Chapter Two

Disclaimer: All of the characters belong to J. K. Rowling.

Hermione opened her eyes to the feeling of small circles being rubbed on her back. She slowly looked up at Charlie, sitting away from him. She rubbed her eyes, then stretched out slowly.

"What time is it?" she asked softly. Charlie shrugged, looking uneasily around the common room.

"Early," was his reply, before he glanced down at his watch, "six thirty. What time does the train leave again?" Hermione rolled her eyes at Charlie, standing up.

"I'm going to go get ready for the ride home. The train leaves at nine, and they should have breakfast ready at 7:30. You can use the boys' bathroom, I'm taking a shower," she said. Hermione ran off, and quickly got ready for the ride home. She then went back down and found the twins sitting in the common room.

"Have a nice night of sleeping?" Fred asked in a teasing manner.

"Yeah. I don't remember much . . . Harry got mad and I just wanted to get away. That's it."

"Yeah, you fell asleep and Charlie didn't want to leave because he was worried about waking you. And, I talked with Ron and Harry. They aren't mad, it's just they wished you could tell them what you told Charlie. They'll be fine with you today," George told her. Hermione nodded, smiling softly at the twins, before glancing at her watch.

"Are they up yet?" she asked. George shrugged. Hermione grinned and ran up to the boys' dormitories. Bursting into the seventh year dorm, she looked at the sleeping forms and it suddenly struck her that it might be the last time that she saw all of her friends.

"Wake up, Harry, Ron," she whispered, slipping to their beds. She slowly woke them, smiling down at them as they looked up at her through sleepy eyes. Harry sat up and reached for his glasses. He then reached for Hermione and pulled her to him in a tight hug.

"You okay?" he whispered into her ear, kissing the top of her head. Hermione nodded, smiling softly.

"Yeah. I'm sorry," she replied, before turning to look at Ron. He was watching her with a slight smile.

"So, you like Charlie?" he asked with an amused grin. "Our little Hermione is finally growing up and liking real boys," he said in an imitation of a mother's voice. Hermione just rolled her eyes at him and stood up.

"I don't know if I like Charlie or not. We're friends, and they reason I told him what was wrong was because he was there," she stressed, smiling at Ron. Ron nodded, smirking softly.

"Uh huh. Right. Bill says—"

"I know. Bill told us that we were falling for each other. Then he left, and Charlie didn't say a word for the rest of the night. Now, hurry up. Get ready, let's eat! I'm going to wake Seamus and Dean and Neville. Lavender . . . I'm sure she's still asleep," Hermione said, knowing that Lavender probably had fun with Ron until he got angry with Hermione, and Lavender must have gone to the girls' dorm and sleep. She was bound to be crushed, Hermione realized. Her best friends, the Patil twins, didn't even make it to their graduation.

"Wake up, guys!" she shouted in the direction of Neville, Dean, and Seamus. The three instantly woke up, and Hermione was shocked to see their huge grins.

"Morning, Hermione," Dean said with a smile. "Have fun last night? You were looking awful cozy with Charlie when we came up," he said indicating the other boys. Hermione felt her cheeks flush slightly at the statement.

"I was angry and tired. And Charlie can be sweet. Ron, Harry, are you getting ready or not?" Hermione asked, turning to face her friends. Ron smirked at her as she jumped on his bed and started pulling him up.

"Well, obviously nothing has happened. Our precious Hermione is more alive today than she's been in weeks."

"Maybe that means something has happened, Ron," Harry pointed out from his bed. Hermione felt her face flush as she lay back on the bed. Harry grinned over at her, and she shook her head.

"Yeah, yeah. I had this amazing snogging session with him last night," Hermione said sarcastically.

"Man, I must be a really deep sleeper," a deep voice interrupted. Hermione felt her cheeks blaze even redder as Charlie entered the room. Hermione chanced a glance up at him, and he was regarding her with amusement.

"I'm trying to get them riled up," she said in explanation. Charlie nodded, searching through one of Ron's trunks.

"Ron! I'm borrowing a shirt!" Charlie yelled. Hermione looked over at Charlie, vaguely wondering if he would be able to wear one of Ron's shirts. Ron had gotten some muscle over the years, but Charlie . . . well, he had thick, rippling muscles that Hermione knew had to be because of dealing with dragons.

"Whatever," Ron yelled back, and Hermione heard the showers start in the bathroom.

"I'm going down to breakfast," she said, standing up. She was walking past Charlie when he reached out and grasped her hand. She looked down and he muttered, "wait for me." Hermione nodded, waiting until he had pulled a shirt over his head. They slowly walked down to the Great Hall together, Charlie watching Hermione.

"So?" he asked, eyes rooted to her face. Hermione looked up at him, smiling softly.

"They're fine. They think it's very amusing that we supposedly like each other. You realize that Mrs. Weasley's going to have a fit if they mention that they think that we like each other," Hermione said. Charlie grinned and placed his arm loosely around Hermione.

"Yes. Mum has wanted you as a part of the family for ages, I doubt that the idea would really faze her. Besides, we just have to say that Harry and Ron have big imaginations," Charlie said. Hermione smiled and looked up at him as he walked into the Great Hall. They sat together and started eating breakfast in silence.

"Hermione, what I suggested last night . . . Do you want to go to Romania with me? I'm only staying at home for a couple of days before I leave, and I'm not sure how long I'll be staying down there," Charlie said. Hermione looked at him, biting her lip softly. She then nodded.

"Well, I don't really have any other plans. I just want to be close to you the entire time, or at least until I get comfortable around dragons. They scare me to death," Hermione admitted softly. "Can't learn to take care of them or not get killed by them out of books, you know." Charlie chuckled, taking a bite of toast.

"No, you certainly can't, 'Mione. In fact, I don't think you can get to know how to handle any dragon, ever. I'm just a talent," Charlie said, smirking and looking quite arrogant.

"Why did you have to work with Draco during the war?" Hermione groaned. "You picked up his habits, and are becoming an arrogant git." Charlie grinned again, eating heartily. Hermione shook her head, believing that Ron and Charlie were a lot alike.

"Hey, 'Mione!" Harry shouted as he and Ron walked into the room. Hermione looked up at him and smiled, noting that Ginny wasn't with him for a change. Charlie seemed to notice as well, and silently looked at Hermione.

"Where's Ginny?" Hermione asked. Harry shrugged, not appearing to care. Hermione cocked an eyebrow, then leaned back in the chair, staring pointedly at Ron. Ron shrugged also.

"She and Lavender were talking this morning," he said. Hermione jumped up and looked at them.

"I'm going to talk with them. I'll see you on the train," Hermione said, running up to Gryffindor Tower for the last time. She went into the room and ran up to the dormitory. Lavender and Ginny were sitting in the seventh year dorm.

"Hey girls," Hermione said. She sat on the bed next to Ginny and looked at Lavender, who had slightly red eyes. The two acknowledged her, and Lavender wiped a tear away from her face.

"Where's Ron?" Lavender asked quietly.

"Down at breakfast with Harry and Charlie. I asked them where you two were, or I'd still be down there. Don't you feel like eating?" Hermione asked cautiously. Lavender rolled her eyes at Hermione.

"Parvati and Padma . . . It's only been two months, Hermione. And, they should have graduated last night. We should have been sitting her, giggling all last night, and making predictions. I should get to brag about my relationship with Ron, seeing as Padma used to like him. But, I was up here crying all bloody night, and my boyfriend couldn't even care," Lavender said.

"Ron and Harry were rather angry last night," Hermione said quietly. Ginny nodded emphatically.

"I listened to them for hours about how Hermione wasn't being herself, and should have told them first off. Then, Ron seemed to realize that he had left you at the party, Lavender, and tried to leave, but Seamus and Dean arrived, saying you had just gone to bed. I trust the three of you have made up?" Ginny asked, looking over at Hermione. Hermione nodded.

"Of course. The only time we ever really stayed mad at one another was when Ron was being an insufferable prat. I was the idiot this time. They were right, I should have gone to them, it just seemed silly. Anyway, Lavender . . . I know how you feel. God knows I would be just like you if either Harry or Ron were killed. Not that Harry hasn't tried his luck a fair number of times," Hermione said, trying to make Lavender smile.

"I suppose he has. Hermione, what was wrong with you last night? I know it was supposed to be about me, but I want to know," Lavender said. Hermione had become friends with Lavender and Parvati in their sixth year, but was closer to Lavender, who wasn't completely obsessed with Divination and Trelawny.

"Well . . . Voldemort tried to kill me in the final battle," Hermione said, quickly explaining what had happened. Lavender looked faintly shocked, but grinned widely when she told her that Charlie had saved her. In fact, she was so excited by that news, that she looked like her old self.

"Oooh! You and Charlie! That's so romantic!" Lavender said with a large grin. Hermione rolled her eyes and grinned.

"There is no Charlie and me. Trust me on that one, Lavender. Although--and this is a complete secret so keep your traps shut--I'm going with him to Romania," Hermione said. Ginny and Lavender shared looks and squealed.

"Oh my God, Hermione! Mum is simply going to freak out! And, do you know how strange Ron and Harry will feel about that?"

"Well, I know you can take care of Harry. And, Lavender, aren't you going to visit the Burrow?" she asked. Lavender and Ginny exchanged a quick smile, then looked over at Hermione.

"You really want to go study dragons, 'Mione?" Ginny asked with a smirk.

"Maybe. Well, I don't have any other idea of what to with my life. I might as well go check out some things. Besides, Charlie and I are really good friends and it's fun to just hang out with him," Hermione explained.

"Sure, sure," Ginny said with a slight grin. "Now, we better hurry to breakfast with our things. It's almost time for the Express, and we have to eat." Lavender, Ginny, and Hermione hurried to grab their things and ran down to the Great Hall.

"Can you believe this is it?" Hermione asked, looking over at Lavender.

"Nope. I cannot believe this is the last day that we'll be here. I mean, it's been our home for the past few years," she said sadly. Hermione and she shared a sad look before sitting at the table with Ron, Harry, Charlie, Seamus, and Dean.

"Hey, Lavender, Ginny," Ron said, acknowledging his girlfriend and dropping a quick kiss on her head. Lavender sat down next to him and flashed him a quick smile, kissing his cheek. Her head rested on his shoulder and Lavender slowly started eating breakfast quickly. Ginny slid next to Harry, kissing him quickly and Hermione slid next to Charlie, giggling at her friends' behavior.

A few hours later, they were all boarding the train, deciding who should sit where. The compartments only comfortably held six, so Harry was looking at the members of the Quidditch team (Ron, Seamus, Dean, Ginny, Collin, and Tiffany), and then at Hermione.

Finally, Hermione, Charlie, Ron, Lavender, Ginny, and Harry all shared a compartment and a fun filled trip home.

Tracy: Thanks! I know, isn't Charlie really awesome? I love the stories featuring him, but they are so rare! Thanks for encouragement!

A/N: This story is taking a while to write. I had some great ideas, and I know what eventually is going to happen. However, it may take a few more weeks to get a new chapter up. Not to mention, my senior year of high school starts tomorrow. Please review and let me know what you think about this! Thanks, Steph.