Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

Ginny was the first up, as always, off to bake for the breakfast crowd. They had their main story set, and rationale and facts made up to answer questions. They wanted to sound one hundred percent credible. The Loves got up and made ready for another day of dentistry. Hermione and Harry had rehearsed them, so they could function well enough to get them through until Nigel appeared.

The three of them made it to breakfast. Amy was always one of the first in, grabbing a quick meal and extra coffee in preparation for the day. When she came in and sat down, they approached her. Ginny came from the back to join them.

"We have some sort of bad news," said Hermione, looking like she was about to explain herself in the principal's office. "We went into town for a little recreation and, well, we got in contact with some people back home. We are apparently going to need to leave as soon as we can to return home. We are really sorry."

"Don't be sorry," said Amy, looking concerned. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"No, not really. It is just school stuff about our leave and classes. Some of our paperwork was not done properly. We are kind of stuck with having to go straighten it out to maintain our status at school," said Harry.

"Well, you will all certainly be missed. You have been great helpers. I hope you get everything fixed."

"We will," said Ginny. "Maybe we can come back in the future."

"That would be spectacular. You will be welcomed with open arms," said Amy, standing up. So, what are all of you studying? I don't think we ever discussed that."

"No, we didn't," Hermione said, clearing her throat. "I am studying law. I wasn't certain of my direction, but after this, I am going to work as a barrister helping the poor and less fortunate. These people need all the help they can get. I want to help them."

"That is quite admirable, indeed. How about you, Ginny?"

That's kind of funny. I was studying law, too. Now I think I have found my true calling. I am going to change majors and enroll in culinary school to become a chef, to own the best bakery chain in the UK."

Amy laughed. "I have no doubt you will succeed at that. Your baked goods are already legends around here."

"And how about you?" she said, looking to Ron.

"Uh…me…right. I am studying the outdoors. I want to be the administrator of a national park or big nature preserve. I love animals and the outdoors."

"I guess that leaves me," said Harry, Amy looking to him. "I am sticking to the law. I want to put away the bad guys. I want to make sure they get what is coming to them and do not escape through legal shenanigans."

"Wonderful, well, you will all do good, I just know it."

"Well, we should all be getting off to work. Just because we are leaving tomorrow is no excuse to be laying about today," observed Hermione.

"Right you are, as always," said Ron.

They all took off in the respective directions. Now it was up to Nigel and Hermione's parents to seal their part of the deal.

About an hour later Ron was heading across the camp with some boxes for the kitchen when he saw Nigel coming into the camp. He hurried into the food tent and alerted Ginny. She ran off to tell Hermione while Ron told Harry. Nigel pulled up in front of Amy's tent and got out. Amy, having heard a vehicle stop, came out to see who it was.

"Nigel," she said. "Pleasure to see you. What brings you out so early?"

"Good to see you, too, Amy," he replied in his cheerful bureaucratic voice. "Some bad news, actually. A bit of an emergency, I am afraid. You are going to lose your dentists."

"Oh my! When it rains, it pours. I just lost your four young friends. They are getting called back to school."

"Blimey," replied Nigel. "This is a bad situation. Mick must be on his way, as well, then."

Amy looked sick, losing six people in the course of about an hour. They were all going to be hard to replace.

"Anyway, I have to get the Loves to the airport by six this evening for a flight to Canberra. They will hop a jet to London from there. I don't know all the details of the emergency, but I guess it was enough to get the slow hands in the British embassy moving to clear up all the paperwork that has been plaguing them. I am sorry to do this to you."

"I guess I can figure it out," moaned Amy, overwhelmed by all the morning's news. "The important thing is getting the Love's to that jet. We better go see them straight off."

They made their way to the dental office. The Loves were just preparing for a couple of new patients. Nigel informed them of the situation. They acted duly shocked and befuddled. "We will work until lunch," they said. "We can do a few more patients. It won't take us long to pack. We really do not have all that much. Nigel says if we leave by three-thirty we will be fine to make the flight."

Hermione had watched Nigel, Amy and her parents while doing her work. As soon as Nigel and Amy left, she ran out to tell Ginny, who informed the others.

At lunch, Amy took a pause to inform the camp of all the impending departures. After a lot of applause, there was a lot of hugging, tears and well wishes passed around.

Hermione took the moment to give Ron the biggest snog he could remember since their first kiss after he had expressed the need to take care of the Hogwarts house elves. He walked over to Harry as Hermione went on to say farewell to other people. "I feel weird, Harry. You saw her snog me just now. I don't know what happened. It was like my whole heart was going to explode."

Harry looked at him for a minute. He looked a little rattled. "I think that is it, Ron. I think that's it…"

"…what's it?" interrupted Ron. I feel peculiar, but kind of excited, like I could take on the whole world."

"It's Hermione's heart. I think she just gave you the other half of it."

"Bloody hell," said Ron in a panicky voice. "Harry. What do I do?"

"You take care of it. You better treat it like the best thing you ever had."

"Yeah, right. I will. Bloody hell. I…"

"…Calm down, you nutter. You don't want to break it already," Harry chuckled.

Ron just looked at him and smiled like a man on top of the world.

As lunch wound down, Ron and Harry returned to their jobs. Hermione helped her parents pack up and get ready. They all knew the real flight was tomorrow, and that it would include Hermione and her parents. The rest would leave by portkey as soon as they got back to the house in Hobart in the morning. They would be landing at Hallow House, then popping to Canberra from there. Mick would probably have the schedule when he showed up later. All they could do is kick back, finish their jobs and be quietly going bonkers inside about what was now rolling full speed ahead like the Hogwarts Express.

Nigel pulled out on time with them at three-thirty. The whole camp was waving and shouting their best. The four of them gathered, starting to get antsy. "I wish Mick would get here," said Hermione. "We need to know the plan. I am sure he's got it all down, but we need to go over it."

Ron put his arm around her, the heart in his chest-thumping away. "Relax, Mione. I love you. Everything is going to be fine."

She smiled at him, not needing to speak. For the first time, she felt totally safe and happy with him holding her. It was a different feeling, like nothing in the world could harm her as long as he held her.

Mick showed up shortly before dinner. He told them Nigel would be there to leave at eight o'clock. They would return to the house and take off on the portkey to Hallow House. Once there, they would make ready for Canberra and head in as soon as possible. John was going to hold a press conference with Hermione and her folks.

For now, it was time to double check their preparedness and rest up for a very big day.