The Simplest of Emotions By: Lance Walker

Author's E-mail: uy_lance@hotmail.com

Rating: PG-13-for language, sexual innuendo, possible sexual situations (we'll see where it takes me)

Spoilers: All Books

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Story Note: It is three years after the graduation of Ron's class from Hogwarts. More importantly, however, it is the third year after the end of the Second Voldemort War, and the start of the Dumbledorian Concord. The war is over, and the world is rebuilding, but Ron is not. Since his graduation he has locked himself away in his room in the burrow and lived the life of a hermit. Now, after these three years, he has decided to enter into the world again. On his first day into the world, his twenty- second birthday, however, he learns something that shocks all the foundations of his life, and threatens his return to hermitage.but this time, Ron will confront the mystery, and in so doing, confront the past he so wants to forget. Ron's problems, however, seem to be nothing compared to what the wizarding world is facing. Will he be able to handle it all? Or will he go back to where he is safe? His resilience, as well as the resilience of the whole wizarding world will be tested as things unravel, new and old horrors are released, and people long dead, find a way back into the light.

Author's Note: Any and all questions, comments, or suggestions can be sent to me at any time, and I will appreciate them immensely! This process is extremely hard and time consuming, but I have finally found another passion.might as well hold on to it ;)

The Simplest of Emotions

Chapter 3 Multiple Bombshells

**STORY NOTE** In the first chapter, I mentioned that it has been "five years since the hell began and ended." For those of you who are joining me now for the fourth Chapter in Ron's story, I would like to make clear that I am editing that. The luxury of making sure a whole book is chronologically correct is lost when you post something chapter by chapter; so let it be known that the correct timeline is as follows. The war begins, as the canon suggests (according to the end of the GoF), in Ron's Fifth year (1995-1996). In that same year, according to my fic, Voldemort is killed, but the war continues as the various evil sects are hunted by Aurors. The minions of the king of evil did not flee and scatter as they did at the end of VW1. As the war continues, Hogwarts school goes on, without Albus Dumbledore. Ron and Harry graduate in 1998, and the war officially ends that same year, and the Dumbledorian Concord is established. So, for a quick "sum it all up"-The war lasted for all of Ron's Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh year's at Hogwarts.a full three years. Soon after the graduation of Ron and Harry, the war ends, and the world declares a peace. Three years later, this story begins in the year 2001.

Much love, yours forever and always, Hermione Granger.

"What is going on?" Harry asked, his voice urgent. He, too, was reading the letter again and again.and each time it still ended with Hermione. I was too shocked to know. My life had suddenly been turned upside down. This couldn't be happening-it just couldn't. Hermione was dead!

I turned to Cho, whose face had turned a considerable shade of green as she sat on my sofa. Taking my mind off the letter for a second I quested. "What the hell is wrong with you two?"

Harry knew exactly what I was asking about, but he stammered something about 'being worried about the letter.'

I sighed, "There is something other than the letter bothering you. Cho is definitely sick; you are nervous and apparently haven't slept in Merlin knows how long. What is wrong?"

Cho looked me square in the eyes, "Ron.we'll tell you once we have time to think it over ourselves. This letter is more important at the moment." Her answer left no room for argument; she was as stout as a Bludger in her resolve. I didn't press it.I knew they would tell me in due time.

I looked over the letter once more, reading it all again, just to verify its validity to my barely conceiving mind:

Dearest Ron,

I know it has been some time since last I saw you, and I am definitely sorry for my absence from your life. You meant the world to me, and as you know, I would never dream of harming you in any manner, physical, emotional, or spiritual.

I tell you this now for the simple fact that I know that today, March 1st, is your twenty-second birthday. I wish you all the happiness in the world, and I hope that one day, I can share in that happiness again. You were once the light of my life, but that was taken away, and now.I have only darkness.

You once told me that you felt like a Ghost in a land of living with the whole of the world crumbling around you as you stood and watched in horror. I can tell you now that I know exactly how you feel. I am that Ghost, as you say, and I am watching my world crumble.I have for five years.

I have however, as they say, been released from purgatory, and this is my first outreach into the world I once knew. I sincerely hope it hasn't changed too much. I can see you now, surrounded by friends, hopefully not thinking to much of me, or at least not as much as I of you. I'm sure you have completely moved on in your life and have become the successful wizard I always knew you would.

If it isn't too much to ask, I hope that you would allow me to, once again, step into your life. I won't say when, where, or how as I'm sure you will be perplexed beyond reason at this letter, but I can say that things will be explained in time. You will know all that I can tell you, but I warn you now, that that is not everything. Some things are better left unsaid. Some nightmares are to frightening to revisit.

I will turn now, away from this parchment, and step onto the bright streets of Notting Hill. I think of you at every step I take, and I swear by the wings of my heart, and the thought of you that resides within me, that I will find you, and we will be together.

Much love, yours forever and always, Hermione Granger

P.S: Tell Harry that the trio will be together again.soon.

After reading through it again, I wanted to refute it all as being some big joke, but I knew deep inside that that was Hermione's careful scrawl. There was no doubting that either she wrote the letter, or it was an extremely well done forgery. I couldn't shake from my mind the feeling that someone was trying to pull one over on me. Malfoy? He definitely had the means, and hatred he probably still harbored for me after all these years, but would even he stoop so low as to impersonate the image of a dead friend? Would he risk giving up where he was hiding just to injure me? I would hope not.

Harry was still trying to reason through the mental fog that had engulfed all our visions. ".but no one escapes Avada Kedavra.it just isn't possible."

I caught this, the last of an apparently long statement, and I turned on him. "But YOU did, Harry!"

He glanced up, reflexively felt his scar, and stammered. "Yes.but I still don't know how. No one does. Apparently SOMETHING can counteract the spell, but it hasn't happened since, and I would believe that if anybody could do it, Dumbledore could." He left the end of that statement and we all saw what happened to him hanging in the thick air.

It was at that very moment that my mother decided to break up our party. "Ron, Harry, Cho.you all have been in here for quite some time. This is your party, Ron, and we all miss your company." Without waiting for a reply, she bustled the three of us outside and into the midst of the wizards and witches again.

Before I could think, a large hand grasped my shoulder and spun me around. I came face to face with a very large belt buckle. I looked up to see Hagrid grinning down at me through his wild mane of hair and his long beard. He spoke up as soon as he knew I was listening. "Sorry 'bout being late, young Weasley, but I 'ad a problem at 'Ogwarts that needed attending to."

"No problem, Hagrid. I'm glad you could come." I tried to mask the despair in my voice, but I was only succeeding enough to fool the usually happy half-giant. Thinking about Hagrid in general led me back to memories of Hermione. Days we visited him at his little snow covered hut on the castle grounds; finding out about his being a half giant during our fourth year; Hermione discovering that Skeeter woman being an unregistered Animagi. I tried to carry on a conversation, but Hagrid soon drifted off with my apparent lack of interest. Sorry, old bean. I just can't face you yet, I thought as my eyes followed his enormous back all the way over to McGonagall's table. I suddenly had a strange urging to follow him, as talking with McGonagall seemed suddenly like a very needed process. I, however, decided against it as I glanced once more around the party scene.

Something in my brain had kicked my body into "fight or flight" mode, and I was just about to bolt into to the Burrow and up into my room to lock myself away for three more years, when someone come up from behind me and hugged me. Turning around I was startled by the appearance of Lavender Brown, a Hogwart's student I hadn't seen in years. I knew that she had, at one time, worked for the Prophet as a fashion correspondent, but I wasn't exactly sure what she was doing now. The way she was talking, however, I figured that I would figure it out sooner or later. The words were streaming from her mouth like water from a spring.

"Ron, you just don't know how good it is to see you after all these years! Harry gave me constant updates when I still worked at the Daily Prophet, but since I quit I just didn't know what had become of you. I've been working with Madame Malkin at her Robes for All Occasions store in Diagon Alley. The woman has taken a real liking to me, and I believe that sooner or later I'll be named as head of the new branch she is opening up at Notting Hill!" I hadn't been paying much attention to her soliloquy up until that, but now, she most definitely had my attention. "Of course it will be disguised as some horrid second rate clothing store that none of the richer folks of that area would DARE to walk into, but it will sell only the finest, most expensive robes. I've taken my hand to designing, and Madame says that I may be good enough one day to start actually making my own robes! Maybe when Madame kicks it, it'll become Madame Brown's robes. Of course I plan to be wed by." and that was when she lost me again. I thought for sure that this was a sign. Something had brought up Notting Hill in this conversation. Could Lavender be the one who wrote the letter to me? She did seem to like me somewhat at Hogwarts.unless of course I was just delusional as usual.

The next person to walk up to me was far friendlier and welcome. Fred gave me a pat on the back as he wished me a happy birthday. Of the two twins, Fred was still the most like he was in Hogwarts. This one of my two twin brothers was most definitely the driving force behind the newer marketing lines at the Weasley's Wizard Wheezes Corporation, and his perpetual childlike attitude was rather fun to be around in my eyes, but it sometimes grew tiring. I looked across the garden and spotted his wife, Parvarti, chatting away with Lavender. Fred finally spoke. "Ron, George and I have a gift for you." He looked in my eyes with pride. This was the most serious I'd ever seen Fred.

Following his lead, he took me over to a table where George and Padma were sitting feeding each other strawberries and cream. George looked up at our approach, smiled, and stood to give me a brotherly hug. He wished me a happy birthday as he took a package off the table and handed it to me. Looking at the two beaming twins quizzically, I tore open the shiny paper that, as it turned in the light, flashed "Weasley's Wizard Wheezes" and the "3W's Corporation" over and over. When I finally got to the box, opened it, and then tore open the envelope sitting in the tissue paper within the box, I gasped. Glaring back at me from the bleach white 3W's Corporation stationary was a sum of money. "W-what is this?" I stammered.

George spoke up, smiling proudly. "That, my friend, is the amount of money you currently have."

I starred at the number dumbly, and looked back up at him. "How? I can't accept this much money from you."

Fred explained. "You aren't. We bought you stock in 3W's two years ago, and with our current boom in sales, that is how much the stock is worth now. We've made an almost 500% profit from our original purchase."

I read the number out loud to make sure it was real. "Two million galleons, three hundred thousand sickles, thirty knuts." I read it in my head over and over, and then broke down and hugged my twin brothers. "Thank you so much! This is.amazing!"

Padma was smiling, and her husband was beaming as he spoke. "We thought it was time you got the money. If you want, you can cash it in right now, and you will have all that money in your bank account at Gringotts immediately." I nodded, and George waved over an assistant with a magi-top who seemed to never be far from the twins, and George told him to transfer the money. I had just gone from having three hundred sickles to.being a Galleonaire!

I watched the twins whisper to one another, laugh heartily, and then excuse themselves as they ran inside the Burrow. Before I turned around I caught sight of Charlie with an enormous smile on his face as he walked into the garden with Fleur Delacour on his arm. I shook my head, as I thought this was a bad idea. Bill was staring at the couple with knives in his eyes, and Ginny was doing almost the same thing. Fleur, who was a model like Ginny, was the Miss French contestant for the Miss World pageant. Bill was standing up, so I ran over to him quickly.

"Bill! Are you enjoying the party?" He started to walk around me, but I grabbed him, and pulled him over to the buffet table. "Have you had mum's leeks? They're great!" I actually hated leeks.

Bill finally looked at me. "What are you doing?"

"I'm trying to keep you from killing your brother. Do it on another day, do not do it on my birthday." I grabbed his arm.

He stared at me. "He has no right to strut around with her."

I threw my hands up in the air with a scream of frustration. "You have no claim on her, Bill! I've been putting up with your moping attitude for weeks, and you need to get over it. Fleur doesn't want to be with you anymore. You guys, yes, shared two years of your life together, and for Fleur, I'm amazed. She is known to break men's hearts, and you should be happy for the times you shared together."

He began to cry, and I lead him over to a chair and sat him down. "Ron, I know why she dumped me. I.asked her to marry me." He sobbed out at this, and a knelt down and rubbed his back. "She told me that she wasn't ready for that.so she said she needed time apart to think. She's using Charlie to make me jealous."

I sighed. "Well, if that is what she's doing, then she is succeeding. Have you talked to her since you asked her?" He shook his head. "Then talk to her. You never know, she might have had time to think, or if not, maybe she'll want to get back with you. I can talk to Charlie for you, after you discuss things with Fleur, but please.don't do it tonight. I'd rather not have a fight and a dead brother on my birthday."

He sobbed an "okay" and I left him to think things over. Ginny had caught the eye of an extremely handsome man, and was no longer concerned with the arrival of her rival. I sighed. Too many things were happening tonight.

Turning around with a dumbfounded expression on my face, I tried to ponder more things, but several smiling witches I had never seen in my life accosted me, and I had the inkling that none of them were on the invite list. The first one, a tall blonde with never-ending legs, immediately walked up to me and screamed. "OMIGOSH, like, it is Ron Weasley! You are, like, the single hottest wizard in the world, and like, my hero!" I couldn't help but smirk at the air headed bimbo before me. That, however, turned out to be the wrong move, as she apparently took it for gratitude, or at most, an offer for full on shagging. She immediately began to cry, laugh, and a multitude of other things before promptly passing out on the grass at my feet. The other witches, her apparent friends, seized the opportunity to jump over their compádre's limp form and take their three seconds face time with me.

Before I could be trapped for autographs, pictures, clippings of hair, wedding proposals, or semen samples, a tall witch stepped in front of me, and in a sharp, completely recognizable voice said, "The show is over ladies. I trust that you would take fair note in the feelings of poor Mr. Weasley in knowing that he is not in need of your unwanted affection. Miss Hadley, Miss Brooker, others.I trust that you will be off these premises before I decide to dock your former houses fifty points each for capturing a celebrity and trespassing. I'm sure that, even if you did graduate last year, your former classmates would seek you out and promptly return the favor of loosing them the house cup for certain." When Professor McGonagall had completed it seemed as if a light switch had been flicked, and the girls were suddenly gone. I caught a glimpse of them leaping over a high hedge and into a waiting wizarding cab (much like the Knight Bus, but on a smaller scale, without beds).

I turned to Professor McGonagall and immediately thanked her for the help. It had been a very log time since last I had dealt with the affection of any girls. She smiled when she said, "It was no problem, my dear Mr. Weasley. It is welcome enough to see you out of your room, but I must confess that you look like a rabbit about to bolt back to his burrow." She said the last bit with sincere concern etched on her face.

Standing there, with the woman before me, made all the urgings from earlier return. I now realized that something inside of me was telling me to unload on this woman, a very trusted friend and mentor, all the woes I had in the world. However, at the risk of killing her with my grief, I decided for a lighter version. I allowed her to read the letter, as we walked away from the crazy crowd and into a more secluded area of my yard.

When she finished reading, she held the same dumbfounded and surprised expression on her face as Harry and Cho had earlier. I spoke up, "It has that affect on you, doesn't it?"

She immediately turned to me and spoke out in a very sympathetic voice. "Oh Ron.if only this could be true. I feel awful for you. Whoever did this has to be completely heartless." She hugged me in a very sincere manner, something I had never once seen the normally strict Headmistress do.

When she pulled away I reasoned. "But.what if it is true. Harry survived Avada Kedavra, maybe whatever saved him saved her as well.you cannot be certain...where was her body after the attack? She was the only person whose body wasn't found who was in the infirmary when the Death Eaters assaulted it." I said this with many unstated ifs, ands, and buts.

"I just don't see how, Ron. No one knows how Harry survived, not even the boy himself, and no one to date has survived aside from him. The odds are against this letter ever being true. I hate to sound like the bearer of evil news, but as Snape showed you the night of the attack, there are spells that make bodies just.disappear." McGonagall said this as if she were secretly hoping that she was wrong, and that Hermione would turn up on my doorstep in a few days with that same smile and bushy hair and be the Hermione that I had loved always, but the later sentence of reply was etched with the mental images of the Death Eaters who had disintegrated into ash before my very eyes and just.blew away.

Much love, yours forever and always, Hermione.

"I cannot think of anyone who would hate me enough that they would do such a thing." I commented, scanning my memory once again.

McGonagall turned to me and sighed. "I, as well, don't believe anyone could hate you this much, Ron. Not even Draco." I growled internally at the mention of that menace. He had all but disappeared from the face of the earth after graduation. I was certain that he had delved into the dark realms of the wizarding world and was now the equivalent to a mob boss, but the majority of the wizarding community believed that he was not evil at all, and had in fact fought against the Death Eaters, and his own father, during the war. I sighed at the thought, but no one had even seen Draco in more than a year, and I suppose it wasn't nice to think or wish that he were dead and gone from this world. No one knows where or what he is doing, but several million galleons disappeared from his personal bank account a week after his disappearance.

Looking back I remember the trial of his father, Lucius, how he had been captured after the war and tried for crimes against humanity in using forbidden weapons and spells. As leader of the Death Eaters, Lucius was the one who suggested to Voldemort that they bring back the work of former dark wizards with devices like the Excon, Blaze, and Sorenson. These three terrible weapons alone caused the death of near to two million wizards and witches worldwide, with at least a fourth of them being from the United Kingdom and France, and Excon was also the cause of several thousand building destructions around the world. Reports of people still falling to the trap spell, Sorenson, were being reported, and the newly formed Department of Restoration was constantly searching to destroy the traps that remained. Lucius, during his trial, was asked if his son, Draco, had any part in the workings of Voldemort at all, and he had spat with defiance that he had "disowned" his son for being a traitor to his own family. I thought it was a cover up to protect his son, who soon after disappeared, but Lucious continued cursing his son's name all the way to Azkaban. To think that Draco had something to do with the letter was terrifying. Not only would it reaffirm the belief that he was still alive, but it would also prove that there was no good about him, as I always suspected.

McGonagall was being called away by my dear mum. She waved to the red headed woman and said to me, "Ron, I would pray that that letter is true, but I ask you now not to get your hopes up. I would like to have a conference with Mad Eye and get back to you. He might know something, if anything, about this. Until then, however, I think it best if you didn't discuss this with anyone. Have you told any others?"

I admitted to telling Harry and Cho, and she smiled. "I'm happy to see your friendship with Potter still runs deep. Make sure that he and Miss Chang are the only two that find out.it might even be a good idea to keep this secret from Molly as well." She was referring to my mother who had been spreading idle gossip all night. I'm sure everyone knew by now about Percy's stumbling into the Adult Wizarding Club and thinking it was a deli. Of course, that was the story her dear Percy told her. The rest of us knew the truth that he was doing his best to get over his loosing Penelope after all these years. I still don't know why they broke up, but she had shown up at the party with Marcus Flint (OF ALL PEOPLE) on her arm, and every time she looked in Percy's general direction she gave him a snooty look (as if she had any other kind). McGonagall waved goodbye to me and headed off towards my mum, who was chatting away to the Patil twins' mum and dad. I noticed that McGonagall wasn't the only witch called to the small congregation, and I soon learned why.

I had gone to the buffet table to enjoy a glass of-hopefully-laced punch (that is if the twins were up to their usual caliber), when I heard someone clear their throat behind me. I turned to see Parvarti and Padma's mum standing there, twisting a small handkerchief in her hands. She stood there for a moment, beaming, and when I asked perplexedly, "Can I help you?" She dove onto me with a very big hug and started congratulating me. "What?" I questioned between breaths, as the woman hugged like a bear. She finally pulled away and beamed at me. "Congratulations on your job! I look forward to reading you!" She walked away, wiping tears of joy(?) from her eyes.

Recovering, I turned around to fill a glass when someone tapped me on the shoulder. Two people, a man and a beaming woman I had never seen before in my entire life (later learned that he worked under my father in the Department of Muggle Affairs and that the beaming woman was his wife). I didn't even have to ask them what they needed before they started spouting about how "Seeing Ron Weasley's name in print alongside Harry Potter's would be a triumph for the Daily Prophet and surely push it above all other publications." As if it isn't already, I thought. They walked away, and I apparently had the same affect on that woman (still didn't get her name) as I did Parvarti and Padma's mother, Persephone Patil.

I soon discovered, with the help of a very informative Ginny, that dear Molly Weasley had dropped Percy as the point of topic and had been spreading Harry's ploy to get me a job as sport's writer for the Daily Prophet.

"How did she find out?" I asked Harry the first time I could get to him through the crowd surrounding him and the Quidditch star, Cho. Cho's fellow teammates on the Canon's team, Alicia Spinnet and Angelina Johnson- Wood, were sharing in the small fanfest taking place in the large back yard of the Burrow, and most of the party was waiting for autographs or pictures.

Harry shrugged nonchalantly as he spoke over the sound of the guests turned fanatics. "I have no idea. You know your mother has more connections than a spider's web. Crikey, more than ARAGOG'S web!" He signed an autograph for Persephone. "Here you go Mrs. Patil." He handed it to her, and then immediately turned back to me. "I don't know what you are so worried about.you know you were going to take the job anyways, and now you won't have to break the news to anyone, just leave it to your dear mum."

I nodded, but before I left I noticed Cho looking very sick indeed. I grabbed her hand and pulled her away from her two teammates, who held back the crowd. Pushing my way through the crowd, I helped her into the Burrow, and left Harry to handle the masses. I was amazed at how much he had grown to actually enjoy the people who stared at his scar or asked about his life. I suppose he knew deep inside that he brought hope to the people when there was none, and now that the threat of Voldemort was over, he guessed it didn't hurt people's gaiety to sign a few autographs. As Editor- in-Chief of the world renowned Daily Prophet he was also very much used to the limelight.

Leading Cho into the bathroom, I allowed her to.do what she had to do, and then I took her up to Ginny's room to lie down. "But I don't need to rest," she whined like a seven year old.

I pushed her onto the bed and commanded. "You look very sick, dear. I think it would be best if you slept for a while. Do it for me, and it can be your gift."

She sat up. "But we got you a gift," she proclaimed indignantly. I pretended I didn't hear this, jokingly letting her know that I would take both gifts gladly, and then I left the room, putting out the lights with a quick spell.

Deciding that it was once again time for another short break from all the activity going on outside, I sat down in the living room, took out the note, and began to analyze it more. After several minutes I had finally decided that it was indeed a forgery, but my thoughts were suddenly lost as Fred and George barged into the living room. "Get up, Ron! Your sitting on our new product!"

I stood up, and the two promptly lifted the cushions from the couch I had been sitting on. Underneath were several dozen small, golden eggs. "What in the name of Albus?" I stared over the conglomeration that I had been sitting on seconds before.

George looked up and explained. "These are our latest masterpieces. In our new line Back to Roots we've been exploring some of our best practical jokes from our Hogwarts years. Do you remember the Canary Creams?" He asked, and I nodded, allowing him to continue. "This is along the same lines. We call these eggs simply 'Goose of Gold'. Someone eats the chocolate filled morsels and immediately is turned into the goose that laid the golden egg. We also added a second spell, a glamour spell that makes anyone who SEES the goose that laid the golden egg want it. Our first victim was chased up and down Knockturn Alley for ten minutes before he turned back into his normal self and scared the old woman who had been chasing him half to death."

They were laughing, but I was staring at them incredulously. "What were you two doing in Knockturn Alley? You aren't dealing in there again are you?" Fred and George had gotten into a lot of trouble with Ministry officials for dealing there. It wasn't a pretty picture seeing the officers from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement swooping in on the Burrow with a warrant for Fred and George's arrest two years ago. We had no idea that their lucrative business was being done without a license and in Knockturn Alley of all places! It wasn't against the law to deal there, but it was definitely frowned upon, and the Daily Prophet ran numerous articles, starting with a very humiliating front-page exposé on the incident. The twins spent a night in jail, were forced to pay a very hefty fine, and then actually get a license before they were allowed to set up their extremely popular shop again. All in all, their verbal pelting from mum was far worse than anything the Department could have done.

The twins shook their heads earnestly. "No, no! We were visiting an old friend there, and she wanted to see our latest invention. She sure laughed a lot that day, didn't she, Fred?" George defended them.

Fred smiled. "She sure did. I still don't understand how someone as smart as her puts up with us? Do you, Ron?"

I gave them both looks as if they were insane. "I don't even know who you are talking about, but she apparently lives or works in Knockturn Alley, which means that she surely can't be very good company."

Fred immediately jumped to the woman's defense. "Don't talk about Char like that! She has taught us almost everything we know about spells since our days at Hogwarts. She probably knows more about magic than anyone alive now. She especially knows a lot about dark curses, which is why she is afraid to set up shop in Diagon Alley. She is unofficially on a Ministry watch list, but she is good to the core."

I stared at Fred. "Hold on a second. Char? As in Charlotte Grey? You guys are talking about the smartest person to ever graduate from Hogwarts?" Of course I left out the thought that Hermione would have topped her-if she had graduated.

Fred and George smiled. "Of course we are. Charlotte has been one of our best friends since school days. She graduated two years ahead of us, but we've maintained contact." George explained.

Maybe Char could help me with this. If she was what everyone had said she was, Charlotte might know exactly what everything means. Maybe she knows something that could stop Avada Kedavra, and whether or not Hermione contained that. If she were able to say that it was a forgery, perhaps she would be able to trace where it came from. For Merlin's sake.everything I'm basing this decision on is completely fallible. I looked at the twins.

"Can I meet her?"

Fred looked ecstatic. "Tomorrow!"

******

The final guests walked through the fireplace in a burst of green flame. Turning around, I smiled at Harry and Cho and continued the conversation we'd been having for the past few minutes. "Okay, so you two are going with the twins and me tomorrow, right?"

Cho, who looked better from her rest, smiled. "Yes, of course. We want to know the truth behind that letter as much as you do. I can tell you now that Harry's journalistic bone is definitely intrigued at all this." She patted her boyfriend's leg playfully while giving him a look that said that she'd make up for the quip later.

Harry laughed. "You know I cared as much about Hermione as you did, Ron. In a different way, yes, but I cared. Of course I want to know the truth, and I'll be by your side, as always, until we reach the end of this rope. I hope Hermione is at the end, but if she isn't, I'll still be there for you."

I smiled. After all these years I was still amazed at the fact that Harry and I were still best friends. Looking back I realized that we never really had a major fight. Everything we argued over as kids was really trivial in the grand scheme of things, and mostly stemmed from my jealousy at his sheer magnificence. I soon realized, however, that just being Harry Potter's friend was enough to be famous, but by then, I had also realized that fame wasn't the most important thing in the world, and now, it doesn't matter to me at all. I look at Cho and how she has to put up with all those people all the time, and I think that I would die if I had to face that every day. It's good to know that I can crawl into my room and not be bothered by teeming masses or maddened crowds.

Cho was looking over the letter again, which by now was torn in several places from all the handling, and made her own decision. "I've seen Hermione's writing, in letters and whatnot to Harry, and this is definitely her writing. It's almost too perfect to be a forgery. Not even magic can make this perfect a copy." She wasn't saying anything I didn't know already, but hearing someone say it out loud only affirmed my beliefs.

I suddenly remembered something. "The ink was still wet when it was delivered. I remember Hermione always wrote her letters on thick parchment that sucked up ink like a sponge. You see the smear under her name? I rubbed my finger across that. The letter was written today." I didn't know if that was important, but if it was indeed from Hermione it would mean that as the letter landed at my table, Hermione was stepping out of her door and walking along the magical streets of Notting Hill. It was an encouraging thought if nothing else, but also one full of questions. Once again I was asking myself about the validity of Hermione's death. If she had indeed died, this would all be a very painful hoax, but if she hadn't been dealt with that final card it would mean that she had been hiding from me all this time, or couldn't get to me for some reason. Why?

Everything was too much to take in, and I soon found myself standing up to go to bed. Mum had asked Harry and Cho to spend the night, as they were practically family anyway, and they had agreed as it was already well into the day after my birthday.

Harry, Cho, and I walked up the stairs, Harry giving Cho a kiss at Ginny's landing. She walked into Ginny's room and the two immediately began to talk about all the fashions of the day, but their conversation was soon cut out as the door closed. Mum wouldn't allow the Harry and Cho to share a room under her roof, not that they would ever request to do so. Walking the rest of the way up the stairs, we finally reached my room and entered in to its orange glow.

We both changed into our sleeping clothes, and settled down in the dark room. Glancing at my watch I groaned at the time, 3:30. That meant I was going to get about five hours sleep before I had to be up in the morning. Fred and George were introducing me to Char tomorrow morning.

Harry spoke to me through the darkness. "It's been a long day hasn't it?"

I smiled. "Yea, it has. It feels good to be out there again. Thanks."

"For what?"

I couldn't see his face, so I spoke to the ceiling. "If it hadn't been for your urgings, I wouldn't have gotten out there. I'd still be cooped up in my room with Pigwidgeon and Astarael my only comfort. The life I was leading was not what Hermione would have wished, but now that I'm out, I'm faced with this letter. What can it all mean?"

Harry sighed. "I don't know, either, Ron. If Hermione is alive, we'll find her." He stopped for a moment, and then broached a different subject. "I have to return to work the day after tomorrow, are you ready to join me?"

I thought for a moment. "Yes, I think I am. I'm ready to start living again, Harry. I'll start work, move into a new apartment in London, and start dealing with daily life. Once this whole Hermione thing is over with, I'll be able to put the past out of mind forever. I'm ready."

We laid in silence, and I soon heard Harry's heavy breathing drifting through the air. Listening well I could also hear the twittering breath of Pigwidgeon in his cage in the corner, and Astarael's soft hooting as she slept from her journey on her roost. Thinking about my large Great Horned Owl, I thought about the package I had sent to the Granger's. It wasn't much, just a few items that I had left over from my years at Hogwarts with Hermione. I sent them things like a picture of her at the Yule Ball during our fourth year, when the entire world saw what a gorgeous women she really was, a story she had written and not shown anyone else, but I saw in that small bit of prose that she could have been a famous author if she wanted, and a few pieces of her wand, which had been shattered when she had fought against the attackers in the infirmary.it was all that was found of her. Now, would I be able to give them their daughter as well? Would I be able to knock on the door of their large home, with their own daughter in my arm, showing the world once and for all that they were wrong, that Hermione had indeed not been killed that night? Yawning, I decided that that was a problem that would have to wait for tomorrow.

Rolling over, I closed my eyes, and felt sleep immediately take over. I just barely heard a hoot from Pigwidgeon before I fell asleep, but I shrugged it off.the hyperactive owl was probably dreaming hyper too.

******

I woke in the morning to the sound of a loud indignant hooting. Rolling over, I opened up one eye and spied Astarael staring into the now open cage that had once contained Pigwidgeon. The poor owl looked worried that its companion of three years was missing. Groaning, I got out of bed, closed the cage door, and noticed that the window, which had been open the night before, sported a thin tare through the screen.

Shrugging it off, as it wasn't the first time Pig had disappeared, I looked at my watch which blared 8:00, and I rubbed my eyes of the sleep of which I hadn't gotten enough. I changed into some jeans and a shirt, and headed downstairs in search of Harry. I got half way down the long, winding steps when I heard Cho's laughter echoing from the kitchen. Rushing in there, I was greeted by the sight of a small family get together.

Fred and George, who had stopped by to pick up the rest of the Goose of Gold and take us all to Knockturn Alley, were sharing a cup of tea with my mum and dad and Cho. The two were wearing business robes. Saying hello to everyone, I walked over to the coffee pot and poured myself a mug of steaming hazelnut coffee. Of all the Weasleys, I was the only one who enjoyed waking up to coffee rather than tea in the morning, but mum still took the time to make some for me everyday. Taking a sip, I breathed in the warm aroma, and then asked where my best friend was. Cho was laughing at a joke of Fred's, but answered me. "He's taking a bath upstairs."

The conversation continued, and I just listened. The laughter was the thing I missed the most, and I was doing my best to catch up for lost time. Fred was explaining to Cho the Canary Cream scheme of the Hogwarts days, and about the Goose of Gold. She was laughing deeply when Harry walked in wearing casual robes and kissed her on the top of the head. He was about to get his coffee when he suddenly cried. "Oh, I left my wand upstairs." He turned around to leave, and I followed him out so I could change and get ready to leave. Fred had mentioned that Charlotte was expecting them at 9:30. We got into my room, and I quickly changed into robes similar to Harry's, and with his wand in hand, we headed back downstairs.

By the time we got downstairs, Fred, George, and Cho were standing at the door, ready to go. Cho was putting a cloak on over her casual turquoise robes, and she looked much better then she had the night before. I grabbed my own coat. For it being the second day of March, it was still very cold and London was expecting snow later in the day, and if we were in Knockturn for too long, I didn't want to be caught in a snow storm without some protection from the elements.

Everyone was ready to go, and we were heading out the door when Cho commanded. "Harry, get your coat."

Harry looked at her indignantly. "I'm not cold, I don't need a coat."

Cho starred at him. "Harry, I said to get your coat."

He grumbled, and grabbed his coat off the rack as Fred and George mumbled just so I could hear. "Man, is he whipped." They laughed.

Harry's plaintiff voice rang out. "Well, can I at least get a cup of tea before we leave?"

Cho shrugged. "I don't care, I'm not your boss." She turned to go outside and wait as Harry looked at her as if she were crazy, and quickly grabbed a thermos of tea.

He walked out the door right before me mumbling. "I am in love with a crazy woman."

I chuckled as I walked out, closing the door behind me. I don't know why the twins hadn't wanted us to use the Dragon's Corporation Tele-Floo network. It was extremely quick, and much easier then the old Floo network of fireplaces. Using Floo powder (and much less than the original) the Tele-Floo network took up less room also. It could be installed in a closet, or in the fireplaces, replacing the old network. The Dragon's Corporation had only developed the network in the last year, and only a few homes had it installed (the Weasley's now being one of the wealthiest wizarding families in Britain was one of the first to install it) which might be why we were using a different mode of travel. Perhaps Char didn't have the network installed at her home.

My questions were answered as soon as I saw what was hovering in our front yard. "You own a MultiBroom?!" I stared at the conglomeration with wide- eyed disbelief. Another product of the Dragon's Corporation, a company that had started soon after the end of the war three years ago, the MultiBroom, or the SUB (Sports Utility Broom) was their latest invention. It actually wasn't out on the market yet, which is why I was amazed that my brother's owned one. It was basically several brooms linked together with a very powerful spell that couldn't be broken. The brooms were in an upside down "V" shaped flying pattern-like that of a gaggle of geese's flying pattern-where the point broom controlled the flying. All of the brooms were then encased in a large bubble that had air conditioning spells, heating spells, and even a wiring to the Wizard's Radio. The Dragon's Corporation had also announced that when the Wizard's Web was released, the web would be connected to the bubble for video, music, navigation, and other functions.

"Actually," Fred explained. "We each own one."

I stared at them open mouthed. The two were possibly the wealthiest businessmen in the wizarding world, aside from the mysterious owner of the Dragon's Corporation, and were rumored to be up for the next opening position in the ruling council of the wizarding corporate city, Camelotopolis, which was called the Knights of the Round. Money was no object for them, but one SUB was ten thousand Galleons, which was an enormous amount of money.

The twins' private driver was waiting in the lawn, and we all selected our own broom. Each had a charm that made it feel as if you were sitting in a large cushy chair (or what Muggles call "bucket seats" in their cars); so all rides were extremely comfortable. When the four of us were seated, the driver took the point broom of the five and took out his wand, saying the charm to encase the brooms in the bubble. The sounds of the Wizard's Radio immediately came to our ears, and warm heat permeated every inch of the bubble almost immediately.

Cho smiled. "Now this is riding in style!" Fred and George laughed, but didn't comment.

I sat back as the driver incased the bubble in a cloaking spell so that the Muggle occupants of Ottery St. Catchpole wouldn't see five wizards flying away from "the strange Weasley" household. We enjoyed some minor chitchat about yesterday's party and the upcoming British and Irish League championship, as well as the European Cup, which Cho was hoping to win.

She was talking about the Chudley Cannon's players. "Well, Alicia and Angela are about the best chaser's in European today, but we wish we could have gotten Oliver as our Keeper, but the Montrose Magpies still have him under contract. We are also haggling with Katie Bell's manager to get her on for next year.you know, have the Gryffindor trio back together again. If we win the British/Irish League we will be favored for the European cup, but Puddlemere United, our first round opponent, are pretty good this year. I just don't know. I wish we could talk you into taking up your broom again, Harry. I'd gladly relinquish my seeker position and work as second string if you decided to start playing again." She gave Harry a meaningful look, as if they'd had the conversation several times before, but he pretended he didn't hear, or really didn't hear as he seemed to be sitting next to one of the bubble's "speakers" where the Weird Sisters were belting their newest single "Snog a Werewolf."

I saved Harry from answering, in any case, and assured her. "Cho, you are the best seeker in Chudley's history! You and Alicia and Angela are the reason that the fans have readopted the old motto of 'We Shall Conquer'. I would be surprised if you didn't win the European Cup this year, truly surprised."

Cho smiled, and at that moment we entered the Flyway. The network was an extremely amazing structure. It had taken three years to get London and most of the rest of Britain connected to routes. We were currently on the Grand Dumbledore Highway, the main thoroughfare running from Southampton to London, and on up to the northern coast. Current construction was going on to connect what there was of the French network to the Dumbledore Highway, which one day would become the single most traveled flyway in the world, traveling from Moscow to London, and possibly one day to Tokyo (if the Asian Ministry of Magic would agree to Europe's terms). The flyways were actually large, clear square shaped structures that were invisible to people on the ground. They were protected by hundreds of anti-Muggle charms to keep planes from flying into the structures. Everyone traveled the structures, except for a select few who thought that corporations were taking over the Wizarding world. Each branch of the Flyway had a set speed limit and Mounted Police monitored every turn off and main thoroughfare. Dumbledore's limit was 125kmph, but I was sure our driver had to be going 175 or 200, and the other traffic, which seemed to be very heavy, was zooming by.

Suddenly the SUB jerked to the side and onto the Merlin Access ramp that led down to the Greater London turn off. It was morning rush hour. Glancing at my clock I noticed that it was 9:15, the later part of rush hour that was reserved for mostly wealthy business owners who didn't have to be in as early as the blue-collar workers of the wizarding world. I happened to glance over at Harry just in time to see him reach up and touch his scar. That was a half second before an explosion rocked the tunnel half a km in front of us at the turn off to Greater London.

.to be continued in Chapter 4 A Sorceress of Grey

Dedicated To: This Chapter is dedicated to my marvelous Beta team (Jenny and Glitzy) and also to all of the readers out there who enjoy what I've done so far, I hope I don't disappoint you with this Chapter!

A/N: Will Ron ever discover if Charlotte will be able to help? It is yet to be seen as tragedy strikes the Flyway. In the next chapter, expect multiple surprises, a meeting with the enigma of Charlotte Grey, and possible answers about the letter from Hermione. On a wider front, find out exactly what has happened in the flyway, and what it may mean to the wizarding world as it is. Destructive plots, lost love, and wondering Angels.see what is in store in the next chapter to the saga of The Simplest of Emotions.

Sources: In this Chapter I used an element from my favorite HP Fanfic writer, AngieJ.the Flyway. With her express permission of course. Thank you AngieJ, and keep up the amazing work! You all can read her amazing Paradise stories at . The first one is Trouble in Paradise.

**And now Reviewers club from Chapter 2. Remember, be a responsible reader and review! Click on the above "review" button.or e-mail the author at uy_lance@hotmail.com Subject Line: REVIEW! All reviews are very much appreciated, and it also helps to know what is working with the fic, and what isn't ;)**

In order of post.from earliest to most recent.

Victoria Anne-Thanks so much for the review! Continue reading, and I promise I'll return to the common room as soon as things settle down!

Twinkle-You get the award for the most flattering review ;) Thank you so much.in the words of Dumbledore "I haven't blushed so much since Madame Pomfrey said she liked my new earmuffs."

Bluebutterfly-Thanks for the review.I know I might have dodged the whole "What's up with Hermione" in this Chapter, but expect a complete and utter update on that issue in the next chapter! Also, I didn't work any flashbacks into this one, but you'll be treated to a charming TWO in the next chapter! (Maybe they won't focus as much on the relationship, those will come later, but you will get to hear all about the invasion of the Death Eaters on Hogwarts!) Thanks for the review, and keep reading and reviewing!

SweetDreamer-Hey Nikki! You get the award for the most begging review (you know I love you!) I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long on Chapter 3.been so busy lately. Now, you'll have to wait a bit for Chapter 4 as well.it's much longer than the other chapters (It'll be around 30-40 pages) so it'll take a bit of time to complete, but I'm sure you'll enjoy! I hope it isn't TOO much! Thanks for the review, luv!

Aless02-You shouldn't be spouting to everyone that you've read this Chapter already.they may get jealous! Thanks for the Colorado pics, and thanks for another great review!

MysticPenguin-Oooo...I hope you didn't mind this cliffhanger.or the next (as Chapter 4 will end in one as well) I suppose you'll get used to them after a while, it's just how a write ;) (I have to have you coming back for more don't I ;)) Thanks for your continued support, and I can't wait for your review of Chapter 3!

Ainadilwen-You get the LOTR fan of the chapter award! Luff LOTR, and glad to see you drawing parallels to it from my story! If you liked the mention of Snape, just wait.I'm expecting to have him play a large role at a later date! Glad to help you out with the American Phraseology.can't wait till your next review!

SJO-Oh.if you can't imagine this life.just wait ;) Many surprises will abound, and you'll see canon characters acting in VERY uncanon ways soon ;). I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Arriah-Love your name! Mind if I use it in my fic? LOL.(you too Ainadilwen).If you didn't see this stuff coming, just wait, more uncanon things to come.I hope that doesn't disappoint any of you.

THANKS TO ALL MY REVIEWERS FROM FANFICTION.NET.SORRY I COULDN'T GET YOU UP THIS CHAPTER, BLOODY COMPUTER NOT ALLOWING ME TO ACCESS THE SIGHT TODAY.I'LL GET TO YOU NEXT TIME, PROMISE!! IN THE MEANTIME, CONTINUE READING.AND PLEASE ENJOY YOUR DAILY DOSE OF The Simplest of Emotions!