A/N: I promise you, it'll pick up some day.

After staying home for a few days, Hermione started to become restless. She wanted to get off to The Burrow with the Weasley's. Her parents had become unbearable – they wouldn't let up on their relentless questions and prying. It started to make her sick when she realized just how much she had to lie about.

That's why, a full week later, Hermione arrived at The Burrow with all of her school things in tact. Crookshanks was wrapped up in her arms, lazing about and casting an evil eye at anyone who looked slightly suspicious. Hermione wasn't dull – she had read Fantastic Beasts… several times. It was painfully obvious to her that her cat was part Kneazle.

Mrs. Weasley made a huge fuss over her. She hugged Hermione tight, sent Fred and George to collect her belongings, and called down Ginny. As soon as Ginny saw Hermione's bushy hair, she squealed. She ran up to Hermione and dragged her off without so much as a "Hello" to her mother.

For the past week, Hermione had dreaded this. Ginny would be able to see that things were not right – she was sure of it. Ginny was super sensitive to others, and although she wasn't always completely accurate, Hermione was still afraid. She wasn't ready to talk about any of it. Nor could she fathom the repercussions were she to tell anyone what had truly gone on.

"Hermione, what's wrong?" Ginny asked. She furrowed her brow and took her hand from Hermione's arm.

"Nothing, Ginny!" Hermione smiled brightly. "Oh, I had so much fun with Viktor over holiday." She went on and on about walks and talks, meeting Viktor's friends and family, and reading together under the bright sky. Ginny lapped it up with awe.

"What about… you know, physical stuff?"

Hermione didn't even flinch. "Oh my. The way he kisses!" Immediate mistake. Her mind blew up in a vivid flashback. The first – and only – kiss that they had shared played in her mind like a movie. There had been many kisses. But Viktor stole those from her. His teeth and harsh tongue burned on her lips. She slipped fingers on to her lips, feeling the burn. Ginny mistook this as bliss.

"That good? Wow."

"The best I've ever had," Hermione said. It wasn't a lie. Even if Viktor had instructed her on what to say, she had little to compare it to. She'd had a peck on the cheek from Ron, Harry, or even Neville, but nothing quite as serious and passionate as her and Krum's first kiss.

Even so, his voice echoed in her mind. "It was the best you'll ever have. And ve'll be haffing more soon. You loved it – but we knew that."

"Ron and Harry are going to be so jealous," Ginny said. She squealed and clapped her hands together in excitement. Hermione thought she was about to explode.

"Why's that, Ginny?" Ron and Harry poked their heads in to the girls' room. Their faces lit up when they saw Hermione.

"Hermione!" Ron yelled, running to swoop her up in to a bear hug. He smiled widely as he set her down, still hugging her closely. Harry walked in and hugged her just as tightly as soon as Ron left her go. When both of them ceased their showing of affection, Hermione stood back to get a good look at them. Ron had grown even more, as if he hadn't been tall enough. He was heads taller than her – and even Harry. Harry appeared to have grown only slightly over the summer, but what was most evident was his weight loss. The boy looked dangerously underweight, as if the Dursley's had starved him the entire time. Hermione knew they hadn't.

"You two look as if you've been baking out in that sun!" She said.

"Quidditch… or, as close as we can possibly get." Harry said. Hermione smiled at this. They hadn't changed a bit. She noticed the eyes Ginny was directing at Harry. She was apparently still mesmerized by him. Hermione's stomach lurched at the though. She knew that look, she knew that feeling.

She didn't have time to go any deeper in to thought. George slammed her trunk down and embraced her warmly. Fred set Crookshanks down on the top of the trunk as if the cat were incapable of movement.

"Oy, you've been missed, Hermione!" George said. Fred nodded in agreement.

"We've missed your adherence to the rules-" said Fred.

"Though mum gives you a run for the galleons." George finished. "Did ol' Krum and you have fun?"

Hermione winked. "You bet!"

"So you did spend a week with him?" Harry asked as if he had only heard rumours. Hermione wondered why he had been kept in the dark. It wasn't a big secret.

"Yes, she did." Ginny said. Her eyes twinkled lightly as she prepared to lay it on thick. "They had all sorts of fun."

"Ginny!" Hermione gasped. This was the last thing she needed. Desperately, she scanned the room for a new conversation piece. She saw a book lying near the floor and recognized the cover. "Did you guys finish your Transfiguration work?" There. Safe ground. Old Hermione.

"Finish!?" Ron exclaimed. He looked insulted. "We haven't even started it."

Hermione scowled. "Really, Ron! You'd think by now you'd put a bit more effort in to your work. You can't slack off this year!"

Ron and Harry exchanged looks. Hermione hadn't changed a bit. She folded her arms and picked open her trunk. She took out a stack of parchment and pointed at the list of assignments.

"Do you have any of this done?" she asked.

"I did potions first," Harry said. "I can't exactly stand to miss anything for Snape."

"Professor Snape, Harry." Ginny grinned, a perfect imitation of her mum. The rest chuckled.

"Did you guys work on anything else?" Hermione inquired.

"Yes, yes! The History of Magic assignment. That's it, though. Don't worry, we'll do it." Ron said. Hermione stared at him but gave up. It really was a lost cause.

"So tell us how it was with Vicky," Ron continued. Hermione was glad she had her back to him. She felt her face contort at the sound of his name.

"First, don't call him that. Second… it was great! He was the perfect gentleman the entire time," or 45 minutes, "We had tons of fun. He's so interesting when he's not around other people." That's for sure, she thought, suppressing a deep shudder.

"Did Vicky ask you back?"

Hermione nodded as she turned to close her trunk. Standing, she scowled. "I told you not to call him Vicky," she said as she wiped her hands on her slacks.

"Sorry, Herm-own-ninny,"

Hermione froze down to the pit of her stomach.