Chapter Song: Elastic Heart
The days blurred together, marked by small victories and quiet struggles.
Therapy sessions with Madam Pomfrey and later specialists became a part of Hermione's routine — hard, sometimes painful, but slowly stitching her soul back together.
Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Luna were constant pillars, dropping by with jokes, late-night chats, and shared memories that reminded her of the bonds stronger than any darkness.
Draco never left her side — sometimes watching quietly, other times gently pushing her forward when the shadows threatened to swallow her whole.
Mia blossomed into a fiercely protective young woman, her laughter a bright beacon that cut through the fog of Hermione's doubt.
They celebrated birthdays together — Hermione's 31st was a small gathering, but filled with warmth.
The house hummed with life, spells of healing and happiness weaving through the air.
As Hermione blew out her candles that night, she felt a surge of gratitude.
I am still here.
I am still loved.
I have so much to live for.
But the world outside hadn't forgotten.
There were still whispers — hushed, cruel.
Murmurs of "Mudblood" that slipped beneath polite smiles at the Ministry.
Thinly veiled disdain from those who feared change.
Yet, each time the venom struck, Hermione met it with the strength of those who loved her fiercely.
The love that had saved her once — and would do so again.
Her scars remained — visible and invisible — but they no longer defined her.
She was a survivor. A mother. A wife. A beacon of hope to those who believed in a better future.
And with every step forward, she proved that even in a world shadowed by hate, light could shine — stubborn, unyielding, and true.