Disclaimer: I do not own anything HP, I only wish I was the genius that J.K Rowling is.


Chapter 9

"I'll be right behind you." Ron assured as I scooped up some flew powder from the tin he was holding out to me.

I nodded before clearly saying, "Ministry of Magic."

After passing various unknown fireplaces I landed in one of the many at the ministry. I quickly stepped out so as not get toppled over by whoever came through next. I hastily scanned the crowed around me looking for a head of ginger hair, it didn't take me long to find. Stepping out of a fireplace only a couple down from the one I had was Ron, anxiously searching for me.

"Ron I'm over here." I called and got his attention.

Just as we reached each other, I heard someone call out my name, then another voice call Ron's. In what felt like only seconds there where many people shouting our names and a surge of people closed in on us. Cameras were flashing like crazy and I could barely hear my own thoughts over the many shouts and cries coming from the crowd.

I grabbed Ron's hand and he pulled me closer to him as we tried to move through all the people. It was useless, no one would let us past, people where grabbing on to us and calling out questions.

"Miss Granger…."

"Mr Weasley…"

"Where is Harry Potter?"

"…what was your involvement…"

"Where have you been sinc…"

All the questions where blurring together and I couldn't see much of anything due to the camera flashes and close proximity of so many people.

Before I could register what was happening someone was behind me guiding me through the crowd, they had their arm around me while their other was out in front of us warding people away. I was still holding onto Ron's hand… barley, I was trying with all my might not to let go but the stranger with his arm around me was pulling me further away. When we broke free of the tight crowd I pulled away from the strange person and pulled my wand on him. It was an Auror.

"Miss Granger, my name is Javier Holmes. The minister asked me to bring you to his office."

I turned to the left and noticed another Auror standing by Ron, remembering that Kingsley had in fact told me that there was going to be someone to escort us up, I relaxed as put my wand away.

We continued to move into an elevator and the moment the doors closed Ron moved closer to me and took my hand. The aurors were standing on either side of us, the one by Ron was a tall man with light brown hair that was beginning to go grey around the edges, he stood perfectly tall and still, reminding me of one of the Queens Foot Guards. The one named Javier Holmes was also tall but considerably younger, his hair was a sandy blond colour cropped relatively short. He was handsome, very handsome, but the way he kept looking at me made me fell uncomfortable.

When we arrived on the correct level the lift door opened and as I stepped forward the younger auror placed his hand on the small of my back. A moment later Ron pulled me by my hand roughly, as I slammed into his side he let go of my hand and wrapped his arm around my waist.

I looked up at Ron questioningly but his eyes were focused above my head at the auror, the auror took no notice of the glare Ron was throwing him and continued to walk down the hall. We reached a desk with an ancient looking witch behind it, she peered over the massive glasses that covered half her face and indicated to the open door a few meters down.

"The Minister is waiting for you."

The older auror knocked before speaking, "Minister, Miss Granger and Mr Weasley have arrived."

"Hermione, Ron its good to see you both," greeted Kingsley.

He indicated to the two chairs in front of his desk, Ron and I walked into the office and as I heard the door close behind us we took a seat.

"How are the two of you? Resting I hope, recovering from everything." Kignsley sounded genuinely concerned for us.

"Yes we have Kingsl… Minister." answered Ron

"Please call me Kingsley, our relationship is a personal one not a professional one."

We both nodded and Kingsley got right down to the point, "Hermione, if you like I could contact the Australian Minister, he would be able to locate your parents within 48 hours with the assistance of the muggle government."

"That would be great, it would save me searching an entire country looking for them. But what would happen once they are found?"

"I was thinking that once they have been located I could arrange a portkey for you. The Australian Ministry will, I'm sure, arrange for your return portkey when you are ready."

The thought of having my parents back was becoming a reality I thought I thought would never happen. As I held my happy tears back I responded weakly, "You make it sound so easy."

"I want to make this as straightforward as possible for you, you deserve some help after everything you have done."

"Thank you." I said.

"It's not a problem. Now that you have accepted my help I guess we should go over some safety details."

"Safety Details?" Ron and I questioned at the same time.

"Well yes, after the response you have received from the public," at the looks Ron and I were giving him he elaborated, "at Hogwarts after it all ended and just now down in the atrium."

"Oh right." I muttered.

"I think it would be wise for some protection and assistance travel with you Hermione, even abroad people are aware of Voldemort and how he was finally defeated. Not to mention the Death Eaters we still haven't rounded up who would love nothing more than to get a little revenge. Besides Harry, you two would be there first choice in who to capture."

"Sir I think you have misunderstood," Ron began, "You seem to think that Hermione will be travelling alone, she won't be. I'm going with her, I'm sure between the two of us we will be fine."

"I haven't misunderstood Ron, I understand that you will be travelling with Hermione. Regardless, I think it would be wise if a handful of Aurors accompanied you both."

"Kingsley, I don't think that is necessary, you are already doing so much to help and I know that those Aurors could be used to helps catch Death Eaters and rebuilding the wizarding world here." I explained.

"Please just think about it," Kingsley asked.

We left Kingsleys office about 10 minutes later, action already being taken to return my parents. The Australian minister was going to locate my parents, then Ron and I would travel by portkey to Australia and I would reverse the spell. When we were ready, we were to contact a Mr. David Cummings at the Australian ministry who would arrange our return home.

I also had to return to my childhood home and see if it was still infact my parents house. I wasn't sure if they had sold it or kept it when they left for Australia. It was the only detail I could think of that I had forgotten. Regardless of who's house it was I also had to ensure that it was intact, I have no doubt that Death Eaters had paid a little visit and the thought of some innocent muggle family being terrorized and worse on my behalf made me feel sick.

As I tried to push unpleasant thoughts from my find and focus on the positive we stepped into the small lift that would take us down to the atrium. The same two Aurors that escorted us up accompanied us again crowding the small compartment. I younger auror glanced down in the direction of Ron and I's linked hands before looking away with a scowl on his face, however before I could put much thought to it we reached the atrium and the gates to our little compartment crashed open.

We hadn't gotten two meters before people recognized us, this time though people didn't come too close as they could see Aurors flanked us. As the camera flashes started to increase I lowered my head and picked up my pace, Auror Homles had his arm around my waist again and was holding me close, it felt awkward and I could feel Ron tighten his grip on my hand and try to pull me closer to him. When Ron tugged my hand the Auror pulled the other way causing my hand to slip from Rons. We reached the fireplaces and I stepped into one, Auror Holmes reached for my hand and placed a gentle kiss to it before holding out some flew powered for me. I immediately took a handful and tossed it to the ground as I called 'The Burrow'.

I landed in the hearth in the Weasleys living area only seconds before Ron crashed into me.

"Sorry I should have moved out of the way," I quickly appologised.

Ron held onto me to steady himself before saying, "It's okay I should have waited more that two seconds before I came after you."

"I'm going for a walk, do you wanna come?" I asked needing some fresh air to help unscramble the numerous thoughts whirling around in my head.

"Yeah sure." Ron replied as he grabbed my hand and we started for the door.

We walked out to the orchid behind the house and I plopped myself down somewhere in the center, as Ron joined me on the soft grass I laid back and looked up at the white fluffy clouds floating in the incredibly blue sky.

"I have to go h-home, I have to see if it still is home." I whispered more talking to myself than Ron

"I'll go with you, if you want." Ron said as he squeezed my hand.

I rolled over to face him and nodded in agreement. As we continued to lie on the grass I noticed that Ron looked troubled.

"What's up?" I asked him

"I'm trying really hard not to stand up and go back to the ministry to punch the lights outta that Auror."

I had forgotten completely about the Auror and his odd behavior, thinking back on it I can see how it would irritate Ron. I wouldn't exactly have been pleased if some random witch was trying to get as close to Ron as Auror Holmes was getting to me.

"Ron don't worry about that guy, we'll probably never see him again." I said trying to easy Rons mind.

"Still ticks me off, he actually pulled you away from me and you should have seen the way he looked at you. It was like he was imagining you without any clothes on or something." said Ron as he rolled over to face me, we were now both laying on our sides so as to see each other.

"I'm sure you're exaggerating on that last part, why would anyone imagine that?"

Ron looked at me with raised eyebrows, I understood the look he was giving me, he was wordless telling me I was crazy. Finally, after several moments of him eyeing me he shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly and rolled onto his back. I continued to look at him and noticed that his ears were turning slightly red, oh my god was he thinking about…. No way."

"So, when do you want to go to your parents house?" He casually asked, changing the subject.

"Oh, umm… soon I guess, I need to know… what's going on there." Ron had caught me by surprise with that question, I was sure he had been thinking something else.

"Do you want to go this afternoon?" he asked this time turning his head to look at me.

"We may as well, no point in putting it off."

"Do you want Harry to come, maybe Ginny too?"

I didn't answer straight away, thinking about it I realized that I didn't want anyone else there. I didn't know what state I would find my childhood home and that scared me, if I needed comfort or help Ron was the only person I wanted it from.

"No, I'd prefer it was just you and I."

"Come on then," Ron said as he stood up and reached down to help me up, "lets go quickly eat some lunch then we should get going."

"Ron, do you always think about food?" I said grinning at him as we began our walk back to the house hand in hand.


A/N: I would just like to thank everyone again for reading and especially reviewing, I try to take what everyone says into account and I am going to start making chapters longer from now on. Thanks Again.