When the Hurley Burleys Done…

i Way hay! I'm flying. I just added a chapter, like not too long ago and I've already started on another I have a small holiday so I can write in my spare time! You see I'm only 15. For all you British people yes I am doing my G.C.S.Es, therefore my beta Am is a godsend  She has helped me loads (almost too much I feel guilty for taking up her precious time). Any way she rocks.

Ok, yeah, yeah, not mine. Blah, blah, blah. All JKR's.

On with the story! /i

After a quick debate, Ginny and Harry decided that they would tell Hermione and Ron the news about their wedding officiant all together. "More witnesses that way, in case Hermione throws a fit and a curse goes awry," said Ginny before stifling her giggles and approaching her brother and his fiancée.

To say that Hermione was furious would be a dramatic understatement. Harry wondered if there was anyone in Ottery St. Catchpole who i hadn't /i heard her dulcet tones screaming about the sudden change in their wedding plans.

Draco had burst in, and Hermione's rant about "daft Ministry wedding officials" had promptly set him back outside, mumbling something about "bloody emotional women."

Mrs. Weasley rushed in next and, upon hearing the news between Hermione sobs, she made them all cups of her finest tea (mixed with some healthy shots of fire whiskey all around), and things calmed down significantly.

The girls went back to their planning and, after sending Professor Dumbledore an owl accepting his offer to marry them, they quickly decided that, in the wake of recent events, it was probably best if they held their joint wedding during the Christmas holidays, when all of their families could be there to celebrate.

But, Harry didn't think that there was really much to do anymore. After all, nothing is more beautiful than Hogwarts at Christmas.

-

Apart from one or two tears as the previous date for the wedding came and went, the rest of the summer seemed to breeze by for the five friends.

Hermione had not only managed to get the wedding planning back on track, but she had completed all of her homework assignments, perfected a few more spells for Transfiguration, written all of her extra credit essays and even had time leftover to knit some cutesy elf clothes and catch up on her non-wedding reading.

While Ginny managed to tear herself from her schoolwork during the afternoons, Ron and Harry stayed up late every night as the approaching school year loomed ever closer. And it wasn't for a lack of trying. Harry and Ron had decided to go ahead with their plans to become Aurors, which meant they were taking N.E.W.T.-level classes across the board, including Potions.

"Come on," Ron complained almost nightly. "How much information can you write about bloody moonstones and powdered unicorn horn?"

Draco, who was always proficient at Potions, could be seen quietly studying in a corner of the Burrow's living room, every once in a while yelling out, "Stop your damn complaining Weasley, it's only a two-foot essay!"

Harry had grown to like Draco a little more, and even laughed sometimes at his and Ron's arguments.

A few weeks before Sept. 1, their owls from Hogwarts arrived.

Hermione, who was anxiously awaiting her letter one morning before breakfast, jumped up from the kitchen table and almost scared the owl away as she raced towards it and skidded to a stop. She tore it open, and her eyes lit up immediately and a happy cry escaped her lips.

Ron lumbered into the kitchen at that moment and was almost sent crashing back into the doorway as Hermione smothered him with a big hug.

"Oh, I guess Hogwarts letters are here," he laughed as Harry, Ginny and Draco sidestepped behind him.

Hermione disengaged from Ron and said loudly, "I got head girl!"

"Oh Hermione, that's brilliant," Ron exclaimed brightly. "Pass me my letter, will you please, Harry?"

Harry had just sat back down to open his letter when he heard the loud tinkle of glass breaking. Looking up, Ron had gone completely rigid and white, his coffee now swirling in the broken mug shards on the floor.

"Oh hell…," Ron whispered, then his mouth broke out into a large grin. "I am Head Boy… Oh man, Fred and George will never let me live it down."

The rest of them jumped up from their chairs and took turns hugging and congratulating Ron. Hermione squealed and warned him not to goof off all in one long breath, and Draco shook his hand stiffly.

A few years before, Harry was sure he would have felt a strong surge of jealousy at Ron's good news, but right now this was Ron's moment to shine, having been bestowed Hogwarts' highest honor, and Harry just beamed at him.

"Ahh you have your letters I see," said Mrs. Weasley as she bustled in behind them all to start cooking breakfast. "Well, hand them to me and I'll…Oh Ron, what did you do?" She stared pointedly at the broken coffee cup.

Ron shrugged and, trying to conceal his giddy smile, gave his letter to his mother.

She cast another disapproving look at her son and, reading his letter, let her own coffee mug fall to the floor with a gasp.

"Oh Ron! Oh, I'm so proud of you!" she grabbed her tall son around the neck and hugged him fiercely. She turned and hurried out to get Mr. Weasley, who came in and shook Ron's hand proudly.

"Well done, son," said Mr. Weasley.

After that, the day went by without incident. Ron had been promised another gift for making Head Boy, and Mrs. Weasley had cooked a grand feast in celebration for Hogwarts' new Head Boy and Girl.

As he lay back down to bed, Harry took in the events of the day and was glad that he hadn't told anyone what his letter had said—he had been made captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. 'I can tell them all later…' he yawned and, curling his body around Ginny's sleeping form, he fell into a content sleep.

When they got to Platform 9 ¾ on September the 1st, there were happy tears all around. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley took their turns hugging each of their "children," and even made a point to include Draco in their goodbyes. Harry watched curiously as Draco hugged Mrs. Weasley and quietly thanked Mr. Weasley for his hospitality. Mr. Weasley did an odd thing then—he embraced Draco and said he was always welcome to stay at the Burrow. Not knowing quite what to do, Harry watched Draco slowly disappear in the growing crowd of students gathering at the platform.

Ron and Hermione bid goodbye to the group and set off for the prefects' car, though Ron promised Harry that they would visit as soon as all of the "ickle prefects" had been told what to do. But, Harry certainly didn't mind having to share a car with his fiancée for a few hours.

During the ride, he and Ginny were visitied—er, interrupted—by many of their friends from school, including Neville Longbottom, Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan. No one yet knew that Ginny and Harry or Hermione and Ron were engaged…and both couples, after consulting about it on the train, were happy to keep it that way, at least to avoid the disapproving stares and questions. They all agreed to keep it secret until after the holidays.

When the Hogwarts Express screeched to a halt at Hogsmeade Station later that night, Harry followed Ginny and Draco toward a carriage, stopping to pat the thestral lightly on the neck. When Ron and Hermione showed up, though, they both looked slightly disheveled, as if they hadn't just been herding first years.

Harry smiled to himself. Sure, it wasn't setting a proper example for Ginny for Ron to go off and snog behind the carriages, but Harry didn't really think it was Ron who determined what Ginny did or didn't do. Besides, after the constant interruptions on the train, Harry wouldn't have minded a little snog session with his favorite copper-haired girl. He felt her small hand squeeze his thigh suggestively and knew she felt the same way.

Harry finally felt at home as he entered the Great Hall for the Sorting Ceremony and the feast.

A moment after they all sat down, Draco back over at the Slytherin table, the first years shuffled in with professor McGonagall, who was carrying the old and tatty sorting hat, and the sorting began as "Appleby, Helen" was sorted into Ravenclaw.

Harry stopped paying attention to the ceremony after "Duckworth, David" was sorted into Hufflepuff. He was starving and was just about to tell Ron so when he noticed something amiss—an older girl with short, cropped black hair and pouty lips was standing among the first-years as if she was waiting to be sorted. She looked very self-conscious, and her dark purple eyes (from what Harry could tell) kept glancing down at her feet.

'She has more, er, i older /i features to her body, more curves… and those eyes, wow,' he thought, unconsciously giving her the once-over. 'Close to my age, most likely.'

Leaning over to Ron and Ginny, he whispered, "Oi, who's that girl over there? She can't be a first-year."

Ron glanced over quickly, looked her up and down as well, and motioned to Hermione, who had also noticed her. Hermione, though, had a strange look on her face as she mumbled, "No…no it can't be her…"

When the last first-year was sorted in Ravenclaw, and only the older girl was left, Dumbledore stood grandly and addressed the students, who were now all whispering about the newcomer.

"If I may have your attention," he asked as silence fell in the hall. "Our final student to be sorted tonight has transferred to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from the esteemed Beauxbatons Academy in France, under headmistress Madame Maxime." Hagrid gave Harry a shy grin. "Thus, as any new student must, she will be sorted into an appropriate house. Professor McGonagall, please continue."

The hall waited in silent anticipation.

"Westlock, Rose," announced McGonagall loudly.

Hermione's hands flew to her mouth, her gasp was audible.

The hat contemplated nearly a whole minute before yelling, "Gryffindor!" and Rose shyly made her way over to the Gryffindor table amid the rounds of applauds and hoots from Dean and Seamus.

Hermione was about to speak to the new girl when Dumbledore once again rose.

"My old friends and new acquaintances, I am very pleased to welcome you all, and I quite happy indeed to see that everyone seems to have made it back in one piece." There was a slight pause while the giggling died down, although Harry, Ron and Draco (who was now openly staring at Rose Westlock) did not laugh, understanding how serious a situation was implied by his words.

"As always, the forest is out-of-bounds to all students unless accompanied by an adult. And, for the first time in a long while, I am proud to say that the school has managed to keep the same Defense Against the Dark Arts' teacher two years running." At that, all students who were 3rd year or above burst out in fits of laughter. All, that is, except Rose, who, like the younger students, had not been around long enough to appreciate the humor.

"To all who do not know the school rules I'm sure that you prefects will fill you in. Should you have any questions, I'm sure our new Head Boy and Head Girl would be more than happy to help. I could continue…but, alas, I will not. Now it is time to feast."

As the Great Hall emptied following dinner, Hermione got up and-keeping one eye on the mysterious Rose Westlock, who was talking animatedly with Pavarti and Lavender-she and Ron led the newest Gryffindors up to the dormitory.

"First-years, please proceed up to your dormitories. Girls are down the hall on the left; boys are down the hall to your right. These will be your rooms for the next seven years at Hogwarts, so do try to keep them clean," Hermione said, relishing her authority. "Oh, Rose! Can I talk to you for a moment?"

Rose looked up and saw Hermione for the first time. Her eyes got very wide, and she stuttered out with a very slight French accent, "Yes, I-I'll talk to you both later, then?"

"Well, we'll see you in the dorm, seeing as how it's our room, too," giggled Lavender, and she and Pavarti walked upstairs.

Rose turned back to Hermione, who was smiling brightly at her, and it finally clicked.

"Oh my goodness, Hermione!" Rose cried out in happiness. She reached forward and the two girls embraced like long-lost sisters. "You're a witch, too! Oh, I can't believe it's really you!"

Hermione steered her best friend from muggle grammar school to the squashy couch by the fire. "Rose, I couldn't believe my eyes in the Great Hall! I have so many questions for you! When did you find out you were a witch? Why didn't you come to Hogwarts with me? How is your family doing? Wait, is your family a wizarding family?"

Laughing and not taking her eyes off Hermione, Rose answered, "In proper order: I found out I was a witch during the summer right after I turned 11. It was quite a surprise, actually, considering my parents are muggles."

"Mine too!" Hermione chimed in.

"Well, I was scheduled to go to Hogwarts, but my parents-who are fine, by the way-had an opportunity in France and, since I was going away to school anyways, my dad decided to take it. But, that meant me having to transfer before I even started to Beauxbatons Academy in France. And, I'm back here now because my dad was transferred back to England, and only wizards and witches from France are permitted at Beauxbatons." She paused for a breath. "So, what about you? It's so exciting to have a friend here!"

"Oh, I missed you so much!" Hermione said with another laugh. "It was so hard here at Hogwarts at first without any friends… I come from a muggle family too, and I was told the same way you were. Oh, what an amazing coincidence that would have been to have my old best friend at Hogwarts with me! I can't wait to tell mum and dad, they will be so thrilled to be able to talk to your parents about all the weird things they see me do all the time!"

"Why didn't you ever write to me? It's so strange how we both sort-of forgot about each other…" Rose trailed off. "I didn't have many friends at Beauxbatons…"

"Oh, I'm sorry, Rosie," Hermione said, using her old nickname. "Things just got kind-of crazy, and, to tell you the truth, I didn't trust myself not to mention all of the fabulous things that were happening to me. I would have wanted to tell you all about Quidditch and my wand and all of my adventures… But, there's certainly enough time now, I'll tell you everything."

"That would be wonderful, Hermione," Rose gushed. "And perhaps tomorrow you could introduce to people and help me to my classes?"

"Of course, and I wouldn't worry about not having any friends here at Hogwarts. The Gryffindors are the nicest bunch, my friends are absolutely wonderful and will take you in immediately, and I know of a certain Slytherin who I think would be pleased to meet you, seeing as how he was staring at you all through dinner!"

"Oh, go on then," Rose blushed. "Thank you Hermione, I really appreciate it."

"No problem," Hermione smiled. "OK, well you need to get up to bed seeing as how it's after hours and I might just give you a detension, seeing as how I'm Head Girl and all."

They both laughed heartily again, and Rose trucked up the stairs to bed.

"Well," Hermione said out loud to the empty Common Room. "What a great way to start the year!"

A/N I don't know about how this is going… as I think I said before too many exam s and cource work I'm a woman under pressure!(ok I'll admit it I'm a little girl you going to make something of itglares at invisible person who she thinks is taking the mick.) any way it works cheers