She'd just lifted her fist to knock on the door when a voice called out, "Go away, Granger."

Taking a steadying breath, she pushed open Pansy's door. She found her curled up on the windowsill, staring down the Muggles going about their Saturday.

"You should have locked it if you didn't want me coming in," Hermione said primly.

"I'm not going." Pansy tugged her knees to her chest. "So please just go find a kitten to save to meet your quota."

Hermione moved to the end of the bed and quietly sat. "I'm not going either, then. Pity. You'll be stuck with me all day." Glancing around the room, she found a black dress hanging on the back of the door — pressed and ready.

Pansy's eyes moved over the street. "Nobody wants me there, Granger."

It was a variation of Narcissa's words. But they felt unacceptable this time.

"You have your whole life ahead of you. You can't spend it in hiding." Hermione smoothed her dress, frowning down at her knees. "You should allow people to surprise you sometimes, Pansy. It's lovely."

A long silence.

Pansy turned to look at her, leaning her head against the window frame. "That elf cries all the time. Did you give her to me on purpose?"

Hermione's mouth twitched. Pansy arched a brow at her and went to get dressed.

~*~

They Apparated to the Hogsmeade gates, and Hermione waited for the chill and hopelessness that had accompanied Hogwarts for the past year.

It never came, but there was still something hollow in her chest.

The castle glittered in the afternoon sun. The shape of it was familiar, even though she could see some of the damage from last May and the siege after Voldemort's death. The Forbidden Forest had slithered closer to the path, and the grass was patchy and unkempt. But if she skated her eyes quickly across the landscape, it all looked the same.

Pansy started twisting her fingers together and smoothing her hair when they crossed the wards, and Hermione brushed her fingers against her elbow.

They walked down the long bridge toward the Clock Tower Courtyard together, where a crowd had gathered. The Governors had reached out to Ginny, Neville, and Hermione to ask about delivering a speech, but all three had agreed to decline. Speaking to a loss of that magnitude felt impossible. Wrong, even.

The committee decided that one of the Governors would deliver a few short remarks. People would be free to mingle the grounds afterward and pay their respects. No press allowed.

They had almost reached the courtyard when the crowd began to disperse — it was only five past, and the Governor had already finished speaking. Hermione nodded to Hestia as the crowd scattered, but when she saw Jacobs standing nearby, she turned away.

Pansy moved next to her, and they studied the familiar arches and stones in silence. They stood motionless as people moved around them, embracing, speaking lowly. Hermione turned again, and her breath caught in her chest.