'These battle scars, don't look like they're fading.
Don't look like they're ever going away.
They ain't never gonna change.'

***

***

As much as she wanted to release her fears, her past and her scars. She couldn't, not even with magic. It would be haunting her forever, or so she thought. Finally deciding it wouldn't be getting any better if she stayed in the wizarding world. She longed to see her family back in Mystic Falls, so that's what she did. She went back to Mystic Falls.

And there she stood, in front of her old house. In order to protect her family she had cut off any kind of contact with them, she hadn't seen, spoken or written them in an entire year. She had dropped her last name and changed it to Granger, all to protect her family from the death eaters. But she had succeeded, no death eater had thought of going to Virigina.
She stepped forward, knocking carefully on the door.

A dark haired blue eyed guy opened it, smiling cockily at her. She didn't know him and frowned slightly.

'Who are you looking for girl?' he asked her leaning against the doorframe.

Hermione cleared her throat, 'I am looking for Elena and Jeremy Gilbert.'

His eyes narrowed and he pushed with his hand against the door frame, causing him to stand straight.

'And who are you?' he asked, suspiciously.
Hermione raised her eyebrow, 'I could ask you the same question.'

Damon was getting slightly annoyed and backfired harshly, 'Look, you're going to tell me immediately what your name is and how you know the Gilbert's or I'll rearrange your pretty face.'

Hermione gasped, not expecting torturing threats. Her eyes became glossy, reminding her of Bellatrix. But she blinked her tears quickly away.

'I am Hermione Gilbert, their sister,' she answered looking at her hands.
Damon's eyes widened and he called for Elena, who rushed towards him immediately. Freezing at the sight the of her sister, a tear running down her cheek.

'Mione?' she mumbled.

Hermione nodded, 'I missed you Lena.'

Elena's face hardened, 'Oh, now you missed me?'

'Elena I'- Hermione started, but she got cut off.

'No! We haven't seen you in a year! You ignored us, the entire time! We needed you! Our parents died and you weren't there!' Elena ranted furiously, her hands flying everywhere.

It was like a dagger was thrown right into Hermione's heart, it was being twisted in every single angle. She had heard about their death, she had screamed and cried. She wanted to come back to be there, at least at their funeral. But Harry and Ron convinced her not to, it would only bring Elena and Jeremy in danger. She hadn't eaten slept and spoken for weeks, with only spells keeping her alive. It had torn her apart.

Hermione hesitated, tears glistening in her eyes. 'Would you believe me if I said I wanted to, but couldn't... because of a greater cause...?'

Elena looked at her feet, she shrugged and turned around. Damon waved to Hermione to come in, on purpose not using the words: "Come in."
Hermione followed and saw Jeremy, Jeremy's face lit up. He ran towards her and hugged her tightly.

Tears ran down Hermione's cheek, 'I am so sorry... I am so incredibly sorry...' she sobbed.
Jeremy shushed her, hugging her tighter, 'It doesn't matter, you're here now.'

Hermione has missed him maybe even more then Elena, not because she knew Elena would snap. But because the two had always been honest with each other about everything, he was the only one to know in the family about her magic. And she was the only one to know about his crushes, first Bonnie and then Vicky.

Jeremy had missed his sister, he was mentally destroyed when she didn't come back. But he knew there had to be something terribly wrong, she would have come if she could. Clearly something else had been going on.
Jeremy released her slowly and kept her close as they sat on the couch, Hermione was staring at the three foreign guys in the room.

'Who are they?' she asked quietly to Jeremy.
Jeremy pointed everyone out, 'That is Stefan, Elena's boyfriend, Damon, Stefan's brother and Alaric, Jenna's boyfriend.'

Hermione smiled, 'Really!? Boyfriends!? Merl... Oh my god! I'm so happy for you both!'

Elena looked at her nails and muttered, 'You would have known if you were there.'

Hermione bit on her lip and looked at her hands, 'Yes... I would have... Uh, I'll go to my room. Settle and stuff.'

Hermione rushed up the stairs, disappearing out of sight. Jeremy send a glare towards Elena.

'Was that necessary?' asked Jeremy irritated.
Elena's jaw dropped, 'You are just forgiving her? She LEFT us!'

Jeremy raised on his feet, slightly confused but mostly angry. 'You think she wanted to?! She thinks of us as family! She was in just as much pain because of their death as we were! You KNOW her! She wouldn't disappear without a reason! How long do you know her!? She would've come if she could!'

Elena stared at her hands, knowing deep within he was right. But it had hurt her terribly and that made her angry, she wanted Hermione to pay for the pain she had caused her. Even if that might sound terrible.

Jenna had stayed out of the argument, she was still in shock. She never really knew Hermione, but she had thought that she was dead. There was so much going on, in a few days her life had changed. Klaus in Alaric's body, vampires and werewolves existing. Elena and herself almost dying during the ritual and now Hermione had come back.

Honestly, she didn't know if she could take it. Luckily she was befriended with a witch, who had protected her during the ritual. She was sure if she was a vampire she would've turned it off by now. But she was human, she had to cope with it.

Stefan comforted Elena as Damon watched along with Alaric, no idea who this Hermione was and which side they should take.

'So... this girl, Hermione... Left for...?' started Damon, trying to make sense of it, Elena finished his sentence: 'A year.'

Damon nodded and continued, 'For a greater cause... And now she's back, to all the drama in Mystic Falls. Are we telling about the creatures that lurk in the night?'

Stefan send him a glare, Damon made a face. 'Oh come on, that was funny.'

Stefan sighed and kept trying to comfort Elena, who had already made her decision.
'No, we won't tell her. It's to dangerous,' she answered.

'Seriously? You're going to pull that card again? In the end she'll find out anyway, just like I did,' answered Jeremy.

Elena send him the "I am older" glance.
Jeremy shrugged, 'Fine, but if she's asking I'm answering with all honesty.'

He knew that Hermione probably already knew anyway, she was a witch who went to a magical school after all.

Should I continue? Is it good? Is it bad? Tell me in the comments! I've got a few other chapters ready to publish. But I want to hear your opinion first! ❤️