A few hours later, they were all sitting peacefully in the garden outside of the Weasley family home. Seeing as the Burrow was the part-time temporary home of Harry, it had every kind of protective spell and charm on it that the Ministry had to offer. It rivaled only Hogwarts in its measures on safety and security.

Hermione watched quietly the scene before her. Bill and Fleur were there. Bill was holding onto Lily, burping the infant after her own evening meal. On a blanket in the tall grass, Ron and Fleur's younger sister Gabrielle were playing with the older couple's own young daughter. She chuckled as Ron looked a little star struck, obviously from the young Veela's influence. Apparently she had taken quite a liking to Ron, as they barely noticed the toddler putting blades of grass in her mouth until she began spewing up green mush a few minutes later.

Ginny was busily helping her mother clean up the dinner mess; the latter having refused Hermione's own offer of aid, telling the young mother to take advantage of a break while she had the chance. Hermione had wisely decided she wasn't going to argue. Charlie had broken out in huge bursts of laughter, witnessing the twins' attempts to use that prat Percy as a guinea pig to test out some of their newest inventions.

Arthur had finally convinced Percy to come home and make peace with his mother before it would be too late. Who knew when Molly's wall clock would ever have all nine arrows pointing to mortal peril and home at the same time again?

Hermione got up from the chair she had been occupying to sit at the now cleared off picnic table. Draco, Harry and Mr. Weasley were there discussing what the next move should be in the search for the next horcrux. She quietly took a seat next to Harry, who was currently listening to the other two men.

"Penny for your thoughts?" she whispered.

Harry turned and looked at his best friend, the love of his life that he would likely never completely get over. But even he knew it was time to move on.

"What the devil is a penny, 'Mione?"

She was absentmindedly scratching the top of the table with a twig she had picked up.

"Dunno, Harry. I think it's some kind of American muggle currency. I heard it in a movie once."

Smiling, Harry put out his arm and gave her a light squeeze. She hugged him back, watching out of the corner of her eye, to make sure that it didn't bother Draco for her to do so. She was happy to have them both back, but when the three of them were together; it could sometimes get a little uncomfortable. Harry coughed to get the others' attention.

"Sorry everyone, but I think it's about time that we left. There's an errand that we need to run before we go back to the shop."

Hermione looked quizzically at Draco and Harry, and then saw that they had been joined by George, Fred and Ron.

"Okay, what's going on here?"

"It's a surprise, 'Mione. Draco, take Hermione and Lily on your broom. Everyone else, I'll meet you there," he said, his green eyes twinkling.

"But Harry, meet them…?"

As she turned around she noticed they were in the right spot in the garden for everyone to apparate. Harry disappeared quickly with a crack, followed by George, then Ron, then Fred. Bill walked up with a sleeping Lily and placed the child in her mother's arms. Draco walked up with broom in hand.

"Well, I guess we'd better go. Are you ready?"

"Draco, are you sure those things are safe for small children?"

He rolled his eyes at her hesitation. "Hermione, would you rather be on a broom with me, or take a portkey and be flung about somewhere?"

"Point taken." She turned and waved at the others. "Goodbye everyone. Thank you again Mr. and Mrs. Weasley." She fitted Lily into one of those muggle Snuggli devices and sat in front of Draco on the broom, feeling the wind whip her hair about as they gained altitude.

"Where are we going, Draco?"

She tensed as she felt his lip barely touch the edge of her earlobe; his warm breath tickling the skin.

"It's a surprise, Hermione. And I'm not telling you."

Short, I know, but I only had a little while to update. Take care everyone!

- M.