Disclaimer- I do not own anything but the Plot. I don't even own Emily (who is based on my best friend) or Sarah Somers (who is based on someone rather annoying, but they shall remain nameless and who is NOT to be confused with my excellent beta of 'Glad', also named Sarah), who are both based on real people! Please don't sue! I don't even pretend to own something!

Now, flashbacks are over. We are back to where the Prologue ended. Also, someone emailed me how about in the prologue, Ron and Luna were together, but in the last chapter it was Ron and Hannah. Ron and Hannah broke up. So, in the flashback, he was with Hannah, but present day he is with Luna.

Oh! One more thing, and then, I promise, I'm done! Emily is a muggle-born. That's why she and George have a phone in their apartment.

---

Hermione had a bad habit of revisiting her past when she had important decisions to make. Like now. Her two year term at the U.S. ministry had ended. It was up to her if she wanted to stay here or go to London.

London. Oh, how much she missed it. She hadn't been back in two years. She hadn't spoken to anyone but Emily and George, and they didn't tell anyone that they were in touch with her.

How could she just pop up out of the blue, two years later? Would they accept her? Or would they hate her? She had lost touch with almost all of them…. They had every right to hate her. Would she even see them? Would they care that she was back? Would she see Fred? Was Fred still with Sarah?

Sarah. Sarah was a bitch, plain and simple. It had actually been Hermione who had caught Sarah making out with that other guy. She didn't deserve Fred.

But then again, she loved Chicago. It was a beautiful city, and she had made good friends. She would hate to leave.

And so Hermione's dilemma began. She would hate herself if she left. She would hate herself if she stayed. She was hurting herself thinking about Fred. Not thinking about Fred killed her. Dammit. She was back on square one. She didn't want to think about Fred. Those stupid thoughts. Everything kept going back to him.

Hermione looked at the clock. By now, it was 12:30. She should be heading home. It was about an hour's drive. She was out in the middle of nowhere, and she had to get back to the city, because she had plans with Jenny.

She dug around in her purse for a few seconds to pull out her phone. After scanning her phonebook quickly, she came across the number she was looking for. 'Emily's Cell.' She clicked it, and waited while the phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Emily! I'm so glad I caught you. What are you doing?"

"I'm at… well, I'm at Ginny and Harry's. It's Sunday."

Hermione cursed loudly under her breath. She had known that it was Sunday. This thought had crossed her mind all of fifteen minutes ago. She had just chosen to block it out.

What if someone asked Emily who she was talking to?

"Oh. Right. Well, if you could, will you call me tomorrow?"

"Sure, no problem."

"Okay, so I'll talk to you tomorrow. Don't forget to call, please?"

"Will do. 'Night Mione."

As she heard the phone click, Hermione stared at the phone in terror. Bloody Hell.

---

George looked up as Emily hung up the phone. He wasn't the only one. Dammit. Emily had slipped up. She had said Hermione's name. We're dead meat.

Harry and Ron both looked shocked, their mouth's hanging open a bit.

"Emily, did you just say 'Mione?'" Luna asked, staying level-headed.

Emily's eyes widened in horror.

"What are you talking about?" She said, fear stricken.

"Emily, who were you just talking to?" Ginny asked.

"Talking to? I wasn't talking to anyone. No idea what you are talking about."

George looked at Emily. She was the worst liar in the world. She was going to blow it; he had to get her out of there.

"Em, can I talk to you for a second?"

Harry finally seemed to be able to move his mouth.

"George Weasley, stay right where you are. What the bloody hell is going on?"

"You know Harry, I'd love to stay and chat, but I can't. Really. Look at the time, Emily and I simply must be going." He mock grinned.

"Don't you dare! What do you know? Where is Mione? How come she is still in touch with you? Why the bloody hell is going on? You two aren't leaving until we get some answers."

George stared at his youngest brother in shock. When had Ron finally gotten some guts? He sighed. He was going to get out of this one. But how? He was one of the Weasley Twins! He could talk his way out of anything!

No. He thought. That only works when I have backup. Dammit Fred. Fred. This was all Fred's fault. If Fred hadn't have been such an idiot, none of this would have happened. George mentally groaned. He'd have to tell them.

He glanced at Emily.

"Em, I think we have to tell them."

Now Emily sighed.

"I'm sorry George. I wasn't thinking. I shouldn't have—"

---

Hermione pulled into a near by parking lot. She didn't want to be driving when she finally did this.

She redialed the number and waited for it to ring. She couldn't let them do this alone.

---

Just as Emily was about to apologize to George, her cell phone rang. The ID told her it was Hermione.

"Hermione?" Pause. "Yes." They all watched as Emily nodded her head occasionally.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't even think."

After a few seconds, "Yes I do. I can't believe I did that. I'm so sorry."

She listened and then nodded. After a few more seconds, she handed the phone to George.

"She wants to talk to you."

George grabbed the phone from her and walked into the other room. Emily went to follow him, but he lifted his hand and mouthed 'Explain.' And he nodded over to where the other four were standing.

She nodded and turned back to the other room.

She was immediately bombarded with questions.

"How long have you been in touch?"

"Why is she in touch with you and George, but not me and Harry?"

"Is she okay?"

"Why didn't you tell us?"

Emily's head was spinning. She decided to take it one person at a time.

"Harry, you first."

"Is she okay?"

"Yes, she's fine. Sort of. It's been two years though. Two years and she's still hurt."

Ron growled. "I'll kill him. I really will. Look at how much trouble he's caused! Look at what he did to her!"

"Ron! We all know Fred is a jackass. He's been one for two years. But yelling at him now, when we have a chance at getting Mione back is not helping!" Ginny yelled at him.

Then she looked at Emily. "Why did she stay in touch with you two, but not with any of us?"

Emily sighed. "I honestly have no idea Gin. I really don't. I'm sorry." Ginny nodded understandingly.

"Okay. Even if Hermione didn't TRY to stay in touch with us, you could have told us you were in touch!"

"Ron, calm down. Hermione swore us to secrecy. I don't know why. But look at it this way. If somehow Hermione found out we told you-and trust me, she'd find out-she'd stop talking to us too! Then none of us would know if she was okay! We would have really lost her!"

Ron glared but said nothing.

---

Hermione waited as Emily answered the phone.

"Hermione?"

"Em, everyone heard you say my name, didn't they?"

"Yes."

"I figure everyone heard it. They would have found out one way or another."

"I'm so sorry. I didn't even think."

"You don't need to be sorry. It was a reflex. Don't apologize."

"Yes I do. I can't believe I did that. I'm so sorry."

"I told you. It's fine. Really. This just makes things easier. Put George on. I'll explain to him, and then he can explain to you."

There was a slight pause as Hermione could hear Emily in the background, "She wants to talk to you."

"Hello?"

"Hey George."

"Mione, I'm so sorry. Emily didn't even realize—"

"George, don't be sorry. I should be sorry. I shouldn't have asked you to hide it from them."

"Mione, we miss you so much." He was about to go on, but he heard sniffling in the background.

"George, I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry." He could hear her voice shaking.

"Mione, this is very important. Tell me why you didn't want Ron and Harry to know."

There was a long pause and he could tell she was debating against herself.

"I was scared."

George decided not to press more. She was already in tears.

"So what are we going to do, now that they know?"

Hermione took a minute to compose herself. She was still sniffling, but she was no longer crying.

"That's sort of why I'm calling."

---

Mrs. Weasley apparated into the living room of Harry and Ginny's flat.

"Sorry I'm late. Arthur wanted me to wait for him, but then he realized he wouldn't be able to make it—"

She cut herself off. She sensed tension in the room.

"What's going on?"

Harry and Ginny glanced at Emily. Ron glared at her. He was very angry with George and Emily.

"Go ahead Emily. Why don't you tell her?" He spat. "You know, since you are one of the only two people who knew about it in the first place."

Mrs. Weasley was getting nervous. What in the hell was going on?

Emily inhaled. She was going to need energy for this.

"Mrs. Weasley… George and I—"

Just then, George ran into the room.

"She's coming back! She's coming back!"

Ron, Harry and Ginny looked at him in shock.

Mrs. Weasley looked slightly exasperated. "Some one better tell me what in the name of Merlin is going on before I have a heart attack."

George looked up, and for the first time, noticed Mrs. Weasley was in the room.

"Oh, hello Mum. You see…. The thing is…. Erm…. Emily and I…"

Mrs. Weasley cut him off.

"You're engaged! Wonderful! When did it happen? How did you do it? Oh, this is lovely! I'll have to start planning! You'll want a summer wedding of course. We can have it at the Burrow! So much to plan! I can't believe you didn't tell me sooner, George Weasley! This is so—"

"Mum! Could you stop? Me and Emily aren't engaged." He looked at Emily, who by now had turned bright red from embarrassment.

Mrs. Weasley looked slightly embarrassed, slightly annoyed.

"Then do tell me what is going on!"

"Hermione is coming back."

---

And there is chapter 4! I'm sorry I had to stop there, but I didn't want to make this chapter too long. I want to get it out faster, so I can get chapter 5 out… maybe on Monday.

I do hope you all like this chapter. I found all of your reviews for Chapter 3 very, very amusing. Most of you decided you didn't like Fred in that chapter. I don't blame you. ;)

Please keep reading and reviewing!

Edited 11/17/06.

Love,

Monica