The Existence of Innocence

Everyone loses their innocence regarding life when the realities of humanity, or the lack thereof, emerge. The existence of innocence fades for each person at some point, including joy, imagination, and idealism. Losing one's innocence about the world should be just another step into adulthood, allowing one to move on to experiencing the world in a new way and learning to love it through new eyes.

However, when catastrophic events rip that childlike wonder from a person, it is sometimes hard for those who have been violated by the cruel hand of injustice to return to being alive the way they were in their youth.

Every day without a tragedy, a problem, or a mess to clean up feels monotonous, and every monumental event feels pointless.

Because how do you ascend higher when you were labeled the "Golden Girl" at 17?

Board meetings. Patients. Home.

Patients. Paperwork. Home.

Board meetings. Patients. Home.

Patients. Papework. Home.

For years, Hermione was stuck on autopilot.

Go to work. Smile.

Photographs for the Prophet? Smile.

Dinners at the Burrow? Smile.

Scowl at an employee? Smile at someone else afterwards.

Board meetings? Smile.

Because how do you do anything but smile when you save the world, and then are asked just to get a job?

Smile.

Smile.

Smile.

Try not to scream.

Hermione Granger is called in to work at St. Mungo's on a "special" client while a former friend fights for their life. Despite everything she had done to save the wizarding world, dark magic seems to be permeating everything in Hermione's world.