Chapter 36

Molly watches the four talk and hug. All she could do is shake her head. Those boys made something of themselves, even when she never thought they would. Their choice of women just leaves something to be desired. Maybe she should start inviting some girls over to meet them and take their attention away from those two.

Ginny's giggle brings Molly's head away from Hermione snuggling under George's arm. The young girl is standing around a display of Pygmy Puffs, whatever those are. Molly agrees to buy one thing for each Ginny and Ron. Ginny get the little ball of fuzz. Ron chooses a piece of candy.

The three of them wait in line to pay. Molly is hoping that as their mother, the twins will give her a deep discount. Fred, as cashier, does punch in a ten percent off, as he does for everyone as part of their Grand Opening celebration, not that his mother knows that. Molly pays and the three leave happy with their experience.

The night before Hermione's return to Hogwarts, George knocks on the door of her parent's home. The four agreed to have him come with them to see her off in the morning. They eat a hearty meal of beef stew over potatoes and are joined by the Black/Potter/ Lupin faction. When their guest leave, the Granger parents retire to bed, while the younger couple sits on the couch and watches a movie, snuggled up under a blanket.

When the movie is over, George shuts everything off, using the remotes like Hermione's father taught him over the summer. He gathers his girl into his arms and carries her to their bedroom. With a flick of his wrist, Hermione is in her favorite pajamas, his old Quidditch jersey. She's had it for going on three years now, having stole it from him during her trip to the World Finals with his family. Even now, it's miles too big for her, but he loves seeing her in it. He sets her down and changes into his "night shorts". It was a term that Hermione had coined during the same trip, to describe the long muggle gym shorts that he wears to bed when others are around, otherwise he sleeps in nothing. Though Hermione knows this, she has not seen this and will not until their wedding night. George wraps the blankets around them and then her in his arms before falling asleep.

The alarm rings in the morning. Both spring out of bed, make it (Hermione) and get ready for the drive to the train station.

George and Hermione walk up to his father with her parents in tow. The three parents talk excitedly about the Granger's profession. They are soon joined by Sirius, Remus, Amelia and Augusta, with Harry, Sue and Neville trailing behind them. George helps Hermione and Dan settle her trunk. She hugs George and kisses him goodbye after doing so with her parents. George stands with them as they watch the train pull away.

On the train, the group find a compartment. Sue and Neville tell Hermione that Harry's still on his Draco's a DeathEater kick.

"I'm sorry, but it all adds up. I really doubt that it's his idea, but I think he's joined." He adds. Draco, the smartest boy in their year is also Harry's personal P.I.A. Everyone cedesthe point and they move onto something equally strange to Hermione.

The seventh year Cormac McLaggan has been asking around about her. Hermione would rather squeeze burning hot steel splinters into her eyes than to spend an evening in the pompous twit's company. It is rumored that he was going to try out for the keeper position. Both Harry and Hermione knew that Ron was also trying out for that spot. Harry's spot on the team was safe, but he didn't envy KatieBell's job of finding a keeper, two chasers and two beaters.

From what was being said, Cormac only wants on because he wants to impress Hermione. He doesn't know that she is always in the stands to support her friends, now being only Harry unless something happens.

Hermione ducks out into the corridor to get something from the trolley at the same time that McLaggan does. He smiles seductively at her and purrs out a greeting. Hermione groans inwardly. This is going to be a long year.She thinks as the trolley lady hands her the change and the caramel chocolate muggle candy bar and a muggle iced tea.

"Thank you dear." The trolley lady coos to Hermione.

"No, thank you. I wasn't sure I could find these." Hermione returns and backs into her compartment. She watches the lady push on, before realizing that Cormac is still staring at her. Hermione shakes her head and clears her throat.

"Mr. McLaggan, is there anything that you wanted to ask me? You are staring pretty hard otherwise. I am sure that it is still rude on this side of the Statute of Secrecyto stare at someone." Hermione wants to nip this in the bud without having to tell Harry or Ron. Harry will have enough on his plate and Ron would think that she was giving him a chance. Hermione also didn't want to run under the protection of a man. She'll tell George in her letter though.

Cormac smirks and walks towards the girl that he sees as his future woman. "You are a ballsy one, aren't you?" He purrs.

"I've been told, luckily my boyfriend likes it that way. Please excuse me, I need to get back to my friends." Not that they've noticed that I'm gone.When she closes the door and turns around, she is proven correct. Neither Harry nor Ron had noticed that she was gone. In her brother's case, he is still worrying the "Malfoy's a Death Eater" bone over and over in his mind. Ron, is just clueless as usual.

Harry tells them that he is going to meet them in the Hall. Ron walks out of the compartment at a fast pace. "Just be careful, I'll be worried." She hugs Harry and gets off the train.

Hermione scans the Great Hall for Harry. He should have been here by now. The Feast is about to start.

"'Mione, why are you so nervous. The hat just said we need to ban together." Ron asks from her side.

Hermione turns to the imbecileand starts beating him over the headwith her book, while Neville and Ginny look on. "Harry is your friend! Don't you even care why he's not here yet?"

"What are you talking about? Harry's coming in with Luna." Hermione looks up and sees Harry rush down the aisle to sit across from them. He was holding a cloth to his nose. It was sopped with his own blood. Hermione's eyes bug out.

"Why does he always have to have blood?" Ginny groans.

"Luna fixed it. It's drying up." He tells them about hiding in Slytherin's section. "Malfoy sniffed me out, froze me and stomped my nose in revenge for his father. He left me for the ride back to London, but luckily Luna had left something and could see me. She removed the spell and fixed my nose." Ron nods and focuses on his food.

Harry motions to Hermione's hand when she pulls it away from her face. "Congrats. I take it that though it's not a secret, you are not going to seek out attention."

"Yeah. Don't really care who knows, but I am sure that it will cause problems with some." Hermione blushes and plays with her ring. Harry reaches out to her.

"I agree, but Mione, seriously congrats. I'm happy for you." He smiles at her. Hermione turns it around on him. "What about you? Don't give me that B. S. about not wanting to make her a target. She is already even without being friends with you. They went after her and Neville the next night. She's a Bones, she's tough."

Harry agrees and turns to look at Susan. Sue looks shocked over his bloodynose. When they are dismissed, the Bones heir catches up to him and Hermione. "What the hell happened?!" she cries.

Harry hugs Susan. "It doesn't matter, Sue. I'm fine." Susan relaxes and looks up at Harry. "Alright, I'll see you in class." She turns to Hermione. "Keep him in line, 'Mione." Hermione hugs her friend. "Sue, you can count on me."

Sue smiles and walks towards the Hufflepuff tower. She turns back to the two friends. "'Mione, love the ring. Congrats." She calls back.