A few weeks had passed without any more mention of who the new Head Boy would be. Harry and Ron were scheduled to begin their training the day after Hermione and Ginny would be returning to Hogwarts so they could see the girls off at the train station.

The evening before they were to leave, they'd packed up their trunks with freshly laundered robes. Crookshanks was enjoying his last hours of freedom from his basket in front of the fireplace.

Hermione checked the clock. It was only five-thirty. Everyone was gathered around the kitchen table for supper.

"Hermione," said Ginny, looking out of the window. "Weren't you expecting a letter from your parents?"

"Yes," said Hermione, following her gaze. She looked out the window to see a snowy white owl flying at them. She immediately ran over to open the window to let the owl in. There was an envelope addressed to Hermione tied to the owl's leg.

Hermione untied the envelope while the owl nipped affectionately at her fingers.

"Thank you, Hedwig," said Hermione, stroking Hedwig's head. She opened the letter and began to read her mother's handwriting;

'Dearest Hermione,

I do hope you'll get this letter in time. We're sending it two days before you go back to Hogwarts. Your father and I miss you very much and would like for you to come stay the night before you return. We know your friend, Ginny, is going back to school with you and she is more than welcome to come over too. We hope it's not too late.

With much love,

Mum and Dad xoxo'

Hermione reached the end of the page. She folded up the letter and gave Hedwig an owl treat from the bag on the counter before returning to her seat.

"My mum and dad want me to come home and spend time with them for the last night of summer," she told Ginny.

Mrs. Weasley looked up. "That's wonderful dear! Of course you should go be with your parents."

"Yes, I think I should too. And they've invited Ginny to come along with me."

Three pairs of eyes trained on them at once, and Ron's fork clattered onto his plate.

"Oh, but I've always taken the kids to platform nine and three quarters to catch the train." Mrs. Weasley was quiet for a few moments. No one said anything. Then she continued, "well, it is always a busy and stressful morning trying to round up you lot and make sure everything is ready. And I could meet you at the train station to see you off. Oh, alright then, go on, Ginny."

"Yes! Thank you, mum," Ginny squealed. "I've never actually been to a muggle's house."

"They're not much compared to a wizard's house," said Harry, winking at Hermione.

"Are you joking?" asked Ron. "There's all sorts of cool stuff there. I didn't get to check out Harry's house much, but I could tell there were so many fascinating gadgets."

"You are your father's child, alright," said Mrs. Weasely, shaking her head. "Well you two had better hurry and wash up, it's getting late. Arthur can take you tonight."

"We could ride along if you'd like?" asked Harry.

"That'd be lovely," said Ginny.

Ron and Hermione rolled their eyes, smirking. They cleaned up the table and went to gather up the last remainders of their items. The boys loaded the trunks into the car. Mrs. Weasley hugged each of the girls goodbye before they departed.

"I'll see you both at the station in the morning."

"Bye, mum," said Ginny.

"Thanks for letting me stay," said Hermione.

"Anytime, dear. Now off you go. Don't want to keep your parents waiting," said Mrs. Weasley.

They all climbed into the backseat and sat side by side comfortably in the magically enlarged backseat.

"I'm nervous to finally find out who Head Boy is," said Hermione.

"Me too," said Ginny.

They spent the car ride speculating about who it could be and playing muggle car ride games. They finally pulled onto Hermione's street.

"Now which house is it, dear?" asked Mr. Weasley.

Hermione pointed out the window. "It's this one, with the big oak in the yard."

Mr. Weasley pulled into the driveway. They all got out of the car and Harry and Ron grabbed the trunks from the boot.

"I really can't stay long, girls. I've got an early morning."

Hermione grabbed her trunk from Ron and turned to Ginny to find her and Harry stuck to each other at the face.

"Break it up, kids," Mr. Weasley said pointedly. "This isn't the last time you're going to see each other"

"Sorry, Mr. Weasley." Harry had the good sense to look ashamed.

"Hermione!"

Hermione looked up to see her parents standing in the doorway of the house.

"Mum! Dad!" Hermione ran over to her parents and hugged them tightly.

"I'm so glad you got our owl in time. We've missed you dearly."

"Why don't you invite everyone in for tea?" Mr. Granger suggested.

"Oh, Mr. Weasley can't stay long"

Hermione's mother looked over her shoulder to where the middle aged wizard was standing, lecturing Harry and Ginny about a muggle disease called 'cooties.'

"That's quite alright. Is Ginny going to stay over too?" she asked.

"Yes, here comes Ron bringing her trunk."

Ron was walking up to where the trio stood. "So nice to see you again, Mr. and Mrs. Granger," he smiled.

"You too, dear."

"Hello Mrs. Granger!" said Ginny, breaking away from her father's rant and joining Hermione and her parents. Mr. Weasley followed right behind them and also greeted Hermione's parents with a handshake.

"Terribly sorry that I can't stay. Molly will be meeting you at the train station in the morning to see the girls off."

Harry came over and gave Hermione and Ginny each a big hug. "I'll see you both tomorrow."

"I'll be waiting," said Hermione, hugging him back. She let go and Harry, Ron, and Mr. Weasley bid them all goodbye before returning to the car. She watched him look up and down the street from the driver's seat, wave, and then wink as he pushed a button on the dash. They all watched as the car disappeared completely. Hermione felt an upward rush of air and knew that they had taken off into the sky to return to The Burrow. Smiling as she thought of how Mrs. Weasley would react to the blatant use of magic in a muggle neighborhood, Hermione led the way into the house.

The girls made their way up to Hermione's bedroom to drop off their trunks and jackets.

"This place is so cool!" exclaimed Ginny.

"It's just a house. I think it's way more fascinating being at a wizard's house.

"That's only because you've grown up with all this cool stuff," said Ginny, picking up a rubik's cube from Hermione's dresser.

"Hermione! Can you come down here please?" Hermione's mother called up the stairs.

"Alright, put down the chapstick and follow me," Hermione told her friend who was engrossed in a tube of Blistex.

They went into the sitting room to see her parents looking very serious. "Hermione, dear, we have something that your father and I think it's about time we told you."

Hermione sat down on the couch across from her parents. From their tone, it sounded like they were ashamed of themselves for something. "Alright. Is this something that shouldn't be said in front of Ginny?" she asked as she felt her friend sit down on the couch next to her.

"I think she's okay to stay," said her dad.

"Okay. Is something wrong?"

"Only that we didn't tell you this sooner. Her parents were looking a little nervous at this point. "And we really should have. It's just that, well, we didn't know how."

"Hermione," her mother began. "You're… a pureblood."