This chapters kind of long.but longer the better. Anyhow, thanks to those who reviewed, and btw, hope I don't sound to stupid, but what is OC????? And btw- the bit abt them spending the night together- they did NOT have sex, they are just comforted by each other's presence. U think im going to make it that extreme right now??

'Robbie,' Mione said, one morning. She pushed the blanket off the both of them, and linked her fingers through his. They had slept together the night.

'Yes?' he said, drowsily, looking up.

She bit her lip, for a minute, staring at his hair and eyes.even now, when she looked at him, she felt a small spark of recognition, a faint feeling of relation. But, she shook it away, and gently stroked his cheek.

'I'm leaving today,'

He frowned.

'Yes, I know, I was counting days.I - I wish you didn't have to go.'

'So do I.' Mione whispered. 'I wish too. But I have to go, Robs and.well, I'll try coming home for Christmas.you'll be there, won't you?'

'Of course I will. Well, since you're going.'

He got up and pulled on his dressing gown. Then he walked to a nearby cupboard, and pulled something out of a draw. She came back, and Mione saw what it was.a small charm, like the one he had. Except, that instead of a dragon, this one had a bird with a large plume twisted onto it. She looked at it, and her throat went tight.

'Phoenix.' he murmured. 'You know. Mythical bird.'

Not as mythical as you think, Mione though, remembering Fawkes. She looked at him and bit her lip.

'It's- beautiful.' she muttered. 'It's very pretty.'

'It's for you,' he murmured, tying it around her slim wrist. She took one look at it, and burst into tears.

Robbie wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and let her cry. He stroked her hair, murmuring soft words of comfort for her benefit. Soon, she looked up, and wiped her eyes.

'Oops,' she said, trying to act joking. 'That was kind of emotional.'

'That's okay,' Robbie told her.

She got up, and slipped into her dressing gown. Then, she sat down on the edge of the bed.

'I'm leaving early today.around eight in the morning, there's plenty of time yet.' she told him. 'I don't need a cab, or anything, I'll catch a bus.'

'Oh, all right. But I still think it would be better to take a cab.'

'Well, I don't. get up, Robbie, you lazy lout!

'Whatever. I'm going to pack for my school today,' Robbie said, after a pause. 'Dammit. I hate packing.'

'Well, you're going to have to do it,' Mione told him firmly. 'No. Stop looking so hopeful.I'm not going to do it for you.'

'Oh, that's just to mean,' he joked. 'Do you want to go first for your bath?'

'Yes, I do. Unlike some people I don't hate a nice, clean shower.'

'Whatever. Hurry up, please. I want to bathe and then start packing.'

'I'll be quick,' she promised, and slipped into the bathroom.

She slipped out of her bathrobe, and let it pool down on the floor, around her legs. Then, she checked the water, and stepped into the shower. She let the water run down her face, down her hair, down her neck, trying to wash away all her grief at leaving Robbie behind. The two had become close during her stay, and she did not want to leave him. Her only console was that she could see him again in the Christmas vacations.

She sighed, and finished her bath quickly. Then, she pulled her bathrobe on again, and went out.

'Bathroom's free,' she told Robbie, who was lazing around on the bed. He nodded, and walked into it, shutting the door behind him.

Mione sat down in front of the mirror, wondering how to dress today. She chose a pair of tight-fitting flairs, with silver sparkle designs on it, along with a strapless, tight, silver, glittery top. She added silvery highlights to her hair, and stepped into a pair of black and silver platforms. A little glittery make-up, and she was done. She slipped on the charm that Robbie had given her, and a pair of hoops.

When Robbie came out of the bathroom, he stopped at the doorway, and stared at her with amazement. 'Wow,' he said, in a low voice.

Mione turned around and saw him. She grinned, and turned around, so he got ful benefit of her outfit.

'What do you think?' she asked. 'Along with this denim jacket?'

'You look lovely,' Robbie said, sincerely. He walked up to her and kissed her.

The two ate breakfast together in the kitchen. Robbie simply popped some toast into his ancient, rusty toaster. Mione didn't feel like eating much, though, and just nibbled her toast.

When she had done, she shared a brief hug with Robbie.

'I have to go now,' she murmured, looking at him. 'Take-take care.I'll see you in the winter.'

He held her tight.

'I'll be waiting.'

After that, she wheeled her suitcase to the main street. Robbie came with her, but when they reached she told him to go back.

'Why?' he asked surprised.

'Robbie, just go.go, for heaven's sake, go!'

He shrugged, and left. Mione looked around for Muggles, but saw none. She cautiously took her wand out, and waved it.

Immediately, there was a loud bang, and a moment later, a bright purple triple Decker bus appeared in front of her. A short man, with bright red hair and small, black eyes, dressed in a blue uniform jumped out.

'Welcome to the Knight-Bus,' he said, in a high-pitched, squeaky voice. 'Bus for all witches and wizards trapped in inconvenient Muggle situations- .'

'Yes, yes, I know,' Mione interrupted. She looked curiously at the man.

That's funny,' she muttered, 'I don't know you. What happened to Stan?'

The man shook his head sadly.

'America,' he said, mournfully. 'His family killed by the Dark lord. He's gone for the funeral. I'm Tich, by the way.'

'Pleased to meet you to,' Mione replied, thinking of poor Stan Shunpike. Then, she shook her head free of these thoughts, and entered the bus.

There were rows of seats, with plush plum upholstery in the Knight Bus. She chose a seat that was in the front of the bottom floor, right beside the driver, Ernie. Ernie seemed to have aged a little since the last time she had met him, that was the end of the fifth year, but he remembered her.

'Ah, Miss Granger,' he smiled, when she came in. 'Good to have you with us again,'

Mione looked curiously at him. His English seemed to have been polished up quite a bit since she last saw him.

'How're you doing, Ernie?' she asked, affably.

'Oh, all right. Took a vacation few months back, and went to France.. had some nice polish-up on my speaking there.'

So that explained it.

'I need to go to Diagon Alley,' Mione told him.

'Yes, yes, I know. In fact, I have a few more of your passengers at the back of the bus. Why don't you go take a look?'

Mione got up, and went to the back of the bus. There she saw Dean and Seamus, and to her mild surprise, Blaise Zabini.

The moment Dean and Seamus saw her, their jaws dropped. After a moment, Dean flushed deeply, and Seamus began to gape soundlessly.

'Her-Hermione.' Dean muttered, finally. 'You look-different.'

'Do I?' Mione asked, not really enjoying herself as much as she had pictured she would. She was still thinking of Robbie.

'Ye-es.' Seamus agreed. 'Different. Very different'

'You had a make-over, or something?'

'You lost your brains, or something?' Mione asked, coolly.

'Why don't you sit here with us?' Dean asked, eagerly, indicating the seat between him and Seamus and Blaise.

'Sure,' Mione replied, and sat down. She pulled her suitcase closer to her feet. She began conversing with Seamus and Dean.

'So,' Seamus asked, 'how was your summer,'?

'It was fine,' Mione replied, absently, still thinking of how nice Robbie looked with his hair messed up in the morning.

'What're you doing on the Knight Bus?' Dean pressed.

'I'm on my way to Diagon Alley,' Mione answered. 'I still need to get my supplies. What about you guys?'

'The same,' Seamus responded. 'I spent the summer at Dean's place.' His face brightened. 'We watched a- a- oh, yes football match. These people were kicking a white and black ball into a- a- thing- white net,'

'A goal, you mean,' Mione mumbled, fingering the Phoenix Charm that was on her wrist, hidden by her denim jacket.

'You know about that?' Seamus asked, surprised.

Dean rolled his eyes.

'Unlike you, Seam, she's a fairly sensible person,' he said, sarcastically

. For a few minutes, conversation languished. Then, a cool voice asked from Mione's left.

'So, how you keeping up, Granger? Or should I say- Hermione?'

Mione turned around, and saw Blaise surveying her with a lazy smile.

'I'm fine,' she replied. 'And since when have you been addressing me by my first name?'

'Since I got onto this bus,' Came the smug reply.

'What're you doing on the Knight Bus? What happened to super-rich papa? Magic Carpets not available?' Mione asked, loudly, annoyed by the lazy, smug way he was addressing her.

'Not exactly. Super-rich papa, as you called him, has disowned me,'

'What? Why?'

'The same reason I'm on this bus.'

'Which is-.?'

'I'm waiting for Virginia Weasley. Ginny.'

'Ginny? What do you want with Ginny?' Mione asked, frowning.

'We got together last year,' Blaise explained. 'On the train, on the way back. I figured it was time I started calling you Hermione. The Weasleys- that is, Ronald.and his brothers, along with Potter- Harry- are coming next stop.'

'They are!' Mione asked delighted. Then she sobered down for a minute.

'So you and Ginny finally got together. I've noticed you two staring at each other across the table many times.' she paused, and thought about telling Blaise about Robbie. But why should she? She had just met him, after all.

'You're obsessed with him,' she told herself sternly. 'Don't. Think of life. Hogwarts.'

For a minute, she remained silent, and then asked, 'Your father didn't like you hooking up with a Weasley?'

'Hated it. Not that I care,' Blaise said coolly. 'We should come to their stop any- minute- ah, here we are.'

The bus jerked to a stop, and Harry, Ron and Ginny entered the bus, accompanied by Nymphadora Tonks.

Mione looked hard at them. All three had changed. Harry had grown taller, his hair, if possible, messier, and his eyes were even more intense green. To accompany this, he had developed broad shoulders, a well-toned body, and a careless, lazy smile, that looked adorable on his face. Ron had also grown taller, but was no longer gangly, instead sturdy and strong-looking. His hair color had darkened to a brownish-copper hue, and his blue eyes shone from a mass of freckles. Ginny was yet to develop any curves, that Mione abundantly possessed, but her hair was a deeper tone of red, her eyes a darker shade of blue, and there was a self-possessed air about the way she walked and talked. Blaise's eyes immediately brightened.

'Hi Mione!' Ron said cheerfully, seeing her at the back. Then he stopped dead, and his jaw dropped. Harry's followed suit, but Ginny just grinned.

'M-Mione-.' Harry stuttered. 'You look- well, different.'

'You're not the first person to tell me that,' Mione said, shrugging her shoulders so that her hair settled back, and giving a little half-smile. Ron's eyes widened.

'All changes are for the better,' he said, moving his head knowledgably. Then, a small grin took over his face. 'Don't gape, Harry! She looks brilliant!'

'He's right, Mione,' Ginny said from behind. 'Nice doing,'

'Thanks guys,' Mione said, pleased. 'Why don't we go to the upper floor and sit? There's more room there, I suppose. I'm dying to hear what you guys did over the summer.'

'Um- I think I like it better down here,' Ginny said, with a little glance towards Blaise. 'Why don't I catch up with you guys later?'

'All right,' Mione said, stifling a smile. She and the two boys went to the third decker, and found it almost totally empty. The only other person sitting there was a tall, black girl, with shiny, silver-blonde hair that she had in a high ponytail. Her chin was pierced, and she had a pair of headphones. She was listening to music, and tapping her feet, and snapping her fingers along with the beat. When she saw the Golden Trio, she just threw them a conceited glance, and turned her back to them.

'Very friendly,' Mione muttered.

'Also very sexy.' Harry mumbled, 'but whatever. How was your summer, Mione?"

Mione stopped, and bit her lip.

'It was fine.' She said, with a bit of a smile. 'Read some new books.met some new people.'

'New people? Like whom?'

'Oh.nobody in particular. Just some- friends, you know, that's it.' Ron and Harry were looking at her in a funny way.

'Okay, whatever,' Ron said, finally.

They chatted on, but all Mione's thoughts were on Robbie.