Later that evening before supper, she and Ron sat together on her favorite cushion chair in the sitting room. She was perched on his lap with her book in hand, content to sit there as he absentmindedly twirled her hair with his finger, when he interrupted her reading.

"Hermione, Dad has just told me what Kingsley's answer is about us wanting a portkey."

Hermione took a deep breath; preparing herself. She marked her page in her book and pivoted so that her legs were now thrown over the arm of the chair and she could look into Ron's eyes.

"He said that all international portkeys are being delayed for at least another month, but because it's us he'll pull some strings and we can leave by next week. Oh, and Harry was right, by the way. He wants to offer to pay for all of our expenses. So what do you think?"

Hermione sat for a moment, a bit stunned that this was all happening so quickly. She was simultaneously terrified and elated at the prospect of being reunited with her parents. However, if she ever wanted to see them again, she was going to have to buck up and face her fears. This was a great opportunity that she shouldn't pass up just because of her nervousness.

"Alright... Okay, Ron. Let's do it," she said, sounding more sure than she felt.

Ron raised his eyebrows, seemingly surprised that she had agreed so readily. "Brilliant! So, I'll tell everyone at dinner tonight, yeah?"

Hermione nodded her head hesitantly. "Ron, do you think this will upset any of them? I'm worried about your mother."

Ron shook his head. "I told you, Hermione. Don't worry about it. I'm going with you, no matter what anyone thinks. I'm not scared of Mum."

"Well, maybe you ought to be. She can be quite scary, you know. I've seen it."

Ron shrugged. "I'm not worried about it. I already know I'm going with you, so it doesn't really matter what anyone else says."

"Okay… if you're sure."

"I am. And by the way, about... er… room arrangements. I told Dad that one hotel room would be fine for just the two of us. Didn't want them to have to pay more than necessary. Is that alright with you? Because if it's not, then I can try to get us a second one. Don't worry about it."

Hermione giggled. "Ron, of course it's alright with me!"

Ron looked relieved. "Okay, just didn't want to pressure you into anything."

"I don't want to spend any more time apart from you than necessary. And, we already sleep in the same bed every night, didn't you think of that?"

Ron looked sheepish. "Well, of course I did. But I don't know… this will be different. We'll really be on our own. I didn't want to make you uncomfortable."

"Ron, you could never make me uncomfortable."

Ron smiled. "Good to know." Just then, Mrs. Weasley called everyone to supper. Ron got the elated look on his face that he only ever had when he was about to eat his mother's cooking. He carefully picked her up and set her on the floor, grabbing her hand and hastily walking towards the kitchen.

During the meal, Hermione gladly took two helpings of everything. She had been attempting to put on weight for weeks now, and was glad to see that she was starting to gain some of her figure back. She had stepped onto the scale in the Weasley's loo on one of the first days they had returned to the burrow, and was shocked and horrified to see that she weighed just under seven stone. She had finally been developing a curvy figure towards the end of sixth year, and now she had gone and lost it. She smiled to herself when she remembered the not so subtle looks Ron had been giving her, his eyes traveling up and down her body, especially later in the year when she wore nothing but a white button down blouse with the first few buttons undone and her Gryffindor skirt because it had been so hot.

"Everyone?" Ron spoke up, interrupting her memory. Everyone sitting at the table quickly snapped their heads towards him. "I have something to say, and I figured I would just tell all of you at once. Hermione and I are leaving next week to go to Australia and fetch her parents. We don't know when we'll be back, but we're hoping it will be sooner rather than later."

While every other person at the table seemed to process and accept this information fairly well, Mrs. Weasley, who had been serving dessert, slammed the plate down onto the table and looked at Ron with furious concern.

"What!? Excuse me, Ronald?" Mrs. Weasley screeched.

Ron gulped, but faced his mother and looked her in the eye. "I said Hermione and I are going to Australia. Next week. To fetch her parents."

"No," Mrs. Weasley began, shaking her head. "I know you want to help, Ron, but no."

"We're going, Mum. Dad's arranged a portkey for us. It's all planned."

Mrs. Weasley turned to Mr. Weasley, a furious look in her eye. "What's this, Arthur? You've gone behind my back and willingly agreed to let our youngest son leave us again and go back out into that wretched mess of a world!? When we've only just gotten him back!?"

"Now, Molly dear, I only told Ron that I would make an inquiry to Kingsley. I didn't want to worry you for nothing if it wasn't possible."

"And yet, it's already planned now! Without my knowing!" Mrs. Weasley was angrier than Hermione had ever seen her act towards Mr. Weasley.

"Molly, I didn't think that he would set it up so quickly. He just wants to do anything he can to repay the kids for what they've done."

"Repay them!? So his way of repaying them is sending them off on another deadly quest, is it? No! I won't stand for this! I will not let another one of my children leave me! Why can't he send a few of his Aurors to do the job?"

"Mrs. Weasley?" Hermione spoke up, and Mrs. Weasley's head whipped in her direction. "It has to be me who goes. I did this to them. And, the spell that I used was so powerful and intricate that only the caster could lift it anyway."

Mrs. Weasley's features softened. "I know you need to get them back, dear. But there has to be another way. We'll figure something out."

Ron shook his head. "No, Mum. Hermione wants to do this on her own, and I'm coming with her. That's it."

Mrs. Weasley's eyes narrowed. "That's it, is it, Ronald? I can't stop Hermione, even though I'm terrified at the thought of her leaving as well, but I am your MOTHER! I won't let you go!"

"Mum! I'm of age, and I'm doing this. You can't stop me, so please just support us!

"I will not support the two of you living in sin for Merlin knows how long down there! Have you thought about that Arthur? The two of them are an item, now. Do you think it's appropriate for us to let them live together while they are there?" Mr. Weasley didn't answer, so Mrs. Weasley turned back to Ron. "And have you even thought about it? Where will you be staying, Ronald?"

"The Ministry is going to pay for us to get a hotel room," Ron answered, wincing when he saw his mother narrow her eyes.

"A hotel room? As in just one? No. I won't stand for that, Ron."

"We don't want to make them pay for more than they have to. I don't see what the big deal is, Mum. Hermione and I-"

"The big deal, Ronald, is that you two are teenagers! And worst of all, you're not married! It's not appropriate," Mrs. Weasley said, interrupting him.

Ron pressed on, though. "As I was saying, Hermione and I love each other. And, we bloody well spent half a year living together anyway. So what if we're teenagers? I'm in love with her, and she loves me too! This isn't just some sham of a relationship! We're going to end up together, the two of us, so why does it matter if we share the same room for a few days while we find her parents? I'm going with her to help her. And, we're staying in the same room because we want to be together!"

This declaration was met by a deafening silence as everyone stopped and stared at Ron. He looked around for a moment, then his ears turned slightly red. Hermione sat there, simultaneously touched and flustered that Ron had just shared the news of their all consuming love for each other with his entire family.

Mrs. Weasley's features softened. "Yes, well, maybe this isn't the best time to be discussing this. Your father and I will discuss it with you after dessert."

Ron nodded, sitting back in his chair and letting out a big puff of air. Hermione looked around the table, desperate for someone to say something. Finally, George spoke up. "Blimey, Ron, if you wanted some fun time with just you and Granger you could have taken her out to the shed or something. All the way to Australia to be alone with her? Just how loud do the two of you plan on being?"

Ron turned to George, a ferocious look in his eyes. Just as he was about to speak, Hermione did something that she hadn't even known she was going to do until it happened. She started laughing. It started as a quiet giggle, but very quickly she was chuckling quite loudly, and then she was roaring with laughter. Ron just stared at her in astonishment, while everyone else at the table began to be affected by her infectious laughter. Ginny was leaning on Harry, her face red as she attempted to catch her breath. Harry himself was chortling, and Bill and Percy were chuckling good naturedly. Even Fleur was laughing her pretty tinkling laugh. Ron looked around the table and finally gave in, putting his arm around Hermione and letting out a few chuckles himself.

"Sorry Hermione," George said, looking at her, "but Ron set me up for that one. It was just too perfect to resist."

Hermione wiped the tears from her eyes, noting that for the first time in a long time they were happy tears. "It's quite alright George. Even I know a good joke when I hear one."

George grinned. "Yeah? Well, maybe I underestimated you, Granger. Might want to take a page out of your girlfriend's book, Ronnie. At least she can take a joke."

Ron looked like he wanted to retaliate, but Mrs. Weasley jumped in to break it up. "Boys, enough. Finish your dessert."

Everyone nodded, and did as Mrs. Weasley said. When the plates had been scraped clean, Mrs. Weasley whisked them away with a flick of her wand. "Right. I want everyone out of here except for Ron." Everybody began to stand and quickly shuffle out of the room. Mr. Weasley stood, probably making an attempt to start his nightly work in the shed. "And you of course, Arthur! Good gracious!" Mrs. Weasley tisked.

Mr. Weasley sat down with a defeated look, and Hermione turned to Ron, squeezing his hand. He gave her a look that seemed to say don't worry about him. She nodded, and walked out of the kitchen, hoping to find her boyfriend in one piece when she returned.