Hi another instalment for my faithful readers

Sirius xoxo

Chapter 6

Hermione was welcomed home by her family with open arms, and for some unknown reason they didn't mention Harry, and for that, she was grateful. She sat in the lounge room with a nice hot chocolate and Mrs Weasley told her all the family news. The subject of Ginny getting married came up again, and again, and Hermione had to get her off that train of thought otherwise her best friend would have her whole wedding planned before Colin even proposed without any input from the bride. She went up to her old bedroom and when she laid down, she found that she could actually relax. There's no place like home. Hermione slept in till mid morning and she only woke up because she could smell a delicious breakfast being cooked downstairs. She had a quick shower and cleaned up then she looked in her drawers and found some of her clothes. She went downstairs to have breakfast with the Weasley's but she only found Molly sitting at the kitchen table.

"Morning Molly," Hermione sat down at the place that was set for her.

"Good morning sweet heart, hope you slept well, you know you don't come home often enough Hermione Weasley, it's been ages and look at you, you are so skinny, I will have to talk to Professor Dumbledore about the food they are serving you." Molly would have continued on like that for an hour if Hermione hadn't of been so agreeable and wasn't picking at her breakfast.

"Hermione, love what's wrong? Is it that young man you brought over last week?" Hermione nodded but sighed at the same time.

"Hermione, I understand it's been along time darling, but you need to have some faith, that's what relationships are all about, faith. You know Arthur and I didn't have a smooth road either you know." Hermione looked at her and she was surprised, she always thought things were perfect for Arthur and Molly.

"I didn't realise that Molly, what happened?"

"Well it was a long time ago Hermione but you know I had to fight for Arthur, his family didn't like me and his mother had already matched him up with another woman, a more 'suitable' woman." Molly wiped off the invisible crumbs on the table in front of her and Hermione waited for her to continue.

"He was so good looking and sophisticated my Arthur you know, but I wasn't good enough but in the end it all worked out. Look at us so many years later."

"But how did you work it out Molly, how does it work out when everything is against you?"

"Do you love him Hermione?" Molly's question shocked her.

"Well do you?" Hermione felt the tears well up and then after a few seconds she nodded.

"Yeah Molly, I do but I really can't see this working out."

"Hermione, just don't give up, it's always easier to give up and much harder to fight for what you want, it's up to you whether you fight or are you going to take the easy road?"

Molly looked at her and then she stood up to clear away her breakfast plate.

"The Hermione Weasley I know wouldn't ever give up by taking the easy road." She walked around to the side of her and leant down to kiss her head. Hermione smiled and thanked her and then Ron walked in to interrupt the peace.

"Hey mum where's mine?" Molly scolded him for not saying good morning and Hermione laughed. Sometimes when things were normal, she could relax.

"So lil Sis..."

"Ronald, I'm older than you!"

"Yeah but heaps shorter..." Ron laughed at his joke and Hermione couldn't help but smile, "OK what were you going to say?"

"Well if you have nothing on this morning, how about hanging out with me. I have to go to Hogsmeade to get some supplies but then I'm all yours." Ron smiled.

"I think that's a brilliant idea Hermione, you need some family time." Molly made the decision for her.

Ron finished his food by inhaling it and then they both went to change their clothes and met back downstairs. They headed into Hogsmeade and when they walked past the bakery, Hermione noticed a familiar crop of black messy hair. He turned around and walked out and his face was sad and dejected. Her heart broke. Ron didn't see him and they continued walking but as Harry walked out, he looked left and saw them walking away.

Harry knew he shouldn't do it, but he couldn't help himself, he followed her. They walked around the shops for a while and when they walked into the Piano Bar for lunch, Harry apparated home to drop off his bread.

"Where have you been all this time? I have to leave and I am stuck here waiting for you."

"Leave?, Elizabeth you just got here?" Harry wasn't particularly fussed but he did want to try and look normal.

"Harry, don't be ridiculous, I am going back to America to continue sorting out our affairs considering it was your stupid idea to move to this god forsaken place. You're lucky daddy agreed or we wouldn't have moved from 'St John Manor'." Elizabeth got her bag that she had packed and walked out to the gate.

"By the way, get rid of that stupid tree, I am not cleaning up the mess it leaves."

Hermione and Ron had decided to visit Ron's cousin, Marie, who just happened to live at 50 Hobbit Drive, right down the road from number 12. She hoped he would have been at Hogwarts getting ready for tonight but as luck, or bad luck would have it, she was standing on the verandah getting ready to apparate. Elizabeth looked over at the two people walking down the road and Hermione didn't make eye contact, hopefully she would ignore them. She saw Harry walk out and he didn't miss her. He smiled and Elizabeth wouldn't have seen it as she was facing the other way.

"Aren't those the people from your work?"

He had her, he knew it now. Regardless of the stupid arrangement he had with the St John's, he would have Hermione Granger one day, he knew it.

Harry walked inside and went into the spare bedroom whose window faced the road and he watched her walk down his street. His stomach still did flips at the fact that she was with that red head, but at least she gave him a sign, and what a sign it was.

Hermione's will power forced her to not look back. She had a feeling he would be watching considering he saw her, and now she realised this was probably a really bad idea. They knocked on Marie's door and when she didn't answer, they turned around to leave. Hermione suggested they split up from there as she had to get back to Hogwarts, being the first day back and all. Ron sighed but gave her a big hug and kissed her cheek. This of course, did not go unnoticed.

Hermione apparated into her room and decided on a quick shower before the children arrived. She had four hours before the feast started and since she knew Harry was at home, she relaxed a bit.

She walked down stairs and found Neville and he asked about her failed romance and she managed to avoid giving away any information but still satisfying his curiosity. They strolled around and then went down to the Great Hall. Neville chatted all the way down, and when they walked in, there were teachers everywhere, trying to get organised. They looked at each other and laughed, nobody was as organised as Hermione, but Neville came a close second

The children arrived and professor Dumbledore walked down to the entrance room where Harry was getting the first years lined up.

"Harry, how are you going son?"

"A bit nervous, truth be told Sir. I am wondering whether I am cut out for this?" Harry sighed.

"Harry, you have nothing to worry about here, you are safe behind these walls, I am sure Professor Granger will be able to assist you.....in anything that you may need." Professor Dumbledore looked over the top of his glasses when he said the last part. Harry had the distinct feeling that his boss knew more about things than he let on.

"Umm, thank you Sir." I think!!!

The dinner went well and Harry was received by the student body with cheers and loud claps. The female population had starry eyes and the male students were looking forward to learning Defence from an ex Auror.

Hermione escorted her house up to the common room and made sure the seventh years had organised the first years. Everyone was organised quite quickly so she decided to go and check if Harry was coping. He was her colleague after all and she was in charge of assisting him so she walked across the short corridor and entered the common room.

Chaos.

Yes that was what Hermione saw as she entered the room. Harry was standing in the middle of the room holding a huge wad of papers and trying desperately to sort out the thousand questions that were being thrown at him. Hermione smiled and felt sorry for him. As annoyed as she was, she was still madly in love with him, it was a fine line between pleasure and pain.

She became serious and enhanced her voice so she could be heard over the roar of students.

"ATTENTION GRYFFINDORS please make a line and I will help Professor Potter deal with your questions or concerns." The look of sheer relief on Harry's face was priceless.

"Professor Granger, I want a room with Margaret"

"Madame, my timetable clashes with Quidditch"

"Professor my herbology class isn't on here.."

"Gryffindors PLEASE, Professor Potter IS your head of house and you are being very unfair to him on his first day. Now, any timetable issues are important so please make a line over here. Accommodation issues are next so please wait on this side. Any other questions can wait till these are sorted so please sit down and wait on the lounges."

Hermione got the raging kids organised and showed Harry where to change things for the timetables. It took no time at all once he knew what to do. They moved onto the accommodation and it was settled even quicker because the children worked out who to swap with and who to room with while they waited. She showed Harry how to rearrange the wards so the right children were in the right rooms.

By 10pm everything was done and dusted and Harry breathed a sigh of relief. Hermione started to walk away but Harry stopped her.

"Professor Granger, could you show me where my quarters are please?" Hermione turned to look at him and raised an eyebrow.

"I was under the impression you were living off the grounds with your wife, Professor Potter."

"No it's not the case at this busy time of the year, I am in the staff tower in Room 214, do you know it?" Hermione nodded and walked out of the room, knowing he would follow her.

Harry caught up and walked along side her.

"Hermione, we really need to talk?" Hermione's eyes were trained on the walkway in front of her. She did not answer him.

"Hermione please speak to me?"

"I have nothing to say to you Harry, you lied to me, end of story."

"No it's not the end of the story, not at all, I need to explain." She stopped at a door that had a gold number 214 nailed to an old timber door.

"Set password please" the creepy voice came from the doorway. He looked at Hermione and questioned her.

"You need to set a password so only you can access your quarters, I will leave so you can do it privately." Before she left he blurted out his password.

"Piano Bar" she stopped and looked at him.

"Accepted, please enter Professor Potter." came the creepy voice.

"Please allow access to Professor Granger at all times." Hermione tried to disagree but the door bellowed it's acceptance.

Harry walked in and turned to hold the door open for Hermione but she wasn't there. He looked into the hallway and saw her accessing her room which was opposite his. He watched her try to say her password without him hearing it, but she wasn't succeeding.

The door kept asking her to repeat her password and then she got frustrated and yelled out "Harry".

Ok so now the fun begins... poor Hermione.

Sirius xoxo