Yay for reviews! Lol.

sara d. hullo! At here's another update for you. Sorry that I've taken FOREVER... oh yeah, Ron and Hermione... they are sooo meant to be together!

Dianne, my internet is stuffed so I haven't been able to read the recent chapters of your fic yet... sigh Thanks for your review! I always appreciate your reviews, coz for one, they're really nice and long! And you always have so many nice things to say about my writing and you give me ideas too! About Miranda... I guess you'll just have to keep reading before you find out! (I know you will anyway, even if I told you... but still. I'm not really sure I know what's going to happen in the end.) Thank you again for your AWESOME review!

I can't believe I'm up to chapter 20! When I started this, I remember writing chapter 1... and thinking about how long it would take me to even write 10 chapters! Yet here I am! I'm not sure how many more chapters there are, since I've sort of strayed from my plan... but I'm really bad at writing all the battle scenes. If anyone wants to give me a hand... your help would be much appreciated! Lol. Just review and let me know! (yes, that's a ploy into getting more reviews! Hehehe... )

Chapter 20:

RECAP:

"Harry, wake up."

Harry woke up to Miranda's persistent shaking. He yawned.

"Harry, we're there." She paused. "Though, I'm not sure where 'there' is..."

"This," he said, as he got of the Knight Bus, "is The Burrow."

Miranda looked at the house that Harry pointed out to her. It definitely looked like a burrow. It wasn't much, but she knew better than to judge a book by its cover.

Harry turned to Miranda. "So? What do you think?"

Miranda shrugged. "Do we go in?"

Harry nodded, took her hand, and led her up the pathway to front door. He was a bit daunted about coming back here. He hadn't seen any of the Weasleys since the Department of Mysteries.

Thinking about it, Harry felt his heart constrict. Small tears threatened to form in his eyes, but he took a deep breath.

Miranda noticed and gave him a concerned look. "You ok?" she asked.

Harry gave her a smile. "Yeah. I'm fine." He paused. There was so much that he was feeling right now. "I'm just overwhelmed by everything that I'm feeling... coming back here..."

Miranda squeezed his hand. "It's alright. You know you need help with this whole thing."

"Yeah." Harry knocked on the door and waited.

The door swung open. A pair of familiar eyes appeared behind the door, shock registering on them when the owner realised who was standing at the front door.

"Harry?" Molly Weasley whispered, still in shock.

Harry gave an embarrassed smile. "Yeah."

Molly's mouth widened into a grin. Arms outstretched, she enveloped him into a hug. "You naughty naughty naughty boy. Do you know how worried everyone has been for you? Harry, I'm warning you, don't ever do that to me again. You know you're like a son to me. I couldn't bear to lose," here she faltered, "another son."

Harry cleared his throat. "Mrs. Weasley, I'm really sorry. I just... I was scared. I was running."

Mrs. Weasley gave him a sad smile. "I know, Harry, I know." Then turned to Miranda, as if just seeing her for the first time. She looked back to Harry.

"Oh. This is Miranda." Eyeing Mrs. Weasley, he added, "Miranda Granger."

To Miranda, he whispered, "This is Ron's mum."

Miranda looked wide-eyed. "THE Ron?" she whispered back.

Harry nodded. So that Molly could hear him, he said, "Miranda, this is Mrs. Weasley."

Miranda smiled. "Mrs. Weasley. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Mrs. Weasley blushed. "Such wonderful manners." Then she looked thoughtfully at Harry. She opened her mouth to say something but Harry cut her off.

"I met her while I was in London. We've been hanging together since."

Molly didn't quite know what to make of this, but chose not to comment.

Harry wandered into the house, setting down his few belongings.

Taking a glance at the Weasley clock, he felt his heart constrict slightly, seeing Ron's smiling face, the arrow pointed to school. He shook his head slightly.

"You just go upstairs and make yourself comfortable in your normal room. You can take Miranda up to Ginny's room, and she can settle in there." Pausing, Mrs. Weasley smiled at Harry. "It's good to have you back Harry."

Harry smiled. "It's good to be back." He took Miranda's hand and led her up the stairs. Opening the door to Ginny's room, he let out a little gasp.

Miranda looked strangely at him, then looked around the room, her eyes falling on a photo of Ginny and the twins. Much to her surprise, the images were moving.

Noticing Miranda's shock, Harry struggled to push Ginny out of his head and began to explain to her about magical photos.

"She's pretty," Miranda commented, off-handedly, once he was finished.

Again, Harry felt his heart constrict. "Yeah, she is," he managed to get out.

A crash downstairs caught their attention.

"What was that?" Miranda asked worriedly.

The sound of elephants could be heard coming up the stairs.

There, appearing on the landing, were Fred and George.

"Well, if it isn't−"

"− Harry! And... his oh-so-beautiful lady friend."

"Fred! George!" Harry exclaimed.

"What ARE you−"

"− doing here, mate?"

"I'm back?" Harry suggested.

"Good to see, mate, and who−"

"− is this fine human specimen?"

The twins were at it again, finishing each other's sentences, oggling Miranda.

"Fred, George, I'd like you to meet Miranda Granger."

"Miranda−"

"− Granger?"

"Yes," Harry confirmed, raising an eyebrow, as if warning them not to say anything.

The twins noticed, and chose not to say anything.

"What are you two doing here anyway? What happened to your joke shop?"

The twins shared a grin.

"That, my friend, is going−"

"−absolutely perfect."

And so conversation continued. Harry felt glad to be back. He couldn't believe that he had been ready to turn his back on everything and just leave.

Harry and Miranda, along with the twins ("We only come back for Mum's cooking." "Yeah. Can't live without that.") and both Molly and Arthur, had just polished off dinner.

"It's so... normal," Miranda commented, then blushed, realising how rash she must have sounded.

Harry laughed. "As normal as you can get with these two eating at the rate they do."

"Hey!" exclaimed Fred.

"At least Ronniekins isn't here."

Harry felt his heart twinge again, at the mention of his best friend.

"Speaking of which," Molly began nervously. "Dumbledore would be eager to see you."

At first, Harry felt that same resentment he had felt for Dumbledore... but it soon faded. Dumbledore had tried to protect him. He knew that. And that was why he resented him. But he also knew that Dumbledore always had his reasons. There was a reason why Dumbledore didn't tell him about the prophecy, if only to give him a few years of somewhat normalcy. For that, Harry could only be grateful.

"Mrs. Weasley?" he asked.

"Can I Floo there now?"

Molly was quite taken aback, and a little sad. She had wanted him to stay a little longer, let her fuss over him a little longer, but she knew that it was more important for him to see Dumbledore.

"Of course Harry." She led him over to the fireplace and threw some Floo Powder in. The fire turned a brilliant green.

"Now Harry, remember, speak clearly and keep your elbow's tucked in."

Harry grinned at Miranda's shocked look. "It's a system of transportation. It's not great, but it's alright for emergencies."

"Can I...?"

Harry looked questioningly at Molly. "Can she?"

Molly appeared worried, but sighed. "Yes, dear. You can go after Harry."

Miranda looked a little nervous, but managed, "I'll see you soon Harry."

Harry nodded then stepped into the fireplace. "Dumbledore's office," he said loudly, and with a whoosh, he disappeared.

Harry stumbled out of the fireplace, to be faced with high-heeled, buckled boots. He quickly picked himself up off the floor, if only to make way for Miranda when she landed.

"Professor, sir," Harry said shyly.

"Is Miss Granger arriving any time−"

He was interrupted by a loud shriek, as Miranda hit the floor. She stood up, a large grin on her face. "Wow. That was fun!"

Dumbledore smiled. "I see she is."

Noticing Dumbledore for the first time, Miranda straightened herself. "Um... hi."

He peered over his half-moon glasses, taking her in. "Miss Granger, it's nice of you to finally join us."

Miranda blushed. "I..."

"There is no need to explain. I am quite aware of current your situation."

"Um... ok."

"I wish only to pose to you one question."

"What would that be sir?"

"Do you wish for your sister to be informed of your arrival at Hogwarts?"

Miranda thought for a moment, before saying, "No."

"Hermione!" A breathless Ron found Hermione in the library.

"Ron, what is it?" Hermione was clearly frustrated with him. "You've distracted me so much lately, and I really need to start studying for our finals."

Ron looked at her quizzically. "Finals? 'Mione! They're ages away!" He shook is head, clearing the thought. There was clearly something much more important that he had to tell her. "It's Harry!"

Hermione slammed her book shut. "Ronald Weasley. Honestly? I'm trying to− Did you just say Harry?"

Ron nodded.

"Ron, say whatever it is that you have to say," she ordered.

Ron opened his mouth, but found that he couldn't say anything. He tried again. "He's back," he managed to spit it out, before collapsing onto a chair.

Well, there we have it. Another chapter, after soooo long, but the chapter itself is pretty long. I apologise over and over and over and over again... I am sooo sorry for taking FOREVER to write this. My plot really wasn't going the way that I had planned for it to go... so I had to sort of replan it... and then exams and everything... but yeah... hopefully I can get the next chapter up for you soon... though my fictionpress is in need of updating too... man, I used to be so into this story... now I've totally lost it. Ah wellz, review and let me know what you think. It would be much appreciated. Well, FF isn't letting me post... so I dunno when, if ever, I'll get this back to you... hopefully soon!