Hello All! A thank you to lun27, bookishbold, burungmalam and the one guest who commented on the last chapter.

I also want to give my deepest apologies for the late post, I dont really have an excuse that hasnt been said before but honestly, life just got in the way. On the positive side, I have the next few chapters planned and the next chapter partially written. Thinks should be slowing down around here soon so I hope that it means more writing time for me.

Thank you again for your patience!

Disclaimer: I dont won Harry Potter

And as always, enjoy!

Chapter 6

Anyone who knew Hermione knew that she was always an early riser. Most of the time she rose when the sun did, and to some of her peer's it was odd that she was a morning person. Back when Bellatrix's curse had not yet wracked her body, she was cheery in the mornings, often waking up and dedicating an hour or two to reading in bed before she actually got ready for the day.

Today was one of those days, and lucky for Hermione, it was a Sunday.

She spent most of the day in her living room, eating crisps and reading book after book. She had received a letter from Ginny who complained that she had yet again disappeared and that she hoped that if Hermione went home with someone, that it wasn't McLaggen.

Hermione wrote back easing Ginny's mind. The brunette promised her friend that she would stop by Grimmauld Place within the next few hours to show that she as alive and well.

Thank Merlin that she hadn't shagged Cormac.

But she had gone home with someone, and it was different that she had expected. There was no pain, no guilt, and no shame. Those had always lingered when she slept with someone, even when she was with Ronald.

Hermione sighed. She shrugged off her clothes and decided to take a bath. She would need it knowing that Ginny would push her for details on her sexual tryst with Draco Malfoy.

Hermione filled the tub and dumped the rest of her lavender bubblebath into it. She watched the bubbles rise and then gingerly slipped into them. Hermione waved her wand to dim the lights before she set it down onto the floor.

The hot water did wonders for her muscles, loosening and relaxing them until she was pliable in the bath. She let herself doze, waking when the water had started to cool, and knowing that Ginny would be waiting for her, Hermione cleaned up and dressed, ready to floo over.

She walked into Grimmauld Place to find Ron splayed out on the couch, snoring loudly. Hermione rolled her eyes, what else did she expect from Ron after a night out on the town?

Hermione reached for the throw blanket and laid it on top of the sleeping red-head, noting the silk handkerchief he was clutching in his left hand. Hermione was just about to slip it from his grip when Ginny walked down the stairs, her normally tamed hair sticking up all over the place.

"Hey 'Mione," Ginny whispered, rubbing her eyes.

Hermione gave the other witch an incredulous look, "did you just get up?"

Ginny nodded, gesturing to the kitchen before slowly shuffling over to the counter, pouring herself a cup of coffee.

"Ginny," Hermione started, "its 4 in the afternoon."

Ginny shrugged and took a sip of her coffee, sighing as the caffeine slowly made its way through her.

"I was a long night," Ginny said.

Hermione shrugged, neither agreeing or disagreeing, but last night had definitely been eye opening.

After a long silence while Ginny sipped her coffee, the red-head spoke up. "So," she began casually, "who did you go home with last night?"

Hermione shrugged, a blush creeping up her cheeks, "Just some guy."

Ginny perked up in her seat, leaning in closer. "That good?"

Hermione nodded. She looked over her shoulder to find Ron still asleep on the couch. "I didnt now it would feel like that," the brunette whispered.

"What do you mean?" Ginny's brows knit in concern. She set her coffee cup down and gave Hermione her full attention.

Hermione pulled her lower lip between her teeth, "It felt so good. It didnt hurt… I didnt know it was supposed to feel that way."

Ginny's face fell, her mouth opening slightly. "You mean… Oh Hermione, I'm so sorry."

Hermione shook her head, "It's okay— it's never bothered me before, I just wasnt expecting it."

Ginny reached over and gripped Hermione's hand. A silence fell over the two and Hermione grew increasingly uncomfortable.

"If I say who, you won't judge, right?" Hermione asked.

Ginny nodded, her red hair flying around her head.

"Draco Malfoy," Hermione said in a small voice.

"Excuse me?" Ginny blinked.

"Draco Malfoy," she said only a hair louder. Hermione didnt look into her friend's eyes, deciding instead to focus on their intertwined hands.

"Oh," Ginny said. She pulled her hand away, letting it fall beneath the counter, "why—why would you do that? Sleep with him I mean?" Ginny froze, her face paling, "Did he force you?"

Hermione jumped at the venom in Ginny's voice, her eyes snapped to the younger witch's to find a fire burning within.

"No!" Hermione all but shouted, she looked back to Ron to find him still asleep, only in a slightly different position, "no," she repeated, this time in a whisper, "I consented— it was all consensual."

Ginny's shoulders relaxed, "Good." Ginny sighed, she reached into the cabinet by her leg to pull out a pottle of fire whiskey, uncorking it and pouring a healthy amount into her cup. "This isn't exactly what I was expecting."

Hermione pushed her own coffee cup towards the red-head and watched the steady flow of amber liquid fill her cup.

The witches sipped their coffees in silence.

Ron eventually work up, tucking the handkerchief into his pocket with a blush. He made himself an unappetizing plate of eggs. He gave his sister and his friend an amused look when he spotted the bottle of whiskey.

"Are we celebrating or did someone die?" Ron said around a mouthful of egg.

Ginny smacked the taller Weasley on the arm. "Shut it, Ron."

He, thankfully, didnt respond. Instead he finished his breakfast with a scathing glare pointed Ginny's way.

Ginny ignored him.

Hermione tried to hold smother her smile at the familiarity of the scene.

When Harry climbed down the stairs, Hermione took the opportunity to leave, using needing to owl Kingsley as her excuse.

Of course, once she was home, Hermione did immediately owl Kingsley. It didnt take more than an hour for the Minister to reply to the young witch, congratulating her on her new path in life and letting her know that there would always be a place in the Ministry for her if she had ever wanted to return.

He also admitted that George Weasley had owl-ed him the day before bragging that he had snatched the Hermione Granger from his employment.

Kingsley didnt seem to appreciate George's victory.

Of course George would decided to rub something like this in the Minister of Magic's face.

Hermione hung the letter on her fridge, looking at the parchment with fondness.

She decided it was best to read until bed since Kingsley asked her to start slowly transitioning out of the office so they could find the pest person to take her place.

So Hermione did just that, picking up Pride and Prejudice to finish the last hundred pages. Crookshanks decided curled up in Hermione's lap, his loud purring brining an extra layer of comfort to the already relax and liberating day.

Almost nothing could slow this down.