Some people will say you are going the wrong way when it is simply a way of your own.

An out of breath Hermione casually slid into her seat on the Hogwarts Express next to Ron. He turned to her sharply and asked, "You went back for a book? Hermione, the train almost left without you. Harry and I had to promise the conductor front row seats at the first Gryffindor match in the fall to get him to wait."

Hermione rolled her eyes, "Well I'm sorry but this is my favorite book of all time and quite an interesting read," and she shoved the book towards him. "You should…"

Ron pushed the book back, "No. I am not spending my summer with a book glued to my eyes like I've been petrified."

Hermione pursed her lips together, "Fine. It was only a suggestion."

Harry decided to break the impending silence by jokingly saying, "Well, I'm certainly ready for summer. An entire summer at the Burrow. What could possibly go wrong?"

Ron shot back at him in the same tone, "Hey. We're not that bad. At least you're not spending the summer with a family like the Malfoys."

Harry and Ron laughed at the bad misfortune that would be, but Hermione remained silent. What was she thinking, helping Draco out this summer? Was it selfish? She needed the money. Granted, Ron was the most poor out of the trio, but Hermione had never been swimming in gold herself. Besides, she needed the extra cash to fund her future goals for S.P.E.W.

She decided to think of it as charity. She was helping out the needy. Sure, it was the needy in the form of an annoying, evil, prick that had way too much money for his own good, and she was getting paid a decent amount of money. But it was all how you thought about it.

The rest of the train ride was a bit quiet, or so it was to Hermione, who kept spacing out, while her friends exchanged perplexed glances. Before she knew it, the train was pulling into Hogwarts, and the entire student body was free of Hogwarts for the summer.

Hermione pulled herself up out of her seat and went out into the fresh air, closely followed by Ron and Harry. As soon as she stepped off and looked to her left, she saw the loving face of Molly Weasley waving back at the three of them. Hermione smiled to herself. Molly was like a second mother to her. All of the Weasleys were like family to her actually. And it always comforted Hermione to know that maybe someday she would call them her own family. She never wanted to hurt them.

Hermione smiled to Molly and began to walk towards her with Ron and Harry at her sides. "Nice to see you again Mrs. Weasley," Hermione beamed.

Molly waved her hand in front of her face at ease, "How many times do I have to tell you to call me Molly, hon?"

Hermione smiled, "I know, I know. Sorry, Molly."

Molly turned toward her son with arms outstretched, waiting for her hug. When it didn't come, and the giver stood there and stared at her, Molly threw herself into her son's arms.

"Mom, Mom. You're squeezing the life out of me," barely breathed Ron.

"Sorry, Ron Ron. Alright, kiddies. Let's go home. You can tell me all about your year on the way back."

And with that, the close-knit group of four walked out of the station and started towards Diagon Alley. "Your father is looking at getting a promotion very soon, Ron," Molly spoke to her son. She smiled back at him, and he replied, "Oh yeah? My guess is that you want me to help him stay where he is at the Department of Muggle Artifacts Office?"

"That's my boy," Molly said as they reached the floo station in Diagon Alley. She turned back to Ron and sighed, "You know your father, he half wishes he was a muggle."

They stepped into the green flames one by one and before long they were back at the burrow. As they were all waltzing in, Molly announced, "Dinner will be ready shortly, dears. Make yourselves at home. And as for you, Ron", she paused and looked at her youngest son, "Try to keep your room clean. I don't want to have to come in and cast a cleaning spell every hour like last summer."

Molly shuffled ahead as Harry and Hermione stared at their friend with a look that seemed to say "Really, Ron?" His cheeks burned red and he shrugged his shoulders and threw his hands up in defense. The trio continued to walk in and trudged up to Ron's room. There, Ron threw his luggage on his bed and told them to do the same. Hermione carefully placed her little purse on the bed.

"That's it?" Ron inquired.

"Shrinking Charm," Hermione answered and shrugged. Ron's eyes brightened and love filled his eyes as he said, "Only you, Hermione. Only you."

Hermione shrugged again and avoided eye contact with Ron, a bit uncomfortable with the obvious flirting. She was saved by Harry who asked, "So, what are the sleeping arrangements?"

Ron's eyes widened and he said, "Well, there's a couch downstairs…" he paused a moment as his eyes met Hermione's, "and I have a double bed right here."

Hermione coughed and looked away towards the door, crossing her hand across her body and letting it fall on her elbow. Harry raised his eyebrows and he grinned, "I see. Well then, I think I can hear the couch calling my name." Ron gave him an approving nod but Hermione's look was not as appreciative. "I don't know, Ron. I can take the couch."

Ron tossed his hand in front of his face, "That won't be necessary. I don't bite." Hermione gave him an "I don't think so" look, but Harry said. "Hermione, really. I like couches better. And I think it'd be a little odd to sleep with Ron. No offense, mate."

Ron stuck his lips out slightly and said, "None taken."

Hermione was outnumbered. She had no choice. She attempted to give Ron a smile. "Okay, slug." It was something she had called him occasionally since their second year when he threw up slugs because Draco called her a mudblood. She had always thought it was kind of funny.

The trio marched back downstairs as Molly saw them from the hallway. "Oh, perfect you three. Dinner is on the table."

The Weasley family dinner was unlike any other family dinner in all of London. As Ron passed Hermione the rice, the whizzing Aviatomobile that had been flying around crashed into the bowl. "Ew," Hermione breathed to herself as Molly shouted, "Fred! George! Stop that right now! This is dinner, not playtime."

"Aww, Mom, it's always time for flying cars," The twins recited simultaneously. "If Ron had had practice like this, he wouldn't have ever crashed the car into the womping willow," Fred added.

"Shut up, Fred," Ron shot back.

"I'm sorry about this, really," Ginny was caught whispering to Harry. "This is actually a good day. It's been far worse."

Harry shook his head, "Oh, I'll get used to it. It's much better than being treated like Dudley's dirt all dinner. That is the worst thing imaginable."

Ginny laughed, "You should have come here a lot sooner then. I could use a little company from someone without red hair."

While they were talking, Arthur was sadly reporting to Molly how bad it looked that he would end up getting that promotion, as Molly listened with a caring face. Fred and George had started planning the newest product for Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Ron and Hermione also had their own conversation brewing.

"That's when the knight snuck right up behind the king and trampled him into pieces. Check mate!"

"Oh that's splendid! Hopefully next time you can find a more formidable opponent than Colin Creevey."

"I hope so," nodded Ron in agreement, "I want some competition. Hey, maybe, you know, we can play sometime. I know this great place off in the woods."

Hermione laughed, "Chess in the woods, Ron? That's the best you can do?"

Ron frowned, "What's that supposed to mean?"

Unfortunately, Fred had heard this last comment. "Planning a date already, guys? When's the wedding?"

Arthur poked his head up at this point, "What Wedding?"

George pointed across the table towards Ron and Hermione, "A wedding for those two lovebirds."

Ron smirked, but Hermione politely shook her head, "No there's no Wed-", but she was caught off by Ginny, "Well Hermione is the only girl Ron would be able to get."

Molly turned to Hermione and reached her hand out towards her. "You know you've always been like family here, anyway."

"Thank you Molly, but I think a wedding is moving a bit too fast," Hermione reasoned.

Ron nodded in agreement, much to Hermione's relief, but ruined it by saying, "We at least need our chess match first."

The whole table broke out into a harmonious laughter as Hermione slid slowly down into her chair.

Harry was leaving to go downstairs with a short, "See you tomorrow, guys!" Ron and Hermione waved goodbye as Ron climbed right into bed. Hermione stared at her spot for a little then climbed in after him.

Ron was smiling as he said "Good night, Hermione."

Hermione returned the wish with her own, "Good night."

Hermione sighed and thought that this wasn't as bad as she anticipated. She didn't have enough energy in her to fight anymore, and she thought about tomorrow. She was excited to get away from Ron and the craziness for a little while, even if that meant having to deal with Malfoy. Transfiguration was one of her favorite subjects, and she thought it would be quite easy to teach even a bonehead like Malfoy. "Maybe he'll be smarter than I think", was her last thought as sleep carried her away. Ron, not yet asleep cast his arm over the sleeping Hermione and pulled her closer to him, finding hard to sleep without holding her.