor.

"Lets call a spade, spade."

The Headmistress of Hogwarts started. Nothing else could be heard but the venerated witch. Even the wind seem to have paused.

"None of us was any wiser about Severus Snape's true allegiance. We all believed that he betrayed and murdered Albus Dumbledore per Voldemort's bidding."

Even without looking around, Hermione knew that some still cringed at the loudly voiced name of Voldemort. She also knew that the ringing truth from the Headmistress is clipping everyone to an unerring silence and motionlessness. One would think she is not giving words of reverence for the dead professor, but casting a massive stunning spell over the crowd in attendance.

"I myself duelled with him, believing that I have to— that I have to protect Mr. Potter from him. My 'supposed' brilliant mind failed to grasp the factual matter that for the last year, while he did not outwardly protect the students and professors— neither did he subject anyone to much graver peril when he could have easily done so as Headmaster… When he could have handed out information concerning many of us to the death eaters. Make it simpler to eliminate us and expedite darkness."

The Headmistress is painstakingly pressing details that transpired at Hogwarts, switching the vantage point so that staff, students and parents altogether may comprehend the veracity of the circumstances during Snape headship. To some extent, particularly with the members of the Order, she is underlining the safeguard they had unknowingly received. There is no doubt, that Minerva McGonagall is strongly defining the context surrounding Severus Snape's heroism, and ending any disbelief, right here, right now. Unequivocally.

"Numerous times he must have inwardly slapped me at my Gryffindor foolishness whenever Gryffindor courage brought me to his office, under my own notion of defending the students and staff from him. Never supposing that he must have saved my back too many times, from the true death eaters residing with us at Hogwarts. How he managed to circumvent the death eaters' evil plan to remove me from Hogwarts and send me to Azkaban, or to my demise, I would never know. But I am eternally indebted."

For some reason, Hermione could identify too well with the frustrating sorrow emitting from the knowledge that 'she should have used her supposed logical mind'. That she should have seen how some things never quite add-up. How Snape had really done no harm to Harry, but in fact tried saving him a couple of times. She should have at least suspected something, her supposed 'golden brain' never failed her and the exasperation has added to her mounting misery.

"Coward… the last thing he heard me say to him."

Hermione flinched hearing the wearisome remark and could only guess how tenfold the sorrowfulness it had caused to a much brilliant witch such as Minerva McGonagall.

"I could not be more oblivious that we were still together against darkness, and fighting under the same banner of light."

As the steady words continued from the Headmistress, Hermione realised that the venerated woman is with her, with Harry, and who knows who else and how many more — who found themselves onboard in seeking penance.

"Hindsight after the war brings pain and liberation. Sorrow and tenderness are friends to visit us as we further uncover what parts played by whom in the war. Some truth would break more of our hearts, either through realisation of the poor choices we have deliberately made, or from letdown by others' partaking. A number of them would take a very long time before we could uncover its veracity, thus postpone the effect on us. However, for every facet we stumbled upon, as we bring ourselves forth, it is incumbent upon us, to faithfully learn the intended lessons, while we put back the scattered pieces our hearts... the cluttered bricks of our world"

Hermione let the well-known lilt washed over her, the one she had heard for six years at Hogwarts. She absorbed the distinct voice that she had always associated with studiousness and upstanding conduct… But with the recognition of its familiarity is the introduction of a considerable 'newness' that one could not negate.

She searched the owner of the voice for the customary Head of House she had come so many times for advance learning, support and advice. For the woman who had always welcomed her over-eagerness to learn without exasperation nor conceit but genuine interest. But the one she found in its place is not just her former Transfiguration Professor. The startling leap to that of THE Headmistress is undeniable. And furthermore, the sound vibrates from no less than a three-time war heroine.

Hermione shoved down the creeping emotion and chastised her maudlin self. She cannot afford to confront the 'after war reality' right now… Even later is a tall order… She re-focused her eyes at Harry's back, continued listening, and aimed her thoughts about Severus Snape, the wizard they are laying to rest.

"While Harry might continually feel that he had been too late in reaching Severus Snape that night, had he not reached him at all… It would be for sometime that we remained ungrateful, and obtuse of his sacrifice. Unworthy of his brilliance…"

Hermione could visibly notice Harry's affected stance at the mentioned of his name and the denotation of their professor's sacrifice. She could see that he was mentally transported to the boathouse at the time they found Snape holding on to life long enough for him to hand his tears for the memory.

"And ignorant of his love…"

Harry's harrowing intake of breath had Hermione considered the thought of stepping closer to him for support but stopped from doing so as she caught him send a nod across them. She deduced that Harry's acknowledgment was directed at the Headmistress, and its significance that an unspoken understanding between the two is in place. In some way, it brought her comfort that her best friend had accepted a kind of caring that he usually denies himself. Her heart thumps in another meaning at the comprehension...

"Severus Snape had played his role with perfection, for had he not; we would not be standing in the light today… Less than a truer Slytherin could not accomplish such. Less than a brave Slytherin would never take on the mission."

There. A long-standing Head of Gryffindor, the house of the brave, had given reverence to such courage, displayed by no other than the recent-past Head of Slytherin— their 'rival' house.

"Severus…"

At the long pause and slight wavering of the usually rich voice, Hermione could not help but raised her eyes in curiosity and automatic concern towards the woman, who imperceptibly gathered her renowned self-control before she continued with her words.

"…Severus, I never understood your habit of prattling your chess strategies after a match. I found it rather hilarious that you'd insist to make a play-by-play rationale of all your moves particularly the rare times you beat me. And we would have our repeated question and answer... I, would ask— 'Whatever for Severus, the game is done?' And you, would answer— 'The game perhaps, but not our match, and you must never doubt Minerva.'

There was another pause, and Hermione caught a well-concealed sigh from a woman who is making a rare act of personal disclosure to the public.

"I only caught on your meaning, and for that I am sorry... Surely I will miss our chess games."

Then in a blink, the control is back. But not before Hermione caught a twitch of the woman's mouth in an apparent amusement. Hermione thought she saw fondness, a deep sense of friendly attachment for the dead professor. A sure wonder as the two Heads always appeared before the students in constant clash.

"Here's to your peace, my friend." She saluted while conjuring a delicate flower-plant on top of Severus Snape's mount. It was decorated with intricate trimmings of Hogwarts colors but with dominant Slytherin's green.

"Peace Lily plant." Harry remarked.

The hairs at Hermione's nape rose as Harry's breathless utterance cut across the restrains. She saw a couple of those in attendance let go of tears, perhaps sensitive to the underlining significance of the plant, or perhaps the depth of the Headmistress words and poignant actions had finally flooded their heavy emotions.

In the overwhelming silence that ensues, Hermione stepped forward and reached to one of Harry's hands to remind him that she and Ron are just standing behind him. When he gave her a reassuring squeeze, she let go of their clasped hands but stayed physically close to him. Harry then had decided to lean on her for a literal solicitation of comfort. Ron also followed suit and stepped nearer to them. Hermione's one hand reached to Ron and send him comfort as well. She knows Ron and understood how he is hating himself for the severe prejudice he had with their dead Professor. The result of their physical action had them unreservedly close; an illustrative of their treasured friendship.

Unguardedly, she found herself raising her eyes to the Headmistress, who is intently looking back at the three of them, from few feet across. After a long moment, Minerva McGonagall gave a fervent nod to Harry, which he returned, again communicating an understanding.

Then the woman turned, took several steps away and disapparated, but not before she moved her wand over the leaves on the ground, raised them high above and transfigured them into lilies and softly let them fall around them. The touching gesture caused several gasps of surprise and altered the somber faces into chuckling ones. Harry turned to Hermione with an open grin pasted at his face.

"Professor Snape would be cursing right now at the drama." Harry whispered to her and Ron in light jest and she finally let out a small smile, more from the relief that her best friend is doing better than she'd expect from him, considering where they are exactly. She wordlessly asked if he is ready to leave and Harry responded by linking their arms, so she moved purposely to steer themselves away from the crowd to disapparrate.

She knows that Harry has opted to stay at the Weasleys until he could fix Grimmauld or look for a house at Godric's hollow. She too has an open invitation at the Burrow, but declined and reasoned that she needed to do something and will visit another day. The truth is, she has every intention of going back into doing nothing but stare at her old bedroom's ceiling. She simply wants to be away from any prying eyes – no matter how genuinely concern they are. She is too unsettled and would need more time to sort things out.

"Are you okay Harry with…" she asked while gesturing to the interred professor they walked away from. She is itching to leave but delays her takeoff until she is sure that the grin she had seen on her best friend's face is somewhat candid, or at least not so much of a forced one, if the latter is the case.

"Yes Mione. Minerva had—"

Before Harry could finish his answer, and before Hermione could comment on Harry's casual use of the Headmistress' first name, the new Minister, Kingsley Shacklebolt had reached them; effectively cut their conversation.

Hermione groaned silently when she figured out what he wants from them. He reminded them of the ceremony to occur in the afternoon at the Hogwarts ground. It is said to symbolically turn the 'Ending and Beginning' chapters for their Wizarding World. Hermione was deciding how best to dismiss the Minister when he heard his bargain.

"This is the only one I would subject you three to attend. After this, you can ignore all Ministry functions whenever you like... For as long as you like... Even if later on you'd work at the Ministry and until I am serving as the Minister, you have my permission to be absent to all events. But please, NOT for this afternoon's. That's how much I want you three for this ceremony."

While Kingsley understood that they are more deserving of a break, he is making them consider the merit of having the 'Golden Trio' at the ceremony to bring home an important message for the rest of them. That message is about— 'going forward together'. And Hermione has got to give it to the Minister for employing honesty; he told them that he knows that he cannot do anything if they refuse, as he has no right to ask for more from any of them.

He is even smart to mention to them that although these things may come as artificial; he is most willing to try anything that could possibly help propel what has left of their world to the next chapter. He talked without sugarcoating and Hermione could see his words working into both of her best friends' consciousness. If the situation was different, she might remark to the older wizard of how Ravenclaw he is with his well-placed premises.

"The Headmistress said she'll deal with you… with it.. if we don't show up. " Harry managed to sound daring and modest at the same time with his retort; obviously aware that they are now conversing with the official Minister of the British Wizard Community and not just any associate, regardless that they had worked with the man in the Order... regardless that he was the boy who lived and ultimately finished Voldemort.

"I know." sighed Kingsley unsurprised. "When the owls we sent yesterday still brought no response from any of you, I went to the Headmistress before breakfast today hoping to tap her influence on you. She lectured me about unjustly burdening you for more partaking, 'official' or 'non-official' ones. Staunchly supported your trio's non-response but she also—" Kingsley paused, seemingly reconsidering his words.

Harry nonplussed had subconsciously scratched his scar at the suspension, while Hermione just raised an eyebrow questioningly. Immediately her fast mind had worked out that the Minister is weighing the consequence of repeating Minerva McGonagall's words to them, apparently without the woman's permission.

"But what Minister?" Ron posed somewhat impatiently.

Hermione could see Kingsley's internal debate; hesitant of a likely annoyance from the witch he intends to slightly betray in order to make them say yes. After a few more moments, the Minister broke his self-deliberation, and made use of Minerva McGonagall's influence on them, on the 'Golden Trio'.

"The Headmistress said you'll be there nonetheless. She said, 'Kingsley, much to their utmost dismay, they'll be there'— that's an exact quote actually after I expressed my exasperation on your non-answer."

A silence ensues the Minister's citation until Ron again broke through it with a question to Harry. "Huh, did you commit to the Headmistress? I thought she said she didn't whatsoever?"

"I didn't Ron. And I told you, I did not even have to explain. I did not have to defend our 'no commitment' for this ceremony. She told me she completely understands and she promised to answer for us if we don't show up. Actually, she said— anyone unwisely questions our non-attendance would find themselves thrown out of Hogwarts."

Kingsley chuckled a bit and confirmed to them, "Indeed, the Headmistress had given me such 'stern warning' this morning not to be an imbecile. She even remarked that if Ms. Granger does not send dragon dung to any questioning idiot, a McGonagall would."

The amusement is evident on both Harry and Ron's faces at the thought of the Minister being told off by no less than the Headmistress, plus the older woman's wicked sense of humor, which somehow they could all guess that the threat is half true. Hermione on the other hand ignored the reference to her but frowned in contemplation about the witch's open support of their rejection and yet conflicting assurance of their assent...

Then there is the fact that Harry talked to her last night. 'What did they talk about? Is that why Harry is calling her Minerva?'

Hermione could hear Kingsley saying that the Headmistress did not even mentioned this morning that she talked to Harry last night. "Obviously more supportive of your decision than my objective" Kingsley said in an almost complaining tone. "But I did ask why she thinks or rather seems so sure that eventually the three of you would be at Hogwarts this afternoon. Well, she simply said, 'Kingsley, much to their utmost dismay, they'll be there because—" Kingsley paused again and actually looked at her intently.

"—Because we are bloody Gryffindors." Hermione's voice cut through before the minister could resume to his sentence. She repeated with the complete pronouncement. "Kingsley, much to their utmost dismay, they'll be there because they are bloody Gryffindors."

"Precisely!" exclaimed Kingsley. "Well, minus the word bloody. Although I would wager my Gringgotts account that it was a last second word cancellation by the Headmistress." The Minister laughingly narrated and thoroughly amused with it.

This time, her two best friends openly laughed at the Minister's quip. An image of the witch entered her mind doing exactly as guesstimated by Kingsley... The woman suspended the word 'bloody' at the last instant to not blemish Gryffindors to a Ravenclaw... Hermione slightly shook her head to expel the picture of Minerva McGonagall, and expelled as well the appearing smile at her lips.

When she looked up at Kingsley, she could read the amusement in his eyes while he watched their reactions, particularly hers. An amusement that turned quickly into a thoughtful look, as they fixed on her and heard him questioned, "Was the Headmistress accurate Hermione?"

"Mione ifyoudontwanttodoit lets not." Harry stammered in his haste, which is a good thing, as Hermione was about to let out a frustrating sigh at the older wizard, who is not only losing his bid to gain their assent but also brewing agitation. Harry touched her arm gently and drawn her to him. "I mean, Ron and I don't want to do it if you tell us that you rather not— if you are not up for— you know, the role playing."

Hermione had picked Harry's message; they are truly going to proceed however she wants them to. She feels appreciative at their thoughtfulness, and at the same time burdensome— of again having to make a decision affecting them three. Unthinkingly she pinched the bridge of her nose at the predicament, and again caught Kingsley's same thoughtful look at her. She was about to ask the wizard of it when Harry stole her full attention with his next words.

"I told Minerva that just like we've always done; we only do it if you say so."

She almost flinched at the implication. This furthers her conflicting inclination to take the easy road. She had enough of altruism lately, and her Gryffindor reservoir seemed to be depleted at the moment.

Does she care about the magical community at this point in her life? Of course she does. However, for the first time since she found out that she belongs in it, the answer is not a resounding yes. It is not because she detests it, perhaps just the feeling of wanting to detach a little and it is nothing permanent. She is just... she's tired. Too tired.

But as always, her mind won't let her be. It told her that she isn't the only one who is tired. Loads of people are also tired. Harry is more tired than her truthfully. Then there is the Headmistress who is perhaps more tired than any of them and the woman keeps moving, gluing them together – what was she said earlier at the eulogy, 'the cluttered bricks of their world'. She probably didn't pause to think about attending a damn ceremony; she is front and center wiring back the community.

'But I am no Minerva McGonagall!' The other side of her mind pushed the argument. 'Would my absence an illustrative of my inadequacy? And would I drag Ron and Harry with me? And what would Minerva think of them…of her! Dammit.'

"Mione..." Harry took hold one of her hand in his, seemed to deduce the direction of her thoughts. "Not only Minerva gets it, her own words were— you must not break your tradition! I can tell that somehow she knows that following the troll incident in our first year, well... you have been the one calling the right shots."

"Harry, no... I..." Hermione began to protest but Harry pressed forward.

"You have... And when we don't listen, it was always a disaster." Harry then grinned and teased her, "Oh, you can't really deny how you would insist that we listen to you! Ron and I lost count of how much you've ordered us to this and to do that! And I promise that it's not a bad thing."

"I just wanted you to do your homework... and not get killed..." She let out a small smile as urged by Harry's teasing, "or worse, expelled..."

"Exactly." Harry laughed then shifted into a more serious tone before he continued, "That's why and how the three of us are still here, alive, and breathing... And I agree with Minerva that we must not change it."

"It's true Mione." Ron supplemented, as he too reached her other hand free of Harry's grasp. "You do know that Harry and I would have been killed in first year without you." After a moment, unsurprisingly, he added with a smirk as he teased her, "Now, saving us from going insane from being so bossy with out study schedule is another thing!"

She threw a faint punch at Ron's arm in a protest, but the offence was carried with a grin to match the ones already adorning her two best friends' faces. She understood that they are making her feel less burdensome and conveying that she must not worry about how it would appear, that it matters little whichever she decides; they will own the decision together.

Honestly, she is far from willing to play more of their Golden Trio roles. However, as she runs the matter deeply in her brain and looks at Harry again, in his face etched the conflicting feelings about wanting her to say no and at the same time say yes. He does seem to have guessed her want to be as far away from all of these. But on the other hand, damn him for his ever-present gallant nature. Ever true, he will answer the call of the Wizarding world even if it means playing 'the boy who lived' once again.

She turned to Ron and she could see his transparent support; evidently he and Harry already had a discussion behind her back regarding this predicament, and agreed to let it play-out however she wants.

She shifted her gaze to Kingsley, the Minister is watching her closely; he is sporting that look again. Hermione trampled down the rising panic inside her and pulled back her focus on how to deal with what is being asked from them— a Golden Trio portrayal, for an afternoon's show.

Screaming.

Hermione feels like screaming. To yell at the top of her lungs to be left alone with her misery. But her fucking Golden Brain would not let her ignore Kingsley's and his rational pleading. No matter how gripping it is to just abandon decency. It would not let her neglect the world she was introduced that one afternoon at age 11. A world that literally opened to her by an impressive woman with impossible emerald eyes that brought her Hogwarts letter. That world…this world where she, Harry, Ron, and that witch...irrevocably belong to.

'Was the Headmistress accurate Hermione?' Kingsley's bloody question rang inside her head involuntarily.

And bloody hell, there is no escaping the bloody precision from the bloody witch! It seems to not matter that donning the 'Golden Trio' right now feels similar to skinning themselves alive with bare teeth– they would bloody do it. Because they are bloody Gryffindors! Eventually, Hermione nod once at Harry and her best friend communicated their accord to the Minister.

"Thank you and I'll see you all later." Kingsley breathed out his appreciation, and immediately left them.

The three of them resumed to their previous direction towards departure. Harry and Hermione were steps behind Ron who went ahead to disapparate after a wave of goodbye and a 'See you later at Hogwarts' to Hermione. Before Harry could disapparate as well, Hermione stopped him momentarily for a follow-up.

"You have not answered my earlier question Harry" referring to how he is holding with Snape's funeral.

"Yes I did. I told you I'm okay." Harry let out a smirk as he answered with just minor obfuscation.

"Okay smart ass," grinning back at Harry. "Pardon my imprecision; you know you were saying that…" Hermione suddenly faltered with how to proceed, effectively vanished the grin at the thoughts coursing in her.

While she is concern how Harry is really faring given that they have just laid Severus Snape, she highly doubted that she wants to start a topic she knows she could not afford to bring on the table, let alone talk about, even to Harry who is obviously giving her a retreat door. So she re-addressed, "Okay Harry. I'll see you later then."

Harry did not miss her re-direction. He understood that she had taken his offered temporary flight. Quite correctly, she knows that he had guessed that she had not truly come to terms about it herself. His best friend does know that she'll bring it up when she is ready and not by accidental blunder.

"Mione, are you sure you could do later? She blinked at the question and sees his anxious face. She knew he is now referring to her, their— 'Golden Trio' reprisal for the afternoon's ceremony.

"Mione, are you sure you could do later? A little louder this time, Harry repeated his question as he thought that she had missed it. "Minerva can… well, we really do have a ticket out, you know." He added peering his olive eyes to her brown ones.

She caught his change of sentence construction but decided to ignore it. "I know Harry, but we are Gryffindors." she addressed the matter in an obvious concluding manner.

"Yeah, and I know how much more Gryffindor you are than any Gryffindors right now."

"No. Not more than you Harry or others who are—"

"No, Hermione. NO."

At Harry's passionate objection, she shuts up. For a moment, both of them seemingly at loss on how to proceed and before Hermione could backtrack on what they were discussing about, Harry once again took her hand, and held her gaze, obviously conveying that what he wants to tell her is of utmost gravity. Suddenly, Hermione felt the desire to end whatever discussion they are having, but Harry decided otherwise.

"People assumed that Godric Gryffindor meant courage is only about having the heart to go for one's desires at all cost. We both know, he equally meant 'your kind' of courage that—"

"Harry—"

"Godric Gryffindor knew YOUR kind of courage... That in the name of duty and honor, courage is the fortitude to shelf in the wants of one's heart. Sometimes, and ironically, even in the name of love."

To say that Hermione was startled into silence not only by Harry's perceptiveness, but his unusual disposition to voice them out eloquently is an understatement. Her heart stops at the very close-to-home narrative. Harry's words were spoken with gentleness but with strong conviction that they rattled Hermione much more that she was prepared...

The declaration spoke volumes of how much Harry had grasped the ongoing turmoil in her heart. Unable and not ready to respond to it but sincerely grateful for his apparent concern, Hermione closed the little distance between them and gave her best friend a brief but a tight embrace, kissed his cheek and mumbled 'I'll see you later at Hogwarts'.

She stepped away from him and apparrated back at her parents' old house in London; seeking refuge for at least few hours in her old bed– before putting on the "Golden Brain" title role once again.

End of Chapter 1 | Severus Snape Laid To Rest

I promise, Hermione is not just being overly dramatic for nothing...

I hope you will continue reading as the next few chapters are just to set-up THE STORY.

For the very first time, I finally got the urge to pen down one of the stories in my head. Kindly let me know how I do with gentle criticism. :) This is absolutely green writing in the name of fan fiction :)