A/N: #21! Our story is now of legal drinking age! Yay! ALSO, as a disclaimer, the lyrics belong to Miranda Lamberts "Mama's Broken Heart"

"Hermione Jane Granger! Hurry your booty into this car!"

"Dad!" I give him one of my infamous "Go to goddamn freaking hell" looks. "I have to say goodbye!"

I turned towards Percy and Annabeth, who both grinning like idiots.

"Stop smiling. You two look like jack-o-lanterns." I scowl at them.

"But Granger, we have given you the proper amount of teasing yet!" Percy reaches out to hug me, but I re-coil back.

"Nuh-uh. Not after all the crap you lot have given me. Your teasing has been ample."

"But Granger, come on! You're going to be staying at the same house as your potential boyfriend! It's our job- no, duty, to give you grief about it!"

I snort and cross my arms. "Emphasis on potential!"

Annabeth rolls her eyes. "Whateves. When do we get to meet Mr. Romeo?"

"Never!" I snap.

My dad wails on the horn again.

"Coming!" I shout back, then reach out my arms to my friends. "I will see you both-" I sling my duffle over my shoulder "-During Christmas break. Be careful!" I hug Percy and quickly kiss him on the cheek. "I'm not gonna be here to watch over you, so I want to make sure you always have each other's backs. Okay?"

They nod, and Annabeth hugs me one last time, before I stalk off to my dad's shiny new suburban.

Plunking down in the front seat, I reach over and hug my Padre. "Hey Dad." I glance at the wheel as I buckle up. "You're driving! Where's the chauffeur?"

"I gave him the day off. You and I are going summer clothes shopping!"

I begin to ask him why, since I already have tons of clothes, and walking around a New York mall with my father isn't exactly my cup of tea, before I'm interrupted.

Percy is running alongside our car, desperately trying to our attention.

My dad pulls to a full halt and I roll down the window. "Omigods, Percy, what do you need?"

"Granger!" He puffs, totally out of breath. "I just have to say-" he takes a deep breath and leans on my window sill. "That I hope you enjoy your young, English, red-headed buck for the rest of the summer!"

He grins wildly and I shove him off the ledge, making him stumble backwards into the ditch.

"Fudge you!" I bark, except I don't say exactly say 'Fudge'.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

I cut my bangs with

some rusty kitchen scissors

I screamed his name til

the neighbors called the cops

I numbed the pain

at the expense of my liver

Don't know what I did next

all I know I couldn't stop

I hum along as I look out the window, and down the Atlantic Ocean. My home place in Texas has ground the Miranda Lambert lyrics into my head. My dad and I spent the last week there, AGAIN without my mom; know my plane is soaring high above the sea as we slowly near London-Heathrow. I glance around the plane, spying the obese, Hawaiian shirted man a seat ahead of me and the long necked stick-like woman next to me. She gives me a cold look, and returns to her magazine.

I then turn back to the old, tattered copy of "A History of Strange Magical Occurrences" that I borrowed from Chrion. Lately, flying has made me a little uneasy, because of my relations. And going over the ocean at 500 miles per hour isn't exactly my cup of tea either. Another bout of turbulence hits the body of the plane, and I feel my fingers grip the sides of the seat even tighter.

"In early 1300 B.C., an elderly man arrived at the home of Irish Witch Patrisha Furhogen. Begging for shelter-"

Bump

"-and food, the 20-something woman gladly welcomed him into her home. Informing her he had no way of paying her, Ms. Furhorn none the less allowed him to stay."

Bump

"After a week of his room and board being free-"

Bump bump BUMP

"the man came to her at night. Revealing himself to be the all-powerful Zeus, he explained for her kindness to someone who could do nothing for him, she would receive the greatest gift of-"

Bump

"-all. Nine months later she was with child. As the young long grew, Patrisha began to discov-"

Bump bump

"-er the child was not like others. He had an unreasonable amount of strength and insane physical abilities. Along with his magic, the boy could lift more than anyone else in the town and out run even those years his senior. As the people of the town discovered his many gifts, they-"

BUMP BUMP BUMP BUMP BUMP BUMP BUMP

"Agg!" I slammed my fist on the pull out table. "Gods damn you Bores!" I shook my middle finger out the window. The woman next to me stares and I narrow my eyes to slits. She quickly looks away, but continuously watches me out of the corner of her eye. I roll my eyes and put my book away, reaching deep into my Gambian (from one of my Dad's many trips) bag and coming up empty handed.

Finally, I decide to turn my attention to the movie. HIGH SCHOOL MUSCIAL!? What the hades? I give up! I end up settling with just staring out the window, yet again. If that wasn't a total loop than I don't know what is! The vast ocean far below is almost taunting me, waiting for the wind to knock the plane straight out of the- BUMP! We drop at least 20ft, sending people's drinks flying and babies into crying fits.

The captain's voice crackles over the loud speaker, apologizing for the drop, and promising a smoother ride. Yeah, like he can control that. To his credit, though, many of the passengers seem greatly soothed by his statement. And even I have to admit, we just exited the storm clouds and are into the beautiful blue, late afternoon, English sky. I don't care what other people say, sky's around the world are all a different shade of blue.

All of a sudden, I feel someone tap my shoulder. I turn around in my seat, and am greeted by the sight of a young girl, no older than 11. She's staring at me, as though she's not completely sure what to say.

I lift my eyebrow at her "What's up?"

She stutters for a second, and then comes up with "Hi."

"Hello." As of late, I've found conversations with total strangers to be ridiculously awkward, and this case is no different.

"Um, I'm sorry, but did you just curse at Bores?"

My pupils grow to the size of saucers. "Uh..."

I must look more like a deer caught in the headlights than I thought, because she immediately shakes her head "Don't worry, I'm a Demi-god too!" She smiles happily, but I find myself scowling.

I glance and see the seat next to her open, so I quickly move back next to her.

"Sweetie, you can't just tell people that! I mean, you're lucky I'm one as well, but don't say that to anyone who screams at the gods."

She looks slightly embarrassed, but more intrigued than anything. "Who's your godly parent?"

"Did you just hear any of what I said?"

She brushes her hand like it's nothing. "They would just think I was crazy."

I pinch my eyebrows together. "Is this a regular occurrence for you, or something?"

"Uh-"

"You know what, don't answer that! My mom is Hera."

She blinks at me for a long moment "Mine's is Fama... Are you one of those weird wanna be demi-gods? Cause I thought Reina had taught you all not to use the names of dead Greek gods..."

I frown at her. "Who is Reina? And who's Fama?"

Her jaw drops, and a cold, steely looks comes onto her face. "Oh gods. You're a rouge half-blood... Don't talk to me. In fact, I'm gonna do you favor and not turn you in. But if anything weird happens, I won't hesitate to say something to the elders!"

I blink for a second. " Wha-"

"DON'T TALK TO ME!" She quiets her voice. "I don't wanna be seen with the likes of you!"

"Okay, but-"

"Leave!"

I slowly move back up to my seat and plunk down, my ever anxious mind reeling from what just happened. Fortunately, the pilot's voice breaks my deep thoughts, announcing our short landing time and wishing us safe travels.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

By the time I have all my things, it's been over an hour since my confusing encounter, and I'm still as confused as ever. As I head into the lobby of the airport, I hear someone shout my name loudly. Spinning around, I grin as i see Ginny's fiery red head move swiftly towards me.

Half yanking me into her arms, she shouts again: "HERMIONE! MUM, DAD, I FOUND HER!" She squeezes me evn tighter. "Everyone's at the burrow waiting for you! Bill and Fleur, Charlie and his new boy toy, Fred and George, and most of all Ron!" she finishes with a smirk and a wink.

Mrs. Weasley walks over the way only Irish moms can, with a huge smile and food. "Ginny, go get your father. He's entranced by some strange muggle device." She reaches out and pulls me into an even stronger hug. "Welcome home Hermione." She kisses my forehead, and I get a particularly strong whiff of chicken soup and warm milk, which I find to be exceedingly comforting.

"We've missed you so much, Ron more than everyone." She winks too. Why is everybody winking? "How was your flight? I simply can't imagine how those huge clunky things manage to stay in air without magic."

"Aeronautics and Avionics."

"What?"

"They stay in the air using Aeronautics and Avionics."

She stares at me blankly.

"Never min-"

"Hermione!" appears. "I found your bags!" He holds up two prices of luggage that are most certainly not mine.

"Um, Mr. Weasley... I think those are someone else's..."

Both Mr. and Mrs. Weasley both blink at me for a second.

Ginny, who has become my knight in shiny armor quickly figure out what I mean and turn her dad, beginning to explain how airports work.

"Here." I say, taking both items and heading back over to the luggage carousel. Placing them down, I scan the area and see my bags on other end. I grin and grab them, walking back over to a very confused looking pairs of Weasleys.

"These are the ones I brought!" I hold them both up.

"Oh!" Mrs. Weasley's face finally registers what happened. "Arthur!" the two of them move off towards the exit, all the while arguing.

I blush guiltily for causing an argument. "Sorry!"

Ginny rolls her eyes. "Oh please, don't worry about it. They do this all the time. Can I help you with your ACTUAL stuff?"

"Sure." We head dutifully out to the flying car, and u resist the urge to tell Ginny about everything that's happened over the summer. I'll save that uncomfortable conversation for Ron.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"Granger!" My face's stony expression breaks as I see my best friend sprinting torwards me. Ron's floppy red hair is over his crystal blue eyes, giving him an annoyingly attractive look.

"Hi!" He grabs my trunks from the car, at the same time hugging me, ultimately creating a very strange hug-tackle-thing. All righting myself, I see that he's closely followed by Fred and George, who look beyond joyous.

"How's our little brothers rule abiding girlfriend?"

I roll my eyes. From these two, I'm used to hearing anything. ANYTHING.

"I've been better. What about you two? Blown anything up in m absence?"

"OH YES!"

I laugh and turn back to Ron, who's still dealing with my baggage. "I can carry those if you need."

"Oh, no. It's fine." His statement is accompanied by a groan. He rolls his eyes at me, asking "What the hell did you pack in these Hermione?"

I raise my eyebrows. "Surprisingly little."

Fred and George snort. "He's just weak."

"Hey!"

"Why don't you come inside and say hello?" they steer me towards the house, ignoring Ron's angry protests.

Even from 10 yards away, I can smell the Burrow's welcome scent of pumpkin juice and baked potatoes. Once inside, I immediately notice the now prominent absence of Percy. Shaking it off, I say my greetings politely. I don't know Charlie or Bill nearly as well as well as everyone else, so the awkwardness is inevitable.

Ron finally reappears with my luggage and again I offer to help. In fact, everything moves in sort of a blur. That is, until we reach the guest room. Ron sets down my stuff and plunks straight down on the bed.

I again raise my eyebrow. "Are you going to let me get settled?"

"Nope. You're my friend, I get to spend the most time with you."

"You make it sound like that's a privilege."

"It is."

I bristle at the flirtation. At the moment, we're just VERY good friends, and I'd like to keep it that way.

"So..." I start awkwardly.

"How was camp 'I-totally-love-killing-big-monsters-all-the-time' ?"

"It was... weird."

"It that a good weird or a bad weird."

"A confusing weird."

He pats the bed next to him. "Elaborate."

"It's really complicated. And long."

"We've got time."

I sigh and sit down. Then I proceed to tell him the story of my hellacious summer, and all the emotion I've been bottling up bursts open. Starting with my first night with Perce, and going straight into a tearful conversation about Jake. Soon we move into my new budding friendships and Hunter. And finally we end with the little girl on the plane. Then entire time he says very little, save for words of consolation.

"And that's how I spent my past two months." By this point, we're lying horizontally on opposite sides of the bed, facing each other. I laugh for a second, wiping away the last few tears I've been holding back. "What about you?"

He continues studying me, as though gauging how to respond. As what feels like hours, he says "My summer was boring."

"How so?"

Again, he stays silent for a while. Then, with a grin, he laughs out "I slept."