DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters mentioned here. If I did, I'd be filthy stinking rich! Instead, I just write about them. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right?

Hermione Granger sat motionless, looking out of the unfamiliar window at the massive piles of rubble and destruction below. It was finally over; evil had been defeated once and for all, but not without great consequence. So many of those closest to her had been lost in the battle: two of the ones who mattered most didn't even know there had been a battle. That's what weighed heavily on her heart today. She missed her parents, who were (as far as she knew) in Australia. They didn't even know she existed, but it was the only way to get them to safety. She'd seen the despair so many she cared about had been through lately, and it pained her to imagine having to feel that in regard to her own parents. It was better this way, she thought to herself. However, the occasional tear that strayed down her cheek was the only physical evidence that it wasn't.

The last two weeks had been so chaotic, not to mention draining. Funeral after funeral – Colin first, then Remus and Tonks, then Professor Snape. However, it had been Fred's funeral that had haunted her most. The Weasley family had always treated her like one of their own when she had spent the few weeks before term every year with them. Ginny was like the sister she'd always desired, and all of Ron's brothers had always treated her with the same kind of regard as they did their own sister.

Ron. Throughout all of this, he was the one thing that had kept her sane. Of course, Harry had been there for her as well, but it was Ron – the boy she'd watched grow into a man; the friend who had slowly come to mean more to her every year – he was truly the one who'd been her rock. Now that they'd finally admitted (after several years) that they cared for each other, she felt a small glimmer of hope that things would be alright...eventually.

"Hermione," she heard the lilt voice behind her. "I believe they're gathering all of us into the Great Hall – would you like to walk together?"

She turned to find her friend Luna standing at the entrance to Ravenclaw Tower, her white blonde hair a stark contrast to the dark blue tapestry that hung behind her. "Um, yes Luna. That would be wonderful."

Luna waited as Hermione gathered what few belongings she had been able to salvage from Gryffindor Tower, and reached out to take the smaller of the two rucksacks from Hermione's hand as she approached. The two girls walked in silence down the broken and tattered stairwell until they reached the massive wooden doors. Dropping their baggage along the wall outside, they entered in.

Gone were the four long tables that had once filled the room. In their place were small cots and several chairs, filled with what was left of those who had stayed to fight. At the front of the room stood Professors McGonagall and Flitwick, who had stayed after to help organize what students were left. By their side were Arthur Weasley and Madame Pomfrey, who with the approval of the newly appointed Minister of Magic, had operated a makeshift hospital for those who had been too injured to be sent home. Now that the last of the severely wounded had been stabilized and retrieved by their families from what remained of Hogwarts, the cleanup was to begin. Those who had been members of Dumbledore's Army and the Order, however, had been asked to remain for a few days. There were important matters to discuss.

Hermione took a seat nearest Ginny Weasley, who in turn reached over and squeezed her into a tight hug. She could see that Ginny had been crying- her eyes were red and swollen. "Gin, is everything alright?" she whispered into her ear, so that no one else could hear.

Ginny swallowed back another sob, then spoke. "It's Harry – Kingsley has demanded that he go into hiding for the next few weeks, just in case any Voldemort sympathizers or remaining Death Eaters come looking for him."

Hermione pulled her dear friend into a consoling hug. "You know it's for his safety – yours, too. He'll be back to you soon, I promise."

Ginny smiled. "I know, it's just the not knowing where he is that is going to drive me insane."

"I know," Hermione whispered. "But right now, it's what's best."

It was as she finished her sentence that she felt his hand land on her shoulder, and as much as she tried to fight it, she felt the smile creeping onto her face.

Ginny smiled too, then rolled her eyes. "I'm proud you two finally realized it – especially my loopy, blind, goofy brother."

"...caring, kind-hearted, and brave, too." Hermione interjected into her friend's sentence as she moved over to allow Ron to take a seat beside her. She lay her head over on his shoulder as their hands automatically intertwined.

"See there, sis? Hermione thinks I'm brave." Ron smiled as he gently kissed Hermione's cheek.

Ginny laughed. "She wasn't around when you went bonkers after Mum found that spider nest in the floo..."

Ron shivered, and all three laughed. "I'd rather we not mention that again anytime soon."

Their conversation was interrupted as Professor McGonagall cleared her throat. "Thank you everyone, for being here and for all of the effort you have put forth in the past weeks. Your service to Hogwarts and to the wizarding community has been nothing short of monumental, and that shines no more brightly than it does today. Our world has been rid of the darkest of beings, and his few remaining followers are being captured as we speak. However..." McGonagall paused to look out over the small gathering. "...however, there are a few safety issues we must discuss. As you all know, Harry Potter has been taken by the Ministry to a safe haven – this has been done for his safety, and for the safety of many here, as well. In this manner, it has been decided that those closest to Mr. Potter should be sent into protective environments. We have been fortunate enough to acquire permission from many of the Order to board you at their homes. Molly and Arthur Weasley will be taking their daughter Ginny, along with Miss Lovegood to their home in the Burrow. Bill and Fleur Weasley will accommodate Bill's brother Ron and Miss Granger at Shell Cottage. Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnegan will..."

Hermione's mind drifted off as Ron squeezed her hand and leaned down into her ear. "Bloody hell. You mean I have to be stuck living with you again? As if the last year in a tent wasn't enough..." He smiled into her hair as she nudged him in the side with her elbow.

"You'll survive," she said.

After the meeting was over, Hermione made her way to the front of the room. "Professor McGonagall?' she questioned. "I have a question – you see, when Gryffindor Tower was destroyed, well – I was wondering – do you feel it safe for me to go back to London – to my parents' former home, to well – retrieve a few of my belongings? I wouldn't ask, but..."

Minerva McGonagall placed her hand on the younger woman's shoulder. "Miss Granger, I can understand your need to have those things familiar to you, but I must warn you. In the former Ministry's efforts to find all Muggle-borns, there was substantial damage made to your former residence."

"I think it's apparent I've seen more than enough damage and destruction. What's a little more?" Hermione replied. "Besides, I'll only be there for a short time. Just enough to gather what I need – a few essentials from home – reminders of my..." Her eyes began to shine with tears.

"Very well, then." McGonagall took her hand into hers and patted it soothingly. "Just don't go alone. Take Mr. Weasley with you, then the both of you head straightaway to Shell Cottage."

Nodding, Hermione nodded towards Ron that they should go. After hugging their friends and Ron's family goodbye, they exited to the entryway to retrieve their belongings. Walking outside into the former courtyard, they clasped their hands together and vanished.

The sight that stood before them as they landed upon Hermione's former street was devastating. The once proper and stately townhouse was now decrepit and fire-kissed. Black marks singed the brick along the doorway, and the upper left hand side of the house had been totally demolished.

"You sure you want to do this?" Ron said, squeezing her hand lightly. "I'm sure Fleur can..."

"I want my things, Ron. Certainly you understand?"

He nodded toward her as she pulled him up the stairs and into the doorway. The inside looked far better than Hermione had imagined, but it was still enough to cause a fresh round of tears to streak her face. Ascending the flight of stairs toward her former room, Hermione opened the door to find that, although the room had been ransacked, her bureau and closet were still intact. She walked toward her closet and removed a large suitcase. Throwing it on what was left of her four poster bed, she called to Ron. "If you don't mind, open the top two drawers of that bureau and empty them into that case, would you?"

Ron nodded, dropping his bag to the floor as he reached for the second drawer, pulling out the various pants and shirts contained therein and stuffing them into the suitcase after he'd cast a spell to give it unending depth. As he closed that drawer, he opened the top one and froze. "Um, Hermione?"

She turned from her closet. "What is it, Ron? We don't have much time..." It was then that she noticed the ruddy blush of his cheeks as his hand lay on the delicate garments within the drawer.

"Honestly Ron, haven't you ever seen a pair of knickers before? You lived with Ginny for 16 years - "

Ron's blush deepened. "Those were my sister's knickers, not ones belonging to the girl I love..."

Hermione smiled. Hearing that he loved her always seemed to do that. "Fine," she said, crossing the room to stand on her tiptoes, where she gently grazed her lips to his. "I'll take this drawer if you'll finish packing those few items I have on the bed."

He worked quickly to put the remaining items into the case, and watched as she emptied the top drawer of her delicates into it as well. Securing it shut, he approached Hermione and wiped a lone tear from her cheek. "Ready?"

She nodded silently as he grabbed their bags. Taking her hand, once again they vanished.

Author's Note:

This is my first ever attempt at a HP based fan fiction, but I have written for various other fandoms over the years. I write because it is therapeutic to me – it gives me a way to work out situations in my head that otherwise were not addressed in the original works.

You will not find me begging for reviews, or holding chapters hostage for reviews, either. That's not the way it works for me. I do appreciate reviews and constructive criticism, however, spamming and spiteful comments for the sake of making them do not fly with me, and will be removed immediately.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. It really does mean so much that someone else finds something that came out of my brain as interesting. At least I hope you found it interesting, even if it was nothing but getting a giggle from it.

I hope to have Chapter 2 finished and ready to go sometime this weekend. I already have the entire story roughly outlined, so I know how everything is going to end up.

Again, thanks for reading. Until we meet again... ~/*\~