A/N – Okay so it's been a ridiculously long time since I've updated, but unfortunately real life has kept me far too busy to seriously write for a while. But I really want to continue with this story as I've enjoyed writing it so much. So am going to keep plugging away at it, even though I can't guarantee regular updates. Thanks to all the lovely people who've left reviews, you're the key reason that I'm still (slowly) working on this and I really appreciate them.
Chapter 7 – Future Plans
"Hermione!" Molly gasped in surprise. "My dear, I had no idea that you were here! Why didn't you let me know when you arrived?"
The large, redheaded matriarch enveloped Hermione in an enormous hug. As the younger witch leant into the hug, she felt her earlier tears threaten to return. While you could never call her parents anything but warm and loving, there was something about a hug from Molly Weasley that made Hermione feel 5 years old again. Totally protected. Safe and warm.
"I didn't want to disturb you Mrs Weasley. Ginny and I were catching up, and I know you've been so busy…" Hermione trailed of as the hug ended and Molly stared into Hermione's eyes, concern evident in her tired face.
"How are you doing dear?"
The words nearly broke Hermione's heart. She couldn't quite believe this woman. She'd lost a husband and two children with a third child seriously injured, but still Molly Weasley worried about others, those who, while definitely in pain, could never claim to have lost as much as her.
"I'm okay." Hermione managed to choke out. "I have missed you all though."
"And we've missed you my dear." Molly replied, patting Hermione on the back and guiding her back down the stairs, whispering, "I have never known my house to be so quiet before. We are all so glad to see you."
Hermione glanced at Molly, unsure of how to respond. While George's earlier reception greatly contradicted this claim, Hermione was thankful to hear the welcome all the same.
Fortunately, before she had to think of an appropriate reply, they had arrived in the kitchen and Hermione was able to return to the table, while Molly and Ginny discussed dinner.
At one point Hermione attempted to make them all tea, only to be rebuffed by Mrs Weasley's strong believe that 'Guests do not make tea for themselves!'
So while the two Weasley women pottered around in the kitchen, Hermione took a stroll through the garden, hoping to clear her thoughts a little.
As she strolled around the small garden, Hermione allowed some happy memories to return to her, for the first time in weeks. She remembered summers past, when she had visited Ron. Although it had only been a few visits, she could remember them all as clearly as if they had been only a few days, rather than years, ago.
She remembered the days they spent laughing at the twins, as they mucked about in the garden. She remembered the fun both herself and Harry had flinging gnomes over the garden fence, while Ron would grumble to himself.
She remembered teasing Ron in the mornings when he would emerge in the kitchen blurry eyed and messy haired, when she had already risen hours earlier, and had been sat on the garden bench, enjoying the sun, while studying a book.
This place had seemed so peaceful to her, despite, or even because of, the constant chaos within the walls of the cottage.
But now that it was far quieter within the cottage, the garden seemed less calming. There seemed to be a larger number of gnomes scurrying about in the bushes, and instead of the sweet whistling of the starlings, the only birds nearby sounded like crows, squawking angrily.
Eventually, upon hearing Molly's calls for George to come down for dinner, Hermione returned to the kitchen, the delicious scent of stew filled the room and instantly her stomach began to rumble as she realised it had now been several hours since her modest breakfast.
Smiling warmly, Molly asked if she had enjoyed her walk.
"It was nice." Hermione replied, with forced enthusiasm as she seated herself at the table next to Ginny. Molly quickly served up six bowls, placing four on the table and two on a tray which she took up to Bill and Fleur before returning to join the girls.
As they ate Molly quizzed Hermione on her parents' health and her plans for the future. For Hermione the future was a terrifying prospect. For months the whole community had feared for the future of the wizarding world as a whole. To suddenly have to revert to planning for her own future confused the young witch. On the one hand, as a student she'd had more plans and hopes for the future than she could keep up with. Now however, she simply felt guilt that she still had a future to think about. Many of her friends and classmates were not so lucky.
Realising that Molly was still looking at her expectantly, Hermione answered hesitantly "I'm not really sure. It's a big decision and everything feels so ... up in the air right now. For so long the war is all I've really thought about. I know it sounds odd but, it feels strange to have to think about the future."
Molly gave Hermione an understanding smile. "Of course it's a big step. But you don't have to rush into a career. Bill didn't go straight from school to Gringotts. In fact for the first few years he changed jobs so often I couldn't keep up. It's good to experiment, try different things until you find something that you think fits you."
Hermione smiled as she thought on Molly's advice. Try different things... that actually made a lot of sense. Even in school she'd never been able to find one subject that completely satisfied her. Just look at her 3rd year – that had been hard work, but she'd loved the fact that she had the opportunity to try so many different subjects at once. Her mind wandered back to Charlie's earlier suggestion regarding the shop. It would certainly give her time to consider her options. And it would be nice to have something to keep her busy, to keep her mind off of all that had happened in the past few weeks.
Of course there was one rather large problem with that idea – George seemed as far from happy at the idea of help as was humanly possible. Well, perhaps if Charlie managed to speak to him about it, to explain.
"Thank you Molly" Hermione began, putting those thoughts out of her head for the moment. "That's a really good idea. I think it would do me good to get out there and see what's about. In fact, if you don't mind, I think I'll pop over to Diagon now. See if anyone is advertising for help."
Molly gave Hermione another warm smile, saying "of course my dear. You can use our floo if you like."
Hermione grinned. "Oh that's fine thank you, I'll just apparate to the Leaky."
Molly blinked and chuckled. "Of course. I forget that you can apparate now. You've all grown up so quickly."
The older woman's smile took on a haunted look, as her thoughts drifted to what Hermione imagined must be more painful memories of all she had suffered recently. Hurriedly the young witch thanked her host and, after promising to return for dinner the next day, she left, planning on spending a few hours wandering Diagon Alley in the hope of finding a distraction to occupy her for a few hours.
