"Hermione!"
I looked up from my book. For a moment it almost seemed like…
"Hermione!"
I ran to the window and looked out. Harry's head popped up.
"Harry!" His messy black hair stood up all over, just as it the last time I'd saw him. "Oh my gosh!" I ran downstairs to my front door and threw it open. Harry grabbed me in a hug lifting me off the ground and squeezing me tight. I hugged him back and he gently set me back down. He had grown about an inch or so over the summer and was wearing jeans and a plain green t-shirt that matched his eyes perfectly. "How are you? How've you been? What are you doing here? Is anyone else here?" I rushed on feeling my adredaline pumping in my chest as though it was about to burst.
Harry remained silent, looking stunned. Then burst out laughing, a slightly deeper laugh then I remembered. "I'm fine Hermione. Sheesh. I came here to see you of course. And yeah, the others are waiting in the car. We're on our way back to the burrow and we thought we'd see your place for a change." He shrugged and glanced over my shoulder. "Looks nice." I felt my face grow hot and was sure I was blushing a nice shade of crimson. My living room was a mess. My parents had had a get-together last night that went a little wild when our neighbor, Mr. Bulbs, found the wine.
"Well, you didn't give me any warning!"
"And ruin the surprise?"
Before I had time to reply a fimilar voice called, "Hermione!" I turned to be pulled into a hug again by something tall with red hair.
"Ron!" His hair was longer and had signs of Ginny's orange color coming through. "I can't believe this! I thought you 'd forgotten about me!" It was true. They'd stopped writing since a week after school had let out. I could understand at first, Harry was devastated about Dumbledore's murder and his Aunt and Uncle probably hadn't put up with Hedwig going in and out. But Ron had no excuse since his entire family had access to owls and he wasn't as close to Dumbledore as Harry had been. Unless something had happened… "Is everything all right? I've been worried sick about you two!"
"Missed you too Hermione." Ron grinned.
"Well, of course I missed you Ron! You too Harry, but you guys gave me such a scare. I've had no letters, I couldn't have used Floo powder, or the telephone or,"
"Hermione we get it! Okay? Listen, everything's all right." Ron assured me.
"Then why in the world did you stop writing?" I was furious at them for having no contact, no matter how much I missed them.
"Later. We'll tell you later. Right now, the car's running and we have to go." Harry gestured to the black Explorer in my driveway.
"Fine, hold on one second," I turned and flicked my want towards the stairs. Nothing happened. For a moment I thought the spell hadn't worked and I'd have to pack the normal way. Harry and Ron exchanged funny glances at each other but right then my truck came hurdling down the stairs and stopped neatly in front of us. I quickly opened it and glanced around, checking whether I forgot anything. I didn't see anything else so I slammed it shut and picked up Crookshanks who had taken to rubbing against my leg. Flicking my want again my trunk rose, hovering a few feet above the ground and flew straight to the car where the truck popped open, my trunk flew in, and it shut once more. "Let's go boys." Strutting jokingly across the lawn I could hear Ron and Harry snorting with silent laughter following her to the car.
I opened the door to find it had been magically enlarged and the entire Weasley family was staring back at her. Fred and George looked slightly taller and were wearing their dragon leather jackets over their t-shirts. Mr. Weasley smiled feebly at me. He had dark circles under his eyes and looked like he was ready to fall asleep. Bill and Fleur were there as well smiling at me, holding hands. Mrs. Weasley ushered me inside smiling warmly showing me a seat on an empty row. Ginny sat next to her looking slightly tired as well but happy non-the-less, so I ignored it. I sat on the middle of the seat. Harry and Ron climbed in then Harry sat on my left with Ron on my left.
"Well, hello Hermione!" Mr. Weasley said. I shook his hand and that's when I realized everyone's smiles looked fake. They were forced smiles, not natural. Something was terribly wrong.