A/N: I've had a couple of people asking/mentioning about the ships for this story and I wanted to give everyone warning before you read this chapter. Hint Hint! This isn't a Hermione/Harry story, though it's very much about the two of them, it's about their friendship. Unless things change drastically there won't be a romance between the two. ducks Please don't hurt me if that's what you were hoping for. Though there will be plenty of hints at feelings and relationships (one starting in the chapter) between the different characters, that's not really what the story's about.
Chapter Two: Holding Back
"Ride along the road with friends
And the road trip ends
When the weather changes moods
Tried to keep my jaw from dropping
When I found out things
I wish I'd never knew."
- Invisible by Third Eye Blind
0
"I can't believe they won't let me go." Ginny said flopping down on to her bed.
"Its not like they're doing it to be mean." Hermione said sending Ginny a smile. "They're just worried about you. They think that you'd be safer here. It's just what parents do; they try to shield you from the world no matter how much of it you've already seen."
"I know" Ginny said setting up, "It's just hard being the youngest, but I guess you don't have that problem, do you? I mean your parents let you go."
"I'm not entirely sure that it was up to them." She said pausing from her packing, "Professor Dumbledore talked to them alone, and I'm not really sure what he said…"
"Are you done packing?" Harry asked coming into there room pulling his own trunk behind him.
"Almost." Hermione said stuffing another shirt into her trunk, "It's just hard to shrink two trunks into one."
"We'll only be there for a few weeks Hermione" Ron said coming in, "There's no need to take everything you own."
"This from the boy who packed his whole wardrobe" George said coming in, Fred following him.
"Are you done packing yet?" Fred asked, "I think we're ready to leave."
"Arghh" Ginny said flopping down back on her bed.
"Don't be upset Ginny." George said setting down next to her, "I'm sure they'll let you go next time."
"Next time! Next time!" she said shooting an angry look at him, "When's the next time mum and dad going to take us to the beach?"
"Technically there not taking us." Fred pointed out, "Dumbledore is."
"I don't think they had much choice in the matter." George said.
"That's what Hermione was saying." Ginny said.
"Well great minds do think alike." He said with a smile.
"There we go." Hermione said putting her last book into the trunk. "That's everything." She said struggling to close the top.
"How much stuff do you have in there?" Ron asked.
"I'm not sure." She said, "But it doesn't seem to want to shut."
"Allow me." George said taking out his wand. With a swish of his wand and a muttered phrase the trunk closed and locked itself.
"There," he said with a satisfied smile, "that wasn't so difficult."
"No, not when you can do it with magic." Hermione said blowing hair out of her face.
"Well it won't be long before you can do it yourself." George said, "Even when you're not in Hogwarts."
"What are you talking about?" Ron asked.
"Her birthday, idiot." George said, "She'll be seventeen in September and she'll be of age. Do you have anything special planned for it yet?"
"It's still a while away." Hermione said shaking her head blushing, "I haven't thought of anything yet."
"Well Fred and I will be there to help you celebrate." He told her.
"What are you talking about?" Ron asked.
"Mum wants us to get are N.E.W.T.s." Fred explained. "She said we needed something to fall back on."
"And we figured with everything going on we should be nice and do it for her." George said.
"Besides it's only for another semester." Fred said, "Dumbledore made special arrangements so that we could take the tests at the end of this term."
"So you're coming back with us?" Ginny practically squealed.
"Looks like you'll have to put up with us for another year." George told Ginny but his eyes were on Hermione the whole time. Hermione felt her cheeks flare at the implication in his words and quickly looked away. She hadn't expected that from George.
"Looks like it." Ron said looking back and forth between the two.
"Hurry up!" Mrs. Weasley voice called from downstairs, "Everyone's waiting!"
"Coming!" Fred called back. "We probably shouldn't keep her waiting very long," He said quieter, "she might blow a gasket."
"I don't think she's very happy with all of you going." Ginny said.
"I think she made that pretty clear last night when she was shouting at Dad." Ron said.
"I don't think Dumbledore consulted them before he told us." Harry told them.
"Maybe we should just go down there." Hermione suggested grabbing her trunk's handle. She didn't want to make Mrs. Weasley any more upset then she was by making her wait.
"Here I can get that for you." George said taking it from her.
"But don't you have to get your own?" she asked.
"It's already downstairs." He said with a smile heading towards the door.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Bill? Charlie? What are you doing here?" Ron asked coming into the living room.
"We're going with you." Charlie said rolling his eyes.
"Wait you're the members of the Order that are going with us?" Harry asked.
"Lupin and us." Bill said with a smile, "What are you guys disappointed?"
"Well no, we just…" Ron stuttered, "I mean…"
"We're just surprised." Hermione said, "We expected…Well I don't know who we expected really."
"I halfway expected it to be Snape." Harry said.
"That would be rather unpleasant." Bill said, as the rest of the group agreed. "We volunteered to come with you actually. Several weeks spent at the beach sounded pretty good to us."
"Better then some of the other missions they've sent us on anyways." Charlie said.
"So now the two of you are going too?" Ginny asked, an annoyed look on her face. It seemed as if she was always being left out of something. She really should have been more used to it by now, but it still hurt. She knew it was silly but she always felt as if she just wasn't special enough to be a part of the group. She knew she could never be a part of the golden trio, but she had accepted it. It just hurt not to feel like part of the family.
"Sorry Gin" Bill said ruffling her hair, "Will all be back soon and maybe you'll finally see what its like to be an only child. You'll have all of mum and dad's attention for a change."
"You mean all of it?" she asked slowly. That didn't sound that appealing to her.
"Sorry Ginny" He said with a smile, "Just try not to draw to much attention to yourself and you'll be fine."
"In other words, if Fred and George would do it, don't do it." Charlie added.
"Is everyone ready to go?" Mr. Weasley said coming into the room.
"I think so." Bill said looking around to confirm it with the others.
"What about Remus?" Harry asked, "Isn't he coming?"
"He went up early to make sure that everything was secured," Charlie explained, "He's waiting for us there now. Now Fred and George you can obviously get there on your own. But the rest of you will have to go with one of us. Normally we'd go by the Floo network but the cabin doesn't have a fireplace."
"Harry and Ron you can come with me." Bill said, "And Hermione you can go with Charlie."
"We can take someone." George offered.
"Have you ever done that before?" Hermione asked.
"Well, no." Fred said. "But it can't be that difficult." George said.
"Let's just keep it as we planned." Bill said, "We don't want any limbs left here when they're supposed to be over there."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Bill, Ron, and Harry were the firsts to arrive, shortly followed by Fred, and then George, and then finally Charlie and Hermione. "It doesn't matter how many times I do that." Hermione said quickly finding her way to the couch, "It doesn't get any better."
"You'll like it better when you can do it yourself." Charlie said setting down beside her, "It's much nicer when you have more control."
"Well if it's anything like flying, I'll never learn to like it." She said giving them all a weak smile.
"Never say never, Hermione" Remus said walking in from another room, "You might have to eat those words later."
"I'm glad to see that you all made it here in one piece." He said with a smile.
"Where exactly is here?" Harry asked looking around the cottage. The living room was large and there were several doorways off to the right, he imagined that's where the bedrooms were, and there was a doorway in front of them that led to the kitchen. It wasn't overly large, but wasn't small. In fact Harry couldn't have asked for anything better. It had a warm feeling about it and it had an aura of magic. It made him feel safe and protected something that he hadn't felt in a long time.
"It's a friend of Dumbledore's summer house." Lupin explained.
"No, I mean, where are we?" he asked, "Are we even still in England?"
"I think its best if we don't answer that." Lupin said, "Too much information can be a bad thing."
"And not enough can be just as bad." Harry countered. He didn't like not knowing where he was.
"Maybe we should discuss this later?" Hermione suggested falling back into her normal role as mediator.
"Yes I think that's a good idea." Bill said standing up, "Remus why don't you show us where we're going to be sleeping."
"Actually I was hoping to get your opinions on that." He said, "We have eight people and three rooms. I think that one adult should be in each room."
"I agree." Bill said standing up.
"But we still have a slight problem." Charlie said, "Hermione is the only girl here."
"She is isn't she?" Bill said just realizing it himself, "Well who's going to sleep with her?"
"And before you ask" Charlie said before Fred and George could respond, "It won't be either of you."
"Well we can't give her her own room." Charlie continued, "Someone should definitely be in there."
"I know" Bill said, "But mum will have a fit if she finds out that Hermione was alone in a room with a man all night. She would call it improper and yell at us all."
"Honestly," Hermione said finally joining in on the conversation, "I can sleep in a room where there are members of the opposite sex without anything happening. It's not like I haven't done it before."
"What do you mean you've done it before?" Ron asked.
"Maybe we could just not tell mum." Charlie suggest ignoring Ron, "I mean its not like she's going to find out."
"That could work." Bill said nodding his head in agreement. Harry noticed Remus shaking his head at the younger men, and distinctly heard Hermione mutter 'boys' under her breath like she had done so many times before.
"I'm going to go find a room." She said. "Make sure whoever sleeps in my room doesn't snore." She said heading towards the room on the far right, "Because I'm telling you now, if you do, you will be kicked out."
"Bill I reckon you should sleep in our room." Fred said.
"We all know you snore and you wouldn't want to end up sleeping on the couch." George said.
"How about you Lupin?" Fred asked, "Do you snore?"
"Not that anyone's ever told me." He said, "But I'm not really sure."
"You probably shouldn't risk it." Charlie said grabbing his bag, "I'll go. No one's ever told me that I snore."
"And we all know plenty of people would have had the opportunity." Fred called after him.
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"Come on Hermione." Ron said banging on the door, "How long does it take to change into a bathing suit?"
"All that pounding isn't helping anything." She called back, "And if you don't stop soon I'll go even slower."
"Come on Ron" Harry said guiding him away from the door, "You know Hermione she won't do anything unless she wants too."
"Yeah I guess so." Ron said slinging his towel over his shoulder.
"Where's Hermione?" Bill asked as they came back into the kitchen, "She is coming isn't she?"
"She's still getting ready." Ron said, "You know how girls are."
"No but why don't you enlighten us Ron?" Hermione asked from behind them.
"I always have the worst timing." He said slowly turning around. When he saw Hermione his jaw dropped. She was standing there dressed in a brown bikini with a towel wrapped around her waist. This wasn't the Hermione he knew. She was always covered up, dressed in baggy robes and loose sweaters. He had seen her dressed up at the Yule ball but this was another thing completely. He had always considered her pretty, but he had never seen her like this.
As Harry looked at her he couldn't help but stare like Ron. He hadn't noticed it before but she had changed over the summer. It wasn't a huge different, it wasn't as if she looked like someone else completely, but her hair had tamed down so that it now hung in thick loose curls, she had grown several inches, and she seemed more confident now. He had always considered Hermione pretty but now, now she seemed so much more like an adult. None of them had been children for a long time, but Hermione was the only one that seemed to look like the adult they all claimed to be.
Hermione shifted uncomfortably, as she tried not to make eye contact with any of the boys, all who seemed to be staring at her. Her mother had bought the suit for her before she left with Dumbledore and she really hadn't had any say in it. She hadn't even known that it was a two-piece until her and Viktor had decided to go swimming when she was staying with him. She had received the same response from Viktor, and it was making her just as uncomfortable now as it did then.
"Before everyone goes outside" Lupin said clearing his throat causing everyone to look at him, "I think we need to discuss a few of the house rules."
"No one and I mean no one" He said looking at Fred and George, "Is to wander off by themselves and if you are leaving you are to inform a member of the Order. Also we see no need for any of you to go any further then the beach so don't go too far even if you do tell us. We can't save you if we don't know where you are."
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"It's so beautiful here." Hermione said setting her towel down on the sand.
"Where ever here is" Harry muttered putting his towel down next to hers.
"Give it a rest, Harry." Ron said setting down beside him, "There never going to tell us where we are."
"It's probably for the best." Hermione said, "I mean they never told me where I was when I was staying with Viktor. I think it's so we don't accidentally let something slip."
"Its not like we're going to go shouting it out for everyone to hear" Harry said annoyed, "I mean we're not complete idiots."
"If you're including Ron in that then I'd have to disagree." Fred said dropping his towel onto the sand.
"Your one to talk." Ron muttered darkly under his breath.
"What's that you're playing with Hermione?" George asked.
"Oh it's a necklace my father got for me." She said letting her hand drop, "It was sort of a welcome home present." "He said that he saw it and thought of me." She said with a shy smile picking it up again, "Because of the blue sapphires, my birthstone, and the moon because he's always saying that I'm such a night owl."
"That was nice of him." Bill said with a smile, "It reminds me of some sort of amulet."
"That's what I told him." Hermione said, "But I don't think he was thrilled with that. He and my mum are beginning to get a little weary of the wizarding world."
"Can't really blame them though" Harry said, "I mean with everything happening."
"No I guess not." She admitted quietly.
"So who wants to go for a swim?" she asked trying to change the subject.
"Um…not right now" Harry said not wanting to tell her that she couldn't swim, "But maybe later."
"Yeah I think I'm going to get something to eat." Ron said heading towards the picnic basket by Charlie with Fred following him.
"Well how about you George" she said turning towards him, "Care for a swim?"
"Umm…yeah, sure." He said with a huge smile.
"Well come on." She said grabbing his hand and dragging him towards the water, "It'll be fun."
"Has anyone else noticed George acting funny?" Bill asked watching as Hermione dragged him into the water laughing.
"I think funny is a bit of an understatement." Harry said with a smile.
"Yeah if I didn't know better…well I'd say that he fancied Hermione." Ron said setting down beside him, "But I mean that would never happen, would it?"
"Never say never" Fred said mimicking Lupin's voice, "Or I'll force you to eat those words myself."
"You don't think he does fancy Hermione?" Harry asked, watching the two of them splash water at each other.
"Oh come on this is Hermione and George we're talking about." Ron said rolling his eyes, "I mean George is…well George and Hermione's still Hermione no matter what she's wearing."
-------------------------------------------
Things continued like this, going to the beach and spending the day there just having fun with each other. Swimming in the ocean, eating, and playing games. George and Fred pulling pranks on everyone, well everyone except Hermione they seemed to have forgotten about her. And the nights were filled with dinners that Bill usually cooked, seeing as he was the best at it.
Hermione had tried once but it had turned out really bad as everything was either black and burned or undercooked and pink. No one had the heart to tell her what it really tasted like so they had forced smiles and told her that they liked it. She believed them until she tried it herself and wound up spitting it back out. She helped Remus to make sandwich's to replace her ruined meal but hadn't offered to help make anything since.
Harry could tell that she was embarrassed as she was normally good at whatever she was doing and it was hard for her not to be able to do something that she considered to be a simple task. She later confided in Harry that George had distracted her while she was cooking and she had left the food in the oven for too long but she hadn't realize what she had done until she tried them. Harry just smiled telling her that he was sure she's do better the next time and tried to forget the reason for her distraction.
At night Harry and Ron usually played wizarding chest while Fred and George worked on there latest creations for the joke shop often asking if they could try them out on Harry and Ron. Sometimes they didn't ask.
Hermione was usually buried in a book but occasionally she would join in on the conversation that Remus, Bill, and Charlie were having. Ron and Harry had originally tried to join in too but most of the time they had no idea what they were talking about, so they usually didn't have much to add.
Tonight was no different. Ron was, as usual, beating Harry at Chess and Hermione was trying to read, but she couldn't seem to concentrate. She had read the same sentence eight times now and she still didn't know what it said. "Oh I give up." She sighed slamming her book shut causing everyone to jump, "Its hopeless I just can't concentrate."
"What's the matter?" Ron asked his eyes never moving off the chess board.
"Nothing I just tired I guess," She told them, "but I think I'm going to head on to bed."
"I think I'll join you." Charlie said with a yawn, "I think all that swimming tired me out."
"Oh, really?" she asked surprised, "Umm…well okay then." Charlie and Hermione slowly made there way to their bedroom telling everyone goodnight.
"Has anyone else noticed her acting strangely lately?" Ron asked once he was sure that she was gone.
"What do you mean?" Lupin questioned, a worry written all over his face.
"Well I don't know." He said, "She's just seems distracted a lot and this isn't the first time she's gone to bed earlier then the rest of us."
"And she's always the first one up." Harry added, "And well she's never really been a morning person, it's kind of odd for that to change now."
"I'm sure she's fine." Bill told them although his body language said differently, "The stress of everything that's happening is probably just getting to her." Lupin and Bill briefly exchanged concerned glances clearly saying that they would discuss it further when Harry and Ron weren't around and then went back to sipping there coffee.
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It had been raining the last two days and it was frustrating everyone in the house. They couldn't go outside, they couldn't fly their brooms, and the fact that they couldn't leave the cottage, never seemed to leave anyone's mind. Hermione had attempted to read for awhile but she couldn't seem to focus and ended up at the kitchen table drinking tea and staring out the window instead.
"Hermione you seem quiet." Remus said from across the table.
"I'm just a little tired." She said turning to look at him, "I haven't been sleeping very well."
"Is there anything you'd like to talk about?" he asked.
"No, I'm…I'm just adjusting to the new room and bed. Once I get used to it I should be fine." She told him. She didn't like lying to him but she couldn't bring herself to tell him either.
"Are you sure?" he asked, "Because I'm here if you need to talk."
"I know Remus." She said she said with a soft smile, "And I'm glad you are."
She turned back to the window as Remus continued to watch her. She could feel his eyes on her back but acted as normal as possible, hoping him to think she was oblivious of his concern and worry. She heard him get up a few minutes later and listened for his footsteps to make sure he was out of the room. When she was sure he was gone she let her shoulder sag and her mask fell. She had had more then just a few nights of bad sleep. It was much more then that. Now if only she could figure out what that was.
----------------------------
"Harry, Harry wake up." Hermione said softly shaking his sleeping form. Harry rolled over to his other side blinking, trying to make out the shape of Hermione and Ron leaning over him.
"Here's your glasses mate." Ron said handing them to him.
"Thanks." He said putting them on, "Mind telling me why the two of you woke me up in the middle of the night. I had just gotten to sleep."
"Happy Birthday Harry!" Hermione and Ron said in unison. It was quiet because they were trying not to wake Remus but the intent and happiness was quite clear. He finally noticed the chocolate cupcake in Hermione's hands, a candle burning brightly.
Hermione held the cupcake out towards him, "Come on Harry, make a wish." Ron said. Harry gave them a goofy smile, before closing his eyes to make his wish. Hermione watched him in that brief moment transform from a happy boy celebrating to his birthday to a man, wishing that everything was different. Hermione was pretty sure she knew what he wished for when he blew out his candle.
"Happy Birthday Harry." She said as he opened his eyes. He smiled back, but you could tell his heart wasn't as in it.
"Thanks Hermione." He said.
"Well hurry up and eat your cupcake." She said gesturing towards it, "Otherwise Ron will eat it first."
"Who…I mean who would of—"
"Don't worry Harry, I didn't make it." She told him. Ron and Harry shared a grin as Hermione pulled out a few gifts from his side. "Here you go Harry." She said.
"Open it up." Ron said his mouth full of the cupcake that Harry had shared with him.
The first present was wrapped in dark red shiny paper, with a gold bow. It was rather obvious that Hermione had wrapped it, normally whenever Ron wrapped something you could see part of your present before you opened it. Not that Harry was much better at it himself.
"Go on Harry, open it." Hermione encouraged him quietly.
Harry tore into the paper, hoping that Hermione wouldn't mind that all of her work had been ruined, pulling out a large book. "Thanks…" he said uncertainly.
"Open it up Harry." Hermione said with an encouraging smile. What had appeared to be a book he found was actually a photo album. It had photos ranging from when his parents and Sirius had gone to school to the three of them in their Hogwarts years. There were pictures in here he had never known existed.
"Thanks you guys." He said his hand running over the picture of his parents. He had never seen this one before.
"It was mostly Hermione." Ron said, "She was the one who came up with the idea."
"It was easy either." Hermione told him, "Colin thought I was crazy when I showed up on his doorstep…well that wasn't his initial thought, but that doesn't matter. Remus helped a lot too, with some of the older photographs and so did Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Dumbledore even let us go to Grimmauld Place to look for pictures there. That's where a lot of the ones from when your parents were in school. I hope you don't mind that we—"
"Hermione, it's great." He interrupted her, "I couldn't ask for a better birthday present."
"Guess we don't have to give you the rest then." Ron said with a smile.
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Harry was setting in the kitchen staring out the window. Everybody but him and Remus had gone outside awhile ago. He could see Charlie and Ron playing the muggle game Frisbee that Hermione had introduced to them. Ron had found it fascinating how something so simple could keep muggles interested for so long, Harry never mentioned that the same thing had kept him busy the last three days. Bill was on one of the beach chairs asleep with Hermione in the chair next to him reading what looked to be a very thick book. Fred and George were setting on the blanket eating the last of the lunch that Remus had packed for them and talking about something. But if you looked closely, like Harry was, it seemed as if George wasn't fully interested in the conversation, not like he normally was. If you followed his gaze it looked like he might be looking at….
"How you doing Harry?" Remus asked coming up beside him.
"Okay." Harry said with a nod in Remus' direction.
"Happy to finally be sixteen?" He asked.
"So far, so good." Harry said.
"It's been nice to get away, don't you think." Remus said gesturing to the beach. "Before I came to stay at the Burrow, I had been staying at Headquarters." He said glancing at Harry to see his reaction. "I'm glad I won't have to go back there for awhile."
"Yeah…" Harry said. Remus hadn't expected him to open up to him but he had to try.
"Dumbledore took me there, before I came to the Burrow." Harry said, "Something about closure…I don't know. I'm glad I don't have to stay there either."
"You know Harry—"
"I appreciate the offer Remus, but I really don't want to talk about it. Not right now."
"I understand Harry but just know that if you ever want to, I'm here. So are Hermione and Ron."
"I know, thanks Remus." He said.
"Though I might actually recommend talking to Hermione, unless you don't want to be hugged of course…."
"She does tend to hug."
"She's an emotional person."
"There's nothing wrong with that…" Harry said, "Except the hair. It tends to make it harder to breath." Remus gave a hearty laugh next to him.
"I don't think that you'll have that problem now." He said gesturing to Hermione who you could still see you the window.
"Yeah, just another thing that's changed." He said softly.
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Hermione awoke gasping for breath. Her chest ached as she struggled to breathe evenly. She hated it when this happened. She hated it when she couldn't get the images out of her head. She wanted nothing more then for this to just stop happening.
She stumbled out of bed to the other side of the room, stopping in front of Charlie's bed. She took a shaky breath before leaning down and shaking Charlie's arm. "Charlie," she whispered "Charlie please wake up."
"'ermione?" he mumbled.
"Hermione what's wrong?" he asked seeing the unshed tears in her eyes.
"Nothing, I just…and…Can I sleep over here tonight?"
"Hermione are you sure that that's –"
"Please Charlie?"
"Alright." He said unable to say no. She looked to distraught, more upset then he had ever seen her despite all the things she had already seen in her life. He couldn't have said no if he wanted too.
He moved over so she would have enough room, pulling the quilt down, a silent invitation to lie down. She got into bed silently, putting her head down on his chest.
"Thank you Charlie." She said quietly. They both pretended not to notice the tears that fell onto his chest.
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When Remus awoke he found Hermione in the kitchen making coffee. She looked tired. He noticed she looked tired a lot lately. He had asked Charlie about it but he had said that she was asleep each night when he went to bed. He hadn't said anything about nightmares or fitful sleep but that didn't mean that it didn't happen.
"Oh, hello Remus." She said with a smile, "Would you like some coffee?"
"Yes thank you." He said. He noticed that when she smiled she didn't seem so tired anymore.
"I'd make breakfast but I don't think any of us want that." She said with a laugh.
"Then maybe I should make it." He said, "Anything in particular that you want?"
"Oh I'm not hungry. I already fixed myself some toast and jam." She said pointing towards the plate in the sink.
"How long have you been awake?" he asked.
"Not that long." She said.
"How long is not long?"
"I got to see the sunrise." She said with a sheepish smile, "It was pretty."
"Hermione…."
"It was nothing Remus…I just couldn't get back to sleep." She told him.
"Was it another nightmare?"
"What do you mean another?" she asked raising an eyebrow.
"Well…Charlie sort of told me about the one you had the other night." He said.
"He did, did he?" she asked.
"He was just worried Hermione." He told her, "He said that you seemed really shaken up but you wouldn't tell him what it was about."
"It did upset me Remus." She said looking up at him, "It was a nightmare and it was unsettling. But I'm fine, I promise."
"Hermione…"
"Remus, has he mentioned anything since then?" she interrupted him.
"Well, no…" he said.
"Exactly." Hermione said, "I had a nightmare and did frighten me, but one nightmare doesn't mean anything Remus."
"If you're sure." He said.
"I'm sure, Remus." She said her eyes full of conviction, "You need to stop worrying so much." She flashed him a smile that he couldn't help but share. As far as he knew, he had no reason not to believe her.
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They were just finishing breakfast when Harry spotted the three owls coming towards the window. He was pretty sure he knew why they were there. Harry felt Hermione tense next to him as the owls landed on the window ledge. Remus went to retrive them and Harry patted Hermione's hand comfortingly. "You don't have anything to worry about Hermione." He told her, "Trust me, your not the one who fell asleep during one of your exams."
"Or called you instructor ugly." Ron said, "That can't have helped my Divination grade."
"Here you three go." Remus said setting the letters down in front of them, "I'm sure you'll all do fine."
Hermione tentatively reached for hers, as Ron made a grab for his and Harry took his own. All of them were anxious to see there grades but all of them were dreading what they might actually be.
"Well this isn't too bad." Ron said looking over his results. He had failed Divination, which he always knew he would, and had barely scraped by in History of Magic but other then that he had done better then he thought. "I managed to get seven O.W.L.s. How about the two of you?"
"Seven here too." Harry said looking up from his own lists, "Even managed an O in Defense."
"Great job guys." Remus said giving them a thump on the back.
"Mum will certainly be proud." Bill said looking over Ron's shoulder to see his scores.
"How'd you do Hermione?" Harry asked, she still hadn't said anything.
"Oh, quite well." She said folding up her letter. In fact she had done extremely well; she just didn't want to flaunt it in front of them. Ron and her had gotten into enough fights over the years because of that.
"Oh come on Hermione." Ron said, "We all know you did better then that, what did you get?"
"Ten O's and one E." she said quietly.
"Wow!" Bill said.
"I always knew you'd do great." Harry said patting her hand.
"Yeah, Mione never expected anything less." Ron said with a smile of his own.
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"Have you thought about what classes you want to take next year?" Hermione asked setting down on the couch next to Harry.
"Umm…the ones I always take?" he said unsure of what she meant.
"After you take your O.W.L.s you're allowed to drop some of the classes that you had to take before." Hermione reminded him.
"Oh yeah, forgot about that." Harry said.
"I'm having a terrible time deciding." Hermione said, "I don't know what I want to do yet, so that means that I don't know what classes I should take."
"You should try to become an Auror like me and Harry." Ron said coming back into the living room.
"I don't know…" Hermione said. She didn't think that she wanted to become an Auror. She had always been the brains behind the bronze, with Harry and Ron she had almost never had to been both. She didn't know if she had it in her to be both. "Aren't you supposed to take Potions to become an Auror?" she asked trying to change the subject.
"That's what McGonagall said last year." Harry said.
"But doesn't Professor Snape only accept O students in his N.E.W.T. classes?" Hermione asked.
"Well, he likes it that way but McGonagall said that he could be persuaded if necessary." Ron said. "Hopefully if we talk to Dumbledore he'll be able to get us in."
"And if he can't?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know." He said, "Let's just hope he can."
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"Can I ask your opinion Bill?" Hermione asked coming up next to him. They were at the beach again and everyone else was off playing.
"Of course Hermione." He said with a smile.
"I was just wondering…See I'm trying to decide what classes to take this year." She said, "And well, I tried to talk to Ron and Harry but they were no help…"
"So you were wondering what I thought." He finished for her.
"Yeah." She said, "I mean I know there are certain classes I want to take. Like Defense and Transfiguration and Charms but it's the other classes that I need to decide upon."
"Well personally I've found Arithmancy and Ancient Runes to be extremely helpful." He said, "But then again I'm a curse breaker, so my job consists of something's that others won't."
"True." She said.
"And if you ask Charlie, I'm sure he'll try to get you to take Care of Magical Creature." He said, "I know he already convinced Ron to take it."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I think he finally convinced him last night." Bill said, "You know in case he can't get into Potions class, Charlie told him that they were always looking for more people to work with the Dragons. He seemed to like the idea."
"At least one of us has plans for the future." Hermione said with a small smile. She only wished that that person was her.
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Harry was awoken by the sound of someone walking around outside their room. He quickly grabbed for his glasses and began searching for his wand. He felt a wave of relief pass over him as he heard the footsteps fade in the other direction before he realized that there was still someone out there whether they came in the room or not.
He quickly moved over to Ron and shook him awake quickly putting his hand over his mouth so that he wouldn't alert the person that they knew they were there, as he motioned for him to listen. Ron's eyes widened as he heard the footsteps and heard the squeak of a floor board from the living room. He followed Harry's lead and grabbed his wand from the bedside table and slowly followed Harry out of the room.
They heard the door lightly shut and saw someone moving outside. Harry raised his wand and headed towards the door when Ron suddenly stopped him.
"What are you doing?" Harry whispered.
"Look" he said pointing outside. Harry looked again, this time his vision was not obscured by thoughts of Deatheaters or someone coming to attack them, and he saw what Ron was looking at. It was Hermione standing outside on the porch still in her nightgown.
"What's she doing out there?" Harry asked.
"Dunno" Ron said, "Should we go outside and check on her or something?"
"Probably." Harry said heading towards the door.
"What are you doing out here?" Harry asked, approaching her. Hermione quickly spun around her wand raised ready to hex anyone with in her sight.
"What are you two doing out here?" she hissed, lowering her wand once she realized that it was them, "You almost gave me a heart attack."
"We heard footsteps and came to check it out." Harry said, "What made you come out here?"
"I…I couldn't sleep." She stammered, "I wanted a bit of fresh air and I thought out here would be a good place for some…so I came out…"
"Without telling anyone?!" Harry asked, "You do know how dangerous that is, don't you?"
"I didn't want to have to wake anyone up." She said defensively, "I only planned on being out here for a minute. You know just to clear my head."
"You should have woken up Charlie." He continued.
"I couldn't have woken up Charlie if I wanted to." She said.
"She's got a point, Harry." Ron said, "Once Charlie's asleep, he's asleep and there isn't much you can do to wake him."
"You still should have woken someone up." Harry continued.
"This from the two boys that heard someone outside and went to handle it themselves instead of waking up Remus," Hermione countered. Harry didn't have a response for that. To be honest he hadn't thought about waking him up, he had forgotten he was even in there room.
"Look I'm tired and I don't want to get into this anymore." She said with a sad smile, "Can we please just drop it?"
"Yeah I guess." Harry mumbled realizing he had done the same thing that he had gotten upset at her for, "Sorry."
"You were just worried." She said, "Don't apologize for that."
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None of them brought it up the next day and they didn't mention it again. Harry still heard her go out every night but he didn't go after her. He figured it was something that she had to do and that following her wouldn't make her stop. Harry decided that he would only worry if she didn't come back in after an hour but like clockwork she always did.
He never told her that he knew what she did each night but somehow he thought she knew. Whenever someone would ask her how she slept or ask her why she seemed so tired she would always cast an anxious look towards Harry before answering.
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Harry heard her footsteps outside the door and then the sound of the door opening and then closing again. He turned on his side burying his head in the pillow, he was enjoying the peaceful silence when he heard a quiet crash from outside followed by someone loudly swearing and a female voice giggling. He quickly made his way over to Ron waking him up.
"Wuzzgoinon?" he asked before he too heard the commotion. "What the…" he asked reaching for his wand.
"Come on." Harry said heading towards the door. Harry practically sprinted for the door when he saw that there were to figures outside and somehow he managed to go even faster when he saw the figures getting closer. He skidded to a halt in front of Hermione and…George.
George had his hands wrapped around Hermione's waist and her hands were around his neck, both looking like deer caught in the headlights, although George looked like a rather cocky one.
"What are you two doing?" Ron asked though it was obvious what they had been doing.
"We were…were…" she said looking at around for help. "Well I think you know what we were doing." She said untangling herself from George.
"Yes we know what you were doing." Ron exclaimed, "But that doesn't explain why you were doing it."
"Ron please." she said not meeting his eyes, "You're going to wake up the whole house."
"I think what Ron meant to say" Harry said still very confused himself. "Is well…when did this happen?" he said gesturing to the two of them.
"A couple of nights ago" George grinned.
"So you're…you're dating?" Harry said still unable to believe it.
"More or less so." Hermione said quietly. She hadn't meant for them to find out like this. She had meant to set them down and hopefully have a calm talk with them. She didn't want this to happen.
"I'm sorry" Harry said, "But can you repeat that."
"We were going to tell you." Hermione said, "I just wasn't sure how to."
"I told her to just come out and say it" George said, "But she kept babbling on about timing."
"Is this why you've been coming out here every night?" Harry asked suddenly understanding it.
"Yes." She replied quickly before George could disagree, she just hoped he wouldn't say anything about it.
"Ron" Hermione said turning towards him with a worried expression on her face, "Ron, are you okay? You haven't said much. We didn't mean to have you…find us."
"I think the word's catch." George told her quietly.
"I'm fine." Ron finally said a funny expression on his face. "A bit surprised." He said, "But fine."
"You mean your okay with this?" Harry asked astonished. He was more upset then Ron and everyone knew that Ron and Hermione had more then sibling-type feelings for each other.
"That's great." George said, "I was afraid you'd try to hex me."
"I was afraid you'd hit him." Hermione said relief written on her face.
"Well it'll take some getting used to." Ron said, "But I can't very well stop it now, can I?"
"Oh I'm so happy." Hermione said hugging each of them.
-------------------------------------------
"So you're really okay with this?" Harry asked Ron quietly once they were all back in there own rooms.
"Of course" Ron said, "How many times are you going to ask me that question?"
"I'm going to keep asking until you give an answer I'd expect." Harry said, "I mean I would have thought you would have gone off on George for doing something like this, especially without telling you." "Although looking back there were a few clues…" he trailed off, beginning to curse himself for not noticing what was right in front of his face. All those times he had noticed George staring at Hermione, all those times Hermione had giggled at his jokes.
"I don't know why you're making such a big deal out of this." Ron asked, "I mean come on, it's not like there serious or anything."
"What?" Harry questioned.
"Think about it Harry." Ron said, "George has never had a serious relationship in his life. Remember Samantha, Isabella, Katie…Hermione isn't going to be any different."
"Do you really believe that?" Harry asked skeptical.
"Well, yeah." Ron said.
"Then shouldn't we tell Hermione?" he asked, "You know, warn her of what may happen."
"And have her go off on us?" Ron asked, "No thank you. I think its better if we just let her believe we're okay with it now and that we be there for her later, when they split up."
"Are you sure that's what's going to happen?" Harry asked.
"Of course, Harry." He said he said climbing into bed. "You'll see. It'll be over before you know it. Don't worry." He said it to convince Harry but it seemed to him as if he was trying to convince himself.
"Well if you say so." Harry said pulling up the covers around him, "I mean I guess you do know him better then I do…"
"Trust me Harry." He said stifling a yawn, "He'll get bored after a little while and move on to someone else."
"When do you think it happened?" Harry asked breaking the sudden silence in the room.
"They said a couple of nights ago." Ron said in a bored voice.
"I know but how does something like that just happen?" Harry asked, "I mean do things like that just happen?"
"Well I don't know." Ron said propping his head up on his hand and looking at Harry, "Normally I'd ask Hermione but I guess we can't really do that this time, can we?"
"No I guess not." Harry said, "But at least we found out why she's been acting so strange lately."
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"So what was all that commotion we heard last night?" Remus asked causing Hermione to choke on her coffee. She had been trying not to think about that. She felt incredibly guilty that she hadn't told Harry and Ron when it happened but she just wasn't sure what Ron was going to say or do, and she really didn't want fight with him. Not now, she couldn't deal with that right now. He had taken it surprisingly well right now.
"If I hadn't recognized your voices then I would have gone rushing out myself." Bill said setting a plate of food on the table.
"What are you talking about?" Charlie asked, "I didn't hear anything."
"I'm not surprised." Harry said with a smile giving Hermione a very pointed look, "From what I hear you can sleep through anything."
"I mean how else could have Hermione snuck out the last couple of nights?" Ron asked causing Hermione to kick his leg underneath the table. He wasn't supposed to say that.
"You snuck out?" Fred asked impressed, "Why didn't I think to do that?"
"I didn't go anywhere." Hermione said quickly before anyone could question her. She was sending a death glare towards Ron and Harry, and Harry was pretty sure that if looks really could kill then he would have died several slow and painful deaths by now.
"Yeah we just didn't want to bother anyone." George said taking a large bite of his breakfast.
"We?" Bill and Charlie asked in unison.
"What do you mean 'we'?" Bill asked suspiciously.
"We" George said grabbing Hermione's hand in his own, "As in Hermione and me." Hermione blushed deeply and didn't meet there eyes instead looking at Harry for help.
"Well this is an interesting turn of events." Remus said seeming just a stunned as Harry and Ron had been.
"Can't say I expected that." Charlie said looking between Hermione and George.
"Why didn't you tell all of us about this?" Bill asked looking at Hermione concerned, "I mean by the looks on Harry and Ron's faces they knew."
"Well we didn't exactly tell them." Hermione said, "They kind of…well they caught us."
"They caught you?" Fred repeated with a laugh, "George forgot to mention that."
"Well just don't go sneaking into each others room at night." Bill said a smile replacing his previous worried demeanor, "Don't want mum finding out and taking off all are heads."
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Hermione and George's relationship, or whatever it was, wasn't brought up much after that. There was the occasional comment by Fred or by Charlie when they saw them holding hands or setting close to each other but not much more then that. Harry noticed that they didn't kiss or anything else too romantic in front of Ron; he figured Hermione had something to do with that.
Ron actually seemed to be dealing with it better then Harry. He occasionally poked fun at them and managed to only look slight appalled when he saw them saying goodnight before they went to bed.
"Does the two of them together confuse anyone else?" Harry asked once he was sure that they were gone and couldn't hear them.
"I think they even confuse themselves." Bill said with a smile.
"Its just…I mean, for a long time I was under the impression that Hermione was a big fan of George and well you Fred. No offence."
"None taken, I don't think she was particularly fond of us either." He said, "But I don't know. George ran into her last year in the kitchens. Said they spent the whole time talking. I don't know what they talked about but for the next couple of days she was all he talked about. A bit annoying actually, just ask Lee, we both felt the pain. I didn't quite understand it but it made more sense when I caught them talking in the common room and once even in the library…didn't expect to find George there. I was only there cause someone told me he was. Never really thought anything would come out of it though…he stopped talking about her after we left school."
Harry looked over to Ron to see his reaction to the news that Hermione and George might be a little bit more serious then he thought. But Ron didn't seem effected by the news; he just shrugged his shoulders and went back to his card house. Harry knew that eventually it was going to hit Ron and he was going to be angry. Harry was just waiting for when that day came.
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The last days at the beach were a blur. Filled with as much fun as they could pack in before they had to return to the Burrow and then back to school. The days were filled with swimming and water fights with quidditch games at night. Bill had cleared an area big enough for them to play but wouldn't be seen by any muggles. They would play, three on each team, until Remus and Hermione were done making dinner. Actually Hermione didn't do that much but she said that she would rather watch Remus make dinner every night then she would spending night after night watching them all play quidditch. Ron and Charlie played Keepers, while everyone else played chasers.
The last day came quicker then any of them would have wished for and Hermione was once again trying to shove everything she brought back into her trunk. It was harder this time as everything had been taken out at some point and was no longer folded neatly. "Aren't you done yet?" Ron asked poking his head into her and Charlie's room.
"Don't push me." She snapped back still trying to close her trunk.
"Now I can see why Charlie sent me to come and see how you were doing instead of coming himself."
"Sorry Ron." She said with a small smile. "It's just this stupid trunk." She said kicking it, "It doesn't seem to want to close."
"Let me help." He said moving her out of the way so he could get to the trunk.
"I don't see how you can…" she began before she realized he had already closed it, "How did you do that?"
"It wasn't hard." He said with a laugh. "Now come on." He said grabbing the trunk from her, "Everyone's waiting on you."
"Why am I always the last one?" she asked following Ron into the living-room.
"Good question." George said moving next to her, "You are always the first to start packing. What does take you so long?"
"Don't we need to be leaving?" she asked turning to Remus and Harry purposefully ignoring George.
"Right you are." He said with a smile, "Will be travelling back the same way. Harry with me, Ron with Bill and Hermione with-"
"Can she go back with me?" George asked.
"I think you should wait until you're a little more experienced to do that." Bill said, "You wouldn't want any of Hermione to get left behind."
"Yeah it might be the good parts." Fred said earning a smack from George, Harry, and Hermione.
"It was just a joke." He said rubbing the back of his head.
"We should be going." Charlie said taking Hermione's hand in his own, "See you all back at the house." A second later they were gone with only the sound of Hermione's quiet yelp from when they had taken off left.
A/N 2: Hey guys! I hoped you liked the chapter, it didn't come out exactly like I wanted, despite the massive rewrites I did in a few places but I didn't know what to do to make it better, so this is what you get. Sorry for any spelling or grammar mistakes, I tend to miss those. In case anyone's interested I have two trailers for the story posted at Youtube, there's a link in my profile if you are. I should have the next chapter up soon but I'm not sure when.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed. I love getting reviews (Nice one's anyways), so please please keep them coming!