Regrets & Realizations

The Hogwarts Express

Hermione's POV:

In a way, I wasn't surprised that Ron wasn't coming back to Hogwarts. He had never been interested in anything other than the great hall during our years there, and he wasn't exactly keen on doing anything school related.

Though what did surprise me, was that he made it seem as if I was crazy for going back. He said that anyone would hire me because I had played such a big part of the war. And while that was great to have guaranteed job opportunities, it just seemed as if it was handed to me for simply sticking up for what was right. Which hundreds of other witches and wizards had done.

And now, here I am sitting on the Hogwarts express, and overthinking anything and everything while my anxiety drives me to the brink of insanity. The only thing I knew for certain was that this year would be the hardest year yet.

Two sharp knocks suddenly pulled me back into reality and when I turn to the compartment door, I see Harry standing there with his famous lopsided grin.

"Roles are switched, huh?" he said

I blinked a few times as if that would help me understand what he had just said and what in Merlin's name was going on.

"What?" Was my brilliant reply

"Usually I'm the one with troubles on my mind, looking out the train window like I'm in some kind of sad music video. Wonderwall maybe?" he said and I laughed

"I don't particularly see that song as sad." I said "Anyways what brings you here?"

He took the question as an invitation and sat down on the seat across from me. "I can't say I know really." he said "I mean, I was close to not coming at all. In fact, just last week I was down at the ministry to enroll in auror training."

"So what happened?" I asked, but he just shook his head

"Call me crazy, but I heard your voice inside my head. You said that I wouldn't really be doing what makes me happy by being an auror so young, only doing what everyone else around me expects from me. Hogwarts has always been my home and it would be silly to pass up this opportunity."

How could it possibly be that I was the voice inside his head? I mean, and not only that but he listens to it. And with such an important decision as well.

"I'm the voice inside your head?" I asked, and even though I was pretty certain on the answer, a part of me wanted to hear him admit it.

"Yeah...which is the only reason I think I'm sitting here today." he said and gave out a small yet nervous laugh, though I could tell he was being a hundred percent serious right now. "Anyways..." Harry tried avoiding the topic "Ron didn't come back."

"Yeah. Auror training." I said as if he didn't already know

"So...long distance relationship?" he asked "How do you make that work?"

"I don't." I said rather bluntly "I broke up with him not too long after the war ended. Maybe June or July. We weren't seeing eye to eye--we never did--I just realized the whole relationship thing was pretty rushed."

Harry scoffed. "Not on Ron's behalf." he said "That bloke fancied you since fourth year."

"Fourth Year? No, I would have known..." I said "I mean, he dated Lavender in sixth year and had been all over her. How could that have happened if he fancied me."

"It's Ron, Hermione...you're not going to get a logical explanation." he said and I laughed

"Harry, I've really missed you." I said

"Same here, Hermione."