The Sunday that Ginny was to head back to Hogwart's came quicker than anyone expected. That Sunday morning Hermione woke to the sound of Ginny sniffling and packing the last of her school items into her trunk.

"Ginny why are you crying?"

"I don't want to go back to school; I want to start my life like the rest of you. But, instead I've got to go back to school and act like a good little girl. I fought in the war the same as the rest of you; I should
have the option of taking my NEWT's and going on with my life."

Hermione got up and hugged Ginny, "I would give anything to be going back for my last year. But, I don't have that option I could either sit in classes at the ministry on revising or do what I already did and take my NEWT's. Go back and enjoy your last year, I know you and Harry plan to get
married in the summer but take the time to make friends and enjoy your last year of freedom.

Don't go back with a sad face go back and plan to make the most of your final year. And remember you are going to be way far ahead of everyone else in your medi witch training because you are going to have this entire year with Poppy. And on top of that I should be back to the school by spring."

Ginny smiled at Hermione, "I know you're right I'm just being dreadful; I know I should be happy. But, it's hard when everyone you have been with for six years won't be there. You know I've never been friends with many of the students from my own year. The only one I'll have will be Luna and she told me she might not come back."

Hermione hugged Ginny harder and tried to comfort her, "I know it will be hard but just keep your head up and I'll see if I can slip in a few more classes so I'll be back sooner. In the mean time work with Poppy I bet you will find you will enjoy your time more than you think."

Hermione levitated Ginny's trunk down the stairs and sat down with her and the rest of the family for breakfast. Ginny had been given the choice of flooing into the school or taking the train, she had finally decided last night that she would take the train. So just as they finished breakfast a ministry car pulled up and the whole family crowded in to see Ginny off.

When they got to Kings Crossing all Hermione could think of was she wished she could go with Ginny. She had really hoped that they would be able to go back and finish their final year. But, because of the damage done to the castle; it was decided that it would be best for anyone that missed
last year or failed to sit their exams to do the program through the ministry.

Fred and George were levitating Ginny's trunk into the train when Hermione realized she was day dreaming. Ron was standing beside Harry who was holding Ginny as she cried. Hermione realized that there were auror's all around them, she supposed so that Arthur would be safe and so Harry wouldn't be mobbed. It had gotten to the point that Harry always had to wear a glamour when he went out and it was almost that bad for Ron and Hermione. At least at college she was ok; most of them were too busy studying to bother her.

Ginny released Harry as the train gave the next to last warning; she gave Ron a hug and then turned to Hermione. "I expect to see you as soon as possible I hate leaving you behind."

Hermione hugged Ginny really hard, "I promise I'll finish as quick as I can and you will have Charlie after Christmas break."

Molly and Arthur gave Ginny a quick hugs and Hermione saw Fred and George slip some things into Ginny's hand as they hugged her. Smiling Hermione slipped her arms around Fred and George as they stepped back, "Not giving Ginny treats to terrorize the school with are you?"

"Who us?" they replied together.

Hermione just smiled she knew darn good that Ginny would be in a constant supply of their goodies. Fred and George had finally taken their NEWT's and did amazingly good on them. But, they were still remembered at the school for their final act in their sixth year. There was even still a small swamp in the hall that they left. Minerva had told Hermione she didn't know if she would ever clean it up.

As the train pulled out of the station the Weasley family surrounded by Auror's left the train station. Arthur and most of the Auror's apparated away down one of the nearby alley's while Molly and the rest of them got back in the car to head home.

Harry and Ron sat on either side of Hermione on the way home with their arms around her. Harry finally spoke, "I'm really going to miss Ginny, it won't be the same without her at home."

Hermione nodded, "I won't know what to do sleeping in a room by myself, we've shared that room since I started coming to the Burrow in my 2nd year. I've never stayed in the room alone."

Molly smiled at them, "Well you will soon be moving to Hogwarts to finish your Potion Mistress and then you and Charlie will be together. Before Arthur and I know it all of our children will be gone. It doesn't seem possible I put Ginny on the train for her last year. It seems like yesterday I put Bill on for the first time."

Fred and George who were sitting beside their mother put their arms around her. Fred spoke up, "Hey mom look at it this way; you will soon have all of your kids married and you can help us raise our kids!"

"Yeah, we won't have to pay babysitters we'll just dump all of them on you and dad," George cackled gleefully.

Molly reached over and smacked both boys, "I've raised my children I will love having the grandkids but I think it's about time your father and I found some time for us. So you can pay for a babysitter I'll have you know."

Hermione had to laugh both Fred and George looked like they had been totally shot down. "Hey don't look at me I'm not going to watch your two's monsters! They will not have a chance to be normal with the two of you for dads."

Everyone burst out laughing when Fred fell to the floor holding his heart. "Oh, to think my own sister would say something like that. I'm just going to die."

When the car pulled up to the Burrow everyone was still laughing. Hermione led the way into the house to find Arthur already back from his trip to the Ministry. But, what really shocked her was to find Bill and Charlie sitting at the table with their dad.

Hermione gasped, "Charlie!" and Hermione flew into his arms when he stood up and opened them. "What are you doing here I didn't think I would see you till Christmas?"

"I'm just in for a few hours; Dad needed some information on Dragon's so the director was nice enough to send me to bring it. I have to go back tonight."

By this time the whole family was in the house and Molly was hugging Charlie along with Hermione. Hermione finally was able to get free of Molly so she could breathe.

Molly as always started fixing a big meal, if her family was in the house she was going to make sure their bellies were full. Hermione sat down next to Charlie at the table and listened as Arthur, Bill and he discussed the information that Charlie had brought with him from Romania.

Fred and George were surprisingly quiet and interested also. Harry and Ron were already behind with their auror studying so they had brought their books down to try to get some studying done and still keep track of what was going on. Hermione got up and fixed a big pot of tea and gathered some scones out of the tin to help everyone hold off hunger pangs till Molly finished with dinner.

Charlie was deep into the talks with his dad and Bill but took her hand after she placed a cup of tea in front of him ready to drink. Hermione had quickly found out that Charlie had a sweet tooth and liked three cubes of sugar in his tea with a slice of lemon. While Hermione never took sugar and very rarely took lemon.

The men continued to talk for the better part of two hours, they finally stopped when Molly started levitating bowls of food onto the table.

Molly had out done herself she had made Sheppard pie, fresh garden peas, a big tossed salad out of the garden and a strawberry pie for desert. Everyone complemented her on the outstanding meal. ermione knew that she would miss Molly's cooking almost as much as she would miss the family when she headed into her new life.

After dinner Molly shooed Charlie and Hermione out of the house so that they could spend some time together. Bill said his goodbyes and headed home and the twins went to pick up their fiancées so they could have some time together. Ron and Harry had actually picked their books back up and
spread them out on the table to study. Hermione was amazed that they were actually working on studying.

Charlie sighed as he put his arm around Hermione and lead her towards the pond, to what he thought of as their place. "I've missed you, the reserve is lonely without you there."

Hermione moved in closer, "I've missed you even with the whole family around it seems like I'm alone. It's going to be really hard to be apart until Christmas isn't it?"

"Yeah, I think it is, but at least once school starts you will be too busy to do much but study."

"That's true oh and I talked with my Charms advisor and she got me in two Saturday classes so I should be able to finish up both Charms and Potions by the end of winter. They are offering two classes winter term that will be potion brewing classes so that will let me finish up them both. I'll be busy but I can let Severus know by the middle of this coming term if I truly will be there for the start of spring term."

"Hermione please don't overdo, I really would rather wait an extra term then have you burn yourself out and get sick."

Hermione lifted her face up and pulled Charlie's down for a kiss, "I promise no burning myself out."

Charlie grinned down into Hermione's cinnamon colored eyes and smiled, "you better not I'll be one very angry guy if I come home and find you sick."

Hermione laughed up, "I'm sure you would be but it's not going to happen. Oh and while I'm thinking about it I talked to Seveus last weekend; he's supposed to contact your director. He said until I started apprenticing he would continue to brew but after I've started he's going to turn it over to me."

"Well that's good news at least we will be able to keep our guys healthy. Oh and Noreen has three little ones with her now. She's letting us help feed them but she's taking care of them. It's really cute she has become really laid back and will let just about anyone do what they want to her. But, Pete and I are the only two that can get close to the little ones."

"Oh, can you get some pictures for me, and tell her I'm really proud of her and can't wait to meet her little family."

Charlie pulled Hermione closer and started kissing her; soon the two of them were lost in their own haze. Neither wanted to end the snog feast but both knew that they were running out of time. What finally brought them out of their haze was Ron laughing at Harry's very embarrassed face.

Ron razzed Harry all the way back to the house about turning green when they found Charlie and Hermione locked together. Needless to say Hermione was redder then Ron's hair at the kidding. Charlie told his mom and dad bye and then had Hermione walk him out to the edge of the wards. He gave her one last long kiss and then apparated away.

Hermione walked back into the house more depressed then she had been earlier in the day after seeing Ginny off. Molly took one look at Hermione's face and fixed her a big cup of hot chocolate with lots of mini marshmallows.

"Here Hermione sit down here and drink your cocoa and we will have a good old gab feast. Just think that starting tomorrow you won't have time to miss Charlie. My goodness you are taking so many classes I don't know how you are going to keep up."

Hermione knew Molly was trying to make her feel better but, it seemed like nothing had been right since the beginning of the war. Everything she wanted to do with her life seemed to go wrong. But, she couldn't let Molly know that, and too many people had gone out on a limb for her to throw up her hands and run to the reserve. So she had only one choice get through this as fast as she could so that she could be with Charlie.

Walking up to her room later that night Hermione new her heart had made its decision. She would never be happy without Charlie and more importantly she wanted to live on the reservation. That is the only place she had felt at home in a long time.

As Hermione crawled into bed her thoughts turned to the reserve and hoping that Charlie managed the apparation without any trouble. Long range apparation was never easy and he had been tired on top of that.