Hi! Here's the second chapter! By the way, sorry everyone about the mix-up on the last chapter! This one is dedicated to Miriamimus...hope this one's OK! Thanks guys! Please R&R! Love all of you,
Hannah Longbottom
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It had been a whole year since Ron and Harry had had their conversations with Ginny and Hermione and they were very happy. In fact, Harry had a special question up his sleeve, but he hadn't told anyone yet. Harry had spent half of the year comforting Ginny, who was mourning the death of her brother, Fred. Hermione was playing a very similar role, as her boyfriend was also mourning Fred's death. Even though Ron felt very happy that he was finally going out with Hermione, he could not mask the pain that him and Ginny were feeling. Ginny felt particularly devastated the day of Fred's funeral. As she had told Harry, she found it hard to officially say goodbye to her brother. Harry held her hand throughout the whole funeral, but it pained him to see the tears slowly trickle down her face. Ron too was taking Fred's death incredibly hard. But he was glad that he had Hermione for help and comfort. She had been very considerate and understanding throughout the whole ordeal. But the person who suffered the most, was George. He didn't come out of his room, apart from meal times, for about a week and he didn't go to work for a whole month. To see George being so far from his usual bubbly, jokey self, somehow caused everyone else to become even more devastated. But after a couple of months, he started to go back to work. And after a even more time, he started to become almost his old jokey self.
About six months after Fred's funeral, Ron sat up in his room by himself, staring up at the ceiling. He decided to go to Ginny's room to see Hermione. When he got there, Ginny was on her way out.
"Hi," he said. "Is Hermione in there?"
"Yeah, " Ginny replied. "Have you seen Harry?"
"I think he's downstairs." As Ginny went down the rickety stairs, Ron knocked on the door.
"Come in!" Hermione called. When Ron entered, Hermione had her trunk wide open on her bed, which was half-packed with clothes and a few books.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"I'm packing," Hermione said, as she moved back and forth from the wardrobe she was sharing with Ginny.
"Yeah, but why?"
"I'm going to Australia." Ron paused to take in this startling piece of news.
"I repeat. Why?"
"Ron! I'm going to get my parents! They've been in Australia for two years now! I miss them. I stayed here with you because you were shattered about Fred's death. But now that you're better, I have to see my parents."
"Oh, OK. But I'm going to miss you."
"Ron, I'm coming back! I'm only going to be gone about a week! I've already talked things over with your mother, and she says it's fine."
"Oh, OK then. I'll help you pack. So, where in Australia are your mum and dad anyway?"
"A little town called Summer Bay. I'm not going to stay there long. I'm just going to Apparate there, lift the Memory Modification charm and then Apparate with my parents back home. Then I'm going to stay home for about a week and come back. I still have lots of training to do for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures."
"So, what are you going to do when you get there? I mean, what if your mum and dad have moved to somewhere else in Australia?"
"No, they haven't, don't worry. I made sure that they didn't move so I'd know where to find them."
"Hermione," Ron said, pulling a large book out of her trunk. "Why the hell are you taking Hogwarts: A History with you?"
Hermione blushed. "I just wouldn't feel right without it!" she said.
"But Hermione, when are you ever going to need it?"
"I might not need it! But I can just read at my leisure!"
"At your leisure? Suit yourself."
They continued to pack for the next half an hour, and then Hermione decided she had all she'd need.
"So," Ron said. "Are you going to tell your mum and dad that you modified they're memory?"
"I don't know," Hermione sighed. "I suppose so. It just seems so complicated. But, if I don't tell them the truth, what else am I going to tell them?"
"Well, are you going to tell them about me?" Ron asked.
Hermione looked very surprised at the question. "Again, I don't know," she replied, slowly. "I don't even know if I want to."
"Why not?" Ron asked, pulling Hermione onto his lap. My mum and dad know about us."
"Yeah, but I just know that they're going to make a big deal out of it. I really don't want that kind of embarrassment. I will tell them eventually, but just...not yet."
"OK," Ron sighed.
"I have to go now," Hermione whispered, her head buried in his chest.
"Well, maybe you don't have to go today! Why don't you go tomorrow instead?"
"No, Ron! I've made this decision for a week and I've always put it off for a day or two to be with you! I can't do it again! I need to see my parents!"
"OK, sorry, you're right. I'm just going to miss you, that's all."
"I know. I'm going to miss you too. But I have to do this." She kissed him, and then she got off his lap and grabbed her trunk.
"I'm going down to say goodbye to everyone."
"OK, but it's just Harry and Ginny. Mum, Dad and George have gone out."
Hermione and Ron made their way to the living room, where Ginny and Harry were holding hands and talking.
"OK," Hermione said, and set her trunk down on the floor for a minute. "I'm going to Australia."
"As we all do everyday!" Harry said, smiling. Ginny and Ron laughed.
"I'm going to go to my parents and give their proper memories back!" Hermione exclaimed.
"For how long?" Ginny asked.
"Just a week. Then I'm coming back."
"OK," Harry said, uncertainly. "Well, have fun..I guess."
"See you!" Hermione sang. She kissed Ron again, picked up her trunk and Disapparated with the usual loud crack.
"So," Ron sighed, after staring wistfully at the place where Hermione had been standing seconds ago. "What are you guys talking about then?"
"We're talking about go away and leave us alone, " Ginny said sharply, giving Ron a vicious look. Harry stared up at the ceiling. This one of the moments where Ginny and Ron started fighting because Ron was always unaware of when him and Ginny wanted to be alone. But, fortunately, this time Ron didn't fight back.
"Fine," he said, getting up. "I can take a hint." And he walked back to his bedroom.
A few days later, Ron, Ginny and Harry got an owl from Hermione while they were having breakfast. Harry lifted his glass of orange juice so that the large tawny could land safely. He saw that there were two pieces of parchment. He took both of them and opened one, which was for him and Ginny.
Dear Harry and Ginny,
Hello! How are you both? I just left Australia yesterday with my parents and you will be pleased to know that the charm went fine and their memories are back to normal! So, I'm at home now. I will be coming returning to The Burrow in three days. I hope you're all OK. Harry, I hope you have started your Auror training. I know that you are trying to make the most of Ginny's spare time before she gets the results of her NEWTs, but you do have a lot of training to think about. Anyway, I hope you're well.
See you soon,
Love Hermione.
PS Can one of you please tell Mr Weasley that my parents have received his owl and would be glad to give him one of our old telephones through me.
Ginny laughed as she finished the letter.
"Trust Hermione!" she giggled. "She's right though. When are you going to start your Auror training?"
"As soon as you get your NEWT results," Harry insisted.
Ginny sighed. "OK, fine," she concluded. "But then you have to go for training, OK? I don't want to be the one that stands in your way!"
"I promise," Harry assured her, kissing her forehead. "And anyway, you're not standing in my way."
"OK then." They both looked over at Ron, who was reading a piece of parchment that was much longer than the one Harry and Ginny had gotten.
"Is that from Hermione?" Ginny asked. Ron nodded.
"Can I read it?" Ginny asked, reaching out to take it. But Ron snatched it out of her reach, reddening.
"It's private," he said, quietly. As he walked away, Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Honestly," she sighed, exasperatingly. "He's turned into such a girl!"
Harry laughed. "I love you," he said, without even thinking.
"I know," Ginny replied, giving him a hug. As she did so, Harry smelt the familiar, wonderful flowery scent that he always smelt off Ginny, and he wished that he could go on holding her forever and ever.