CHAPTER 1
Hermione woke up to the sound of Pig pecking at the window. She looked at the watch. It showed the time 3:00 pm. She couldn't exactly place what it would be doing at her place at this time of the night in her sleepy mind. She let it in and as soon as it came in, it collapsed in her hands. She took it and placed it on the table and took out the letter rolled carefully from its leg. She saw a small pouch also attached to the other leg. She opened it and found Floo powder. She unrolled the letter and saw that it was from Ginny.
Dear Hermione,
Mom and Dad are taking us to Diagon Alley, since school starts in two days. I was wondering if you could come over since Harry is also coming by tomorrow. Mom insisted on sending you Floo powder. Send your reply. I am waiting.
Ginny.
Hermione was of course going to the Burrow and immediately wrote her reply.
Dear Ginny,
I would be glad to come over. Since Harry will be there, please ask Mr. Weasley to call me and tell, if me coming by 4:00 pm will be alright. See you soon.
Hermione.
Hermione after tying the letter back to Pig, feeding him water, and sending him back to the Burrow, lay reading in her bed since she couldn't sleep. She never realized she had fallen asleep until she heard her mother call out, "Breakfast is ready darling!"She had just reached downstairs when the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Merlin's pants! It's working!" Mr. Weasley's sound came from the other end. "Hello Hermione!"
"Hey, Mr. Weasley."
"Can you really hear me?!"
"Yes, Mr. Weasley. I can. Now please calm down." Hermione said.
"Hermione, Molly says it's alright if you come by 4:00. But she'd rather have you before that. But can you really hear me?"
"Mr. Weasley, I'll try to come before 4:00 if mum allows me. And, yes, I can hear you."
"Oh, ok then. See you."
"Sure Mr. Weasley."
"Merlin's beard! She really could hear me!" Hermione heard Mr. Weasley say and then a bang when he hung up. Hermione returned to the kitchen for breakfast.
"Mom, I'll be going to Ron's today by four, if that's alright."
"Of course, it is." Her mum replied.
Hermione was kissing goodbye to her parents by four. She had her trunk's size magically reduced so now she could carry it like a handbag. She took the Floo powder and threw it into the fire yelling as she stepped into it, "The Burrow!"
She came tumbling out of the fire at the Burrow. She stood up brushing herself. Ginny was sitting in the living room. She could hear Mrs. Weasley in the kitchen.
"Hermione!" Ginny exclaimed as she saw Hermione come out of the fire.
"Hey, Gin! What's up?" Hermione asked, giving her a quick hug.
Mrs. Weasley came out of the kitchen on hearing Ginny and gave a bone crushing hug to Hermione.
"It's so good to see you darling!"
"You too, Mrs. Weasley." Hermione said.
Harry, Ron, Fred and George came in the house sweating. "Hi Hermione!" they all chirped together.
Mrs. Weasley made Hermione stuff herself before letting her go with the others. The six of them went into the living room. After a while, Harry and Ginny left without telling the others. The rest though had noticed acted like they didn't. It had been happening a lot lately. They followed them secretly and saw them talk a walk down the fields holding hands. Giggling, they returned back to the house.
"Did you read the fourth chapter of Herbology, the sixth year?"Hermione asked Ron as they came inside.
"Oh, for God's sake, Hermione! School doesn't start until the day after tomorrow!" Ron replied exasperated.
Ron went to write to someone he wouldn't tell who. Hermione strongly suspected it was Lavender Brown, the Gryffindor who Ron had started seeing just after the fifth year ended. She felt pretty weird. Since even Fred was seeing Angelina Johnson and George, Alicia Spinnet. When she thought of herself being in a relationship with someone, the first person that came to her mind was Draco Malfoy. She was herself very much surprised at the promptness. She colored at the thought, though no one could hear her thoughts.