A few weeks had passed without mention of who the new Head Boy would be. Harry and Ron were scheduled to start their training on the same day that Ginny and Hermione returned to Hogwarts, but Kingsley made it in the evening to make things easier on Mrs. Weasley.

The night before they left, they both had their things packed, all their robes laundered, and Crookshanks was enjoying his last few hours of freedom from his basket.

Hermione looked at the clock. It was only five-thirty. Everyone was gathered around the kitchen table, eating dinner.

"Hermione," Ginny said, looking out the window. Hermione followed her gaze. "Weren't you expecting a letter from your parents?"

"Yes," Hermione said, looking out of the window to see a large, proud-looking tawny owl flying in through the kitchen window. It landed softly on the counter, and Hermione rushed over to get the letter.

The owl nipped at Hermione's hand, and she stroked its soft feathers while she read her letter.

'Dear Hermione

I don't know how soon you'll get this letter, but I'm sending two days before you're supposed to leave. Hopefully it gets to you by then.

Your father and I were talking, and We decided that we would like for you to come stay at home the night before you leave, as we miss you very much.

We know your friend Jenny is going back with you, and we wanted to inviter her to come along too. Hopefully it would make things easier with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.

We do hope you get this letter before it's too late.

With much love,

Mum and Dad xoxo'

Hermione reached the end of the page. She folded up the letter and gave the owl one last stroke before it took off. She sat back down at the table and thought for a moment.

"My mum would like for me to spend my last night of summer at home," she told Ginny.

Mrs. Weasley looked upl. "Of course. You should go dear."

"I am." She thought for another minute before speaking again. "And she invited Ginny to come as well. She said it might've been easier on you."

Three pairs of eyes trained on her all at once, and one fork clattered onto its plate.

Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, and Harry all stared at Hermione. Harry and Ginny turned to look at Mrs. Weasley.

"Well, I suppose it would help. I'm usually just so busy on that morning. I suppose, if you want, you can go."

"That'd be so great, of course I'll go!" Ginny squealed excitedly.

"Well, we have our stuff all ready, and we don't want to go too late," said Hermione.

"We can leave in an hour if you'd like?" said Ginny.

"That would be perfect," said Hermione.

They all finished eating, and Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny all sat in Ron's room untill they had to go. Hermione and Ron sat on Harry's bed, and Garry and Ginny were huddled together on the floor.

"I've never actually been to a muggle's house," said Ginny.

"They're not much, compared to a wizard's house," said Harry, winking at Hermione.

"We should probably get ready, GInny. We leave in ten minutes."

"How are you going to get there?" asked Ron.

"Dad's going to drive us," said Ginny.

"We can ride along if you'd like?" asked Harry.

"That'd be lovely," said Ginny.

Ron and Hermione rolled their eyes. They all went downstairs and helped Mr. Weasley put Ginny and Hermione's trunks in the magically enlarged car. Mrs. Weasley came outside and gave each of the girls a big hug.

"I'll see you both for Christmas."

"Bye mum."

Thanks for letting me stay, Mrs. Weasley."

"It was my pleasure dear. Now off you go. Don't want to keep your parents waiting," said Mrs. Weasley.

They all got in the car, with Harry and Ginny up front with Mr. Weasley, and Ron and Hermione in the back.

"I'm so excited to finally find out who Head Boy is," said Hermione.

"I do hope it's Neville. He's more than earned it!" said Ginny.

"Of course he has! He killed Voldemort's freaking snake, for crying out loud!" exclaimed Harry.

"Yes, I hope it is him too, but it could just as well be somebody from a different house," Hermione pointed out.

"Well it usually is," Mr. Weasley said.

"I just hope it isn't ferret," Ron said huffily.

"Ron, we've been over this! Malfoy most likely isn't returning. And if he is, so what? He probably won't be Head Boy."

"I know, but saying it just makes me feel better."

"Why does it even matter, Ron? You won't be going back this year," said Mr. Weasley.

"Yeah. Besides, if we're all right, it'll be Neville," said Hermione.

"Don't be so sure, kids."

"Why? What do you know that we don't?" asked Ginny.

Everybody laughed. "I'm just sayig. But it'll be a shame if you all get your hopes up and it's not him."

"I suppose you're right. We'll just see."

They rode the rest of the car ride in silence. Hermione looked out the window and saw that they were just down the road from her house.

"Now, which house is it, dear?" Mr. Weasley asked.

Hermione pointed it out. "It's this one, with the big oak in the yard."

Mr. Weasley pulled up into the driveway. He, Ginny, and Hermione got out. "I really can't stay long, girls, so I'm just dropping you off, and promptly leaving," he said, heaving the heavy trunks out of the back of the car.

Hermione grabbed her trunk and turned around to find Ginny and Harry stuck to each other's faces. "Hey horndogs," she called.

Mr. Weasley looked up. "That's enough, kids. This isn't the last time you're going to see each other."

"Sorry, Mr. Weasley," Harry had the sense to look ashamed, though, Hermine wasn't so sure he was.

"Hermione?"

Hermione looked up to see her mom standing in the doorway of their. house.

"Mum!" Hermione said, walking over to her mother and hugging her tightly.

"I'm so glad you made it for the last night."

"Of course. Mr. Weasley can't stay long."

Her mother looked over her shoulder to where the middle-aged wizard was talking to Ginny about a muggle disease called "Cooties."

"That's quite alright. Is Jenny staying over, too?" she looked uncertainly at the other girl.

"Yes, her trunk is still in the car," said Hermione, reading her mother's thoughts. They had been able to do that to each other since Hermione was five years old. It was when Hermione got her letter from Hogwarts when she thought her being a witch had something to do with the ability.

"Hello, Mrs. Granger, I'm Ginny," Ginny said, walking over to them while she left Harry and her dad to get her trunk out of the car and bring it up to the house.

"Oh, Ginny! I've been saying Jenny," Mrs. Granger laughed. "I wonder why Hermione never thought to correct me?" Mrs. Granger asked, looking pointedly at her daughter.

"You know, I think I'm going to see what's taking them so long," said Hermione. She walked away and left her mother to start a conversation with the awkward teenage witch.

Harry had Ginny's trunk and was walking towards the house. Mr. Weasley was back in the car.

"I can get it from here," Hermione said, grabbing Ginny's trunk.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Hermione," Harry said, enclosing Hermione in a tight hug.

"I'll be waiting," Hermione said, hugging him back. She let go and he went back to the car. She watched as Mr. Weasley waved, looked around, winked, and pushed the cloaking device on the car. They became completely invisible, and Hermione felt them take of into the air. She smiled as she knew how Mrs. Weasley would freak out if she knew.

She walked back up to the house. It was obvious that her mother didn't just see the display of magic, as she was still deep in conversation with Ginny. "Let's all go inside," Hermione suggested as she slapped a mosquito away. Ginny grabbed her trunk from Hermione and Hermione grabbed her own.

Once they were inside, Hermione immediately directed Ginny towards her room to put their things away.

"This place is so cool!" Ginny exclaimed.

"Yeah, but not as cool as a wizard house."

"That's only because you've grown up with all this cool stuff," Ginny said, picking up a paintbrush from Hermione's dresser.

"Hermione! Come down here please!" Hermione's mother called up the stairs.

"Okay, put the chapstick down and follow me," Hermione told her friend who was engrossed in a tube of Blistex.

They went into the living room to see her parents looking very serious. "Hermione, dear, we have something that your father and I think we should tell you."

Hermione sat down on the couch next to her parents. From their tone, it sounded like they were ashamed of whatever they were keeping from her. "Okay. Is this something that shouldn't be said in front of Ginny?" she asked as she felt her friend sit next to her on the couch.

"I think she'll be okay." said her dad.

"Okay. Is something wrong."

"Only that we didn't tell you sooner. Her parents were looking a little nervous at this point.

"Hermione," her mother began. "You're a pureblood."