A/N: Firstly, I am so, so, so, so, sorry for the delay in this chapter - Long story short, I just relocated so I've been preoccupied with moving and settling in. But now I'm back in my routine, so you hopefully won't have to wait as long for the next one.

Secondly, Thank you to all my wonderful reviewers, please keep them comments coming. Hope you enjoy the next instalment

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DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter, or anything related to him and the Harry Potter franchise

~ Chapter 13: Going Home ~

Hermione woke early, excited at the prospect of spending another full day with Harry, but also nervous at returning to Hogsmeade – for the past few weeks she had been continually using magic more and more, and for the past few days had even been starting to use apparition again, getting used to the sensation once more before today: despite all this preparation, she was still anxious at taking her first real step back into the magical world – her one calming thought was that Harry would be by her side.

As promised, Harry turned up promptly at 9am, and this time Hermione was already in the kitchen waiting for him, she was ready to leave immediately, having already checked in downstairs with Katie. Harry, seeing in her stance that Hermione was fully ready to leave for the day, wordlessly held out his hand to her. Hermione took a step forward, feeling suddenly nervous she took a deep, calming breath, and took the offered hand.

Half a second later, the pair appeared at the top of the main street of Hogsmeade, just on the outskirts of the village; turning 180 degrees, Hermione looked upon the familiar sight of Hogwarts in the distance. In that instance, all the memories she had been pushing back, about Ron and their school days came flooding back, overwhelming her slightly and tears escaped before she could stop them. Harry had turned after her, and noticing her reaction put an arm around her and pulled her close,

"Are you alright? What's wrong?" He asked with concern,

"I honestly don't know" Hermione replied, and gave a small laugh at herself, "I think they might be happy tears. It's like coming home." She tried to explain, Harry smiled to himself 'finally' he thought.

Removing his arm from around her shoulders, he took her hand and brought her to face the main street, "Where first?" he asked,

Hermione bit her lip, thinking for a moment, then a smile unfurled, "Honeydukes" she said, "I've missed out on their chocolate for too long."

The pair descending into the snowy village, remaining hand-in-hand, they walked as close together as was physically possible – the place hadn't changed over the years, it was exactly as Hermione remembered it from when she used to come here during school; with the exception of Zonko's which was now part of the ever expanding Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes franchise.

The pair wound their way through Hogsmeade, spending a good portion of time in Honeydukes, Hermione leaving the store with enough supplies to last at leas six months – "What?" she asked wide-eyed, when she spotted Harry shaking his head as the left the store, "It's not like I'm going to eat it, or drink it, all at once. I've missed this stuff, I had to stock up," she added defensively,

"You do know this place will still be here next week? And the week after, and for the many weeks after that?"

After elbowing Harry in his ribs, the pair continued, looking into Scrivenshafts (it had always been Hermione's favourite shop, and she couldn't resist looking around the place once again), then wandering into Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes,

"Will George be in here?" Hermione asked in a tentative whisper as she stepped through the doorway,

"No" Harry shook his head, "he comes up here every now and then, to check on business, but he usually sticks to running the Diagon Alley store"

Hermione nodded, slightly relieved, but also slightly disappointed. The didn't spend too long in that particular store, Hermione noticed a lot of new merchandise she was unfamiliar with, and she was certain she would find the store far more fascinating with George as her guide.

Their next stop was Gladrags, in which the pair spent an absurd amount of time as Harry was unable to tear Hermione away from the adorable collection of Baby clothes – and using Ginny and her soon expected newborn as her excuse, Hermione spent near enough a full hour admiring the infant wares, before turning her attention to the rest of the store.

By the time they reached the bottom end of the street it was well past mid-day; stopping in at the Hogs Head (Harry never left Hogsmeade without paying it a visit, he felt he owed it to the place: it had been fundamental to the D.A. after all), the pair refreshed themselves with a mug of hot, spiced ale, before continuing back up the main street and into the remaining shops.

By the time the last of the daylight was beginning to fade the pair were laden down with bags, and had worked up quite an appetite; Harry turned to Hermione,

"Fancy going into The Three Broomsticks? I don't know about you, but I am starved, and I could do with a flagon of Rosmerta's mead. I'm buying," he added, as a last ditch attempt to convince her,

"Well I can't very well visit The Hog's Head, and then ignore The Three Broomsticks, can I? That would just be rude. Lead the way." Hermione followed Harry into the pub, which didn't look any different from the last time she visited the place.

The pair made their way over to the bar, tended, as ever, by the constant presence that was Madame Rosmerta:

"Harry! Good to see you again" greeted Madame Rosmerta, as she came towards them to take their order, "And, bless my soul" she added upon seeing Hermione "Hermione Granger, is that really you?"

Hermione smiled shyly, and nodded, "Hi" she greeted hesitantly,

"Well, it's wonderful to see you back here again, finally. Now what can I get you m'dears" Rosmerta went strait to business, sensing in Hermione a slight reserve she thought better ought not be pushed upon. The pair ordered their food, and a jug of butterbeer with two flagons,

"Why don't you go find yourselves a table, I'll bring the drinks over to you. Oh, and Neville is here by the way Harry, I told him you might be in here soon, you usually are the Saturday before Christmas. He's over in the corner, with a couple of other professors,"

"Thanks, Rosmerta" Harry grinned, "We'll find a table over near him I reckon," Harry turned to Hermione, "Don't make me drag you? We are going to say hi" Harry started walking toward the back of the pub, Hermione following a step behind, rolling her eyes at Harry, from behind, "I'm too exhausted to argue" she muttered.

When Harry finally spotted Neville, he also spotted the empty table in the corner, not far from his and his companions; promptly Harry set his bags down and pulled out a chair for Hermione to sit on – ever the gentleman, Hermione smiled. Neville, noticing the movement near him, and recognising Harry immediately, stood up "Harry!" he called over, "Rosmerta said you might be in at some point, good to see you" Neville, as he moved towards Harry, then recognised Harry's companion, "Bloody Hell!" he exclaimed "Is it really you?"

"Hi Neville" Hermione smiled nervously, putting her bags down along with Harry's. Neville, instead of saying anything, simply went to Hermione and hugged her tightly, "Good, god, it's good to see you again. Where the hell have you been?" he added, pulling away and letting Hermione breath once more.

"Erm, Whitby – well Robin Hood's Bay," Hermione started, looking slightly sheepish, Harry stepped in,

"Hermione set up her own business: a bookstore and coffee shop rolled into one,"

Neville laughed, "I should have guessed: nothing sounds more like you than that, Hermione," At that moment, the remaining professors at the table Neville had left, arose from their table, and called over to Neville that they would see him back at the castle, Harry seized the opportunity,

"Care to join is for a few?" He asked Neville,

"I really should be getting back," Neville hesitated, "but I suppose one more can't hurt,"

The trio sat down just as Madame Rosmerta appeared carrying the jug of butterbeer and two flagons; seeing Neville had now joined the group she wordlessly summoned an extra flagon, and set them down on the table, saying cheerfully, "give me a shout when you're running low, and I'll bring you another,"

"Thank you, Rosmerta" Hermione answered, Rosmerta turned to clear the recently vacated table, leaving the trio to their conversation.

"So Hermione," Neville started, as Harry poured them each a drink, "Tell me about your business, and why it kept you away for so long?"

Hermione looked slightly taken aback, Harry noticing this stepped in "Neville, give her a break; at least ease the girl back in with trivial conversation"

"No, it's ok Harry," Hermione defended, taking her drink form Harry, "I'm going to be getting these questions a lot soon enough, I may as well learn to answer" she turned to Neville, "When I first left, I went travelling. I intended to be away for a few weeks, maybe a couple of months – I went touring round Ireland and the North of England. I went to Robin Hood's Bay, intending to stay a few days, I saw a property for sale and I bought it on a whim. It took me a good six months to renovate, but then I had a business. And then the years went by, just me working there, so time off was non-existent. The years all blurred together. The Harry turned up out of the blue, and brought be back to my old self eventually. And here I am." She finished, taking a swig from her drink, neither of the boys spoke, and starting to feel slightly awkward Hermione broke the silence, "So, Neville, you're teaching at Hogwarts now?"

"Yep, Herbology, going on eight years now. McGonagall is still Headmistress; Flitwick is still there, as is Slughorn. And Binns of course is ever-present." Neville began,

"What bout Hagrid?" Hermione asked, not being able to contain herself, and leaning forward slightly: Neville grinned at her enthusiasm, and Harry leaned back in his seat with a contented, and slightly smug, smile playing on his lips as he watched Hermione,

Neville nodded, "Hagrid is still there, still teaching – Care of Magical Creatures is very popular, even now: everyone wants to know stories of the Golden Trio" he added with a sly grin, "of course for the real dirt, they come to me," he added watching Hermione's eyes widen, "Don't worry, I don't tell them anything that isn't already Hogwarts legend anyway."

Hermione decided now would be a good time to try and steer the conversation, slightly dreading what infamous stories of their youthful antics were now common knowledge, "So, does McGonagall still teach?" she asked,

Neville shook his head, "Not anymore, she used to do the odd class now and then, but now she just leaves Professor Hawthorne to get on with it. However, I think Hawthorne is wanting to leave at the end of the year, work on a couple of books, I believe: Fancy coming to teach Hermione?" Neville asked with a grin, "I'm sure McGonagall would hire on the spot,"

Hermione laughed, "No thanks, you know I once thought I'd maybe return to Hogwarts to teach at some point later on in life," she mused,

"Not anymore?" This time it was Harry who spoke.

Hermione shook her head, "No," she mused, "What with having my own business now, I can't see leaving it any time soon."

"Strange how things work out" Neville mused, then draining his mug he got to his feet, "Well, I should e getting back up to the castle for dinner. Good to see you Harry. And Hermione, I'm really glad you're back; don't leave it so long this time." Neville left the pair, just as Madame Rosmerta returned to the table with their food.

Over dinner Harry and Hermione indulged themselves in talking of Hogwartean memories, namely those involving their numerous visits to The Three Broomsticks:

"The first time I came in here, with you and Ron, you had to hide me under the table because the teachers were having a Christmas drink -"

"And I hid us all behind one of the giant Christmas trees" Hermione finished, smiling, "The year after, when you came in with me, but you were wearing your invisibility cloak – everyone must have thought I was crazy, talking to myself,"

"Hey, it's not my fault you moved your lips too much when you were talking," Harry laughed, then sighed, "even then, life seemed a little les complicated didn't it?"

Hermione nodded, somewhat sadly, "I know: you would think life would be simpler now, with Voldemort gone, no unending struggle for our lives and souls. Do you think we'll ever get to a happy ending?" she asked,

"I guess that depends on what your happy ending would be. But I think mine might be possible, now" he said, with a sly smile,

"And what is your happy ending Mr Potter?" she said, echoing his sly smile,

"I could tell you," Harry started in mock seriousness, "but then I would have to kill you"

Hermione laughed, "I guess I'll have to try and find out on my own then."

The pair continued to reminisce about their school-day adventures in Hogsmeade for another hour, then decided it was time to return home – when they apparated into Hermione's living room, she immediately collapsed on the sofa with a large sigh, "I am actually exhausted" she exclaimed, "and I still have to wrap all the presents,"

"I can give you a hand if you like?" Harry offered,

Hermione gave him a huge smile, "That would be great, thank you. Hot chocolate?" she asked, reaching for the one of the large Honeydukes bag, and pulling out a bar and opening it, "Chocolate?" she offered not wanting to be rude,

Harry laughed, "I'm good, I'll let you enjoy it all to yourself"

Hermione pulled her legs up onto the sofa and ripped into the bar, looking somewhat like a child on Easter morning, causing Harry to laugh again and shake his head, as he came to sit next to her,

"Oh, My, God" she exclaimed, mouth full of chocolate, "I forgot just how orgasmically good this chocolate actually is" she stated, putting extra emphasis on the word 'orgasmically'

Harry raised and eyebrow, "Orgasmically?"

Hermione turned on him, "hey, when you don't have any for a while, you forget just how much you love it, so when you have it again is amazingly orgasmic"

"Are we still talking about chocolate here?" Harry asked with a grin, Hermione's response was in the form of a pillow, which she threw, strait at his head, and then turned back to her chocolate,

"Ok, so Christmas presents? Shall we make a start?" he asked, "Or would you like to eat the rest of your Honeydukes purchases. All three large bags of them." He jibed, Hermione rolled her eyes, and slid down from the sofa, now sitting cross-legged on the floor, and began shifting through the bags.

Within no time, she had surrounded herself with strategically sorted piles of gifts, and wrapping paper. Once Harry ascertained that her organisation was complete, he slid down to join her.

The spent the next few hours in the joys of gift-wrapping, and by the end, Hermione's tree was looking ultra-festive, with a large pile of presents underneath.

Harry gave a yawn and stretched, and finished his third mug of chocolate. He looked over at Hermione, who looked the most relaxed he had ever seen her, since he found her a few months ago: Finally, it seemed as if the old Hermione had come back to him; which is why he thoroughly regretted having to say the next words: "I suppose I should be going back to my place" he said with a sigh, and no hint of enthusiasm what so ever.

Hermione, full of Honeydukes finest chocolate, and feeling rather quite wonderful and light-hearted, spoke before she truly thought of the possible implications of her phrasing,

"You can stay here, spend the night with me" she stated simply,

"Hermione Granger, are you propositioning me?" he asked coyly, causing Hermione to choke on the last gulp of hot chocolate; at first she was unsure of how to best save the situation, but a split second later she realised she didn't want the situation to be saved – she cared about Harry a lot, and she realised she had cared for him for a very long time, as more than her best friend: right now all she could focus her attention on was how much she longed for him, how much she needed him, wanted him; with every fibre of her being she wanted him to hold her, take her, have her, and never let her go.

Throwing all pretence to the wind, she turned to him with a coy smile, and looked seductively up at him, "I suggest you stay and find out." With that, she rose gracefully from the floor and began to make her way to the staircase: Harry was unsure how to appropriately proceed, but he did know that he wanted to follow her – all he needed was one word, or one more look, and he would e at her side in an instant, following her up to her room.

As if in answer to his prayers, Hermione stopped with a foot on the first stair, her hand on the banister, and turned to him once more to ask seductively,

"Coming?"

A/N: So that's chapter 13, I'm working on the next one now. Please review, let me know what you think - if you find anything wrong please mention and I'll sort it out :D hope you enjoyed it

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