Hermione was awake early the next morning; partly out of excitement for going back to the Burrow and partly because she wanted to allow herself enough time to make sure she was thoroughly packed before leaving London. She was planning on heading straight to the Ministry from the Burrow in time for her portkeys that evening.
As she folded her clothes away, she thought back on the game yesterday. She adored being back in the embrace of the Weasleys; they were a second family to her but she had been worried that they wouldn't accept her back since she was the one who had broken things off with Ron. She was relieved that nobody had mentioned it. In fact, it was almost like she hadn't left. Being among only wizards and witches had also helped her mood. While in Australia she was limited on how much magic she could use - which would often leave her frustrated.
Hermione checked the room one last time, checked out of the hotel and apparated to the end of the lane that led to the Burrow. She grinned up at the ramshackle building, her heart full of excitement and love. It was barely 11 am, but already the house was bustling with energy and it looked like every light in the house was on to fight against the dark winter morning. Hermione grinned as Molly spotted her out of the kitchen window and hurried to the door.
"Hermione, love. Don't stand out in the cold. Come in, come in!" Molly wrapped an arm around Hermione's shoulder and ushered her into the warm kitchen. "Dump your stuff and sit down; I'll get you a cup of tea!"
Hermione dumped her bag in the cupboard by the stairs and hung her cloak among the collection hanging by the door. She sat in her usual seat at the large wooden table and watched Molly bustle around the kitchen.
"Where is everyone?" Hermione took a sip of her hot tea.
"Oh I've put them to work love." Molly turned her head briefly to smile at her. "They're barely home now so I make the most of them when they're back. George and Ron are sorting out the last of the Weasley Wizard Wheezes and Ginny is out in the shed doing laundry with Harry..."
"Is there anything else you need help with?"
"Oh no, you're our guest today! Anyway, I want to hear more about Australia and your research..."
Hermione grinned and started to tell Molly all about her last few months away.
One by one, the rest of the family joined them; the smell of Molly's roast lamb drawing them in to the kitchen. Whereas yesterday had felt a bit more formal, Sunday lunch was its usual relaxed affair. This was being helped by the fact that Lavender wasn't there and Hermione felt like she didn't have to be careful where she was looking, or what she was saying. Ron didn't seem to be acting any less tense around her though, which was disappointing.
Hermione sat back once she'd eaten her fill, covering her plate with her hand as Molly moved to give her a third helping.
"Oh I couldn't Molly. I still have four portkeys this afternoon. I will definitely be ill if I eat anymore!" She got up to collect the plates before Molly could; determined to do something to help today.
The majority of the family moved to the front room while Hermione was washing up, but Ginny lingered to help and to catch up. By the time they'd finished, Hermione had a list of maid of honour duties she was expected to complete ready for the wedding that summer.
The pair eventually made their way to the front room to join everyone else, but Ron stood up almost immediately.
"Erm, Hermione... there's still some of your things left in my old room; I thought you might want them..." Ron was fidgeting but he gave Bill an annoyed look as he elbowed George with a smirk.
She followed him, albeit hesitantly. Ron had been acting so cool and surly at lunch and Hermione's heart was pounding, although it wasn't for a good reason this time.
Ron stopped at the door to his room and gestured for Hermione to head in first. There were a couple of boxes sat in the middle of an otherwise empty room and Hermione headed over to them, lifting a book from the top of the box with a smile.
"It's mostly stuff you left here from the Horcrux hunt and some other bits you left at the flat that Lavender wants gone. I wasn't sure if you wanted any of it because you left them behind but..." Ron trailed off with a small sigh.
Hermione held the book to her chest as she turned to look around the room. All of Ron's Chudley Canons paraphernalia had been removed and the walls had been painted a more muted colour.
"It's so different in here now..." She sighed sadly. "We had some good times up here; remember that night before Bill and Fleur's wedding where we were supposed to be planning the hunt but none of us could be serious enough. All we did was laugh all evening." Hermione laughed fondly. "Your mum kept on coming upstairs to tell us to be quiet and return me to my room, but as soon as she went back to bed I'd just apparate back up. It was driving Ginny loopy..."
"Yeah..." Ron leaned against a bare wall, scratching his head slightly. "Now we're all out of the house, I guess mum wants the space to have grand kids and other various family over..."
Hermione stood there, feeling awkward as he didn't return her smile or laugh. "Well considering there's six of you and you're all getting partnered up now..." She suddenly found her feet very interesting. "Soon you'll all be filling this place back up!"
She spotted Ron shrug out of the corner of her eye. "Maybe..." He sighed. "Not sure Lavender even wants kids; we don't really talk about that sort of stuff. We've only been together for a few months anyway..."
Hermione flinched at the second mention of Ron's girlfriend in as many minutes. "Well by this point we already had 10 planned..." She lifted her head, risking making eye contact with him to give him a small smile.
"Yeah and look how that turned out..." Ron raised his eyebrows, still looking surly.
Hermione sighed and turned more towards him. "Look Ron..."
Ron interrupted her abruptly. "Hermione, I don't want to talk about any of it with you. I've already had an earful from Lavender last night. She's not impressed that you've all of a sudden decided to swan back into our lives. We were doing okay up until then and now it's just not fair." He pushed himself away from the wall. "She thinks it's funny how you couldn't work out the portkey thing while me and you were still together and now all of a sudden I'm back with her and happy you've managed to figure it out..."
"Ron, it wasn't that I couldn't work it out I just didn't have a reason to ask the ministries to arrange it..."
Ron scoffed. "Right, why would you have a reason to come home?!"
Hermione flinched at the angry look Ron gave her as he stormed out of the room and she let out a heavier sigh, tears prickling in her eyes.
She took her time to cast her eyes over the room one last time, running her hand over the low windowsill and remembering the times her and Ron would just sit there together; looking out over Ottery St. Catchpole and talk about their plans and memories. It seemed so far away from where they were now.
Hermione knew she deserved it; in fact, she probably got off lightly. But Ron's indifference and disdain somehow had the ability to make her feel worse than if he'd just have it out with her. She preferred the fireworks of one of their massive arguments as it usually meant they got to make up just as passionately. But there wouldn't be any of that this time; she'd hurt him far too much. She shrunk the boxes and stuffed them in her pocket before heading downstairs, trying to sort her head out so she could enjoy the rest of her time with the family.