Disclaimer--If you like it, assume I don't own it. The Potterverse belongs to JKR, Steve Klowes, Scholastic and WB. Fanon belongs to the multitude...I'm simply paying homage with the sincerest form of flattery. No copyright infringement is intended, and no money is being made.

Author's Notes--For those of you who know my posting habits, you already know posting has been a lot slower in this work (for which I apologize--I've missed our "club"), and it will probably continue to be slower. I really hope you'll make the effort to stick with me anyway. As you all know, I may not own it, but I work hard, and I love it, so if you read it and enjoy it, please review it!

Raelbin--Thanks! I love hearing that--hope you enjoy this installment too. ;-)

Ranting Idiot--I'll try to make the story live up to the beginning. *crosses fingers* I would love it if you joined our little club...it's a lot of fun, and the more the merrier!:-D

Raiining--Of course I read your review...I practically LIVE for them! Thanks for letting me know what you think! I always Ginny seeing the HP universe from Ginny's eye view as well. *grins* I'll do my best to give you a good idea what happened to Ginny during GoF.

J.Rhaye--Good for EEDOE! I'll have to thank her. ;-) And thank you again for your encouragement and support! *hugs* Somehow, I just KNEW that would be Molly's attitude...it just feels right. *grins* I have to admit, I like seeing hints of the plucky personality she is/was when she isn't dealing with the kids. *winks* I'm glad you enjoyed my little romantic moment (I did too.) *hugs*

EEDOE--Thanks for recruiting more great members for FF.net...you're amazing! *hugs* Ginny counting cracked me up...and, as for the twins...what would we do without them? I really hope they haven't disappeared in books 6 and 7! I always felt sort of bad for Molly being left out...so I feel better now that I know she chose not to go on her own. *winks* You liked my timing with the butter! *does happy dance* And you noticed the repeating image of the snake and the stars! *beams* I'm so excited!!! Yay!! I hope you enjoy this chapter too...thanks for the great review! *hugs*

Bill--Sometimes a line just resonates in your bones...that one about the sun did, so I'm glad you loved it as much as I did. *beams* I think Ginny and Luna were surprised because they didn't take the spell very seriously, and were just dancing around being silly. Yeah...It was horrible Ginny would think she would be left out, but like EEDOE, I think it's understandable given her history...and I wanted to give her a big hug too! Molly does seem like an enthusiastic fan, doesn't she? *grins* Did you really like the stargazing scene? *bounces happily up and down* You're right...Dumbledore did say Voldemort was in ALBANIA...but who if Ginny got a bit confused and doesn't know his exact location, who can blame her? *winks* WOW...I'm totally blown away...it means so much to me to know you think I've improved as a writer! *blushes* Thanks so much! *hugs*

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"Now, Arthur," Mum said warningly, pointing at Dad with a wooden spoon as Ginny made her way down the kitchen stairs, "don't get carried away."



"Honestly, Molly," Dad said calmly, "I think I can manage popping in and out without your help."



Mum snorted dangerously. Ginny paused on the steps to consider backing up. "Hermione's parents are muggles."



"Ah, Ginny," Dad greeted with the air of one trying to change the subject without looking like they were trying to change the subject, "there you are."



"Watch your father," Mum ordered, fixing her with a death-threat stare. "You know how he gets around muggles."



"Uh," Ginny said intelligently. "Where's Ron?"



"In bed," Mum said shortly, turning back toward the stove. "He seemed to think...how did he put it-'Hermione didn't need his help to figure out a flu as much as he needed to sleep, and he'd see her when she got here'."



"Ah." Ginny said for lack of anything better, raising her eyebrows.



Dad caught her eye with a long-suffering look, and the slight suggestion of a shrug that made her want to giggle.



"Yeah," Ginny agreed hurriedly, "let's go, then, shall we?"



They shuffled somewhat anxiously off in the direction of the fireplace, and took down the old clay flowerpot that held the Floo Powder. It was a very surreal feeling to step into the warm emerald flames and call out a muggle residence, but it was certainly convenient Dad's friends at the Ministry had connected the Harry and Hermione's houses for the day.



She came to a somewhat wobbly stop in a small but solid little brick fireplace opening into a nice, neat, open little room with prim wing chairs and plush rugs. A vaguely familiar couple stood just off to one side, looking somewhat uncomfortable. "Ah, hello," the man said.



"Hello. Arthur Weasley," Dad said, "Ron's father? We met a couple of years ago in Diagon Alley?"



"Yes, that's right," the man said, exchanging an unreadable look with his wife. "We had an interesting discussion on public transportation. George Granger, and this is my wife, Caroline?"



"Nice to see you again," Dad said, inclining his head, "you remember my daughter, Ginny?"



"Ah, Ginny," Mrs. Granger said with a soft, serene smile strongly reminiscent of her daughter. "Hermione has told us quite a bit about you."



Ginny flushed sheepishly and tried to resist the urge to look at the rugs.



Mrs. Granger's smile seemed to deepen. "I think Hermione's upstairs finishing up her packing," she said cheerfully. "Why don't you run up there and see if you can't talk her out of a few books?"



Ginny grinned. "I'll try..."



"I know," Mrs. Granger said affectionately, "Hermione and her books, right?" She tipped her head in the direction of the stairs. Shooting a quick glance at her father for permission, Ginny beamed her thanks, already following directions.

Hermione's room wasn't hard to find-it was the first open door at the top of the stairs. It wasn't much bigger than Ginny's own little niche, but, unlike Ginny's, it was neat, a trait that left Ginny feeling a little out of place. Hermione, bent over a stack of books on the bed, an open trunk at her feet, so that her long, bushy brown curls fell across her face, was a calm, intelligent-looking girl with an air of warm competence that somehow managed to be inviting. Ginny always felt better just knowing Hermione was around to deal with things.



"Your mum says to talk you out of those," Ginny informed her.



Hermione jumped slightly, dropping the book she'd been holding back on to the stack so that it tumbled over slightly. "Oh, Ginny! I didn't hear you come in!"



"I noticed," Ginny told her, lips quirking.



"It's so good to see you!" Hermione exclaimed, throwing her arms around her and pulling her into a hug nearly as bone-crushing as Hagrid's. "Where's Ron?"



"Ron?" Ginny repeated, trying to buy time. "He...uh...had...something he had to catch up on."



"Homework," Hermione said, like a cat pouncing on something it had been eyeing for a while. "I knew he was leaving it til the last minute!"



"Well..." Ginny said awkwardly, "You know Ron..."



Hermione's response was interrupted by the loud buzz of purring at their feet. Hermione's cat, Crookshanks, had emerged from wherever he had been hiding to bump up against Ginny's feet, weaving back and forth against her ankles.



"I missed you, too, Crookshanks," Ginny said immediately. "You're such a big, purry darling."



She bent to scratch the tips of her fingernails in little circles against the top of his head, and he bumped into her fingers, purring even louder than before.



"I still can't get over how much he likes you," Hermione said, shaking her head in amazement. "Normally he won't let anyone else touch him."



"We understand one another, don't we, Crookshanks?" Ginny said matter-of-factly, glancing around the room. The more you looked at it, the more you noticed the cool serenity of the twilight purple walls and crisp white furniture. Bookshelves entirely framed a small student desk and chair, and they were-predictably enough for anyone who'd ever met Hermione-all but overflowing with books, most of them magical in nature. Or...they would have been, if half of them hadn't currently been spread across the blue and purple quilt on the bed. Everything shone with attention and polish. Ginny sighed. She wished her room looked like that-although she certainly didn't wish she had to spend time doing it.



"Hey, Hermione," Ginny said, stricken by sudden curiosity. "What are those?"



Hermione craned around to see what Ginny was referring to, and laughed. "Oh, those are called cds-compact disks-they play music."



"Really?" Ginny said, approaching them, intrigued. "How-do you need all of them?"



"No, just one at time," Hermione said, obviously amused. "Here, let me show you."



She walked across the room and picked one of the flat rectangular shapes up, flipping it open almost as if it were a book. Inside was a flat, shiny circle, almost like a silver plate, but as she pulled it out of the container, Ginny saw it had a hole in the middle. Hermione reached over and punched a button on a big, somewhat scary-looking black box, and a little tongue whispered out. She set the disk on the tongue, and hit the button again, and the tongue disappeared. Ginny jumped, eyes widening in surprise. Hermione grinned, and hit another button. Music blossomed into the room.



"Dad's right," Ginny said a bit faintly, rocking back on her ankles as Crookshanks continued to purr. "It really is remarkable, the way muggles manage without magic...no offense."



"None taken," Hermione said cheerfully. "What do you think of muggle music, then?"



"It's pretty good," Ginny said immediately. "I may have to hear some more of it."



Hermione snickered. "I think that can be arranged," she said.



"I could listen to this all day," Ginny said several songs later, "but, Hermione, if we don't get home soon, Mum may kill Dad-she was afraid he'd drive your parents wild with a bunch of outrageous questions about what it's like to be a muggle."



"They'll understand," Hermione said unconcernedly, "I think they're nearly as fascinated with what its like to be a witch or wizard."



"Well, you can't blame them," Ginny said reasonably, "since their daughter is a witch."



"True," Hermione agreed with a grin. "Still, I'd hate to get your dad in trouble with your mum." She closed the lid on the trunk. It popped back open again. She closed it again, a little more decisively. It swung open again. She closed it again....



Several minutes later, Ginny hurled herself onto the lid, throwing her weight against it as insistently as she could. Hermione dived in and fastened it shut with a shout of triumph. Panting with exertion, they both slid down into a heap on the floor. "Thanks," Hermione said eventually.



"Don't mention it," Ginny said a bit more fervently than necessary.



Another twenty minutes after that, they finally managed to pry Ginny's dad away from Hermione's parents, and floo home.