Hermione confides to Molly about her apprehensions of going back to Hogwarts in the Fall.

Chapter 2: A Conversation with Molly

Hermione sat in silence at the scarred wooden table in Weasleys' kitchen. Throughout the years the Burrow had become a second home to her. She spent more time in this house than her own home, a fact that came with it's own twinge of guilt. Hermione loved her parents dearly, but it was often difficult walking the line between the world in which she now lived and her other life. Add a psychopathic mass-murdering wizard to the mix and things became really complicated.

It had been a week since Fred's funeral and while a sadness permeated the household, life was beginning to resume. She sat alone in the kitchen as others were outside enjoying the sunshine that decided to make a rare appearance that day. She was so absorbed in her thoughts that Hermione jumped when she heard the kitchen door open loudly.

"What are you doing in here all alone?" Molly Weasley asked, carrying an empty pitcher from the backyard with her.

"I just wanted a moment to myself for a minute."

"Are you okay, dear?" Molly asked, immediately concerned.

Hermione smiled at the older woman. "Just thinking about my parents."

Abandoning the quest for lemonade, she set the pitcher on the counter and moved to sit across from Hermione at the table. "I heard what Kingsley told you. They will find them soon. You do know that, don't you? You just have to keep the faith."

"I know that, Mrs. Weasley, but it still doesn't stop me from wanting to book the first muggle plane out of London for Australia.

"You'll do no such thing," Molly admonished. "It's still too dangerous with the press hounding you and Death Eaters still on the loose. Kingsley and his men are doing all they can to find them and when they do you'll be the first to know."

"I still feel like I should be doing something instead of just sitting here."

"I know you do, dear," Molly assured her. "It's only natural. But in less than no time, they'll be back in England safe and sound and sitting right outside that door and Arthur will be badgering them with inane questions about muggles."

A small smile formed on Hermione's face at the thought but it didn't stop the worry from seeping through. "What if they hate me after what I've done to them, Mrs. Wesley,"

"Your parents won't hate you." Molly reached across the table and grasped Hermione's hand tightly in her own. "I'm not going to lie to you, Hermione. They'll probably be very angry with you. I would be furious if one of my children pulled something like that on me and Arthur, but they certainly will not hate you. You'll understand someday when you have children of your own."

"Mum," whined Ginny Weasley as she barged into the kitchen. "Don't tell me you're badgering Hermione about giving you grandchildren. You bother Bill and Fleur enough as it is. You can't be that hungry for babies in the house."

"You be quiet, Ginny. I was doing nothing of the sort. I was just talking to Hermione about her parents," Molly smiled as she admonished her daughter. "And there will be no talk of grandchildren for anyone unmarried, clear?"

"Crystal," Ginny answered saucily as she reached into the refrigerator for the other pitcher of lemonade her mother failed to bring back out to the picnic.

"Good. Now get that pitcher outside and let me finish talking with Hermione. We'll be out soon enough." Molly waited until her cheeky daughter was once again in the backyard before continuing. "That's not all that's bothering you is it? Is there something else?"

"I'm not going to take Kingsley up on his offer. I don't want to be an Auror. I want to go back and finish school," Hermione informed Molly. It was a tempting offer, but it just wasn't what she desired to do with her life.

"That's a wise decision. Have you told the boys?" Molly asked hesitantly.

"Yes, they know. Ron doesn't understand why I want to go back and Harry is determined to finish the Auror program in record time. I knew when I made my decision that Harry and Ron wouldn't be returning with me, but I want to go back and finish my education. I couldn't live with myself if I didn't, but…" Hermione trailed off, not wanting to voice the fears she held inside.

"But you're scared, aren't you?"

"Not so much scared as having reservations"

"About what dear?" Molly asked, squeezing Hermione's hand that she'd continued to hold. "Is it about being separated from the boys?"

"It's not about being apart from Harry and Ron. I will certainly miss them, but we always knew there would come a day when we're not under each other's feet constantly. It's just," Hermione paused, trying to collect her thoughts. "I'm going to be so much older than everyone else."

"That's your worry?" Out of everything that could have bothered Hermione, this was the last thing Molly thought would have had the brilliant girl worried.

"You don't understand. I was already the oldest in class because of my birthday being in September. Now that I've been away for a year I'm going to be that much older. It's not just in years, either. I don't feel like a child anymore. How do I return to that? I've already been on my own for almost a year and fought in a war. I'm going to turning nineteen at the beginning of the school year." Hermione turned to Molly in concern. "What were you doing when you were nineteen?"

"By that age I was married with a baby on one hip and another on the way," Molly answered honestly, thinking back on the early days of her marriage. "Don't worry, Hermione. I'll bet you're not the only one returning that missed out on the last year. And just remember that everyone has been affected by this war. Hogwarts isn't necessarily going to be the same carefree school you once attended. "

"It was never carefree. You forget, I went to school with your children and Harry," Hermione joked.


"Where's mum and Hermione?" Ron asked his sister as she set the pitcher of lemonade on the picnic table.

"What's the matter? Is ickle Ronnikins missing his girlfriend?" George joked as he bit into his hamburger.

Long ago, that same comment would have been met by scorn and a flush of scarlet across Ron's body. Today, he was just happy that George still had the ability to crack a few jokes. Fred's death left a hole in everyone, but for George the grief went deeper. The family hadn't known if he would make it through unbroken, but little by little the old George was slowly returning in rare moments like this one.

"As a matter of fact, I am," Ron replied smugly. It wasn't often that he left his brother speechless and it felt good. He could do without Harry, though, on the other side of him choking on his food in laughter.

"Well played, little brother," George responded in admiration. "Well played."

"Are you two done?" Ginny asked her brothers as she sat down next to Harry. "Hermione's talking with mum in the kitchen." Ron began to rise from the table but was stopped when she added, "You'd best leave them alone for right now. Mum threw me out so I definitely know she won't want you intruding."

"What were they talking about that's so important?" Ron demanded.

"I told you Mum kicked me out, but I think Hermione's feeling a bit lonesome for her parents. I heard them talking about it before she sent me back out with the drinks." Ginny had heard the sadness in Hermione's voice as she listened to her friend talking about her fears, so she'd tried to lighten the mood inside with the crack about grandchildren.

Ron knew Hermione desperately missed her parents. They'd talked about it many times since the final battle.


"My children did know how to make an impression on Hogwarts, didn't they," Molly smiled.

"If that's what you want to call it," Hermione countered. "I call it detention."

"Oh, I seem to recall a certain young lady being involved in a number of scrapes herself," Molly reminded Hermione as she stared at the girl.

Hermione laughed as she thought of all the adventures she'd been a part of during her time at Hogwarts. "I still have Ginny going back with me."

"She's the worst of the lot," Molly snorted as she stood and pushed her chair in. "Don't let that small exterior fool you. I know my daughter and what she can get into. "

Hermione rose from the table, also. "She's already going on about Quidditch restarting and making plans to meet Harry on Hogsmeade weekends."

"Oh, that girl. I hope she doesn't get too upset when Harry can't get out of Auror training whenever she wants him to."

"Speaking of Auror training, did Ron talk to you about the Auror program?" She knew of Ron's plans for the future, but was unsure if he'd talked to his parents yet about his plans.

"Yes," Molly replied in exasperation as she walked toward Hermione. "I'm very proud of him, but part of me think's he's biting off more than he can chew. I know he wants to help George, but doing both is going to be a strain on him."

"I think he needs to help George just as much as George needs the help." Hermione looked at Molly and asked the final thing that had been heavy on her mind for the past week. "Are you okay with me and Ron?"

"Darling girl," Molly responded. She reached up and lovingly held Hermione's face in her palms. "You are the best thing that has ever happened to that boy. You don't know how many times over the years I have wanted to bash both of your heads together to make you two see reason."

"There are a few times I wanted to bash Ron's head into something, myself," Hermione replied as Molly pulled her into an embrace. "Aren't you worried about us fighting all the time?"

"It's not all the time. And not about the important things. You two are a good balance for each other."

Hermione pulled back and squeezed Molly's hand. "Thank you. You know just what to say. I hope you know how much I appreciate everything you and your family have done for me. I can never repay you for so much kindness."

"Don't be silly, Hermione. You are part of this family, whether you like it or not. You and Harry are Weasleys now." Still holding onto her hand, Molly pulled Hermione through the kitchen toward the bright sunlight of the doorway "And I'll let you in on a little secret. I want you to know that whomever my sons bring home, you will always be my favorite. I love you like one of my own, Hermione."

"I love you, too, Mrs. Weasley," Hermione said softly, tears coming to her eyes as she squeezed the hand of the woman who had become a surrogate mother to her. "But don't let Fleur hear you playing favorites."

"Oh, I love Fleur dearly, but you will always have a special place in my heart that no other daughter-in-law can hold." Kissing her on the cheek, Molly added as she let go of Hermione's hand, "Now go join the others before we're both reduced to tears and everyone comes running."


"What was that all about?" Ron asked as Hermione squeezed herself between Harry and Ron on the picnic bench.

"Nothing," Hermione smiled. "Just a little girl talk."

Looking at her askance, Ron replied, "Are you sure everything is okay?"

"Everything is going to be fine," she answered as she reached for his hand under the table. Deep in her heart, Hermione finally realized that was the truth. She was still conflicted about her parents and continued to be a bit apprehensive about school , but as she knew in her heart everything would work out in the end.

I always thought Hermione would be a bit apprehensive about being so much older than the other kids when she went back to Hogwarts. I also don't think she'd be head girl. I feel she'd turn it down so she doesn't take the chance away from someone who should have had it in the current year since she missed her year. Maybe I'll include that in a future installment. Next chapter will have some Fleur, Hermione, Ginny and Molly in it.