AN: Thanks guys for your support. You don't know how much it means to me!

Disclaimer: Did you guys notice that my disclaimers rhyme every time? Heh, I thought it was funny. Anyway, I'm not committing a crime; therefore, I will do no time (ain't mine y'all, get over it! lol)

Hermione huffed angrily as she stumbled out of the fireplace, shaking the soot from her hair.

"Hermione! You're back!" Ginny said, her head suddenly popping up from behind a couch, her red hair in a giant, knotty ponytail, stray wisps of hair framing her face and covering parts of her eyes, giving her a complete "just woke up" look.

"Uh, yea. It's 4:30, and that's when I get off today," Hermione said, taking a cautious step forward.

"No!" Ginny shouted, holding out a hand and standing up, revealing her in-side-out green, form fitting shirt. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Harry, you can stand up now, I know your behind there," Hermione said, allowing Ashes to take off from her wrist as she put balled up fists on her hips, impatiently tapping her left foot.

Harry stood up sheepishly in his undershirt. "Sorry 'Moine," He said, looking down and scratching the back of his head in embarrassment. Hermione bit her lip, trying to contain the laughter at the amusement she found in this situation.

"Harry," Hermione said, laughing out loud, "Harry, just go home." Harry's green eyes rose quickly, the familiar spark there, a lopsided grin painted on his lips.

"Thanks 'Moine," He said, grabbing his shirt and giving Ginny a swift kiss on the lips, making Hermione jealous for the cute love they shared.

"Bye Sweetie," Ginny called to Harry as he approached the fireplace, grabbing some floo powder from the saucer they had on the mantle. Harry turned and blew her a kiss, then threw his floo powder in, saying with perfect articulation "Padfoot and Prong's Palace".

Ginny sighed as the last trace of Harry vanished from the fire. "Isn't he dreamy?"

Hermione choked on her laughter. "Only if you think his consistency to forget important dates, his constant need to be the noble man, and his untamable black mane is attractive, then yes," She said, quickly pulling off her robes to reveal navy blue exercise cotton Capris and a light gray shirt that hugged her body tightly, then sat down on the couch, waving her wand to make a foot cushion appear.

"Well, he remembers everything I tell him, I find being noble extremely attractive, and his black hair is to die for. You try running your fingers through it once and never do it again," Ginny said, sitting next to Hermione, curling her knees to her chest and hugged them. "And the fact that he's named his house after his father and Sirius. That is so noble. And he has a whole floor dedicated to his mother. I don't know how he did it, but he retrieved hundreds of pictures of his mom growing up and put a moving spell on them, since they were taken with a Muggle camera. Have you seen it? It's gorgeous. I don't know how he decorated it."

"Ginny, your own mother helped him decorate the whole house. Once he offered, she was sheepish at first, but then went hog wild once he said either she could do it or he'd hire Lavender Brown to come by. Your mother was a smart woman and knew that that Brown girl would annihilate Harry's bank account within two days. Anyway, do you want to go for a jog after dinner? I could really use the relaxation," Hermione said, resting her head on the back of her couch, closing her eyes gently.

"Sure. Would you like to talk about it?" Ginny said, sensing it had something to do with Draco and work.

Hermione smiled. Ever since her seventh year at Hogwarts when she was Head Girl, which meant she got her own living headquarters, Ginny and her had become very close friends. It was due to Ginny's sudden bluntness as she barged in Hermione's room, tears streaking down her face, her flaming hair just red, and her brown eyes dull. That's when Hermione found out that Ginny's brother, Percy, had been killed by a Death Eater. Even though he had been distant from the family since Hermione's fifth year, she knew that Ginny still held Percy in the highest regard, not letting their family's poverty hold him down from true success. Ever since the two girl's had been able to sense one another's feelings.

"Actually, it was horrible," Hermione started, pulling her legs from the stool (which suddenly vanished as her touch left) and curling them under her body, prepping herself for a story. She told Ginny how Draco had asked her out on Wednesday, and what the new plans for dinner that day would be. She then told how Draco came back in (skipping the fact that Sandra had come to see her about her new baby girl) with Haley on his arm, and the whole accident. She finished off the story with her dramatic exit from her office through her fireplace.

"Aw, Hermione, I'm so sorry. Don't worry, that Haley girl sounds like a total prat, like how Draco used to be. Besides, didn't you say that Draco said something about his boss asking him to take out his daughter?" Ginny said, now sitting in the "criss-cross-applesauce" position.

"Yea, I guess you're right, but I still don't think I'll be giving Draco the time of day if I see him at work. You know, work the silent treatment that Ron taught me so well our seventh year," Hermione joked, remembering how Ron had approached Hermione with feelings of "true love" the day she came back from winter break with silky curls, longer lashes and legs, and a more curvatious body. How all that happened over such a short period of time, such as Winter Break, no one but Hermione will know. Hermione had, in fact, laughed in his face and told him he had no such feelings, and walked to her personal quarters. He didn't speak to her for three weeks.

"That'd be a good idea," Ginny said, rolling her eyes and laughing at Hermione's impression of Ron's dumbfounded face when Hermione had laughed at him.

"What time is it now, Ginny?" Hermione asked, too lazy to turn around and look at the floating numbers on the wall behind her.

Ginny quickly glanced over her shoulder. "It's ten till five. Want to go out and grab a bite to eat, then go jogging?" Ginny asked, starting to stand up.

"Sure, let's go eat somewhere near the park so we can jog around over there. It's so beautiful today," Hermione said, standing up to stretch, her shirt lifting slightly to show a peek at a well-toned stomach.

"Stop showing off," Ginny said, yanking Hermione's shirt down with a jerk and walking to her room to change. Hermione laughed and walked the distant across the marbled floor to her room to grab a pair of socks and her shoes.

"Ready?" Ginny said, coming out of her room and into the living room in the same styled Capris that Hermione wore, only in green, and a tight white tank top, her hair now orderly and smooth looking in a neat pony tail, her bangs (which she had cut last year and decided to grow out a little over a month ago) parted neatly to the side and drawn back tightly, giving her hair an even elegant look.

"Yea," Hermione said, lacing up her gray New Balance shoes (that were the exact shade of gray her shirt was) and standing up, her wand tucked securely, once again, in her inconspicuous spot on her body.

"Where you hide that wand of yours, I'll never know," Ginny said, bending over to make sure the laces of her white-black-and green Nikes were secure.

"Everything you wear now a days is green. Do you wear green underwear too?" Hermione joked, swiftly pulling her curls into a messy bun and taking a swipe of lip-gloss and applying it to her otherwise make-upless face.

"I hate how you could wear no makeup and still look like a beauty queen," Ginny said, leading the way to the door and grabbing a broom nearby.

"Ginny," Hermione said, clearing her throat nervously.

"Oh yea," She said, putting the broom back and leaving the door entry way.

"Apparate to that small Chinese restaurant. My treat," Hermione said, patting a little pouch that was tied around her waist. In two soft pops, the girls were gone.

...............................................................................................................................................................

"I'll have chicken fried rice," Hermione said to the young Chinese waiter, who quickly jotted down the order and turned to Ginny.

"I'll have Sweet and Sour Chicken with a side of brown rice, please," Ginny said, not taking a glance at her menu as she handed it casually to the waiter.

"Is dat all, madams?" The waiter said, looking not a day older than 17.

"Could we get some of those lettuce wraps? Where you put chicken stuff inside, and wrap the lettuce around and eat it?" Hermione asked hopefully, moving her hands to mimic the actions taken while making the lettuce wrap.

"Yes madam. I'll return shortly."

And shortly it was. Ginny and Hermione had talked a maximum of 15 minutes when the young man returned, two steaming plates balanced evenly in his palms, and a plate of lettuce balanced on his head.

"Oh my," Hermione said, standing to remove the lettuce plate from his head and putting it on the small table.

"Tai Ming is going to come wit your chicken to go in the wrap, madam," He said, bowing at the waist slightly as a young girl came, blushing slightly as the young waiter's eyes loitered on her round and porcelain looking face.

"Ma'ams, your chicken," She said, bowing and leaving them in a rush of Chinese dress.

"That was odd," Ginny said, picking up a leaf of cold, iceburg lettuce and putting the steaming chicken in the middle, and took a small bite. "Oh mah gass, ets so 'ot!" Ginny said, fanning her mouth wildly as some steam exited. Hermione choked back laughter, starting on her rice as Ginny downed her water and blinked her glassy eyes.

The two girls finished dinner with some small talk, Hermione paying for dinner with Muggle money ("I won't ever understand the meaning of "Euros" and such" Ginny murmured).

"That dinner was delicious. Thank goodness we get to run off all the carbohydrates we ate," Hermione said, jogging across the street into a green park area that had to be the size of three football fields (and American sport Hermione's father had adored. She never understood the concept of chasing after a "pig skin" and sacrificing body limbs by tackling each other for it.)

"Yes, and aren't you just delighted you get to do it with me?" Ginny said sarcastically, stopping near a bench to stretch her legs.

"It'll be a delightful measure of your athletic ability. I keep telling you that you need to come to the gym with me, but no, miss 'I-don't- want-to-wake-up-that-early-and-miss-my-beauty-sleep!'"

Ginny laughed and started jogging, setting a pace she could easily endure. "Well, I do, don't I? What else keeps Harry coming?"

Hermione rolled her eyes, making sure her steps fell evenly and light next to Ginny. "You're personality, your sarcasm, your humor, your support, and mostly you!" Hermione said, counting off the good things that Ginny had.

Ginny smiled. "Continue please."

"Oh whatever!" Hermione said, quickening her jog to be faster than what Ginny could handle for a long period of time.

"Oh, so now you're pulling out the big guns," Ginny panted when she caught up to Hermione.

"You're slowing me down. Why don't you go sit down on that bench there and I'll run a quick lap and come back in quickly. Go on," Hermione urged, stopping briefly to direct Ginny to the bench. "And here's some Muggle money. I know you can't refuse a good ice cream."

"You know me too well, Hermione Granger."

.................................................................................................................................................

Hermione turned around the bend to see Ginny on the green bench, finishing up an ice cream cone, talking to an all too familiar white-blonde haired man.

"Hermione, you've finally returned!" Ginny said, standing quickly, knowing an awkward moment was about to brew.

"Sorry, I had to help a little girl who fell and scrapped her knee. Don't worry, her father was one of my Werewolf customers," Hermione said, pulling up her shirt to wipe away the sweat that had started to glisten on her hair line, revealing her toned stomach.

"Ready to go home? I need to shower and go buy some groceries for dinner tomorrow. It's at our place," Hermione said, ignoring Draco completely. Ginny glanced nervously at Draco, who was waiting patiently for a moment he could cut in.

"Uh, sure, um, yea," Ginny said, glancing first at Hermione, then at Draco, and back at Hermione. She was surprised to see that Hermione's eyes hadn't flickered towards Draco at all since she jogged up.

"Hermione, might I have a word?" Draco asked, his voice soft yet demanding.

"Oh, I'm sorry, have you been here the whole time?" Hermione said, her voice carrying an innocent tone.

"Hermione, let's not be children about this ordeal," Draco started, stepping forward in casual khaki pants and a navy blue shirt, his hands safely in the depths of his pockets.

"Children? Why don't you take a prescription to your own medicine, Healer Malfoy. I'm not the one who blew up at something that happened that wasn't my fault at all," Hermione said, her voice rising slightly. Ginny cleared her throat, which both Hermione and Draco ignored.

"Excuse me, but if you weren't so jealous—"

"WHAT?!" Hermione shouted, flinging her arms up defensively. "Me, the jealous one?! If you would just open your pretty gray eyes you'd see the jealousy isn't within me, since 'we're not married' or anything, and see that it was Haley who has the green eyes of jealousy!"

Draco opened his mouth to respond, then sighed dejectedly. "I suppose you're right. I'm eating my own words."

"Yes you are. I'll talk to you later, Draco." Hermione said, disappearing with a pop, not caring if any Muggles over saw.

"That didn't go as well as you planned, now did it?" Ginny said, crossing her arms, her hands finally free of the sticky ice cream cone, and cocked an eyebrow.

"Oh shut it Weasley," Draco said, sitting on the bench in frustration.

"Yes, and that's the way to talk to one of her best friends. Look, Draco. Hermione's not the person to easily give into her feelings. Obviously you're used to women kissing your feet, but Hermione's more sensible. You'll have to work for her if you really have interest. Look deeper than your looks and ego and find something that she would find worth seeking." Ginny explained mysteriously.

Draco looked up to question her, but found her gone as well.

"Women," He muttered in frustration under his breath, then following suit, disapparated.

................................................................................................................................................

"Welcome Sandra, Ron," Hermione greeted enthusiastically to the people who had just entered her living room through her fireplace.

"Thanks for having us over, 'Moine. I woke up this morning and though, 'Today is surprisingly brilliant,'" Ron said, giving Hermione a quick, yet bone breaking hug.

"Ron, if you only knew," Sandra said, sending a wink at Hermione as she hugged her as well.

"You've been saying odd things like that since breakfast, love. What, have I forgotten something again? It's not our anniversary till next month, right?" Ron asked, slightly panicked.

"No, honey, it's next month," Sandra said, taking Ron's hand and kissing him on the cheek. Hermione smiled as Ron blushed. Her best friend will never change.

"Is that Harry?" Ginny said excitedly, stepping out from her room to reveal her outfit for dinner. She wore white capris that went down to her mid calf, showing off her long and defined legs until the belled out slightly at her calf, a little slit in the side indicated by a delicate bow. Her top, obviously, was a sparkly emerald green, grasping onto her body as if it would die if it didn't hold on tight enough.

"Sorry Gin, it's only your big brother," Ron said, opening his arms for Ginny to hug him.

"Sheesh Ron, you ruined my surprise look I worked on in the mirror for the past ten minutes," Ginny said, gently punching Ron in the arm as she hugged him, then Sandra.

"I didn't know we had to be so dressed up," Sandra said eyeing Ginny and Hermione, who was wearing a red tank top that gripped her stomach and was more loose around her neckline, giving it a v-neck look with the extra and loose material.

"You look darling," Ginny said, glancing at the fireplace hopefully.

Sandra rolled her eyes, laughing. "What ever. This old sundress is slightly big, but I've been getting bigger lately," Sandra said, giving Hermione a knowing look, Hermione responding with a smile.

"You're not getting fat!" Ron said, jumping to boost Sandra's self esteem and taking her hand.

Sandra opened her mouth to respond, but was cut off.

"Oi!" Harry said, entering from the fireplace. Ginny suppressed a squeal of delight as Harry hugged Hermione, then Sandra, and shook Ron's hand warmly.

"Forgetting someone?" Ginny asked shyly, waiting for Harry's warm embrace.

"How could I forget you?" Harry said, quickly grabbing Ginny in a loving embrace, lifting her feet off the ground before setting her down and kissing her warmly on the lips.

"Harry! Come on now, mate! Break it up, break it up! She's my sister!" Ron said as Harry released Ginny, who was beaming.

"Alright, let us all heard ourselves to the dining room, where the feast is ready," Hermione said, leading the way to the table set for five.

Shortly after dinner, as Hermione was pulling out the ice cream to thaw and the cake out of the professional "Wizard Cake Makers" box (which made the cake get big enough to feed everyone seconds, no matter how big the crowd), Mr. and Mrs. Weasley arrived, shortly followed by Fred and his wife Georgia with their little two-year-old Alexis, George and his wife Francine and their two kids Genevieve, 4, and Tyson, 2 ½.

"Is there enough cake for all of us?" Mrs. Weasley asked, hugging Hermione and all the others as if she hadn't seen them in years.

"Mrs. Weasley! You should be ashamed! This is me, Hermione Granger, who graduated top in her class, voted 'Most Likely to Succeed' and 'Most Prepared.' Of course there's going to be enough cake!" Hermione said, everyone laughing at her positions that she had obtained through hard work and level head. Just then two more heads poked in, revealing Sandra's parents.

"Mr. and Mrs. Daily, lovely to see you again!" Mrs. Weasley said, embracing the two of them quickly.

There were several more minutes of hugs, when Hermione and Ginny escaped to the kitchen to cut the cake, Sandra close behind.

"Ahem, er, Gin? Could you excuse me and Hermione a moment, please?" Sandra asked politely, nervously pulling on a strand of her short auburn hair that seemed to be ironed into its position. Her hair came to her chin, the layers above it layered to stick out in a fashionable manner, her bangs brushed to the side of her face, drawing more attention to he blue eyes. Ginny nodded suspiciously and left the kitchen, leaving a magicked knife to cut the cake and place it on plates.

"I was wondering if after we got everyone settled down if you would get everyone quiet, and then I'll stand and make the announcement." Sandra said, pulling out her wand to make the already five plates of cake and ice cream hover in the air delicately.

"All right, deal," Hermione said, quickening the cake cutting process with a speed charm, and having 16 sixteen plates total floating around the kitchen.

"Here's the cake and ice cream!" Sandra proclaimed as she exited the kitchen, Hermione pulling up the rear, pointing her wand to place the cake and ice cream in front of people.

"Daddy! I want to be a big girl and get a big piece!" Genevieve said, picking up her fork and stabbing the cake that had just landed in front of her.

"Ok sweetie," George said, glancing wearily at the fork that she seemed to be using as a weapon against her cake while hearing her mutter, "Die cake! Die!"

"George, where did Genevieve learn that?" Mrs. Weasley asked, taking a small bite of her cake.

"From her Uncle Harry," Hermione said, cutting into the conversation. There was a ripple of laughter that died into silence. Hermione looked at Sandra, who had just taken her seat next to Ron, and cleared her throat. Sandra stood and nodded.

"Could I have everyone's attention?" Sandra as fifteen eyes rested themselves on Sandra.

"You got my tention, Auntie San," Alexis said, crossing her arms and causing her light red pigtails to bounce.

Sandra smiled fondly at the young girl, then brought her attention back to her family. "Ron," She said, gripping his hand, then turning to everyone else, "everyone, I'd like to let you know that...well, I'm pregnant!"

.....................................................................................................................................................

AND there we stop! Haha, I thought I'd spoil you guys and update today since I couldn't wait to post this chapter! YAY! Well, like I said, I'd have thank-you's at the end of this chapter!

From Chapter 7: (I'd have to say that I think I got the most reviews from this chapter )

tennisplaya278- thanks so much for recommending this story to others! that makes me feel so awesome!
NitenGale-you always come up with superb ideas (I feel british when i say that!) the rain idea might come into play, but not quite yet (and tying into your review for chapter 8) I won't hate you forever...just until next week ;) lol, jk! you are an awesome reviewer and i'll make this story awesome for you to return to! Thanks for all your ideas!
Pure Sunshine- you flatter me! but long and sweet reviews happen to be my favorite (although there are few of them that come along).
May-Ann- thanks for reading my story! I don't really remember how I came up with the idea...I think I just thought of the beginning paragraph, and look where it's gotten me! HERE!
Egad- lol, Dave will go away...temporarily. It's all in the plan, it's all in the plan...
lanna1186- no, I don't own any horses, but I adore them. I actually related Hermione's horse to the one I've ridden this summer. She was a gorgeous horse, although without the temporment this BB had. My horse just wanted to not follow the same path as everyone else and wanted to break occasionally to munch peacefully on leaves!
citcat299-thanks! you've always been good at suggestions or pointers I need, so if you ever have any more pointers, I'd love them!
invisible2u- .:sniff:. you make me cry! thanks for your constant support!
Some12- I took your suggestion, and everyone loved it! Thanks
DMTABF: lol, yea, I totally prefered Jonathon over George! But George suited her just fine because Thayet came and they are cute together too. Yea, I remember promising in the beginning of my story I'd change any problems, and possibly I should change that "werefolfism" thing because I've gotten like 6 reviews about it! Anyway, thanks!
EVERYONE ELSE FROM THAT CHAPTER I LOVE YOU ALL I JUST HAVE 6 MINUTES TO POST THIS BEFORE I GO TO BED SO I CANT THANK YOU ALL!

Chapter 8

invisible2u: lol, I personally get a kick out of what my brain makes happen to Haley each time! I find it utterly amusing!
delirious-hani-lol, your review made me laugh. thanks!
Some12- thanks, yea, and driver's ed totally sucks, only least today it was kinda funny!
elra of mirkwood- yea, except in this chapter you don't really find out what Ron's reaction is , but in the next chapter you will!
Chamarrow, Firehottie, sweet-77-thang, and CuTe AnGeLs- thank you all for your praise!
PhychoJo- your review mad me laugh. "i would write more, but i'm hungry" that's awesome.
NightBlossom- i love how your review was long! lol, thanks for reviewing and for putting me on your author alert!
thoroughbredchickie- aw, thanks! I've never been told my grammar is impeccable, but I like saying that word. It's fun saying it allowed! And I'm glad you like my slow progression of the relationship! thanks again!
Chico-I am utterly flattered! Me, your favorite fanfiction author? That's AWESOME!
Lillianna-Rose- thanks so much! that last "oh" was for good measure! in fact, it make me update! way to go!

and now that this is officially the longest thanks I've ever done, I think y'all should all know how much i LOVE reviews! So, please please please please PLEASE review! Thanks, much love

VBC