Hermione was just waking up when she heard a pounding on the door downstairs. She had no idea where she was, when it was, or what was going on; but then everything from the past few weeks hit her so hard in the face she could almost feel it. She was at the Burrow, and it was two days before she went back to her home. Not her home with her parents, but the home where she felt safe, her real home. Hogwarts.

She sighed as she lay back down in her bed, waiting for someone to come tell her it was time to get up. She didn't get up in the mornings now. She waited until they got worried, around noon, and someone came upstairs to see if she was alright, but never was it Ron. No, he hadn't seen or spoken to her for a few weeks now. She did her best to avoid him, which explained her not getting up until it was lunchtime. She usually woke up early, stayed in bed until someone got her up, and went to bed early, right after dinner.

Today was different though. She didn't wake up until 11:30, and by the time it was one, nobody had come upstairs. Something was wrong. She got up of her own free will, which was a change, and put on her fluffy pink robe that she had loved since her first year of Hogwarts. By now it was not really fluffy and not really pink but she loved it all the same. It was her version of a security blanket, and she didn't go to Hogwarts without it.

She opened her door and listened for the noises downstairs that she usually woke to, but she didn't hear any of them. Everything was quiet. She slowly went downstairs, her wand out, waiting for something to jump out at her. When she got to the kitchen no one was there. The kitchen was so different with no one bustling around and no yelling or arguing. She had seen this kitchen every year now and never once did she see it completely empty. Except for today.

Then she saw something on the table with her name on it. It was a note saying they had all gone to Diagon Alley and let her sleep in today. She was kind of disappointed because how was she to get her supplies? Then she read the rest of the note, which told her they had brought her supplies list with them and they would pick up her books for her. It was signed "with love, Harry". Why that made her tear up she had no idea, but then she saw her note on the table and decided to read it. When she picked it up, though, it felt heavier than usual. Her heart started pounding as she opened it up and then she saw what she had wanted for so many years, but now she wasn't sure she wanted it as much. She was now Head Girl.

It was five, and still no one was back. Hermione had been alone for a few hours, and now she was really starting to get lonely. She had read Hogwarts: A History twice already while she was alone, and even that book was starting to bore her. What was wrong with her? Even through the things that had happened, she never expected to be bored by that book.

"Hey Hermione!" she heard a familiar voice yell to her from outside. "I'm locked out!"

Hermione was sitting down by the fireplace. She hadn't lit a fire, she wasn't really sure how. She knew to light a match but that was the extent of her knowledge. She just rolled her eyes, went to the window, and pointed to Harry's wand. Sometimes he could be so lacking in common sense.

He laughed, turning scarlet in the cheeks.

"Oh… yea. Alohamora."

Hermione turned on her heel and went back into the kitchen. She was lonely, but she didn't want to be with people all that much. She confused even herself sometimes. Harry walked in behind her, carrying a few backs. The thing that confused her, though, was that he was alone. Where was everyone else?

"So, 'Mione. What've you been up to while we were gone?"

He looked at her and saw she was looking behind him.

"Oh. You're probably wondering where everyone else is, right?"

She didn't answer him, obviously, but just looked him straight in the eye, waiting for the answer.

"Well… they decided to get some ice cream. Molly told me to bring your stuff to you, and she said they would be home by 7:00. We have to make dinner" At this he made a face. Hermione knew how good he was at cooking.

She went over to the cabinets and started to look for something to eat. She was never going to let Harry cook anything for her, ever. She found some apples, an empty jar of mayonnaise, and a bottle of Butterbeer.

"Wow. That's going to get me far," she said silently to herself.

She turned to Harry and opened the door further to let him look in the fridge himself. He saw what was in there and blanched. He was hungry, and he was NOT going to eat what was in the fridge.

"Let's go get something to eat", he suggested, but Hermione just shook her head. She didn't want to go eat out. She didn't want to have to act like she was okay. She pulled out her cell phone, and dialed a number she had known by heart since she was 10.

It started to ring so she handed it to Harry. Harry knew what she was doing, having lived in the muggle world and all.

"Pizza Hut. How can we help you?"

"Uh, hi. I want some… pizzas?" Hermione nodded. "Yea, pizzas. We'll take a large pepperoni and a large…? Cheese?" Hermione nodded again. "Okay, a large pepperoni and a large cheese."

Harry gave the Pizza Hut man the address, and hung up.

"They'll be here in 15 minutes." Harry was relieved. He could always eat pizza, especially Pizza Hut. "You hungry?"

Hermione nodded vigorously. She hadn't eaten since last night, and now she was ravenous. Hermione could eat quite a lot when she wanted to.

15 minutes later the doorbell rang. It was funny hearing that sound, because magical people never rang the doorbell. They just walked right in. Harry answered the door and paid the pizza guy with muggle money. He always had some on him, just in case of emergencies. Hermione was waiting at the table, looking ready to eat enough to last her awhile.

Harry opened up the boxes and the smell of pizza wafted up into their noses. Ah, the sweet smell of fresh pizza. Nothing more classic than that.

"Dig in!"