A/N: Sorry for the longer wait than normal. I've been terribly sick. I actually still have a bit of a fever. I haven't been able to work on anything. Chapter eight is completely done, but I decided to make an exception and post this before chapter eight was done.. just because I got all the wonderful reviews you guys gave.

Chapter 7:

With Mrs. Weasley's newfound advice, Hermione found herself enjoying dinner with the Weasleys. She found herself sitting between Charlie and Ron, enjoying Charlie's talk of Romania and traveling. He was quite a charming man, if she ever knew one. His rough exterior was swept away every time he flashed that dazzling smile of his.

She found herself blushing when he asked her about her love life. "Well, you see… it's nonexistent." Hermione played with her fork, blushing deeper when she heard his laugh. Was he laughing at her?

"I hear from my dearest brother Ronnie that you're living with one of the most eligible bachelors in our world. Now tell me honestly." He chuckled at her, his deep voice rich with laughter.

"It's nothing. Viktor was just in need of a place to stay so I offered. I've been friends with him for a few years now. It's nothing special." She couldn't bring herself to look at Charles. She knew that he had the classic Weasley smile on his face coupled with mischief dancing in his golden eyes.

"I'm sure it's not." His statement was betrayed by his tone of voice, and she managed to look up at him for enough of a long period to send him a dirty shake of the head and glare.

"I can be friends with a guy without it being anything more!" She defended.

She felt like she needed to defend herself. She didn't exactly know why, but she felt like she did. Was it because she was trying to convince herself at the same time as him. No, that couldn't be it, could it? After all, she had already admitted to herself her feelings for Viktor Krum. She just wasn't ready to admit it to the world. Not that she taught that Charlie Weasley was some random stranger. She had gotten to know him over the years and had even kept in contact with him.

"Like Terry Boot? Like Blaise Zabini? Like Ron?" He asked her, a smile playing on his lips. He felt like he had her. Well, she wasn't about to let him win that easily.

"Like half the Gryffindor tower. Like half my year when I was Head Girl. Like Malfoy. Like Viktor now. Like Harry." She grinned triumphantly.

"You weren't close mates with most of those people now, were you? When have you ever had a full blown conversation with Dean Thomas, for example?" He was still challenged on. She groaned inwardly, already mapping out his strategies.

"Well, there was that one time about a Runes assignment we got partnered for. But anyway, I am close mates with Viktor and just a friend." She paused to let him give her another of his Weasley glances. "I'm becoming closer to Malfoy and have had daily deep conversations with him. And I spent every single day with Harry."

"Oh, but you haven't forgiven little Malfoy, have you? You can't trust him, can you? Malfoy has to undo almost 7 years of horrid behavior. That little rat will never be close to your heart. And as for Harry, you know as well as I do the reasons that you were never anything more. They start with Voldemort and end with Ginny." He ran his calloused hands through his rough, straw-like hair.

Yes, this boy was definitely bright. He had her, and she knew it. She couldn't even argue anymore. She had nothing to argue with. Of course, she knew he was right all along. She didn't want to be just friends with Viktor, but she wasn't sure what they were right now or where they were headed. So, she decided to argue with him. Of course, to him, it was all a game of 'Crack the Granger' to Charlie.

"I like Viktor Krum. So hex me." She finally admitted, looking around in a paranoid manner to make sure no one else heard that. She didn't they anyone had, and she was glad for it.

Yes, everything seemed to be in order. Mrs. Weasley was fussing over Fleur, insisting that she didn't put on enough weight for the child she was now carrying. Bill was having a conversation with Mr. Weasley and Percy (who had finally loosened up and joined the clan again). Luna stared lovingly at Ron, a faraway glance (that she always possessed) in her eyes. Ron was preoccupied with talking to Ginny and the twins about how "Ireland's new seeker will pummel Russia", and she was talking to Charles Weasley about her love life. Oh how things were so different yet so same.

"See. Even bossy, bookworm Hermione Granger is capable of feelings." She was about to smack him when she looked back at him to notice that the playfulness had never left his face or his tone.

"Hmph." was all she said before she flicked a single pea at him with her spoon. Yes, there were flaws that Hermione Granger possessed that got her into some sticky situations: She almost burned down her brand new flat three days after she moved in when she attempted to cook a simple pasta sauce straight out of the can; she almost fell straight into deep creature infested waters when she refused to take a broom ride (because of her horrible lack of skill in flying) across a very narrow log to the negotiation chambers of West American goblins; and, she had no aim whatsoever. Thus, her badly aimed pea flew straight past Charlie who didn't even have to move and ended up hitting Bill on the nose.

He turned to her, mirroring Charlie's previous expression (Charlie had now become even more amused and was trying to suppress laughter unsuccessfully). He took a sandwich and chucked it at her. Though she was terrible at flying, she had good reflexes from her early muggle years of softball. She ducked, and it flew over her head and hit Fred Weasley.

He cursed (which earned him a "FRED JONATHON WEASLEY" from Mrs. Weasley) loudly before throwing food of his own. Soon, the whole Weasley clan plus two was chucking food at each other.

While Mrs. Weasley 'tutted' and said she disapproved, it wasn't long before she was throwing things herself. A very pregnant Fleur used her child as immunity, throwing things but not receiving anything in return. Luna seemed about it all until she recited some odd quote that made no sense and joined in, throwing pudding at Ron, who was throwing meat at his father, who was throwing jello at Charlie who was throwing peas at Hermione.

When the makeshift fight was over, Hermione helped Mrs. Weasley quickly clean everything up with a few spells she had learned herself (in her misadventures in trying to convince herself she was not completely inept at any simple task in the kitchen such as boiling water). In no time, it was done, and most people had retired to different parts of the house.

She found herself in Ron's old room with Ron, sitting on his bed (Charlie having had to retire to his room for the night because of an early portkey the next morning). She found that their carefree conversation soon drifted to relationships. She seemed to be talking about that a lot lately. It was almost as if Viktor had implanted her with something in her mind.

"I'm breaking up with Luna, I reckon." Ron said abruptly after a short period of silence. She gaped at him.

"Why?" She knew he had some sort of issue with her. He had hardly spoken with her at the table tonight, and she was not here beside him now. In fact, she couldn't remember seeing her at all in her time with Ron after the conversation she and him had had.

"I've fallen out of love. Actually, I'm not one hundred percent that I was ever in love with her. I think she was like something to get me past point B, you know? I guess it never really worked out the way that I had hoped." She looked up at him questioningly.

His freckles hadn't faded, but his easily embarrassed nature had. He had more confidence than ever, and it took him quite a bit to blush now. His hair was starting to go longer (in school she only remembered him wearing his hair fairly short). He really had grown into his own body. He wasn't the schoolboy she remembered. He was a man, and it made her heat up when she realized how close she was to him.

"Point B?" She asked.

"Point A was the war and Harry. Point B was you." It took her a few seconds to comprehend what he had said, but her body had reacted immediately, heat rising to her face.

And before she knew it, one of his hands was on her knee, and the other was under her chin. She then realized that once he had said those words she had been looking down at his hand. Now, he forced her to look up at him. She didn't have time to react as he brought his lips down on hers for a thorough kiss.

"No." She stood up abruptly. Heat was in every part of her body, but she couldn't. She was confused.

"No?" He asked. He stood up and looked at her questioningly.

"No." She repeated. "You… you need to deal with Luna, and I… I'm not sure Ron. I'm not sure I want to go there again. I loved you Ron, and I still do, but I had to let the romantic feelings go. They bring up memories, Ron. I can kiss you, but I'll always flash back to that time when Harry caught us snogging in your room or the final kiss you gave me before we never saw Harry again. I don't think I can. And even if I can, I'm afraid that I'm slowly starting to fall in love with someone else. Please understand." She reached out and grabbed his hand.

He had such a heartbroken expression on his face, but a look of understanding crossed it. Then, another did. "I can't bring him back by bringing back memories, can I?" He asked, a single, perfect tear slipping down his eyes and onto his freckles before dropping from his chin to the floor.

She shook her head.

"I didn't think so. I still need to break up with Luna though, and you need to go to Krum."

She nodded, falling into his arms when he beckoned her to. This was not the first time she had cried in his arms, but knew it would probably be the last.

A/N:

Review Replies

LeoAngeldust: Oh I know. Me too, right? But then again... I have every right to be. I AM the author (ish). Thanks for likinggg.

SupastarEden: Okie... here... I'll do one for you soon, and I'll email you with the info then you can change the password or watever. But... hehe... yes foodfight. I originally wanted to post the last part... but... I couldn't give too much away. I'm sure you understand why. Don't beat me with a baseball bat!

Kichou: Thankie. I can't wait for YOU to read it either. LOL. feels like ginormous nerd

lazyllama101: I updated as soon as I have lots of reviews! Duhhh.

Silveni: lol... But demanding reviewers are FUN! WEEE! And don't think no one's ever said "MAKE THEM " before. My characters have a life of their own now. I can't force them to snog or shag. Heh, but this story is rated M so WAIT FOR IT. Heh.

les-cam: Thank you... err... I love you too? Heh. Thanks for the review. It made me smile.

aGreatPenName: Thank you for saying huzzah. It made my morning when I read it. By the way, there are some good Charlie or Bill/Hermione fanfictions. Heck, it's one of my favorite pairings. You actually get to see a little Charlie/Hermione interaction in this chapter... well... by the time you've read this, you've already finished reading the chapter. Hehe! So... yes... I think after I'm done with this one (or close to the end), I'm starting either a Ron/Hermione fiction, a Charlie/Hermione fiction, or another Draco/Hermione fiction. My favorite character is Remus though so I may do a time turner fic or something. We shall see, now that I've left you a chapter in a reply! Heh.

X: Thankies... and I hope you enjoyed seven... like next chapter? Heh.

liz: Thanks. I will. Heh.

Haruka-Clone: Oh yes. Oh yes. I concur. I concur indeed. Now, because of you, it is time to post the next chapter, my tenth reviewer. :)

Chapter eight PREVIEW:

She had previously made up with Viktor, but she still couldn't bring herself to take the leap and tell him how she felt. She didn't know why she was so guarded, but she was. She wanted to reach out and take his hand and kiss him. But… she was not that girl. She wasn't the girl that could take charge of a boy and seduce him. Man, she corrected herself. 'He's a man.'

Nevertheless, she couldn't bring herself to tell him. She figured that if there was anything more, he would bring it up. And if he didn't, it was the fates that were against them. Contrary to belief, she did trust and believe in fate. She didn't believe in gibberish such as telling the future (or anything that her almost colleague, Trelawny said). She believed in making her own future, but if there was a little push from fate to get her where she needed to be, then that was fine with her.

Now, she was getting a bit frustrated with the damned fates. She was currently making her way to the very familiar castle she always knew and loved, her belongings shrunken, being carried by herself, Viktor, and Ron.