Disclaimer: See chapter two.


"See you tomorrow!" Lauren waved out the window as she drove off.

Hermione went to her bedroom and dropped onto the mattress. There was a crinkling sound as she lay back.

Harry's note! She thought, I'd completely forgotten about it.

Hermione pulled the folded parchment from under her shoulder and turned on the lamp by her head. She opened it and proceeded to read without noticing the item wrapped within the note falling out and rolling out of sight.

Hermione,

Hey, it's been a while. Wherever you are, do you think maybe you could come back? Just for a week or two. Please? I promise that Ron and Ginny, and the rest of the Weasleys at that, won't know. I just want to talk. Your parents send their love.

Harry

Hermione noticed a wet spot on the parchment and realized it was her own tear. She had just left without telling anyone, not even her parents. If she went back, that would mean she'd see them. Everyone she'd hurt. Throwing the note aside, Hermione pulled the sheets around her and went to sleep.

In the morning, she got up and dressed for work without another thought of Harry's letter. All day she got orders, served the food, scrubbed the tables and started over again, not even complaining when her boss gave her bathroom duty. The only thing on her mind was Harry's note, no matter how hard she tried to forget, and whether or not she should go back. Hermione returned home, stripped her uniform off and took a steamy shower. She sat down on the floor after she'd gotten dressed again and stared at the note where it lay. Hermione noticed something partially sticking out from under her bedside table and, carefully with her index finger and thumb, pulled out a thin wooden rod. She gasped and dropped it upon looking at it closer. Her wand. There was another note tied to the end with only a few words written on it.

"Love Mum and Dad."

Tears sprung up in her eyes and with a new determination, dialed her manager's number.

"Hi, it's Hermione Granger… Yes, I called to say I'm not coming to work for about a week… Yes I know it's sudden… I don't care if I had to have told you a week in advance… No it can't wait… No… I have to go, good bye." She hung up and brought her hand to her face, "I'll have bathroom duty for a year for that if I'm not fired."

She scribbled a quick note to Harry, asking him to meet her at the Leaky Cauldron at 6 on July 18th and gave it to Hedwig. The owl spread her wings and soared out door Hermione threw open for her.

Hermione then called Lauren, but she didn't answer so Hermione just left a short message. She threw some things into a suitcase, grabbed her purse and was out the door hoping she could catch a plane.

Hermione walked out of the airport and called a taxi.

"Where to?" The man asked in a gruff voice. He looked to be 65, at least.

Hermione gave him her parents' address and sat back, hoping they wouldn't be too angry with her. They arrived and the taxi driver helped Hermione get her bag from the trunk and, after getting paid, sped off. The girl stood at the curb for several minutes gathering the courage for the task ahead. She rolled her bag up to the door and rung the bell without hesitation.

A small woman with graying hair pulled back into a loose bun opened the door.

"Hey Mum," Hermione greeted, smiling awkwardly.

"Who—Hermione!" The woman cried out and promptly fainted.