A/N: Okay, the last chapter was kind of rushed, so I'm slowing it down and adding more content and dialogue. Sorry I haven't updated in…-looks- Gosh, two months! Wow! Well, here goes nothing!

Disclaimer: I don't own this. I don't own that. I won't eat them here or there, I won't eat them anywhere! I will not eat them, Sam I Am! I do not like Green Eggs and Ham! Ahem. That was random. But I do own the plot.

Harry and Ginny faced McGonagall, who was now sitting in her office. It still looked much the same as Dumbledore had kept it, with the exception of Fawks the phoenix, who was replaced by a phoenix of a deeper shade of red and gold trimmed feathers. A small nameplate said "Esmeralda" and sat under the beautiful bird. McGonagall herself sat in front of the two, staring at Ron, who was huddled in a chair nearby.

"Now, Miss Weasley, Mr. Potter, as Ronald here is in not in any state to answer my questions, you will need too. Was there anything that made you suspect that Miss Granger was thinking of leaving the school?"

Harry glanced at Ron, who had let out a loud sob seconds before. Ron had suspected that she was leaving, but had Harry listened? No, of course not.

"Well, Professor, she…well…"

"Yes?"

He took a deep breath. "She asked us to send her all the books we could find on Animagi and birds. Ron thought she might be leaving, but I didn't listen, I just thought she was bored or on one of those study streaks of hers…"

"Yes, yes, that might explain it…" she murmured. "Was she reading anything else?"

"I…I don't know…" Harry said, thinking hard.

"A Hunchback and A Dame," Ron said, in an unnatural, high-pitched voice. "Or something like that."

"The Hunchback of Notre Dame?" McGonagall supplied quickly, and he nodded.

"Well, that shouldn't induce her to leave for any reason." She took another look at Ron, in his pitiful state, and rang a small, tinkling bell above her head. Immediately, two house elves appeared, bowing. "Yes, Headmistress?"

"Please take Mr. Weasley to his chambers." The two elves bowed again and carried Ron out the door, disappearing with a loud crack. McGonagoll stared into thin air for a moment, then said slowly, "I didn't want to ask this in front of Mr. Weasley, but were he and Miss Granger involved in any way more than a friendship?"

Harry and Ginny exchanged looks, and Ginny finally said, "Well…yes. They were sort of dating, I suppose, but they just started last night, we only found out this morning."

McGonagoll nodded wearily. "Ah, I was afraid of that. Well, I hate to say it, but it seems Miss Granger left us of her own accord. I believe Miss Granger has become and Animagi; in fact, I believe she is that white dove that flew from the bushes. I'm not sure why she left, but…"

Harry interrupted her. "Oh, I think it's obvious why she left," He said, his voice hard and stone cold.

"Oh, and why is that?"

"Because a certain Headmistress of ours had her locked up in a tower like a prisoner, that's why," Ginny interjected her voice equally cold. "She couldn't stand it up there, you know. You had her in there for weeks."

McGonagall looked at them. "Hermione understood why I did what I did."

"That doesn't mean she liked it any more than we did. She hated it."

McGonagoll sighed, putting her head in her hands. "I know she didn't like it, but I couldn't go and have someone opening the Chamber of Secrets again or something equally worse!"

"Yes, but you didn't have to lock her up either, did you?"

McGonagoll looked up, her eyes piercing them. "What would you have had me do? It was the only option. And now she has no options left." She held out a hand, and Esmeralda delicately stepped onto it. "I'm going to meet Hermione's parents and sister right now. I'll leave you two here for a while, but I'll be back."

As McGonagoll walked out, she heard Ginny turn to Harry and say, "Hermione has a sister?"

Ron looked out the window at the Grangers coming across the front lawn and into the building, McGonagoll nearby to welcome them. But who was that girl with them? She was almost a miniature copy of Hermione, but with bushier hair, if it was possible. Yet he didn't recognize her. Could Hermione have a little sister? She had never mentioned one to them...

This was no time to be wondering these things-he had to find her! Where could she have gone? Why would she have gone? It wouldn't be like her to just leave without telling anybody…unless…

Had she told Harry, and not him? Why would she have done that!

"Maybe because she knew he would understand?"

He whirled around, wand at the ready. In front of him stood the girl from the grounds, hair bushy and free, brown eyes boring into him.

"Erm…what?"

"Hi." She flopped down into a chair. "I'm Titania Granger. You're Ron Weasley."

"I know I am."

She giggled. "Just making sure." She looked him up and down, taking in the rumpled clothes, red eyes, and messy hair. "Man, you're a wreck."

"Erm…mind if I ask why you're in my room?"

She giggled again. "Just to talk. And to answer your questions."

"Erm…okay." Still looking a bit shocked, he sat down on his four-poster and propped up his feet. "Any specific subject you had in mind?"

"Hermione."

He cringed at the name, but looked up at her. "You're her sister?"

"Yup."

"How'd you get a name like Titania?"

"Our parents had a weird thing for Shakespearian names. Hermione, Titania, our brother's going to be named Timon…."

"Wait a minute, who's Shakeplere?"

"Shakespeare, and he's a famous writer."

"Okay, and second, you're getting a brother?"

"Yes, but Hermione doesn't know, so don't tell her."

He glared at the floor. "No chance of that."

"Why? She's here, isn't she?"

Wordlessly, he shook his head.

"Oh, Merlin's beard, she's gone again?"

He looked up. "Again?"

He mouth formed an O as she realized what she had said. "Oops. We weren't supposed to tell anyone that…" She eyed him, "But I guess I can tell you. She ran away this summer before she went to stay with you all."

"Why?"

"She didn't say why, she just did. She had this weird look ion her eyes, and they were purple."

He grimaced. "I know that look. Okay, anything else you'd like to say about my girlfriend?"

"Girlfriend?" She asked, confused. "Oh, you mean Hermione? God, finally! She's been in love with you for like, six years. It's about time."

He gave a small smile. "Yeah, I guess it is. But then she disappeared, so that was short lived. I couldn't have seen her much, anyways."

"Why not?"

He gaped at her. "Didn't she tell you?"

It was her turn to grimace. "We haven't spoken in, oh, five years."

"Five years? Why?"

"She wanted to hang out with you and that Harry Potter boy, and she didn't write much, and then I told her I hated her one night when I was mad, so we stopped writing."

"She never even mentioned you to us."

Titania sighed. "I guess she forgot she had a sister sometimes. She even left early during our skiing vacation during winter break because we couldn't stop fighting."

"Well, you weren't the only one she fought with, believe me."

She grinned. "She only fights with the people she loves."

His signature blush crept up his ears. "Well, then she must love Harry, too, because she fights with him too."

"Yeah, but she loves him like…a brother or something, not like she loves you. It doesn't matter, though, if what you say is true."

"That she left?"

"No, that she didn't tell anyone."

"Hey, I just thought that, I didn't say it!"

She blushed. "Erm…sorry about that. Hermione told you we're related to gypsies, right?"

"Yeah…wait a second, did you read my mind or something?"

"Kind of, but I'm not very good, I just get strong emotions most of the time." She looked down. "But I know what you're thinking, but I can't read Hermione anymore."

"Why not?"

"I don't know…I just can't. She's probably cast a charm."

"So, wait just a second…so you're a witch too?"

"Well, yes."

"There's two of you? Merlin, I can barely keep track of Mione, now I've got you, too?"

"Mione? You call her Mione, and she lets you?"

"Yeah…"

She sighed. "She never lets us call her that. Anyways, what was I here for? Oh, yes, you might want to check her diary."

He looked up. "She kept a diary?"

Titania snorted. "Did she keep a diary. Of course she did, she has since she could write! Well, the originals are messy, but she recopied them. This year's is a blue leather one. I can't believe you didn't know about it!"

He sighed. "I guess there's a lot we didn't know about Mione."

She smiled. "Glad to be of service. Well, I need to go, so look for the diary. Bye!"

She walked out the door, leaving Ron surprised, puzzled, and slightly scared by this little girl. However, he had to find the diary, so he grabbed his broom and took off out the window.

The tower was empty and dark without Hermione's presence. It had been cleared out of all her belongings and was now bare. Ron looked around, unsure of what to do. Surely she wouldn't have just left it lying around for someone to find…he spotted a crack in the wall and walked towards it. The chunk of wall pulled away easily, revealing a small, hollow space that contained a blue leather book, a box of chocolates, and a small box with what looked like papers spilling from it.

"We're not sure why she left, but here is where she was staying. If you can find anything in here that she may have hidden…letters, a diary, anything…then please tell us so we can find her." McGonagall's voice rang through the door. Startled, Ron grabbed all three items and ran, barely remembering to replace the chunk. He flew out of the window just as the Grangers and the headmistress entered.

Once back on his bed, he drew the curtains shut and grabbed the item on the top: the chocolates. They were fancy, and the name was in a different language. He smiled as he saw that over half of them were eaten. He then grabbed the box. Numerous scrolls of parchment spilled out of it when he opened it. With a look of disgust he noticed that they were all signed, "Viktor Krum". Why had he ever liked the git?

He sighed, setting them down and aching for the diary. He opened the cover, smiling at Hermione's precise cursive.

Property of Hermione Granger.

He let the pages fall open to the night before she had disappeared.

Dear Diary,

I told Harry, but I just couldn't tell Ron. He wouldn't understand. I may love him, but even I know that he has the emotional range of a teaspoon. I think I told him that once, actually, in fifth year. He just wouldn't get why I wanted to leave. I just couldn't do that to him. I expect that by tommarow he'll be angry with me. I hope Harry doesn't keep that letter from him.

But that's not even the biggest event of the night. Ron kissed me! I was so happy…but now I've got to leave. The Muggle town I want to go to has an abandoned cottage, and I used my birthday money to rent it for three weeks. After that, I don't know where I'll go. It would be a lot harder if I wasn't of age, though. In the Muggle world I can't do much, but I can apply for a job or something.. I still have about four hundred left after the rent, so I can live on that, I suppose. I can't take you with me, I'm afraid. Someone might have charmed it so that it can track me, and I'd prefer not to be found. And Ron or Harry might find it and get a better understanding of why I left. Well, it's late, and I've got to watch the Quiditch match tommarow. Ron's playing, and I know he and Harry will do well.

Hermione

"Muggle town…" he murmured. "I wonder…" He flipped back through the gold trimmed pages until he found want her was looking for.

Today I found a Muggle town in the United States. They have a few places I could rent out to stay in for a while. It's in Kentucky, in the country. I think I may be able to get out of here, finally.

"Kentucky…United States…but why would she want to go there?" He continued flipping through the diary, finally stopping when he saw his name.

Ron is so…incorrigible! Doesn't he notice that I'm in love with him? Ugh!

But if I'm in love with him, then why can't I seem to do anything about it? After the Lavender incident I thought things were going well, but then Dumbledore went and got himself killed, and now Harry needs me much more than Ron does. I don't know how Harry does it sometimes. He puts up with Ron, he puts up with Ron fighting with me, he survived the deaths of everyone he loves…it's just me and the Weasleys left, I think. And Remus, but he and Tonks are much too wrapped up in themselves to visit much. They're getting married now, did I mention? Well, Ron's too busy with failing his Newts, so I guess I'm about all Harry's got right now.

Ron frowned at the words. Why did Hermione always have to know everything? She could read Ron like a book, except when it came to his feelings for her. Then again, she was right about the fact that he didn't know about her feelings for him. He had hoped, though. He sighed, putting aside the diary.

He would find her. He had to.

Hermione smiled as she looked around the cottage. Flying to the airport had not been easy, but once she had made it there she knew she was going to get there. No order members had discovered her plan, and she doubted that Ron and Harry would catch on to her, or even find her diary. There was a slim possibility, but even then they wouldn't know where to look. She was finally free.

The cottage had four rooms: A bedroom, a bathroom, a kitchen that also served as a dining room, and a room that the Americans called the "Family Room". The bedroom was decorated in pastel pink and cream, reminding Hermione of one of Florean Fortescue's strawberry sundaes. The kitchen was in blue and white tile, with a stove, an oven, a refrigerator, and a dishwasher. The dining table was oak, and carved with intricate designs of ivy. The bathroom was done in yellow, and the family room was the most interesting of the four. The walls were painted a deep purple, and the accents were gold. The couch and armchair were of the same purple, and the telephone, television, and desk were located here as well. She seemed to be well set.

She slowly turned again, looking at the belongings she had in her bag: clothes, an emergency credit card from her parents, a picture of her, Ron, Harry, and Ginny, her wand, and a new diary. She took a pencil out of her pocket and began to write.

Dear Diary,

I've moved into the new house. My clothes were already at the train station when I arrived; I'm glad that I'm of age now, and it's so easy to transport things. However, I must stop using magic now, because I know they'll try to trace me by it. I've withdrawn all the money from my savings account in England and closed it, so now I'll need to open a new account, most likely under a new name. I really don't want to be found. So my wand must go into hiding with me. Well, I think I should go unpack the clothes and my books. I'll write more tommarow.

Hermione

She dragged the stacks of books towards the enormous bookshelf, which was next to the window and the queen sized bed. She took care to look at each book, remembering old favorite. She had loved Emma when she first read it; Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm was another favorite. Cheaper by the Dozen, Gone With the Wind, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Wind in the Willows…all were lined up neatly next to each other. Then came the newer favorites, like She Said Yes and, oddly one of her favorites, The Princess Diaries. Sammy Keyes and the Hollywood Mummy, A Walk to Remember, The Notebook, The Shoes series, the Tamora Pierce books, The Tillerman Cycle…seeing each book was like visiting an old friend. She pulled out All-of-a-Kind Family and flopped down on the bed, opening to a marked page and beginning to read.

Harry leaned against the large oak tree in front of the lake, sitting with Ginny in his arms. He watched as a brave, ignorant young first year dove headfirst into the water, oblivious to the giant squid that swam beneath the surface.

"Do you think Hermione's okay?" Ginny asked, when their laughter at the sight of the squid shaking the boy had died down.

Harry leaned down to kiss the top of her head. "Knowing Hermione, she's got it all figured out."

Ginny sighed. "But why would she leave my brother like that? I mean, I know she was in love with him, she told me!"

"She told you that?"

A sheepish grin stole across her face. "Maybe?"

Harry sighed into her hair. "Well, I should have seen that coming." He looked down at Ginny. "I know you two were close."

"She was like the sister I never had. We told each other everything." She looked up at him, frowning. "Why don't you think she told me she had a sister?"

Harry shook his head. "I have no idea. She didn't tell anybody, did she?"

"Not that I know of."

"I wonder why she went to see Ron and not us?"

"I don't know that, either. Hermione's suddenly become a big mystery to all of us. Who knows what else she's been hiding from us?"

"Well, after I read her diary and found out about Ron in third year, she hid it pretty well, so who knows?"

"Wait a minute...Mione had a diary and you never told me this?"

"No, why would I?"

Harry laughed. "You've got me there. But you read it?"

"Yep."

There was silence for a minute or two before Harry broke it.

"What did it say?"

"Harry!" Ginny punched him in the arm. "I can't tell you that?"

"Why not?"

"Because, what a girl keeps in her diary is not for the rest of the world to now!"

"Oh, so you can read it, but I can't?"

"Precisely."

"Well, now I'm just going to have to find yours and read it, aren't I?'

Her eyes widened. "You wouldn't."

"I think you'll find that there's no limit to what I might do, Ginny."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes."

"Then kiss me."

"What?"

"I said kiss me."

"I heard what you said."

"Then prove that you're not just bluffing!"

The two didn't see the whole school watching as they kissed, but then they really didn't care, either.

"I just don't know what I supposed to do, Albus!" McGonagoll threw he hands up in frustration. "She covered all her tracks, and she hasn't told anyone anything about leaving!"

"Well, Minerva, did you check her Muggle connections?"

The Headmistress stopped pacing. "Her what?"

"Muggle connections. She is Muggle born, you know, she might not have used magic at all."

"How could we trace her?"

"Oh, credit cards, bank accounts, mail systems, plane and train tickets- almost anything. The Muggle world does have some way to track down people, you know."

"I hadn't thought about it."

"Apparently not, my dear. Now, you've interviewed all the friends, correct?"

"Yes, yes, they're all checked. They didn't know anything."

"And her family?"

"Her parents said something about a book of some sort, where she recorded her thoughts…a diry?"

"Diary."

"Right. Well, we can't find it anywhere, so it doesn't matter. We've tried checking her things, casting a return to owner charm, but she doesn't seem to want any of them. She's taken all her clothes and books, but she hasn't used magic for two days now."

"She may have had them transported through Muggle means. You must think like Hermione. She doesn't make many mistakes, but even the slightest flaw can help us find her."

"I just don't understand why she would leave!"

"I advised you against that tower, Minerva."

She stared at the portrait of Albus Dumbledore that hung near her desk. "What would you have had me do? She tried to attack a student!"

"No, Voldemort tried to attack a student. You should have had her practice Occlumency like I told you."

"We don't have a well trained member in the order to do it, now that you're not there anymore. Oh, why did she have to leave now?"

"She obviously had it planned, Minerva. Think. Where did she want to go most? Who would know that?"

"She said once that she wanted to travel to America. Wanted to work in the country, somewhere warm, but not tropical."

"The southern United States it is. Not settle down and drink something warm."

The Headmistress sighed. "I just don't know what to do, Albus."

The portrait smiled softly. "You'll figure it out. Now get some rest, Minerva. I, for one, am going to bed." The portrait closed its eyes, slipping into a peaceful slumber.

Minerva shook her head. "You always were the calm one, Albus." With that, she turned in for the night.

The people in Hermione's new neighborhood whispered and flocked outside her door until finally one woman pushed past them.

"Oh, I'll do it." She walked up to the door and knocked on it. "See, now that wasn't so hard, was it?"

The townspeople watched as a young woman answered the door.

"Yes?"

"Hello, dear, I'm Linda Cultran, and these are my neighbors. Well, I suppose they're yours too now, but we came to say hello."

"Oh, that's so lovely of you!" The girl spoke with a British accent. "I'm…Ally Bellson," she said, making up a name on the spot.

"Well, Ally, how would you like to join us in the park for a picnic?"

"Oh, I'd love to! Hold on, let me grab my bag…" She pulled out a large, quilted purse. "All right, I'm ready!"

"All right then, everyone, we can walk there. Some fresh air will do us all some good."

The long line of neighbors walked towards the park, chatting amicably with Hermione.

"So, where are you from, dear?"

"London."

"And how old are you?"

"I'll be eighteen in mid September."

"Well, that's only a few weeks away!"

The girl smiled. "Yes, that's right."

They reached the park in good time. The sun was bright, and the air was full of the sounds of late summer. A dozen children broke free of their parents clutches and ran towards the playground, while the adults and Hermione spread out the blankets and food.

"Mm…this is nothing like British food. Much better."

The women laughed. "Glad to hear it. It's all homemade, you know."

"Really? How do you ever find the time to cook it all?"

"Oh, we run a catering business, all the women of the neighborhood. Do you cook?"

Well, sort of…but I'm a fast learner."

"Good, we could use another pair of hands in the kitchens."

Hermione smiled. Things were finally going in the right direction for her.

"So how's your love life? Any boyfriends that we should know about?"

She blushed. "Well…I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"Well, I was seeing someone, but…"

"But what, dear?" All the women were crowded around her, listening.

"Well, I sort of left without telling him, and I know he'll be mad and try to find me."

The women gave clucks of sympathy.

"But there were certain circumstances, so I hope he'll forgive me."

The women nodded, and, knowing when to stop, moved on to discussing the latest edition of an American magazine. Hermione wandered off towards a garden area, humming a tune from the Weird Sisters.

"I don't believe I've ever heard a song quite like that."

Hermione whirled around to see a tall, handsome teen, about her age, leaning against a tree.

"I'm Austin Cultran. And you are?"

"Ally Bellson."

"You moved in next door, right?"

"Yes, I did."

"I thought so. Hey, maybe later I can show you around the neighborhood."

"Thanks. Maybe." She smiled.

"Nice to meet you, Ally." He walked back towards the picnic, sitting in the middle of a group of teenagers. Hermione walked back towards the women, joining the conversation. Yes, things were definitely starting to turn around.

A/N: So, whatcha think? Took me a while to write this one, but I think it's pretty good. This is my logest chapter yet! I've added a little Harry/Ginny action there, as you can see. And Austin is going to cause a bit of trouble for Ron later on…so keep reading! Hope you liked it! Keep those reviews coming!

Ash