"No!" both Ron and Mr. Weasley screamed at the same time. "You'll do no such thing," Arthur continued. "You're not safe if you're on your own. You're an open target."

"I'm a target either way, Mr. Weasley. You said so yourself. You're only putting yourself and your family in danger. I'll not be responsible for the deaths of the people I've grown to love."

"Hermione, love, let us protect you," Ron implored, his eyes piercing hers.

"You're staying right here," Arthur said to his son. "It's bad enough Molly and Bill will be there. I won't have you risking your neck for no reason." He heard Ron start to protest but he continued as if he hadn't heard him at all. "She'll be fine with us. We're fully qualified and Bill knows some dodgy curses that will ensure her safety. And ours. Now you will receive an owl from Hermione once we have her settled in. You can see her again after you leave here on Harry's birthday." He then turned his attention back to the young witch. "I'm sorry this is so sudden, Hermione, but I need you to go pack your things and be ready to go."

Hermione nodded and took Ron's hand, pulling him from the room behind her. He gave a fleeting look to his father before following her up the stairs again. Once inside Harry's room, she shut the door and pushed him against it. She slowly rose to her tip toes and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. "I don't want to leave never having done that."

He offered her a smile as he threaded his fingers though her bushy hair and tilted her face up towards his. "You'll have plenty more chances after we meet up next month," Ron said as his mouth descended onto hers once again.

This kiss was deeper, hungrier, and neither wanted it to end. He angled her head differently, a move he certainly learned from Lavender, and used his tongue to beg for access to her mouth. She willingly complied, trying not to think about the fact that Lavender had been the one to teach him. The girl really deserves a fruit basket, Hermione decided as she brought her arms up around his neck.

He regretfully broke the kiss to take in some much needed oxygen. He placed his forehead against hers and smiled in an almost dreamy manner. "That was the best kiss of my life," he said softly.

"Lavender taught you well," Hermione smirked.

Ron suddenly pulled back to look down into her eyes. "I never kissed her like that. Maybe in actions, but that was ... so much more. I hope you, I hope you realize that." He paused and slid a hand over her cheek. "That was the most important kiss of my life. The one that made me realize that I never want to kiss anyone but you ever again."

Hermione made a whimpering sound and pulled his head back down to hers instigating a kiss just as deep and meaningful as the last. She released him, albeit reluctantly, and moved further into the room. "Promise me you won't leave this house no matter what you hear, Ron. I'm sure you're the second target and they'll make things up in order to draw you out. I'll be fine," she said as she turned to look into his eyes. "And I'll make sure your mum goes back to the Burrow and is safe with Gin and Harry. I'll be with your dad and Bill." She opened her trunk and started to throw in whatever odds and ends she hadn't had packed away. "And you'll be by to see me as soon as Harry's birthday comes. And I'll owl you as soon as I get where I'm going." She finished packing and shut her trunk. "Would you mind terribly if I left Crookshanks with you?"

Ron started to protest before he saw the look of pleading on her face. He couldn't say no to her. She needed his help and even if it was for that mental cat of hers, by God he would help her. "Sure, love. I'll take care of him."

"You're not going to kill him, right?" she asked playfully.

"Not unless he provokes me."

"He always provokes you; you said so yourself."

"Well, I mean REALLY provokes me. Like, you know, the mental cat that he is. If he tries to, I don't know, murder me, I may have to take defensive action," he grinned.

She grinned back and leaned over to give him a quick kiss. "Help me get my trunk downstairs?" she asked.

"Sure thing, 'Mione," he replied as he pulled out his wand and levitated it. He grinned at the face she pulled before playfully shoving her out the door and following.

When they got down the stairs, Mr. Weasley grabbed her trunk and told her he would meet her at her parents' home. She nodded and he disapparated.

She turned to Ron and wrapped her arms around him. "I'll owl as soon as I know what's going on. Tell Harry I'm sorry I got angry with him ... and tell him what's happening. Everything will work out ... we'll all be okay. Promise me you won't do anything stupid," she said with an arched brow.

He stared hard at her for a moment before finally relenting. "I promise," he mumbled.

She gave him a prize winning smile and gave him a gentle, loving kiss on the lips. "We'll pick this conversation up when you get where I'm going."

He smiled at her and wrapped his arms around her waist, ignoring the Dursleys and Lupin. "You got it," he smiled before capturing her lips in a deep, meaningful kiss. He broke away before he could get out of hand and then released her. "Hey, 'Mione?" When she turned from the Dursleys (she was thanking them for allowing her to stay), he smiled and said, "I have something important to tell you."

"What is it?" she asked.

"Well, I reckon I'll just wait until we meet up again." At her pout he smiled and said, "Believe me, it'll be worth the wait." She gave him a deep look, silently asking if this was something he was willing to be left unsaid. He shook his head and sighed, taking a few steps to her and taking her hands. "You're right, as always. I just ... I wanted to say ... I ... what I mean is," he stuttered. He took a deep breath and brought his face inches from hers. "I love you," he whispered. "Remember that." He placed a soft kiss on her lips and turned to walk out of the room.

"I love you too," she called after him.

He stopped, a silly grin spreading across his face, and turned back to her. "I know."

Both with cheeky grins on their faces, Ron headed upstairs and Hermione disapparated with a pop.

"Seven years for THAT?" Lupin asked before smiling himself and disapparating to the Burrow.

When Remus Lupin landed in Molly Weasley's famous kitchen, the sight that met him was both entertaining and surprising. Harry Potter, his last link to Sirius and James, had Ginny Weasley pinned to the table. They both had eggs in their hair and it looked like neither of them noticed.

"Hold on, Gin, you have some jam just ..." his voice faded into her moan as his head dropped to her chest.

Remus didn't know if he should break them up or just back out. He heard a crack come from the other room just before he heard Molly Weasley's angry tone, "Safer to be at home ... rubbish!"

"Kids," he hissed quickly. "Molly's home."

The two broke apart quickly and guiltily. Remus gave Harry a knowing smile before he began casting Scourifying charms on Ginny, Harry, and the kitchen in general. Just in time, the charms wore off and Molly burst in. "Honestly. No place for me to be," she muttered. "Hermione's there and I get send home like I'M the child." She stopped, turning her face to her daughter and Harry. She narrowed her eyes and searched the room for anything out of place. It seemed as if she thought she saw something, but quickly dismissed it, muttering something about it being "impossible."

She quickly checked the clock and then walked out of the room claiming that de-gnoming the garden would be the best outlet for her frustrations.

Harry and Ginny made to follow but were stopped by Remus' jovial tone. "Ginny, you've missed a bit of jam just under Harry's ear."

Both kids blushed bright red before pushing their way out of the room.