Return

RETURN

CHAPTER ONE-THE INVITATION

"Hermione! A letter just arrived for you! It's Hedwig!" my mum's voice called up the stairs.

"Okay! I'm coming right down!" I called back.

I looked at myself in the mirror. I had changed slightly over the summer. I was now about to enter my sixth year at Hogwarts. My hair had become sleeker and straighter and I had grown into a decent figure. I was wearing a pair of jeans and a white tee shirt. My hair was pulled into a ponytail. I left my room and jogged down stairs. Sure enough, Harry Potter's snowy white female owl, Hedwig, was sitting on the back of one of the kitchen chairs with a letter tied to her leg.

"Hedwig! Hi!" I said, brightly, as I went over to her.

I untied the letter from her leg and opened it.

It read:

Dear Hermione:

I hope everything is well with you. I've invited Harry along as well. Mum says you can spend the remaining four days of summer with us. We're also going to drive into Muggle London on Wednesday to get Ginny some new clothes before heading into Diagon Alley for school supplies.

If you'd like to come along, send Hedwig back with a response. Harry's staying with us now as I write this letter. His aunt and uncle were more than happy to get rid of him a few days earlier. Blimey, they are something else. If you can go, we're going to pick you up. Dad's got a muggle car from someone at his job. Just send your address and we'll see you Sunday.

Ron Weasley.

I turned around. My mum was washing the dishes.

"Mum? Ron wants to know if I could spend the last four days at his house. Harry's there now," I asked, as I went over to one of the drawers and took out a quill and ink bottle. I opened the ink bottle and dipped my quill into it.

"Sure! Have fun. What day are they going to pick you up?" Mum asked.

"Sunday," I replied.

I eagerly wrote my response:

Ron,

Mum says I can go. Here's my address:

156 Elwen Road

How's Harry? Is he okay? I really hate the way those Muggles treat him. Ugh. But I can definitely go. I can't wait to see you and everyone Sunday! Give my best to Harry and your family. See you then!

Love always,

Hermione

I folded the letter and attached it to Hedwigs leg. She extended her wings and took off flying out the kitchen window. Smiling to myself, I then headed back up to my room to pack my school things a head of time.

As I was folding my school robe, my thoughts shifted to Harry. I wondered if he had changed much. Last year, he was certainly different...but he still looked amazing to me. I had also realized then that I was in love with him. I wanted to tell him, but I wasn't sure how'd he take it. Mostly, everyone knew Ron was in love with me, but we were too different. We always argued over things. Harry and I just seemed to click. I put my robe into my trunk. I made sure that my books were in the trunk as well...all grade six levels.

My wand I kept on my nightstand. I went over to my dresser and turned on my boom box. I still had muggle artifacts in my room. Like a boom box, TV, and VCR. Celine Dion's That's What It Takes came on. I began dancing around as I packed the rest of my belongings.

I really could not wait until I saw Harry and Ron again. I even couldn't wait to start the sixth year.

SUNDAY

I eagerly waited for the Weasleys to pick me up.

I was waiting outside the house with my trunk at my feet. I was dressed in a pair of jeans, a white tank top with spaghetti shoulder straps, and a red shirt left unbuttoned over it. I had pulled some of my hair back and fastened it with a barrette. Some of the shorter strands hung down. Mum was waiting with me. Dad had to go into work early. Mum had today off.

"Mum, do you think Harry changed much?" I asked her.

"Probably. No one stays the same, hon," Mum said, wrapping her arm around my shoulders and she gave me a squeeze.

"Yeah. You're right," I said, grinning.

Just then, a car turned the corner. It was a Chevrolet Venture van in white. My heart began nervously fluttering in my chest. I checked myself over.

Mum was laughing.

"Relax! These are your best friends!" she said, laughing.

"Yeah mum, I got that," I muttered.

The van pulled in front of the house. The side sliding door opened and Ron Weasley's face stared at us.

"Hey Mrs. Granger!" he said, eagerly.

"Hi Ron, Arthur," Mum said, grinning.

Mr. Weasley waved from the driver's seat.

"Help her with her trunk, boys," Mr. Weasley said.

Ron hopped out, followed by Harry.

It took all of my self-control not to ogle at him. He certainly did change over the summer.

His hair had finally flattened and it looked fuller. His emerald green eyes twinkled behind his thin, black rimmed glasses. His features sharpened and he looked handsome...or words that better described his features...hot and unbelievable. He was dressed in tan pants and a burgundy shirt.

"Hey Hermione," he said, brightly.

His voice had also deepened.

"Hi," I finally choked out.

"You look great!" he said, as he looked me up and down.

"Thanks. So do you," I said.

"Erm, Harry? A little help here," Ron said, as he lifted the other end of my trunk up.

"Oh...right. Sorry," Harry said, sheepishly.

He hurried over to help Ron. The rear lift gate of the van opened and they loaded my trunk into the cargo space. I turned to my mother and gave her a look of total surprise.

She just laughed and winked.

Once the trunk was loaded, they closed the lift gate.

"Okay. Hop in!" Mr. Weasley said, cheerfully.

Ron climbed in and sat on the middle bench seat. Harry followed and sat next to him. Mum gave me a hug.

"Have a good time," she said, hugging me tightly.

"I will. He look amazing!" I whispered.

"I know. Try and behave, okay?" Mum said, winking teasingly.

I rolled my eyes and climbed into the van. I was sitting next to Harry on the end. I reached over and slid the sliding door closed. I waved at Mum. She waved back. Mr. Weasley put the van in drive and we pulled away from the curb.

Harry's and my shoulders bumped on occasion. I stared out the window, forcing the heat to stop rising in my cheeks.

He really looked amazing. I almost didn't recognize him. I wouldn't be surprised if girls went crazy when we got to Hogwarts.

"Hermione, how are you?" Harry asked, leaning close.

"I'm fine. You changed," I said.

Stupid. Stupid. Duh! I think he knows he changed! That was a stupid thing to say.

I looked away and cringed.

"So have you," Harry said, softly. "You look terrific."

I smiled and looked at him.

God. Those eyes would melt snow.

He smiled back.

"'Arry, do you think Malfoy changed?" Ron asked.

Harry snorted.

"If he changed, then I'll be surprised if he's still a guy. I'd love to see him in makeup and a dress."

Ron laughed.

"Maybe he'll grow girl parts."

"If he knows how to use them," I added.

Ron and Harry looked at me startled, then burst out laughing.

"I don't think he'll know how to use them! He might need the book Girl Parts for Dummies," Harry laughed.

We laughed. Mr. Weasley just shook his head.

"You two are nuts," he said, chuckling.

"What? You don't think that Malfoy's Dad could be mistaken for a He-She Barbie?" Ron asked.

Harry and I laughed harder.

"Okay...okay boys. Enough," Mr. Weasley laughed.

Ron, Harry and I talked about our summer. Then I realized something.

"Mr. Weasley? How are we going to get to the Burrow?" I asked, leaning forward.

"Hermione, you're sitting in the way we're getting to the Burrow. Are you okay?" Ron asked, peering at me.

Harry snorted and chuckled.

"I mean, can we just drive up to the house without Muggles seeing us," I replied, glaring at Ron.

"I know what Hermione means, Ron," Mr. Weasley said. "Yes."

I sat back smugly and narrowed my eyes at Ron.

Ron just rolled his eyes.

I felt a little annoyed at Ron. He made it seem like I was some kind of airhead in front of Harry. When Ron was looking out the window, I reached behind Harry and smacked him up the back of his head. He looked around just as I settled back.

Harry was biting his lip to keep from laughing.

A few moments later, we pulled up in front of the Burrow. Mr. Weasley magicked the trunk to float. We entered the Burrow. Ginny, Fred and George were sitting at the kitchen table eating lunch. Mrs. Weasley was at the kitchen sink.

She looked up when we entered.

"Hello Hermione!" she cried pleasantly.

"Hello, Mrs. Weasley," I said, kindly as she came over and gave me a hug.

I hugged her back.

"Nice to see you dear. You look terrific," Mrs. Weasley said, as she released me and then stood back to examine me. She was grinning.

"Thank you," I said, pleased.

"Ron, Harry. Why don't you bring Hermione's trunk upstairs? She's bunking with Ginny," Mrs. Weasley said. "Then come down for some lunch."

Ron and Harry headed off with my trunk up the stairs. I took a seat next to Ginny.

"He looks hot," Ginny whispered to me, nodding toward Harry.

I laughed.

"I know. Wow," I said.

"You're going to have a hard time beating girls off of him with your wand," Ginny grinned. "And I know you love him."

I felt myself blushing.

"How do you know how I feel?"

"I'm not blind, Hermione. I once felt like you, but now, I'm with Dean. I see how he looks at you and how you look at him. It's obvious,"

"Obvious, huh? I hope not to Harry just yet. I need some time to think about how I'm going to tell him," I said.

"Don't worry. Ron's oblivious to most things...like walls and stairs, but I think you're safe," Ginny replied, grinning.

I grinned back.

Ron and Harry came back down stairs and sat across from Ginny and I. Mrs. Weasley placed a dish in front of us filled with sandwiches.

Mr. Weasley sat down at the head of the table. Mrs. Weasley took her seat on the other end. We hungrily dug into the sandwiches.

"So, are you kids ready for the New Year?" Mrs. Weasley asked brightly.

"Yes, mum. We're hoping there have been a few changes," Ron replied, looking at Harry and me meaningfully.

Harry and I giggled.

Mrs. Weasley looked at us confused.

"And why would that be funny?" she asked, tilting her head.

"Never mind, Molly," Mr. Weasley said, glancing at us sideways. "Their minds have gone into the wild."

We giggled even more.

Mrs. Weasley sighed.

"I don't want to know."

Then, she turned her attention to me.

"Hermione, how are your parents?"

"They're good, Mrs. Weasley. Mum had the day off, but Dad's working," I said, taking sip of juice.

"Your father uses a dill, right?" Mr. Weasley asked, knowledgably.

"A drill, Mr. Weasley," I corrected him kindly.

The word 'dill' had set Ron, Harry, George and Fred into a fit of giggles.

Mrs. Weasley looked at them exasperatedly.

"Really. What is it now?" She asked, sighing loudly.

"I think their minds are in the gutter," I said, eyeing them disapprovingly.

"What? You have to admit, that was funny," Ron asked, laughing.

Mr. Weasley was blushing.

"Mr. Weasley was just confused. There's nothing funny about that," I said, reprovingly and angrily as I glared at Ron.

Harry stopped laughing and watched me.

"I know that! But the way it came out was funny!" Ron argued back.

"The only one that came out that was funny was you! You're funny looking!" I shot back.

I admit, that was childish, but for some reason, Ron just sets me off.

"Ron, knock it off," Harry said quietly to Ron.

Ron ignored him.

"Harry, Hermione has to learn to relax and mellow out!" Ron said.

"Excuse me," I said, as I got up abruptly and threw down my napkin. I went outside and stood on the small porch. I folded my arms over my chest.

The cool afternoon summer breeze blew my hair back away from my face. The sunlight was still shining brightly.

I felt tears streaming down my cheeks. The next thing I knew, the door behind me opened. I turned around. It was Harry.

I turned away from him and continued to look at the ground.

He stood beside me and our shoulders were touching.

"Hermione..." Harry began, but I cut him off.

"Ooh! Ron just gets under my skin! He loves to turn it around on me! Make me out to be the bad guy!" I sobbed.

I heard Harry sigh.

"I know. But he likes to joke around. I think he gets it from George and Fred," Harry said, in a low, soothing voice. I turned to him.

"I'm beginning to wish I hadn't come," I sobbed.

I saw his expression fall.

"Really?" he asked in an uneven voice. "Do you mean it?"

I sighed as well.

"No. At least you're here," I said.

His expression brightened.

"Same here."

We looked at each other. He put his face close to mine. My heart pounded in my chest.

"I'm glad you're here. I was hoping you'd come," he said, quietly and softly.

"Really?" I asked, breathlessly.

"Really. Come on. Let's go pay Ron back," he said, conspiratorially.

He had the familiar mischievous look on his face.

I had to smile.

He put a hand on the side of my face before turning around and heading back into the house. I followed him.

We put a wig and lipstick on Ron while he slept and when he came down for breakfast the next morning, we all had a good laugh. He muttered an apology to me. Harry caught my eye and winked. I grinned.

I eagerly waited for Sunday when we went into Muggle London before going to Diagon Alley.