Chapter 6: 'Sweet Dreams'

A/N: There is a big shipping of Harry/Ginny in this chapter, by the way.

She took another step towards the room and didn't stop this time. She reached the doorframe, and silently opened the door. As she did, her eyes widened and her hand went over her mouth as it made a little 'o'.

There was no room.

It was as if the room had just fallen off the edge of the earth. It no longer existed and it was no longer there.

Tonks had to grab onto Hermione so she wouldn't fall into the nothingness that now was in front of them.

As far as the eye could see, there was nothingness. It wasn't like the room just wasn't there and it was hole in the roof and you could see the neighbourhood. No, there was nothingness.

There was a blue sky reaching to the horizon and an icy, blustery wind whipping past them. It whistled and howled.

Hermione's unruly wavy hair blew into her face, blinding her. Tonk's short bubblegum 'do just lent towards one way or another. And Anne's long, fair, blonde hair blew everywhere, not only blocking her sight, but the other two as well.

'WHERE IS IT?' Hermione shouted into the wind as it blew past her, unsettling her hair once again.

'I DON'T KNOW, HONEY!' Anne yelled back to her, as she and Tonks pulled her back and into the house.

They slammed the door shut, and the three of them stood against, breathless.

'My room………………………' Hermione mumbled.

Anne hugged her in reassurance. Tonks on looked the mother-daughter moment and thought back to her Auror training about what it could have happened to Hermione's room.

'Hermione?' Tonks asked, trying to not break up the moment.

'Mmhum?' Hermione hummed.

'You room may actually be there, just under some sort of spell to disguise it. But that doesn't mean we can just waltz in there. It may be a trap from You-Kn- I mean Voldemort,' Tonks inwardly shuddered.

Dumbledore now enforced that all Order members use his real name, especially now he was back. But she only did it when she was around him, Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione. They were the only ones who used it all the time, no matter what Dumbledore said.

'He could have some sort of portkey in there that could transport you to his clutches.'

Hermione nodded. She understood all of this, and had even thought of the idea herself. It was definitely a possibility, a big one.

'I am going to report it to Head Quarters now. I wont be long, but don't leave without me,' with that Tonks disapperated with a loud crack.

Hermione stayed in her mother's arms for a long time as she shed silent tears. She had thought that her room would have been destroyed at least somewhat, but for it to be gone?

It was unthinkable.

With another loud crack, Tonks was in the Headmaster's office in Hogwarts. Dumbledore sat before her in his chair resembling a throne. He was signing several papers when he looked up and noticed the young auror.

He placed his dark golden quill down. 'Yes, Nymphadora?'

Tonks winced once more. 'Kingsley and I took the Grangers to there house this morning, nothing happened. The house was in disarray, but nothing worse than I would have expected.

'But when Hermione, Anne and I reached Hermione's room, I had a feeling something was off. And I was right. Hermione's room was gone.'

Dumbledore suddenly stood up and walked towards Tonks. 'Please continue.'

Tonks nodded and continue as he wished. 'Inside the room was an endless blue sky and a bitter wind that chilled as all to our bones. The edge of the door frame was hanging in midair, and if someone was to fall, who knows what would happen. I decided not to do anything before I reported it to you.'

'Good, good. Anything else?' Dumbledore asked.

'I have an idea on why the room appeared like it had disappeared. You- Voldemort could have planted portkey inside the room that would transport anyone who went in there to him, specifically Hermione.'

Dumbledore absorbed all of this before he answered her slowly, drawing out each word as if for some reason he wasn't sure he wanted to say the,

'It may be some kind of concealment spell. I'll get Alastor to look at it. His eye may come in handy for a situation like this,' Dumbledore thoughtfully finished.

Tonks nodded.

'Well you better get back to Hermione and her parents and I will contact Alastor right now,' Dumbledore headed back towards his desk as he had finished, but stopped when Tonks spoke.

'Thank you, Professor,' Tonks then turned around, managing to maintain her balance for once, but the old man spoke again her.

'It is Albus now, Nymphadora,' Dumbledore smiled at her.

'Tonks, Albus. Tonks,' Tonks smiled back at him as she prepared to leave his office.

The young woman once again disapperated with a loud crack.

'Tonks…..' Dumbledore drew it out as he exhaled very slowly.

After Tonks had left, Hermione and her mother had continued to hug for quite awhile before they continued down the hall to inspect the rest of the damage. Eric was still downstairs, conversating with Kingsley Shacklebolt.

The bathrooms were still useable though there were entirely covered in black soot. The spare room, in which Harry and Lupin had stayed, was practically destroyed. The bed was charred to the ground, as were all of the wooden pieces of furniture in the room (ie bedside table, bookcase, and the dresser).

The only thing left standing was the fancy blue and yellow light in the corner that Anne and Eric had bought in France all those years ago.

It was a priceless light as it was magical. The lights were not bulbs or anything that involved electricity. They were lit up by living sparklers. Only Hermione could turn it on at first, with her wand, until she conjured up an on/off switch for her parents.

'Mum, can we keep it?' Hermione looked up at her mother.

'Of course, sweetheart,' Anne smiled at her. So much had happened in the past few days. So much it was hard to think of anything else.

Hermione smiled through her tears. Really, the lamp was nothing. But it held memories within her. It reminded her of their trip to France to visit her grandparents. It reminded her of marvelling at the exquisiteness of it when they had given it to her and her parents. But most of all it reminded her of the times she spent showing her parents how to work it.

Her house was gone. There was an outside and a yard that remained untouched. But the interior had been destroyed. It was no longer her house, her parent's house, or the Granger's house. It was a house that held war scars. Death Eaters had been here, maybe even Voldemort, but Hermione reckoned not. This was probably too petty for him.

Tonks arrived back, about 20 minutes after she had originally left the house.

She apperated to the upstairs by the door to Hermione's room. But she could hear voices. Another loud crack was to be heard.

'What was that?' Eric started at the second crack. He had heard the fist one but had dismissed, thinking it was just a trick on his ears.

'The sound of someone apperating,' Kingsley knew it was Tonks, but he slowly took his wand out in case.

That very second a girl with long, slivery blonde hair appeared right in front of their eyes. She looked awfully familiar.

'Fleur?' Hermione asked flabbergasted.

'No, silly!' Tonks returned to her usual appearance of short spiky pink bubblegum hair, a weird sister's t-shirt and flared jeans. Hermione let out a breath she didn't even know she was holding.

'Don't do that!' Hermione cried shrilly as she smiled.

Tonks just laughed as she had succeeded.

Anne smiled at the interaction between her fifteen year old and the twenty-one year old. She was just glad that Hermione was smiling. She had experience so much pain in the last few days and it wasn't certainly not the last of it.

'We will need to head out soon,' Kingsley told the Grangers and Tonks as he looked down at his watch.

They had been collecting up all the thinks that were usable and things that could be repaired, by hand or magic. Hermione wished there was a spell that could either replace everything or repair it all. But there wasn't one. Not one that reversed dark magic, anyway.

The few thinks that could be salvaged were sent ahead of them back to 12 Grimmauld, with the exception of some small items they were able to carry. The French light was one of the things sent ahead of them, as were some pictures, old toys that had been scattered all around the house and a few other odd things that were worthwhile keeping.

Hermione nodded in response to the elder Auror. She held two books in her arms, and was sitting on the floor in the corner, the only non-black patch in the house. The one she had open on her lap corners were slightly burned, but the book was still readable.

It was a book of Fairy Tales. She had received it for her 6th birthday from her grandfather and his second wife, a lady named Margaret who asked Hermione to call her Grandmére as she was French. Her grandfather had written an inscription in the front cover.

September 16th, 2004

'Darling Hermione,

We can't believe you already six! It seems just yesterday you were born. Our first and only grandchild. I was so happy when I saw you for the first time. You were so adorable!

Your mother has told us that you love reading about magic, so when we saw this, Margaret and I thought you would love it.

You'll love to know that you are exactly like your grandmother, Elisabeth. She would have loved to see you grow up. You look just like her too, the chocolate eyes, the bushy hair and the petite features. I can't believe she died the day you were born. Your mother may have told you this. But she suffered from a severe heart attack just moments after she saw you for the first time. It broke my heart, but thankfully I had you and your mother. That was 6 years ago now, so long ago.

Margaret says hi and wishes you a happy birthday. So do I, sweetheart.

Love,

Grandpa and Grandmére

Hermione let a tear drop from her eyes. She wished she could have known her real grandmother, Elisabeth. She sounded just like her, and from the descriptions Anne and her Grandpa told her and the pictures she had seen, Elisabeth looked exactly like her. Or more like, Hermione looked just like her.

A few years ago, Hermione had asked her mother what had happened to her grandmother. She didn't like Grandmére very much as she was very proper and always made Hermione dress up in pinafores and gloves. Hermione hated it. She loved her Grandpa very much though. He always gave her presents and sweets.

But that wasn't the only reason she loved him. He was a kind person who knew how Hermione felt about everything.

In response to Hermione's question, Anne had simply said that Elizabeth had passed away. And then last year, when she had asked the question again, her mother had given in and had told her the whole story.

Of Elisabeth dying only moments after she had visited her newborn granddaughter. Her death because of an unknown disease, a very sudden one. And her mother being completely distraught about the whole thing, despite being a brand new mother.

'Was it just a coincidence that my grandmother died the day I was born?' Hermione thought to herself. 'Of course it was,' Hermione resolved in her head, but deep down she wasn't so sure.

'Time to go,' Anne called out to her, shaking Hermione from her private thoughts. Anne's arms were full of memories, as were Eric's her stood beside her.

'All right,' Hermione slowly walked towards them. She stumbled under the weight of the boxes as she placed another into her arms atop the other boxes, but Hermione managed.

'Everyone touch the portkey, and then we will be out of here in no time just as soon as I set it up,' Tonks voiced. She held out a pair of broken plastic glasses. Tonks had stepped on them when she was attempting to conjure up a portkey, but she decided this muggle contraption would do the job.

'Are you ready to leave?' Kingsley asked the Grangers. They all nodded as they look around the house they had lived in for so long for the last time.

'Goodbye,' Hermione whispered as she pulled far from her house just moments after Tonks activated the glasses.

'You're back!' Ginny called out as Hermione pulled her parents to their feet in the living room of 12 Grimmauld Place.

Yes,' Hermione simply replied with a warm smile at the girl jumping down the stairs two at a time, trying to be quiet and not quite succeeding.

'I have to talk to you,' Ginny whispered once she was within whispering range of Hermione's ears.

'What?' She asked, louder that she had wanted to be.

'Pardon, sweetheart?' Anne brushed the dust off her self. She looked up, smiled at her daughter, and pushed one of her stubborn golden curls back behind her ear.

'Oh nothing Mum,' Hermione's cheeks flushed a shade of pink as she covered up her mistake hurriedly. She wasn't sure what Ginny was on about, but she was fairly sure that it was not for her mother's ears. 'Can I go upstairs with Gin?'

'Yes if you both carry up some of these boxes upstairs to our rooms,' Eric said as he placed a few more things into the boxes the girls were to lug up the black staircase.

'All right,' Hermione sighed as she hoisted one of the boxes full of slightly charred books to her hip. Ginny followed suit with a box full of broken and burnt toys.

The two girls crept up the stairs as silently as they could. They were not in the mood for Mrs Black. Once they reached the top of the stairs, Hermione led Ginny right to the end of the hall, a place Ginny had only been once before last summer to clean it. When she had been in there, it was a dreary grey and was full of dormant creatures.

'Why are we going this way?' Ginny asked apprehensively. She was not sure she liked going this way.

'Dumbledore set up several interconnected rooms for my parents as they are moving in here. This is their part of the house,' Hermione explained happily, not noticing the fearful tone of Ginny's voice. She kicked the door open with her left foot.

Ginny's eyes widened in amazement of the transformation the room had undergone. The whole area was completely different from the room she remembered of last summer.

It was like a miniature flat. It had a living room, a family room, a kitchen, a master bedroom, two bathrooms, a study and a set of back stairs that led down to the main kitchen below.

The front door led into the living room, which was now before Hermione and Ginny. It was filled to the brim with mahogany wood furnishings, and when the sunlight from the charmed window hit the furniture and along with the pale yellow walls, the room felt warm and inviting.

'Nice, isn't it?' Hermione inwardly laughed at Ginny's reaction and as she placed her heavy book on the blue and yellow sofa. She too thought it was really nice, but this wasn't the first time she had seen it.

'Ya!' Ginny slowly nodded in disbelief. It was so different it took a few seconds to get her self under control. 'Did Dumbledore allow your parents to personalize the flat?'

Hermione nodded, 'My mum said that he let her and my dad pick out the colour scheme for each room.'

'They certainly do have an eye for the over all look,' Ginny stated, smiling. 'Now, where should I put this box down?'

'Oh! Let's put them in the study,' Hermione led Ginny to a room that held a desk, a rolling chair and two box like things that Ginny did not recognize. One was a big square hooked up to a flat board of buttons with letters on them, and the other was a vertical upstanding box that was under the desk.

'What are those? Ginny pointed to the boxes as she placed her own down in the corner where Hermione stood.

'That's a computer, which is hooked up to a monitor. It's a muggle device,' Hermione explained.

A look of comprehension dawned on Ginny's face as she replied, 'I remember learning about it in Muggle Studies. And that flat thing is a key board, right?'

'Yup!' Hermione exclaimed.

The girls then left after Hermione had given Ginny a full tour of the little flat that her parents now lived in.

'Now what did you want to talk to me about?' Hermione asked they were both safely in their own yellow and blue room.

Before Ginny spoke, she whispered a silencing spell on the room.

'Two things. First, Ron came and talked to me about you. He wanted to know if you had told me anything you hadn't told him,' Ginny looked down at her clasped hands, all the while fiddling with her fingers.

'And you told him what?' Hermione began slowly. Even if she was not to have a child, she most certainly did not want Ron to find out, or about the marriage part either.

'I asked him what he knew, and he just said that you were not of full Muggle ancestry, as we had all believed before. He also said that knew about you being a Princess,' Ginny stated.

'But what did you tell him?' Hermione accented you as she had to know if he knew anything else.

'I, er……, said that I only knew one other thing,' Ginny continued shakily.

'Which was?' Hermione pushed.

'The-part-about-you-having-to-get-married,' Ginny rushed in one breath and continued to fiddle with her fingers.

It took Hermione few seconds to comprehend what Ginny said and to react to it. 'What?'

Ginny repeated, painfully slow, 'I told him the part about having to get married.'

'I know what you said! But why, Gin? Why did you have to say that?' Hermione groaned.

'What else was I supposed to say? That you have to have a baby before you are out of school, maybe even out of wedlock?' Ginny yelled, as Hermione winced at the tone of her voice. At least there is a silencing charm on the room, Hermione thought.

'Or the fact that he's not rich enough, which is why you can't love him? What else could I have said, Hermione?' Ginny continued ranting.

But Hermione's expression had changed from a wince. She had tears streaming down her cheeks, as she listened to the truth in Ginny's words.

'Oh I'm sorry Hermione. I didn't mean to be so harsh,' Ginny sat down beside her best friend and tried to comfort her.

'No Ginny, it's okay. What you said was the truth. I still love your brother, but now….. I just can't be with him, okay?' Hermione wiped away her tears to reveal a small smile. 'And just to let you know, Dumbledore says I don't have to have a child just because of my new status.'

'Really?' Ginny brightened up.

Hermione nodded and smiled a soft smile.

'Oh and before I forget, tomorrow is Harry's 16th birthday. I want to surprise him with something,' Ginny blushed a shade of red to match her hair, and Hermione knew exactly why.

'Sure, of course! What did you have in mind?' Hermione questioned eagerly.

Hermione yawned as she settled into bed. It had been a long day. After she and Ginny had discussed the arty details, the two of them had spent the rest of the day convincing everyone to help them.

The plan was for Ginny to have Harry help her with her homework, upstairs in the girl's room; while the Grangers and rest of the Weasley clan (minus Percy) were to team up with anyone else in the Order who wanted to help decorate the kitchen and living room for Harry's 16th birthday.

'Good night Hermione,' Ginny mumbled as she fell asleep on her soft pale yellow pillow.

'Goodnight,' Hermione mumbled back, but she wasn't about to fall asleep on her soft pale yellow pillow. She sat up as soon as she heard Ginny's steady breathing.

Hermione reached under her pillow and pulled out the ruby red diary. A quill was beside her bed and Hermione reached over for it, dipping it in ink as she did so.

Alex

Sorry for not writing yesterday. It just seems as soon as a new day begins, I learnt another secret.

Hermione

What did you learn today?

Alexandria's gentle hand appeared onto the parchment and Hermione sighed with relief. There was someone out there who would listen to her problems and knew exactly what she was going through.

That in fact I don't have to have baby before I leave school.

Really?

Yea. But that's not all. My parents and I went to go and see out Muggle house for the last time as Death Eaters had attacked it.

They are Voldemort's supporters, aren't they?

Yes.

How was it?

Awful

Do you want to talk about it? more like write about it

Hermione had to stop and smile at Alex's last comment.

Not really, but I know I have to talk/write to someone about it.

So what did the place look like?

Everywhere downstairs was black with ashes and full of giant gaping holes from scorch marks. Most things had been burnt to a crisp, destroyed beyond recognition, or covered in horrific offending graffiti.

Oh. What did they write?

'All Mudbloods go to Hell'

Alex then paused before she continued. The writing that had been on the wall gave her a shock at how crude and mean people still were towards Muggleborns.

How was your room?

Hermione didn't reply instantly as it was the one question she had been avoiding. She suddenly had a strong urge to throw the diary across the rooms so that it slammed against the wall. But Hermione thought better of it and slowly responded to Alex's question before closing the diary and falling asleep.

Gone.

'Happy Birthday Harry!' Hermione called out happily as Harry the living room that was adorned with millions of Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes streamers and fireworks.

Ginny was at his side, and supported him at the waist as Harry took a slight step back in surprise.

'Wow,' was all Harry could say. 'All this for me?' Harry looked on in disbelief at the people who now stood before him, and then turned his glowing green eyes onto Ginny's deep brown ones.

'All for you,' Ginny stood up on her tippy-toes to kiss Harry softly on the cheek, but he apparently had other ideas.

After snogging for a time that seemed to last longer than a minute, Harry and Ginny broke apart, both blushing furiously because of the looks the couple was receiving.

'Ahem,' resounded Mrs Weasley's voice.

The room fell silent, though Hermione wasn't sure whether or not that was good thing.

Harry exchanged a glance with Ginny, realising their mistake. Hermione and Ron had known about the two of them being an 'item', but the couple of a month had yet to tell the Weasley's about the sudden change in their relationship with each other.

Ginny stepped forward, holding steadfastly to Harry's hand. She squeezed it tight before beginning.

'Mum, Dad, Bill, Charlie, Fred, George, Ron, everyone else, I'd like you to meet my boyfriend, Harry Potter.'

Mrs Weasley cupped her hands over her mouth in realisation of this joyous occasion.

'Harry is this true?' she asked kindly.

'Yes, m'am,' Harry looked bashfully down. But the next thing he knew, the entire Weasley clan were engulfing him in a gigantic hug.

Hermione stood off to the side and smiled. Harry and Ginny had everything. They had each other. They had friends. They had family. And they had each other's love.

She couldn't stop it, tears leaked slowly down her cheek in spite of her happiness. Ron, sensing her unhappiness, looked up from where he was congratulating his best mate. But he knew there was nothing he could do to help Hermione.

Her tears subsided quickly as the hug was breaking apart and everyone kept looking at her strangely. She brushed the remains away and began to busy her self with lighting the cake before anyone could come over to her and ask about the tears and her blood-shot red eyes.

Ginny joined her and soon the double tiered chocolate cake was a glow with sixteen candles.

'1………2……..3...... Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to Harry, Happy Birthday to you,' Ginny led the song as everyone chorused in with her. Harry blew out all his candles in one blow and exchanged a quick birthday kiss with Ginny.

Hermione looked a Ron, to stifle a laugh that the two of them had always shared whenever Harry and Ginny were lip-locked. But her eyes shifted as soon as she realised what she was trying to do.

'Here Hermione, take your slice,' Ginny handed her a slice that came from the bottom tier of the cake and had her name written in icing: Hermione.

It had swirls, stars, wands and books surrounding it. Everyone else's was personalised as well, with something for everyone. Harry's was spectacular with Firebolts, snitches, lighting bolts, and blazing green writing. But in the top right hand corner of his slice was minute red writing that was barely readable. Scripted there was a note from Ginny that read: I love you- Ginny.

The red-headed girl was standing off to the side, slowly nibbling her piece of cake and trying not to look at Harry. But when she finally did, the two locked eyes.

'Really?' Harry whispered nervously.

Ginny just nodded in reply and Harry rushed over to her.

'I love you too,' Harry smiled before kissing his true love once more.

This too brought another wave of tears to Hermione's eyes, but she hurriedly wiped them away as she saw Ron looking over at her worriedly.

'Harry and Ginny are so perfect for each other. I know Ron and I are, too. But I just know that I can't be with him,' Hermione thought to herself.

It was then that Harry and Ginny broke apart and Mrs Weasley announced that Harry could open his gifts now. From his very first birthday party, Harry received an assortment of pressies and to him they all meant a lot. From the twins, he got a limited edition 50 Galleon to Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes; from Ron, a boost up card for his Firebolt from Ron; and from Hermione, a scrapbook of the past five years. Ginny's to him was a secret as she said she wanted to give it to him later and didn't particularly want anyone to see it.

'What a party!' Mrs Weasley sighed as she banished the piles of gift wrap into the rubbish bin.

Hermione nodded in acknowledgement as she too helped clean up, but in Muggle style.

It was just the two of them now as Harry and Ginny had retreated upstairs to be alone. Ron had decided to go out with Gred and Forge to visit their shop as he hadn't since it first opened. For the whereabouts of everyone else, they were God knows where.

'Are you okay, Hermione dear?' Mrs Weasley good naturally asked the young girl who stood before. Hermione was smiling, but it was sad smile- anyone could see that.

Hermione looked up startled. She wasn't fine, anyone could see that. That didn't mean that she had to let Mrs Weasley know that she was far from being fine. She didn't have to tell her. 'Yea, I'm just fine.'

'Are you sure? You haven't looked your self these past few days,' Mrs Weasley looked over at Hermione tenderly.

'Oh! I just haven't got that much sleep recently,' Hermione smiled what she hope would come across as a reassuring smile.

At that, Mrs Weasley knew she would not be able to get anything out of Hermione. She sent the last pile of paper to the bin, and half rubbed, half clapped her hands to signify that she was finished.

'There, now we are done. I'm going to go have to start making dinner for this wretched lot, how about you help me if you would like?'

Hermione wasn't sure. On one hand, she would rather be off somewhere talking to Ginny. But on the other hand, Ginny was off snogging Harry somewhere.

'Sure I'd love to, Mrs Weasley. What can I do?' Hermione smiled at her surrogate mother.

Mrs Weasley led her into the kitchen and started summoning things out of the cupboards. Hermione stood at the doorway, amazed at how one woman could do so much at one time.

'Come Hermione. You can mix the eggs and the mixture. I'm sorry, but you'll have to do it the Muggle way. No Magic, I'm afraid,' Mrs Weasley bustled Hermione into the kitchen, and soon she found herself adorned in a worn red and white chequered apron tied around her waist.

There were potatoes peeling themselves, along with apples. A wooden spoon was slowly revolving on its own accord in a large sliver bowl. Mrs Weasley was summoning more things out of the cupboards and sending plates the table at the same time.

Hermione stepped forward and grabbed the revolving spoon and using her own force, increased its speed. The batter moved quicker in a circle resembling a cream whirlpool. Two eggs appeared next to the plate, and Hermione got the idea that she was to crack them so that the yolk could be added to the mixture.

When she had been little, around 7 or 8, Hermione always wanted to cook. She badgered her mother on end to help her. Anne finally did and soon Hermione could make chocolate chip biscuits all on her own, except for using the oven.

As Hermione cracked one the eggs, it reminded her of the first time she had done it.

It was shortly after her birthday, and it was a dreary, rainy day outside. Hermione sat by the window in her room and sighed.

'What is it Hermione?' Anne as affectionately as she folded the laundry.

'I'm bored,' Hermione turned towards her mother.

'Why don't you read a book?' Anne knew that the easiest way to quieten Hermione for the longest time was to give her a good book.

'I don't feel like reading today,' Hermione sighed again.

'What? Hermione not want to read?' Anne pretended to be shocked as she teased her only child.

Hermione just gave her the infamous glare.

'Sorry, sorry. How about you help me make lunch?' Anne picked up the clothes basket and beckoned Hermione out of the room.

'Ooooo! Can we make chockie bickies? Can I crack the eggs?' Hermione skipped out of the room.

'We'll see,' Anne smiled. But of course they did make the biscuits and Hermione did get to crack the eggs, with her mother's supervision of course.

'Now take the egg in you hand like this. You can either push it open with your thumbs or do what I like to do, crack it against the bowl,' Anne instructed. She placed one of the light brown eggs in her daughter's hands, and moulded Hermione's grip on it.

'Like this?' Hermione suddenly cracked the egg against the bowl. She split it in half expertly and let the yolk fall into the cup with out any shell going with it.

'Yeah, like that,' Anne said dumbfound. She had expected to have to coach Hermione through it a few times to get it right, and maybe even through tears as Hermione was such a perfectionist. But on the first time?'

'What do you do next mummy?' Hermione asked sweetly. She didn't let on that she had no idea what she just did. It was like something had taken over her for those few seconds.

'Now you whisk the egg in the cup. Once you've done that, you add it to the batter,' Anne demonstrated before Hermione copied her, and once again got it right on first try.

Hermione didn't remember the biscuits ended up or how they tasted. She just remembered her mum teaching her how to crack an egg.

'Chop, chop Hermione!' Mrs Weasley bustled behind her with plates of food, heading for the table.

Hermione had now finished with the eggs and was now shopping vegetables for the salad.

'I am chopping,' she chortled back.

Mrs Weasley just smiled.

'Is it dinnertime already?' The twins and Ron announced their arrival, and soon they weren't the only ones as everyone else in the house flocked to the kitchen. Hermione hurried her chopping, being careful not to slice her fingers, and put together a quick salad.

As she placed it on the table, the last tenets of the Headquarters entered. Ginny and Harry were looking a little flushed, but no more than usual.

Soon everyone was digging in.

'This is delicious Molly,' Mr Weasley complimented his wife.

'Superb,' Tonks mumbled with her mouth full of food.

'Scrumptious,' Remus added.

Hermione finished first as she had been one of the first served. Collecting her plate up, she noticed that Harry and Ginny had finished too and were getting up as well. She noticed Ron too, but avoided his eyes as the red head walked out of them room, silently and alone.

'Hey Birthday Boy!' Hermione called out to Harry who had his hand firmly attached on Ginny's waist. It wrenched Hermione's heart when she let her eyes fall onto his fingertips that supported Ginny as she stood up from the long bench. It was Ron used to do, before…….

'Yeah?' Harry replied as he picked up the two plates with one hand, his other never leaving her side.

'I'll take your plates for you,' Hermione offered as she stretched her hand out towards them.

'Thanks Hermione,' Harry smiled genuinely and the two left the room, still with Harry's hand permanently attached to Ginny's waist.

Hermione shook her head and smiled. They were perfect for each other.

As she placed the plates into the self-washing sink, Hermione yawned loudly. She glanced at her watch. '9:01' blinked back at her.

'I'm going to head up to bed, if that's ok,' Hermione commented as she exited the room.

'No, no, you go up ahead my dear,' Mrs Weasley smiled warmly.

'Sweet dreams, I love you,' Anne mouthed with a grin to her daughter. Hermione replied with a mouthed rendition of 'Sweet dreams, I love you too.'

When Hermione walked out into the hall, Hermione for the first time noticed how spooky and empty the house had become. She could hear the unsettling snoring of Mrs Black behind her ratty curtain, the far off sound of Kreacher shuffling around the decapitated house, a creak of the floorboards from somewhere in the upstairs hall, the muffled sound of joyous voices behind the closed kitchen door, and a faint buzz from the downstairs parlour that could only come from a magical creature.

The sound of her footsteps against the wooden floor soon joined those ranks as Hermione slowly walked towards the stairs. Her eyes were glued on the wall surrounding her, admiring all the paintings. Many were just portraits of various Black family members, but a few of them were of actual scenes that had happened in the past.

There was one in particular. It was relatively small and was tucked away in corner. Because of that, the picture was covered in a layer of collected dust. It was evident the picture had been forgotten. The picture had been painted from a magical moving photograph. In the painting, the people were still moving around, interacting with each other. The scenery was if a sparkling crystal blue lake, though you could only see a small sliver of it at the edge of the frame.

In the foreground sat four teenagers. There had been another, you could tell, but he wasn't there anymore. The ones who did sit there were relaxing under a big oak tree. The couple in the picture were lying against each other. The other two boys kept looking over at Lily and James, while trying not to laugh at the looks they were sharing.

Every time the future Potters looked up at them, Remus remerged himself into a book. However, Sirius put a look on that read that he was innocent. He kept on watching until Lily would hurl her Transfiguration book, that had been cast aside much earlier, at his head.

Sirius would skilfully duck or block it, depending on what he felt like at that precise moment. After missing his head, Lilly would get into a huff, until James managed to calm her down enough that the entire scene started all over again.

It was priceless, Hermione thought as she gently took it off the wall. Luckily there wasn't any enchantments on this painting, and with it, Hermione quickly ascended the stairs.

When she reached the top, Hermione realised her dilemma. What was she going to do with the painting? It was not hers to keep. She would have to give it to Harry, but not now. Now she needed sleep.

The door to her bedroom was locked tightly closed, meaning that Harry and Ginny must be in there. She didn't want to disturb them, so she let her feet guide her.

As she walked, Hermione's thoughts drifted onto Ron. She wanted him so bad, but she could not have him. Hold on, why couldn't she have him?

The tears ran down her cheeks as she realised no one had told her that she couldn't have him. She had told herself that.

Her feet had led her to a door further down the hall. Hermione wasn't sure who it was, but let her hand knock on the door.

A ruffled Ron dressed in Chudley Cannons boxers and shirt opened the door. He looked startled to see Hermione, nevertheless a teary one.

'Hermione?' Ron's voice wobbled as he looked deeply into her chocolate brown eyes.

She didn't say a thing, just collapsed into Ron. He wasn't sure what to do, other than wrap his arms around her.

'It'll be all right, Hermione. I love you,' Ron kissed the top of her forehead softly.

They stood there for a long time until Hermione finally calmed down. She started to turn away, as if to leave, when Ron stopped her.

'Stay, Hermione. Here,' Ron looked at her honestly. Hermione could see that he wanted nothing out of it except her presence.

She nodded, and while holding his hand, changed into a spare pair of his pyjamas. Her lack of sleep caught up with her, and Hermione just collapsed onto the bed. Ron lay down beside her.

'Sweet dreams, Hermione,' Ron whispered into her ear as he wrapped his arms around her once again, and snuggled up next to her.

'Sweet dreams, Ron,' Hermione closed her eyes. Soon she could hear Ron's steady breathing, and knew that he too had fallen asleep.

'I love you too.'

What do you think? Please review! Thank you to everyone who reviewed last chapter, each one of them means the world to me. They really do.

Manda