Chapter 2-Reunited (and it feels so good! P)

(A/N: This chapter & the ones after should be on a much lighter note, thankfully. Also, a ---- means there's a scenario change, as you may have figured out. )

It was past 1:00 when she woke. She stirred from her delicate coverings, moving aside layers and layers of blankets to get out of bed. Hermione peered around, trying to figure out why she was in bed and not at work.

And then, it hit her. The dream, her break-up with Dave, leaving work...the whole nine yards. And now, she just had a decision to make: to re-join the wizarding world…or not. Her heart was leaning toward the first choice, but her body was thinking more seriously about the latter. The young witch shook out her hair, timidly walking to her dresser.

Yes, they were still there. Her books from Hogwarts, her robes, her wand, her journals, her everything. She even found a small pouch containing exactly ten galleons, two sickles, and three knuts. Of course, they were all covered with a thick layer of dust, but never mind that. She had more important obstacles to overcome.

Gingerly, Hermione reached for her wand. Carefully she picked it up- and carefully she dropped it. Shutting her eyes in fear, she grasped a hand around it. Immediately sparks flew onto her hand. She shuddered and tried to drop the wand, but her hand would not let go. Cautiously she opened her large brown eyes, fixing them on her wand. More sparks jolted into the air and onto her pale, shaking hand.

"I guess that's it." she murmured. Hermione paused in her words.

"I'm going back."

----

"Think that's about it." the young witch muttered. She had packed everything worth value into three heavy trunks, all of which had been charmed to feel almost weightless. It was pleasurable to use magic again, as if a small hole in her heart of hearts had been filled once more. Her wand had been a bit rusty and her mind, too, but she had been the smartest witch of her age- and now, she was this once more.

Butterflies were dancing a storm inside her nervous stomach, Hermione was far too nervous for anything at all. She gripped the light strand of pearls around her neck, a joint gift from her mother & Mrs. Weasley, whom, upon meeting had found one another pleasurable company. The young woman studied her eyes it the mirror as she stacked the trunks atop one another carefully, holding onto all three with some part of her body or another.

She thought for a moment or two, remembering that Portkeys were indeed a N.E.W.T and above leveled transfiguration- but bah humbug with that, she thought. Hermione knew the spell easily enough, and soon enough an old gum wrapper had become her ticket to a familiar place- The Leaky Cauldron. She knew apparating would be far too difficult- well, actually, not for her, but she didn't want to risk it- to such a distance, and so on her 3, she was whisked back toward familiarity.

She landed with a thump in the streets of London, throwing the gum wrapper away with an immediate instinct. Hermione picked up her trunks with a wave of her wand and dragged them to the door of the Leaky Cauldron, opening the door to reveal a blast of hot, steamy air and the stench of, well, a bar.

The young witch approached the front of the bar with hesitation.

"Erm, Tom, do you have a room for me?"

The bartender turned around. "Bless me soul! It's one of the Weasleys!"

Hermione shook her head quickly. "Erm, no, this is Hermione Granger."

He peered closer. "In me old days though I recall seeing you with the Weasleys! Maybe me memories' failin'!

She stifled a laugh. "Yes, you're right. I have come here with the Weasleys a few times in my youth, I suppose."

Tom nodded. "I believed so. And as for rooms- only one left, I'm afraid. Right next door to a charming young Auror, actually. I do believe you'll enjoy the placement, it overlooks Diagon Alley in a rather charming way."

Hermione beamed radiance at him nicely. "I'll take it." She handed him the last of her few saved galleons, a mere bit of sickles, and a lucky knut she had found on the floor.

"This should pay for it, I believe?" The young woman acquired, eyes pouring happiness into his own.

"Ahh, yes it shall m'lady. Now please, go get yourself quite comfortable in our Inn. You'll find it pleasurable here at the Leaky Cauldron!" Tom stepped away to help his next customer.

Hermione practically floated go a seat. "Someone remembers me!" She said breathlessly, eyes aglow as the three solemn trunks trudged behind her.

She settled down into a seat at the bar, asking another attendant for a butterbeer. Suddenly, feeling gregarious, Hermione looked up. "Actually, spike that with a bit of firewhiskey, will you?" She tittered with a giggle, wanting to enjoy her first night with privileges. The attendant looked at her.

"We can't really make the best butterbeer…but Rosmerta did send in a shipment earlier today. Pretty lady, you are of age I presume?" He stared down her shirt until she blushed.

"Yes, yes, of course."

----

It had been only 5 drinks through until she felt quite woozy. Around her were two elderly bartenders, Tom, and oddly enough, an old hag.

"Wotcher, Hermione. Haven't seen you in forever, and didn't think I would." the hag spoke up, just as Hermione fell forward onto the table.

"Bless 'er, Tom, she's been drinking in all her stress. Give me a soberizer." Tonks called, morphing back into a friendly looking young woman with heavy pink hair to the tip of her ear as well as vivid blue eyes. She had been on the case for a few remaining Death Eaters when she stopped at the pub to get a drink or two and owl Remus.

The Auror reached forward to pour a small drink down Hermione's throat.

"There, there, sweetheart. Time to go up to your room, without the firewhiskey." Tonks said sternly, turning to Tom with a knowing glance.

"Oh! Hello…Tonks?" Her voice stopped short.

"Yes, Tonks. As in Nymphadora Tonks. As in, curse my mother who gave me an awful name, Tonks. As in, I go by my surname, Tonks. As in, you're busted for drinking too many drinks, Tonks." She winked at Ms. Granger, eyes aglow.

"I'm sorry for drinking…" Hermione's voice carried off. "I guess I got distraught. It's my first night back, you know." Oh, how Tonks knew. She exactly what Hermione had been up to, strange fantasies and all. But like any other good Auror, she would not tell her secrets. She patted Hermione's back gingerly.

"Look, m'dear, you need to go rest. You're tired and distraught, like you said. The Inn provides nice rooms with large beds & I'm sure you'll enjoy them." She murmured, sending Hermione's trunks in mid-air behind her seat.

"Go on, get! Your trunks will follow you upstairs…you just have to walk." Tonks said gently, nudging Hermione from her chair.

----

She had only reached the top of the stairs to discover a tall, gangly red-haired young man turning around as he backed out of his room. In her bubbly spirit she kept walking, not seeing his long black robe or the whip of his head as he turned around.

"OOF!" And in a mere two seconds, they had tumbled over one another in a great, jumbling heap.