Chapter Text
Coming back to Hogwarts was not an easy decision for Hermione. But becoming an Auror immediately after the war, like Harry and Ron, was not an ideal choice either. So there she was, sitting in the train compartment with the ghosts of the once inseparable Golden Trio lingering. Just as she was about to cave in to the feeling of utter loneliness and cry, Ginny Weasley entered with Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottom. At least the Silver Trio was still intact.
Not that she wasn't in contact with Harry or Ron—just that the pressure of their Auror training and Hermione's own reluctance to be around people had created a rift between them. They did spend some time before Hogwarts at the Burrow, as she could not return to her parents, who didn’t even know about her existence. But she hadn’t burdened anyone with that knowledge; it was her own doing after all. She did visit her family in Australia once, but the prognosis by the healers about their inability to reverse the memory charm any time soon was enough to send her spiraling back to London.
Soon enough, the boys bonded over their shared jobs at the Ministry, not understanding why Hermione had rejected the offer. Frankly, she didn’t either. She didn’t understand a lot of things these days, but she was deemed The Brightest Witch of Her Age and must keep up the facade. There was nothing bright about the dingy apartment she rented in Muggle London, while she lied to the Weasleys and Harry about visiting her parents for the rest of the break. She couldn’t go back to Australia and risk breaking down again at the sight of her parents happier than she had ever seen them—or at the fact that the last time she approached them their eyes roved over her without even a hint of recognition.
She just needed an escape- from the Burrow, from prying eyes of the public and the concern etched in Harry’s face every time he looked at her knowingly. Knowing that she too was grieving the loss of Fred Weasley, perhaps more deeply that anyone realized, as only Harry knew about them. Fred and Hermione shared something special, unspoken but undeniable. A severed bond that now weighed heavily on her heart, buried beneath the layers of grief and longing. She couldn’t even bear to look at George without tearing up. So, she left and ventured into Muggle London; long estranged but ever so welcoming and safe.
She rented a small apartment, spent days trying to make it homely but failing. She wallowed in misery and cried herself to sleep everyday. And in the dark of night, nightmares plagued her mind, driving her to scratch at the wound inflicted by Bellatrix's cursed blade until it bled anew. The physical pain offered a fleeting distraction from the overwhelming emotional turmoil that consumed her. Until one day, she received a letter from Headmistress McGonagall giving her the choice to return to Hogwarts to finish school and to take on the Head Girl position. Tired of all the self-loathing, misery and wallowing, Hermione accepted the offer hoping it would provide her a reprieve of sorts, plus the Head Girl Dormitory was an added bonus. As she continued to think about the possible people who could be the Head Boy she would have to share space with for the rest of the academic year, Ginny snapped her out of her trance. "Oi, Hermione. Its time to put on our robes", she said. Satisfied that she didn't further inquire about her silently staring out of the window for the entirety of the train ride while the three caught up, she changed into her school robes, now adorned with a shiny Head Girl Badge.
"Woah, Hermione you did not tell me that you were the Head Girl this year, guess I should’t be surprised, its you afterall.", Neville said sheepishly. "Mione, I will miss having you as a room mate. I don't know who will I have to share the dorm with, I just hope it is someone who knows Quidditch", Ginny said. To which Luna wished her luck and snuck out of the compartment with Neville, leaving the two girls alone facing each other. When Hermione didn't speak, just nodded in answer and looked away Ginny continued, "You know, I knew about you and Fred too." This stunned Hermione and she turned to look at Ginny, who was watching Hermione with a sad look on her face. "I have known for a while but just didn't know how to bring it up." "Then why did you?" Hermione replied "Bring it up now?" She shrugged and said, "Just..you have been so distant lately Mi, and now we will not even share the same room, I just wanted to let you know that I am here if you need me, okay?" She reached forward to squeeze her hand and stood up to leave the compartment. "How?", Hermione spoke before she could stop herself. Looking back at Hermione, Ginny smiled, "I am his favourite sister, of course he told me. But I knew even before that, he just looked at you differently, Mione." Hermione's eyes watered, she stood up and reached out to Ginny to pull her into a hug then whispered, "Thank you, Gin." Finally, she looked at her and said "Don't worry I will sneak you into my dorm for girl's night." Both of them snickered and walked hand in hand out of the train.