Hello ! This is my second HP and my first multi-chaptered one in this universe. I hope you'll enjoy it. For those who are reading my IM fic and/or my DW fic, it's also coming. Don't worry ;)

A few chapters have already been written and corrected. I'll update once a week.

A thousand thanks to my Beta Rachael, you're a gem!

Disclaimer: Nothing in the HP universe is mine.

Fugue State

Chapter one:

She lives in Paris for several years before she even contemplates the idea of coming back. It creeps on her like a shadow in the corner of her eye, she doesn't notice the idea is there until it's staring at her and she's unable to run from it. Hermione Granger has run long enough. She ran through endless corridors in old castles and darkened ministries. She ran through cities and forests, her hand never far away from her wand. In the end, she ran away from it all because she felt like they owed it to her. Hermione Granger was owed peace and the right to live her life as she chose.

Of course, they didn't let her.

XXXXX

The school was in ruins and the Ministry in shambles. Dumbledore was long gone. Severus Snape was a dead hero. Voldemort… a memory everyone was eager to forget. An entire community was looking for answers. Harry had done his part and was again the hero of the Wizarding world. Hermione remembers his bitter comments about Wizarding Britain and its unhealthy obsession with heroes. But he played his part nonetheless, because it was expected, but mostly because he knew it would die down once the shock of the Final Battle's aftermath faded away and the politics came back with an absurd regularity. Ron and herself were also hailed as heroes, although they had different statuses.

Harry, tired of the fight, had preferred to focus his efforts on reconstructing Hogwarts, partly because he felt responsible for its destruction, partly because it was the first home he'd known and was determined to see it back to its former glory. Which left Ron with the duty of chasing the remaining Death Eaters that had escaped after Riddle's defeat. He acquitted himself as well as he could, one day in Auror training, the other in strategic meetings with the new head of the DMLE. It took some time and a lot of work, but the last of Riddle's army went to trial almost a year after the final battle.

Meanwhile, Hermione was trying to make sense of the mess that had become the Ministry with Kingsley and Arthur. The press was hounding her with questions. Hermione Granger is the brightest witch of her age! Hermione Granger helped defeating the Dark Lord! Hermione Granger has all the answers! In the back of her head, she could hear Professor Snape snicker at her. "You rip what you sow, Miss Granger." She lasts a year and a month, precisely.

XXXX

Her first priority is to put into place an emergency Wizengamot session with the remaining members that are not accused of being former Death Eaters or suspected sympathizers of the Dark Lord. The number of members they come up with is laughingly low. But they make it work and add members as they go.

Sirius Black is the first new member of the Wizengamot. On his first day, he arrives wearing muggle clothes - holey jeans, a Black Sabbath tee-shirt and a leather jacket – and sets he tone: this is a new age and old prejudices have no place here. Of course, the change does not come as easily as that, but Kingsley can't help but chuckle when he hears Sirius nominating Andromeda Tonks to join him in the Wizengamot. "Believe me, you'll need someone to keep me on a leash and Dromeda's the witch for the job. And she's a good Black. A dying breed, really." During that first year, the Wizengamot, with Kingsley as Minister and Hermione as Undersecretary of the Reform – a temporary title until the Ministry is back on its tracks - votes new laws and undoes everything the former government has put into action under the last three Administrations. The legal and magical implications of such changes are extremely complex but they succeed nonetheless to put the DMLE back into place in less than a month before making sure that in less than two years time, Azkaban will be rid of all its Dementors and properly overseen by new governors.

The work on the other departments is colossal. Security, Education, Magical Creatures, Health, Foreign and State Affairs, everything is reviewed, corrected and put to the vote. Fortunately, the Wizengamot is far more progressive this time around and even though some old prejudices remain – to Hermione and Sirius' endless disappointment – the desire to never repeat what everyone had gone through under Riddle's reign of terror, the votes are mostly unanimous. A year later, new elections are about to be held, the school renovations are almost finished and Hermione is exhausted.

It happens at the grand re-opening of Hogwarts. Everyone who's helped with the reconstruction or financially contributed is here. The Ministry is here. The Order is here. The Press is here. Harry, Ron and Hermione have barely seen each other in a year, save for Christmas and the odd dinner at the Weasleys. When they all find each other in the Gryffindor common room, it's too much for Hermione who starts to cry out of sheer exhaustion and relief that finally, finally, she can start to put things behind her and look to the future, with her friends beside her. Ron and Harry, who understand all too well what Hermione must feel like, take her in their arms and don't let go until her tears dry and the shaking stops.

XXXX

They come down the tower twenty minutes later or so, in time for Harry to give his speech and to hear Kingsley and McGonagall give theirs. Hermione only listens with one ear. She can't help looking around, watching everyone who's here, the friends and acquaintances she hasn't seen in months. Her heart clenches in her chest when she sees Remus with a very quiet Teddy, who seems to have fallen asleep in his father's arms, his small blue-haired head resting on Remus' shoulder. Remus looks better than the last time she saw him, which was at the Burrow a few months back. He was still struggling with grief and single fatherhood back then. He seems a bit more rested but not by much. At least, Hermione thinks, he's grown used to being a father without Tonks. She remembers when the notion of fatherhood had frightened him to no end. So much, that he almost ran away from it. Her throat tightens at the thought. Beside him, she sees Sirius, sitting close to him. At least, they still have each other. She looks at Ron and Harry who are sitting near the Minister as McGonagall is speaking. She still has them too. She thanks her good star they weren't taken away from her.

She hears shuffling on her right and almost gets up and leave when she sees Rita Skeeter taking the seat next to her. Her over-sweetened perfume almost makes her cough. She instantly regrets not having taken her bug jar with her. The blonde woman leans towards her and asks in a whisper:

"Miss Granger, how nice to see you again. Would you care to give your prognostics for the forthcoming election? A lot of people believe you should run for Minister for Magic. Although some say it's a little premature to make a Muggleborn as young as you are head of the British Wizarding community, people start to doubt Emergency Minister Shacklebolt to do the job properly. Any thoughts on the subject?"

Hermione clenches her fists. Had this woman no respect?

"This is hardly the time or the place to speak about politics. We are here to remember and honour our fallen ones. Please, have a little decency!"

Rita Skeeter grins. "So you don't deny that you are going to run against Emergency Minister Shacklebolt? How interesting."

Hermione flips her head towards Skeeter. "What, no! I'm not running for Minister. Don't put words in my mouth, Skeeter. Or you'll get reacquainted with my favourite Mason Jar. Or maybe, just maybe, I'll give you away to the DMLE. I'm sure they'll be very interested in hearing what I've got to say about your unregistered abilities."

Skeeter flinches. "You don't want to have me as an enemy, little witch. Surely we can find some common ground to agree on? A witch as ambitious as you are. We could help each other greatly. Think of the possibilities!"

Hermione gets up. "The only possibility I'm thinking about right now is me, trying not to vomit all over you. Please excuse me."

Five minutes later, she's sitting in the girls' bathroom, trying to fight off the nausea rising in her stomach.

She doesn't hear him approaching and is startled when he clears his throat. She gets up immediately and draws her wand out of sheer reflex. Remus raises his hands.

"I come in peace", he says, a sad smile on his face. Hermione lowers her wand, her heart still beating hard in her chest.

"Remus! I'm sorry! I... You scared me."

He puts his hands in his pockets. "Yes, I noticed. Sorry, I didn't me to scare you. I just saw you leave and Rita's quill writing furiously and I put two and two together. Are you alright?"

Hermione tries to smile. "I will be. As soon as this circus is over." Remus has a mirthless laugh. "Yes, this is quite the circus. Don't let her get to you Hermione. The Daily Prophet is not as influent as it used to be. People are less prone to believe what the press writes these days. And Rita Skeeter is grasping at straws. I hear she's under review by her superiors at the Daily Prophet. And that the DMLE is looking into her as well as on informations she might have given to Umbridge on Muggleborns whereabouts during the War."

Hermione raises an eyebrow. "You're very well informed."

He sits down next to her. "Well, I don't know if you've heard, but I've got quite a few friends in high places these days."

This time, Hermione laughs. "Yes, well done you. I heard myself that you're about to get a job in those higher spheres yourself. Quite the impressive feat, Mr. Lupin."

Remus looks down. "Yes, well, nothing is done yet. People are still wary of werewolves and the Ministry still has some policies about dangerous half-breeds like me taking on leadership roles."

Hermione puts her hand on his. "We're working on it, Remus. I'm so sorry this has taken so long. We just want to make sure that a change we make today is not going to be overturned tomorrow. We needed more members in the Wizengamot before trying to change something as sensitive as werewolf rights."

He squeezes her hand. "I know, Hermione. It wasn't a reproach. The Ministry is still overwhelmed and werewolf rights are not a priority right now. I understand. I'm really grateful you've made sure I could keep full custody of my son without the DRMC breathing down my neck and that I have access to Wolfsbane. You're doing an amazing work, Hermione. I'm very grateful. And proud of you."

Hermione can feel her cheeks warming up. "Well, it's only normal. You deserve everything good that comes and will come your way, Remus. I just wish I could do more."

He kisses her cheek, and now, she's certain she's blushing all the way down her neck. "You are. Don't ever doubt that. And don't let people like Skeeter make you believe otherwise. And-"

"There you are! We've been looking all over for you!"

Sirius is standing in the doorway, a fidgety Teddy on his hip. "The speeches are over. Hermione, Kingsley is looking for you. And I think Minnie said something about a glass of scotch in her office later. Also, Moony, my friend, your son needs a change."

Remus snickers. "So, he's your nephew when he's clean but as soon as the nappy's full, he's my son?"

Sirius grins. "Well, I'm not against changing nappies, I'm just shite at it. Pun intended."

Hermione chuckles. "Well, I'll leave you to it gentlemen. Duty calls." She gets up and kisses Teddy on the cheek before exiting the bathroom.

"Hey! What about my kiss?" Sirius cries after her. Hermione laughs and doesn't bother to answer.

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