Here is the next chapter. I hope you like it. Please read and review thanks love Hermione xxx

Dumbledore stepped out of the floo and gasped at the new looking kitchen before realising that this was not why he was there in the first place. Severus was in the living room on the couch and Molly was dabbing at his head with a wet cloth. He looked better and years younger than Dumbledore had ever seen him looking. What had happened to him? He approached just as Severus came to looking around in confusion. Suddenly realisation dawned in his eyes and he looked so resolute in that moment that Dumbledore wondered what he was thinking.

"Severus my boy you came here, passed out and Molly had to bring you to the couch. How do you feel now?" he asked as Severus jumped having not seen him at first.

"To be quite honest I don't know if I'll ever be the same ever again. Do you ever think you know someone and then it turns out you never truly knew them at all? This happened to me today twice and it has been more than I can handle. It is what it is and I shall be dealing with it as and when I can" he said shuddering deeply before he took some calming breathes and continued. He was cycling through too many emotions and would need to get himself sorted by tomorrow. It was likely that he'd never teach his classes the same way. It was like everything he'd ever known had been a lie or like he'd been wearing a blindfold which someone had suddenly removed. It was like seeing everything properly for the first time and he was enlightened for sure.

"I faced a boggart today but what I forgot is that we never learned about it in our youth. It was in the office of Lucius Malfoy. I had gone there to discuss something with him when I heard screaming coming from inside the room which I knew didn't belong to him. I entered the room and the Dark Lord himself was screaming at the boggart. It would seem he never learned about them either his youth. I faced the boggart the way Lupin taught us and was fine but the Dark Lord is not!" he said as Albus nodded and he was stunned as Betty popped in handed Severus a cup of fresh tea.

"I am Betty the new house elf for Master Black and don't worry Mister Snakey I'll be looking after you now!" she said tenderly stroking his cheek as she handed him the tea. He smiled gratefully at her. She had been just what he needed in that moment. Her innocent apparent love of Sirius and indeed her care for others and her job was refreshing and everything he needed in the moment.

"My dear boy how do you mean the Dark Lord is not ok now? What has happened to him?" he asked as Severus looked confused.

"Something happened which I have never seen before in my life. He accused Lucius of bringing the boggart there on purpose to harm him and he cast the Crutiatus curse at the same time as Lucius fired off a stunner of his own. I don't think Lucius did it intentionally. In fact I could see he did it from a nervous twitch. Either way their spells collided and they were each hit with what I can but assume were portions of each other's spells or something. They are both currently unconscious and yes I did say unconscious!" he said as Albus paled drastically which Severus noticed raising his eyebrows succinctly.

"This means not all is as I assumed. Oh no this is very bad indeed. Remember Severus what you and I discussed privately. It would seem that this is no longer in play for whatever reason as he wouldn't be injured if they still were!" he said as Molly looked at him in fear wondering what he meant at all.

"Then I must go now!" he started to stand up when Dumbledore grabbed his shoulder stopping him.

"It would not be wise to act now Severus. I would really rather not lose you which would happen if this all comes to a head. No we will lure him out and then Harry can finish the job as the prophecy said he was always meant to do. Don't worry Molly everything just got marginally better for the light side. It will now be very easy for Harry to defeat Voldemort. I daresay any spell would do it now!" he responded as she seemed relieved.

"Well I'm not sure why it needs to be Harry but if he can end him easily I know I will sleep better at night!" she said shrieking in fright as Ronald popped back in, in that moment looking highly flustered. In fact he looked positively mortified. He shrieked upon seeing his mother there who in turn shrieked again as he had scared her.

"Mum what the hell are you just standing there like a creep for? You scared the living daylights out of me. Umm as you're here I have some rum cake from Evelina Charlie's girlfriend. She says she loves your cakes and to thank you for her!" he said handing over the parcel with a smile. Molly then laughed which he hadn't expected from her.

"Oh Ron! You do know how to lighten the moment. What an entrance! You're too funny son. So tell me why are you all flustered then? Come on a mum just knows these things" she asked as his ear tips went red once more much like Arthurs did in the bedroom something she found quite cute in her husband and sons.

"I have a girlfriend Lina. I met her in Romania and she's wonderful. She goes to Beauxbatons but was helping out her sister like me with Charlie. Her English is unreal though. We have communication mirrors and we will talk all the time. I'm so happy mum! I didn't get paid at all for working with Charlie which did suck because I was doing his work for him lazy sod but I did meet Lina there so it's not all bad!" he said as She frowned at him.

"Did you learn anything from your experience?" she asked seriously as he sighed.

"Yeah! Never take a portkey from dad without asking where the hell it goes and never do anyone's work for them unless you know you will get paid because I can tell you I'm not a skivvy! I shouldn't have taken Harry's money because I didn't earn it but he shouldn't have freaked out so much when he truly does have millions there and he will need to get over that. Lina helped me to see why it was wrong too! I really do think I feel more grounded because of her" he said leaving the room as everyone present looked relieved by his appearance. He seemed to have seriously diffused the lingering tension in the room for sure. Hermione who had been outside the door listening in ran away her eyes full of tears. She had so hoped he'd notice her but he never did and now it looked like he never would. Harry hadn't wanted her and to be honest she hadn't wanted him either but it was the principle of the thing. Ron had never wanted her and she grieved the loss of his love which she had never received. Now she wished she had bought some beauty products with the money. Maybe if she was gorgeous he'd leave Lina for her.

"Betty! I am so sorry about what I said earlier. I shouldn't have insulted you. Do you know of any potions which could tame my crazy hair? I'd like to not look so crazy when I return to school" she asked the stunned elf who had not expected the question.

"Well yes we have one here in the house. You were being very stupid and maybe that's why you have ugly hair! But now you are not stupid so Betty will help you nice girl! Don't you worry Betty will give you pretty hair always" she said handing Hermione a potion which tamed her hair permanently as soon as she had drunk it. Instead of looking like a literal birds nest it now flowed down her back in simple waves. She knew that it would always be like this from now on and was happy about that. She was further stunned when Ron entered her room and gasped. It would seem he was noticing her at long last. Maybe there was a hope for them after all.

"Wow 'Mione! You finally fixed you birds nest of a hair do! I was starting to wonder actually when you were going to start caring about your appearance. You look nice. I am surprised that you can to be honest but then again you're usually covered in books and I'm usually useless with my words. Some things unfortunately don't change! You know you should think of getting a boyfriend I'm sure someone somewhere who was intelligent and nice looking would really like you. You do look much better after all!" he said as her eyes welled with tears once more confusing him greatly as he looked around in clear panic.

"Look I explained I'm useless with words. I'm assuming you're having your cycle right now or something I'll just go!" he said really awkwardly backing out of the room and leaving quickly. Great now she'd probably scared him away. Why didn't he feel like that about her? She left her room and headed towards his where she could see him on his communication mirror talking to someone she couldn't see.

"Yes sweetie I miss you too. You know that. Well I got home safely and gave mum the cake that Charlie's bird wanted her to have!" he said as she seemed even more perturbed.

"I have a surprise for you Ronnie! I talked with my parents and daddy needs to come to the UK on business. He will be there for a few years and has decided I should go to school there with you. I will be with you in school! I'm so excited to meet all of your friends!" she said as Hermione now sobbed quietly.

"Oh Lina I love you so much. I'm so excited for everyone to meet you too. Harry has gone a bit off the wall but I'm sure he'll be delighted to meet you. Hermione is having her cycle right now though so she's a bit tender or something!"

"Ronnie you idiot! I thought we discussed you talking properly with her about things. She may not have had her cycle at all and if she didn't she might feel all weird and that. I love you too though!" she responded as Hermione listened while still crying.

"Yeah I know but she was all crying and stuff. Her eyes were red and blotched but I am so happy for her though. She finally managed to fix her ugly hair. Hey you can't look at me like that you saw the photos!" he snapped as the girl he was talking to gasped.

"Ron I thought that was a prank for Halloween. I never realised her hair actually looked that ugly well at least it's better. If you like I can get to know her and give her some beauty tips. Most bookworms like me can't see the wood for the trees sometimes. I could even help her find a boyfriend. I'm sure she's in need of a good servicing. Well what? I know I am!" she chuckled as Hermione fled back to her room.

This was all off. It wasn't meant to be like this at all. What a mess. Well it turned out Lina was indeed good for Ron as she taught him many things and was very patient with him. She didn't condescend to him like Hermione did and it worked out well. Because of her input he had learned why it was wrong that he had taken Harry's money. In reality he and Harry would never be friends again something he didn't yet realise as of course he was thinking with a simple sorry the problem would go away which of course it wouldn't have. Harry though had already decided that he wasn't going to hold Ron's actions against the rest of the family whom he loved very much. Hermione picked herself up and decided to win Ron back right now. She dried her eyes and went to his room to talk things over with him. He'd soon realise that she was the better girl and date her. She entered his room as he looked up from the book he was reading much to her shock and smiled at her making her insides go all funny.

"Ron I'm sorry about earlier I forgot to ask you though how did your vacation go?" she asked him sitting on the bed in front of him as he closed the book tapping it once with his wand. She glanced at the book confused as nothing at all seemed to happen to it. She had thought he cursed it but maybe not.

"Oh that's alright. It was amazing. I learned Charlie had a bird which was all surprising and that but it was cool too. I learned loads about myself too. Did you know I'd been learning wrong the whole time?" he asked as she scowled.

"Ronald all of our teachers asides from our DADA teachers and Professor Lupin have been excellent teachers. I know the rest of the DADA teachers were rubbish but he was awesome. There's no way you've been learning wrong!" she scolded as he chuckled.

"I was actually referring to the way I personally learn things myself. For example when you read a book you probably take all you read in but I don't. I have started using a spell on my books now which reads them aloud to me so only I can hear it and I find I learn and retain my information way better that way. It was not something I'd thought of until Lina told me. She used to go to Beauxbatons. You know that school in France Fleur went to. She said they always check to see how you learn better there. Some people learn better aurally like me!" he enthused as Hermione sat there in shock her mouth hanging open. She really was stunned. She'd not expected him to mean something like that.

"I had no idea that this was a thing! To be honest I just thought you were a bit lazy or useless. I never realised you couldn't actually retain any information. So tell me about Lina then what's she like?" she asked trying gather Intel so she could know how to take her down in the future.

"In all honesty I'm not trying to insult you but she's like the cool version of you. I mean she loves books so much like you but also loves playing quidditch and chess. She says that having a rounded life is better than just books as it makes you a better person. At least that's what she thinks of herself anyway. She tells me things plainly in a calm and nice way. I find that I am able to see some of the things I used to do which were bad. I am a better eater now. Lina helped me to see that I don't need to scarf down food like someone who has either never seen it or will never see it again. Now that I think about it my eating habits were funny. It was when she said me eating like a wild boar wasn't sexy at all that I realised I needed to calm down!" he said chuckling. Hermione wanted to scream and shout about how it was wrong of her to say anything bad about him but didn't.

"Well Ron you've always been prefect to me. I never thought you ever needed to change!" she said in a smug sort of way as he rolled his eyes.

"Yes well you're my best friend and it's your job to tell me that isn't it? I mean it would be weird if you didn't say that. I mean to me you're perfect too especially with your beautiful hair now. You can't say anything because you know it was a total disaster as was my eating habit. So who do you think you'd like to date this year than? Isn't it time you got someone? I'm sure Harry will be on the lookout for some handsome dude or something. Imagine if it is Dean or Neville he likes!" he said laughing his head off as Hermione reeled once more.

"Well I don't know that I really want someone right now anyway. My studies are after all very important. What were you reading?" she asked gesturing to the small book he'd been reading.

"Oh this is a book containing all of the departments in the Ministry of Magic and what each of them does. I've been looking at this so I can know where I truly want to go after school. I always said I wanted to be an auror because Harry did but I've had time to think things through and that's really not for me. I didn't even know some of these departments existed so it's been enlightening for sure. I'd loved to get a job in the Department of International Magic Cooperation. I'd love to know how people study magic in other countries because this past year has taught me I know nothing about other cultures and I didn't like that one bit!" he answered in an intelligent way shocking Hermione who hadn't seen it coming. It would seem he'd given it great thought something she genuinely didn't think him capable of.

"Well good for you. I'd love to work in the Department of the Regulation of Magical Creatures. I'd love to make a difference. They all deserve equal rights and I intend to start with house elves!" she said surely as she left and went to her room again after they had talked a bit more of course. She was stunned to enter it and find a regal looking owl waiting for her. It huffed when it saw her throwing it's letter as her as Ron's room had no window so it couldn't have reached her there. She apologised to the owl feeding it a treat while it waited for her to read the letter. She opened the letter.

Dear Hermione,

It has taken me a long time to work up the courage to write to you but here I am none the less. You've always looked such a mess but no one can deny how hot you looked at the yule ball. I couldn't take my eyes off you the whole night. My own date wasn't happy but you looked so amazing I couldn't help it. I've noticed you loads but because I've been too shy I haven't approached you. You don't always seem that approachable but I'm not in Gryffindor for no reason. You're the most beautiful girl in our house and I'd be honoured if you'd go with me to Hogsmeade when school resumes. Please say yes. I'd be so lucky if you did.

Signed Cormac McLaggan.

She read the letter genuinely stumped. Who in the hell was Cormac McLaggan? Had she been so out of it she'd not known who that was? Clearly she had. She didn't know what to do but decided to be brave herself. She took out some supplies to pen her response.

Dear Cormac,

In my time at Hogwarts I have admittedly met so many people I simply can't place you however having said that I would indeed be honoured to join on our first Hogsmeade trip this year. It would be a real pleasure for me and even I can see that I do need to get out more. Thank you for your lovely offer. See you then,

Signed, Hermione Granger.

She handed it to the owl who looked momentarily stunned she responded at all but hooted in joy and left. What a beautiful owl it had been. This would be interesting for sure. Hopefully Harry would be over it by the time they returned to school and they could go back to the way things were once more. She could hope right?