A/N: Just wanted to thank everyone for reading and bearing with me and my terribly inconsistent updates.

A loud shout followed by clattering on the stairs spooked both the girls. They leapt apart, nervous and exhilarated.

The door burst open and George clambered through the doorway with a piece of parchment clenched in his had. Molly Weasely was only a step behind him.

"Malfoy Manor has fallen!" George exclaimed breathlessly.

"And the giants have retreated." Molly brimming with joy.

"Not a sign of them for a week." George chimed. His devilish grin was on his face, a sight Hermione and Ginny had dearly missed.

"Ron thinks they'll be able to send Arthur home in a few days for a rest."

"Dad's coming home?" Ginny asked running over to hug her mother.

"That's great!" Hermione said taking a few steps forward.

"What about Bill?" Ginny asked.

A shadow crossed Molly's eyes but was quickly replaced as she answered her daughter. "Bill's gone to check on Fleur but he's still needed on the front line, I doubt we'll get any sight of him or Ron."

"No mention of Percy or Fred yet, but Charlie's on his way back from Romania and he's promised to stop at home before rejoining Harry and the others."

"No news on Percy and Fred?" Ginny said looking at her mother.

"No, but Ron didn't mention Luna either. I can only assume they're fine if he didn't mention his brothers or girlfriend." Molly said hopefully.

"We should probably owl them back. Confirm that the others are all right and what my next move should be." Hermione suggested.

"Great idea. I'll go get the parchment." George said and left the room cheerily.

"I'm going down to the kitchen to make sure I have all the ingredients for Arthur's favorite dinner. He'll want to celebrate, give him a taste of what he's been missing." Mrs. Weasley said as she followed George down the stairs.

The girls were alone again. The room filled with silence as both girls fought between lunging a each other and attempting to ignore what was between them.

Knowing their time was limited Ginny broke the silence. "Are you still with Malfoy?"

"Are you still with Harry?" Hermione interrogated.

"I asked first."

"So?" Hermione quipped.

Ginny looked away. "Harry and I broke up."

"What?!" Hermione's jaw fell open a little. "He never mentioned it." She said quietly.

"It was just before you went MIA." Ginny mumbled a little before looking back at Hermione. "I couldn't stand not being included in the fighting. Mum's been through this before, she knows how these things go, how to keep her head, but I've always been fighting alongside the boys, like you. I couldn't stand it here and Harry refused to let me go there."

Hermione stepped forward but hesitated before hugging the younger witch. Finally resolving to restrain herself and she embraced her. "I'm sorry." She whispered. "Draco and I didn't leave things on good terms. He thought Harry was being foolish, sending me on such a dangerous and time consuming mission. Not to mention how futile Draco thought it was. I had asked Harry if Draco could come with me and he told me he couldn't afford to let anymore wizards go. He said it was bad enough not to have me there but if I was going to do it, I had to do it alone."

"Do you think Harry did it in order to break up you and Malfoy?" Ginny asked.

Hermione skoffed. "That'd absurd. What would make you think that?"

Ginny looked shy and pulled away. Digging around in her pocket she pulled out a piece of parchment and presented it to the older witch. "I found this note."

Hermione scanned it quickly and chuckled. "Harry is like a brother I never had. We may be very fond of each other but we could never see each other romantically. He sent me because it was his pet mission, he wanted some one who'd understand that if it was successful it would be a great advantage. He trusts me and I trust him, that's why he sent me."

"Right." Ginny said looking away shyly. "Right." She said nodding and turning to leave.

Hermione grabbed at her wrist to halt her. "So that's it?"

"We have work to do, and things to think about." Ginny said flatly.