This chapter is dedicated to the beloved burglar who dared enter my grandmother's home at which I'm currently staying and who took my grandma and aunt's bag but returned them nonetheless, short of cash and jewelry. And who entered unnoticed while I was finishing this certain chapter.

Disclaimer-All things Harry Potter related is the property of one JK Rowling.

CHAPTER 2: A NORMAL DAY

Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley and Harry Potter were currently at the Burrow's garden, doing their least favorite chore- Degnoming. It has been customary, well, tradition really for Hermione and Harry to spend their last 2 weeks or so of summer at the Weasleys, but they aren't sure if they are still able to finish their studies this upcoming school year. Harry was staying at the Burrow since he has 12 Grimmauld Place cleaned and refurnished, and besides, he'd be alone there. Hermione was staying at the Burrow as well for the sake of her sanity. It was rebuilt after the mayhem had died down.

"You'd think that after all that has happened." Ron began as he sent one flying a good distance away. "We wouldn't have to this anymore. They should have been gone when the Burrow was attacked. Stupid, bloody gnomes."

Both Harry and Hermione laughed at this. Same old Ronald.

"Well mate, it never hurts to hope." Harry said as he wiped his hands on the front of his trousers. "But I agree with you, they can be quite annoying sometimes."

Hermione looked with amusement at her two best friends. They were the closest people she has next to her parents and they never fail to make her laugh. "At least we know some things don't change, right?"

"Right." Her two friends answered at the same time and turned to smile at her. They continued to do the task Mrs. Weasley set out for the three of them in comfortable silence. Hermione was supposed to help Ginny in the kitchen and leave the dirty work to the boys, but she asked to be with them.

After everything that has happened, she still couldn't quite grasp that it's over. That she doesn't wake up every morning with a death threat hanging over her head as well as over the people she loves. Ever since their first adventure in first year, she has unintentionally lived each day helping her friend defeat the Dark Lord. And when Harry informed her that he plans on looking for the Horcruxes alone, she realized she was in too deep and this has become her life, her purpose.

But it takes a while getting used to- the not doing almost anything, like reading endlessly for hours, eating any food they can find or sleeping in a tent not knowing how it will all end. But after all that, she wants to be with people who experienced it with her, as personally and emotionally as she did. She wants to reassure herself that they are still there, and that they are never leaving, not in a long shot. Seeing the two of them do harmless chores- if you don't count the gnomes' biting- is like being brought into the light. She couldn't describe it any other way. Those things are returning to normal and they are here to stay forever. A few more minutes of silence ensued when Ron suddenly exclaimed.

"Guys, I forgot to tell you. I saw this small pond a few distances away from the house." And he started walking. "Come on, I'll show you. It's bloody wicked."

The three of them began moving in a south-eastward direction from the house with Ron in the lead. Suddenly they arrived at a field with grasses as tall as they are. Ron stopped and turned towards the other two.

"It's just beyond this field." He said excitedly and grabbed Hermione's hand and then she grabbed Harry's as well. They walked silently for a few minutes, weaving through a trail only Ron seems to know and having the grass blades tickle their faces, arms and neck, until Ron stopped as did the two. What they saw made their jaws drop in awe.

In front of them was a small pond, its glittering clear water reflecting the clouds up in the sky. It was bordered on all sides by green slopes and plains dotted with different kinds of trees, tall towering ones and stout shade-offering alike. Every here and there, flower bushes would appear in variety. There were roses and tulips, daisies and violets in almost every color imaginable. Birds and butterflies were circling the area, and every now and then, a rocky outcrop was to be seen. The three war heroes stood there, dumbstruck at the marvelous sight before them. Never have they seen such beauty personified in nature.

"Ron", Hermione said softly as she began walking towards the water. "".Amazing."

She turned to look back at her two friends who were smiling back at her. Ron and Harry were happy that she is. Trying to keep yourself alive as well as two boys is no easy task and they all know it. Only when the war was done did Harry realize that too much pressure was placed on Hermione's shoulders seeing as she was the intellectual among the three of them and the plans they made usually revolve around her findings as well as Harry's knowledge of what Dumbledore gave them. Both he and Ron know that they would hardly last more than a day without her.

The three of them sat on the grass, with Hermione in their center, leaning back on a wide trunk of a certain tree looking out on to the water.

"So Harry". Hermione began as she turned to look at him. "How are you and Ginny?"

This question elicited a small bush from Harry to which the two erupted in laughter.

"Well, were fine I guess." He pushed his glasses back, a habit he has when he is nervous. "We never really sat down and talked about it all but we are headed there. She still seems so at lost over Fred's death."

"She'll get around mate." Ron reached over and clapped his best friend. "She has always been rather close to the twins. But don't you worry, after that little event last night, I've no doubt that she still loves you."

"What event?" Hermione asked curiously, sitting upright and looking back and forth between the two boys.

"Well, let's just say I saw Harry receive an enthusiastic good night kiss from my lovely sister." Ron explained which only made Harry turn redder, rivaling Ron's hair.

"That's good isn't it?" Hermione asked, but no one bothered to answer. It was quite obvious.

Instead of leaning back into the trunk, she laid her head on Harry's shoulder who snaked an arm around her waist. Ron had also shifted and his head was now lying on Hermione's lap while she absently stroked his hair. A comfortable silence wrapped around them and nothing could be heard except the rustle of the leaves on the tree as the wind passed them and of the chirping of the birds as they flew over the silent waters.

It was getting dark when they finally decided to head back to the house. The sight that greeted them as they walked towards the front door was of Ginny Weasley, her hands on her hips and looking very annoyed and angry.

"Where have you been?" She demanded as soon as they were close enough. "I've searched everywhere for you and nearly lost my voice calling your names. I almost sent a search party for the three of you."

Seeing her that way, Hermione thought she looked very much like Mrs. Weasley. "We were just around the area Gin."

"Yah, we were just beyond the field." Harry walked towards Ginny and placed a reassuring arm around his shoulder and drew her close. "No need to get so wound up."

"I'm sorry, you lot." She gave a sigh as she leaned into Harry's embrace. "I know Voldemort's dead and gone and we have wards all over the place, but still…." She let the sentence trail off knowing they would get what she meant.

Suddenly, in the blink of an eye, her whole demeanor changed and she started talking avidly. "By the way, there was a reason I was looking for you aside from the obvious. There's a surprise waiting for you inside. Come on." She grabbed Harry's hand and walked briskly towards the interior of the Burrow, dragging her boyfriend behind her. Hermione looked at Ron who simply shrugged and the both of them followed as well.

Once they got inside the living room and sat themselves comfortably on the couches, they turned to look at Ginny with a questioning look. Ginny in turn, disappeared for a brief moment and then returned as suddenly, thrusting an object to each of the tree.

At a closer look, one could see it was a letter and it was familiar. Suddenly, Hermione stood up and launched herself at the only person standing, who happens to be Ginny. "Oh my God! It's our Hogwarts letter!"

She turned to look at the two boys who were still speechless."It's our Hogwarts letter!"

"Yes 'Mione, we can see that for ourselves," Ron stated which earned him a glare from the girl.

"So you'll be going then?" Ginny looked at the three of them.

"Of course" Hermione's tone was one of conviction. Ginny just looked pointedly at the other two, waiting.

"Well, I'm going too. My best friend and girlfriend will be there and besides, it's really quite significant to finish your schooling no matter how experienced you are." And Harry came up to stand beside the two most important women in his life. The three of them looked at Ron simultaneously.

"I'm going too since not going would mean more gnome bites" He held up his fingers to show them the scratches he earned. They just laughed at him.

And then they heard the tell-tale voice of Mrs. Weasley calling out to them to help set up the table for dinner to which they happily responded. And when they told her the good news, she gave each of them that familiar, warm hug they've come to like.

And as Hemione settled herself under her covers inside Ginny's bedroom, starting to drift off into dreamland, a though came up to her.

Maybe, just maybe, everything would be normal for once.

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