"A mission on the first day? That's practically unheard of," Ron's words struggled through a mouthful of freshly baked breadsticks his sister had just set on the table.

Ginny smacked the back of his head, rolling her eyes as he choked dramatically. "Don't say it like that, you half wit. It's Hermione we're talking about, not you."

"Oi!" Ron blushed. "You sayin' I'm not good enough to get missions first day?"

"Obviously."

"Alright, alright you two." Harry laughed as he entered the room, promptly sitting at the head of the table beside Ron. "You're bickering like children."

Hermione grinned. "Don't say it like that, Harry. It is Ron we're talking about." Ginny gasped for air as she crumbled in her seat between Harry and George in a fit of laughter. Ron pouted back in his seat, mockingly glaring at Hermione, who stuck her tongue out at him playfully.

"What can you tell us about it?" George grinned from across the table. "Can I come?"

Hermione smiled at the lonely twin and shook her head. "Not this time George. And I can't say much. I can tell you I'm leaving the country tomorrow and going undercover to find some wannabe Death Eaters." She glanced over at Harry, whose eyes were drowning in concern.

"Boy, that's big, 'Mione," Ron said between bites. "Sounds pretty intense if you ask me."

Hermione nodded and looked at her plate. "It is."

"Are you scared?" Ginny said.

Hermione painted on a hesitant smile. "Not really. I know Harry has my back."

Harry grinned. "You bet I do." As head of the Auror department, Harry had been filled in on the details of the assignment. He'd made it clear that he wasn't fond of the assignment in the slightest, but that if there was any sign of danger, to call him immediately. He'd approached Hermione upon arrival and warned her to be careful more times than she could count.

The group decided to enjoy their last dinner together till Hermione's return with full enthusiasm. George broke into the third bottle of Firewhisky at about midnight, guzzling half of it before passing it to Hermione, who finished the other half with a wince. The two had grown quite close over the past five years. When she and Ron had split, on good terms, George had made it his priority to ensure that Hermione never felt like she wasn't part of the family. He was like her crazy yet loveable older brother, while she was his shoulder to lean on.

Ron crashed on the couch, snoring and drooling happily against one of the hand crocheted pillows Mrs. Weasley had made when Harry, Ginny, and Ron had moved into Grimmauld. The place was decorated in deep maroons and flashing golds, Gryffindor pride in every corner. Anything that hadn't belonged to Sirius had been torn down and burned, and all that had belonged to him had been moved to his old bedroom on Harry's request. The rest of the house had been taken over by the single female resident, who'd fullfilled her desires to decorate her own home with the latest gadgets and finest decorations she could get at a low price, making the house itself almost completely opposite from the Burrow. The only exception were the various hand knitted blanket and pillow covers from Mrs. Weasley.

Harry and Ginny went to bed at around one, leaving George and Hermione alone. They looked at each other for a long moment, letting time pass in calm silence. "I'm gonna miss you, 'Mione." George finally said, his voice drowsy. "It'll be lonely around here without you."

She shrugged it off, standing to grab a glass of water for each of them. "You'll be fine, George. You have Angelina." She gave him a wink, resulting in the rare blush of embarrassment to flood George's cheeks. Hermione giggled and set the water down in front of him. "She really is quite fond of you, you know."

"Yeah," He said, his eyebrows bouncing suggestively. "Why wouldn't she?"

Hermione practically spat her water across the room. "You, my friend, are trouble." Glancing up at the clock in the corner of the room, the pressure of tomorrows travels finally landed on her shoulders. Downing a sober potion she'd knowingly stuffed in her purse, she looked at her friend "I should probably go. Still have a load of packing to do before tomorrow."

She grabbed her jacket and George stood. "I'll walk you out."

They walked towards the front door, careful to make no noise as to wake Ron, and stepped quietly into the crisp, winter wind. George shut the front door behind him and turned to her, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Well, safe travels I guess."

Hermione giggled. "Safe travels? Your best friend is going on a dangerous mission out of the country for who knows how long," She waved her hands dramatically around her, causing a smile to pull at his mouth. "And all you have to say to me is safe travels?" She put her hands on her hips. "I'm disappointed in you, George."

He laughed. "Well in that case!" Almost knocking both of them over, George jumped, wrapping his arms tightly around Hermione's waist and spinning them quickly around. She laughed loudly, wrapping her arms around his neck. After many rotations and many laughs, he finally set her down, planting a large wet kiss on her cheek. Both hands on her shoulders he pulled back to look at her, grinning like mad. "Kick Evil's ass, 'Mione." She leaned forward, leaving a kiss on his cheek before apparating a block away from Kingsley's home and walking with a confidence she hoped would stay throughout these next couple of weeks.

It was an understatement to say that Draco was a bit nervous to leave for the mission. The thought of it made his stomach lurch in a way that made him uncomfortable and excited all at once. He glanced into the mirror for the eighth time in the last ten minutes, checking just one more time to make sure every hair was perfectly unruffled.

"You're going bonkers, Blondie,"

"Shut up, Zabini."

Draco watched the tall dark figure that was his roommate lean against the bathroom doorway. "I swear, mate, I have never seen a man look at himself so much. Who are you even seeing today?"

"It's none of your business, Blaise." Draco scoffed, smoothing the dark grey dress shirt for the fourth time. "I'm not seeing anyone. You know I'm leaving for America."

Blaise's dark eyebrows furrowed, his expression drowning in focused worry upon his friend. "Is it about the Space Needle thing?"

Draco simply nodded, turning away from the mirror and exiting the room toward the kitchen. He heard Blaise follow him down the short hallway, and instinctively rolled his eyes as he picked up his keys and wallet from the counter and his duffle from the floor. "I'm fine. No need to babysit and follow me like I'm a lost puppy-"

"Oh but you are a lost puppy! Look at you!" Blaise grinned slightly at his jab, grabbing his friend by the shoulders and forcing them to make eye contact. "You look like someone's holding a treat in front of your face, but you know the shock collar'll get you if you try and reach for it."

"Nice analogy."

"Thank you, I've been planning it for days." He released Draco's shoulders and crossed his arms, the shadow of a smirk passing over the grim worry. "You've got me worried, Draco. And I'm a Slytherin. I don't worry."

"You're just worried that if something happens to me, you'll have to pay all of the rent or go out and find someone dumb enough to live with you."

"You just called yourself dumb." Blaise grinned.

"Don't start with me," Draco said, smacking his friend upside the head with a good hard THWACK. Blaise flinched and rubbed at the pain, but a genuine grin grew along his features and the room's energy immediately slowed to a light calm. The two stood in comfortable silence for a moment, each thinking of nothing at all, staring at everything but each other.

Blaise shifted his weight back and forth, a nervous habit of his that immediately captured Draco's attention. "What's wrong, Zabini?" His voice was laced with puzzlement.

Blaise shrugged, his eyes locked at a spot on the floor near Draco's shoes.
"Nothing, Mate. Have fun on your trip," He clapped Draco on the shoulder, the most affection the two ever showed each other. "Be careful."

"Don't get weepy." Draco smirked. "I'll owl you when I'm on my way back. Don't want to surprise you or myself in my return."

A/N: So I know this chapter wasn't exciting, but I hope it spoke to what Hermione and Draco were leaving behind. Don't worry. The excitement is coming ;) REVIEW!