DISCLAIMER: Please see disclaimer on the first page…

QUICK NOTE: Just wanted to remind that I edited the first two chapters, if you haven't re-read, please do so. Thanks, and if you're kind enough to leave a review, I'd be very happy.


CHAPTER 3: Like Leaves From A Tree

One by one, like leaves from a tree,
All my faiths have forsaken me.
Sara Teasdale, Leaves


"Today, we are gathered to celebrate the life of our dearest brother, Ronald Bilius, after a year of his parting to reunite with our Creator…" The shaking voice of the old pastor slowly drifted away from Hermione's attention as her eyes wandered about the small group assembled on the green terrain outside the Burrow. Aside from the redhead family were some neighbors, co-workers, friends and professors from school; and almost all were familiar faces to her. But, in spite of the small number of visitors who made it to the ceremony, she found it too crowded to breathe. Hermione suddenly felt nauseous, as her vision started to move in circles. She couldn't hardly understand the talk of the speaker, although, the beautiful words he had been enumerating about the issue echoed through the girl's head. "…he was the son, brother, friend, or student who makes us laugh, even if at times he would make us really mad; he was the boy who worries us and makes us proud at the end of the day; he was the man who keeps his words…"

Hermione felt her chest stiffen and her throat dried up, suddenly becoming overwhelmed by the the things she just heard…suffocated by the feeling of grief and yearning to see him. Her sight slowly grew blurry, and she heard herself call his name, although very softly, "Ron," and breathlessly, "but you didn't keep your promise." Then there was nothing but darkness.


"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven…" she sighed, "One year." and finished as she gently pushed her thick bushy hair back and tied it with a small lace. Hermione sighed again and continued, not minding if some strands were falling before her face. She flipped the leaf of her notebook to the next page. It was her personally made calendar that started with the date when Ron left—July 15th. It was her own countdown to his return. "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven…" she paused and beamed, "…and fifteen days!"

How fast time flew and Hermione didn't exactly know how she managed to last for two years without Ron, without a single letter nor word about how he was. She could keep herself busy for the day by writing books, and she had already published a couple—about elves, giants, trolls, goblins, fairies, ghouls—and other creatures who are either enslaved or feared by many, but for her, could create a harmonious relationship with witches and wizards; But then, she would worry every night about him. Somehow, she also manages to comfort herself by reading her newly favorite book, 'Aurors: Classified Training'. It doesn't say much about how the training goes, but it justly explains why it was so restricted that exchange of letter or news would be impossible.

There was a soft knock on the door and the sweet voice of her mother called behind. "Come in." she answered and the woman obeyed with a smile playing across her face. "Are they here yet?" she looked up, returning the smile.

The lady walked to her bad and sat beside her daughter. "Oh, you're going away again." She complained but on a playful tone.

"Mum, it's just two weeks." Hermione flung her arms around the her companion's neck and rested her chin on her shoulder, caressing her mother's cheek with hers, "He's coming back…" she whispered excitedly. With this, the older girl started to sob, making the young girl panic. "What's wrong?" she asked concerned.

"Oh, nothing." The woman assured, wiping her eyes dry. "It's just silly old Mum, going to miss her only baby."

"For two weeks? Like I don't stay at school for tem months." She scoffed.

"No. When Ron returns…you'll not be my baby anymore." She started to sob again and Hermione understood what she meant. She had mentioned about Ron's proposal, she tells her everything—well, save for her and Viktor's stupid agreement, which she knew would never happen anyway, so what's the point of telling her, or anybody for that matter, really?

"Mum…" she stressed lovingly, "Well…you could have new babies…little redheads and bushy brown-heads." Hermione joked which she knew her mother would instantly retort to. "Joking!" she took back seeing her scribble reaction. "It's not like we'll get married on the 16th …" 'unless…' her mind suddenly egged on the last thing she ever wanted to ponder, but Hermione quickly pushed the thought away.

"You are an excited little witch, do you know that?" Mrs. Granger seemed to have pulled herself from sudden dejection. "Are you sure it's okay with Arthur and Molly that you stay two weeks before Ron comes back? You said the whole family would be there, and I've seen the whole family, Darling, especially now that three of them are already married with kids."

"The nice thing about an enchanted house, Mum, is that you wouldn't have to worry about the space to have everyone fit in. Just one swish and flick…I was actually thinking…" An impish smile curled on Hermione's lips.

Her mother promptly cut this off though, "No you don't Hermione Jane. You are not going to use your magic to alter this house. Aside from having our neighbors suspect…your Dad wouldn't like the house he built be changed. He'll go frantic, I'm telling you."

Hermione laughed, "I was just kidding. I know how much this means to the two of you, and if Ron and I would have a house, I would of course want it to stay just as it is…which means, we'll have to start on a big one to avoid adding floors up…" she said thoughtfully, and before her mother could retort, her father's voice had already echoed through the house.

"Girls, Harry and Ginny are here!"

The two went down with Hermione's luggage and greeted the guests with warm hugs. It wasn't like the three former Hogwarts students don't see each other very often. Despite Harry's busy Quidditch training schedule, Ginny's post-graduate studies to become a Healer—says the famous wizarding sport is very dangerous, so she would need to keep an eye on Harry—and Hermione's book writing, publishing, launching, and signing, they still save a day to sit down and have a tea. Often, Hermione would visit The Burrow and help Ginny baby-sit her growing number of nieces and nephews, and catch up with Harry's training updates when he gets home since the boy had been adopted by the Weasleys after they have finished school.

Hugging and giving pecks on the cheeks were most likely the same scene that happened when they arrived at The Burrow. Indeed, everyone was there.

Bill, his wife who Hermione knew since fourth year, Fleur Delacour, and their one-and-a-half-year old daughter, Florence; Charlie and pregnant wife for six months, Estella; Percy and fiancé Penelope, Fred and Angelina with their own set of one-year-old twins, Colin and Nicole. And Hermione had learned that George just broke up with his girlfriend for two months, Cornelia; of course, Ginny and Harry, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.

After settling her things on Ginny's room, Hermione hurried downstairs and ran in front of the wall where the Weasley clock was hanged. It was the only means she could tell how Ron was, and the last time she had checked on it was a month ago when she helped Ginny baby-sit the twins. She snapped her head up only to find that the clock wasn't there.

"Oh, it was broken. The twins got hold of Dad's wand and blew the poor thing up." Ginny explained behind her. "Mum already brought it to the repair shop, but they say it would take long for it to be fixed. Said they have to track down the magic used to have it work, and Granpa's the only one who knows that so, until Granpa visits…" she shrugged off.

"Calm down, 'Mione. It's only fifteen days." Harry joined. "You wouldn't want George to see you so excited, he'll tease you for the rest of your life." He snorted, sounding more Weasley-ish than the last time she saw him.

"Especially now that he doesn't have a girlfriend to bother." Ginny added in a whispered giggle. "Wanna play chess, 'Mione?" she offered.

Hermione nodded and smiled. She had been getting better at chess since she last played against Ron, he'd be surprised once she challenged him. Well, she's not that good enough to beat him, but now she could make the game last few minutes longer.

Everybody busied themselves. Mrs. Weasley prepared lunch with Fleur and Penelope's help. Hermione and Ginny offered to help but the grown up insists that the two help on Dinner and leave this hour's meal to the two volunteers. Charlie and Estella watched over the playing kids, getting more excited on their own baby come three months. Fred and George discussing about their Joke Shop's expansion; Percy engaged on his ministry work, Bill with his Gringotts work, Mr. Weasley with his new confiscated artifacts, and Harry dozing off behind Ginny.

It seemed like a perfect day, when…suddenly, a head popped from the fireplace. Hermione didn't know who the man was but he seemed to be Mr. Weasleys' friend from work, this was confirmed when Percy greeted the man asking about the words from the Ministry of Magic.

In spite of the green light of the floo powder, the paleness of the man was very visible. He looked distraught, with his almost bald head and beard-covered face, one would worry to see such tough-looking person sport such a wearisome expression.

"Arthur, I overheard a conversation with the Minister and the head of the Auror team about the group that was sent to be trained. I just thought you might want to know." His words almost stumbled with each other.

This made everyone stopped except for the kids, "What is it?" Hermione heard herself prompted, and all heads turn to look at her.

The man however continued, "Well, the group was tracking their way back to London. They were in Egypt when three from them have spotted the lair of Vo..Voldemort's escaped Death Eaters…" Everyone felt silent, waiting for the next news. "There has been an encounter and…some…some of the trainees were…"

Before he get to finish, there was a sound of utensil hitting the floor, Mrs. Weasley had dropped it as she grew weaker. Her two assistants caught her before she hit the ground.

"But…and…wh…" Hermione wanted to retort, at the same time, ask so many questions, but her heart started pounding louder she couldn't even hear herself. The feeling slowly became so familiar. The tugging pain that day Ron left. Did she knew somehow, deep inside her, something would happen?

"It is still not confirmed." Mr. Weasley spoke. "I would go there right now, if my son was included, they should have at least told me."

"I am going with you, Dad." Percy added.

Hermione watched as the two apparated, and the head disappeared as well. She turned to an ashen-faced Ginny staring down at the abandoned chess board, behind her was Harry still trying to grasp the news. Hermione turned to Mrs. Weasley who was settled on a chair being fanned by Penelope while Fleur convinced her to drink the glass of water on her hand. "He can't be…it's only fifteen days, he promised." She muttered to herself returning to the seat before Ginny, but refusing to move an inch.

Everything seemed to have happened so fast. She was just so excited less than an hour ago, and then she was worrying like mad. But what Hermione hated most was how slow it was actually happening…she wanted news…more news…details…but she had just seen Mr. Weasley and Percy left. How long did she have to wait? Definitely, not more than fifteen days.


AUTHOR's NOTE:

I am so late for work just to finish this! You better give a review! Hehehe..hope you like it! better dash!