Their Letters (Chapter 13)

Hermione rose to find Oliver's arm wrapped around her, and was quite impressed. 'Now how did he manage that' she wondered to herself. She slowly got up, and he grunted but fell back asleep. She made her way to the shower and got ready for the day.

Ron sat at the kitchen counter, and looked around. Ginny, and Harry were still sleeping, and he figured that Hermione was in the shower, and he didn't know where Oliver was nor did he really care as long as he wasn't in the shower as well. He heard the shower stop and decided to take his turn. However, when the doors opened Oliver stepped out, 'please don't let her walk out too', and thankfully the balcony door slipped open and she glided in. He quickly went into the shower, as he watched Oliver pull her into a hug.

Hermione and Oliver made breakfast, which was very difficult to do seeing as he had his arms wrapped around her waist during the whole time. She was happy, she was, but she was also very aware of who was in the flat with them. By the time breakfast was ready everyone else had already gotten ready and were waiting for them.

"Hope its good."

"It looks great Hermione" Ginny stated with a smile.

"So are you guys staying tonight too?"

"I am not sure the ministry hasn't gotten back to us."

"Well I have practice but feel free to stay."

"Thanks Oliver."

"Of course Hermione, I wouldn't have it any other way."

After breakfast Oliver went to get ready for practice and Ginny finally got to talk to Hermione alone.

"So how was it?" She asked with a smirk.

"How was what?"

"Hermione don't play dumb, it's too far of a stretch for you."

Hermione let out a laugh "it was good, he was soft, you know unlike Krum", but it wasn't like your brother's she wanted to add.

"Well that's a step up," Ginny stated as she giggled.

Just then they heard the doorbell ring, and quickly approached the door with the boys in front of them, wands ready.

However, it was just the minister letting them know they could go home, and all the fireplaces besides the main one in the kitchen had been closed off, and as usual all their mail was being monitored, an Auror would be on guard at least for the following week, and the house was still under the wards and surveillance.

Oliver had come out of his room when he heard the bell. "So I guess I will be alone tonight," he stated.

"What a shame" Ron mumbled loud enough for only Harry to hear, who smirked.

"Guess you will be" Hermione replied with a smile.

"Well you could stay you know." He added with a wink.

She hadn't been expecting that, and neither had anyone else. So Ginny attempted to shove the boys away to give Oliver and Hermione some space. Oliver walked over to Hermione and whispered "I would love it if you were here when I get home."

She, like a normal person, started to freak out, they had been dating for a short amount of time, and she wasn't ready for more emotionally or physically. "Oliver, I am sorry but I can't."

"How did I know you were going to say that, well at least have dinner with me then."

"Now that I can do" and with that she gave him a reassuring kiss and walked out the door, following her friends that had just exited. Once they got of the building they walked into an alley and apparated home.

When they got there, Kreacher greeted them right away, Harry assumed he had come back earlier. He had told the minister to tell Kreacher to go to the Weasley's while they were away. Mrs. Weasley didn't mind and Kreacher stayed in the attic with the ghoul. They greeted him and then all scattered to the confines of their rooms.

The next few weeks flew by. Hermione spent her time in her room reading, or watching Ginny and Harry fly, or answering letters. Ron went to work at the shop during the day. Harry mostly just spent his time flying in the back yard, enjoying his freedom. Ginny often flew with him or she would interview him. Hermione would occasionally be missing from dinner, due to dates with Oliver. Which were becoming less frequent as the Quidditch season was fast approaching, and his team had practice more and more. Normally after dinner they would all gather and talk about what happened to them in the past year.

Hermione, Ron and Harry told Ginny about the hunts, and everything they went through, and Ginny told them everything that happened at Hogwarts. There were still some things that weren't talked about, such as Hermione's capture, Harry's death, and the time when Ron left. Ginny herself kept things to herself, not wanting to deal with the memories. They talked about how they really should find jobs soon, and how they couldn't spend the rest of their lives just doing nothing. Ginny complained about going back to Hogwarts without them, if it opened.

While they told stories they opened the cards and gifts Harry had gotten for his birthday. The ministry had sorted them all and only the ones deemed safe were actually sent to Harry. He got everything from sweets, to several new brooms. He naturally shared everything with his friends, and even sent the extra stuff they already had to the rest of the Weasleys.

Saturdays separated them, Harry went to Teddy's, Hermione to her parent's and Ron and Ginny to the Burrow or to Bills or George's. It was actually good for them to just get away and be independent for the day. However, they always had dinner on Saturdays at the Burrow, as a large family. Things were finally starting to get in a groove, for them.

There was still friction between Hermione and Ron, but they were talking and trying to make it work. He was at work during the day so they really didn't even see each other that much, which wasn't an accident. It was hard for him to deal with the fact that her and Oliver were still together; he kept waiting for the day when they broke up but still not sure what to do when the fateful day occurred. Ginny and Harry were getting closer and closer, and she could tell that he was letting her in more easily. They would just sit and talk for hours, not even realizing the time. But Ginny knew her Hogwarts letter was probably due any day, and then things would change. So she still kept up her guard.

On a rainy Wednesday the 25th of August Harry was sitting at the breakfast table when a very wet owl he didn't recognize climbed in through the window, he knew it was safe, because their letters were still being screened. So he got up and untied four letters from the owl's leg gave him a drink of water, and the owl promptly left into the veil of raindrops. The four letters were addressed to the four of them, and he noticed the very familiar purple seal, but before he had time to open his letter, Oliver came hurtling through the fireplace.

"Hey Harry, Hermione around?"

"Yeah she's up stairs Oliver."

He watched as Oliver reached the bottom of the stairs and bellowed "Hermione!" Surprisingly she didn't come down right away, which was often the case. Oliver after a few minutes looked at Harry who simply shrugged, and made his way upstairs, running into Ginny along the way. "Hey Ginny" Ginny gave him a small smile "No practice today?"

"It's been delayed till the rain dies down a little."

Ginny nodded and made her way down to the kitchen, while Hermione came down the stairs and Oliver instantly grabbed her hand. He noticed she looked a little sad "You okay?"

"Yeah it's nothing" she replied forcing a smile "I thought you had practice."

"Rain delay, so I thought I would come by." He replied as he beamed down at her.

When they got into the kitchen, they noticed Harry and Ginny reading letters and they both looked resolute.

"Harry everything alright?"

"Yeah, this came for you Hermione" he handed her an identical letter, and she recognized the seal right away.

"What does it say?"

"I think you should read it." Replied Harry.

"Well you can read it on way to lunch" Oliver pleaded as he nudged her into the floo.

"Where is Ron, I think he would want to see his letter?"

"I will go get him Harry, I think I know where he is." So Ginny left to find her brother who was about to be late for work anyways, she had an idea of where he could be. Since she noticed that Hermione looked like she had been crying.

Harry didn't know what to do he simply sat there looking at the letter, wondering what to do. He figured they all had to make their own decision about it, and tonight's after dinner conversation was pretty much going to be all about it. When Ron came down he grabbed some toast and Harry basically threw the letter at him, and he flooed to work.

"So what are you going to do?"

"I think you know the answer to that Harry, the better question is what are you three going to do?"

He did know her answer, and he nodded and she got up and made her way to her room. She just wanted to be alone, and did not really feel like sitting with him watching him brood. At least Ron and Hermione were out being distracted and could think about at their own pace.

A/N: Hey sorry for not updating life is keeping me pretty busy and what not. I hope you enjoy the chapter. Please feel free to point out mistakes because I kind of wrote this and reviewed in a rush.