CHAPTER 2: A Wonderful Day

Hermione woke up feeling cheerful. Then, all the events of the past two months came flooding back and she clutched her pillow to her chest, tears streaming down her face again. It took her a few minutes to get over it. She glanced at her alarm clock: 7:12. Harry wouldn't be up for another 18 minutes at least.

Hermione got up and stretched, then pulled open her closet. She rummaged through it until she found something good to wear; a pair of pale bell bottom jeans, a red tank top and a long-sleeved, black mesh top to go over it. Only recently had Hermione come to care about how she dressed again, which Harry took as a good sign and encouraged. For about a month and a half after Ron died, she had wandered around in sweatpants and a T-shirt.

Hermione polled her hair into a loose bun and hopped down the stairs to make breakfast. She pulled out pots and pans and set about making eggs, sausage, bacon, and toast. Harry came into the room just as Hermione was loading his plate and pouring him some orange juice.

''Lo,' said Harry, sitting down and pulling the plate toward him. 'How are you today?' Hermione shrugged, sitting down as well. 'Are you feeling better?' Harry asked tentatively. Hermione nodded. They ate in silence for a while and Harry cleaned the dishes with a wave of his wand. Hermione tended to do things in the muggle fashion but Harry had really gotten in to the wizard way of life.

'Harry,' Hermione began, turning happily toward Harry. 'Do you think we could go out to lunch today?' Harry's face broke into a smile, a real one, fairly rare lately.

'Of course we can,' Harry said, elated that she was happy enough to get out of the house. 'Where do you want to go? Ginny has been dying to see you. Do you want me to call her?' Harry began to ramble, he was so relieved that she was finally coming out of her mourning period.

Hermione just smiled and nodded. She had missed Ginny a lot and so had Harry, considering that he still liked her. They had broken up over four years ago but there was still that feeling of comfortableness when they were together. Hermione finally broke through his talking.

'OK Harry, call Ginny if you want, but it should be just her. I don't want to be overwhelmed with people the fist time out of the house in two months,' she said cautiously, smiling. Harry nodded and rushed to the phone. They had convinced the Weasleys to get a telephone two years ago, so that they could communicate without drawing attention from the muggles surrounding them by owls swooping around in broad daylight all the time.

Hermione rushed back to her room in a flurry, her mind set on looking good for their luncheon with Ginny. She pulled things from her closet and flung them around the room haphazardly in her search. She settled on a blue-silver halter top with flaring black slacks. She added several silver bangles and earrings. She took a shower and dressed then looked in the mirror. She was surprised at what she saw.

Hermione saw dark haunted eyes, a long mane of tangled hair and dark shadows under her eyes. She pulled out her wand and used it to untangle her hair and cover up the shadows but she could do nothing about the eyes. She spread a shimmer over her eyelids and a pale pink gloss over her lips. She walked down stairs and met Harry in the foyer.

'You look lovely,' he said, opening the door for her. He was wearing a casual black pants suit with an emerald green shirt that perfectly matched his eyes. It was a warm day in June and the sky was a pastel blue with fluffy white clouds scudding across it.

'Why, thank you, Harry,' Hermione said swinging her handbag over her arms. 'I felt like getting all dressed up.' Harry took her arm and led her to a sleek black car in the drive. She got in and was surprise that it was very luxurious. They drove for about a half hour, joking and reminiscing.

They finally arrived in front of the Burrow and both pairs of eyes filled with tears as they got out of the car and stared at the home of their late friend. They blinked them back, though, as a petite girl with flaming red hair, wearing a short green dress the same color of Harry's shirt, ran toward them.('Do you think she chose that dress subconsciously?' Hermione giggled, good naturedly prodding Harry.) She waved at them and Hermione waved back, smiling ear to ear at seeing her old friend.

'Hermione!' Ginny yelled, hugging Hermione tightly. 'I've missed you so much! It's taken you so long to move on, I thought you were never going to leave that house!' Hermione smiled and drew back from the hug.

'Thanks, Gin,' Hermione said, truly joyful to be here with her. 'I missed you, too. I've just been so…so…sad. I just couldn't believe that right after I told him, he was just gone! It all seemed so unfair, but now I have accepted it and I am moving on,' she said, nodding decisively.

'Good for you, 'Mione,' Ginny said, putting a hand on Hermione's shoulder. Then she turned to Harry. 'Harry! I've missed you as well! How have you two been managing alone out there?' She asked, pulling Harry into a bone-crushing hug also. Harry laughed and pulled back.

'We've been fine, Gin,' Harry said, still chuckling at her concern. 'I've been working sometimes and pulling in enough to support us and we've been talking about it and working through it and all,' he said nonchalantly, waving towards the car. 'Are you coming?' he asked with an air of feigned impatience. Ginny sighed, exasperated, and got in after them.

The three drove all the way to London, to a muggle restaurant called The Utopia, an elegant building with palm trees and pale green and blue banners.

Inside, it was pleasantly crowded and warm. Their were booths, tables and a bar all with people laughing and talking contentedly. They chose a table outside with a blue umbrella over it, lending its shade, and they all placed their orders. They spent much of the afternoon talking animatedly, Ginny catching Harry and Hermione up on what they had missed in their long absence.

Bill and Fleur had gotten married and Fleur was now one month pregnant. Fred and George had bought out Zonko's and were now going worldwide with 'Weasley's Wizard Wheezys' and were sending money back regularly. Ginny was out of Hogwarts now and filled them in on her new job as an auror trainee.

They finished up about two hours later, at around 3:30, and drove back to the Burrow. Harry helped both girls out of the car and escorted them up the house he loved so much. They talked with Molly Weasley, who welcomed them warmly and offered them a hearty lunch that they politely turned down. Ginny finally excused herself to her room and Harry and Hermione, feeling sort of awkward without her, decided it was time to go home.

They both flopped down on the couch in their living room as soon as the got back home, exhausted. They had spent only three and a half hours with Ginny but it had been so exuberant, so fun, that it felt like a whole day. Hermione was the happiest that she had been in months, since Ron had been alive, and she had no intention of going back to that depression, ever.

Hermione rolled over a bit and her hand brushed Harry's. It was like an electric shock ran through their arms, startling them both, but it didn't hurt. It felt wonderful. She jerked her hand back, blushing. There was an awkward silence as they both looked anywhere but at each other.

'Well…I guess I'll go to bed now,' Hermione said, faking a yawn and she went hurriedly to her room. Harry stared after her, very startled at what had just happened. He couldn't see what a shock like that could mean. He finally decided that it was just static electricity and went to bed. It had definitely been the most wonderful day they had had in a long time.