"Ron, get down here!" Molly Weasley's shout carried up the rickety stairs of the borrow.
Hermione Granger, still dressed in her Hogwarts robes, stepped out of the green flames in the Weasley's fireplace and into the kitchen.
"Oh, it is good to see you, dear!" Said Mrs Weasley, wrapping her in a warm hug.
Hermione hugged her back. She looked
around.
The borrow was just as she remembered it. The kitchen was cheerfully cluttered- a pan was frying eggs, magically swiveling around, a broom was sweeping up dirt trailed in from outside, and the family owl Errol was hooting weakly from his perch on the edge of a chair.
The grandfather clock she loved was there as well. Here, however, there was a change, and seeing it nearly crushed her. Instead of the usual nine hands, there were eight now.
Mrs Weasley must have noticed her staring, because she cleared her throat and gently led Hermione into the living room.
"Did you have a good year Hermione?"
"Yes, it went quite well, thank you. Hogwarts was a little weird, though, without Ron and Harry." She answered, setting her trunk down by the couch.
Just then, there was a thundering noise from the staircase and then Ron was standing there, at the foot of the stairs, his red hair messy, still wearing pajamas.
"Hermione?"
She saw Mrs Weasley sneak out from the corner of her eyes. Then Ron bounded towards her and hugged her tightly.
God, it was good to have him back, she thought as she hugged him. She hadn't fully realised just how much she had missed him until that moment when she saw him again for the first time in an entire year. Her parents had wanted her home for Christmas, and Ron had not been able to get time off from the joke shop to come visit Hogwarts- besides, Hermione had been busy with her NEWTs.
Then she kissed him hard. He responded immediately, pulling her closer to him like he couldn't believe she really was there. It was like no time at all had passed- but then again, it seemed like forever.
She placed her hands on both sides of his face, holding it. It was the same; the same countless freckles, the same blue eyes, the same long nose and the same goofy grin.
"I missed you so much. Hogwarts just isn't the same without you."
"I missed you too." They would have stood there smiling into each other's eyes all day, but there was a whooshing sound from the kitchen and a cry "Ginny!" from Mrs Weasley.
"Come on," he said, smiling at her and taking her hand.