DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything. I'm poor.

After Hermione writes a quick note to her parents, Mr. Weasley makes a portkey out of an old shoe he found on the street outside the Dursley's house- since we have so much luggage, we all decided that it would be too awkward to try and apparate.

Hermione looks white as a ghost as we stand in the living room getting ready to leave. I nudge her slightly, and she looks up slightly startled. "Are you okay, Hermione?"

"Oh- yeah, I'm fine," she replies. I'm still not convinced.

"You know you don't have to come with us if you don't want to. I'll explain to Ron."

She glances back up at me, and sighs. "Harry, I'm not ready to jump back into this, but I have a feeling I never will be. I might as well come now; I can't hide in my room for the rest of my life."

"Okay," I say. "As long as you want to."

"Are you guys ready to go?" Professor Lupin says, coming back into the room.

"Yes, Professor," Hermione replies. "I have everything I need."

"Okay. Now you two know how a portkey works, right?"

"Right," the two of us say in unison.

At this point Mr. Weasley walks in.

"Alright, the portkey will leave in ten seconds. Everyone gather round."

We all grab a part of the shoe.

Mr. Weasley glances at his watch. "Three, two, one…"

All of a sudden I feel the familiar sensation of being jerked upwards by an invisible hook at my abdomen. Hermione screams as we whirl through the air and abruptly land face first in the grass outside the Burrow.

"OW! Good god that hurt!"

"Are you okay Hermione?"

"Yes, Harry. I just dropped at least thirty feet from the air, and I'm perfectly fine!!!"

Whoa, touchy.

I get to my feet and brush the grass off my knees. Hermione stands up and starts collecting the luggage scattered across the ground.

I look around for Mr. Weasley and Professor Lupin, but I can't see them anywhere.

"Where'd they go?" Hermione asks me.

"I have no idea."

"Over here, you two."

I glance in the direction of the voice and see that the two men are already at the kitchen door.

Hermione and I gather the rest of our things and join them on the doorstep. Mr. Weasley unlatches the door and walks in.

"Honey, I'm home!" he yells, hanging up his jacket.

We move into the kitchen, Hermione hesitating on the step. All of a sudden Ron walks into the room.

"Hey Harry. It took you three long enough to get here," he says, with a grin on his face.

Mr. Lupin smiles at him ironically. "We made a pit stop on the way."

As I manoeuvre my trunk further into the house, Ron exclaims, "What kind of pit stop?"

At that moment he sees Hermione, standing right where I just was. His jaw drops unexpectedly, and the grin vanishes as quickly as it appeared. I have to resist the urge to laugh at the dumbfounded expression on his face.

"What are you doing here?" he says to Hermione disbelievingly.

Hermione is visibly nervous. "Well, Harry came to get me on the way and he convinced me to come."

Ron just stares at her. "So… did you not get any of my letters? Why didn't you write me back?"

She seems to become even more uncomfortable. "Well… um…" Hermione looks at the floor, obviously trying to figure out what to say to him.

Ron starts to look frustrated. "Well? I'm waiting!"

Uh oh- this isn't going to be good.

"Hey, Ron, how about we get everyone settled in before we give them the third degree?"

I glance towards the doorway to the living room and see Ginny standing there. She laughs and says, "Don't mind him, Hermione. He's been in a bad mood all day."

Ginny is looking absolutely stunning. She's wearing sweatpants, she has no makeup at all, and her hair is all screwed up, but she still managed to look gorgeous.

I suddenly want to run over and kiss her over and over again, but I can't. I broke up with her, and we're trying to be friends. Friends don't snog in front of everyone- come to think of it, friends don't snog at all.

Damn Voldemort.

I jerk back into reality. Hermione smiles weakly. "Hello, Ginny. Are you having a good summer so far?

"Oh, it's been pretty good," says Ginny. "Luna came up to visit about a week ago, which was really fun. She says hi, Harry."

I stare blankly at her, astonished that she is actually talking to me. I was sure she'd never want to talk to me again after I broke up with her.

She looks at me expectantly. "Um, Harry, did you hear me? Luna says hi."

"Oh- yeah, I heard you. Thanks," I say, my voice wavering a little. "How's she doing?"

Ginny starts to answer, but Mr. Weasley clears his throat.

"Well then kids, I think we should move this little reunion into the living room. Better yet, let's get everyone moved in. Hermione is staying in Ginny's room, Harry in Ron's as usual. Hurry, before Molly gets a chance to come and feed you."

As we all troop towards the stairs I notice that Ron is determinedly not looking at Hermione. He looks as though he is going to say something, but he keeps his mouth shut.

This is so weird- Ron usually doesn't need any prompting to fight with Hermione. Then again, Hermione never shies away from a screaming match either. Maybe our discussion in her bedroom has her thinking.

I groan to myself- this is going to be a very long summer.

As I said before, best years of our lives my ass.

I am so sorry it took this long- I've had such a hectic month I've barely had time to write. I was going to make this chapter longer, but I figured you had waited long enough. Tell me what you think, R&R please! The more reviews I get the more I write.