-Hangs head in shame-

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I've not updated in months! Well, here's what happened. My computer went haywire, and then I couldn't get on! I had to get a new computer and all of my old stuff is lost! From here on out everything you read is re-written from memory. It may not be as good as it was before, and I'm sorry for that. I'm lucky I had already reposted almost all of what I had. I just need to rewrite like 4 chapters...

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. If I did, I wouldn't be dumb and not have put stuff on a floppy disk.

EDIT: Someone asked for a recap, so here it is: Hermione left two years ago, when she was offered a position in America. It had been convenient timing, because Fred had just broken up with her. The only problem was, Hermione wanted to completely disappear from her old life, because she was so heartbroken. She did, however, stay in touch with two of her good friends, George and his girlfriend (Hermione's very best friend) Emily. One day, when she was on the phone with Emily, Emily accidentally let it slip to the others that Hermione was on the phone. With the other's now aware of her whereabouts, Hermione decided it was time to come home. At the same time, Fred is heartbroken, and has alienated himself from the family, basically cutting off all ties. Now, Hermione has been back, and in this chapter is about to see everyone (excluding George, Emily, and Mrs. Weasley, who all saw her at the end of the last chapter) for the first time in two years.

/7/

Ron, Harry, and Ginny trudged into the room unhappily. "What do you want mum? We were just about to eat the-" but Ron stopped himself when he looked up. "Hermione?" He asked, as if he didn't believe it was really her.

"In the flesh." She grinned.

"But... But..."

Ron looked speechless. So did Harry. It was Ginny, however, that came rushing towards her, to pull her into a bone crushing hug.

"Hermione!" Ginny exclaimed. "You're home!"

Of her two best male friends, it was Harry who got over the shock of seeing her first. "Welcome home Hermione," he said, giving her a big welcome hug.

Ron stood a few feet away, and just stared at her.

"I don't get a hello?" She asked sadly.

Ron sighed, and then, as if fighting with himself, and then he said, "No, you do not get a hello."

"Oh," Hermione said sadly.

Ron half-smiled and walked up to her. "Because you get a hug instead."

Hermione grinned.

"I'm glad you're home," Ron said with a big smile on his face.

"I am too," she said.

Then, with strange smiles on their faces, Harry looked at Ron, and Ron looked at Harry. And then they jumped on her.

"Mercy! Mercy!" She yelled as they tickled her.

They finally got up, and everyone started laughing.

"But how?" Harry finally asked. "Your term wasn't over until the end of the month?"

"Well," Hermione said sighing. "The ministry had some time conflictions, and if I wanted to leave, it had to be done by the end of the week. And I wanted to surprise you."

"Well, you succeeded!" Harry laughed. "We're surprised!"

Then, as if remembering that it was their best friend, whom that hadn't spoken to in two years, everyone began shooting out questions.

"Why didn't you write?"

"How was America?"

"What was your job like?"

"Did you make many friends? No one more so than us though, right?"

"Do you have anyone special we should know about?"

"Do you miss it?"

"Did you miss ME?"

Hermione sighed. "One at a time, one at a time! In order: Ron, I'm sorry I didn't write. I was afraid… America was lovely Harry. You'd really like it. My job was basically the same as here Ginny. Of course Ron, no one as good as you. Ginny, how can you even ask that! Yes, I do miss it Harry, but I'm glad to be home. And no, Ron, I didn't miss you at all." She said the last part sarcastically, and then let out a long breath.

George and Emily had been very quiet up until this point.

"What's wrong?" Hermione asked them. "Why aren't you saying anything?"

"Well, we figured, we've talked to you, and they all haven't, so it's only fair for them to get to talk to you now."

Hermione sighed and looked at Ron.

"Ron, I don't want you to blame them. I asked them not to tell. It was my fault. My fault. Not theirs. If you want to be mad at anyone, just be mad at me."

Ron sighed. "I know I shouldn't take it out on them. I was upset." He turned to Emily and George. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been so short with you. I know it wasn't your fault." And then he looked at Hermione. "And I'm not mad at you either."

"Thank you Ron," Hermione said, her eyes welling with tears. "You don't know how much that means to me."

Ron smiled. "Don't worry about it."

After a few moments of awkward silence, Hermione said, "Well, I must be going… I still have to unpack."

Mrs. Weasley scoffed. "Nonsense! It's Sunday! Surely you haven't forgotten what Sunday is!"

Hermione smiled. "Of course not Mrs. Weasley."

"Then you simply must stay!"

Hermione smiled again. "Are you sure Mrs. Weasley? I don't mean to impose…"

Mrs. Weasley shook her head. "Of course you are not imposing! And you know I always make extra. And, that you are always welcome for dinner." Then a thought seemed to occur to Mrs. Weasley. "Speaking of dinner, I should probably go and finish making it! You six, sit, stay, chat." She looked at Hermione. "We can get caught up during dinner," She said kindly, and then walked into the kitchen.

"So when will everyone else be arriving?" Hermione asked.

"Well, Bill and Fleur can't make it tonight, and Charlie should be here in a—"

Suddenly, there was a distinct pop and Charlie Weasley was standing in the middle of the room.

"Hello everyone!" Charlie said, smiling as he scanned the room. "How are thin—" He stopped mid-sentence as he caught sight of Hermione. "Well I'll be damned," He said. "It couldn't be…"

"Hey Charlie," Hermione said quietly. Charlie and she had been pretty close before she left. He was like her older brother.

"Hey," He said smiling. "Do I get a hug?"

"Of course," she said, getting up to greet him.

She gave him a hug, and then stepped back.

"Where have you been?" He asked, almost in awe.

"America. Chicago mostly."

"That's wonderful!" He said. But then he frowned. "Why didn't you write?"

"…I didn't know what to say."

Charlie frowned slightly, but nodded. He gave her another hug and said, "Well how have you been?"

She shrugged. "Fine I suppose. You?"

"I'm good, really good." He grinned, and Hermione could instantly tell.

"You met someone?" she asked grinning.

"Yes," He said bashfully. "Yes I did."

Hermione smiled, "Well, that's excellent."

As Charlie said that though, it made her realize just how alone she was here. Sure, she was with her good friends, who she hadn't seen in ages. She was with people she loved. But they were all part of a pair. There was Ginny and Harry, and George and Emily, and even though they weren't there at the moment, even Charlie and Ron had significant others.

"Hermione," Charlie said, as he waved his hand in front of her face.

"Oh, sorry, I guess I got caught up in thoughts for a second."

Charlie smiled and then said, "Oh, well, I have to go say hi to mum, but I'll be out in a few minutes. Then you can tell me all about America." Charlie then headed into the kitchen.

That left the six of them to just sit and chat—Ron, Hermione, Harry and Ginny, and Emily and George.

"So," Hermione started. "I bet you still have a bunch of questions."

Ron was the first to speak. "Why did you leave?" He asked sadly, and slightly forcefully.

"Ron, I couldn't stay here. I saw a way out and I took it," Hermione said honestly.

Ron sighed, and looked at the floor, his cheeks getting slightly red. Hermione knew he was embarrassed for having spoken harshly.

They had been having a good time catching up—Hermione was telling them all about Chicago, and Roxana and Jenny. It was interesting, she found, to talk about them. Almost difficult, but not quite. She had expected to miss them, surely, but never this much.

She was just in the middle of telling them (only because Ron had threatened her with torture of the tickling variety if she didn't tell them) about how piss drunk she had gotten on her 21st birthday—by accident of course—when there was a knock at the door.

"I'll get it," George said standing up. It was obvious he was still feeling guilty, and was trying to give the others as much time with Hermione as possible.

George went into the foyer, and quickly opened the door.

---

Fred had debated with himself all day. Should he do this, should he not do this? He had to know where Hermione was. He had to. He had had enough.

He had Apparated into the yard—he wasn't exactly comfortable with going straight into the house—and then crossed the lawn to the front door. Once there, he debated with himself for about another ten minutes before finally bringing his hand up to knock.

---

There, to George's horror stood the mirror image of himself.

Oh no, George thought, not now!

/7/

Okay, I'm sure I'm either missing something, or did something wrong. Again, I'm rewriting this completely from memory, and it's not exactly fresh in my mind.

But I updated… You gotta give me props for that at least :)

New Business: While you wait for chapter 8, how about going to read my newest Fred/Hermione? It's a one-shot, and called Comeback of the Year. It should hold you over till I get the next chapter rewritten.

Also in New Business: PLEASE JOIN MY FRIENDS FORUM! It's a Harry Potter forum, and it will give you a chance to debate, and just have a fun time. You get sorted into houses, and its lots of fun. If you're interested, let me know in your review.

Well, that's all for now, and I'm hoping it doesn't take so long to get the next one up!

Love,
Monica