Then & Now

Chapter One

Hermione POV

"I think helping defeat the Dark Lord and destroying Horcuxes beats passing your N.E.W.T.S. and riding in a little boat," Ron Weasley stated. He set down the bag he had carried down the steps at the Burrow and turned to face Hermione Granger. "I don't understand why you need to go back. We were already offered jobs at the Ministry."

"I want to graduate," Hermione insisted. She had to fight to keep her voice level. They had been having this conversation all summer. After all they had been through, she expected Ron to be supportive of her choice.

"Well I think it's great," Ginny Weasley smiled, as she threw her own duffle onto the floor. "Now I have someone to copy off of." Her smile widened as she watched Hermione's face change at the suggestion.

"It's a waste of time," Ron continued, ignoring his sister. Hermione kept herself from rolling her eyes long enough to turn away. She pretended to check the contents of her bag one last time to ensure she wasn't forgetting anything. "Harry and I start tomorrow at the Ministry for our Auror orientation. You should be there too, Hermione." She tuned him out.

Ron started the conversation the same way each time. He would tell her that she was better than Hogwarts, as if she didn't desire to gain more knowledge and expand her working knowledge of spells and charms. He would go on to tell her there wasn't a need because she had already secured a position at the Ministry. Kingsley Shacklebolt had personally offered a position alongside Harry and Ron after the war. She could tell though his offer was genuine, it was also to aid his cause in bringing the various members of the wizarding world back together under a united front. That unity was what had won him the position and it was the basis for his campaign. Hermione had chosen to pursue what she thought was right when she joined Harry in his fight. The war was over. Voldemort was dead. It was time for her to pursue her own cause.

Behind her, Ron was still going on. For a moment, she questioned her decision to call him her boyfriend. All through her schooling the relationship between them had been building, from the very first time he teased her to the passionate kiss they had shared in the Chamber of Secrets - all of it seemed to lead to the point when they became a couple, but now that it had happened she didn't feel any satisfaction. If anything, she felt sad, as if it was the ending of their story rather than the beginning.

"Mione?"

She looked up at Harry Potter, who had a amused expression on his face.

"Bye Harry." She straightened up to hug him goodbye. He embraced her back, giving her a squeeze.

Instinctively, he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, as he backed away. "Still can't convince you to join us?" he gestured to Ron, who had continued his rant at his sister. Ginny was clearly ignoring him, but Ron had never been the most preceptive of the Weasley clan.

"It's been the three of us for as long as I can remember," she started, "but now is a time of change. I need to do this by myself for myself."

Harry smiled. "I know."

Hermione found herself smiling back. Then as Ron raised the volume of his voice, her smile faded. "I wish Ron understood."

"He does," Harry stated, glancing over her to his best friend. "Ron just has his own way of expressing it." Hermione shook her head, closing up her bag. "Someone once said he had the emotional range of a teaspoon, if I remember."

This time her smile stayed. "Thanks, Harry." She gave him another hug. "I'll be looking forward to your letters. I want to hear how-."

"RONALD BILIUS WEASLEY!" Molly's roaring mother-tiger voice startled everyone in the room, causing them to freeze in their spots. The Weasley matron entered the living room and placed her hands on her hips. "What is that motor bike doing here?" She raised one hand to point out the window.