A/N...All the characters belong to JKR, only the plot is mine. I make no money from this endeaver, it is only the enjoyment of writing that I receive.

Chapter 1

Coffee and a New Friend

"Would you like some more coffee?"

"Oh, um...sure, thanks.", Hermione replied softly to the waitress, never looking up. She was somewhat distracted by the mess of papers in front of her.

She had thought that the muggle coffee shop would be a good place to sort out the mess that was her life right now. It had been a year since the final battle, and three months since her disastrous and unsuccessful trip to Australia. She was only partially successful with removing the memory charms on her parents, and they still had holes in their memories along with confusion of their two 'lives'. Most of the time they were her parents, but occassionally they reverted back to Wendall and Monica Wilkins. Even when their thoughts were clear, there was tension in the conversations. They had never totally forgiven her for wiping their memories and whisking them off to Australia.

She and Ron had decided, mutually, that they really couldn't, and shouldn't, be anything more than good friends. They had tried dating in the aftermath of 'The Kiss' during the final battle, but realized after just a few months that they really didn't have a lot in common. He wanted to talk Quidditch, which didn't interest her. And he got lost whenever the topic of academics left her mouth. She really didn't want to marry young and be a housewife. And she really didn't want to raise a large family. That was what Ron wanted, and compromising wasn't fair to either of them. And she wanted...well, she wasn't really sure.

She knew she needed a break from the wizarding world. She could go back and sit her NEWTS, but the memories were just too much to handle right now. Starting Hogwarts at almost twenty years old would be awkward, and facing the memories from the Great Hall during the final battle was just too much. Just thinking about Fred, Tonks, Remus and all the others made her eyes tear up. And a job right now without her NEWTS wasn't a possibility...a good job, that is. The muggle world was definitely a better choice right now.

With that thought, she again focused on the mess of papers in front of her. An application to a muggle university, and various papers with course descriptions. She had already figured out how to magically change her Hogwarts OWLS into corresponding muggle levels, and Professor McGonnagal had alrady agreed to write a refernce letter about her 'special boarding school' education. She had figured it all out despite the protests from Harry, Ron, and Ginny. Now she had to just decide on classes.

"What are you going to study at uni?"

Hermione jumped when the waitress had asked her, not even realising she had approached the table. She looked back up to the woman that was standing beside her. She was tall, thin, with dark brown hair and eyes, and probably just a few years older than herself. She vaguely looked familiar, but she couldn't place how she might know her.

Hermione thought for just a moment whether to discuss this with a stranger before replying.

"I'm not really sure...maybe something in...uh... mathematics or chemistry." She had almost said arithmancy or potions before she realised, again, that she was in a muggle shop.

"I didn't mean to be so bold. But I attend the same uni, and didn't know if you might be interested in some information about the classes", replied the smiling waitress.

"I go on break in five minutes if you would like to talk. Oh, and my name is Jessica, by the way".

"That would be nice...Jessica", Hermione replied with a small smile.

She could really use a friend in the muggle world, especially since she found herself with no one to talk with who would understand her need to attend muggle university.

After talking during Jessica's break, Hermione had decided to take some lower level math classes. Math had always been somewhat of an easy subject for her, and it seemed to be a good way to ease into university life. It didn't hurt that Jessica was also taking one of these classes, so she would know someone at school. She could get to know her better, and maybe find out how she seemed familiar. But now she had a new friend, and that was a very good thing.