Yesterday's Just a Memory

Chapter One

Disclaimer: I own nothing relating to Harry Potter!

A/N: This will start out as a Ronione, but it will end as a Dramione. I wanted to try a different approach. Warning: LEMONS

Hermione Granger winced as she stood inside Hogwarts castle. She, Harry Potter, and Ron Weasley had come back to the school after spending most of the school year hunting for Horcruxes. The Battle of Hogwarts was on and the school was being viciously attacked by the Death Eaters and all of the other beings that had also sided with the evil Lord Voldemort, believing his empty promises. Harry had gone away from the castle for a final showdown with Lord Voldemort. Hermione and Ron had stayed behind, defending Hogwarts with all of their friends and Ron's family.

When it was all over and Harry had prevailed over Voldemort, everyone was relieved that the nightmare was finally over. Was it? The next few weeks after the war was over, everyone was preoccupied with reuniting with their families and grieving for loved ones lost. Hermione found herself growing closer to Ron as she comforted him as he mourned over the loss of his brother Fred. She had always harbored a crush on Ron and as the days went by, they turned to each other for solace with handholding, and hugging that turned into long snogging sessions. Ron wanted to go further, but much to his disappointment, Hermione always stopped him when he tried to put his hands in her pants.

Hermione had been staying at The Burrow, the Weasley's home, since the war ended. She had nowhere else to go. Before the war, she had thought that by performing the "obliviate" spell on her parents, she was doing the right thing. It was for their own safety. Hermione had even seen to her parents moving to Australia and having new identities. When the war had ended, she immediately went to Australia and brought her parents' home. When they returned, she restored their memories and her parents were very angry with her when they found out what Hermione had done. She decided that they needed to cool down and maybe it was best if she stayed away from home for a while. Hermione wanted to go back, but she didn't know how she would handle it if her parents were still angry. Harry approached her about this.

"Hermione, it's not going to go away. You need to take care of this," Harry said gently.

"I know Harry, but I'm afraid. I don't know what I'll do if they're still so upset with me," Hermione sobbed.

Harry took Hermione gently by the shoulders. "Hermione, look at me! Your parents love you. You've been gone for a month, you need to sit down with them and explain what happened."

"You're right Harry. I need to face them. I miss them so much," Hermione replied as she scratched her left forearm.

Harry pushed up the sleeve of the long-sleeved T-shirt Hermione was wearing and grimaced. "It's still there. I can't believe the healers aren't able to get rid of it."

Hermione sighed and looked down at the crude tattoo that was imbedded in her forearm by the dagger of the now deceased Death Eater witch Bellatrix Lestrange. "I know, I guess I'll just wear long sleeves until I can figure out a way to get rid of it or find someone who can." Harry, Hermione, and Ron had been captured by snatchers and when the snatchers had realized who Harry was, the trio was brought to Malfoy Manor. It was there that Bellatrix, diabolical cunt from hell, had tortured Hermione by carving the word "mudblood" on her arm. It was definitely one of the best days of Hermione's life when Molly Weasley, Ron's mother, ended that bitch's life when the evil whore tried to kill Ginny Weasley, her only daughter.

"If anyone can figure it out, it's you," Harry said and smiled.

"Thanks Harry. I'll leave tomorrow morning and I'll send an owl to let you know how it goes. Huh, I might be back here. I won't be surprised if they want to disown me," Hermione said sadly.

"Something tells me your parents will forgive you. Come on Hermione, you're the perfect daughter. You've never done anything wrong or given them reasons not to trust you," Harry replied and hugged her.

Hermione returned the hug as a thought crossed her mind. She was about to do something that would give her parents a reason not to trust her. Hermione was ready to have sex. She had made a decision that she was going to go to Ron tonight and give herself to him. It astounded her that even when the war was going on and she had witnessed so many atrocities, she sometimes wondered in the back of her mind if she was going to die a virgin. Ginny had confided in Hermione that she and Harry had finally had sex the week before. Hermione knew that she was probably the last of her friends that still had her virginity. That wasn't the only reason she wanted to lose her virginity; she was curious to know what all the fuss was about. The last few times when she and Ron had a snogging session, it was harder for her to stop. She liked the tingly feelings she would get as Ron gently caressed her, but yet was afraid to take it to the next level. Ginny assured her that it was fantastic and she felt so much closer to Harry. Hermione was ready to take that step with Ron.

It was a little after 10 p.m. that evening when Hermione went to Ron's bedroom. The house was quiet and almost everyone was asleep. Harry had snuck into Ginny's room and they were having their fun. Hermione took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and walked into Ron's bedroom. Ron was still up, reading a Quidditch magazine. It was a warm evening, so he was clad only in boxer shorts. Hermione's breath caught when she realized how much Ron had filled out. His shoulders were broader and his abdomen was lean and nicely muscled. He only had a small amount of chest hair, which she liked. Hairy men were not Hermione's thing! When Ron noticed her come in, he put the magazine aside and gulped. He knew something was different about Hermione tonight. Instead of her usual sleepwear of a T-shirt and shorts, she was wearing a short white, sleeveless cotton lace gown that only reached her mid-thigh. Her hair fell in smooth waves instead of its usual frizz, softly framing her face. For a moment, Ron wondered if he was dreaming of a beautiful angel, but that passed when Hermione slipped into the bed with him and began to kiss him.

Ron responded and kissed her back gently. He was a little shocked when she pressed against him, but quickly got over it. He lightly brushed his hand over her breasts, and when she didn't object, he put his hand under her gown and inhaled sharply when he touched her bare breasts. He loved how soft her skin was and oh, she smelled so good. They continued to kiss, and then Ron stopped, pulling back. Hermione looked at him, wondering if she had done something wrong. Ron smiled at her and started to remove her gown. She let him take it off and he put it aside. Ron stared at her for what seemed like a lifetime.

"What, is anything wrong?" Hermione asked softly.

"No, no love. You are so lovely Hermione. Are you sure you want to do this? We can wait," Ron said.

"I'm ready Ron, I want to be with you," Hermione replied and kissed him, pressing against him and loving the way her bare breasts felt against his hard chest.

That was all Ron needed to hear. He sure wasn't expecting this tonight. He started to kiss her neck and made his way to her breasts, paying equal amounts of attention to each one. He loved how Hermione's breasts were perfect; they were just the right size and fit in his mouth, as he lightly grazed them with his tongue. Hermione ran her fingers in his slightly shaggy red hair as he did this, it was a wonderful feeling. She moved her hands down to the waistband of his boxers and reached inside, touching his very erect penis. Hermione almost gulped when she realized how big he was and wondered if he was going to fit inside of her. Ron gave her a surprised look when she touched him there. That was the first time she ever did and it felt exquisite. He moved away from her and removed his boxer shorts, and then returned to her breasts. Hermione felt his erection moving over her panties and she moved her hips up to rub against him. Ron started to kiss her on the mouth again and this time his kisses were harder and a little more demanding. They were both excited and the anticipation was building. He looked at Hermione hesitantly as his hands lingered on the waistband of her panties. Hermione nodded and Ron removed them.

"Hermione, I mean it, we can stop now. Don't get me wrong, this is the best night of my life, but I don't want you to do something you'll regret," Ron said.

"Ron, I want to. I want to you to be my first," Hermione replied.

Ron kissed her again and positioned himself at her entrance. He pushed gently and was met with resistance. With some fumbling, he managed to thrust a little harder and broke through. He stopped when he saw Hermione give a small gasp and a few tears leaked from her eyes. She shook her head.

"Don't stop, I knew it was going to hurt, but it's supposed to get better," Hermione whispered.

"Okay love, but stop me if you're uncomfortable," Ron whispered back.

He started to thrust slowly, loving the way she felt. It was his first time too and he couldn't imagine it with anyone else. He had come close to having sex with Lavender Brown in their sixth year at Hogwarts, but they never did. He was so happy it was with Hermione.

It was painful at first, but as Ron thrust gently into her, Hermione started to move her hips with his. Ron closed his eyes in ecstasy when she did this. It didn't take long for him to spill his seed into her. Hermione was grateful she had thought to perform a contraceptive spell before she went to him. That would have been great, getting pregnant her first time having sex!

Ron slipped out of her and lay beside her. Hermione performed a quick cleaning spell, a little dismayed to see the blood on Ron's sheets. He pulled her to him and kissed her lightly on the forehead, staring at her in amazement.

"Merlin Hermione, that was incredible!" Ron said.

"I thought so too Ron, I enjoyed it," Hermione replied, blushing lightly.

Ron pulled his boxers on and Hermione slipped into her nightgown and panties. He pulled her back to him and she rested her head on his chest. They fell asleep as Ron lightly stroked her hair.

Hermione woke up during the night, needing to go to the bathroom. She slipped out of the bed as quietly as she could so she wouldn't disturb Ron, who was snoring softly. As her feet touched the floor, she got the sense that something wasn't right. She thought she heard a woman cackling. As she pondered how ridiculous this was, she felt two hands that were as cold as ice grab her ankles and pull her under the bed. She couldn't scream, for the wind was knocked out of her. She found herself face to face with Bellatrix Lestrange.

"You'll never get rid of me, I will haunt you forever you miserable mudblood!" Bellatrix screamed her breath hot and stinking of rotting flesh. She had on the same black dress she had died in, but it was tattered and filthy.

Hermione felt herself trying to scream, but nothing would come out. Finally, she was able to catch her breath. She began to scream and pound at Bellatrix, the evil witch only laughing at her feeble attempts to fend her off. Next thing Hermione knew, she woke up with Ron holding her arms and giving her a concerned look.

"Hermione, wake up, wake up. You must be having a nightmare!" Ron said softly.

Hermione was breathing heavily and when she realized she was with Ron, she started to cry. She told him about the dream and he held her until her tears subsided and she was able to sleep again. Ron knew she had been suffering from nightmares, hell they all did after the war, but this was the first time Hermione had one so vivid and realistic. He wished he knew some way to get rid of the nightmares.

At about 2 a.m., Draco Malfoy woke up in cold sweat in his bedroom at Malfoy Manor. He had just had the most awful dream about his aunt Bellatrix. The nightmares had started slowly after the war had ended, but they were becoming more frequent and intense in the last week or so. When they first started, he'd only see Bellatrix from a distance, but as the dreams progressed, she would come closer and in this last one, Draco actually felt her touch him. He shuddered involuntarily when he thought about how cold her hands were and that laugh of hers, it was so disturbing. She was his aunt, but she had been a miserable excuse of a human being. The woman had been the epitome of evil when she was on earth and now she was haunting his dreams. Draco decided he was going to have to research his family's extensive library to find a way to get rid of these disturbing reveries. He made his way to the bathroom connected to his bedroom. When the light came on, he couldn't believe how haggard he looked when he saw his reflection in the mirror over the lavatory. The war had really taken a toll on him, as he took in the bags under his eyes and his paler than usual face. He ran cold water and splashed it on his face. He took a piss and went back to his bed, falling into a fitful sleep, but thankfully he didn't dream about Bellatrix again.

Things were tense in the Malfoy household, to say the least. Draco and his parents, Lucius and Narcissa were awaiting trial for their roles in the war. They had no idea what fate was had in store for them. They had been one of the most respected family's and always on the social scene in the wizarding world. Their previous life was gone, most of their friends were dead and the ones that were still there wanted nothing to do with them. Draco felt fortunate that he still had the friendship of Blaise Zabini and Pansy Parkinson. They weren't awaiting trial like him, but they were finding it difficult to get their lives back on track after the war. The roles were reversed; instead of them looking down on the half-bloods and muggleborns with scorn, they were now looked down upon. Draco kept up a strong, stoic appearance for his parents, but inside he was barely holding it together. It had to get better, he thought. Shit, when one has hit bottom like this, the only way to go was up.

The next morning, Hermione awoke to find Molly Weasley had prepared a huge breakfast. She knew Hermione was going back home and hoped all went well with her parents. Molly watched as a look passed between Hermione and Ron. She was pretty sure that the relationship between her son and the young woman had been taken to another level. Molly wasn't upset; she knew that the war had taken its toll on everyone and if this was a way for them to deal with it, so be it. She also loved Hermione and knew Ron could do much worse, like that Lavender trollop!

After breakfast, Hermione went to Ginny's room and packed up her belongings. She looked around, wishing she could stay, but she knew she had to face her parents. Ron came up from behind and wrapped his arms around her, as he moved her hair aside and kissed her on the nape of the neck. Hermione signed and leaned back into him.

"I think your mum knows," Hermione said.

"I think so too, but she isn't upset. She loves you Hermione and so do I," Ron replied, as he turned Hermione around to face him.

Hermione lightly brushed his unshaven cheek and kissed him. "I love you too Ron, I always have."

They walked together to the floo where everyone was gathered to see Hermione off. Her friends hugged her and made sure that she could always count on them to be there for her. Molly held her close and whispered softly to her.

"Thank you for being there for Ron. He seems to be in better spirits. Take care and I hope all goes well with your parents. They'll come around, you'll see."

"Thank you Mrs. Weasley. I hope you're right. Well, I suppose I should be going. Thank you again for letting me stay here," Hermione replied.

"Anytime dear, we love having you," Molly said and smiled, as she wiped away a few tears.

Ron held Hermione's hands and kissed her one more time before she left.

"I can go with you if you like."

"No Ron, this is something I have to do alone. I love you," Hermione said as she stepped into the floo.

"I love you, Hermione," Ron said as Hermione called out her home address and disappeared.

Hermione made it back home within minutes and tentatively walked into the living room where her parents were sitting on the couch, talking quietly. She took a deep breath and began to speak.

"Mum, dad, I was hoping we could talk."

Her parents looked up, startled to see Hermione there. Her mother rose from the couch, followed by her father. They both went to Hermione and pulled her into their arms.

"Oh Hermione dear, we're so happy you came back. We've been in agony since you left. We were so shocked and didn't understand, but we never gave you a chance to explain, can you forgive us?" Mrs. Granger said, tears rolling down her face, as she held Hermione.

"Forgive you? I'm the one that needs to ask forgiveness for what I did, but it was the only way to keep you safe," Hermione sobbed, but relieved that she was back in her parents' good graces.

Hermione sat with her parents and started from the beginning of she, Harry, and Ron's quest for Horcruxes to the war ending. She told them about the horrors they had witnessed and showed them her scar. When Hermione was accepted into Hogwarts, the Grangers were thrilled, but had no idea what type of world their only child was going into. After hearing all this about a war and people losing their lives, even though the evil one, Lord Voldemort, was gone, they weren't sure if they wanted Hermione to return to that world. Maybe she needed to live in the muggle world for a while.

As the days went by, Hermione was able to repair her fractured relationship with her parents. She owled her friends at The Burrow and let them know everything was going well. She missed Ron so much, but her parents needed her with them. Days turned into weeks as Hermione helped them reestablish their dental practice and get their lives back to normal. While they had been gone, the mail had accumulated and Hermione had quite a few letters from muggle universities. All the time Hermione had attended Hogwarts; she had also kept up with her muggle school studies and had managed to graduate, along with earning quite a few college credits. She wasn't only the brightest witch of her age; she was also quite a scholar in muggle education.

One day, Hermione received a letter from Hogwarts. The letter stated that the school was going to allow Hermione to complete the year she had missed. She loved Hogwarts, but being home with her parents made her realize something. As much as she missed her friends and the school, she decided it would be in her best interest to remain in the muggle world for a time. Since she'd been home, the nightmares had subsided. As she thought about this, she made the decision to attend the University of London to earn a degree in Biology. When she figured out the college credits she had already earned, she only had to attend a year-and-a-half of school to attain her degree. She had always been interested in the medical field and once she had her degree, she'd apply to a medical school. Mr. and Mrs. Granger were thrilled when she told them of her plans. They helped Hermione get everything she needed and before she knew it, she was enrolled at the university. School was going to start at the end of August and Hermione was excited.

It was almost the end of July and Hermione asked her parents if it was okay to go to The Burrow and visit her friends. They had been sending owls back and forth, but it wasn't the same as being face to face, of course. Her parents were hesitant, but agreed. They knew she missed her friends.

When Hermione arrived at The Burrow, she was greeted by Ron, who grabbed her in a bear hug. Hermione squealed with joy as he swung her around.

"I've missed you so much! I'm glad you're finally here," Ron said excitedly.

Ginny and Harry walked into the scene, grinning at each other as they watched Hermione and Ron. They looked so happy together.

Later that evening, Hermione found out that Ginny was going to finish her last year at Hogwarts. She was thrilled to learn that Harry and Ron were accepted into the Auror's program and were going to be starting in September. When she told them about her plans, everyone seemed excited except for Ron.

When Hermione and Ron were alone in his room, they discussed her decision.

"Hermione, are you sure you want to do this? Why don't you go back to Hogwarts with Gin, you love it there," Ron said.

"I've made my decision Ron. I think it'll be better for me at a muggle university. As much as I love the wizarding world, I think I need a break from it," Hermione replied.

"So I guess you want a break from me too?" Ron asked in a sharp tone.

"Where is that coming from Ron? We can still be together. You and Harry will be at the Ministry and living in London, we'll be able to see each other," Hermione said, confused at how Ron was acting.

"I can't explain it Hermione. I feel like you've changed. I thought we wanted the same things out of life and you were going to stay here. How are we supposed to stay together if you're in the muggle world and I'm in the wizarding world?" Ron asked sadly.

"Ron, you've known me since we were eleven years old. We'll probably be seeing each other all the time when you and Harry move into Grimmauld Place. You'll get sick of seeing me, I'll be there so often," Hermione replied and smiled.

"I guess I was feeling lonely since you left to be with your parents. Hermione, I've missed you so much," Ron said as he pulled her close and kissed her deeply.

Hermione melted into his arms and kissed him back. She had missed him too and she couldn't wait to have another go at him. Apparently Ron felt the same way, for within minutes their clothes were off. She giggled as Ron nuzzled her neck. She soon began to gasp as he inserted one finger in her and rubbed her clit with his thumb.

"Do you like that?" Ron asked as he kissed her neck.

"Oh Merlin, yes! Don't stop," Hermione panted. No man had ever touched her so intimately and it felt incredible. The most extraordinary feeling started to flood through her and she felt it all the way to her toes. Ron had just given her first orgasm. So this was what all the big fuss was about, she thought.

"Wow, I was able to make you come? Brilliant," Ron said as he rolled over and pulled Hermione on top of him. She got a devilish glint in her eyes and started planting tiny kisses, working her way down his chest. Ron's breath caught when he noticed where she was heading. When Hermione took him into his mouth, he almost lost it. She lightly licked his penis and then slowly took him into her mouth, applying a small amount of pressure as she sucked. Ron groaned in pleasure; no witch had ever gone down on him. He had gotten a few handjobs from Lavender, but that was it. This was truly a night of firsts for him and Hermione. Ron stopped her because he was about to come. As good as her mouth felt, he really wanted to be inside of Hermione. She was about to climb off of him, but Ron shook his head and positioned her on his cock. Hermione slowly lowered herself down; she was still adjusting to his girth. Ron closed his eyes and reveled in how good and tight her pussy felt. She loved the way his strong hands gripped her hips and moved her along with his thrusts. Hermione closed her eyes and enjoyed the ride.

Ron opened his eyes and watched Hermione. She has no idea how incredibly sexy and gorgeous she is, he thought. He sat up and moved his hands, so he could wrap his arms around her. He kissed her deeply as he continued to thrust into her. Hermione moaned into his mouth and that was when he lost control, and his hot seed spilled into her. He let himself fall against his pillow and Hermione collapsed on his chest.

"I must say this was what they call 'mind-blowing' sex," Ron said as he caught his breath.

"I think I agree," Hermione answered and kissed him. She moved off of him and did a cleaning charm. She was about to dress, when Ron stopped her.

"Let's sleep in the raw, I want to feel you against me," Ron said.

Hermione dropped her clothes and snuggled up against him. Within minutes, they had fallen asleep.

At about 2 a.m. the next morning, Hermione awakened because her mouth was dry. As she climbed out of the bed to get a glass of water, she started having a peculiar feeling. Sure enough, as soon as her feet hit the floor, there was Bellatrix standing in the corner of Ron's bedroom, looking hideous as usual, the smell of rotting flesh more pungent than ever. Even though it was in the middle of the summer and the room was warm, Hermione could see her breath. The temperature had dropped to about 50 degrees and she could feel goosebumps breaking out on her exposed skin. She closed her eyes, chanting to herself, "you aren't real, you aren't real." When she opened her eyes, Bellatrix was right in front of her and she screamed, "Oh, but I am real! I'll always be a part of you mudblood!"

Ron awakened when Hermione started to scream and thrash about wildly in the bed, as if she was trying to push someone off of her. It took him a few minutes, but he was finally able to wake her up and calm her down. Ron held her as she told him about the nightmare. Hermione really thought she was past this; she hadn't had any nightmares since the last time she was at The Burrow. This one was worse than ever.

Draco woke up with a start at about 2 a.m. He had another nightmare about Bellatrix. It had been weeks since he had one and he thought that they had ceased. What prompted him to have one this morning, he had no idea. Draco couldn't get back to sleep, so he grabbed the book he was reading about dreams. He decided to sit in a wingback chair positioned near one of his bedroom windows. He tried to read, but he couldn't concentrate, so he let his thoughts drift. Earlier that month, he had received a letter from Hogwarts. He was going to be given the chance to finish school. He didn't want to go back, but his parents felt it would be in his best interest to do it. They felt that it was a sign that things were looking up if Hogwarts was willing to forget about the past and move on. Draco was upset at first, but then felt better about it when he found out that Blaise and Pansy were also returning to Hogwarts.

Hermione stayed for a few more days at The Burrow and had more nightmares involving Bellatrix. She and Ron were closer than ever and they made plans to meet up in London before she started school and he began his Auror training. Hermione felt that their lives were getting back on track and starting to heal from the mental and physical wounds inflicted by the war. She only wished she knew of a way to get rid of the nightmares and the scar.

College was quite a change of pace for Hermione. She eagerly jumped back into the mode of attending classes and strove to excel at all of them. On weekends, she could be found at Grimmauld Place with Ron. Harry usually went to Hogsmeade to spend the weekends with Ginny, unless he and Ron had a special assignment. Hermione couldn't put her finger on it. She didn't have any nightmares when she was at her parents' home, but yet when she spent the night with Ron at Grimmauld Place, Bellatrix returned with a vengeance. Could it be that Bellatrix could only infiltrate her mind when she was in an enchanted area?

Draco was surprised at how well everything was going since he returned to Hogwarts. At first, most of the students were wary of him, but when they saw that he kept to himself and the superior attitude he always seemed to carry around in the previous years was gone, they accepted him. He, along with Blaise and Pansy, had even begun to forge friendships with students from other houses. Draco couldn't believe it when he and Ginny Weasley spoke for almost an hour about Quidditch. She was actually quite nice and easygoing. He thought about all the years he wasted listening to his father's drivel about muggles and tainted purebloods. Draco had definitely missed out on making great friends, but he was determined to turn that around. This was going to be his best year at Hogwarts.

Draco thought the nightmares about Bellatrix had ceased when he started at Hogwarts, but for some reason, he couldn't figure out why, the bad dreams would return on weekends. He started to research different books to cease this madness, but so far had come up with nothing. Professor McGonagall had even given him permission to look in the Restricted Section of the library, but he couldn't find anything. At first Draco thought his aunt might have left behind Horcruxes, but if that was the case, Molly Weasley wouldn't have been able to kill her so easily. There was some other dark magic at work here and he was going to have to figure it out before he lost his mind.

Hermione had made a friend at the university. Thalia Campos was from Colombia, but was studying at the University of London because she wanted to apply to their Royal Veterinary College when she earned her degree. Animals had always fascinated her, especially growing up with a father who trained racehorses. When she was a teenager, she had started working with a local veterinarian in her town and was hooked. She was also multilingual, speaking Spanish, French, Portuguese, and perfect English, with a slight accent.

Thalia was such a character. Vivacious, along with looking like the actress Sofia Vergara, Hermione was a bit intimidated when she first met the Latina beauty. Thalia was beautiful and all the guys in class seemed to be obsessed with her. Hermione dismissed her as a mindless twit. This all changed when she and Hermione became lab partners. Much to Hermione's surprise, she and Thalia hit it off immediately, when Hermione realized underneath the beauty was a very sharp mind, maybe even more intelligent than Hermione's! The young women had a few of the same classes, so they became study partners. Thalia was a few years older than Hermione and had been attending the university for the previous three years. She was amazed when she found out that she and Hermione were going to graduate at the same time. To Thalia, it was refreshing to find someone as young as Hermione who wasn't a complete airhead and just wanted to party. Thalia and Hermione shared the same values and worked hard to keep high grade point averages.

One evening after cramming for an extremely difficult test, Hermione ended up spending the night at Thalia's apartment. It was then that Hermione found out something else about Thalia and that was probably another reason the young women got along so well. That night, Hermione was going to go home, but Thalia insisted that it was too late and she could sleep on the futon in the living room. Hermione had let her parents know she was staying at Thalia's and not long after she made the phone call, she fell asleep.

Hermione found her sleep disrupted again at about 2 a.m. She sat up in the futon and tears ran down her face, she knew Bellatrix was there in Thalia's apartment. The temperature dropped in the room and Hermione could see her breath, just like all the previous nightmares. She heard the distinct cackle of the demonic bitch and it seemed to be coming from the ceiling. Sure enough, Bellatrix was hovering over the futon, staring at Hermione with her crazed, beady eyes. She dropped closer and closer to Hermione. Hermione was frozen in place, breathing heavily.

Bellatrix laughed again and screamed, "I'll always find you, filthy mudblood! You'll never be able to stop me!"

As Hermione felt Bellatrix's hot, rank breath, she was able to scream and started to punch at Bellatrix.

Bellatrix looked shocked when Hermione actually made contact with her. Hermione caught this and screamed back, "That's right bitch! I can fight back now, you're getting weaker!" She even managed to pull out a chunk of Bellatrix's corkscrew curly hair.

"You mudblood bitch! How dare you pull out my crowning glory!" Bellatrix exclaimed with rage.

This went on for what seemed like ages, when all of a sudden, lights came on and Thalia was calming Hermione down.

"Hermione, wake up! What the hell girl! Who're you fighting with?" Thalia asked as Hermione settled down.

"Thalia, thank goodness it's you. You wouldn't believe the bad dream I was having," Hermione replied, breathing heavily.

"I think I have some idea. What's in your hand?" Thalia asked, and then gasped when she saw that it was a clump of curly hair. "Shit, Hermione, I know that's not your hair or mine, where did this come from?"

"I know you are going to think I've gone mad, but I think I pulled it off of the person I was fighting with in the nightmare," Hermione said hesitantly, waiting for Thalia's reaction.

"I don't think you're crazy Hermione. I just want to know one thing, when were you going to let me know you're Hermione Granger of The Golden Trio?" Thalia asked calmly, watching Hermione with her green eyes.

"Huh, what do you mean? I don't know what you're talking about," Hermione replied nervously, wondering how she was going to explain this to her friend.

Thalia patted her hand and sat down beside Hermione on the futon. "Calm down my friend, I think I need to explain. Before I came to this university, I attended Republic Wizard/Witch International School in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I'm a witch too."

Hermione nodded. "How did you know about me? This is great, I wondered about you too! Let's face it, asking someone outright if she's a witch when you first meet her probably wouldn't go over so well!"

"Tell me about it! When you started classes, I couldn't believe it when I heard your name! I thought that there was no way the Hermione Granger would be attending school here. Have you noticed I have plenty of acquaintances, but you're the only person I actually hang out with? I have to be careful, the majority of muggles would have us committed," Thalia answered and laughed.

"Thalia, there's so much I can discuss with you. A lot has happened at Hogwarts and our world this past year," Hermione said.

"I know, thank Merlin the war ended. You and your friends are legends at my school in Brazil. You have no idea how thankful the wizarding world is to all of you. I don't want to imagine what would've happened if Voldemort succeeded. Do you want to tell me about your dream?" Thalia asked gently.

"I keep dreaming about one of Voldemort's minions, Bellatrix Lestrange. She's dead, as a matter of fact, Ronald Weasley's mother killed her. I can't understand how she keeps haunting me in my dreams. Thalia, they feel so real and it's so scary. I can't believe I actually pulled out some of hair," Hermione said as she looked at the clump of hair with disgust.

"Did she do that to your arm?" Thalia asked as she looked at the "mudblood" scar exposed on Hermione's arm.

"Yes, that was Bellatrix's handiwork. I can't get rid of it, I've tried everything. A Disillusionment charm only lasts for about an hour, same as when I try camouflaging it with a muggle cosmetic concealer. The scar looks worse when I try to cover it up so I can never wear short sleeves," Hermione said.

"So that's why I always see you with a long-sleeve shirt. Let me take a closer look at this," Thalia said as she pulled Hermoine's arm towards her. The scar was red and raised when Thalia lightly touched it. It felt very warm, as if it was infected. "This might be a longshot Hermione, but my grandfather might be able to help you with this. He's considered to be a very powerful wizard in his village in Colombia."

"Thalia, at this point I'm ready to try anything. I've seen all of the healers here and no one can help me. The dark magic Bellatrix left behind is just too powerful," Hermione replied with a grimace.

"I tell you what. We have a fall break coming up in a few weeks. I was planning on going home. Why don't you come with me and we'll see if my abuelo Abraham can help you," Thalia said.

"You'd be willing to do that for me?" Hermione asked.

"Sure, we're friends aren't we?" Thalia asked and smiled.

"Yeah, but I don't want to impose on you and your family," Hermione replied.

"Hermione, I wouldn't have extended the offer if I thought that! Chill loca chica! Seriously, these dreams of yours look like nothing to play with, especially if you're bringing back physical matter! Let me check the calendar to see how long we have before the fall break," Thalia said.

Thalia went to her room and grabbed her iPhone. She looked at her calendar as she walked back to the living room and nodded. "Looks like you only have to put up with those nightmares for about two more weeks. I think it'd be worth your while to see if my abuelo can get rid of it."

"I'll have to let my parents know, but I'm sure they'll be okay with it. Thalia, at this point I'm willing to try anything. Thank you so much," Hermione said and hugged her friend.

"You're welcome Amiga. Now that all this has been put on the table, why don't you tell me what's going on with you and Ronald Weasley. I don't think I can go to sleep after all this," Thalia said and laughed.

Hermione and Thalia talked until the next morning. She told Thalia all about Ron and Thalia told her about her boyfriend back home, Lazaro. By the time they were done, the sun had come out and it was time to head to their classes. The young women had hardly slept, but they were so exhilarated from all they had discovered about each other, it didn't matter.

Mr. and Mrs. Granger had met Thalia a few times and were thrilled that Hermione was going to get the opportunity to travel to Colombia. They thought that Thalia was a great role model for their daughter and had no idea the young woman was a witch. Hermione was excited about the upcoming trip and even if Thalia's abuelo couldn't help her, she still appreciated Thalia being courteous enough to invite her to her home.

Hermione's enthusiasm for the trip was somewhat dampened by Ron's reaction when she had arrived at Grimmauld Place to spend the night with him.

"Blimey Hermione, why do you have to go to some other country? I thought you were going to spend your break with me," Ron said, a bit ticked off.

"Ron, did you listen to anything I said? Thalia thinks her grandfather can help me with the nightmares and maybe even get rid of this disgusting scar," Hermione replied, her mouth set in a flat line as she rolled up her shirt sleeve to remind Ron the scar hadn't gone away.

"Fine Hermione, do what you want to do, you will anyway. You don't care about me, you have your precious university and your little school chums, the hell with Ron," Ron said sulkily.

"What's with the attitude Ron? I spend time with you anytime I can. Excuse the hell out of me if I'm in study groups for upcoming exams. I want to do well, this is my future," Hermione said a little sharply.

"Maybe we need to take a break Hermione. I've been doing some thinking and it just seems like we want different things out of life," Ron replied, not looking at her directly.

Hermione's eyes narrowed. "A break? I thought we were on the same page and things were fine between us. Guess I was wrong. You want a break? Let's start now. I'm going home. I hope you enjoy your break!"

Ron watched openmouthed as Hermione walked out of Grimmauld Place and never looked back. He couldn't believe he'd been so stupid. He meant to tell Hermione he wanted to take a break the next morning. Shit, now he missed a chance to sleep with her before she left for Colombia. Oh well, he thought as he undressed to step into the shower. The night was young and maybe he'd meet up with that cute babe he met earlier in the week in Diagon Alley. Her name was Sherry and she worked in Madame Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. Ron and Harry had gone in to get fitted for Auror's robes and Sherry had taken their measurements. As he thought about the way she had flirtatiously used her wand to get close to his nether regions, he found himself hardening. He felt a little guilty about Hermione, but he had done nothing wrong. Now that she'd agreed to take a break, he could do whatever he wanted.

Hermione was totally pissed at Ron, but she didn't let thoughts about him get in the way of her studies. Before she knew it, it was time for her trip with Thalia. They left Heathrow Airport and flew to Bogotá, Colombia. From there, a taxi took the young women to Thalia's town, Caquetá. When they arrived at Thalia's home, the taxi turned into a long driveway, which ended at a palatial estate. A beautiful home 3-story home, whitewashed set with 4 Doric columns stood there amidst lush landscaping and fountains.

Hermione looked at Thalia in shock. "I had no idea you lived in a mansion!"

Thalia laughed at Hermione's reaction to the beautiful home. "Yeah, because that isn't where I live! This is Mr. and Mrs. Torres' home. They own all of this, and my father trains their horses. Our home is out back, closer to the horse barn. Look there's my parents and brothers!"

The taxi came to a stop and as soon as Hermione and Thalia paid the driver and stepped out, they were enthusiastically greeted by Thalia's family. Thalia's father and two brothers grabbed the young women's bags from the taxi and they started to walk towards their home.

The Campos made Hermione feel very welcome and she was glad that she had come. She could see where Thalia got her warmth and kind manners. The young women settled into Thalia's bedroom and unpacked their belongings. Thalia's mother Carmelita knocked on the door to let them know dinner was ready. As they ate, Hermione found out that Gaspar, Thalia's father, had been training racehorses for almost 30 years. Thalia's younger brothers, Noe and Pasqual, who were 9 and 11 years old, worked with their father and hoped to follow in his footsteps. They attended the wizard school in Brazil, but loved the horses. After dinner, Mr. Campos showed Hermione around the stables. She couldn't get over how beautiful and well-maintained the horses were. They were Arabian thoroughbreds, some of the fastest horses in the world.

When Hermione and Thalia settled in for the evening, Hermione let her friend know how much she enjoyed meeting her family and that she loved their home.

"Thank you Hermione, I'm so glad you decided to come back with me. Hey, I've been meaning to ask you something. Did anything happen before we left? You seem a little out of sorts," Thalia remarked.

"You know me too well. It's Ron. He got mad at me because I was coming here. He decided we needed a 'break' from each other. I have no idea where that came from. I thought everything was fine between us," Hermione replied.

Thalia's eyes narrowed. "Hermione, I don't like the sound of this. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but sounds like your boy is up to something. Like maybe seeing someone else."

Hermione's heart sank. She had wondered about that too and hearing Thalia say she suspected the same thing really hit home. "I don't know what I would do if Ron found someone else. I hate to think that's the reason he wanted a break. Ugh, why can't guys just say what's on their mind!"

"Because they're cavemen Hermione. Look, I'm sorry. I think I may have spoken out of turn. I'm just basing my opinion on what you've told me about Ron. But one more thing, don't you think he's a little controlling? I mean, didn't he want you to go back for another year at Hogwarts instead of the muggle university?" Thalia asked.

"Yeah, but I don't think he was trying to control me. Ron just wanted us to be in the same environment. It is more difficult to see each other with me in the muggle world, but we managed, or at least I thought we did," Hermione said thoughtfully. Was Ron controlling? The more Hermione thought about it, little things cropped up. Like they always had to do whatever Ron planned, if she wanted to do something different, he bitched and whined about it until she gave in. Maybe there was something to what Thalia said.

"Look, let's get to bed. I shouldn't have brought that up about Ron. It's really none of my business Hermione. Sometimes my mouth gets ahead of my brain!" Thalia said.

"It's fine Thalia, I'm glad you spoke your mind. To be honest, I've been having the same thoughts as you, but I hate thinking about it," Hermione replied.

"It'll all work out Amiga. Your Ron will probably be waiting for you with flowers and apologies when we get back," Thalia said reassuringly, but something told her that wouldn't be the case. The whole "take a break" from each other scenario didn't sit well with her. She felt Hermione's heart was going to be broken.

"Thanks Thalia. Hey, what time are we getting up tomorrow?" Hermione asked.

"5 a.m., because my abuelo lives 3 hours away from here. He's anxious to meet you and he told me that the spirits let him know that you'd be coming. We'll probably be there for most of the day and we might end up spending the night, so make sure you bring a change of clothes," Thalia answered.

"Got ya. Goodnight," Hermione said as she switched off the lamp beside her bed.

"Goodnight to you too," Thalia said and smiled as she also switched off her lamp.

The young women set off early the next morning in a Jeep Thalia borrowed from her father's employers. Abuelo Abraham lived on an unpaved road and Thalia wanted to make sure they had reliable transportation in case the roads would be muddy.

Three hours later, they arrived at a small, wooden home, really a shack, with a tin roof. There wasn't a blade of grass to be found. Chickens were everywhere and a small burro was tied to a fence post. Hermione wondered if they were in the right place. Was this really where a powerful wizard lived? All that changed when Thalia's abuelo came out to greet them.

"Thalia, bonita cara! It's been way too long niña, how's school? Ah, this has to be Ms. Granger. It is so good to finally meet you. Come, we will get started," Abraham said with a heavy accent as he hugged Thalia and then shook Hermione's hand.

Hermione couldn't explain it, but when she shook Abraham's hand and looked into his eyes, she saw safety there and a feeling of calm settled within her. He reminded her of Professor Dumbledore, her old Headmaster at Hogwarts.

Abraham led them into his home, which looked very humble on the outside, but was very spacious and comfortable on the inside. Thalia would tell Hermione later that Abraham had enchanted his home to deter thieves from entering it, since his home was so secluded.

The elderly man explained everything to Hermione. He was going to hypnotize her and enter her mind. What it amounted to was that Abraham was going to seek out Bellatrix and drive her away from the recesses of Hermione's mind. He looked at the scar on Hermione's arm and grimaced. This was very dark magic indeed, he thought. Abraham was going to do everything in his power to help Hermione. It would be his way of thanking her for all that she did in the war that led to the demise of Lord Voldemort. He shuddered when he thought about what would've happened to the world if Voldemort had succeeded.

Thalia watched in fascination as Hermione fell into a deep sleep. Her abuelo spoke softly, reciting different spells in Spanish. All at once, he fell into a deep trance and stared into the distance.

Abraham was in a dark place. He had never in his life felt so much wickedness. He began to hear a high-pitched cackle in the distance. He tensed up and knew it was Bellatrix. When she noticed him, she stopped and snorted.

"What's this? Where's the mudblood? What do you think you're going to do old man?"

"I'll be taking Ms. Granger's place, you filthy chupacabra! I'm here to banish you where you belong!" Abraham bellowed. As he took in the horrible sight of Bellatrix and her rotting clothes, along with her foul odor of death, he wondered how these nightmares didn't push Hermione over the edge. This made Abraham even more determined to get rid of Bellatrix.

Bellatrix let out the most awful, spine-curdling laugh. "I'm feeling generous tonight old man. Go back to where you belong and give me the mudblood!"

"I'm afraid I can't do that," Abraham said as he lifted his wand and began the banishing spells.

The dead witch and the elderly wizard began tossing many spells and hexes at each other. At one point, Abraham was afraid he had gotten in over his head, but much to his relief, Bellatrix started to weaken. He saved his most powerful spell for last and this was what finally did Bellatrix in. For the first and he hoped the last time, Abraham performed the Mephistopholean Curse. Bellatrix screamed in agony as she realized what occurred. Hideous misshapen demons appeared out of nowhere and latched onto her. This was the end of Bellatrix, she had been banished to hell and would never enter anyone's dreams ever again.

Thalia breathed a sigh of relief when her abuelo woke up from his trance after 8 long hours. When he smiled at her, she knew he had succeeded. He said a few words and Hermione stirred and opened her eyes. She blinked and looked at Abraham, and then Thalia.

"I'm ready to do this whenever you are," Hermione said, not realizing she'd been hypnotized for all that time.

"It's done Amiga! Wow, look at your arm!" Thalia exclaimed.

Hermione gasped. The scar was gone. Thank Merlin for Thalia for bringing her to Abraham. Hermione didn't know how she'd ever repay the man. This was beyond her wildest expectations. She couldn't wait to show her parents and friends!

The young women ended up spending the night at Abraham's. They spent the next day with him and he reassured Hermione that he wanted no kind of payment from her. He was satisfied that he was able to get rid of someone as diabolical as Bellatrix.

Abraham stood outside of his "enchanted" shack and waved to Hermione and Thalia as they left in the late afternoon. He was still tired from what he had done the day before, but he was in good spirits. He went inside his home and to his bedroom. As Abraham fell asleep he thought about Hermione Granger. She was a special witch, she needed a good powerful wizard at her side. It sure wasn't that redheaded one he kept seeing in his visions, Abraham thought to himself and chuckled.

Draco woke up one morning at Hogwarts with an immense feeling of relief. The past few weeks had been very promising. In a surprising turn of events, Harry Potter had spoken up for him and his parents when they went to trial. All of the charges were dropped against him and his mother. Lucius, his father, had to pay a hefty fine and spend a few weeks on house arrest, but that was a small price compared to being faced with a stint in Azkaban, or worse, the Dementor's Kiss. His parents planned on selling Malfoy Manor and moving to their villa in Italy. Draco planned on moving there with him when he finished at Hogwarts.

But the relief he felt came from a dream. In the dream, he saw an elderly, Hispanic man. The man gave him a kind smile and told him that everything was going to be fine. Draco couldn't describe it, but as the man spoke to him and looked into his eyes, he felt so peaceful. As Draco analyzed the dream, one other aspect popped up. For some reason, Hermione Granger was in the dream too, smiling and it looked as if she was with the elderly man. What the hell was that all about, Draco thought. The last time he had seen Granger was here at Hogwarts after the demise of Voldemort. He hadn't seen her since then. Why would she pop up in his dream?

A/N: Hope you liked it! A little departure from what I usually write, but I like where this is going.