In spite of Harry saying it was a lovely morning, it wasn't really. It was cloudy and after a few minutes, rain drove him and Ginny back inside. He took a peek first to see if the coast was clear. Hermione was sitting at the table alone with her head in her hands. "Are you alright?" he asked as he stepped inside with Ginny right behind him.

Hermione looked up. "I have no idea."

"Why?" Ginny asked. "What happened? Didn't he apologize?"

"Actually, no, he didn't, but he did invite me to the Solstice party in Dartmoor."

"Well, that's good, right?" Harry said.

"Is it?" Hermione asked. "I'm so confused at this point, I have no idea. Are we going as friends, as a couple, or what?"

"Maybe you should just ask him?" Harry said.

"I was going to, but he left before I got it out," Hermione said. "Are you two going?"

"I can't," Ginny said, frowning. "They draw an age circle around the stones. No one under seventeen is allowed in."

"We're going out to dinner and then to the free concert the Weird Sisters are giving at the park outside Hogsmeade," Harry said.

"I wish we were doing that," Hermione said.

"Why?" Ginny said. "The Solstice party at White Moor is supposed to be fantastic. My brothers have been raving about it for years."

"Right, but," Hermione said. "I'm just not sure a wild party is what we need right now."

"Sure, it is. A little drinking, a little dancing, hanging out with your friends. You'll be right as rain." Ginny said.

"You think?" Hermione said.

"Yes," Ginny said. "You'll see."

Harry didn't argue with her, but he felt like Ginny might be wrong about this.

xXx

The next morning, Hermione was at the breakfast table when Ron came down. He took his seat next to her and assumed all was forgiven. His mother had made a big pot of porridge which was warming on the stove. Hermione got up and handed him a bowl.

"Thanks," he said. He added cut up apple and walnuts that were already on the table and started eating. She made a non-distinct noise and sat down next to him. He kept glancing at her while he ate, but she didn't look his way even though they were seated right next to each other. He noticed that, although she'd sat next to him, no part of her was actually touching him, which was unusual. He leaned across her for a pitcher of milk so he had to make contact.

"Sorry," he said, but when he set the pitcher back down he left his thigh against hers. She didn't move away from him, which he considered a good sign. He had a very strong desire to rest his hand on her thigh the way she'd done to him the other night, but breakfast was hardly the time for that. She kept poking at her porridge. He knew how she felt. They'd eaten gallons of the stuff on the lam, and if he never ate it again, it would be too soon, but it was an inexpensive way to feed a lot of people, so his mother served it for breakfast at least three times a week. She used to make it every day when they were all at home. Of course, he's mother's porridge was far more delicious than the meager stuff they'd had in the tent.

xXx

Hermione watched Ron leave for work and wondered if she should try and talk to him later that night or if she should just leave well enough alone. The owls came with the post and Molly handed her two letters, one from Hogwarts, and the other from the Ministry of Magic.

The letter from Hogwarts said she had been accepted as an extension student to complete her seventh year. She was to write individually to professors in charge of the subjects whose tests she hoped to challenge. Enclosed was a list of professors for the upcoming year. Ginny was sitting across from her reading her own letter from Hogwarts. Hermione was about to ask her which subjects she was going to be studying for her N.E.W.T.s when Ginny abruptly got up and went outside, leaving her letter on the table. Harry gave Molly an apologetic look and followed Ginny outside. Molly sighed and went upstairs. There was a personal note from McGonagall inside Hermione's official letter. She told Hermione she would be refunded the cost of room and board and that she could pick up the money at her earliest convenience because the school was sufficiently repaired that she was now keeping limited office hours. There was a list of available hours printed at the bottom. Hermione smiled. At least she knew what she'd be doing with her morning.

She opened the letter from the Ministry. The Aurors had cleared her parents' house and there had been no damage. Whether the Death Eaters hadn't known the location or simply didn't get around to attacking it wasn't clear. She returned the letter to its envelope and considered the implications. She could go home. She didn't have an excuse anymore for not going inside the house and between the remains of her Muggle money and the refund from Hogwarts she could afford to buy whatever she needed for the next year provided she was frugal. She sat at the table and stared at the kitchen wall. She couldn't help wondering what her departure from the Burrow would mean for her and Ron. Perhaps it would give him some space, although, since he'd been working with George, they'd certainly had a lot of that. The idea of living in her parents' house alone wasn't very appealing, but she couldn't keep living off of the Weasleys either. Staying at the Burrow wasn't right now that she had a safe place to go. Maybe Ron would still want to date some. Maybe he could come visit and they would finally have some privacy. At her parents' place they could talk, really talk, and if that went well, they could do so much more. She thought of the night after the Battle of Hogwarts and a shiver ran through her. They seemed so far from that place now, but perhaps, with time for just them, they could get back there. She looked at the two envelopes in front of her. They represented her future. She needed to remember that in the days to come. Ron was already living his life. George might even ask him to go into business with him permanently. Ginny would be going back to Hogwarts in the fall and Harry, he need only say what he wanted and the Ministry would see that it happened. She wondered if Harry had chosen a path yet. She suspected not. For the moment, he seemed only interested in spending as much time as possible with Ginny before she went back to school. She wished Ron felt that way about her, but she knew that wasn't fair. Their circumstances were completely different. Still, the last few weeks, she'd missed him terribly. She sighed. She wondered if he'd missed her at all. She got up and went to take a shower.

xXx

An hour later, Hermione Apparated to the front gates of the castle. She went to the gatehouse, expecting to find someone to register her and let her in, but it was locked. She went back to the gates and noticed a bell had been installed on one of the tall columns. She rang it and the winged boar on top of the column leaned over and said, "Who goes?"

"Hermione Granger to see Professor McGonagall."

The boar closed its eyes and resumed being a statue. A moment later the right gate opened. Hermione stepped inside and the gate closed behind her with a loud clang. She walked the long path up to the castle. It looked better than the last time she'd seen it but there was still a lot of work to do. Most of the rubble appeared to have been cleared away, but there were great holes left throughout the buildings. The entrance courtyard was devoid of any vegetation when it used to be covered in flowers and shrubbery. The doors to the Great Hall were flung open, which was reasonable since some of the walls and part of the ceiling were blown out. Hermione tried not to think of all the dead lain out in the hall after the final battle. Trying to ignore the anxiety crawling up her spine, she cleared her throat, took a deep breath, and walked quickly through the hall to the corridor outside the headmaster's office. She didn't know the password, so she rang the bell. The gargoyle opened its eyes. One of its wings was missing as was part of one foot, but it said, "Who goes?"

"Hermione Granger to see Professor McGonagall."

There was a grinding sound of stone on stone, but the spiral staircase eventually opened and she walked up. The office looked very different from the last time she'd seen it. Gone were all the complex machines. Gone was the phoenix perch. The furniture was much less austere and the room was set up for comfortable conversation with ornate tapestries on the wall and a gray tabby cat curled up on a blue tartan armchair. The Pensieve still sat in the corner and the paintings of previous heads of school were still on the wall. Dumbledore winked at her as she stood waiting for McGonagall. She felt ambivalent about seeing him. She was surprised to see Snape on the wall as well, although he was asleep in his frame.

"Hermione?" McGonagall said as she came down the stairs from the upper story of the office. "You're looking well."

"Thank you," Hermione said. "The Weasleys have been taking good care of me."

"I'm glad to hear it. The last time I saw you, you definitely looked in need of care. I suppose you're here about the refund."

"Yes, and to let you know that I'll be moving back to my parents' house in London next week, so you should resume sending correspondence to that address."

"Alright, not too much damage then?" McGonagall said as she made her way to her desk.

"According to the letter I received from the Ministry, none at all. I guess the Death Eaters didn't find it or never got around to it. Either way, it's supposedly fine."

"You haven't seen it then?" McGonagall asked as she pulled a large ledger toward her and opened it. She pulled out a quill and made a note.

"Only from the outside," Hermione said. "I did some work in the garden earlier in the summer just to keep the neighbors happy.

"Surely, you didn't do that on your own," McGonagall said, looking up sharply.

Hermione could feel herself blush. "Probably ill-advised, but yes."

McGonagall furrowed her brow in concern. "That seems a bit reckless even for you."

"Um, I just…needed a bit of time to myself after the war. That can be hard to come by at the Burrow."

McGonagall nodded. "I'm sure that's true. How are the Weasleys? How's George?"

"They're coping. Good days and bad days."

"Of course," McGonagall said sadly. "So full of life those two, and such a pair. It's hard to imagine one without the other."

"Yes," Hermione said. "Even after all these weeks, it's still odd. But George is coping. He's going to reopen the shop and Ron is working with him to create the products."

"I'm glad to hear that. Ron always was good with charms. Like the rest of his brothers, he's a strong wizard," McGonagall said.

"Yes." Hermione nodded. "He is. He…" Her voice cracked.

McGonagall gave her a sympathetic smile. "Are you alright?"

Hermione nodded. "It's just a lot, being back here. I wasn't…it's just a lot."

"I understand. Was there anything else you needed?"

Hermione shook her head.

"Your refund then." McGonagall said and pulled a cloth sack full of coins out of locked cabinet behind her desk and handed it to Hermione, who slipped it into her beaded bag.

"Thank you," Hermione said.

"Why don't you take the Floo from here?"

"Thank you," Hermione said. "That's a good idea."

McGonagall got up and held out a jar of Floo powder. Hermione took a handful and then took the Floo Network back to the Burrow.

xXx

When Hermione stepped out of the kitchen fireplace at the Burrow, Molly was fixing herself a cup of tea. "Can I get you a cup?" she asked Hermione.

"Yes, thank you" Hermione said.

Molly handed her a cup and then went into the parlor where she picked up her sewing. Hermione sat down in one of the worn armchairs across from her. "What are you working on?"

"New pajama bottoms for Ron. The ones he has now barely reach his ankles." She cast a charm to cut the fabric.

Hermione chuckled softly. "I feel like he's grown an inch since we got back."

Molly smiled. "It does seem like it and they were too short before you left."

Hermione smiled and sipped her tea. Ron had been continuously outgrowing his clothes since she'd met him. She wondered when he'd finish growing so he could finally have some clothes that really fit.

"How was Hogwarts?" Molly asked.

"Better, but still in rough shape. I don't know how they're going to get it ready to reopen in the fall."

"Powerful witches and wizards staff Hogwarts, not to mention the veritable army of House Elves that work there. They'll get it done. Don't you worry."

"I know you're right," Hermione said. "But it's hard to imagine it right now."

"I'm sure," Molly said. "It must have been difficult being back there."

Hermione nodded. "Yes. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but…"

"You weren't expecting it to be quite that hard?"

"Right," Hermione said.

Molly smiled sympathetically and then sighed. "Ginny is struggling with the idea of going back."

Hermione bit her lip and didn't say anything.

"I know a lot of it has to do with not wanting to be apart from Harry, but well, she's also been through a lot at that school. Still, if she could just finish this last year, it would open so many doors for her."

Hermione nodded. "I'm sure she'll come around. Ginny's too smart to skip her N.E.W.T. year. Harry won't want her to either."

"You think?" Molly asked.

Hermione smiled. "He loves her. He wants what's best for her. Finishing her education is important. He knows that."

"And yet, it doesn't look like he has any plans to finish his," Molly said.

"Well, that's different," Hermione said.

"Yes," Molly said quietly. "I suppose it is."

xXx

Harry and Ginny were walking in the orchard. He could tell she was upset, but he couldn't decide if it was a good idea to ask her about it or if he should just let her tell him when she was ready.

Ginny stopped under a pear tree and turned to him. "I'm of age at the end of the summer," she announced.

Harry smiled at her. "August eleventh, I know."

"Right, so what makes them think they can force me to go back to school?" she said angrily.

"I'm sure they don't think they can force you to do anything," Harry said. Whether you're of age or not, he thought.

"I don't want to go back," she said, but some of her anger had drained away.

"I know," Harry said, "but you should. Having some N.E.W.T.s will open doors for you that you might want opened. Besides, you'll be captain of the Quidditch team. You don't want to miss that."

She frowned at him. "I don't see you worried about doors being opened."

He quirked his lips and smiled. "I didn't want to tell you this," he said in a serious tone. He took her hands and her brow wrinkled in concern. "But I'm Harry Potter."

She frowned for a moment, but then chuckled softly. "No. That can't be right."

"It is," he said. "I didn't want you to know, because I thought you might feel differently about me."

"Well," she said, seriously. "I do. I feel differently about you than I've ever felt about anyone."

"Because I'm the Chosen One," he said quietly.

"Yes," she said. "I chose you, and that's yet another reason, I don't want to go back."

He let go of her hands and put his arms around her instead. "All the more reason you should."

She pulled away from him. "What's that supposed to mean?"

He sighed. "I think your parents are worried about us."

"I don't care what they think," she said.

"I do. I plan to be part of this family for a long, long time and I don't want them thinking I undermined them or pushed you into anything."

"You're not pushing me anywhere," Ginny said, anger edging back into her voice.

"I know that," Harry said. "But you know they worry about the Voldemort connection."

She frowned and looked away from him. "They don't understand."

"How could they?" he asked gently.

She shook her head. "I don't want to go back. Last year was so awful."

"I'm sorry," Harry said.

She looked at him. "What are you sorry for?"

"I wasted a lot of time last year hiding when I should have been more proactive. I—"

"Stop!" Ginny said.

"But I—"

"Stop!" Ginny repeated. "Don't you dare apologize for not know exactly what to do and when to do it. You're seventeen. How much are you supposed to bloody know? Dumbledore didn't exactly leave you a clear path, did he?"

"No, but—"

"Stop!" she shouted. "No buts, you bloody died to stop that bastard! I'll not have you apologize for anything you did last year. Not to me, not to anyone else."

He opened his mouth to explain but then closed it and kissed her instead. She seemed to approve of the change of direction and enthusiastically participated, perhaps too enthusiastically, and soon he had to take hold of her hands, before things went too far there in the orchard in the middle of the day. She greeted his efforts with a low frustrated growl.

"I hate this," she muttered against his neck.

"Me too," he said. "But let's not make things worse with your parents, okay?"

She sighed. "Fine."

xXx

Late that night, while Hermione, Ron, and George were eating their dinner, Bill showed up.

"Hey," George said. "What brings you out at this hour?"

"We've had a breakthrough on the Gringott's issue," Bill said.

Hermione stood. "I'll go get Harry." She Disapparated and a moment later was knocking on Harry's bedroom door. He clearly hadn't been sleeping and opened the door fully dressed and wide awake. "Bill's here. He has Gringott's news," Hermione said.

"Right," Harry said and followed her downstairs.

Ron was in front of his parents' room. "Do you mind if Mum and Dad hear this?" Ron asked them.

"I don't," Harry said.

"Me either," Hermione said.

"Great, we'll be down in a minute then."

Harry and Hermione proceeded downstairs. George was finishing his dinner. "I'm assuming I can't hear this."

Bill smiled. "You always were clever."

Hermione sat down but didn't finish her dinner. Bill made tea and Harry took a seat. Bill set cups of tea on the table just as his parents and Ron joined them. George excused himself and went upstairs. Ron sat next to Hermione and picked up a roll. He realized she wasn't eating and had her hands clenched tightly in her lap. He continued eating his roll, but put a comforting hand over hers.

When everyone was seated, Bill cleared his throat. "I know you three have been waiting anxiously for this to be resolved, but the Goblins are understandably very upset." He shook his head. "The amount of damage to the building was extensive, but more than that, their pride is hurt."

Hermione pulled her hands from under Ron's and pressed them to her face. Ron could hear her breathing pick up. He pressed his thigh against hers and wrapped his arm around her waist. She was trembling.

"Despite that," Bill said. "The Ministry remains resolute that there not be any repercussions against you. We have a plan in the works that just might suit all parties but that's probably going to take a while. In the meantime, the Goblins have conceded to allow you access to your accounts."

Hermione lowered her hands and looked at Bill.

"But only through an intermediary," Bill said.

"What does that mean exactly?" Harry asked.

"Your funds won't be frozen anymore, but you won't be allowed into the bank. You'll each have to designate someone to do your banking for you. Well, Harry and Hermione will. So far, we haven't convinced them to allow you to open an account Ron," Bill said, clearly frustrated.

"Lucky I don't have much to put in one then, isn't it?" Ron said with false cheer. Hermione rested a hand on his knee and he decided it was worth not having any money if it got her to touch him.

Bill looked at Harry. "Before you ask, you can't designate Ginny since she's underage." He looked at Hermione. "And I know you and Fleur are close, but please don't ask her. That would only complicate my role in the negotiations."

Hermione nodded. "Of course."

Bill reached into his cloak pocket and produced two pieces of parchment. "You'll need to designate your intermediary and then sign these. I'll need them back as soon as you can get them to me."

"Can we both use the same person?" Harry asked.

"Sure," Bill said.

"Alright then," Harry said. "We'll discuss it and get back to you."

"Right," Bill said, standing. "I should get home. Fleur hates it when I work late."

"Alright, dear," his mother said. She stood and hugged him and then he Disapparated.

xXx

The moment Bill left, Hermione stood and went out the back door into the garden. Ron gave Harry and his parents an apologetic smile and followed her.

"Hey," he said, as he stepped out of the house. "Are you alright?"

"I just needed some air," she said without turning to look at him. "I'll be back in in a minute."

She was standing in the middle of the garden with her arms wrapped around her and her head down. He sighed and went to stand next to her. "It's alright," he said quietly. She nodded but didn't say anything. He put his arms around her and she turned and pressed her forehead to his chest. "You're alright."

"I've been waiting for the other shoe to drop. I was sure tonight was it."

"Maybe there is no other shoe," Ron said. "Maybe we're actually safe. Maybe everything will be fine."

"Do you think so?" Hermione asked into his chest.

"I hope so," he said and held her tighter. When he finally felt her start to relax, he let her go. "You ready to go back inside?"

She nodded. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" Ron asked. "Not trusting things to go our way? You'd be a fool otherwise."

She smiled. "The war is over. Why is it so hard to relax?"

Ron shrugged. "Too tense for too long, I suppose."

"Maybe, or maybe it's just being stuck in limbo since the last battle, but I guess that's over now."

"How do you mean?" Ron said, an uneasy sensation coming over him.

"I got my Hogwarts letter and I talked to McGonagall this morning. She gave me the refund on room and board and the Aurors have cleared my parents' place. Now that I can access my bank account again, I think the universe is telling me it's time."

"No one is telling you anything. You can stay here as long as you like," Ron said, trying to push down the anxiety that was welling up.

She smiled at him. "I appreciate that, but now that I don't need your parents to feed and shelter me, it would be wrong to stay. I need to stand on my own two feet and once I'm settled, I want to show them some of the hospitality they've shown me. I know I can never really repay them for everything they've done, but it would be nice to have them round for dinner."

Ron didn't know what to say. She was leaving. She was going off to live in London on her own. That wasn't right. That wasn't right at all. She shouldn't do that. But before he could voice any of that, she said, "Do you think your Dad would be my intermediary?"

"What?" Ron said. "Uh, sure, probably."

"He seems like the logical choice since he goes into work at the Ministry most days."

"Right," Ron said, nodding, but not really paying attention. He couldn't imagine Hermione not being at the Burrow, or more accurately, not being with him. He followed her inside with a tight fist forming in his stomach. Earlier in the summer, when she went to London ostensibly to work in her parents' garden, she'd never invited him to join her. He wondered if she would invite him now.

Harry and Hermione both designated Mr. Weasley as their intermediary and Ron sent Pigwidgeon off to Bill with the paperwork. Ron's parents retired for the night and Ron was hoping Harry would go up too so he could talk to Hermione, but he was disappointed when she went to bed first. Exhausted after a long day at the shop, he dragged himself upstairs.