A/N: I have no excuses, only apologies, and promises: I'm so so so so so sorry, can't say it enough, I love you all for sticking to this story. As for the promise, I don't care if I have to pull an all nighter every night for the next month, I'm going to make up for the lost chapter time. That means at least three uploads this week, and possibly the next two after that. And after that, guaranteed weekly uploads, because I've entered an Edit-A-Thon.

Disclaimer: all of it isn't mine, characters, universe, and cover art included.

Putting Them Together

or

Down Under

Ron Weasley disappeared from the Ministry, and appeared in Fred's room with a pop, right next to a stack of papers that went flying as the air warped around him. Nearly everyone laughed, including, he was happy to note, George. But Katie Bell pouted,

"Hey, we were just making progress!" she cried, indignantly trying to gather the letters, and hide her smile at the same time.

"C'mon, Bell, you know it was funny!" Oliver Wood poked her in the side, and she couldn't hide her smile anymore as she burst into laughter.

"Sorry, sorry," laughed Ron, sitting between Harry and Charlie on the floor. "Have you lot gotten anything done?"

"Not really," Katie admitted, clutching her side where Oliver had tickled her.

"Hermione's okay?" Harry questioned, looking back at Ron, who nodded,

"Let's hope so."

"She'll be fine," Harry assured him.
"I know," Ron agreed, "but it would've been nice if she had wanted me to come."

From the floor, George laughed and rolled his eyes. It made Ron smile. "Well, if little Ronnie isn't just damn infatuated. She wanted you there, don't say rubbish. She just thought it would be easier by herself, and knowing you, it would be."

They settled into a comfortable conversation, one that gave Ron hope.

The first thing Hermione realized when her feet hit Australian soil was that it was hot. Dry, thin air; a horrible, uncomfortable situation. She was already counting down the time it would take her to go back to England, where it rained all day but she wouldn't have it any other way.

It was like the continent was telling her to go away.

But she wasn't leaving without them.

Wendell and Monica Wilkins would be, in theory, easy to track down. Through Kingsley's associate in the Australian Ministry, she would have access to Muggle records across the country, and she would scour them for dental practices that had popped up in the last year. A simple alphabetical listing would tell her what she wanted.

The hard part was what followed.

Since the Battle, selfish as it may be and as much as Harry told her it wasn't, all Hermione could think of was getting her parents memories back. And how, oh god, what if they don't remember me? Or what if I did the spell wrong? Or what if I get arrested?

Because there was that, too. She knew it, had expected it, and Kingsley had confirmed it. With him trying to clean up the Ministry, clear it of corruption and freed, it would look ridiculous if she was not tried. It would also look ridiculous if she was sent to Azkaban, but she worried. It was in her nature.

Hermione made her way from the portkey landing spot down the hill, into the city that she was previously overlooking. The Australian Ministry was in the heart of Sydney, she had been told, and the man and woman who had arrived to greet her (Aurors, she assumed), who she had previously ignored, finally managed to get her attention.

"Hermione Granger, I presume" an older man said, and at her nod, extended a hand with a friendly, reassuring smile. He reminded her of Mr. Weasley, or her own father. He had a very strong Australian accent. "Hello. The name's Will Anderson, been an Auror for many years now, and this" he gestured to a young woman, maybe Angelina's age, "is Summer Robinson, my personal trainee," he laughed, and Summed smiled, reaching out to shake her hand.

"It's a pleasure. Thank you for meeting me here, Mr. Anderson, I know how much trouble it must have been. You really don't understand how much this-"

"Trouble? No trouble at all!" Anderson interrupted, laughing, "You went and saved the world, and we can't spare a few minutes? No, don't fret, the Minister is entirely on board. But you might want to rest up a bit, I'm sure the time difference will not be kind. We shall begin our search tomorrow."

"The Minister, Nigel Scullion, has arranged a place for you to stay. You'll love it here, there's no place like Australia."

"I'm sure," Hermione tried to smile, though her mind told her Summer was wrong. There's no place like home. She had a home, sure: a big, empty house. It wouldn't be home until she was with her parents.

But then, Summer confirmed she was Auror material, and read her like a book. "Are you okay?"

She nodded quickly, trying to convince even herself, but Mr. Anderson caught on as well, and put in, "I know it's a shame, about your parents, Miss Granger,"

"Hermione," she corrected, and saw Summer hide her laugh.

"but we'll find them, I promise. For now, you should get some rest, relax, maybe explore the city. Merlin knows if anyone deserves it, it's you."

"I get off after this," Summer said suddenly, "I could show you around, if you like. I've lived in Sydney all my life."

Hermione really didn't want to go out, to worry. But she did want a return to normality, a regular life, and so she said yes. Summer beamed, telling her they would show her where she could stay, and then Summer would Apparate home to change and Apparate back to where she was staying.

The hotel was nice, very nice. It was obviously for Wizards, and she wondered if the. Had anything like it in England, as she had only ever stayed at the run down Inn in Diagon.

Everywhere she went, men and women eyed her. The frontman at the desk was glowing while he talked to her, and she saw a woman in the lobby staring at her in awe. She understood how Harry felt now, and she was in a foreign country. This was nothing to what Harry had to deal with, and she realized when she returned it would be her life too.

Well, she could always do something about Skeeter.

Anderson and Summer went with her to her room, and then said goodbye, Anderson with a squeeze of the hand and Summer with a promise to return in an hour. Hermione was grateful for the peace and quiet. She stripped and stepped into the shower, feeling the water wash her emotions away.

"It's coming along nicely, don't you think?" Charlie asked, looking to his left towards his Dad.

"What?"

"The Shop. Don't you think it's coming along nicely? It's so wonderful that George is almost back to his normal self, thank Merlin for Angelina-"

"Why are you talking like that?" Charlie wasn't even sure he had heard, and he leaned in closer.

"What?"

"Charlie, why are you talking like that? Where's the one that used to make me and your Mum angry, with that filthy mouth of your's. Where's your temper? And your anger? And why are you talking to everyone in this family as if walking on eggshells? We're sick of it, Charlie. Bill's worried, Percy's worried, but no one has said anything about it to you and I've had enough. We want you to stay, your mother would be thrilled if you never went back for that Romanian Dragon Keep where you get scorched everyday but if you're not going to be who you are then why are you still here? George is not back to his normal self, and Percy isn't best friends with any of them again. You all used to be so close, now look at you."

His Dad was right, obviously. He didn't know why, or what had happened, but Charlie wasn't acting as the man he always had been. Fiery, short-tempered, strong willed. This Charlie hadn't spoken to a one person for more than ten minutes since the battle, and yet again, his Dad was right. He had an easy escape, he could fly off to Romania and never come back, but there was something holding him back, something he knew quite well but never wanted to-

"She's dead." It came out fast, involuntary and uncontrolled and she watched his Dad turn concerned in an instant.

"Let's go outside," Dad said softly, and Charlie complied. He had barely taken a step when he felt his father grip his hand and turn about the axis.

They landed on the outskirts of Hogsmeade, just before the Hogwarts' Wards, and Charlie could see, in the distance, volunteers moving in and out of the castle. He and his family had been helping twice a week or so.

And there, on the field, lay the beautiful Memorial, and next to it, the headstones. He didn't have to be close to know which one was her's. He hadn't been back since the Funeral, and yet it was permanently etched in his mind. "C'mon, Charlie," his father said softly.

Together, they walked across the field, the silence numbing his mind. He needed this, he knew that. His father knew that, that's why he had brought him here.

Because Tonks was the only girl he had ever loved. And at one point, yes, he had been in love with her. He had been her first kiss, because she wanted to know what it was like when she was thirteen. When he fancied the fittest, prettiest girl in their year, and was too much of a coward to ask her out, Tonks did it for him, and they dated for months. And when she got dumped, Charlie nearly beat the guy to a pulp. In sixth year, he had fallen hard, and so had Tonks, and they had dated for a year and a half and it was blissful and perfect until graduation came, and the distance tore them apart. But she was still who Charlie trusted most. They were rivals on the quidditch pitch, and best friends.

Charlie loved Tonks with all his heart. Now, she was gone. He had to say goodbye. A real, honest goodbye without him running away and waiting too long and wishing and hoping she would come back.

Closure, that's what he needed. But everytime he looked into Teddy's eyes... he didn't want closure. He wanted Tonks.

Charlie sat down on the grass in front of her headstone, cross-legged as if he was back in first year, telling secrets with her. Arthur sat next to him, conjured flowers for her to put by the grave. When he saw the roses, he couldn't help it, he made a face.

"No," he said quietly, shaking his head, "she didn't like those." Charlie took out his own wand, and conjured a bouquet of her favorites: violets, and daisies. He had always thought it was weird, but she just shook her head and smiled: Just one of the things you'll never know about me, Charlie Weasley, she would say, and he would roll his eyes.

He placed them next to the headstone, uncharacteristically gentle. Charlie had only ever been gentle with her, and only when she wanted, or needed him to be. She was always one of the guys.

"She was fantastic," his Dad said.

"I know," Charlie replied, confidence in his voice. "Thanks, Dad, but can you just-"

"I'll give you some space," he promised.

"I miss you, Tonks," he said quietly, when his dad was out of sight. "Teddy's great, just like you. I need someone to talk to, you know me. Bill's great, but he hasn't been much of a help lately. Is Fred okay? Remus? Merlin, I should've made more guy friends in school. I spent too much time keeping them away from you. Thank you, Tonks, thank you for everything."

He took a deep breath, letting the tears run down his cheeks.

"Godric, Tonks. I miss you, I need you. I love you. I'll take care of Teddy."

And then he sat in silence, until Charlie felt the wind blow around him. It was a clear wind, that whistled on a spring day like Percy would read in novels. Charlie knew it was from Tonks, he just knew.

"I needed that," he laughed. And just like that, he felt the weight lift off his shoulders. "Love you," he said quietly.

Hermione was the first to admit to herself that she had never been very good at making friends. In primary school, she was friends with the other girls, went to all the birthday parties, invited them all to her's, but she was the nerd, and she knew it. She was an outcast, with her bookworm ways and shy tendencies. Of course, her magic didn't make things any easier.

At Hogwarts, she was never close with Lavender or Parvati. They got along at times, but once boys came into the picture, they rarely talked. Frankly, they had always been rather jealous of the attention she received from Ron and Harry.

She got along with the witches older than her in the Order: Fleur, and Tonks, and Hermione knew it was because she was wise beyond her years, and because Tonks was simply perfect. Fleur may have annoyed her sometimes, but she had a kind heart and cared about Hermione, she knew that.

Luna was insane, but Hermione loved her all the same. But they could never be incredibly close, she couldn't tell her her secrets the way she could Harry.

The closest friend she had ever had was Ginny. She supposed it was convenient, becoming best friends with the sister of the man you were in love with, but they were close, and she valued her friendship as much as Harry's.

But when Summer walked in in shorts and a t-shirt, and asked her if she wanted to go shopping, she was thrilled. Shopping had never been something she enjoyed, and she told Summer this, but she promised her dinner at her favorite place as well, and a library and museum to ease her curious nature. Summer was a muggleborn too, she had told her, and that she understood: she was the exact same way. They were going to be friends, she knew, because Summer could already read her. Hermione had been stressed, and worried, and Summer realized that all she wanted to be was a regular teenage girl. And in the Muggle universe, because she couldn't stand the staring.

And now, trying on a dress in a room adjacent to Summer's, she thought it was insane, because it was something so simple, but it was better than she had felt in ages.

She felt normal.

She gave the dress a little twirl, giving a girlish giggle so unlke her she internally rolled her eyes. She exited the dressing room at the moment Summer did, who looked amazing.

"Good god," said Hermione, as Summer said

"Merlin," at the same time. They laughed.

"You look amazing," said Hermione sincerely, and it was true. The beautiful floral print contrasted against her tan skin, and her blue eyes twinkled. Her blonde hair was cut pixie-style, and Hermione loved the way it looked on her.

"Me? Look at you!" Hermione looked down at herself, and smiled.

"Thanks. I like it," she admitted. The top was a navy tanktop, and the bottom a yellow skirt. The fabric felt wonderful, thing and lightly patterned, perfect for the weather. She had picked other clothes out as well, because she wanted to.

"I knew it would look great! Just go with the plan: listen to Summer," she laughed, and Hermione did too.

"Sounds good."

They did go to a museum, and the Sydney Opera House, and Hermione was positive that when she had a family of her own, she would take them back here. "This is amazing," she told Summer, who nodded.

"Isn't it? You'll have to show me around London some time, I'd love to see what all the fuss is about."

"My pleasure," she smiled. They talked about Hermione's friends, and Summer's friends, and Summer stayed away from the subject of family, for which she was grateful. Hermione told her about Ron, and Summer told her about the fittest bloke she had ever seen who had started up in the Auror Office.

She felt normal, and it was incredible.

The next morning, Hermione woke up bright and early, motivated and optimistic and ready to go. She took a shower, got dressed in comfortable and familiar clothing, packed her beaded bag with all the essentials, and headed down to meet Anderson, Summer, and two other Aurors, she was told (including the fit bloke) to find her parents.

She was going to find her parents today. The thought made her heart burst with joy.

"Morning, Hermione," Mr. Anderson greeted her, breaking her from her thoughts, and she was grateful she had not adressed her as 'Miss Granger'. "This is my partner, Ben Bridgland-" he gestured to a tall man with dark hair and hazel eyes, perhaps just younger than her father, who put his hand out for her to shake.

"Pleasure to meet you, Miss Granger."

"Hermione, please," she requested, shaking his hand and Bridgland nodded.

"This is my trainee," he said, gesturing to a young man about the same height and build as Harry, but at least Summer's age, with coiffed, brown hair, ocean eyes, and a thousand watt smile. He was fit, and he was reaching out to shake her hand. Too bad Ron was perfect.

"Troye Oliver," he introduced himself. Hermione shook it, smiling.

"Nice to meet you," she said, and he told her the same. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Summer nodding at Troye, eyes lighting up and eyebrows raising as if to say Do you see what I mean? Hermione had to hid her laugh, but nodded at Summer, eyes alight in meaning, as if to say Abso-freaking-lutely.

"So, Hermione," Anderson cut in, ending her silent conversation, "where do we start?"

"Well-" she took a deep breath, and told them everything. The exact variant of Obliviate she had used, how she had spent weeks researching it, and knew the exact counterspell. The false information she had fed them, and where they would most likely go. She told them about her parents, their career as dentists, and everything they enjoyed in order to possibly help her in her journey. And in the end, Ben decided the research would begin at the Ministry.

The Minister, and everyone else, was obviously delighted to meet her. The hero who had saved them all. It bothered her a little, but at least she didn't encounter any nasty journalists. They were all very kind, and helpful, and even if Harry had done it all, she wasn't about to tell them all. The poor guy deserved a break, after what he had put up with. She thought she could take a bit of the fame off his back, but she wasn't enjoying it.

The Minister lead her to his copy of maps, of Muggle records, and she and the Aurors scoured the documents. In three hours, she had tracked down Wendell and Monica Wilkins.

Then began the hard part.

The dental practive was in the heart of Melbourne, a ways down the coast, but nothing a bit of Apparation couldn't solve. They did just fine blending in with the Muggle crowds, and everything was just going too right. Something was about to go wrong, she could feel it. The nerves were tying into knots in her stomach, and the pressure was building up. Either her parents weren't going to remember, the spell wasn't going to work, or there were death eaters around every corner. It was one of them, she could feel it.

The sign on the door of the Wilkins' Practice read "CLOSED". Thank god it was Sunday.

Making sure Muggles were out of sight, they cast an Alohomora and entered the dark building, hearing people upstairs, and knowing instantly they were her parents.

The shop was coming along great, if Lee did say so himself. It was so nice, to see George happy again. Angelina and Alicia and Katie were giggling like they were back in school, and it was just like the good old days. There was a hole in their group, and they all acknowleged it, but it was more of a presence, now. It didn't tear them down, make them cry.

It was just teamwork, and friendship, and laughter, and the days when the world wasn't in danger. And the world really wasn't in danger, and that was more of a relief than anything else.

Though seeing Percy interacting with his siblings again gave it a run for it's money. He would tease Ginny about Harry, talk to Bill about his job, and to Ron about girls. "Brotherly advice," he would say.

Mrs. Weasley rarely cried anymore.

Mr. Weasley seemed closer to his sons than ever, if that was possible.

As for Lee, he had a new found appreciation for one Alicia Spinnet.

But mostly, he was enjoying his days stocking shelves, thinking up pranks, discussing the radio show he had with the guys, and remembering Fred. Honoring Fred.

Living life.

"They're here," Hermione said, certain and not containing the thrill in her voice. "I hear them. Merlin, they're upstairs. I'm going to see my parents again!" she beamed. Summer squeezed her hand, smiling. Suddenly, she was excited, and her common sense was thrown out the window. "Come on, I need to go!" A hand reached out and grabbed onto her wrist, she didn't know whose.

"Shh," a harsh voice whispered, she was almost positive it was Bridgland's. "You can't do that! Have you no common sense? There could be people-"

And just then, she heard a noise. Someone, in the darkness, and they had been caught off guard as lights flashed around them, spells shooting in every direction. Instinctively, she shot up a shield, and was grateful her judgement hadn't been thrown out the window. The Aurors dueled around her, and she caught her breath for a second before throwing down her shield and shooting spells, joining the fray. Harry flashed across her mind, and she mumbled a silent thank god for him.

As the number of spells coming toward her rapidly decreased, she felt them winning, and shot up a shield around them so the Aurors could finish them off. In the end, seven bodies lay unconscious on the ground.

Troye was growling lowly, "Who are they?" when Hermione looked up, and Edward and Charlotte Granger looked on the scene, panic stricken.

That was it for Hermione. She couldn't stand it anymore, not having her parents know she existed. Without the careful preparation she had practiced, without her usual paranoia, and with a huge prayer, she threw up her wand and boldly said Obliviate, leaving the Aurors to deal with whoever the hell they were.

As the recognition cleared across their faces, she thought she would sob right there. "Her...Hermione?" her mother whispered. And then she did sob, throwing herself into their arms.

"Mummy, Daddy," she bawled, curled in their arms. "I love you."

"Hermione, sweetheart, where is this coming from?" her father asked. They didn't remember anything from that year, she realized. "I love you," was all she said.

She was granted time alone with them, and the next day, she told them everything: horcrux hunting, Ron, Harry's attempted suicide, Riddle's defeat, and their Obliviation. They were angry, at first, but mostly they were worried for her, after they heard about the trial, and she spent the most blissful, carefree two weeks with her parents, the closest they had been since she had left for Hogwarts seven years earlier.

Hermione returned to England after those weeks, with promises to her parents to return when they wanted to come back, which they assured her would be in less than a week. She promised Summer she would write.

Her reunion with Ron was perfect, to say the least.

The Leaky Cauldron was busy today. Months since Voldemort had been defeated, and business was finally picking up.

Tom McQuillen watched as his customers bustled in and out of his restaurant and inn, looking more carefree and happy than he had seen anyone in years. His customers were just being themselves, enjoying life and celebrating achievement, spending time with friends and family. He saw witches and wizards he knew to be Muggleborn, finally out of hiding, Ministry employees back to work, quidditch players and Hogwarts students having a good time.

He felt safe. He felt happy. He could watch his customers come in with a group of friends for lunch, ask for drinks by him at the bar, sleep overnight, and then move out into bustling Muggle London, or Diagon Alley.

He could watch as the troubles in London went away, and muggles were freed from the danger they didn't know they were in.

And he could watch as Diagon Alley became the center of Wizards once more. Ollivander was back. Florean Fortescue's son had opened the ice cream shop, and he watched as young couples shared a tasty treat in the spring heat Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, even, was open for business. The shops would be up in no time, he realized.
Really, Tom just loved people. His father a wizard, his mother a muggle, he had the exciting opportunity to live in both worlds, and it was because of this he loved running the Leaky Cauldron so much. And now, with the War finally over, it seemed like the best time for change.

It was at bars that the differences between wizards and muggles were almost nonexistent. Tom had his regulars. He could have more. Whether they be magic or muggle, they would be looking for a drink for the sorrows, a good time, a place to stay. Here, together, before they separated into their different worlds again, they could be one.

And with the troubles in London over (though they, too, were caused by the Wizarding World), and Diagon Alley nearly up and running again, his Cauldron was the busiest it had been in years.

Tom McQuillen could control not only the gateway that connected the magic world to the muggle one, but he could open his inn to muggles and bring magic and muggle together. What was more exciting than that?

One week before August, Hermione came home. George asked Luna if she would paint a picture of Fred. Luna, in her rather funny way, told him it would be an honor.

It was done in two days, and when George saw the portrait, he cried. The first tears of happiness since the Battle.

That day, the Weasleys posed, for a nice family portrait in front of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. The camera went off with a flash of Fred bellowing, "Say Weasley!" And another one, with friends whose bonds were closer than siblings, to which Fred bellowed, "Oh sod it, Say Potter!"

On the thirty-first of July, 1998, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy, hands clasped firmly and wands pocketed in surrender, appeared at the end of a fireplace in the lobby of the Ministry of Magic.

All hell broke loose.

A/N: I don't deserve it, but a review would be nice, please :) Next chapter will pick up where we left off with Draco, and have Hagrid! And possibly some professors. I miss Hagrid :D Hermione comes home. Harry's and Ginny's birthdays, too, get pysched. I left them out of this chapter almost completely so I could have them a lot in the next one. I love how Charlie and Tonks' bit turned out, been planning that for ages. As this was very Hermione centric, she's barely going to be in the next chapter at all. After that, Hogwarts starts, and all the trials, death eaters or not. Also, I've decided that overall, chapters will be 3,000 to 6,000 words long, with exceptions here and there. I think that's a good range, and I like how if someone wants to read it, they wont have to read gigantic chapters. As for the questions, I've got something special planned for Lucius Malfoy, recommended by a reviewer, and I'm sort of compromising both lists of ages, but the second one went out so I'm taking more from there. Thanks for the input! I can't say it enough, but I'm sorry. But right now, I've got an honest to god plan and this is going to be great, I swear. Thanks for sticking with me this long.

Lara,