Chapter Two

The room was scattered with paper. At one point, it looked like an ordinary teenager's room, with posters on the wall and schoolbooks placed on the shelves. Now however, it looked more like a messy office with a bed in one corner, which had a bright orange blanket covering it. To the right of the bed sat a worn out young man about the age of twenty. He was hunched over a book on the desk. He was completely absorbed in his reading that he hadn't heard the approaching footsteps behind him.

"Don't you ever take a break Ron?" asked the young woman.

Ron jumped, startled by the sudden disturbance to his thoughts. He turned around to see Hermione standing there. He looked up into her smiling face. He smiled back at her. She was right once again. He had been working non- stop. He couldn't help it. Once he started, he had to keep going. He was doing important work for the ministry, and felt it needed to be done soon.

"Yeah, I know I can get pretty caught up in my work," said Ron, "but I can't help it. Just knowing that there are still followers of Voldermort out there makes me want to scream. We have to find them all and make them pay for all the suffering they caused. If only we could get them all..."

Ron was cut off by a sudden kiss by Hermione. When their lips parted they just stood there holding each other. Finally they broke apart and Hemione spoke.

"I know how you feel, but you're supposed to be taking a break. You know a vacation from all the problems. You have to focus on yourself for a while." Said Hermione.

"I know that, but you of all people should understand how important this is," sighed Ron.

Hermione looked at him with sad eyes, "Ron, I feel the same way as you do, but I also know that you have to relax. You're going to wear yourself out. I'm just worried about you ok?"

"I'll be fine Hermione" he said taking her hand, "lets go get something to eat, I'm starved."

Mrs. Weasley was in the kitchen preparing dinner when Ron and Hermione came down the stairs. Mrs. Weasley looked up and smiled at the couple.

"So you managed to get him to return to the world of the living I see. Well you have the magic touch. I've tried everything but he won't listen to his mother anymore. Not that he ever really did anyway." Mrs. Weasley said with a smirk on her face while turning back to her work.

Ron and Hermione just laughed. "Thanks a lot mum for telling me Hermione was here." Ron said.

Mrs. Weasley turned around with mock surprise. " Ronald Weasley, I did tell you three times, that's why I sent Hermione up to get you." Said Mrs. Weasley turning back to her work. "Anyway, since you're down here would you two be dears and set the table. Oh and don't forget to set two more places."

Ron was passing the plates to Hermione when he stopped and asked who else was coming. Mrs. Weasley turned around, hands on her hips a look of astonishment on her face. "Ron, how could you possibly forget that your best friend is staying with us for the holidays? You do remember Harry Potter don't you?"

Ron looked mortified. "That's today? I thought he was showing up tomorrow." He looked at Hermione who gave him a look that meant that tomorrow was indeed today. Ron turned back to his mother. "I guess I have been spending too much time working. What time is he showing up anyway?"

"Any minute now, so if you don't mind getting back to work," said Mrs. Weasley in a tone that meant business.

Ron looked himself up and down then turned to look at Hermione and his mother who were dressed very nicely. "I guess I should go get dressed," he said looking at his faded jeans and ratty old sweater.

"You better hurry dear, Harry and his friend will be here soon." Said Mrs. Weasley.

As Ron hurried up the stairs to get ready, Hermione continued to set the table. "It's about time we get to meet Julia. Harry has written so much about her that I need to put a face to the name."

Hermione said as she finished her work. " I'm happy that Harry had someone with him these last few years. I really miss him. I feel like part of me has been missing since he left. Does that sound weird to you?" She said turning to Mrs. Weasley.

Mrs. Weasley closed the distance between them and hugged Hermione, "Of course not dear," she said looking at Hermione and ushering her to sit down. "It's only natural that you would feel this way. Ron has mentioned it before, although not in so many words. You three have been through so much together that it must feel odd to be separated. But he's coming home and hopefully this time he'll stay. Arthur and I think of Harry as one of our own and we want him to be happy and safe. However, he has to do what he does to help him accept who he is. That is something that none of us can do for him." Mrs. Weasley wiped away a tear and continued," Don't you worry dear, Harry is strong, we've all seen that. He'll be fine and you three will be back together and we can all get on with our lives." She finished with a pat on the hand to Hermione to reassure her.

"Thank you, I feel better now," said Hermione getting up to fix her tear- streaked face. At that moment, there was a knock on the door. Ron came running down the stairs yelling, "I'll get it!"

However Mrs. Weasley stepped in his way, "Oh no you don't. You're going to get your father and I'm going to get the door." She said while ushering him out of the kitchen. Mrs. Weasley fixed a strand of her hair that had fallen out and satisfied she walked to the door.