A/N: Many thanks to Krissy and StrongHermione for being my lovely betas. Enjoy! xx

Disclaimer: The characters and canon situations in the following story belong solely to JK Rowling, Scholastic and WB. I am not making any money from the publishing or writing of this story.

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Chapter Nine

Hermione felt someone shake her awake the next morning. Groggily, she sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "What?" she asked, realising that Ginny was standing in front of her.

"You better get moving," Ginny said, giving her a stern look. "Our portkey is leaving for Hogwarts in five minutes."

Hermione jolted from the bed. "What?" she cried, immediately looking around for a pair of jeans. She found some and quickly pulled them on. "Why didn't you wake me up earlier?" she demanded as she pulled her hair back into a messy bun. She was sure that she looked ridiculous, but there wasn't time for her to shower or even brush it.

"You were sleeping so peacefully," Ginny replied, shrugging. "It's been awhile since I've seen you sleep so soundly. You didn't toss or turn at all last night. I thought I'd let you enjoy it for a little while."

Hermione paused, one trainer on, the other still in her hands. "I didn't have a nightmare last night," she whispered, realising that Ginny was right. Usually, she tossed and turned in bed from her experiences over the past year. Last night, however, wasn't the case. She had slept wonderfully and suspected that it was due to the attention that Bill and Charlie had shown her. The two of them had made her feel safe and cared for. She didn't fall asleep afraid of what she would see in her dreams.

"How did your date go?" Ginny asked, watching Hermione tie her other trainer. "Percy said that the three of you went to a Muggle restaurant."

"We did," Hermione said, standing. "It was really nice." She grasped her bag and opened it. She rummaged for a moment before freezing. Where is my book?

"I notice that you've got a nice new piece of jewellery," Ginny commented, staring at her friend's hand. "I can't believe you didn't wake me up to show me."

"Have you seen my notebook?" Hermione asked, not hearing Ginny's question. "I always leave it in my bag, but it's not here."

"Your notebook?" Ginny asked, a confused expression on her face. "The one you always write in?"

Hermione nodded, biting her lower lip.

"No, I haven't seen it," Ginny said. "Hermione, tell me about your ring!"

"I need to find my notebook!" she cried, turning to her bed. She pulled her pillow off and began to pull off her blankets

"Relax, Hermione; I'm sure it's around here somewhere. There's no need to freak out."

Hermione couldn't help it. If someone else read her book, she would be mortified. Oh, Merlin, where could it be? I need that book!

"Girls, the portkey!" Molly shouted up the stairs. "Hurry up!"

"Hermione, we need to go," Ginny said, standing. "We can look for your book when we get back."

Hermione frowned. "Do you think someone could have taken it?"

Ginny shrugged. "I really don't know, Hermione." Her tone was sympathetic. "We'll look when we return, I promise."

"GIRLS!" Molly screeched. "Hurry up, or you'll have to find another way to Hogwarts!"

Grabbing her bag angrily, Hermione stormed down the stairs after Ginny. She hurried to the front where everyone else was waiting. "Sorry," she mumbled, knowing that she probably smelled terrible. She'd have to cast a charm to freshen her up when they landed.

"You all right?" Charlie asked, peering at her with a concern expression. "You look a bit frazzled."

"I am frazzled," Hermione replied, biting her lower lip once more. Her stomach churned nervously as she imagined someone else reading her notebook. Oh, Merlin, what if someone told Bill and Charlie?

"Hold tight," Molly said, holding out the old boot that was serving as the portkey.

The group was whisked away to Hogwarts. Instead of crashing onto the ground, Hermione fell into a pair of arms. They tightened around her waist, steadying her.

"All right?" Bill's husky voice sent shivers down her spine as she recalled the previous evening's events.

"Fine," Hermione murmured, stepping out of his embrace. "Sorry. I've never quite gotten the hang of travelling this way. Travelling any wizarding way. I mean, I know how to, but I don't care for it very much." She flushed, staring at him. His eyes were full of mirth, and he was smirking. "Sorry, I'm rambling," she explained nervously.

"You don't need to apologise," Bill said gently. "You've done absolutely nothing that warrants an apology. Besides, I think it's cute when you ramble." He lowered his head and briefly kissed her on the lips.

She watched him as he walked away. If he knew about my notebook, he would have teased me about it, she reasoned.

Harry approached her, smiling. "Ready to get to work? I figured we could continue with placing the portraits up near the staircases."

"Sounds good to me," Hermione replied. "Thank goodness we're almost finished. The school will be opening in a few days for the start of term, but everything's come together so nicely."

"I never realised there were so many portraits," Harry said, sighing as they walked towards the Great Hall to get a portrait to hang up. "Many of them were so quiet that you didn't even know they were there."

"And some weren't quiet enough," Hermione said, smirking. She laughed as she remembered Sir Cadagon. Harry had replaced his portrait in the past week, and since then he had been harassing every person possible.

They each grabbed a portrait and carried them towards the Grand Staircase.

"How's the wedding planning going?" Hermione asked as they walked. "I feel like I've barely seen you."

"I know," Harry said, frowning. "I can't remember the last time you, me, and Ron all spent time together. It's been so busy since the marriage law passed. Ginny and I are planning, Ron's getting to know Hannah better, and everyone else is just… Yeah," he finished lamely. "I miss you."

Hermione frowned. "I miss you too. Maybe today, you, Ron, and I can sneak in lunch somewhere?"

"Don't you usually eat lunch with Bill and Charlie?" Harry questioned.

"Yes, but I'm sure they won't mind if I spend some time with you." Hermione smiled at him. "I need to make some time for my best friends. I've been neglectful of you both."

"Nah, it's not just you. We've all been a little neglectful of each other." Harry's eyes widened in shock when he noticed the ring on her finger. "Hermione! Did they propose?"

Hermione's insides warmed at the mention of her wizards. "Yes," she said, preening. "They took me to dinner in the Muggle world last night, and it was wonderful." She smiled dreamily as she recalled it. Hermione laughed, knowing that she must have looked and sounded like Luna at that moment. "When they proposed, it was quite romantic."

Harry smiled. "I'm happy for you. I was always afraid that you wouldn't be able to find anyone who could handle you fully."

"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence," Hermione teased.

Harry threw her a glare. "I'm just glad that the three of you are getting along so well. You all seem happy, and if anyone deserves happiness, it's you."

"Me?" Hermione inquired, blushing. "You're the one who really deserves it. I mean, you've defeated a Dark Lord… multiple times. I was so happy to learn that you and Ginny are soulmates. It always seemed like the two of you were destined to be with each other."

"Ginny is wonderful," Harry said, pausing in front a blank space. Using his wand, he levitated the painting up the wall. He held his wand steady as he adhered the portrait to the wall. Hermione did the same on the opposite side of the wall.

After they each adjusted their portraits perfectly, the two of them walked back to the Great Hall.

"Harry?" Hermione asked.

Harry arched his brow in response.

Hermione's body trembled nervously. She was almost afraid to ask him, but she needed to know. She needed to know if he was responsible. "Have you seen my notebook laying around anywhere?"

"That one you're always secretly scribbling in?" Harry asked to clarify. He shook his head. "No, sorry."

"It's all right," Hermione replied. "I didn't think you did, but I just needed to make sure." Her heart raced. Where in Merlin's name is my book? I know that I didn't misplace it… Someone must have taken it, but who?

"Let's get the rest of these portraits done. I think we'll be able to finish today." Harry smiled warmly at her before walking ahead a bit faster.

"Ready for our picnic?" Charlie asked, coming up behind Hermione and startling her. He grinned when she turned around and lightly smacked his chest. He caught her hands in his and held them tightly, bringing them to his lips so he could kiss them.

"Well, since this is actually our last day with the renovation, I think Harry, Ron, and me are going to have lunch somewhere," Hermione said, peering up at him. "I hope that's all right."

"Of course," Charlie said, giving her a reassuring smile. He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her softly. "I'll see you back home." He grinned at her once more before leaving to find Bill.

"You're so smitten," Harry said, a smug expression on his face. "I still can't believe it."

"Stop it." She glared at him, smacking him in the chest. "Now come on, let's find Ron and find a place to eat."

"How about the Room of Requirement?" Ron suggested, walking towards them. "Hi, Harry, Hermione," he greeted them. "Hermione, I feel like I haven't seen you in forever even though we live together."

"I know," Hermione said with a frown. She hugged Ron tightly. "If I'm not with Bill or Charlie, then you're off somewhere with Hannah."

"She does take up a lot of my time," Ron said sheepishly. "There's just so much I don't know about her. We've set a date: November 3rd," he said, beaming.

"That's so soon!" Hermione exclaimed, startled.

"Er, yes, but it seems that, well, we're both eager to make it official," Ron explained. "She makes me happy, and I'm ready to move in with her and have her be my wife."

Hermione was shocked by his words. She was happy for Ron, of course, but she was surprised that he and Hannah had bonded together so quickly. Well, I suppose it wasn't much different for Charlie, Bill, and me. I bonded with them quickly as well, although I suppose this is all because our fiancés are our perfect matches… Our soulmates.

"Ready to eat, though? I'm starving," Ron said. "Mum's made Sheppard's pie."

"Oh, I love your mother's Sheppard's pie," Hermione said, smiling. "Let's go."

The three of them each got themselves a plate and drink before heading towards the Room of Requirement. As the door opened, they were pleased to see that there was a nice spot in front of the fire where they could eat.

Hermione ate her food silently, half-listening to Ron talk about Hannah. It seemed that Ron was utterly smitten with her. However, she couldn't pay attention to every little detail as her mind was on her notebook. She needed to find it before someone exposed it.


"Bill, do you have a moment?" Charlie whispered to his brother. "I have something that I need to show you in private."

Bill looked at Charlie, confusion on his face. "Very well," he said, standing and excusing himself from the table. "What is it?" he asked when Charlie pulled him down the hall and into an empty classroom.

"When I brought Hermione back to her room last night, I noticed that notebook that she's always writing in." He reached into his pocket and pulled it out, unshrinking it as he did so. "I read a bit and holy shite! Bill, Hermione's been writing smutty fantasies."

"What?" Bill asked, confusion flickering across his face. "What on earth are you rambling about?"

Charlie handed him the notebook. "Here, read for yourself."

Bill opened it to a random page and began to read. His eyes widened when he realised that his brother was right. "She's got us wearing kilts and speaking Scottish here."

Charlie laughed. "Isn't this barmy?"

"It is," Bill agreed. "Does she know you have it?"

Charlie looked sheepish. "No, I stole it."

"You should return it," Bill said firmly. "I wonder if this was what she was distraught over this morning."

Charlie frowned. "I'll return it once I've read some more. I'm curious to see if we can make someone of her fantasies come true."

"Let's just hope this doesn't end up with us getting snookered." Bill sighed. "Come on; lunch is almost over." He began to walk back towards the table but stopped. "And put that book away, we don't want anyone to know we have it."