Disclaimer: I am not JK Rowling, she owns all these wonderful characters, I am just 'playing' with them

A/N: Please Read and Review, Criticisms are welcome, first fic ever.

CHP 2: The Journey Home

Hermione glanced around her now barren apartment making sure she hadn't forgotten anything. She had passed her exams flawlessly and had spent to better part of the past two weeks packing for her return home. The lease was up on her small, but comfortable apartment and she couldn't reason signing another lease when she had an empty house in London and she hadn't chosen where she would be practicing.

Hermione looked in her full trunk and at all the items that had been shrunk to fit inside, her numerous books and an odd assortment of junk. Closing the trunk she locked it and shrunk it until it was roughly the size of a deck of playing cards. Picking it up she shoved it in her pocket and walked out of her apartment, leaving her key laying on the counter for her sweet old landlady.

She hurried towards the taxi that was waiting for her, oblivious to the heavy rain that was pouring down. After giving the cabby the address she settled back in the cab. Reaching a rather old and dilapidated building, Hermione assured the driver that this was where she wanted out and she paid her fare. Waiting until the driver had left she walked towards the old building and straight through one of its walls. Seeing that she was right on time for the next Port Key to London she stepped forward towards the group holding a very large, official looking hoop.

'I suppose they don't need to use garbage for port keys when it is from an authorized location and there are no muggles around to see it' she thought to herself.

Feeling the familiar tug, Hermione lurched forward, nearly knocking over the person next to her. Next time she traveled she would travel by floo powder, it wasn't nearly as bad as a port key but it came close. Straightening up, she glanced around the terminal, knowing that she was home in London.

"Hermione?" said a deep voice from behind her. Turning around Hermione saw a very tall, very attractive red haired man with sparkling blue eyes. "RON!" she yelled excitement filling her voice as she rushed forward giving him a huge hug. She had assumed Ginny would be meeting her but was somewhat glad that Ron had volunteered instead.

"Hey 'Mione...I kind of need to breath" said Ron grinning down at her. Blushing, Hermione stepped back away from Ron "Oh... yeah sorry about that. Ummm...where is Ginny?" she asked.

Ron was secretly pleased that Hermione was so excited to see him, he had missed her, the trio just wasn't complete without her, besides he had had enough of seeing Ginny and Harry snogging to last a lifetime.

"They are out with mum, shopping for something for the wedding" said Ron answering Hermiones question with an engaging smile. Harry was the one being tortured with shopping so it wasn't a bad day at all.

"So are you ready to go?" he asked. Receiving a nod in reply, Ron led Hermione out of the port key office.

Stepping out into a large crowd of people, Hermione led the way as she hailed a cab to take her to her parent's home, she would be visiting the Burrow but needed to return home and take care of some things first.

"Come on Ron" said Hermione as she grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the taxi. "'Mione, why can't we just apparate" she said before climbing into the cab. "Because...I'll explain later" she said blushing slightly seeing that the driver was giving her a very quizzical look.

When they reached her home, Hermione pulled out a few pound notes and paid the driver as Ron climbed out of the cab and headed up the walk way. Hermione watched the cab leave and turned towards her childhood home, a sense of foreboding over coming her. She had only been back to the house a few times since her parent's death. "Hermione are you coming?" she heard Ron call. Walking forward to the door she pulled out her wand and muttered "Alohomora" flicking on the light switch next to the door when she entered.

"So why couldn't we apparate?" Ron asked her again, it was obvious that he had not enjoyed the cab ride and the strange looks he got from the drive.

"Because, if we just apparated in here, and one of the neighbors saw the lights on without seeing someone get out of the taxi, they would have called the police." said Hermione in a manner-of fact voice.

"Oh." Was all Ron said as he glanced around the small but inviting house. "Scourgify" he said flicking his own wand, clearing up some of the dust that had settled from years of non inhabitance.

Hermione quietly closed the front door and looked around the house. If was almost exactly as she had left it. Most of the items had been put in storage while she was away and sheets covered the furniture to keep it clean. Silently, a tear fell down her cheek, followed by another, the memories were overwhelming.

"So do you want me to help you un-pack?" said Ron as her turned around to face Hermione. Seeing that she was crying he crossed over towards her feeling like a git for not realizing how being back here must be effecting her.

"'Mione, shh.....it's okay" said Ron as he wiped away a tear from her cheek. "Oh Ron" blubbered Hermione as she crossed into the living room and sat down on the covered sofa, forgetting the dust. "Why did I think I could come back here?"

Timidly, Ron sat down on the sofa next to Hermione and put an arm around her shoulders not knowing what to say. After a few moments Hermione wiped her eyes and looked up at Ron. "Um, thanks Ron for um, letting me blubber like that, I'll be fine, really" standing up she pulled her trunk out of her pocket and returned it to it's normal size. "You don't need to stay Ron, I can manage on my own now, I promise I'll be fine"

"Are you su.." Hermione cut him off and said "Yes, now go on home, tell everyone I made it back safely, I'll see you tomorrow"

Nodding Ron walked into the kitchen and returned with a large hamper. "Mum, made this, can't have you starving, we brought it in earlier and I completely forgot about it." Hermione took the hamper from Ron and gave him a small kiss on the cheek, "Tell your mum thanks, I'll stop over sometime tomorrow" Ron gave a curt nod of his head and gave a small wave before he apparated back to the Burrow.

Ron apparated in the kitchen assuming that everyone would be asleep, it was well after midnight. He was surprised to see that Harry, Ginny and his mother were all still up. Well Harry was almost awake; his head was drooping ever so slightly. Grinning he stepped up behind him and said in a loud voice "Hullo! I'm back."

Harry sat bolt upright in his chair and nearly fell out of it. Ron just grinned as he sat down opposite of Harry next to his mother. "Still figuring stuff out for the wedding?" he asked in a conversational tone knowing that Harry would have eloped if Ginny hadn't been so set on the wedding of her dreams. Harry rolled his eyes much to the displeasure of Ginny and ended up getting an elbow in the side. "Ow...what was that for?" he asked in a mock hurt voice.

Mrs. Weasley turned towards Ron and began the assault he had been expecting ever since he arrived "How is Hermione? Does she feel okay? Did you remember to give her the hamper?"

"Mum!" Ron yelled so he could be heard over his mother's questions. "Hermione made it here fine; she is at her house getting settled. She was a bit upset at being back in her old home but everything was fine when I left. She said thanks for the food and she would stop in tomorrow"

Mrs. Weasley nodded her head in concern, she had figured as much. She only wished she would have been able to be there for Hermione. She was like another daughter after all. "Alright then Ron," she said as she stood up from the table. "Off to bed, all of you!"

Ron headed up to his room leaving Harry and Ginny alone to say their goodnights. Plopping down on his now too short bed he tucked his hands behind his head ponder the events of the evening. Hermione had almost strangled him when he picked her up, and then there was the kiss. Sighing he rolled over and tried to get some sleep, knowing that his dreams would be filled with visions of a brown eyed beauty.