Chapter 3: Down Through the Chimney

"Hermione, are you done yet?" asked Mrs. Granger through Hermione's bedroom door. "They'll be here soon."

"Nearly ready. I'll be out in a minute," replied Hermione. She looked at her checklist once more. Yes, she had packed everything. She grabbed her trunk and dragged it out the door to the sitting room where the fireplace was. She put her trunk down beside the fireplace. Then Crookshanks, a smart, bowlegged, ginger cat with a squashed face, jumped on top of her trunk.

"No, Crookshanks. You can't come with me," said Hermione, scratching behind the cat's ears. "Mum and Dad will take care of you. I'll see you on September first on platform nine and three-quarters." Crookshanks sat on the trunk defiantly. Hermione thought and had an idea. "Mum will be taking care of you, and she loves to spoil you." That did the trick. Crookshanks licked his lips and headed to the kitchen.

Suddenly, Hermione heard a whoosh behind her. She turned around to see a figure covered in soot stepping out of the fireplace and straightening up.

"Hello Hermione," said the figure. "I hope you've been well."

"Very well, thanks. How have you been, Mr. Weasley?"

"Aside from a slight pain in my side I'm fine," replied Mr. Weasley. "Molly will be along in a minute."

Sure enough Mrs. Weasley arrived with a whoosh.

"Hermione," said Mrs. Weasley bringing Hermione into a big hug. "It's so good to see you. All packed?"

"Yes. I'm so looking forward to the vacation. Thanks for taking me," said Hermione with a big smile.

"It's no trouble at all. And thank you," Mrs. Weasley said turning to Mr. And Mrs. Granger who had just walked into the room, "for volunteering to buy everyone's things in Diagon Alley while we're gone."

"It's the least we could do," said Mrs. Granger, a little stunned that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had just arrived at her house via the fireplace.

"Ron and Harry should be along soon," said Mrs. Weasley to Hermione.

Two whooshes later Harry and Ron were standing in the Granger's sitting room, covered head to toe in soot and grinning broadly. Hermione rushed up to them and gave them both huge hugs. She was finally with her best friends again.

"It's great to see you two again," said Hermione, who couldn't help but smile now that her friends were with her.

"It's great to see you again," said Ron, who couldn't take his eyes off Hermione. Hermione, however, did not notice this. She could not take her eyes off Harry.

"By the way, Hermione, I love the book you got me. The History of European Quidditch Teams is just what I've been looking for. Thank you." Hearing Harry praise her gift made her smile even brighter.

"You lot ready?" Mr. Weasley asked the three friends. "If we want to get to the beach we have to hurry."

"We're ready Mr. Weasley," said Hermione.

"I'll go first. Then, Arthur, if you could follow with her trunk please," said Mrs. Weasley in a commanding voice.

"Certainly, Molly dear."

"Hermione you'll follow after Arthur," said Mrs. Weasley taking some floo powder out of the bag that Ron was holding and throwing it into the fire. Suddenly emerald green flames appeared. Then she stepped into the fireplace, said "The Burrow," in a very clear voice, and vanished in a wave of emerald fire.

After Mr. Weasley disappeared from the fireplace with her trunk Ron said, "Don't forget to speak clearly or you may end up in a different place entirely."

"Thanks, Ron. I'm not nervous at all anymore," said Hermione, sarcastically.

"Have a good time, honey," said Mr. Granger, pulling his daughter into a hug.

"Be careful. We love you," said Mrs. Granger, hugging her after Mr. Granger let go.

"I love you, too. Bye, said Hermione, as she stepped into the fireplace. She yelled, "The Burrow," and vanished.

A whirl of fireplaces appeared before her eyes. Hermione felt nauseous and had to close her eyes. Then all of a sudden it stopped. She fell forward on to the Weasley's kitchen floor.

"Welcome, Hermione."

"Fred," said Hermione, rather breathlessly. She caught what she said, cleared her throat, and said, "Fred," in a more it's-nice-to-see-you-again tone. Then she turned to his twin, who was standing beside Fred, grinning. "George, how are you two?"

"We're fine," said George holding out a hand to Hermione. "How have you been?"

"I've been well," said Hermione, taking George's outstretched hand and straightening up. She looked around. Hermione had been in the Weasley's house before. "It looks just as it should," she thought. Then she looked at the kitchen table and smiled. Sitting at the table were Ron's two eldest brothers. "Bill, Charlie. How are you?"

"Not bad aside from a few burns," said Charlie, holding out his hand so that could see his shiny burns. "I had some trouble with a Norwegian Ridgeback that answers to Norbert."

Hermione laughed along with Harry and Ron who had just arrived.

"And you, Bill?" asked Hermione.

"The goblins have been giving me trouble, because I need a lot of time off, but other than that I'm fine," answered Bill.

"Everyone ready to go?" asked Mr. Weasley, who just can into the kitchen. "Everything's packed."

"How are we getting to the beach?" asked Hermione.

"The Ministry's loaned us cars. Alastor got into huge trouble again. He heard a noise and started cursing everything in sight. I smoothed the whole thing over, so they decided to reward me.

Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Ginny will be with me in one car. Fred, George, Bill, and Charlie, you all will be with your mother in the other car."

Hermione climbed into the car beside Harry and Ron as Ginny got into the front seat. All the doors slammed shut and they were on their way.