As I said, here's a third chapter! Thank you to all you reading :)

BIG THANK YOU to ShamelesslyObsessed for reviewing! You make my world go round. Truth.

Anywho, happy reading!

-eedie


Ginny heard a crack in the living room, followed by laughter. Three voices, by the sound of it. One of them female. I will murder those men if they brought a stripper into my house! The red-head whipped around the corner, wand at the ready. She saw a look of fear pass over her husband's face and her brother's face, but the blonde female continued giggling, like she held no fear whatsoever. This irritated Ginny Potter to no end. Here was some skanky bitch, laughing, in the middle of her living room, like she had some right to?

"Get the fuck away from my husband, you disgusting skank!"

The color drained from Ron and Harry's faces, but the blonde threw her head back and laughed again. She walked toward Ginny, who involuntarily took a step back. She noticed the vast amount of ink covering this woman's body, and snorted. Suddenly, the woman was inches away from her. She grabbed Ginny and pulled her into a tight hug, which Ginny fought against. When she pushed the girl off, Ginny was breathing heavily, ready to attack if necessary. The girl rolled her eyes and walked back to Harry and Ron, tossing an arm over each of their shoulders.

"Ginny, c'mon. You don't recognize your best friend?"

Ginny blinked stupidly for a second before her jaw dropped open. She screamed, a banshee-worthy sound, and jumped back into Hermione's arms.

"Hermione Jean Granger! Where have you been all these years?! You missed my wedding, you bitch. Why is your hair blonde? Wait a second, you ran into her in Vegas? How? When?"

Harry chuckled and pushed Ginny down into a chair. He kissed her lightly and perched next to her on the arm. Ron settled in on the couch, and Hermione curled up next to him. Harry looked down at his wife and grinned.

"Now, don't get mad, but it's an interesting story. You see, Ron and I were exploring Vegas and we came across this strip club, Sapphire. And since you told me to get a lap dance, why would I pass that up?"

Ginny punched her husband in the leg and he laughed before continuing.

"Well we went into this club, enjoyed ourselves, then I wanted to get my lap dance. So I requested it from one of the dancers on stage. As soon as she came over and climbed on my lap, I realized who it was. It was quite embarrassing, actually, I stood up and she fell on the floor, Ron thought I'd gone mad, and I'm sure the whole club was trying to figure out what was going on. Hermione brought us back to her apartment, we talked, and we convinced her to come here with us, at least for a while."

Hermione nodded along with Harry and Ginny looked on. She scrutinized her former best friend as her husband told his story. Hermione was quite different, Ginny could tell that much. She wasn't sure what had happened over the years, but she knew this person sitting in front of her had been through quite a lot. She wondered what was really left of her former best friend. Did those Gryffindor qualities still run in her veins? Bravery? Loyalty? Strength? Did she still read constantly? Ask too many questions? Stick her nose in people's business? Ginny bit her lip in curiosity. It was definitely something she would need to find out.

Hermione stifled a yawn and looked to the clock on the mantle. It was nearing 8 in the morning, and she hadn't slept a wink. Damn time change.

"No offense to anyone else, but it's morning. Like an acceptable time for people to be out and about. And yet I haven't slept at all. So either someone needs to conjure me up an energy potion, or I need to sleep. Your choice."

She flipped over so her head rested on the arm of the couch and her feet curled up in Ron's lap. Her eyes closed and she heard shuffling and whispering before she drifted off to sleep. Minutes later, she was woken from her slumber but Ginny nudging her over on the couch. She had a plate of food and a strange colored potion in her hand.

"Here. Drink this, and here's some breakfast. It'll make you feel like you've had a full night's sleep. I called my family and told them we need to have a gathering at the Burrow. I also told them to call a few more people. I'm sure Neville and Luna would love to see you. Is that all right with you?"

Hermione downed the potion in one swallow and grimaced at the bitter taste. She nodded to Ginny as she shoveled some food into her mouth. She hadn't eaten since before work, and she was starved.

"I guess I need to rip that bandaid off. But first, I haven't had my after work shower. I'm sure I smell like cigarettes and skank. That can't be a pleasant combination."

Ginny giggled and nodded, motioning Hermione to follow her through the house. Hermione glanced around as she walked, taking in the simple decorations and pictures along the walls. There were pictures of her family, of her and Harry, even some of Neville and Luna. All of these pictures seemed to be from the last few years. There were no pictures of Hermione on the wall. Ginny led Hermione to the bathroom and handed her a clean towel with a small smile.

"We can head over to the Burrow whenever you want. As far as I know, Charlie, George, Bill and Fleur and their kids, Mum and Dad, and Luna and Neville will be there. I don't know if Percy will come. It shouldn't be too many people. I don't want to overwhelm you, I just know that everyone will be so happy to know you're safe."

Hermione sat on the edge of the tub and bit her lip.

"Ginny, your whole family is going to hate who I am now. I mean, c'mon. Let's get fucking serious. I'm a stripper, I sleep around, I smoke, I drink, I swear. I have tattoos covering half my body. And I have no intention of changing these habits of mine. I'm not the same person I was four years ago when I left. I just hope you can all understand that."

Ginny nodded and opened her mouth to speak more, but Hermione began removing her clothing to take a shower. Ginny turned to leave, but she stopped to take in the numerous tattoos that covered Hermione's body. There were words and pictures and designs all over. Ginny noticed when Hermione lifted her shirt over her head, that there was a small list of names scripted on the side of her ribs. Ginny stepped closer and gingerly touched the spot, causing Hermione to flinch. She looked to see what Ginny was reading, and tensed up when she saw it. Ginny's eyes welled up with tears as she read it.

"'Long lost, but never forgotten. I love you. Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, Ginevra Weasley.' Hermione, I can't believe you have this."

Hermione shrugged and slid her pants down her thighs until they dropped to the floor.

"I may have jumped off the wagon, but you guys were still my best friends. I don't have friends like you guys these days. That was a reminder of people I cared about."

Hermione stood in front of Ginny, stark-naked, and Ginny rolled her eyes. Hermione started the shower as Ginny exited the room, mumbling under her breath about "damn strippers."

When Hermione exited the bathroom a while later, she felt refreshed. She wore an outrageously tight leather miniskirt and a red lace bustier. Admiring her appearance in the mirror, she noted that the Weasleys would probably feel uncomfortable about the amount of skin showing. Her chest barely fit in the bustier, leaving her perky breasts the focal point of her outfit. A few pieces of tattoos on her ribs showed, but the main attractions were the ivy vine crawling up her left leg and the colorful phoenix bursting to flight on her back. Once Harry and Ron saw it, they would definitely see the likeness of Fawkes. Hermione shrugged off the thought. It didn't matter right now. She slipped on some knee-high leather boots and walked into the living room. Harry, Ron, and Ginny were waiting, chatting amicably. All eyes were on Hermione and she grinned, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulders. The dropped jaws and disbelieving stares went unnoticed as she spun in a circle, showing off her look. Ginny shook her head, incredulous. Of course, she thought, We will absolutely have to explain her new profession with that outfit. Ron shook off the daze Hermione's smokin' body had put him in and snorted.

"Uh, Hermione, you know that it's February right? You're going to want a jacket."

Hermione rolled her eyes and grabbed a gray leather jacket from atop her bag.

"I'm ready, bitches. Let's roll."

The group apparated to outside the Burrow. Hermione stopped and looked around, trying to remember the last time she was here. It seemed so long ago, she didn't even remember. Ginny and Harry approached the door, while Ron approached another person who had just apparated. Hermione looked on in interest. The woman looked her way, then kissed Ron firmly. Ah. Must be a girlfriend or something. Ron grabbed the girl's hand and led her to where Hermione stood. Their slow gait gave Hermione a chance to survey the girl. She was tall and lanky, her body taking on the shape of a young boy. Hermione thought she had pretty, although plain, features. Her brown hair did not shine, but her blue eyes did sparkle. She seemed nice, but boring in Hermione's eyes.

"Hermione, this is my fiancée, Megan Jones. Meg, this is Hermione Granger."

Hermione nodded a hello and Megan crossed her arms and surveyed Hermione.

"You've been gone all this time. Why come back now? Not planning on picking up where you left off, I hope."

As she spoke, Megan's eyes flicked to Ron, and Hermione let out a barking laugh.

"Listen up, Princess. Let's get one thing straight. Harry and Ron asked me to come back. For the sake of their family. Now, I'm sure you fit in perfectly with the Weasley clan. And I'm wetting myself with happiness that Ron found himself a woman. But if you're going to sit here and be this fucking dramatic about me showing up again, then I feel sorry for him. He doesn't need an insecure, bitchy fiancée. So grow the fuck up and learn that I'm not your enemy. And I guarantee the second I walk through that door, you will understand. I've been a part of this family for years. And although Ron and I dated when we were teenagers, that's not remotely a fucking option now. I don't give a fuck who he's with. So congratulations."

Hermione spun around and stalked toward the house, leaving Ron and Megan dumbfounded on the front lawn. Rage was brimming under the surface. Hermione had a tendency lose control these days, and she was skating on thin ice right now. Get it together. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She needed a stiff drink and a cigarette. Her regular routine was interrupted when Harry and Ron showed up. Usually at the end of her shift, she would call one of her favorite fuck buddies, or she'd find someone interesting from the club and go home with them. She'd get good and blitzed, have a nice tumble in the sack, and then return home to go about her day. Now that she's been brought back to her old life, she feels pressured and stressed. She either needs someone to sleep with or a cigarette, and she didn't really think either would be acceptable at this gathering. She shook her head and pushed open the door.