A/N: This chapter is quite a bit longer than the last.

Disclaimer: Still all belongs to JKR.

Chapter 3

Starting Over

With Ron's instance that she should go, Hermione departed from the Burrow three days later in pursuit of her parents with the promise that she would return in a few weeks time. She and Ron shared a long embrace and kiss before she exited the front gate to meet the Knight Bus, which would take her to London Heathrow airport. Her plan was to fly to Australia by airplane (preferring this form of flight to broomstick), then apparate throughout the country in search of her parents. Upon watching Ron and Hermione's reluctant separation and realizing her youngest son was so deeply in love, Mrs. Weasley's face brightened ever so slightly. It was the first time in days that Harry had seen her look anything akin to happy.

It was a full two weeks after Fred's burial that George Weasley finally emerged from his bedroom. While he had finally started to take small meals in his room about a week before, he had not yet spoken to anyone that Harry was aware of.

George had entered the kitchen quite unexpectedly as the family were settling down to dinner. Mrs. Weasley, who was preparing a tray to take up to him, let out a cry when she saw her son and hurriedly embraced him, tears welling in her eyes. George closed his eyes and hugged his mother before sitting down at the table. He looked around at his family and Harry as his mother ladled some onion soup into the bowl before him. No one knew what to say, least of all Harry, who felt responsible for Fred's death. If only I had gone to meet Voldemort sooner, was his constant thought.

"Where's Hermione?" George asked suddenly, looking at Ron, his voice gravelly from lack of use. The whole table jumped and stared at George, who had taken a bite of onion soup.

"Er, she's gone after her parents." Ron said, his eyes wide as he answered his brother.

"She's coming back though?" George asked.

"Yeah, she's going to spend some time with them and then come back in a few weeks."

"I expect she's got to now that you two are snogging all over the place." George intoned, taking another bite of soup.

The silence around the room was palpable. Then Ginny let out a small laugh and Harry looked around to see the rest of the Weasleys smiling. George looked up from his soup and Harry saw a small smile playing around his lips. At that moment, his heart filling with relief, Harry knew that George was going to be okay after all.

*

Hermione returned three weeks later. She had found her parents, returned their memories, and spent a few weeks with them before returning to the Burrow. If Ginny had not been there, Harry imagined he would be feeling quite lonely once Hermione returned even though he was again living with his two best friends. Ron and Hermione often stole away for private moments and Harry caught them kissing and groping each other furiously many times when Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were not around. This did not bother Harry at all however. He had Ginny to distract him and was doing his own fair share of snogging these days. Besides, he knew that soon it would be just he and Ron. Hermione had decided that she wanted to return to Hogwarts with Ginny in the fall to complete her education and get her NEWTS.

The days went on and the colors around The Burrow became rich and golden with the approaching autumn. Without discussion or debate, Harry had come to officially live at the Burrow, the only place beside Hogwarts where he had ever felt at home. He had decided to accept Kinsley Shacklebolt's job offer and, in September, when Ginny and Hermione departed for their seventh and final year at Hogwarts, he entered Auror training at the Ministry of Magic.

A few days after Harry started his new job, George departed back to his flat in Diagon Alley, offering Ron Fred's old position as co-owner of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Ron was a little taken aback by the offer, but as George said, Fred would have wanted the business to stay in the family. Ron accepted the job, but opted to continue living at the Burrow for the time being, apparating to Diagon Alley each day. Harry was sure that this decision was based solely on the fact that Hermione would often be visiting The Burrow with Ginny during the Holidays.

The year that Hermione and Ginny were away at Hogwarts seemed to fly by. Harry entered Auror training at the Ministry and found his new profession occupied most of his time. He would depart from The Burrow early in the morning and often not return until well after sunset. He loved it though and truly felt he was living his dream.

Ron was also busy. In December, just before the Christmas holidays, Ron helped George open a second Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes shop in Hogsmeade Village, fulfilling the dream that George once shared with Fred. Ron was now managing the Hogsmeade shop while George remained at Diagon Alley. The new store's location suited Ron well as Hogsmeade's close proximity to Hogwarts meant frequent visits from Hermione. Headmistress McGonagall had granted Hermione permission to come and go to the village as often as she pleased as long as she continued to attend all her classes and achieve exemplary grades. That, of course, was no problem for Hermione. So, Harry would often apparate to Hogsmeade after work and meet Ron and Hermione for a late supper at the Three Broomsticks.

In May, Harry received an invitation to attend Hermione and Ginny's graduation ceremony at Hogwarts. Commencement was to take place in early June. Harry found himself eager to return to his old school, not just for the Ceremony, but to see all his old friends and teachers again. Hermione had written often to give updates on what was going on at the school and Harry did, on occasion, miss his life as a student.

The commencement ceremony took place in the Hogwarts Quiddich stadium on a lovely and warm summer day. The Quiddich hoops had been removed and the bleachers where the spectators sat were lowered to ground level. A large mahogany stage sat in the middle of the field and on it was an ornately carved wooden desk piled high with rolls of parchment naming the year's graduates. Professor McGonagall opened the ceremony with a moment of silence for all those that had been lost in "The Battle of Hogwarts." The Hogwarts choir then performed, followed by speeches from Hogwarts Head Boy and Girl. Finally, the procession of graduates began. Ginny was near the front of the line and received an enthusiastic applause when she accepted her NEWTS from Professor McGonagall. Hermione, however, was quite taken aback by the response she received. When Hermione's name was called and she walked across the front of the stage to receive her parchment of NEWTS, the crowd rose to their feet and positively roared with applause. Even from the distance, Harry could see Hermione's face painted with emotion. Harry looked over at Ron and saw unabashed love and pride in his eyes.

The last moments of the commencement ceremony brought a lump to everyone's throat as the graduates were led by a beaming Hagrid to the boats on the lake which had brought them to Hogwarts as small children. Harry watched as Ginny, and then Hermione were helped into boats by Hagrid, both of them hugging him in turn. Harry felt tears in his eyes and glanced over at Ron, who was wiping his face on his sleeve. A part of Harry ached to be in the boat with his friends as it glided toward the Hogwarts train depot, but he knew deep down that he had made the right choice to forgo his last year of education for his new profession.

Ron and Harry walked with the Weasleys down to the Thestral drawn carriages which would take them to the train depot to meet up with Ginny and Hermione. Mrs. Weasley had spent the entire previous day preparing a lovely feast at the Burrow and, as Hermione's parents were to be there as well, Mr. Weasley had spent the day writing up a list of questions about the Muggle world to ask them.

Hermione and Ginny were already being hugged and congratulated by Mr. And Mrs. Granger when Harry and the Weasleys arrived. The moment Hermione saw Ron however, she ran over to him and flung herself into his arms. Harry left them alone and walked over to Ginny, embracing her and kissing her.

A moment later, they were joined by Ron and Hermione, who was positively beaming. Harry hugged Hermione and kissed her on her wet cheek. Harry guessed she had been crying tears of happiness since she received her NEWTS from Professor McGonagall.

"You did it!" Harry exclaimed, releasing her and looking in her eyes.

Hermione's response was a very happy sob.

It was decided that since the Granger's couldn't apparate, they would travel to the Burrow by the Knight Bus, escorted by Ron and Hermione. Harry and the Weasleys apparted to the Burrow and, about an hour later, were met by Hermione, Ron and the Grangers. The moment they stepped off the bus, Harry could tell something was wrong. Ron looked sullen and Hermione upset. When the Grangers had been settled at the Burrow and introductions had been made, Harry excused himself and went into the garden, where he had seen Ron stalk off to a few moments earlier.

Ron was sitting alone on the garden swing, looking absently at a gnome that was sucking on a worm.

"What's going on mate?" Harry asked, taking a seat in a chair adjacent to Ron.

"Hermione's leaving." Ron said, his voice breaking ever so slightly.

"What do you mean, leaving? I thought she had already arranged with your parents to stay here so she could start that job at the Ministry this summer." Harry asked puzzled.

"Yeah, me too. But, evidently, her parents want to take her on an extended Holiday and she worked out with Kinsley not to start the job until next year. She's going to be gone months Harry, months!" Ron sounded close to tears. At that moment, Hermione walked out into the garden, looking close to tears herself.

"Hey Harry. Can I have a few moments with Ron?" She asked, approaching them.

"Yeah, of course. I'll just be inside then." Harry said, giving Ron a friendly pat on the shoulder as he got up. He shared a knowing glance with Hermione as she sat down next to Ron on the swing.

Harry knew it was none of his business but he could not help but be curious about the conversation that was about to transpire. He hoped that Ron would be mature and understanding. Hermione had sacrificed so much to help them the previous year – Harry hoped that Ron would remember that.

Allowing curiosity to get the better of him, Harry opened and closed the back door but did not actually go into the house. Instead, he concealed himself behind an overgrown bush just outside the door. For the first time since "The Battle", Harry wished he had his invisibility cloak. He keened his ears toward where Ron and Hermione sat and listened.

Harry heard Ron's plaintive voice first. "But Hermione, it's going to be months before I see you again!"

"You know I'll write to you everyday." Hermione was obviously crying. "Oh Ron, please try to understand! I have hardly seen my parents for the past two years. For the longest time they didn't even know I existed. I just... I've missed them so."

There was silence for a long time before Harry heard Ron's voice again.

"I know. I'm just going to miss you. I... I love you Hermione."

"I love you too Ron." Hermione answered.

Harry chanced a glance from behind the bush. Ron and Hermione were kissing with more passion than Harry had ever seen and was quite sure they would not be kissing like that if they knew he was only a few feet away. Harry suddenly felt quite embarrassed to be there. Just as he was about to open the kitchen door to sneak inside though, Ginny walked through it onto the back porch.

"There you are!" She said, seeing Harry first. Harry quickly shook his head and flailed his arms about indicating that he was not supposed to be there. Ginny, taking the hint, turned her attention toward Ron and Hermione. "Uh, Mum's looking for you. Dinner's about to start and she decided that since it's such a nice night, we should eat out here. She needs your help setting up."

Harry slipped inside behind Ginny as Ron and Hermione walked to the house, their arms around each other.

*

Harry could not remember the last time he had such a delicious feast or such a good time. Ron was no longer acting sullen and moody. He seemed determined to make Hermione's last night at the Burrow a good one and even helped his mum clear the dinner dishes to make room for the beautiful graduation cake she had made for Hermione and Ginny. Hermione beamed at Ron and Harry felt like something unspoken, beautiful and pure, was passing between his two best friends. It was as though their love was palpable and everyone in the room could feel it.

Hermione departed with her parents the next day. She said her farewells to Harry and the Weasleys, and shared a very tearful goodbye with Ron before getting on the Knight Bus. They shared one more kiss through the window before the Bus rolled out of sight.