With Good Intentions

That she became unwelcome at the Burrow did not surprise her; Fred’s death rent a hole in the family that took years and many innocent deaths to cover; it never truly healed. George’s support and Harry’s abandonment buoyed and wrecked Hermione in equal portions. Days after the battle ended, George approached her and held on for dear life.

“You know Mum and Dad… They never understood the Malfoys risking Draco for Voldemort. ‘Course we never gave ’em a chance to keep us out of the war,” he chuckled, “Fred and me gave old Voldie’s gits a right good chase trying to shut down our little wireless gig. He’d have agreed with me; you go out there and heal us, little sister.”

“Thank you,” Hermione sniffled within the comfort of his arms,” but I think I’ve just ruined that ‘sister’ possibility…”

Ron reluctantly terminated their fledgling relationship shortly thereafter, unable to withstand the pressure of thinking for himself. 

Virtually living in the Ministry that summer made it obvious that Harry had chosen the Weasley’s side over hers. Nothing they’d been through kept him from avoiding her in the hallowed hallways of the changing edifice, avoiding her overtures when they met in the building’s dining facility, avoiding her owls (which she’d had to send to his office as they were no longer welcome at the Burrow) and avoiding her eyes when Kingsley tried to release the logjam by sealing them both in his office with a mandate to “talk it out”. 

In the end, Hermione’s assertion that the war hadn’t yet been won proved true.

“Harry — you were there! We can’t all go on hating one another if we truly want to end this. I didn’t fight in this horrid war just to flip the power balance. I don’t want to be a mudblood with power! I want to Hermione Granger, and maybe Weasley, who’s smart and capable where magic’s concerned.”

“The Malfoys supported him!”

“So did Snape — or have you forgotten!?”

“Snape changed sides!”

“So did the Malfoys!”

“All those people in the Battle — all of our friends who died — they caused that! They never stopped following that lunatic! They’re the reason my parents died, can’t you see that!?”

“What I saw at the Manor were three people trying to change sides without getting KILLED! And as I was the only one TORTURED, I’m sure I had an excellent view of who participated and cheered that psychotic bitch on and who cowered in fear and looked away!”

“People DIED because of them! They let those Death Eaters into Hogwarts!”

“People DIED fighting for YOU as well. Draco saved YOU by LYING about your identity. Narcissa Malfoy saved YOU by LYING to the strongest LEGILLIMENS in HISTORY! They deserve time to recover and find their way.”

“Ginny and I don’t feel that way… Not with Fred…”

“And what about us? Does one disagreement end our friendship?”

When he didn’t answer or meet her steady gaze, she eased his burden one more time, as she always had.

“You’ll always be my best friend, Harry. When you get your head out of your arse, I’ll be here. Goodbye,” and with a quick hug, she apparated through The Minister of Magic’s containment spell and left, her resignation (in her neat handwriting) sitting on Kingsley’s desk on the parchment she’d conjured.