I am redoing this story! I need to mature my writing and hope this will be less crazy. Leanne.
July of 1998 was particularly difficult for Hermione Granger. She had just taken her parent's home from St. Mungo's and had briefly fallen out with them over her decisions over the past year. She had also been trying to patch things over with Ron. She hadn't seen him in over four weeks. She only saw Harry. Harry felt the need to escape from the Wizarding world and was now living in the spare bedroom of her family home after travelling to Australia with them. She was trying to help them settle back in to their life in England and readjust their accents back from their annoying fake Australian ones they were so keep on keeping. Apparently Wendell and Monica Wilkins were quite keen on touring Australia and getting as much of the 'lingo' as possible, which made tracking them quite difficult. While they still kept having unstable flashes where they thought they were still across the other side of the world, Hermione was doing as much as she could to rehabilitate them. The Ministry, under new order of Kingsley Shacklebolt, were sending out carers from Mungo's to help with her parent's care. It was all coming together but some damage was done reversing the memory charms so silly things like knives in toasters and tea poured onto saucers were quite regular. The healers assured Hermione they would just take time getting used to their old life but eventually they would be fully self-sufficient but Hermione couldn't help feel that she was raising toddlers, not her parents.
As Hermione slipped her feet into her shoes on she called down to Harry to hurry himself up. She left the house for an hour or to see if her parents could manage alone. Though she was not keen on this idea, it being Harry's, she went through with it nevertheless.
On these excursions Hermione worried constantly but she was able to get a breath of fresh air. Harry usually took her to a café near her home and once to the cinema. They went their almost every afternoon, getting friendly looks from the owner and staff, probably because they have been giving them such good business. They had their regular omelettes and tea while they discussed various plans for their future, their week or their summer.
"I must finish school!" Hermione insisted, "My parents don't want a drop out for a daughter."
"Your parents fully understand the situation, or are near to it, Hermione. Don't you worry about what people would be asking you? You won't have a peaceful moment." Harry pushed. He knew Hermione would go back to school but it was so soon after the battle.
"You mean what people would be asking me about you?" Hermione smiled.
"No! Yes. Maybe. I don't know how you could go back. It's not the same."
"That's why I have to go back. It needs people who saw it as a good safe place. Not new children, who have only heard of the battles there."
"Yes, I'm sure you know what a safe place it was. Only giant spiders, three-headed dogs and centaurs who hate humans there. Oh and not to forget the Whomping Willow! We have never had a 'safe' year at Hogwarts."
"Harry, stop it. I'm going back. Besides, I received my head-girl badge this morning."
"What? Why didn't you tell me? That's amazing! Well done, Hermione."
"And I sent it back."
"Why? You would be the first Head Girl in history to take a year out of school to hunting. It would make quite a story."
"Because I don't want to be the Head Girl. I don't want to be constantly busy and having to worry about Head duties. I sent it back to McGonagall with a note saying that Ginny deserved it much more than I did."
"Ginny? Whoa..." harry felt like he was at an impasse. Sure, Ginny deserved it but he did think Hermione would make a much stronger head girl. He would never admit that though to them though.
"She, Neville and Luna led that school though a rebellion against Snape and the Carrows. She is more of a leader than I am. I did however inform her I would reinstate as a prefect."
"Do you know who made head boy?" Harry asked, curious about who was staying at Hogwarts. Hermione shook her head.
"Will it be too soon to leave my parents?" Hermione asked, starting to panic slightly. "What will they do for money? Could they be dentists again? How do they explain to Social that they have been out of the country for a year living as different people while their country was in secret turmoil?"
"Social?"
"Social Services. I have to get them some sort of income. I'm running out of money."
"You could of asked..." Harry suddenly felt guilty. While they split their shopping, she still had to pay bills and restock their house of many necessities.
"Don't be silly. I am managing. I have to fill out papers for them. How will I get this done by September?"
"You will, I know you can." Harry assured her, picking up his cup and refilling it with tea. "Do you want to go to the Burrow? See how your parents fair off for a few hours? We'll be back before Dinner." Harry offered, hoping he didn't ask to much so soon. He could see a smile spread across Hermione's face at the thoughts of going to see Ron then her smile faded.
"He won't want to see me. Not after last time…" Hermione spoke to her half-eaten omelette. She and Ron had an argument over her not leaving her parents much and himself not leaving his. He automatically thought they would spend the summer together just as they had done every summer. It didn't feel right to him that they were apart. Ron couldn't leave his home for any more than a few hours. His mother would worry too much and she still spent most days crying. Fred was buried at the Hero's Memorial Graveyard, which was near Hogwarts, just slightly outside of Hogsmeade. It was for all who died fighting against the Dark Lord though it was optional. Some families preferred to use their family plots and have more private funerals. Mr Weasley thought it would only be honourable for Fred to be marked as a hero. It's what it was. Harry believed so too.
"Hermione, that's being ridiculous. Of course he will want to see you. When has he not wanted to see you?" Harry reassured her, pouring tea into his cup. "Ron's crazy about you, he wants to see you." Hermione returned her focus to the eggs and chewed her lip.
"We can't just barge in on them,"
"I think they would like to see us. C'mon Hermione, I want to see Ron and Ginny too."
Harry paid for the food and tea, shuffling between Galleons and Pounds in his pocket, making sure not to pull out the wrong ones. They made their way down the hallway off the café towards the bathroom before Hermione took Harry's hand. The sickly familiar pull behind Harry's belly button caught him by surprise and soon he was slammed onto the grass beside the Weasley's front gate.