A/N: I'm leaving on vacation so I don't know when I'll next be able to update... I promise to try, though! Maybe next chapter real soon and then a gap or something... anyway, hope you at least enjoy this one!=)

Disclaimer: So, once again, I own nothing!

It had been a few hours already since Harry had left, and Hermione was going about the business of decorating the house for Rose's party. The little girl in question was currently at school -Hermione had insisted she should attend muggle school until she was eleven, if nothing else, so that she would learn how to socialize with other kids her age- and she wouldn't be home for another four hours. She had also already woken little two-year-old Hugo up and left him to entertain himself at his play-pen.

As much time as that gave Hermione, she still had a lot to do, and she felt like she wasn't going to get everything done in time.

(The fact that Ron still wasn't home and she had heard nothing from him wasn't helping either.)

The living room had already been dusted and the "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ROSIE!" banners had already been hung. Both plush couches had been strategically placed around the coffee table and near the fire-it was November, after all. In addition to the couches, Hermione had conjured several arm-chairs so that everyone could be comfortably seated and, on the far-end corner a nice big table had been set, where she planned on setting the sandwiches and several snacks and beverages.

Once the initial surprise was over and done with, she planned on retiring the throng over to the kitchen, where they would all have the dinner she was currently in the middle of cooking, and they would end the evening back in the living room, where they would have the cake and Rosie would finally be allowed to open her presents.

In theory, it was all fine and well, but the problem was that, as much as she loved the Weasley's to death, they tended to be chaotic at best, and plans tended to go out the window. And, of course, there was also the fact that she couldn't shake the bad feeling she had about Ron not making it on time.

She tried to keep her worries at bay and kept on cooking and baking and before she knew it people started to arrive. The first ones to get there were Harry and Ginny with their sons James and Albus and their little daughter Lily. Albus was only four months Rose's elder, and the two of them, thankfully, got on like a house on fire. James was a year older than Albus and the latter hero-worshiped him a bit, which resulted in all three of them playing together doing whatever the eldest said. It could have been a disaster, but the fact that Rose was the epitome of cuteness ensured that she had everyone wrapped around her little finger and she generally got her way. Ginny, however many times both her sons had asked her to, had not wanted them to attend a muggle school. She knew what a bad experience Harry had had there and she didn't want to risk the same happening to her sons. Harry, although Hermione knew he wasn't sure it was the right decision because he felt James and Albus would benefit from sharing the experience with Rose, understood Ginny's reasoning behind her saying no and had, therefore, stood behind her on the issue. As for little Lily, she was two months younger than Hugo -Hermione and Ron's two-year-old own son- and, therefore, was drowsy and in her father's arms when they arrived.

As soon as they entered the kitchen through the fireplace, they took in Hermione's flustered appearance-an apron haphazardly tied to her body, flour and other sticky substances all over her and her hair sticking out in any and all directions. They all greeted each other first with hugs and kisses and, once little James had said hi and showed her favourite "auntie 'Mione" his new glasses and gone to play with Albus and Lily was set down with Hugo at the play-pen, Harry and Ginny set about calming Hermione down and telling her to go shower and change while they tended to the few things left to do in the kitchen. She thanked them profusely and started quickly going up the stairs to her bedroom, quickly shedding the apron from her body as she went.

While Hermione was upstairs getting ready, most of the rest of the Weasley clan arrived-Mr. and Mrs. Weasley with Teddy Lupin, George with his wife Anna and their son Fred, Bill and Fleur with Victoire, Brigitte and Charlotte, even Percy and his wife, Laura, with their son Angel. By the time Neville and Luna and Hermione's own parents arrived, Hermione was already downstairs and about to go pick Rose up.

(Ron had yet to contact her and she was getting beyond anxious-and a little pissed off, if she was being honest)

"Okay, everyone!" She exclaimed, her voice a little raised so the chatter would die down and everyone would listen to her instructions. "I'm heading out to pick Rosie up, so make your way to the living room and keep the light off. We'll come in through the Flu in there and when we get there you all just yell 'surprise!' and jump out while someone turns the lights on, okay?"

"Aye, aye, captain!", mock saluted George, making everyone laugh.

"Hermione, honey, just go on out, we know how to behave," cooed Mrs. Weasley, "don't we?" She asked in an ominous tone while she glared around the room and paused for a little too long on George.

There was a faint chorus of 'yes's and 'sure's Hermione felt a little placated, knowing how intimidated they all were -including her- by Mrs. Weasley.

Hermione left the house then and Rose was waiting for her at the school playground like she usually was. On the way to the fireplace they would use to flu home, she showed Hermione the arts and crafts presents her classmates had made for her and excitedly told her mum that they had sung happy birthday and given her extra dessert because they had said it was her 'special day'. Hermione laughed and nodded at all the right places, but the truth was she wasn't really paying attention.

Once they got to their destination, Hermione took a handful of the Flu Powder and tossed it in the fireplace. They both got in together and Hermione recited their address. Rose was already used to this form of transport, of course, and thought nothing of it until they emerged in an unlit living room where hidden people suddenly jumped up and the lights flicked on.

"Surprise!", they all chorused.

"Happy birthday, Rosie!", some of them went on to add.

The other kids quickly went to greet Rose while she took in the banner and the food there was at the table to the side, and Hermione could see that, although she was grinning happily, she was a little overwhelmed too.

She, however, couldn't help but look around for the one person she longed to see, and when she sweeped her vision along where Harry stood she could see him sadly smile and imperceptibly shake his head.

(Ron wasn't there.)

A/N: Constructive criticism is always appreciated!