Starts with Goodbye

Hermione's POV

"Do you have enough money, dear?", Molly fussed as Hermione gathered the rest of her things.

"Yes, thank you, Mrs Weasley", Hermione smiled warmly. Hermione put the last item she needed in her beaded bag before looking up at Ron, who sat silently, and looked rather miserable, on the sofa. She slowly sat down beside him and took his hand within her own, their fingers entwined. She couldn't help but blush as she noticed Molly smiling fondly at them. As their gaze met, Molly took this as a sign to give them some space and left to potter around in the kitchen. "Its just four days, you know", she told him.

"Four? I thought you were only going for three?", he replied.

"Yes, but I'm going to spend my parents first night back home with them, Ron", she chuckled softly. Ron sighed.

"Sorry. I sound like a selfish idiot don't I? You haven't seen your parents in a year and all I want is for you to stay here with me", he admitted, allowing his head to drop down.

"Don't be silly, Ron. I understand. But this is all apart of being that normal couple I was talking about", she tried to reassure him.

"I know. I just don't want to be around anyone else but you at the moment", he said quietly. Hermione softly kissed his cheek before looking lovingly at him.

"And just to think; years ago you couldn't stand to be around me!", she joked. The pair of them laughed softly before Ron lifted his head up to look at her.

"You'll be safe, won't you?", he said.

"Of course I will. I'll be with Kingsley", she smiled.

"Hermione, dear! Kingsley's here!", Molly called from the kitchen. Hermione felt Ron's grip on her hand tighten as she gave him another kiss on the cheek.

"Four days", she almost whispered before the pair of them stood up together and walked into the kitchen.

"Good morning", Kingsley smiled at them.

"Good morning", Hermione smiled brightly.

"Are we all ready to go? Our first stop is Romania", Kingsley told her. Hermione nodded.

"Romania? Oh how wonderful, you might see Charlie", Molly smiled.

"We'll definitely see him as a matter of fact, Molly. He'll be taking us to our next apparation point", Kingsley smiled brightly at Molly.

"Oh, give him my love will you?", she asked. Kingsley nodded. At that moment, Harry and Ginny made their way into the kitchen, followed by Arthur, ready to see Hermione off. Everyone began to make their way outside, leaving Hermione and Ron trailing behind, hand in hand.

"I'll miss you, Hermione", Harry smiled softly as she wrapped her arms around his neck in a tight embrace. "Stay safe".

"I will", she said softly before letting him go to hug Ginny. She then made her towards Arthur, who gave her a light peck on the cheek, and then to Molly who pulled her down to her height for an emotional hug.

"You make sure to send your patronus if you need anything, dear, anything at all", she told her.

"Thank you, Mrs Weasley, I will", she smiled.

"Call me Molly", Molly gave her a watery smile. Hermione gave her a slight nod before turning her attention to Ron, who still looked as miserable as sin. She stood in front of him, looking up at him with such love in her eyes as tears began to form.

"You'll be okay", she told him.

"I don't care about that. Will you be okay?", he said. Hermione nodded as she lowered her head in an attempt to hide her tears. Ron pulled her into him, wrapping his arms around her and kissing the top of her head. "You've got to do what you've got to do. I'll be here waiting when you get back", he told her. Hermione nodded once more before pulling away so she could give him a kiss on the cheek. Even after all she had said, she still could help but feel guilty for leaving him. As much as he had needed her, she, in return, had needed him and still did. But, she knew he couldn't come with her. His family needed him and this was something she had to do alone. How on earth would she explain why Ron had accompanied her across the world to her parents? She would tell them about her and Ron in her own time, this time needed to be spent on explaining why they had been living in Australia for the past year with no recollection of ever having a daughter. With one last glance at Ron's sad eyes and a quick turn as Kingsley took hold of her hand, Hermione felt that awful wrench in her stomach as they found themselves in Romania's Ministry of Magic. Hermione sniffed as she quickly wiped away her tears before anyone could notice.

"Thank you for doing this with me, Kingsley", she suddenly said as she followed him down a long winding corridor.

"Its not a problem. Its the least I can do after all your help during the battle", he turned his head to smile at her.

"Hermione!", Charlie Weasley waved in the distance.

"Hello, Charlie", she smiled warmly at him before he wrapped his arms around her in a welcoming hug.

"How was the travel?", he asked, letting her go.

"I'm starting to feel a little nauseous", she admitted.

"That's completely normal", he told her smiling. "You'll be staying over at my house for tonight whilst Kingsley sorts some things out with the Romanian Minister of Magic. That alright with you?", he asked. Hermione looked confused.

"We cant travel to Egypt and then India in one day I'm afraid. We'll be in India by tomorrow evening and in Australia the following morning so we'll be on schedule, don't worry. But you need to rest. Apparating constantly like that could make you very ill", Kingsley reassured her. Hermione forced a smile at him before following the two men down another long and winding corridor. The walls were a rough brown colour, resembling planks of wood. The three of them exited the building into a rather normal, busy Romanian street. Hermione looked back at the building they had just come from to see that it looked nothing more than an old abandoned warehouse, a sign hung from its door that read 'Pericol pentru toți cei care intră.'.

"It says 'Danger to all who enter'", Charlie told her. "My cars just around the corner. Shall we get going?", he asked. Hermione gave a quick nod before turning to face Kingsley.

"Charlie will bring you back to the Ministry in the morning where we'll apparate to Egypt", he told her. Hermione gave another quick nod before following Charlie to his car. Charlie's house was very much like his mother's; warm and welcoming. Hermione sat alone in the guest bedroom, thinking about Ron with an empty piece of parchment in her lap, a quill held carelessly between her fingers.

"You alright, Hermione?", Charlie entered the room slowly with a tray of sandwiches. Hermione nodded slowly at him as she forced a smile. Charlie set down the tray of sandwiches on a nearby table before sitting beside her on the bed. "So- mum tells me you and Ron finally worked things out", he smiled. Hermione gave him a real smile this time, nodding as she let her eyes wander over the empty piece of parchment. "I'm more than sure he's missing you too", he told her. Hermione looked up at him.

"Could I send a letter? To The Burrow?", she asked.

"Yeah. Just hand it to me and I'll send it for you. Should get there by morning", he grinned at her as he got up off of the bed and began to leave. "Oh and, Hermione?", he spoke. Hermione looked up at him once more. "Thank you. For looking out for, Ron. You're really special to him", he smiled warmly at her before closing the door behind him as he left. Hermione smiled to herself as she began to write;

'Ron,

Romania is beautiful and I'm fine. I hope you are too. I honestly didn't think I would miss you this much, but, what I wouldn't give to see you right now. I'll write to you again soon.

Thinking of you,

Hermione.'