THREE

"I've made up my mind and my decision is final!"

Hermione huffed in irritation at the hard-headedness of her best friend. No matter how long she, Ron, Harry and the Weasleys had all known each other, no one ever seemed to know or understand Hermione, and she was quickly losing patience with that fact.

"But Hermione, what about your job?" Harry questioned a bit hesitantly. "You can't just quit and leave the Ministry, it doesn't work that way. You have to give notice and find and train a replacement. Besides, you are a Department Head, what would they do without you?"

"Job? What job, Harry? I work as a glorified clerk in a made-up department, in the bowels of the bloody Ministry of Magic," she fumed. "I don't do anything. There is no field work because I am not allowed to seek out any magical creatures, I have to wait for them to come to me, and most of the time I end up filing things or doing research for other departments because they are too busy to do it themselves. Don't bother, just ask Miss Granger, she has loads of free time. I knew I should have returned to Hogwarts when Professor McGonagall asked me."

Hermione was in high dudgeon now, her fingertips sparking silvery sparks, and she vented everything at Harry, sparing him nothing.

"I told her no when the school opened last Autumn, and I told her no again at Christmas hols." She glared at Harry who didn't dare speak yet. "I could have been preparing to teach. You all knew I wanted to study and teach Charms. It's all I ever wanted to do. I had even discussed an apprenticeship with Professor Flitwick, but I let you talk me out of my dreams... and for what?"

Hermione covered her face with her hands trying to stem the tears of frustration that threatened to overwhelm her. She wasn't as successful as she would have wished, tears spilling down her cheeks as she tried to regain her composure.

"Where is all this coming from, Hermione?" Harry was confused by Hermione's little speech. "I thought you were happy with your decision to join the Ministry with Ron and me. Remember, we are going to change the Wizarding World!"

Hermione laughed mirthlessly. "My decision? Really, Harry? Interesting that you should say that. And I certainly am not doing anything to change the Wizarding World considering my department doesn't get much advertising or work. I always wondered why I only get a handful of cases of Magical Creature rights a month."

The Boy Who Lived backed away from the look in Hermione's eyes. "Now, 'Mione..."

"First of all, my name is NOT 'Mione. Secondly, don't even try to patronise me. You lied to me. You used our friendship against me, and I am very angry with you right now. I am furious with every one of you that plotted behind my back. Perhaps, after some space and time, I will move past this. I am not sure what I am more furious about."

"Herm..." A hand in his face kept Harry from finishing what he started to say.

"I said no, Harry, you will let me finish. I have already had this discussion with the Weasleys, and now I am going to have it with you. I can't believe that you and Ron lied to me, that even Ginny knew what you were planning and that you somehow managed to get the Minister to lie to me also. You both knew I wanted to finish school and sit my NEWTs, so did the rest of the Weasleys. You both lied so that I wouldn't."

Harry paled as he realised what Hermione was talking about. "How did..."

"How did I find out? Well, imagine my surprise when Percy Weasley approached me to ask when I was going to set a date. It seems that my job only lasts until my wedding, and then my section dissolves, and he regains the office space for storage. Of course, Percy needs that space as soon as possible. And imagine my further surprise when confronting Kingsley, I find that they really didn't have to have me here for you and Ron to be hired as Aurors. You told me that so I would follow you. And dear, sweet Hermione would never let a friend suffer if she could help it."

Hermione stood quietly for a moment then took a deep breath before she delivered the final blow.

"And imagine my horror when I found out that my supposed best friend wasted a life debt to make sure HIS best friend got what he wanted."

"Hermione, please."

"Please what, Harry? You lied to me and wasted something precious so that Ron could try to talk me into dating him?"

"I never meant to hurt you; Ron really likes you, and I just wanted us to all be together, a family, me married to Ginny and you married to Ron."

"We were already family; you didn't have to plot behind my back. Why can't you and the Weasleys see that what I felt for Ron in school was a crush? I realise now we never suited in any way that counted. I want more from life than to be just a wife and mother."

Harry drew back like he had been struck. "Nothing is more important than family, how can you not want..."

Hermione shook her head. "Harry, I am not trying to hurt your feelings, but I have a family, I have parents who love me and encourage me to go after my dreams. I've never needed fulfillment in that way, not like you and even Ron. I want to learn and travel, and I want to teach. If and when I settle down, it will be because someone special completes the life I have built, not because it is expected of me."

Harry winced at the finality in Hermione's tone.

"Will you ever speak to us again?" he whispered. "Have I lost your friendship forever?" The tears were thick in Harry's voice.

"Yes, I will speak to you again. No, you will never lose my friendship, Harry. One day I won't be angry anymore, and you and Ron won't be hurt either, and we will start over."

Hermione turned and Disapparated, leaving Harry standing alone wondering how he and Ron could have hurt their friend so.

*****

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry stood proudly again. Hermione stood at the gate waiting for Hagrid to come let her in. She was home once more and fairly trembled with the excitement of getting back to her studies and to working towards her teaching certification. She had finally quit berating herself for wasting more than a year on something other than her education. It had been several months since she had seen Harry or the Weasleys, but her feelings were still raw after finding out the only reason she even had a job was because Ron had decided that he wanted to marry her, and if she went back to school, she might get away. Now was her chance to shine. She was thrilled to be back in the world of academia at last. Professor Flitwick was as excited as she, having written a long letter detailing his plans for the year as Hermione was to become his apprentice over and above her regular classes.

Soon enough Hagrid rumbled to the gate and pushed it open. Hermione hurried through excitedly, unsurprised to be scooped up in the half-giant's crushing embrace.

"Oh, Hagrid!" Hermione laughed. "How I have missed you!"

The gentle giant bellowed his own laugh and set Hermione down before he could crack her ribs. "Tis good ter see ya, 'Mione. This ol' castle ain't been tha same since you and the boys left."

Hermione smiled brightly at Hagrid. "Well, I am back, at least for a year and I will make sure to take tea with you as often as I can."

Hagrid blushed happily and turned to make his way back to his hut. "Perfesser McGonagall'll be waitin' fer ya in the Headmistress' Office. You know tha way. I'm off to feed Buckbeak and Fang."

Hermione waved her goodbye, and headed up the path to the castle proper. The old building looked as though there had never been a battle and no damage had ever been done to its walls. The people that helped repair Hogwarts had outdone themselves. The inside of the castle looked no different than it had when Hermione had studied within its halls before and for that she was glad. It didn't take Hermione long to make her way to the entrance of the Headmistress' Office, and as she stood and waited to be admitted, a ghostly chill caressed her neck and trailed down her spine. She gasped loudly and quickly looked around, but saw nothing. Turning her attention to the opening door and the welcoming arms of her mentor, Hermione soon forgot the sensation she felt, and put the matter aside.

*****

Outside the Headmistress' Office, Severus Snape cancelled the Disillusionment spell he normally wore when wandering around the castle halls. "Interesting," he thought with some small touch of trepidation. "I wonder how the little Know-It-All knew I was here."