Chapter 3- Home at Last
Dear Ginny,
I thought I'd write to you this time, and let you relay this information to Harry and Ron and everyone. How are you? It's almost the end of my first year here at AU. What a year it has been! Shortly after my last letter, I went to a party, and met a guy. Yes, a guy! His name is Matt; he's the president of an organization here on campus that fights against the wicked treatment of migrant workers. I've joined, of course; the best part is that all the members are witches and wizards! Matt's the cutest of them all, though, of course. He really knows how to get the group involved in things. I've told him all about SPEW, and he was really excited about it. He's decided to start a chapter in the U.S., as soon as graduate school is finished. Things are going so much better now; Alexandria and I have become good friends, even though she still parties much, much more than I do. I'm still working hard to keep up my marks. Oh my goodness, Matt has just asked me to go out to a movie! I'll write more when things develop. Say hello to everyone for me; I miss you all!
Love, Hermione
Dear Hermione,
Auror training is harder than I ever imagined it would be! I'm struggling, but thanks to you I know how to work and study hard. Ginny received your last letter, and reported to all of us about how you are doing. We are all so glad that you found someone and a cause to keep you busy! It must be nice to have wizards and witches around once in a while. If you go through muggle overload, just let us know and we'll send Fred and George to rescue you. Ron would write but he's a bit jealous about this Matt fellow; he thinks that the Americans are stealing you away. I tried to tell him that there are only 2 years left and then you will be back here with us, but he won't believe me. Everyone here says hello, we all miss you! Write back soon. Oh, and don't let that Matt guy do anything to hurt you; if he does, Ron and I will be there to take care of things for you.
Love, Harry
*-*-*
Ron and Harry were together for the first time in 3 years.
They had owled to one another during that time, of course, but work and studies
had taken precedence, and they had never found the time to get together. On this bright May morning, they had seen each other and started
talking, both at once, as if not a day had separated them. Ron had
finally lost some of the mischievous look that had always been present in his
eyes. Laugh lines lightly surrounded his eyes. Harry had also grown older; his
very manner seeped his Auror training. His eyes were highly alert for anything
out of the ordinary, and he seemed slightly distracted some of the time. His
scar, the defining mark that had exalted and tortured him in his youth, was
still present, and just as visible. Harry now scanned the railroad tracks,
looking toward the horizon.
"What time is she supposed to get here?" Ron asked, looking at his watch.
"Any time now," Harry stated, glancing toward the signs hung in the station. Ron paced nervously. A rustle and loud voices announced the arrival of Ron's family. Most of the Weasleys had turned up to greet the train; Ginny, a slender 23 year old with hair that was still flaming red; Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, hands joined, subconsciously reprimanding Ron for his shirt not being tucked in; Percy, head held high and surveying the platform for any rules that might be being broken; and the twins, Fred and George, still identical, smirking and looking at each other over some shared joke that everyone else was oblivious to.
"Dear Hermione," Mrs. Weasley said, patting Harry on the back affectionately. "It will be quite a shock to her to be home again after such a long time in the states." Mr. Weasley grinned.
"Yes, but perhaps she will have brought back some artifacts… can you imagine what kind of gadgets those Americans have thought up?" he was nearly drooling at the prospect. Harry and Ron grinned at each other. Some things never changed.
Finally, the train pulled into the station. The Weasleys and Harry stood as close to the moving train as they dared, trying to glimpse their friend in the windows. The train slowed and stopped, and the group watched as a number of people departed from the train. The trickle of people slowed and almost stopped, and then they saw her, long jacket wrapped around her, clutching the handle of a bag.
"Hermione!" Ron shouted, rushing toward his friend. Hermione grinned, brushing a strand of hair from her face, and rushed to meet her friends. Ron enveloped her in a huge hug, and she giggled, breathless. Harry followed with a hug of his own, and then she was passed around to each family member. Hermione gasped when she saw Ginny, and how much older she looked. The twins gave her a hug together, and then Mrs. Weasley hugged her and almost wouldn't let go. Mr. Weasley gave her an awkward hug, and then Hermione grinned and placed an object into his hand. Looking at it with wide, open eyes, he asked,
"Oh, and what does this do?"
"It's a bottle opener," Hermione explained, smiling. She reached into her bag and brought out a glass bottle with the words 'Coca Cola' bannered across it. Taking the opener from Mr. Weasley, she placed it on the top of the bottle, and with a loud POP opened it. Mr. Weasley's eyes grew to the size of the bottle cap as he looked at the gadget in awe. Handing it back to him, Hermione turned to the others. "I've brought things for you all, but can we go to the burrow first? Nodding and chattering excitedly, the family hurried toward a beat up blue car, which had become famous years and years before. The car had been rebuilt after almost being totaled by Harry and Ron back at Hogwarts. The family piled into the car, and then, after driving behind a wall in the parking lot and disappearing from view of the muggles below, the car flew into the air and careened toward the Weasleys' home.
*-*-*
Hermione was dead tired. After a long day of traveling, she had been inundated with questions and chatter by her friends. Although she couldn't wait to hear what they'd been up to, and was overjoyed to see them all, she couldn't help being worn out. After arriving at the Burrow, she had distributed her gifts; t-shirts with the American University insignia for Ron and Harry; a glass plate with the same insignia for Mrs. Weasley who, after receiving it, enveloped Hermione in a hug that almost smothered her; CDs for the twins from a comedy show/club called the Improv Asylum; an AU book on How to Succeed in Business for Percy; and a small jewelry box with a flower and the word 'Virginia' on it for Ginny.
"It's really from the state," Hermione explained, "but I thought it was just perfect." Smiling, Ginny nodded her approval of the gift.
After the gift distribution, Mrs. Weasley had brought out a vanilla cake with white frosting and red roses around it, bearing the words 'Welcome Home, Hermione.' Smiling, but with tears in her eyes, Hermione hugged each one of them in turn, making the guys blush and the women teary eyed. Two hours later, Hermione had been answering questions about her experiences at the university. Ginny alone was quiet and withdrawn; the others fired questions at her. Trying not to think about her last year at the university, Hermione smiled and answered what she could. Finally, Mrs. Weasley rescued her by saying that she must be tired, and that they could finish their questioning the next day. Relieved, Hermione headed upstairs to the room she occupied while staying at the Burrow.
Hermione looked up at the ceiling of the cozy little room, and couldn't help the tears that sprang to her eyes. Just a year ago, she had been discussing her future with Matt, and planning the way she would change the world. Now, everything seemed to be up in the air, and it was difficult for her to find any clarity at all. The door to the room creaked open, and a small knock at the door preceded a redheaded girl, peeking in at her.
"Ginny," Hermione said, wiping her eyes.
"Herm, I… I just wanted to see if you were okay. I know it's been a difficult year…" The girl entered the room and sat on the bed, pretending not to notice the tear streaks on her friend's cheeks. At Ginny's concern, Hermione just about broke down. She couldn't stop the tears from falling.
"It… I… He said he…. Loved me… but… other girl… lied to me…. Heartbroken, Ginny." Hermione let out a broken string of words, that Ginny could not comprehend. Enveloping her friend in a hug, Ginny tried to make sense of things.
"Was it Matt? What happened?" Hermione nodded, and took a deep breath.
"Until my third year, he'd been wonderful," Hermione began. "Said he loved me… that I was the most devoted to others of anyone he'd ever met before. But then a girl transferred in, from North Carolina, and he started dating her without telling me. I found out from a friend… and… and…" She almost broke down again, but steadied her nerves when Ginny put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "She's pregnant. He told me that he believed in waiting, until you were sure that you were in love, and were married… but this girl… Bethany… she's pregnant. He lied to me and to everyone who believed in the values that he presented." Ginny's eyes had grown wide. She hugged her friend, jaw dropped.
"What a bastard!" she commented. Hermione nodded. "Well, he's not worth it," Ginny continued. "Anyone that sleazy doesn't deserve you." Smiling through her tears, Hermione's voice was soft and tired.
"Thanks, Ginny." The younger girl smiled back.
"Now try to get some rest… it has been a long year and day for you. We can talk more about it in the morning if you want, after you're rested." Smiling gratefully, Hermione snuggled under the covers, and closed her eyes, as Ginny closed the door and turned off the light behind her.
