I'm not even going to bother asking for apologies for this chapter's lateness. I know it's unforgivable. All I ask is that you read this and tell me whether or not I should keep up with it - if you do, I promise that next chapter will be up within the next fortnight.

Untimely Interruptions

Hermione stood out on the front lawn, looking up at the large, mismatched house that was the Burrow with fond familiarity. Admittedly, the first time she had stayed at the Weasley's house, four years ago, she'd found the Wizarding home to be somewhat strange and eccentric in comparison to the muggle atmosphere she was used to. However, over the years it had become like a second home to her, and although she loved her parents' considerably smaller three-bedroom home just outside London, it was a nice change to be able to get away from the the normality of muggle life and back in touch with her natural world.

She was brought back to earth via the wicker case at her feet, which was hissing loudly in complaint.

"Don't worry, Crookshanks, we're almost there," Hermione soothed the basket that held her fluffy ginger cat before picking it up with one hand and her suitcase with the other with a small grunt of effort and heading up the front path.

She eventually made it to the front door and was about to ring the doorbell but didn't have a chance as at that moment it swung open, revealing a beaming Mrs Weasley, who promptly enveloped her into a hug.

"Hermione, dear, it's so good to see you!"

"It's great to see you to, Mrs Weasley," Hermione managed to gasp out. Seeing this, the plump witch let go and ushered her inside. "You just make yourself comfortable dear, we've actually got a few guests at the moment - oh no, the pigs have got into the chicken shed again!" she cried in dismay, before hurrying outside to tend to the offensive pigs.

The kitchen was the same as always, Hermione noticed as she deposited her suitcase and a yowling Crookshanks on the ground. Small, cosy and adorned with all manner of pots and pans, one of which was stirring itself on the stove with a spoon suspended in mid-air. The old clock was still on the mantlepiece with all hands still pointing to Mortal Peril. She quickly looked away and noticed Tonks, Bill and the little Veela girl she remembered from the Triwizard Tournament seated at the kitchen table.

"Wotcher Hermione. Did you have a good summer?" Tonks asked cheerfully. Hermione smiled at her, noting the difference in last year's Tonks to this one, particularly her vivid pink hair.

"Yeah, I did thanks," she replied.

"I heard about young my younger brother paying you a visit the other week," Bill added mischieviously. "How in Merlin's name did you manage that?"

Hermione felt her cheeks heat up and quickly bent down to the wicker basket now rocking back and forth at her feet.

"Well, Mum and Dad don't exactly know that we're...er..."

"A couple?" Tonks supplied helpfully.

"They think we're just friends," Hermione said hastily, fumbling with the straps of the basket.

"Ahh," the pink-haired Auror said slyly. "So you ingeniously planned it so you were able to do whatever you liked, talk about whatever you wanted and sleep wherever you pleased under the pretence of harmless friendship. Very ingenious."

Hermione gasped in indignation and Bill gave Tonks a sharp look, gesturing his head to Gabrielle, who was watching this exchange with wide eyes, a clear "Watch your mouth, there are innocent children in the room" message.

Tonks sent him and apologetic look but still had an amused glint in her eyes, which were bright blue. "Sorry, Hermione, just kidding. I know you would never do anything of that sort."

Hermione, positively burning with enbarrasment, went back to the basket. "For your information, Ron slept in the spare room," she said. She had barely managed to get the straps undone when a huge ginger blur shot out of it, nearly knocking her over. Hermione steadied herself before standing up and smiling at the young Veela. "Hello. You're Fleur's sister, aren't you?"

She nodded. "Gabrielle."

"Pleased to meet you. I'm Hermione."

"I know. Harry and Ron talk about you all the time," Gabrielle gushed.

"Really?" Hermione asked, amused.

"Mmm-hmm." The girl nodded enthusiastically. "Ron thinks you're the prettiest, smartest girl in the world. He said you were like, like..." The girl screwed up her face as though trying hard to recall something. "Like the morning sun lighting up the gloom of the day with your golden glow!"

Bill choked on his tea and started coughing. Tonks, roaring with laughter herself, slapped him heartily on the back. Hermione found herself growing bright red yet again and tried to cover it up with a light, "Well, Ron can do poetry. Who'd have thought?"

"Like...the...morning...," Bill gasped, overcome with mirth. "Oh, he is so going to be hearing about that later!"

Gabrielle, seemingly unaware of the danger she had just placed the youngest Weasley male in, continued. "He also said that every moment with you was like..."

"Thankyou, Gabrielle, I'm sure he'll tell me himself when I see him," Hermione interrupted firmly, though she seriously doubted her words. Picking up her suitcase, she glared at them. "I'm in Ginny's room, right?" she said loudly.

Bill, still laughing too hard to articulate, just nodded. Hermione huffed and strode out of the room, mumbling ferociously under her breath about loud-mouthed little girls.

The young witch was in such a disgruntled state that she almost missed Harry and Ron lurking outside the door she thought lead to the living room. Her attitude at once changed to amusement as she stood there, surveying them. Her two best friends hadn't noticed her yet, clearly too preoccupied with leaning on the door, seemingly trying to listen through the keyhole. Because of their considerable height and size, Ron in particular, they had to bend down slightly and Hermione had to fight down the urge to laugh at their position. Instead, she left the suitcase at her feet and folded her arms.

"What, pray, are you two up to?" she asked loudly.

Harry and Ron both jumped and spun around like a pair of naughty children with their hands caught in the cookie jar. Harry went a bit pink but Ron just looked confused. "Hermione? Where'd you come fr-ooph!"

Before he could finish the sentence, the door behind him swung open abruptly. Because he and Harry were still leaning on it, they both were taken by surprise and fell through - right before a young, scary looking girl's scruffy sneakers. Ron looked up at the girl and winced before mumbling, "I told you we should have used the Extendable Ears."

The girl took one look at the boys at her feet before calling back over her shoulder, "You were right."

Hermione, once again fighting the urge to laugh at the unfortunate duo, stepped foward and looked in to find Remus Lupin sitting in one of the mismatched armchairs with a resigned expression on his face. "I should have known. Hello Hermione."

"Hi," she said before holding out her hand to Ron. Harry, now positively scarlet, was already up and dusting himself off.

"How did you know..." Ron started to ask.

"...That you were there? Ron, if there's one thing you would do well to learn, it is that you should never try and eavesdropp on a couple of werewolves," Remus replied wryly.

"Yeah, I think we know that now," Harry said as he returned Hermione's enthusiastic greeting hug.

"It was all Hermione's fault," Ron grumbled after his hug.

Hermione gaped at him indignantly. "My fault?"

"Yeah, if you hadn't come and scared us like that..."

"Well, you deserved it. Besides, I was only 'lighting up your day with my golden glow,' as you so nicely put it."

This statement effectively silenced Ron, whose ears had suddenly gone bright red. "Wha - I didn't - I mean-" he spluttered, all too aware of Harry's incredulously amused look and Remus' raised eyebrow. The girl, typically, looked nonchalant.

"Oh, don't feel bad Ron. It was a nice thing to say," she said, patting him on the back. Then, to prevent him suffering any further enbarrassment, she briskly stepped towards the younger girl. "Hello, I don't think we've been introduced. I'm Hermione Granger," she said, holding out her hand.

The girl looked up at her with a surly expression. "Mel," she said shortly in a low voice before moving to stand near the window, ignoring the proffered hand. Harry and Ron, now well used to the werewolf's lack of hospitality, smirked at each other. Hermione looked disconcerted for a couple of seconds before she cleared her throat and hastily dropped her hand.

Remus cleared his throat and they all looked up at him. "Well, I'm sorry to break up this reunion, but Mel and I were just discussing something important and . . ."

"Is it about Voldemort?" Harry butted in. He wasn't trying to be rude, but hadn't spent the last ten minutes trying to eavesdropp on the werewolves' conversation for nothing. He didn't know why, but had a strong feeling that he needed to know what Mel had to say.

Remus frowned at him slightly. "Harry, Mel sought me out to speak in private. It's her choice whether or not she decides to disclose that information to anyone else."

"It's all right, Remus," the young werewolf cut in. She was staring at Harry so intently that he began to feel quite uncomfortable. "I suppose he and his friends are going to find out sooner or later anyway. Besides -" she gave a a small, cynical smile that all three of them found rather unnerving. "- he is the Chosen One. Right?"

Remus seeed a bit reluctant, but soon gave in to the heated persuations from the teens, and with no objection from Mel, he couldn't seem to find any reason against telling them.

"Very well," he finally said. "Hermione, would you close the door, please, then come and sit down. Just in case there are any other potential eavesdroppers -" he smiled at Harry and Ron, who both flushed slightly. "- lurking outside. What I'm about to tell you, I don't want anyone else to know, at least for the moment."

"Why? Is it dangerous?" Hermione asked, overcome with curiousity.

He hesitated, glancing at the door before saying quietly, "Should this information be heard by the wrong ears, then yes, Hermione. It could be very dangerous."

"So, tell us already," Ron said, impatience rising.

Remus sighed. "I will tell you, but first, all three of you must promise you won't interrupt me. This will take quite a while to explain and I need your patience and cooperation."

They all nodded, eagerly looking up at him from their positions on the floor like toddlers about to hear a bedtime story. Biting back a smile, their former Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher glanced once more at Mel, who was standing off to the side, hands shoved in her pockets, before beginning.

Yes, well, nothing terribly eventful here. Next chapter will be much more exciting, in which Remus explains what the rock thing is all about, Harry, Ron and Hermione have a decision to make, and we find out a little about Mel's past.

Until next time!

RosylaGypsy