Disclaimer: All the Characters and places come strictly from J.K.R.'s mind. If they were mine, I wouldn't be typing this on my computer at home. The plot strictly belongs to me, that's it.

Chapter 12:

Ginny, I thought I told you No!

Hermione was kept extremely busy the rest of September and the first two weeks of October. Her supervisor seemed to think that since Hermione would be gone for two weeks she had to complete all of her work before she left. The only thing that Ron and Hermione had left to pick out was their wedding rings, which they had bought in no time at all. The planning was done.

Today, Hermione got off work at six. This was extremely early, considering all that week she had not gotten home before ten. Hermione intended to go home and relax, maybe curl up in bed with a book before having a long, well-deserved good night's rest. Ginny, apparently had other plans.

"Hey Hermione!" Ginny said brightly as Hermione walked through the door.

"I-uh-Ginny! What are you doing here?" Hermione asked wearily.

"We're going out to party of course! You could use a bit of a girl's night after all the work you've been doing the past few days."

"Weeks, actually" Hermione said.

"So what do you think?"

"I think I need a lock for my door, all these Weasleys always letting themselves in like they live here."

"Live here, no, but family we are! Well, almost anyway. Now come on! I want to go dancing!" Ginny shook her butt in a most unlady like fashion. Hermione could do nothing but go into her bedroom to change.

"Where exactly are we going" Hermione asked about an hour later.

"We apparating to Hogsmeade. I thought we'd go to The Three Broomsticks since it's the only decent pub around these days, ever since the Leaky Cauldron closed. I like your shirt, but the way." Ginny smiled rather smugly. Hermione had put on the pink tank top that Ginny had gotten her for her birthday.

"I thought that you would." Hermione and Ginny both apparated and appeared in Hogsmeade Village a few seconds later. Hermione looked up and saw Hogwarts Castle etched against the light pink sky. "The next time I see this place," Hermione thought, "I'll be marrying Ron." She smiled happily and followed Ginny into the pub.

"Shall I find seats then?" Hermione asked, but Ginny shook her head no.

"What do you mean no?" But Ginny did not answer. Instead, she started walking towards one of the private parlor doors.

"Now Ginny, wait a sec-" Hermione had followed Ginny through the door and was greeted by an eruption of color and sound.

"Oh my gosh, you're kidding me." Hermione said but doubted very seriously that anyone could hear her.

"This is your bachelorette party Hermione!" Ginny was standing at her side, a gallant look on her face.

"Ginny, I thought I told you no!"

"That is a downright lie. You never mentioned it to me not to throw you a bachelorette party. In fact, the subject had never come up at all. Besides, Ron and Harry are next door. Harry threw Ron's bachelor party tonight too, although I do say that yours beats Ron's but about a mile. I got the Weird Sisters!"

And with that, she pranced away, shaking to the music as she went. "Maybe I can sneak out. Ginny seems to have gone off into the crowd of people that I have absolutely no desire to see right now" Hermione thought, and almost too easily, walked out of the pub and into the night.

Instead of going home, though, Hermione decided to walk around Hogsmeade Village because she doubted there would be enough time the next time she was going to be there. Now, Hermione walked passed all of the old familiar places. There were fond memories surrounding her everywhere. As she made her way towards the Shrieking Shack, Hermione saw a figure leaning against the gate, staring up at the old house. As she got closer, Hermione realized that it was a very familiar figure, tall and gangly with flaming red hair that you could see from a mile away, even in the fading light. She didn't call out to him or let her presence be known at all. Instead, she simply walked up beside him and leaned against the gate.

"Bachelor Party not all that it's cracked up to be ay?" Hermione said.

Ron glanced over at her, apparently surprised that she was there.

"You ditch your party as well?" He asked with a slight smile on his face. "I told Ginny not to throw you a party, but when does Ginny ever listen to me? I forgot to mention to Harry to not throw me a party as well. I guess it just slipped my mind with everything else that I've had to think about lately." He took his hand and put it over hers and for a while, they stood in silence. Soon, Hermione began to speak.

"I'd almost forgotten what Hogwarts is like in the fall- being here now makes me remember all those school days when I would just stare out the window beside my bed, thinking. Mostly of you." She looked up at him and smiled.

"I'm surprised that you had time to do any thinking at all, you seemed always to be studying or reading. When did you ever do all that?"

"Well, I think I thought of you mostly at night, after I was done with all the homework and studying and reading. I liked the fall best when I looked out my window. Even in the dark I could see the rich oranges and reds on the trees in the Forbidden Forest. That especially reminded me of you."

"My favorite part of the fall was the break periods during the day. We always sat under the same tree. I remember watching you read. I loved how the sun glowed warmly on your face and how the wind blew your hair softly. Those were my favorite days." He looked down at Hermione and then back at the Shrieking Shack. They stood that way for a long time, both lost in their memories from the days at Hogwarts. Soon, the night was dark and the wind was kicking up. Ron pulled Hermione close to him and then kissed her.

Hermione heard footsteps. She had an inkling who they might belong to and her thought was soon confirmed.

"Where have you been you filthy party poopers?" Ginny screeched at them as Harry hurried along in her wake.