A/N: My lovely readers: I know it's been forever and a day since I last posted. As I am busy with a fanfic competition, school, and working essentially a full-time job, I haven't had the time to dedicate to this particular fic like I want to. However, I appreciate the requests I have received to update this fic. It helps motivate me in times when I am really busy to squeeze time in for this. Please enjoy! Let me know if you have any suggestions and/or send me a review.

The time came for Harry and Ron to rescue Hermione from the clutches of her overprotective parents. They were in double potions with the Slytherins, discussing what to do as they paired off, trying to brew a potion for knocking out werewolves.

"Tonight, right?" muttered Ron to Harry.

"Yeah," said Harry, making sure no one else could overhear them.

"Before or after dinner?" asked Ron.

"After," said Harry. "You don't want an empty stomach do you?"

"Definitely not," said Ron. "Still a little nervous though."

"Really? About what?" asked Harry.

Ron looked around. "I mean, we'll inevitably run into her parents right? When we 'rescue' her? I'm not exactly looking forward to meeting them. They hate me, remember?"

"True," said Harry, who couldn't help but chuckle.

Ron grunted. "I'll let you do most of the talking, I guess."

"Wonder what Hermione has been through all this time?" asked Harry.

"Muggle school," said Ron with a grin. "She can't stand it."

(Meanwhile, in Hampstead)

Hermione continued her studies week to week at Parliament Hill girls' school in Hampstead. Although she had made a few friends, they weren't really best friends, and she couldn't get her past life out of her head.

Hermione made it home on Friday evening after a mediocre day at school. She began working on her homework for the weekend when her parents finally arrived from work.

"Hello, love!" said Mr. Granger to his daughter. Hermione greeted them and helped her parents as they got pots and pans out for dinner.

Hermione had an enjoyable dinner with her parents. Night had fallen, and the three Grangers were eating dessert when a knock suddenly came at the door.

"Who could that be at this time of night?" asked Mr. Granger puzzled, heading towards the door.

He opened the door. It was Harry and Ron carrying two old beat-up brooms.

Hermione froze, wide-eyed. She couldn't believe it. She was terrified of what her father would do, but also ecstatic to see her two best friends at the door. Her mother looked pleasantly surprised, but was shocked to see Hermione looking so nervous.

"Harry Potter?" said Mr. Granger skeptically, as if he couldn't believe his eyes. He turned to Ron and eyed him for a second. "And Ron Weasley? What are you doing here?"

"Hullo, Mr. Granger," said Harry, a little nervously. "Do you mind if we come in?"

Mr. Granger hesitated, as if second-guessing his hospitality, but then he said, "Not at all. Please come in. Come in."

Harry came in first. Followed by Ron. Ron shot a quick glance at Hermione and her mother at the dining room from afar but quickly averted his gaze to the ground, not saying anything, his ears burning and his countenance sheepish.

Mr. Granger was not exactly glad to see Harry and Ron simply because of what they represented, especially to Hermione, but he couldn't show that in front of his daughter. After all, they were her old best friends and currently his house guests.

"And what brings you two out to Hampstead all the way from Hogwarts on a chilly night like this?" said Mr. Granger. Harry and Ron were awkwardly standing in the living room, sort of pretending that Mrs. Granger and Hermione weren't even there.

"We, er, wanted to talk to you about Hermione," said Harry.

Mr. Granger gave a stern frown but played along. "Oh yes. What was it you wanted to discuss?"

Harry swallowed nervously. Ron's ears looked like they might start smoking from heat.

"Mr. Granger," he said, summoning up courage that reminded him that Mr. Granger was at least not as bad as Voldemort. "Your daughter is a witch, and the best witch Hogwarts has had in a long time. She belongs there, sir. I think this whole thing with Ron was a big misunderstanding." Harry hoped that he wouldn't have to mention Ron but decided that he might as well get it out of the way.

"Oh? And you just expect me to surrender her back to you and let her get herself killed in the process while you two go hunt down that crazy lunatic that she kept telling us about?"

"Daddy!" said Hermione, beginning to interrupt.

"Not now, darling!" said Mr. Granger.

"Sir," said Harry. "We would be dead if it wasn't for your daughter. She's saved our lives. I...we...she's our best friend too...and she's a witch. She belongs at Hogwarts."

"You still didn't answer my point," said Mr. Granger. "Hogwarts is too dangerous. Magic is too dangerous. You two might do yourselves a favor and go to Muggle schools yourselves if you don't want to get yourselves killed by this Voldemort fellow."

Harry was pleasantly surprised to see that Mr. Granger said Voldemort's name without any reservation. Ron was the only person in the room who winced at the name.

"Sir," continued Harry. "I don't know how else to say this, but your daughter needs to come back to Hogwarts because not only is she gifted with magical ability but she has the brains to succeed in almost any magical career she puts her mind to."

Mr. Granger hesitated for a moment. Mrs. Granger finally intervened. "Honey, why don't we let them stay awhile and have some dessert? They came all this way from Scotland for Pete's sake."

Mr. Granger hesitated again. "That's fine. Please Harry….and Ron," he said reluctantly. "Have a seat at the table."

Harry and Ron obliged and sat down awkwardly facing Hermione and sitting in between her parents who were on opposite sides of the wide table. Hermione gave them an awkward smile and a quick wave, but didn't say anything yet, feeling as though it wasn't her place.

"Creme brulee?" asked Mrs. Granger, being more polite than anyone would've guessed.

"Er, no thanks," said Harry. Ron also declined.

"So," said Mr. Granger with a deep sigh, his nostrils flaring, "What about Ron is a misunderstanding that we need clarification on?"

Harry thought it rather brazen that he said it like that, but he looked at Ron, who still looked reluctant to speak, and continued on.

"I don't exactly know, sir," said Harry honestly. "I think you believe Ron is a bad person or a bad influence on Hermione?"

"We noticed it when we found out she had been with him when she was petrified by that giant snake in your second year," said Mr. Granger. "Not to mention the fact that she ran away with him this past summer."

"Sir," began Ron, his voice sounding very unconfident. Nevertheless, he felt that now he should speak up. "There was a plot to kill muggle-borns at the school last year, and…"

"See?!" interrupted Mr. Granger, looking at Hermione. "You see why we worry for your safety at Hogwarts?! You could've died! Even Ron admits it!"

"But Mr. Granger, we solved the problem with Hermione's help!" said Ron, feeling more confident now. "If Hermione hadn't found the clue to the snake in the library, Hogwarts would've been closed! Dumbledore would've shut the school down before there would be any mass murders."

"But she was still almost killed!" said Mr. Granger defiantly. "And so were you! And you're not even a muggle-born!"

"True," said Ron sadly. "That is true."

"Sir, if I may," said Harry, trying to rescue the conversation. "Most of the dangers that Ron and Hermione have experienced at Hogwarts have been because of me. It's not Ron's fault that Hermione has been in danger."

"Then how do you explain her running away to be with him last summer?"

"I told you, daddy," said Hermione, speaking up at last. "It was to help save Harry. He had been kidnapped! I didn't just waltz off with Ron for the fun of it!"

Ron didn't say anything but was glad Hermione was defending their actions.

"Right," said Mr. Granger. "Er, what happened exactly, Harry?"

"I was taken by a house-elf to a remote part of the Forbidden Forest," said Harry. "It was a plot by one of Voldemort's followers to kill me without witnesses. He tried to use his house-elf and the Forest itself to kill me, but thankfully I survived. If Ron and Hermione hadn't found Dumbledore, I'd probably be dead."

Mr. Granger looked remorseful for the first time. "I'm sorry, Harry."

There was a pause, but it wasn't too awkward. It was more one of deep contemplation. Finally Mr. Granger spoke again. He turned to his daughter.

"I'm sorry to bring this up again in front of Ron but what about the time when he made you cry in first year? It's not exactly appropriate to be in a toxic relationship."

"So is that why you wanted me gone from Hogwarts then?" asked Hermione skeptically. "That and the dangers of going to school there?"

"Seems pretty reasonable to me to have you use your talents in the Muggle world," said Mr. Granger.

Hermione gave Ron a quick, sad look, then resumed conversation with her dad. "Ron said a couple of things that hurt my feelings in first year, but it was because of a misunderstanding, honestly. We...didn't really know each other back then and made some bad assumptions at the time. If we had known each other better, none of that would've happened in first year," she finished, looking sheepish. Ron felt his ears burn again.

"He called you 'a nightmare' dear," said Mr. Granger. "That's pretty drastic to me. You were so upset at the time when you wrote to us."

Hermione blushed with embarrassment at these words. Ron too, looked more embarrassed than ever.

"Sir," said Ron, sounding braver than he felt. "I know what I did was so wrong in first year, believe me. I still regret my behavior and have not done anything to tarnish our relationship since that moment."

Mr. Granger examined Ron for a moment, as if he was in a detective's office.

"I'm still not comfortable with Hermione being at Hogwarts," said Mr. Granger stubbornly. "She's not safe there."

"Sir," said Ron. "I want you to know that I would gladly lay down my life for your daughter. She means that much to me."

Mr. Granger looked puzzled. Mrs. Granger, who had been watching the conversation passively, had tears sting her eyes at these words.

"Oh honey! Let her go back! It's where she belongs!" interjected Mrs. Granger to her husband.

"Jean! We can't be rash about this!" said Mr. Granger irritably.

"She's had enough time to figure out whether or not she'd rather be in the Muggle world or the wizarding world. She's never liked our world as much as when she first arrived at Hogwarts. She doesn't belong in our world anymore! She belongs with these two fine, young gentlemen at Hogwarts!" said Mrs. Granger.

Harry and Ron would've breathed a sigh of relief seeing Mrs. Granger side with them in their argument had it not been their nervousness around Hermione's protective father.

"But darling…" began Mr. Granger.

"No," interrupted Mrs. Granger. "Our daughter is 14 now. She's not a little kid anymore. And in case you haven't noticed, she's quite precocious for her age and, if I'm not mistaken, an excellent witch." She turned and gave her daughter a weak smile before continuing. "Ron, here, is a fine, young man who has proven himself, along with Harry, that they are very well-suited, loyal friends to our daughter and would do everything in their power to keep her safe."

"That is true," said Mr. Granger. "But you cannot deny that Hogwarts is a dangerous place for anyone, not just Hermione."

"That may be true," said Mrs. Granger. "You're right, but this needs to be a choice Hermione makes. She's old enough and wise enough to determine her future and make her own choices. We can't keep her in this house with us forever. She's too talented to not be in the wizarding world."

"Sir, your daughter could be the next Minister for magic," said Ron with utmost seriousness. Hermione blushed at these words.

"Really?" said Mr. Granger, amused at the thought.

"Really," said Ron truthfully. "The only other person I've seen as dedicated to their work as much as your daughter is my brother, Percy, but he's a bit of a prat. Hermione is probably the best student at Hogwarts. I'm not kidding."

But he finished this statement with a chuckle. It was a smile that made Hermione's heart melt. She hadn't seen it in so long…She couldn't help but smile back at his compliments too. Mr. Granger noticed this.

Harry gave Ron a hopeful look. Mr. Granger noticed Ron and Hermione look at each other with longing in their eyes.

"You really love my daughter, don't you?" said Mr. Granger to Ron, his eyes seeming to pierce through Ron's soul.

"Sir, I have no doubt in my mind that I have never loved anyone as much as I love her," said Ron with utmost seriousness.

Mr. Granger sighed. Then he looked at his wife, then to Hermione.

"You really want to go back, don't you?" said Mr. Granger.

"Yes, I really do, daddy," said Hermione, her slightly buck teeth biting her lip in anticipation.

"Well...seeing as I'm the only one who feels as I do about this situation, we'll try and arrange with Dumbledore about getting you back in Hogwarts…" said Mr. Granger with a sigh and a weak smile.

Hermione teared up. "Thank you," she said, her voice barely audible.

"Sir, Ron and I have no doubt that this is for the best," said Harry. "Hermione will be back at Hogwarts, and better than ever."

Hermione and Ron exchanged a glance. There was a sexual tension between them that they hoped no one else could notice.

"I admire your dedication to my daughter," said Mr. Granger, turning to Ron. "Perhaps I misjudged your character."

"Sir, I will always honor my relationship to her, and I thank you in sincerity for letting her go back. You're doing the wizarding world a great service," said Ron.

And with that, the evening turned into hours of discussion between friends and family. Harry and Ron never felt so close to Hermione as they did that night after getting to know her parents.

Eventually, the two boys bid the Grangers a good night and vamoosed out of there back to Hogwarts on the old school brooms they nicked from the Quidditch pitch. Hermione would have to wait until someone specially transported her back to Hogwarts, but that was okay. As she bid the boys goodbye, she teared up again at their faithfulness and love for her, love that she knew she reciprocated. She also had a newfound appreciation for her parents at their willingness to let her choose for herself whether or not she wanted to go back.

Meanwhile, Harry and Ron were on their broomsticks flying back to Scotland in the middle of the night. Both boys stifled yawns as they flew in the brisk night air.

"We have to go see Dumbledore," said Harry. "He'll want to know how it went."

"What do you mean?" said Ron. "He knows we left?"

"I'm sure he does," said Harry. "Dumbledore knows almost everything that goes on at the school. Besides, he wants Hermione back as much as any of us do."

Sure enough they arrived back, but, of course, Dumbledore's office was off limits.

"We've got to be careful," said Harry. "It must be midnight or even 1 am by now. Let's go to the owlery and send a message that will go straight to Dumbledore's office."

Sure enough, that's what they did. They managed to sneak off, find Hedwig, found some spare parchment and a spare quill available for guest users of the owlery, and scribbed a note that said

"Professor Dumbledore,

Hermione is coming back to Hogwarts. We need to speak with you as soon as possible.

HP and RW."

"Well, as long as you know we won't get in trouble for this…" said Ron as Harry released Hedwig to fly to Dumbledore's tower window mail chute.

They left the owlery.

"No. There's no way we'd get in trouble for this."

"Is that right?" called a sinister voice from a distance. Harry and Ron froze on the spot.

"I don't know why you two always think you can sneak off at night, but the jig is up!"