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Warning: MATURE LANGUAGE AND CONTENT if you are not old enough click away.

Chapter 26: Returning to University

It was the weekend after Sirius' BBQ that Hermione moved into her single occupancy flat in Oxford. She would be commuting between her and her London residence around her shifts at the Department of Mysteries. Hermione found that it was actually quite difficult this month to hide whom she was working for as she seemed to keep running into someone from the Order of Phoenix. It was like someone was trying to observe her. When she spoke to Professor Snape, Sirius and Remus they all declared that they didn't know of any observation missions.

Hermione had sent off her last draft of her dissertation off to Max for him to read through and now she was just trying to settle down in Oxford while getting organised for her final academic year. One of the first things she had done after she had arrived back in London was to head down to the local mobile phone shop and by two utilitarian mobile phones. She had also purchased a solar power charging station. Thinking of Charlie's lack of experience with a mobile and his workplace environment the top of the range phone was not a suitable option. Ziggy who had been helping out had done the fiddle that allowed them to have international calls for local prices. Hermione had programmed the new numbers into each other's handset and then sent the instruction booklet, her notes and the mobile equipment via a Ziggy delivery. She had charged Ziggy with training Charlie in texting and general phone usage.

It wasn't long before she got her first response that he had received her parcel with a text message. Ziggy had warned the dragon tamer that Miss Mia was on her way to work when she had sent him off on the delivery run so she wouldn't be able to respond straight away. Max had laughed when Charlie's phone went off in the canteen at lunchtime. The ring tone for incoming text messages was just hilarious. It would take Charlie many weeks of ribbing before his colleagues toned it down. Months afterwards when someone wanted to get a dig in all you heard was "I'm too sexy for my love too sexy for my love". Charlie had been very quick to read the rest of the manual for phone so he could change the phone settings so he no longer had the first line of that catchy RightSaidFred song as his ring tone.

Hermione and Charlie had set up the plan to talk regularly but the whole kneeling on your knees in front of a floo had bells on it. Also they both had some security concerns. Charlie started keeping his mobile phone on his bedside table. Each night they would settle down to some quite time where they spoke about the day. That first week of Hermione's work in London she had sounded absolutely exhausted but he still didn't know who, what or were she was employed. Somehow Charlie was under the impression that Hermione worked for a muggle organisation for some reason and she just didn't correct him. When she told him about the Lav he had been supportive. "Next time just hex the Blond bimbo cow" was his advice. "Remind her why you have the Order of Merlin First Class and she doesn't".

"Charlie I am supposed to be responsible and all that. Somehow while it would make me feel good to hex her I just cant see it going down well in the Wizengamot. Remember I am trying to keep out of jail as then I wouldn't get to see you".

"Ok don't hex her only because I want to see you all the time not on a monthly visitation schedule at Azkaban."

So when she got the keys for her student flat he had received the text messages as she had moved in, got the floo connected and made sure he had her new address and the floo password. With the ongoing investigation into the former management of the reserve and within the Department of Creatures resulted in Charlie being called into London a number times unfortantely he was on a day return portkey or else he would have found some way to see Hermione.

o0o0o

Hermione flooed into the Burrow as commanded by Molly for her birthday party.

The Weasley matron fussed over the 21 year old witch. Hermione endured, as there were many old friends there at the Burrow that night that had come bearing gifts. It was after most of the guests had departed that Hermione was conned into opening all her presents by Ginny who just wanted to know what was in all the parcels.

Ziggy had been invited to the party by Molly along with Gornurk the goblin so there were two competent administrators to ensure that cards and gifts stayed matched thus enabling an easier thank you letter process. Ziggy had looked at one parcel and he tried to make sure that the witch didn't open it in public.

Unfortunately that plan did not work as intended Ginny being helpful scooped up the gift recognising the card as Ron's handwriting. Opening the evenlope Hermione found a nice card and as usual there was a Flourish and Blotts book voucher that she expected from Ron. It was a surprise for her to find that there was also a wrapped gift this year with the evenlope.

"Miss Mia I don't think you should open the gift here," the house elf tried to warn her.

But alas Hermione couldn't get out of the public opening of this final parcel. Hermione had taken the warning and pulled her wand to see if there was anything for Ziggy's reaction to this specific parcel. When there was no magical reason she put away her wand. Carefully Hermione teased the tape off one end of the parcel and proceeded to make a viewing hole so she could get some warning about the contents. There was a book and another wrapped parcel with the familiar name of Ann Summers.

The title of the book was enough of a clue for Hermione that it hadn't been Ron who had given this present. Somehow she couldn't see him giving her '50 Things To Do With a Rabbit' book. No she was not going to continue opening up the gift and she quickly scanned the room to see Lavender standing to the side with a snide smile on her face. It was so fake she could call it her patented plastic smile.

Hermione tucked the card into the gift before saying "Thank you for your book Lavender I will enjoy it and thanks Ron for your vouchers," while quietly passing the present to Ziggy so he could hold onto it. She was going to leave it at that when the silly moo decided to have a go at her.

"Well it would be something new for you", called the vindictive blond all the while pawing over Ron clearly indicating she was marking her man.

"No not really considering I had one in school," Hermione threw back not want to put up with her on her birthday but not wanting to open it up into a free for all out of respect for Molly and Arthur. Hermione was staying the night at the rebuilt Burrow in Charlie's allocated room in his parent's house. Ginny and Harry were in Ginny's ensuite room that had been hers before her marriage last year.

The skirmish simmered down until the party clean up when Lavender all the worse for wear could not leave the Burrow and upset about not spending the night in Ron's bed decided to fire the first shot breaking the ceasefire. Molly had been adamant she was going into Bill's room on her own. "Oh great I have to listen to the prig have her first orgasm". Like in the old Burrow in the rebuilt family home, the New Burrow, the two oldest brothers had rooms next door to each other. The difference this time in the house was that each was now a family suite rooms with an individual ensuite bathroom so there was no massive weight. Arthur and Molly had used their reward to help build a large family home were all could stay during family events.

"No don't worry I learnt the silencing charm in our first year before Halloween so I didn't have to listen to your adenoids," Hermione lobbed back. The woman was getting on her nerves.

"Well you have never had a boyfriend so you would not know to do with a real man" snipped the blond.

"Unlike you I have not spread my legs for ever prick to fall into risking a STI," replied Hermione taking a load of dishes into the kitchen so they could be washed. Deciding now would not be to declare she had a boyfriend.

"Well Ron doesn't have to do all the work unlike any man who attempted to dip his wick in you. You would probably just lie there and think of England chilling the poor unlucky sod's erection down so no man would get his pleasure from having sex with you" was the spiteful response back to Hermione's STI comment. It looked like the catfight was back on.

"I hope Ron gets regular Clinic 22 check ups with the Auror's Medical Officer," countered

Hermione as she walked through the family lounge dining room on her way back to the outside marquee.

"I resent that insinuation," Lavender stated acting all offended clutching her poor controlled mammary glands as they almost slipped out low cut top.

"I am surprised you even know how to say those words let alone what they mean" Hermione replied before heading back into the kitchen

"Are you implying I am thick, you frigid cow?" she shrieked while weaving back and forth following Hermione's path in and out of the New Burrow.

"No I am implying that you are oral skilled as you some how managed to pass your OWLS and your NEWTs thanks to the favours you did. I wouldn't be surprised that you blew third years to get your homework done. Now sit down before you fall down," snapped Hermione trying to step around the sloshed witch who was getting in the way. Yet again was the snide thought in Hermione's mind.

The blond witch by this stage had lost her temper and whipped out her wand. However she had forgotten about Newton physics and equal and opposite reactions. Lavender over balanced twisting her ankle as fell off her hooker platforms managing to flash her crotch to both Hermione and Ginny who had been negotiating the hazard of Lavender with an arm full of dishes. It was clearly evident two both women that the woman had had a sexual liaison recently. But neither Hermione nor Ginny could remember Ron being missing during the party for any length of time. The conclusion was very obvious to both withes.

"How dare you cheat on my brother at my parent's home?" screamed Ginny incensed at the disrespect and the tawdriness of the witch. There was a crash of dishes as she grabbed her wand to hex the slapper.

"I didn't," the blond slurred trying to declare of her innocence.

"The dried semen on your inner thighs and the crutch less knickers tells me someone or many some ones shot their load tonight which is surprising since Ron was either with me and Harry or with Hermione tonight." Now a red haired witch was fired up and it wasn't long before Lavender was dealing with a Bat bogey hex with a variation. The blond certainly reeked of sex now that they were in enclosed space.

Molly who had been busy finishing up the last lot of dishes and was waiting for what Ginny was bringing her came out of the kitchen after hearing the raised voices and crash of plated raced in to find wands extended and the dishes she was waiting for placed on in two places. Some on her clean dining table and the rest on the floor. She was affronted with same view up the short skirt as the other two witches and bustled over to make sure Lavender didn't flash it to the rest of the household.

"What is going on here?" demanded Molly in the universal no nonsense tone of a mother of teenage children.

"Mum I think you need to take this piece of trash to her own home cause I don't want her here polluting the Burrow, " advised Ginny trying to avoid a major scene.

"Ginny just because you don't like your brother's girlfriend there is no need for trouble," commented an exasperated witch known that even though she didn't think much of the girl she had to get along with her as she was Ron's choice. The reprimand had the appalling effect of pushing Ginny's patience to the limits and she snapped letting the whole sorry story out just as her brother Ron walked into the scene of the argument.

"This slag fucked someone or more than one other than Ron up a wall here in the Burrow while he was being a polite host in the Marquee. So of course I want her out of your home," Ginny announced before using her wand to repair the dishes she dropped getting them to join the pile that Hermione placed on the dining room table.

Ron hearing this announcement was just shocked. Where was the proof? He was confused as the pair of them had been organisig to get round his mother's separate room allocation and now he was hearing that Lavender was unfaithful to him.

"Lav what's going on? Mum can you stop Gin's bogies. Now will someone tell me what is happening here?" asked Ron only at the end sounding like the professional Auror.

"Won-Won she tripped me and I have hurt my ankle," declared a blabbering Lavender who turned to point with her tacky fake talons at Hermione. She was trying to play on his emotions and strengthen her hold on him.

"If you didn't wear stripper shoes you wouldn't have fallen but since it what you moonlight as one I suppose you have to have the gear" replied Hermione as she moved away to direct the rest of the dishes into the kitchen.

At this point Lavender tried to throw a hex at Hermione only for Molly to whip her wand out calling 'Expelliarmus' to disarm the inebriated witch.

By now every occupant of the Burrow was now present in the living dining room area. Molly took charge after helping Lavender into a chair. "Boys do you have any Sober-up I believe this young woman needs some," Molly advised the twins as she wrapped Lavender's ankle.

At the tone the twins took notice that their mother was on her last thread before loosing her infamous temper. After patting themselves down and empting their pockets of a number of potions vials they presented their mother with a dose of Sober-up with a Pepper Up potion chaser.

Molly ordered the well-oiled witch to throw the potions back quickly. Lavender in her alcohol stupor had realised that she was facing an immovable object ie a Mother dragon in her own lair so was passively following the dragon's orders. Molly assessed the young woman again before declaring "She now sober, Arthur take the girl to her parents and let them deal with her while I deal with what is left here. By the time you are back I will have a cuppa tea ready for you".

"Will someone tell me why my girlfriend is being escorted home by my father?" exclaimed Ron as he starting to loose his control of temper.

"Ronald sit down. George go home to Kingsley. Fred join your brother at the table. Harry be a dear and help Hermione in the kitchen to finish up and put the kettle on. Ginny I suggest you start your explanation. Oh Arthur here is her wand she can get it off her parents."

Ginny then had the unpleasant task of informing her brother that all the evidence indicated that his witch was cheating on him. Ginny explained the evidence they had discovered this evening that more than one witch had seen and smelt. Added to that there were the rumours covering Ron's holiday in Romania with Lavender's return to London. It didn't take long for the word to spread round the magical community as it was a small one and Lavender's secondary fame as the girl friend of one of the golden trio meant that she should have been more aware of her actions.

After providing a round a tea to all those who had sat at the table Hermione called for Ziggy to pass back the last parcel so she could show the family. Fred was surprised at seeing a house elf blush he didn't think they could. Hermione sat at the table and opened the present fully. Molly went red in the face at pictures on the book cover. It was a good thing she didn't see the objects inside the Ann Summer's bag. Ginny did and she smirked before passing it onto Harry who after a quick glance passed it on. Fred snaffled it before Ron who didn't really look as he was in shock. When Molly saw the contents she was flabbergasted.

O0o0o

Hermione was relieved to return to her new student apartment the next morning after all the conflict at the end of her 21st birthday party at the new Burrow. She left after a good breakfast much pleased to be out of the tension filled Weasley main household. Fred had left early as it was Saturday morning and he needed to open the Diagon Alley Shop. George was apparently doing the Hogsmeade premises.

After hugging every one who was awake goodbye including a sleep dazed Harry Hermione took herself back to Oxford. Looking at the paper Hermione was relieved to see that things were starting to calm down after the Rita Skeeter scandle. She had enjoyed the woman getting 5 years in the new minimum security prison with her magic limited for the next ten years. They couldn't exactly put her in Azkaban as she had done a crime according to the new laws that warranted maximum security.

Hermione was sitting comfortable writing some of her thank you notes and letters at her dining table. She had brought the table out of the tent as it was the right size for her and she most often would be using it as a desk. There was a knock on her front door and see looked through the spy hole to see a bunch of flowers and Weasley red hair. There was only one Weasley that had her student address Charlie!

Opening the door Hermione had her wand in her hand not exactly believing he was here in England. "Charlie?"

"Its me"

"When did you claim me?"

"Litha four years ago and we claimed each other. Good girl for keeping up the security".

"Come Come in Charlie. This is a surprise."

"Well I couldn't get to your party last night at the Burrow and it is a special birthday," he said kissing her on the cheek while passing her the bunch of flowers. He also had a wrapped gift for her.

Hermione quickly put the flowers in a vase putting them on her table desk before filling up the kettle to brew a cup of tea. Standing in her kitchen with Charlie leaning against her breakfast bar Hermione opened the wrapped gift with trepidation. It was a sterling silver necklace with a heart locket inside was a photo of the pair of them taken by Max. "Thank you," she advised him giving him a kiss before turning and lifting her hair so he could put it on her. When he was done closing the latch Charlie kissed the back of her neck.

Just then the kettle whistled and Hermione moved to make the tea. With their mugs in hand they moved to her couch and Hermione proceeded to fill Charlie in with the gossip from last night's party. She had been short with the full details explaining he need to make sure he didnt't blow her cover as his source for the information but Charlie had got the gist that had been some drama at his parents home.

"It couldn't have happened to a nicer girl" he commented. "Hopefully Ron learns from this and moves on to find someone nicer".

"Are you worried that he will make the old mistake of oh you're a girl Hermone?" she questioned Charlie.

"To late cause that witch is Mine," claimed Charlie while cuddling her tightly. "He can go find his own witch."

"So now that here how long can you stay?" she asked wondering how long they could spend together.

"I am here until Monday when I have a early portkey booked for Romania".

The couple had left the flat not long afterwards as Charlie had booked a treat for Hermione at Blenheim Palace. They had slidealong apparated onto the estate before enjoying a guided tour of the historic landmark. After their tour Charlie guided Hermione to the Indian Room where they had a reservation for a formal afternoon tea. Hermione and Charlie had a lovely day and they were just happy to be spending time together without the glare of the magical world on them.

Dinner was a Chinese takeaway that they picked up on their way home from Evensong at Christ Church Cathedral. The pair of them were tired after their day exploring. Hermione was shocked at his planning for the day. Hermione had set up her tent in the bedroom of the appartment as it gave her more space and it meant that she didn't have to move her library. Charlie was happy to spend the night in Hermione's tent bedroom. Sunday was a busmans holiday for Charlie when they visited the Cotswold Wildlife Park near Burford.

Hermione was sad to see him leave early on Monday morning but she reminded herself that she was scheduled to see him in a couple of weeks so she could survive the rest of her full time shifts in the Ministry of Magic. She dressed in her Unspeakable robes and followed him not long after his departure to the same location. Hermione had fun walking past Charlie in the International Portkey departure lounge while on her way to the Auror gymnasium where she was to meet Tonks.

o0o0o

The last couple of weeks of Hermione's month in the Ministry of Magic soon came to an end. The whole time she had kept up her call schedule with Charlie. When it came to the start of university teaching Hermione was prepared and had already started the assignments for the semester. She quickly caught up with her Univeristy friends and Mischa had much fun quizzing her about her stay on the Romanian Reserve.

Mischa complained, "that it was just typical bloody typical that Hermione had handed in dissertation during the first week of teaching". She herself was still in the initial writing up stage and still needed to finish her experiments so that she could write up her finidings chapter.

Looking round the flat Mischa wondered were all Hermione's books where out loud.

"Mischa I havent unpacked the tent. Using it in the bedroom expands my living space," Hermione explained.