This is a rewrite of an older story. I'm going back on my old stories and correcting dialogue and formatting now that I've learned more. The plot is the same. Also, in this story I realized that I mixed up the Runes and Arithmancy professors and that has been corrected.

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Chapter 1 - Christmas

Hermione and Ginny walked into Hogsmeade on a cold morning three days before Christmas. The village looked like a muggle postcard, white and glistening with icicles everywhere. A closer look revealed small signs that this was not your average Scottish village. A flurry of owls circled one of the largest buildings. On closer inspection, one would also see that a number of the owls were not native to anywhere within many thousands of miles of this small village. Other signs were also present, including colored smoke rising from a joke shop and a bright, flashing sign in a candy shop window that had no apparent means of power. On this day though, Hermione barely looked around to admire the view. As soon as she, Ginny, and a number of other students were outside the wards of Hogwarts, each of them quickly apparated away for the Christmas holidays.

The two witches arrived in the garden of the Burrow. This wasn't technically home for Hermione, but it was the place that she felt the most at home. The snow at the Burrow was much less than Hogsmeade, just a couple of inches. Enough to get a sled going on the hill to the east of the house. As she started up the path to the house, the door burst open and Ron was coming at her. A sob caught in her throat as Hermione took two large steps forward and let herself be wrapped in his arms. She clung to him and breathed in the smells that were Ron, a hint of his aftershave, a bit of broom polish, and a touch of spearmint. Then she forgot about the smells as Ron began kissing her and any hint of cold left both of them.

They could have stood there forever, but Ron had left the door open and the noise and shouts from inside beckoned to them. Breaking apart, they entered the house hand-in-hand. Hermione was immediately bombarded by all her friends coming at her. Harry was first, then George, and next Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Just as she finished hugging the Weasleys, Hermione looked up and saw her parents waiting at the back of the crowd. She squealed and ran to them as her mother couldn't contain herself any longer.

"Surprise dear!"

After taking a couple minutes to hug her parents, everyone settled in to catch up. The rest of the afternoon passed too quickly. Everyone enjoyed a simple lunch in the living room since the kitchen table would not accommodate the large group. They squeezed in wherever they could fit on the odd assortment of sofas and chairs that the Burrow had accumulated through the years.

While they ate, everyone except the Grangers put a hover charm on their plates so that they could eat without needing a table or worrying about spilling something. When Ron saw the Grangers struggling to balance their plates, he walked over and hovered the plates for them. Mrs. Granger looked up and smiled.

"Thanks Ron, that's much better."

When the Grangers had first received the visit from the Ministry when Hermione was ten, they had been a bit confused and more than a bit scared. They always knew their daughter was special, but were shocked when it was explained how all the odd little incidents of her childhood were actually her magic coming forth. They eventually accepted the fact and happily sent her to Hogwarts, but acknowledgement of her powers took a while. Now, nine years later, they sat eating lunch with their plates hovering in front of them and deep in conversation with Mrs. Weasley, who was simultaneously waving her wand and washing dishes in the kitchen. Hermione spent the time filling everyone in on updates from Hogwarts.

"Well, studies are going well. Charms is probably my favorite, although I do love arithmancy. But arithmancy is also my hardest subject. Sometimes I actually wonder if Professor Vector is speaking English."

"And how is the rebuilding going dear?"

Hermione sighed at Mrs. Weasley's question.

"As well as can be expected. The house towers and common rooms are mostly done. For the first couple of months of the school year, we had to squish extra beds in the dorms to allow for the floors that were still under repair. Now that's done and everyone can spread out again, which has helped soothe everyone's tempers. All of the professors are overloaded with work in between classes and Headmistress McGonagall is working herself even harder. In between my classes, I've been doing what I can to help. Mostly I work with Professor Flitwick trying to weave charms back into rebuilt areas of the castle. It's actually very good practice. I'm glad I'm no longer a prefect, because I just wouldn't have the time."

After the Battle of Hogwarts, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and several other students who had missed part or all of their seventh year at Hogwarts had been given two options. The first option was to be privately tutored for the summer and then take modified NEWTs in late August and be counted as having graduated. This was the option that Harry and Ron had taken. Harry had done well enough in NEWTS to become a junior Auror. Ron didn't do quite as well, but was still offered a position in the department due to his record of service. Ultimately, he had opted to decline the offer and instead had joined George at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. He was no replacement for Fred, but they worked well together and the shop was flourishing again.

The second option that was given was to return and complete a full seventh year one year later and then to take a regular set of NEWTs at the end. This was the option that Hermione chose of course. Now she was back at Hogwarts and was almost nineteen, making her one of the oldest students at the school. With her academic record, as well as her experiences during the Horcrux hunt and the battle, she had gained an unofficial senior position at the school. The professors treated her the same in classes, but out of classes they treated her with the mutual respect of a colleague. This was how she had been enlisted to help with the rebuilding process.

Later that evening after a lazy day spent catching up, playing Gobstones, and then ending in another fantastic meal, Hermione and Ron walked with her parents over the hill to the town of Ottery St. Catchpole, where the Grangers were staying. The muggle town had a quaint bed and breakfast that suited them well and was only a twenty minute walk to the Burrow.

"Good night mum, good night dad. I'm so glad you're here. This is the best of everything, I get to be with you and the Weasleys for Christmas!"

After dropping off the Grangers, Hermione and Ron walked back to the Burrow slowly. They talked for a while and then lapsed into a companionable silence. They had their arms around each other and Hermione felt more content than she had in months. She and Ron had seen each other several times since school started, usually on Hogsmeade weekends, but their time was always limited. Now she looked forward to a two week holiday with him and family.

The next couple of days passed all too quickly. The Grangers spent most of the days with the Weasleys and marveled at how magic made everyday tasks so much different. On Christmas Eve, they were watching the 'youngsters' take turns sledding down a hill when George's sled hit a rock and went flying. Mrs. Granger let out a strangled scream as she was certain that George was heading into a tree. Then the sled turned right side up, darted to left, and sailed on by the tree to land with a swish on the field beyond. George was cackling and Mrs. Granger reminded herself to breathe. Magic definitely came in handy.

Christmas dawned bright and cold as everyone made an early departure from their rooms to gather in the living room. The Grangers had arrived early and the first couple of hours were joyous as everyone delighted in their gifts, but more so in their family. The day was a hard one for the Weasleys, as this was their first Christmas without Fred. Mrs. Weasley did her best to hold it together, but the strain was obvious. After breakfast, she headed for the kitchen and Hermione and Ginny both noticed that she was not her usual cheerful self. They both followed her to help, but when they opened the kitchen door, they found her sobbing into the sink. Ginny went to her first.

"It's okay mum, we all miss him, especially today. Don't hold it in. You deserve to cry."

Hermione held back, unsure if she should intrude with Ginny and her mother, but then Mrs. Weasley looked up, gestured Hermione over, and then wrapped her and Ginny in her arms as they all cried together. After a few minutes they collected themselves, finished cleaning up, and returned to the family.

When they returned from the kitchen, Mrs. Weasley went and sat on her husband's lap as Mr. Weasley wrapped his wife in his arms and they quietly grieved. Looking around, Hermione noticed that Ron was missing. George noticed her looking for him and answered her questioning look.

"Oh, Ron and Mr. Granger went to dad's workshop to discuss some muggle stuff."

Hermione shrugged and then sat down to watch Harry and George play wizard's chess.

That evening the Weasleys and their guests enjoyed a magnificent feast that left them all in a semi-comatose state. Eventually the Grangers yawned and declared it was time to head back to the village. Hermione offered to go with them, but they waved her off.

"Thanks dear, but we've learned our way by now."

Hermione nodded and settled back into Ron's lap, feeling so content that she thought she might never move from it.