Chapter 2: Welcome Back

Arriving to the Burrow was odd. Not because of the house, or the transportation, but because of what Mara saw awaiting them at the table.

Hermione was writing her back a letter, and Mason was waiting patiently on the table. Ginny was sitting there, writing a letter to someone, scribbling almost furiously. Either her current boyfriend had gotten on her bad side, or she was just really intense about that letter.

"I suppose I got the dates wrong," Mara said, grinning.

Her two friends stood up quickly, and they all started talking at once.

"I just got your letter, and—"

"I'm just so happy to see you both—"

"Did you two get to see the—"

They laughed. Mara held up her hand. "I'm so glad to see you two!" She gave a quick hug to each, and they started chattering again, this time where they could hear each other.

Harry, Ron, and the twins stared at them. "Oy," Fred said. "And I thought it was bad when it was just the two of them."

"It's like she doubles their energy. Like… she's double them," George said. "Well, boys, we'd better be getting these trunks upstairs. Not like your girls are gonna miss you for this minute."

"Yeah… Right," Harry said. "I'd forgotten they did that…"

"I'd forgotten how much energy they have when they were around each other… God, it's like they have three times the energy a normal person when they're all together," Ron, while they grabbed Harry's trunk, said. "It's inhuman, that's what it is."

"No. I think a lot of it is Mara." Harry shook his head. "I'm not sure how or why, but it's her."

When they came back down, the girls had calmed down – a little. They were sitting at the table now, talking slower, at a rate the boys could catch.

"Hi, Harry!" Mara smiled up at him. "Where've you guys been?"

Ron cocked a brow at the three of them. "We've been carting up that trunk of yours. What'd you pack, a box of bricks?"

"Actually, since I knew you'd be carrying it, yes." She rolled her eyes. "Now, Ron, really. Why would I need bricks? Now, if you're referring to my books… They might weigh as much as bricks. Maybe you should buff up a bit," she added slyly. "I'm sure I could have carried it." He just muttered under his breath. Smiling, she added ego-injury to her insult. "Hermione, I bet you'd like it better if he buffed up a bit, now, wouldn't you?"

Hermione blushed, and then turned almost as red as Ron when Ginny shut her eyes and grimaced. "Hey, could you please not insinuate stuff like that about one of our best friends, and my brother?"

"But, Ginny, why not? I mean, you and I both know—"

"Yes, I know! But that doesn't mean I want to think about it!"