The wind was like ice, stabbing at her face stealing her breath. She sat at the same place she always did. The grass was now crisp and dead, giving way to the changing seasons. It was peaceful there. She didn't know how many times she had sat here staring at the headstone; she didn't remember the events that caused her to always seek out this place. No one ever knew where she went; they would always ask her when she returned. But it was her secret.

She knew why she had she had come here tonight. The wind burst forth again, causing her eyes to burn and tear. Ron had asked her to marry him. She tried not think about the look on his face when she told him she needed time to think before giving him her answer. Guilt tore at her heart for not being totally honest with him. It was too late for honesty. It was too late for a lot of things.

She slowly stood up and looked back at the headstone once more before making her way over to a small hill. She pulled her coat tightly around her before she apparated. She was gone.

He had been standing in the tree line watching her sit at the grave, his grave. He was there every time she came. He didn't know why she came to sit there, near him. It had been almost five years, and she was the only one to still come. She never spoke, but often cried. He turned, reluctantly pulling his gaze from the spot where she apparated, he would return when she did, and silently watch her as he always has.

Hermione walked back into Grimmauld place, her face was red from the bitter cold. Ginny met her at the entrance way.

"Where did you go?"

"Nowhere. It's not important." Hermione replied as Ginny took her coat. Hermione rubbed her hands together and exhaled onto her fingers in attempt to get warmth back into her frozen digits.

"Hermione, I don't understand…" Ginny turned back to her friend, her face showed her concern.

"I don't want to talk about it right now Ginny." Hermione sidestepped around her and made her way back to the sitting room and stood close to the fire.

"Well, I do." Ginny had followed her. "Harry took Ron down to the pub for a drink. He's having a bloody hard time keeping him calm. You two have been dating for five years, didn't you ever once think that this was coming?"

"I don't know. I just wasn't ready for it, is all." Hermione hugged herself.

"Well you have to tell him something!" Ginny was stern. Hermione nodded.

"I know, and I will. I promise."

"Good, he deserves that at least." Ginny sighed and plopped her weight down into the nearest chair. "Oh, while you were…wherever you were…an owl came for you." She pointed to the mantle. Hermione looked and saw the envelope. Picking it up, she read the front. It was from Headmistress McGonagall. She broke the seal and pulled out the letter. Her eyes flew over the parchment.

"Important?" Ginny asked as she sat up and moved to the edge of her seat.

"It's from Professor McGonagall, she wants to meet with me as soon as possible. She didn't give any details though." Hermione read the letter once more.

"That's not cryptic." Ginny rolled her eyes.

"Well Ron isn't here at the moment anyway, so I might as well go meet with her now." Hermione went back to get her coat.

"Hermione, I think you should wait until after you speak with Ron." Ginny jumped up to follow her friend.

"Just tell him that Minerva sent for me, and as soon as I get back he and I will have a talk, ok?" Hermione asked as she was buttoning her coat. Ginny sighed, audibly annoyed.

"Fine."

"Thank you, I'll be back as soon as I can." With that Hermione went back out into the blistering cold.

She apparated to Hogsmead and decided to walk to Hogwarts from there. She wanted the alone time. Her heart ached, and she desperately wished she could share her burden with another, anyone, who wouldn't judge her. She could feel the sting of tears once more at the backs of her eyes. She blinked hard forcing the tears back.

"Miss Granger thank you for coming so quickly!" Minerva exclaimed as she stood up and walked around her desk to embrace her favorite student, even if she was no longer a student there.

"It was no problem Headmistress, Congratulations by the way." Hermione smiled as she once again took off her coat.

"Oh yes, thank you very much. I was quite taken aback when the position was offered to me I must admit. I am after all, not as young as I used to be." Minerva poured Hermione a steaming hot cup of tea. "Here take this; it will help warm you up."

"Your letter didn't say why you wanted to see me? Nothing serious I hope." Hermione sipped the hot tea.

"Nothing too serious, my dear. I was not expecting to become Headmistress, and as you know I have many things to attend to at the moment. I was wondering if I could trust you to help me with a project I cannot leave unattended." Minerva sat down slowly.

"A project? What type of project? Here at Hogwarts?" Hermione let the questions flow from her lips as fast as her mind thought them up.

"It's a personal project, and one I would rather not get into details about at the moment. I would require your assistance at my private home, not here at Hogwarts. Hermione, I asked you because I know I can trust you. This must never be spoken about to anyone, ever." Minerva looked very serious, as she peered over her glasses.

"Of course, you can trust me. I would be delighted to be of service to you Professor." Hermione sat her cup gingerly onto its saucer.

"Excellent!" Minerva beamed and clasped her hands together. "I knew I could count on you Miss Granger!"

"When would you need me?" Hermione asked as she watched Minerva stand up.

"Right now."