Chapter 2: Diagon Alley

"Good morning sunshine" said a cheerful voice, opening the curtains that blocked the light.

As the light found its way to Hermione's eyes they flutter opened. "Good morning Mathilde."

"It is time for your breakfast miss" Mathilde said merrily, "someone's being lazy today."

Mathilde was Hermione's maid. After Callista's delayed death Giselle and Hermione freed the house-elves and sent them to Hogwarts. Instead they hired maids. It only seemed fair. They got paid and had a day off sometimes. And that was the way Hermione wanted it to be.

While slowly getting up and dressing Hermione said, "Well it's not that I don't like it but I'll need to owl the guys and I'm not really looking forward to meeting them. So I thought if I slept longer I could delay their angry and confused voices…"

"Earlier the better love. Now, your mother is waiting for you at the greenhouse. Your aunt is also here. Try to be brief when talking to the guys. It'll do. Now now, off to the greenhouse."

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When Hermione entered the greenhouse she saw her mother and her aunt talking joyously, most probably gossiping. As Hermione approached Flora implied her to sit on her lap.

"Aunt Flora please! I'm almost 18!" whined Hermione.

"It doesn't matter Hermsie dear," smiled Flora, "you'll always be the adorable baby for me. It's not that you aren't adorable anymore, it's just that you're not chubby anymore." So Hermione obeyed and sat on Flora's lap. Flora kissed and munched Hermione, than took out a box and gave it to her.

Hermione studied the brown box, not sure what to do with it.

"Come on take it Hermione." Her mother said. "Open it!"

Hermione took it and started opening. She searched inside to find something but she failed to. She looked up and stared at her aunt. "Search." Laughed Flora. Hermione was bewildered. Just when she was to give up something touched her hand. Another box?

"Are you joking?" she said but opened the second box anyway. She gasped. There it stood. She took it and examined. It was a platinum necklace which had her name attached, decorated with diamonds.

"Thanks" she managed to say. For a rich witch it was nothing but Hermione was not like that stuck-up Pansy. She wasn't that spoiled, maybe a little. She continued staring at the necklace.

"Oh Giselle, if she is in this condition right now what will she do when she sees the next thing?" said Flora smiling proudly about her presents.

"There's more?" gasped Hermione. Than she saw a black stick in the box she opened first. How come she did not see it before was unknown to her. "A stick?" she asked.

Girl what's wrong with you! You used to talk like you were in a Shakespeare play! Now you only manage up to two words!" laughed Flora. Giselle joined her sister. Than Flora took the 'stick' from her. With a shake the stick grew and turned into a broomstick. "A Thunderbolt and it's all yours."

"Aunt Flora but I'm afraid of heights you know that and it's dangerous and I don't like Quidditch and…"

"Pish posh. See it has your name on it. Not even on the market you know! An ex-boyfriend of mine got it for me," she winked, "and you're not afraid of heights. You're simply ignorant about flying that's all."

For half an hour Hermione sat with her family and ate her breakfast. Around eleven thirty she asked to be excused. Hermione ran to her room and took a parchment and a quill. She had to owl Harry, Ron and Ginny.

"Dear Harry, Ron and Gin," she started but scratched immediately. After her third try she shrugged and decided to send it. It was ok.

Harry, Ron and Ginny,

How is the rest of your summer? How is it at the Grimmauld Place?

Is Mrs. and Mr.Weasley all right? Did any of you guys got to be Head

Boy? Well I did it! Isn't it great! I'm Head Girl! Anyway I was wondering

if you were free today…You know, to go to Diagon Alley. Well, if you are

owl me back, if you're not owl me anyway…

Yours truly,

Hermione

Hermione sent the letter with her gray puffy owl Hermes. Watching Hermes fly away she froze. That was simply the worst letter she could have sent! 'if you're not owl me anyway'? 'God I'm useless' Hermione thought. For an hour she whined about how idiotic she was by sending that letter. But she was interrupted by Hermes's nibbles. Hermes stuck out his leg and Hermione took the letter. "Owl me anyway" she whined again and pat Hermes.

Dear Hermione,

It's fun here but could be better if you joined us. Grimmauld place is fine,

always busy with people in a rush. Everybody is all right here, Lupin was

wounded but he's fine now. Congratulations on making Head Girl. And

Ofcourse we are free. We always have time for you. What about meeting at

Florean Fortescue's at 1? We'll wait for you there."

Love,

Harry, Ron, Ginny

Hermione beamed. She had half an hour to be there. She gave some crackers to Crookshanks, ran down stairs and yelled "Bye everyone. I'm going to Diagon Alley." Without waiting for a reply she stepped out of her house's apparate free zone. She apparated to Florean Fortescue's, who was apparently arrested by the stupid Ministry last year. He was freed later because of the witches and wizards protest.

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Harry, Ron and Ginny got out of the Leaky Cauldron and started walking to Florean Fortescue's Ice-cream. As they came closer they noticed a girl with golden blonde hair sitting, reading a book and probably waiting for someone. There was no sign of Hermione so they sat across from the girl and started waiting. Blonde peered to the trio from the top of her book and got up. She started walking towards them.

"Hi. What are you doing here! I'm waiting for you for about an hour now. I thought I might lay roots here!" said the girl.

Harry looked confused but not as much as Ron.

"Do we know you?" asked Ron.

"Of course you do!" the girl shrieked.

Ginny checked out the girl and held her gasp. Harry watching Ginny checked out the girl also and so he held his gasp too. Ron watched the two of them and still confused, asked:

"Were you in Ravenclaw?"

"God, you're pathetic Ron! How come you forgot me just in a month?"

"Hermione?" froze Ron.

"Yes!" Ginny screamed and ran to Hermione. "What happened to your hair?"

"Oh, that. Well… I'll tell you about it but first tell me about what you are doing at Grimmauld Place. Not like 'Grimmauld Place is fine'. Anything important?"

"Nothing unusual. Order meetings and such. We are still not allowed. Lupin was injured but he's fine now."

"Yeah, you mentioned it in the letter. What happened?" asked Hermione.

Harry answered "You know he had to persuade werewolves to switch to our side…"

"Yeah."

"…Well it did not go unnoticed. Fenrir Greyback found out and attacked him. He stayed in bed for a week. Pomfrey came and look after him."

"Speaking of Greyback, how is Bill and Fleur?" asked Hermione. A month ago, 20th of July, Bill and Fleur got married. Mrs.Weasley was still hesitant about Fleur but Fleur's outburst after Greybacks attack on Bill cooled her down a lot. Fleur even wore Auntie Muriel's goblin made tiara.

"They're fine" Ginny said. "Phlegm sent us presents from their honeymoon in Dubai. Muggle stuff you know." Hermione stiffened. "Mostly electronics. Dad was thrilled, I can't say the same thing about mom though."

"What was it? Yeah I got it, she sent me a hand felly-tone. I couldn't use it because Fred and George destroyed it. I didn't know how to use it anyway. Dad's working on the felly-tone now."

"Mobile phone!" shouted Harry and Ginny.

"Anyway Mione. How was your holiday, after the wedding I mean." Harry smiled. "What were you going to tell us that you wanted to meet us this desperately?"

"I was not desperate. I missed you guys. Err… I got a new Thunderbolt!" shot Hermione not knowing what to say and where to begin.

"A what!" Ron shrieked.

"A Thunderbolt!" Harry said in slow-motion.

Ginny eyed Hermione. "Do you guys live for brooms? Merlin! Great Hermione! Can I try it?" Ginny grinned. So did Hermione.

"Ofcourse…"

"…but it was not what you meant to say Mione, is it?" continued Ginny.

"A Thunderbolt" Ron said also in slow-motion.

Ginny rolled her eyes and implied Hermione to spill it and quick.

"Okay. Well…I – My…"

"Hermione? Are you all right?"

"Fine. Here it goes. Guys I'm really sorry but you must understand me! Well I guess it was not a good start seeing your confused faces. But umm... Well, here it goes…"

As Hermione told her story, her wavy blonde hair to her surname, to her father to her grandmother, being pureblood to being muggle-born there were many 'ohs' and 'hows'. In the end Ginny gave Hermione a tight hug resembling Mrs.Weasley's. Ron was still thinking.

"You could have told us Hermione. We would accept you all the same though I see no reason that we wouldn't." said Harry. "It's like you don't trust us."

"No Harry. It's nothing like that. I'm really sorry but I wouldn't accept myself. So? Am I forgiven?" Hermione asked hopefully.

"Whatever" boys shrugged and each gave Hermione a giant hug.

"But no more lies and secrets, okay Mione?" added Harry.

"Okay." Grinned Hermione. "Head Girl promise."

"About that broom…Can I try it?" Harry, Ginny and Hermione laughed.

"Yes, Ron. You can try it."

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Throughout the day they did their shopping and wandered around. They got stares from their colleagues, it was not usual for them to see Harry and Ron with a girl apart from Hermione. It was Hermione but what do they know?

They spent the most time in Flourish and Blotts waiting for Hermione. Ron was whining about being bored and locked in a bookstore. Ginny decided to pay a visit to Fred and George to stock some 'stuff' for this year. After Hermione paid for her new books they went out to the alley.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay with us? You know you want to!" said Harry.

Hermione smiled and said "I'm sure. I have to work on this years books."

"What? Are you mad? She's mad Harry!" Ron said shocked.

"No I'm not mad Ron. You are being impolite. I was joking. I'm not coming because you might want to spend your time with Lavender." Said Hermione and winked. Harry couldn't hold his laughter. So it was true Ron had a crush on Lavender. Hermione giggled.

"You.. -how? Harry!" screeched Ron from embarrassment. "How could you!"

Harry put his hands up in defeat "I didn't say a single word!"

"He didn't, really. You gave it away. It was just a lucky guess." laughed Hermione.

"Hermione Evangaliste. You are no saint you knew that!" yelled Ron as Hermione started running towards Florean Fortescue's.

"I know Ron. That's what I was trying to do for six years! Being a saint!" and got out of their site.

Hermione slowed down. She was going to buy her last ice-cream for today and go home. Thinking about how smooth the day went and unaware of her route she brushed off to a boy with his hood covering his face.

"Sorry" both said and continued going their separate ways. Hermione bought her chocolate splattered vanilla ice-cream and apparated home.

A/N: Thank you for those who reviewed. I really really appreciate it. In this story there will be stuff from Half Blood Prince and you'll see it but the one's I don't like I'll ignore it. For example Dumbledore is definitely not dead and Harry will return to school (he must!). As you can guess hooded boy was Draco. Constructive criticism will help. Please review! Do you think Lavender is good for Ron or should pick someone else? Who? Thank you…