Finding Wendell and Monica....

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The following morning Hermione and Ron along with Harry and Ginny rose early dressing in their muggle best and headed downstairs to wait for the rest of the DA, who were meeting at the Burrow to catch a group Portkey to Doncaster for Colin Creevey’s funeral.

‘Is Neville coming today?’ Ron wondered out loud as they sat in the kitchen sipping coffee, waiting for the first of the D.A to arrive.

‘He said he wanted to but wasn’t sure if the medics at St Mungos would let him’ Ginny said ‘and anyway he can’t catch a portkey in the condition he’s in at the moment, he said yesterday when you and Hermione were outside that if he was coming he’d go up on the Knight Bus’

A moment later the floo lit up and Angelina arrived dressed in an elegant knee length black dress and accompanying jacket. Her waist length black hair tied back in an elegant plaited bun.

‘Morning all!’ she greeted them stepping out of the floo and waving her wand over her dress ‘George up and about yet?

‘Amazingly yeah’ Ginny said ‘he was doing up his tie when we came down’

‘Oh okay then I’’ll go up and see how he’s going’

And with that Angelina swept up the stairs. A cup of coffee later the Patil Twins were the next to arrive and imediately after them Seamus Finnigan and Lavender Brown. By now Mrs Weasley had started serving up english muffins and spreads for each guest arriving.

‘Thanks loads Mrs Weasley ace nosh’ Seamus said appreciatively after swallowing a mouthful of muffin.

‘You sound like Ron’ Hermione, Ginny, Harry, George, Angelina and the Patil Twins chorused.

‘Oh shut up’ Ron said dryly.

‘Didn’t you eat this morning?’ Mrs Weasley asked Seamus.

‘No Ma’am not really, just a piece of toast just before I flooed to Lavender’s’ Seamus returned politely ‘didn’t really think about a proper breakfast you know with Colin’s funeral and all today’

‘I don’t think anyone is going to be in the mood for eating much today’ Hermione said banishing a tray of coffee mugs to the kitchen sink ‘I sure don’t feel like consuming much more than coffee’

‘I reckon after the funeral we ought to go back to the Leaky Cauldron and hold our own private wake for Colin’ Lavender suggested to the room ‘nothing fancy just a toast to him you know? He was one of the hardest working in the DA and I reckon we should give him some sort of wizarding send off. We’re not going to be able to do it at the muggle funeral his parents are holding obviously’

There was a murmurr of agreement amongst those gathered but Harry made a face.

‘Harry we all know what you’re thinking, but if we go out in one big group you’ll be fine’ Hermione said ‘and we can request a private room if it gets too rowdy. And you seem to forget everyone coming today is quite skillled in defensive magic and are capable of throwing a wordless hex or two’

‘Count on me to Jelly Legs someone’ Seamus said brightly ‘that’s my favouurite Jinx or Hex’

‘Half of me wishes that someone gives me a hard time just so I can see you do that’ Harry said in amusement

By ten AM the entire D.A had arrived and were gathered outside around a floating length of wood Hermione had turned into a portkey.

‘Okay everyone let’s go’ Ron said as the portkey glowed blue.

And simoultaneously every DA member touched the glowing wood, then seconds later they were pulled into nothingness destination Doncaster.

A moment later the sizable group landed in a heap in a little clutch of trees. With a collective groan they got to their knees and stood up. Ron made a face as he rubbed his knees.

‘I’ve never landed on my feet travelling by portkey’ he said to no one in particular as all around him the DA members vanished the dirt and grass stains from their clothes.

‘It must take paractice’ Seamus said waving his wand and vanishing a smudge of dirt from his trousers leg ‘McGonagall and Sprout always land on their feet’

‘Maybe it’s like apparating and you have to imagine landing on your feet’ Ginny said pocketing her wand ‘now does anyone actually know where we go from here?’

‘Yes, we just walk straight ahead then turn left’ Hermione said pulling a piece of paper from her clutch purse ‘Mr and Mrs Creevey told me the Doncaster Gardens Cemetery is on Turlington Terrace you can’t miss it’

‘Well let’s go we’ve got half an hour til the funeral begins’ Ron said checking his watch.

With Hermione furtively checking between the trees the group left their arrival point and walked into Turlington Terrace. Immediately they happened upon a old yet elegant brick wall that bordered the cemetery they were heading to.

‘I’ve never been to a muggle funeral before’ Seamus said to Hermione ‘will it be anything like Dumbledores?’

‘No’ Hermione replied as they stopped by a driveway to let a hearse enter the cemetery ‘Mrs Creevy said it would be a chapel service and that anyone attending would be most welcome to a graveside interment’

‘You spoke to her on the phone then?’

‘Yeah she and Mr Creevy wanted to make sure they didn’t give anything away about Colin being a wizard. Dennis didn’t feel much like explaining the whole statute of secrecy thing so he suggested they owl me’

‘So what are they telling his relatives killed him?’

‘Smoke inhalation from a fire at school’ Hermione said as they resumed their walk down the footpath ‘Colin’s other relatives have been told he went back into school to recscue his fellow housemates but was overcome by the smoke’

‘Sounds a beleiveable line’ Seamus said as they arrived at the main entrance of the cemetery ‘who’s giving the eulogy?’

‘Harry Mr and Mrs Creevey asked him to do it seeing as Harry was the leader of Dumbledore’s Army. Neville’s going to say a few words too if he’s able to come today’ Hermione said leading the group down the driveway and toward the main administration building.

Hermione led the group past a marble wall of interred ashes an elegant rose garden and into the admin building. The others hung back while Hermione made her way up to the desk.

‘Can I help you luv?’ The middle aged man behind the desk asked.

‘Yes can you tell me where the Creevey funeral is being held?’ Hermione asked politely.

The man behind the desk flipped through some papers in front of him.

‘Ah yes the Boddington Chapel just go out the front turn right til you find the Churchill building it’s the chapel on the far left’

‘Thank you’

Hermione turned around and made her way back to the group.
‘Right we need to get to the Boddington Chapel in the Churchill building’ she said ‘the next building along inside on the far left’

‘It must be that building at the end of that rose arbor’ Ron said as they left the admin building ‘when we’re out of sight I’m going to conjure a single Rose for each of us to put on Colin’s coffin’ he added in a whisper.

‘Ron you can’t we’re in an area full of muggles!’ Hermione hissed.

‘I’ll go into the loos and do it then’ Ron said ‘there’s got to be some public loos around her somewhere. Or all you lot can gather around me and I can do it on the move’

‘Do the latter’ Hermione said ‘there isn’t much time til the service begins....go on!’

Ron strode into the middle of the group and within seconds they had surrounded him and by the time they had arrived at the entrance of the Churchill building he emerged carrying a basket full of white long stemmed roses.

‘Nice charmwork bro’ Ginny said with a grin.

‘You sound surprised sister dear’ Ron relied with a grin.

‘I am positively astounded’

‘Oh shut up’

The D.A walked further inside the Churchill building and turned left arriving at the Boddington Chapel where a lectern was set up outside upon which rested a fountain pen and a book of condolence. Hermione picked up the pen and wrote a short note in the open pages before handing the pen to Ron who followed suit. Harry, Hermione and Ron were off gathered in a corner when they saw Kingsley arrive in the company of McGonagall, Flitwick, Sprout and Slughorn all of which were expertly dressed as muggles in black mourning attire. Hermione waved as they joined the cue to sign the condolences book.

‘I’m starting to think this is going to be a standing room only gig’ Ron said as the line to sign the condolence book snaked around the corner of the Churchill building toward the entrance door.

‘It might be, there were a lot of people who liked Colin’ Hermione said as Oliver Wood arrived with his girlfriend Alicia Spinnett.

After signing the book of condolence the DA made their way inside the spacious chapel. At the head of the aisle was Colin’s casket which was draped in the Gryffindor flag and adorned with white roses and Arum Lillies.

‘That’s the Gryffindor flag!’ Ron whispered to Hermione ‘won’t the Muggles see it?’

‘No it’s Charmed so only magical people can see what it is’ Hermione replied as Mr and Mrs Creevey and Dennis entered from a side door ‘muggles only see it as a white shroud’

Dennis sat down but Mr and Mrs Creevey sought Hermione and McGonagall both of whom had helped organised the days service.

‘Mrs Creevey I’m so sorry for you loss please accept my condolences’ Hermione said solemnly getting to her feet.

‘Thank you dear I’m wondering if George and I could have a quick word with you and Minerva before the service starts?’

‘Of course’

Hermione and McGonagall followed Colin’s parents from the main chapel through the door from whence they had come.

‘We won’t keep you long’ Mrs Creevey said ‘Hermione I just wanted to thank you for all the help you’ve given us since Colin died you have no idea how much it’s meant to George, Dennis, Emma and I’

‘Really Mrs Creevey it was nothing I’ve been happy to help’ Hermione said feeling hot tears prick at her eyes ‘Colin was a good lad and we Gryffindors look after our own you know. I think you’ll find most of the people turning up today will be Gryffindors’

‘I know I said all this two days ao when we finalised the arrangements but I felt a one on one meeting before proceedings was appropriate’

Beside her McGongall sniffed serruptisiously and dabbed at her nose with a lace edged tartan hanky

‘Minerva you were Colin’s head of house, I was wondering if you could tell me in the wizarding culture what is tradition to do with the wands of witches or wizards that have passed?’ Mrs Creevey asked.

‘Well’ McGonagall said with a sniff ‘that is usually up to the family of the deseased but often Witches or Wizards will specify in their will what they want to happen to their wands. But general tradition is that they are buried with them’

‘That’s what George and I thought’ Mrs Creevy said reaching into her handbag and pulling out a long pale coloured wand that had once belonged to Colin ‘I was wondering if you could organise to put Colin’s wand in his casket? Maybe magically seeing as we can’t and Dennis is underage?’

McGonagall took the wand and inspected it.
‘Oak and Unicorn hair’ she said under her breath ‘of course I can would you like me to do it now?’

‘You can do that?’ George asked in surprise ‘without anyone noticing?’

‘Of course’

McGonagall levitated the wand and with a flick of her own wand banished it so it disappeared so only a cloud of beige smoke remained.

‘There all done’ she said pocketing her wand ‘it’s safely in his casket where it belongs I think’

‘And one more thing we have all his school things back at the house and we were wondering if you would take them as a donation back to Hogwarts? George and I are sure they can be given to a less fortunate student’

‘Of course we can use them’ McGonagall said ‘the robes we can donate to Madam Malkins who stock second hand robes for the finacially struggling magical families the same for his old textbooks and cauldron’

‘Oh that would be lovely!’ Mrs Creevey exclaimed ‘I’m sure Colin would have wanted his things to go to someone less fortunate. After all as Muggles we can’t use any of it and Dennis has his own things’

‘Thankyou for your generosity Margaret I know it can’t be easy for you losing Colin so young’

‘No....no it isn’t but we take comfort that while he was with us he lived life to the full’ Margaret ‘Now Hermione, I must ask you one more thing before we go back out there. I take it you knew Colin rather well in school I was wondering if you would assist George and I by selecting six people amongst your Dumbledores Army friends to be pall bearers? We plan on having eight George and Dennis being two of them’

‘Of course I can do that’ Hermione said ‘shall I go now before the service starts? People are still coming in so we can get away with putting of the service fr a few more minutes’

‘Of course and thank you’

Hermione quickly left the side room and made her way back into the chapel. Ron immediately hailed her.

‘What was all that about?’ he asked.

‘I’ll tell you in a minute get Harry, Dean, Neville and Seamus and wait by that door I just came out of. I’ll let you know what’s going on’

Hermione left Ron and went back three rows to where Oliver Wood was sitting with Alicia.

‘Oliver can I borrow you for a minute?’ She asked.

‘Sure’

Oliver got up and edged his way to the end of the row he then followed Hermione to the other side of the Chapel where Ron was waiting with Harry, Dean, Seamus and Neville.

‘What the hell’s going on ‘Mione?’ Ron asked ‘the service is about to start’

‘I’m doing something on behalf of Margaret and George Colin’s parents’ Hermione said quietly ‘she asked me to gather people Colin knew from amongst Dumbledore’s Army and invite them to be pallbearers alongside Dennis and George. Will you six do it?’

‘There was a quiet but enthusiastic murmurr of acceptance.

‘Of course I’ll do it’ Oliver said ‘will I need to sit in the front row?’

‘No just come down the front at the end’ Hermione said as the door opened and Mr and Mrs Creevey emerged with McGonagall ‘Margaret? George?’

Colin's parents walked over to Hermione.

‘I’d like to introduce you to the people who knew Colin from Dumbledore’s Army and the Battle’ Hermione said ‘Oliver Wood’

‘Ma’am’ Oliver said politely shaking Mrs Creevey’s hand.

‘Harry and Ron you know, this is Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas and Neville Longbottom. All of them were in Gryffindor. Oliver wasn’t in the DA but he helped Colin....er after the battle. They’ve all agreed to be pallbarers’

‘Thankyou so much boys’ Mrs Creevey said tearily shaking each of their hands in turn ‘this means so much to George and I’

‘Think nothing of it Ma’am we’re happy to do it’ Harry said politely ‘shall we go sit down then? Get the service started?’

‘Of course’

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‘Ladies and gentlemen that concludes todays service, please be upstanding as the pall barers carry the casket to the hearse’ the funeral celebrant said forty five minutes later at the end of the service ‘for those of you who wish to attend the interrment please follow the hearse in an on foot procession’

The seated conregation got to their feet as Harry, Ron, Neville, Dean,Seamus and Oliver made their way to the front of the chapel with George and Dennis. They hoisted Colin’s casket onto their shoulders and slowly made their way back down the aisle.

‘As funerals go that was lovely’ Luna said to Hermione as the casket passed the two rows that had seated the D.A ‘Harry and Neville’s eulogies were very heartfelt don’t you think?’

‘Yes very’ Hermione said dabbing at her eyes with a hanky ‘are you and Terry coming to the interrment?’

‘Oh yes everyone in the D.A is’ Luna said ‘Are you and Ronald going to come back to London for the wake we’re holding for Colin at the Leaky Cauldron?’

‘Yes though I suspect we won’t be staying long. Harry doesn’t much like going out in public these days and us being Ron, Ginny and I being his friends we’ve got to stick with him. It would seem a bit heartless to stay out if he goes back to the Burrow’

‘Yes I see what you mean’ Luna said as the mourners began filing out of the chapel ‘he will be okay about going out in public soon Hermione. Maybe not any time soon but eventually he’ll come around’

‘You really think so?’ Hermione said doubtfully ‘right now it doesn’t seem like it’

‘No not now, but maybe now that all the funerals are over and he doesn’t have to worry about going out to funerals and into Hogsmeade for the cleaning up of Hogwarts he can sit back and relax at the Burrow’ Luna said sagely ‘I could tell he was worried about the rebuilding of Hogwarts’

‘Yeah he is’ Hermione said as they arrived outside where George, Dennis, Harry, Ron, Seamus, Neville,Dean and Oliver began lowering Colin’s casket into the back of the hearse ‘but less so now all the small stuff is done and what remains is to be left to the professional builders. Harry shoulders too much responsibility sometimes and I don’t know how I can help’

‘I think’ Luna said ‘that all you can do is be there for him. Don’t tell him what he’s thinking or feeling is wrong or right just be there to be a shoulder to cry on, or an ear to bend’

‘You Ravenclaws are entirely too sensible Luna’ Hermione said with a laugh ‘seriously how can you be thinking so sensibly when life is so miserable at the moment?’

‘It’s a deeply ingrained habit I think’ Luna said with a smile ‘a genetic badge if you will’

Harry and Oliver closed the back of the hearse and the driver got in starting the engine with a turn of a key. The hearse then slowly began driving forward. The entire D.A followed by all the other mourners who had attended Colin’s funeral then began following the car down a bitumenised lane that was lined with even more rose bushes. After a few minutes it turned into another bitumenised lane and stopped just short of a freshly dug grave. Once again Harry, Ron, Seamus, Dean, Oliver, Dennis, Neville and George retreived Colin’s casket from the hearse and laid it upon the cables that would lower it into the grave. The same celebrant who had conducted the chapel service waited til Colin’s grave was surrounded before opening his bible and beginning.

‘Thankyou ladies and gentlemen for joining the Creevey family here for the interrment’ he said ‘on behalf of Colin’s parents Margaret and George his brother and sister Dennis and Emma I would like to thank you for coming today to farewell Colin. It’s never easy to lose someone of Colin’s age but I am assured by the Creevey family that it warms their hearts to know their elsest son was so well thought of....’

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‘And that ladies and gntlemen concludes today’s service’ the celebrant said moments later ‘I know invite you to walk past the grave and throw in some flowers or a handful of dirt’

Led by a tearful Margaret and George the gathered mourners filed past Colin’s grave tossing in a flower or handful of dirt. The D.A filed by dropping in the roses Ron had conjured earlier before gathering in a group a short distance from the grave.

‘Is there a wake?’ Oliver asked Hermione.

‘Yeah but it’s only for family’ Hermione replied ‘the Creevey home wouldn’t fit all of the D.A and Colin’s family so when it’s appropriate we’re just going back to Diagon Alley and having a lunch and wake for Colin on our own. It was Lavender’s idea’

‘Are we walking back to where we arrived to Portkey back to London?’

‘Yeah unless you and Alicia fancy disapparating’

‘We might do that it’s less people to go on a portkey then’ Oliver said.

‘I reckon we should head off now’ Harry said to Hermione half an hour later after he had made the rounds sharing his condolences with Colin’s family ‘I need a pint’

The D.A discreetly left the cemetery and made their way back up Turlington Terrace, where they gathered in the little clutch of trees that some two hours earlier they had arrived in. Hermione drew a tookpick out of her handbag and enlarged it til it was big enough for everyone opting for a portkey ride back to London to touch it.

‘Is this going to land us in Diagon Alley?’ Lavender asked.

‘No a little back alley off Charing Cross Road’ Hermione said pocketing her wand ‘okay here we go one....two....three!’

This time everyone arriving back in London managed to keep their footing. Hermione vanished the toothpick and threw it into an industrial sized bin that was on the side of the back alley they had just arrived in.

‘Ergh this alley stinks I don’t know why the Ministry allocated it as the only approved Portkey and Disapparation point in the entire city of London’ Seamus complained as the group left the alley and made their way out onto Charing Cross Road.

‘I don’t think it is the only one....’ Hermione said as they crossed Charing Cross Road and headed toward the secret entrance of the Leaky Cauldron ‘it’s just the closest to Diagon Alley, and most people portkey or apparate directly there, but in such a large group I thought it best to arrive here and not in Diagon Alley where we might arrive on top of someone’

The group trudged into the Leaky Cauldron where Hermione immediately requested a private room.

‘Well that was entirely depressing’ Ron said flopping down into the nearest dining chair.

‘Funerals aren’t meant to be a happy happy joy joy get together mate’ Seamus said as a waiter came into the room ’first round’s on me’

Everyone hastily ordered drinks then began talking about their future plans. And the following school year.

‘Who d’you reckon will be teaching Defence?’ Dean wondered out loud ‘I reckon McGonagall will have a harder time finding a teacher for the post then Dumbledore ever did’

‘Aw I dunno about that’ Ron said ‘everyone thought Voldemort jinxed the position and now that he’s dead you might actually get people applying for the job’

‘I suppose we’ll have to wait and see’

For the rest of the afternoon the DA stayed at the Leaky Caudron eating and drinking and remembering Colin til pair by pair they were left and only Ron and Hermione were left.

‘What do you reckon about us heading back to the Burrow?’ Ron suggested stretching in his seat.

‘Hmm in a minute’ Hermione said absentmindedly ‘what do you think about heading off to Australia on Wednesday?’

‘W-Wednesday?’ Ron exclaimed choking slightly on the last of his pint.

‘Yes it’s the day after Tuesday and on quite a few occasions the day before Thursday’ Hermione said with a grin.

‘Oh ha ha’ Ron said dryly ‘next Wednesday? That’s only six days away. Do you think we could get things organised to go by then?’

‘We could get things organised tonight’ Hermione said getting more and more enthusiastic with the passing seconds ‘there’s half an hour til Gringotts closes I could transfer the funds needed for our trip from my Gringotts account on my Muggle building society account then we could go into Muggle London find a travel agent and buy our plane tickets. Then when we get home to the Burrow we can set about conjuring some muggle travel documents’

‘A-are you serious?’ Ron said sitting up a little straighter ‘really truly?’

‘Sure why not? I want to go as soon as possible Ron’ Hermione said earnestly ‘I’d go right now if I had the time’

‘Don’t do that I think Mum and Dad are expecting us home for dinner’ Ron said with a chuckle.

‘C’mon Ron what do you reckon?’ Hermione said her brown eyes alive with excitement ‘I’ll even shout you dinner. There’s one little Chinese place in Notting Hill Mum and Dad always used to take me to on my birthday when I was small. We lived in London then’

‘Oh why not?’ Ron said with a grin boosted by her infectious excitement ‘do you want to apparate into Notting Hill or go via Muggle means?’

‘Let’s go by Muggle means I can give you the whole authentic muggle experience’

‘I can think of another authentic muggle experience you can give me’ Ron said with a grin draining the last of his pint and planting a kiss right on her lips.

Hermione giggled.
‘Maybe if you promise to behave yourself while we’re out I might treat you to something special’ she said as they left the Leaky Cauldron and made their way back up Diagon Alley to Gringotts.

‘Gee this place brings back memories doesn’t it?’ Ron said with a grin as they walked through the high arched doors of the ancient building ‘Hardly looks like a dragon the size of the Knight Bus flew through here just three weeks ago’

‘Oh shut up Ron don’t say anything referring to the last time we were in here or we’re likely to be thrown out’ Hermione hissed as the Goblins and late afternoon patrons noticed their arrival and began whispering ‘you know the Goblins are still sore about what happened here from what Kingsley told us’

‘Yeah yeah I get you’ Ron said as they joined a queue at the ‘Accounts’ desk.

‘Can I help you?’ and old goblin asked Hermione a few minutes later in an imperious tone.

‘Yes I would like to make a transfer from my Gringotts accont to my building society account’ Hermione said brightly as she sat down ‘you can do that?’

‘Of course Miss Granger do you have some identification and the necessary papers?’

Hermione dug into her purse and pulled out her little pouch. She reached in and pulled out a sheaf full of papers and her Apparition and Portkey licences.

‘Will these suffice?’

‘Yes miss’ the Goblin said pushing forward a peice of parchment ‘if you could just fill this form out and I will get the transfer underway

‘Pompous little git’ Ron whispered as the Goblin gathered Hermione’s papers and took then to the counter imediately behind them ‘he’s behaving like you’re holding the bank up with a huge great machete. He’s almost like a creature version of Percy’

‘Ronald shut up’ Hermione hissed as the Goblin stamped some papers ‘sometimes you have all the subtlety of a rampaging Hippogriff you really do, we have to be polite and gracious. After all it was only three weeks ago we came in here disguised as a Death Eater imperioused the Head Goblin and escaped on a dragon destroying half of the building as we went. Surely you can understand why they’re a little annoyed?’

‘Yeah well you’d think after Kingsley being quoted in the Prophet giving the reasons we did it they would understand why we did it’

‘Ron you know full well the Goblins don't respect anything the Prophet prints’ Hermione said 'and Kingsley's word is hardly going to change their mind as they don't have any regard for heads of government either'

‘Yeah but word spreads....a hundred thousand Galleons?’

‘Ron SHUT UP! Hermione hissed stamping on his foot with the heel of her stiletto ‘not everyone needs to know how much we’re going to take out’

‘Ow....But Hermione that’s loads are we going to need that much for our trip?’ Ron hissed rubbing his foot ‘I can’t let you pay for it all!’

‘Well come back here tomorrow and take out some of your reward money then’ Hermione said dipping the quill she was using back into the inkpot ‘I’m taking out a bit extra just incase we get stuck or have an emergency’

‘Yeah but how big an emergency could be worth a hundred thousand Galleons?’

‘You never know’ Hermione said ‘I’m going to buy us some first class seats on a plane to Australia and they’re going to cost several thousand pounds’

‘But Hermione....’ Ron said doing the maths in his head ‘a hundred thousand Galleons is what half a million pounds? And errr what a bit over nine hundred thousand Australia dollars! Do you plan on us staying in a fancy pants hotel every step of our trip? If we do that and it goes longer than we expect we’ll run out and be stranded on the other side of the world!’

‘Ron stop fussing we’ll be fine’ Hermione said ‘my bag with the Undetectable Extension Charm on it is still packed like it was when we left Shell Cottage. We’ll take that with us. So in the unlikely event we do run out of money and do get stranded we can camp in the tent and live fairly comfortably. Plus it helps to have a bit extra money on you if you’re not planning something right down to the last detail’

‘Which is something you did over the last year in the Horcrux Hunt’ Ron said ‘why the sudden departure from tradition? You’re usually the one to budget something down to the last knut’

‘I felt spontaneous’ Hermione said with a giggle ‘are you complaining?’

Ron grinned and leaned forwards to whisper in her ear.
‘Fancy being spontaneous tonight?’ he said with a whisper.

‘Oh Ronald not here!’ Hermione hissed blotting the ink and putting the quill back in it’s holder ‘the Goblins already hate us for breaking in I don’t want them to ban us from Gringotts for getting busy on their countertops’

‘I wan’t thinking that spontaneous’ Ron said with a chuckle ‘though I will happily obliviate everyone in a ten mile radius if you can change my mind’

‘Oh you are so immature!’ Hermione hissed as the Goblin that greeted them on their arrival returned.

‘Here you go that formed is filled out’ Hermione said poilitely pushing the sheet of parchent forward ‘I do hope everything is in order’

‘Yes Miss Granger so far everything is’ the Goblin said in clipped tones taking the form Hermione had just filled out ‘I’ll just process this and we’ll be done’

‘Miserable little git’ Ron grumbled as the Goblin strode away ‘right little ray of sunshine isn’t he? It’s not like we broke into Gringotts for malicious reasons, if we did I’d understand his attitude but right now he’s being like Percy was when he was Head Boy. Maybe he had a gay interspecies thing going on with that dragon and is missing his boyfriend’

Despite the vulgarity of his statement Hermione snorted and smiled.

‘Oh Ron you’re terrible’ she hissed ‘let them hear that and we will be permanently banned from Gringotts’

Ron laughed.

A few minutes later the Goblin returned with another stamped paper.

‘Thankyou Miss Granger your form has been processed your money should be in your building society account tomorrow morning’ he said ‘may I help you with anything else?’

‘No thank you that was all thank you so much for your polite and speedy service it was ever so gracious of you’ Hermione said pouring on the sweetness ‘I do look forward to doing business with you again in the near future’

Ron waited til they had left Gringotts and were halfway down Diagon Alley before bursting into loud laughter.

‘That was an award winning performance!’ he hooted engulfing Hermione in a hug ad swinging her in a circle ‘Hermione that was brilliant!’

Hermione grinned and bowed graciously.
‘It wasn’t too sugary?’ she said as they walked toward the apparition point.

‘Of course it was too sugary but that doesn’t matter’ Ron laughed ‘you really know the art of annoying someone by being nauseatingly polite you really do’

‘It must be an unconscious skill’’ Hermione said with a grin as they reached the apparition spot ‘let’s go Charing Cross Road’

Hand in hand they turned on the spot and disapparated appearing seconds later in the dirty little side alley off Charing Cross Road. Hermione hailed a cab in Charing Cross Road and she and Ron climbled into the back of the gleaming black car.

‘Where to Luv?’ the driver asked.

‘Portobello Road, Notting Hill’ Hermione said ‘as close to the Golden Dragon chinese resturant as possible’

‘Right y’are’

‘You know I’ve never been to this part of London’ Ron said a few minutes later as he gazed out of the Taxi’s window eagerly taking in the sights ‘not been to London much actually’

‘We’ll have to go on some tours then’ Hermione said with a grin ‘there are walking tours, bus tours, train tours everything’

The driver who had obviously been listening in to the conversation chose that moment to pipe up.
‘And any taxi driver in London will take you around to see the main sights’ he said ‘where you from anyway lad?’

‘Cornwall’ Ron said ‘rural area. I only come to London to take the train to school’

Half an hour later due to the early evening traffic and a huge car crash near Trafalgar Square the taxi arrived in Notting Hill.

‘Right y’are luve here we are Portobello Road’ the driver said pulling over in front of an old bookshop ‘the Golden Dragon is about twenty metres up that way’

‘Great how much for the fare?’

‘Twenty quid even’

Hermione handed over the money then she and Ron got out and began walking up Portobello Road.

‘The weekends are a great time to be here’ Hermione said ‘little fruit and veggie shops and knick knack stalls pop up and when I was small I always used to get my face painted so I looked like a fairy’

‘We’ll definitely have to come back here on a weekend’ Ron said his head going left to right as if watching a tennis rally ‘it’s interesting’

‘I love Portobello Road’ Hermione said with a reminiscent smile ‘it’s so homey. I’d love to live here but it’s a posh part of London and the rent prices are rediculous’

‘You could buy or rent a place with your reward money from the Ministry’ Ron suggested ‘the exchange rate between Galleons and Pounds is great at the moment’

‘Nah I’ll stick with staying at the Burrow and Mum and Dad’s’ Hermione said ‘I like having people around me I don’t fancy being on my own right now. Maybe after Hogwarts but definitely not now’

Moments later they reached the Golden Resturant a brightly lit chinese resturant with a lobster tank in the front window.

‘Come on’ Hermione said ‘you have to try the salt and pepper squid’

Hermione pulled Ron into the resturant and they were quickly shown to a corner booth

‘Oh yum garlic prawns I love those’ Ron said upon picking up the menu.

‘If you eat those you’re going to brush your teeth for half an hour before coming to bed’ Hermione said perusing the menu ‘I’m not coming anywhere near you let alone kissing you if you smell like garlic’

‘How about we both eat them then it won’t matter?’ Ron said with a laugh.

Hermione rolled her eyes.
‘Ha ha’ she said dryly ‘hilarious Ronald’

A tiny little chinese woman dressed in a red silk wrap around dress tottered up to their table writing pad in hand.

‘You like to order?’

‘Yes I’ll have the Chicken and Corn soup for starters and the Spicy Chicken and Cashew stir fry with fried rice for mains’ Hermione said ‘and some lemonade to drink.

‘And you sir?’

‘I’ll have the Salt and Pepper squid for starters and the spicy prawn and squid stir fry for mains’ Ron said ‘lemon squash to drink’

‘Nice you choose well won’t be long’

With a shallow bow The woman tottered off leaving Ron and Hermione alone.

‘So which travel agent are we going to buy our plane tickets at tomorrow?’ Ron asked her leaning his menu against the wall and shifting the bottle of soy sauce against it to keep it in place.

‘We could go to any one in the country but I was thinking we could go to the travel agents in the High Street of Puckeridge where my parents house is’ Hermione said ‘then once we’ve done that we can go to their house undo all the protective and concealment charms I put on the house and get it ready for their return’

‘How long do you think that’ll take?’ Ron asked ‘the undoing of all the spells I mean’

‘With both of us only a few minutes’ Hermione said ‘it’s only twenty seven miles north of London so after we’ve finished here we could aparate up there and have a quick look if you like. I know no one at the Burrow is expecting us home anytime soon I told Harry and Ginny we might be a bit late’

‘Sure it’s early yet the sun won’t go down for ages’ Ron said ‘nothing else is keeping me busy’

‘You’ll like Puckeridge it’s a lovely village’ Hermione said ‘very community focused. The primary school I went to before Hogwarts St Hugh’s is about ten minutes walk from Mum and Dad’s house. It’s the prepatory school before you move onto St Edmunds College. I would’ve gone there had I not got my Hogwarts letter’

‘What did you want to be before you got your Hogwarts letter?’

‘Oh I changed my mind all the time on that’ Hermione said with a grin ‘everything from a veterinarian, police officer in the mounted squad a doctor a librarian but the last occupation I was set on before I got my Hogwarts letter was a television news reporter’

‘You changed your mind every week then?’ Ron said with a grin ‘Not like you to be so scatterbrained. For as long as I’ve known you you’ve been very upholding the law minded and since fourth year magical creatures minded’

‘Well being in the magical world has helped me narrow down my options’ Hermione said ‘I’m focused on my career goals now and with only one more year at Hogwarts I can finally go for them’

‘That’s sexy you know’ Ron said with a grin as under the table he pointed his toes and rubbed the inside of her leg.

‘What is?’

‘Seeing you so worked up about the changes you want to make to Ministry policy, what you want to do for a living and when I think about it the lengths you went to to protect your parents. I can’t believe I’m in love with such a focused woman’

Hermione went red.
‘You’re in love with me?’ she said in almost a whisper.

‘Hell yeah’ Ron said seriously ‘I always have been come to think of it but as Ginny said if I wasn’t such a thickhead I would’ve told you long before this year’

‘Yeah well if I wasn’t such a thickhead I would’ve told you earlier’ Hermione said reaching across the table and lacing her fingers with his.

‘Yeah well we can all be pretty stupid sometimes’ Ron said ‘even Harry and Ginny didn’t get together straight away’

‘Yeah well Harry was being a git wasn’t he?’ Hermione said with a laugh.

‘Yeah oh let’s face it were all were’ Ron said ‘total prats’

‘Ignoramuses’

‘Idiots’

‘No that was just you’ Hermione said with a shrill giggle.

‘Oh sod off’ Ron said in amusement as Hermione clapped a hand over her mouth.

After a long and leisurely dinner Ron and Hermione apparated from behind an industrial rubbish bin 27 miles north to the quaint little village of Puckeridge in Hertfordshire. They emerged from a sidestreet and entered the bustling High Street which was packed with early evening shoppers. Hermione breifly closed her eyes and inhaled deeply as they waited at a pedestrian crossing to cross the bustling street.

‘Memories?’ Ron asked.

‘Yeah and all good ones’ Hermione said with a grin ‘Puckeridge is such a lovely place Mum, Dad and I moved here from London when I was eight years old and they bought their own dental practice. It’s nowhere near as busy as the big city. I like it much more and why I find the Burrow so peaceful’

Ron laughed.
‘I wouldn’t call the Burrow so peaceful’ he said with a grin ‘when I was growing up it was always loud and noisy. No one in the house got a minute to themselves growing up, I didn’t anyway. And now three weeks after the Battle it’s like growing up again people are always coming and going it’s like the Weasley home is the Kings Cross of the South coast’

Hermione giggled.
‘Yeah it is like that but growing up as an only child I like the activity’ Hermione said ‘I was never lonely growing up but it’s nice to be part of such a busy household’

‘Mione you’ve been coming to the Burrow so often over the years you’re just about part of the furniture’ Ron said with a grin as the pedestrian lights turned green and they began crossing the road ‘like the big squishy armchair Dad reads the paper in’

‘Oh gee Ronald thanks very much that’s so romantic of you’ Hermione said dryly rolling her eyes ‘I like to think I’m slightly more attractive than an armchair that’s older than you and me combined’

‘Oh come on it’s not that old. Dad bought it when he and Mum moved into the Burrow. Mum would’ve been pregnant with Bill at the time’

‘Thirty years old is old enough’ Hermione said with a grin.

‘Well if I were to compare you to any of the Burrow’s furnishings I would have to say you’re like that glass unicorn with the gold leaf horn, mane and tail Mum has on the top shelf of the liquor cabinet’ Ron said ‘fine, delicate and rediculously beautiful’

‘Oh you are such a crawler!’ Hermione exclaimed laughing in earnest now as they reached the other side of the High Street and continued walking on into a sidestreet that led to the more residential areas of Puckeridge.

‘Well it took me nearly seven years to admit I loved you I’m just trying to make up for lost time’ Ron said going bright red.

‘You don’t have to make up for lost time’ Hermione said ‘the fact you do is enough for me’

‘If we weren’t in the middle of a busy muggle street I would so snog you stupid’ Ron said boldly.

Hermione smiled.
‘I’ll let you once we get where we’re going’ she said.

‘And where are we going?’

‘Mum and Dad’s house’ Hermione said ‘if we undo the protective charms on it tonight there’s less to do tomorrow’

‘And how far do we have to walk?’

‘Not far only a block more, we need to get to Puckle Close which is just off Old Hall Green Road. You’ll see my old school St Hugh’s in a couple of streets, over this rise you’ll even be able to see the steeple of the school chapel.

And sure enough after going over the rise of a the street Ron could see a steeple tip decorated with a small iron cross.

‘It must be a huge chapel if we can see the steeple from here’ he said.

‘Yeah it is it’s one of the biggest in the county but the grounds are huge too, there’s two schools in one housing over a thousand students’

‘Sounds like a muggle version of Hogwarts’

‘It is a bit’ Hermione replied ‘But there are two schools St Hugh’s a prepatory school that educates five to ten year olds and St Edmunds the high school which educates the eleven to seventeen, eighteen year olds. A lot of the recent top graduates from St Edmunds have gone onto Oxford and Cambridge the the biggest universities in the country’

‘Just listen to you’ Ron said with a laugh ‘you can’t stop banging on about schools and education even in the muggle world’

‘Oh shut up’ Hermione said rolling her eyes ‘you bang on about Quidditch as much as I as you put it bang on about schools and education’

‘Touche’ Ron conceded ‘has anyone ever told said that you have a great arse?’

‘Oh you are so crass Ronald Weasley!’ Hermione exclaimed jumping slightly as Ron pinched her bum ‘why are you in such a mood?’

‘I’m just feeling my oats’ Ron said with a laugh.

Fifteen minutes later slightly puffing after ascending yet another uphill street Ron and Hermione entered Puckle Close a normal suburban tree lined street mostly lined with two story houses.

‘Well here we are Puckle Close’ Hermione said as they entered the dusky street ‘with it being dusk we can get our wands out and do the magic of undoing the spells without detection. If we did it during the day we’d have to cast Disillusionment Charms upon ourselves and a Muggle repelling Charm on the whole street’

‘So did you totally hide the house?’ Ron asked ‘or did you transfigure it?’

‘No to Transfigure it on my own would’ve been to big a job so I settled for disillusionment charms and Muggle Repelling Charm on the block so if any muggles stepped even an inch inside the block’s boundaries they would remember a pressing engagement’

‘So what do they see if they just look at the block?’

‘Just a grassy space with several Oak trees’ Hermione said as they progressed down Puckle Close.

‘So won’t the Puckle Close residents get suspicious when a house suddenly appears on a previously thought of empty block?’ Ron asked.

‘Maybe but what can they do about it?’ Hermione said ‘there’s no point in going to the council their building records would show that Mum and Dad built this house ten years ago and that all associated taxes are paid on time. Plus if you were a muggle council worker or Police officer what would you think if someone came to you and said ‘I’ve just seen a house appear out of thin air?’

‘Yeah true you’ve got a point there’ Ron conceded ‘so what number are you?’

‘Twenty six’

Puckle close was a long street and it was another five minutes before Ron and Hermione arrived at an apparently empty block with nothing but knee high grass a few wild flowers and several thick gnarled Oak trees in it.

‘Okay you’re going to have to tell me what spells you cast on the block so I know what counter spells to cast’ Ron said withdrawing his wand from within his pocket.

‘Disillusionment Charms, Cloaking Charms, Illusionment Charms, Memory Hexes, Preserving Charms, Stasis Jinxes, Tripping Hexes and last of all Muggle Repelling Charms. We have to undo them in reverse order so we don’t draw attention to ourselves’

'Okie dokie so shall we do it from here or each go to each edging fence?’ Ron asked pointing his wand in the direction of the two stone boundary walls.

‘Yes lets’ go there it’ll be more effective’ Hermione said with a grin.

So Ron and Hermione walked in opposite directions til they each came to the bordering stone fence of the block where they pointed their wands toward the centre of the block and began casting the spells to undo the protections on the house. Ever so slowly starting with the flowers disappearing, all the features of the one acre block came into view one by one til eventually Ron and Hermione stood outside the cast iron gates of an large elegant two story house covered in Jasmine and featuring a small granite water fountain in the front yard.

‘Looks like the lawn was just cut’ Ron said as Hermione tapped her wand against the lock of the gates and pushed them open.

‘Dad cut it the day before I altered his and Mum’s memories’ Hermione said shutting the gate behind him ‘the stasis Charms I applied to the garden stopped things from growing but kept them alive, that’s why all the roses are still in bloom and the grass isn’t here five foot high'

Ron followed Hermione down the long paved driveway and up onto the wide porch.

‘Nice house’ he said as Hermione unlocked the door with her wand.

‘Yeah it is’ Hermione said with a fond smile pushing the door open ‘Mum and Dad designed it to look like an old horse barn. Inside the ceilings are really high on both levels and we have two attic bedrooms'

Hermione raised her wand and waved it over her head instantly all the nearby lights lit up casting the long hallway in a soft light. The walls were decorated with several horse themed canvases one in particular of a bright red horse with blue eyes an a black mane and tail galloping through a field of buttercups.

‘Niiice’ he chuckled.

‘Oh I painted that in the Summer before fourth year just before I arrived at the Burrow for the Quidditch World Cup’ Hermione said reminiscently ‘on a whim I decided to pain the horse red because I couldn’t mix the right shade of grey I wanted. Mum and Dad love it. I think the red is quite striking don’t you think?’

‘Very’ Ron said stopping to admire the painting ‘you’re very skilled, did you paint much?’

‘Yeah I did up til fifth year I did quite a lot mainly on paper. After that well things in the magical world took up most of my time, I haven’t painted since the summer before sixth year’

‘Well maybe once we bring your parents home you can take up the easel again’ Ron said as they stared at the painting.

‘I’d like to’ Hermione said ‘I’d like to paint an orchard scene at the Burrow that’s such a pretty area especially now with the blossoms on the trees’

‘Well make it your first priority once your parents are home and settled in’ Ron said putting an arm around her shoulders and giving her a squeeze.

‘Oh I’d love to’ Hermione said dreamily.

‘Do you paint people?’ Ron asked.

‘Yes sort of I don’t think I’m that good though’ Hermione said ‘Mum’s loads better at it than me. Some of her work is in the lounge’

Hermione waved her wand again and more lights lit up this time revealing a large high ceilinged combined lounge and dinning area, a huge widescreen television was bolted to the far wall in front of a large and comfy lounge suite. A large dining table that could sit six was the centrepeice of the eating area while behind the display cabinet housing all the fancy crockery was a large black granite and stainless steel kitchen. A sinkful of dishes that could’ve been washed just yesterday sat in the drainer a tea towel draped over them.

‘Well your wards held strong ‘Mione this place is pristine’ Ron said wandering further into the.

‘I’m so glad they did’ Hermione said flicking her wand so the dishes started putting themselves away ‘I wasn’t sure the Stasis Charms I cast would hold becaue up til the point where I cast them on the grounds I had only ever read about them in books. If they didn’t hold there would be dust on everything....want to see upstairs? My old room ought to be how it was when I last left’

‘Sure lead the way’

Hermione threaded her way though the furniture to a large spiral staircase in the far corner of the room. She led the way up til they came to the second floor of an equally large floorspace. There were five doors around the walls and a large sliding glass door which led out to a large balcony where a six person outdoor setting and huge barbecue was. Hermione waved her wand and all five of the doors opened simoultaneously.

‘Mum and Dad’s room is the one nearest the balcony’ Hermione said poking her wand in the direction of the door ‘their bedroom window looks out onto the balcony. The door next to it is their study next to it is the main bathroom. The narow door behind us is the door than leads to the attic bedroom. We generally only use that if we have family or guests over and that generally is only at Christmas’

‘Where is the most important room?’ Ron asked with a grin.

‘And what pray tell Ronald is the most important room?’ Hermione asked with a rasied eyebrow.

‘Yours of course’ Ron said with a grin encircling her waist with his arms and pulling her close so he could sweep aside her hair and kiss her on the neck.

‘Oh Ron don’t be such a crawler!’ Hermione declared loudly pushing him away half-heartedly ‘if you wanted to see my room why didn’t you just ask?’

‘I’ve been a naughty boy send me to your room’ Ron said with a great snorting laugh.

Hermione rolled her eyes and turned around leading Ron to a door which was hidden directly behind the spiral stiarcase. Small flowery sign with ‘Hermione’s Room’ hung on the outside.

‘Come into my lair said the spider to the fly’ She said in a mysterious tone ‘Oh never mind it’s a muggle reference to a childs poem’ she added at Ron’s confused look.

Ron walked around the spiral staircase and through Hermione’s bedroom door. The main feature of the room was a large single bed decorated with a mature flowery quilt and pillow set. On the opposite was was a students desk which had on closer inspection a large bookcase filled with wizarding and Muggle titles. Next to the walnut desk was a large wardrobe from which poked a scrap of turquoise fabric. On the walls were several posters of muggle pop artists and a poster promoting a muggle movie named ‘Titanic’. A large window over the headboard let in the last of the setting sun giving the room a feeling of cosiness.

‘Well I’m not surprised to see an enormous bookshelf so full the shelves are bending’ Ron said with a grin peering closer at the bottom shelf and seeing one of their first year textbooks ‘Standard Book of Spells Grade One’

‘Oh stop exaggerating Ron’ Hermione said flopping ont the bed and bouncing on it slightly ‘really you do go on sometimes’

Ron sat down next to Hermione and put and arm around her waist.
‘I don’t hear you complaining’ he whispered huskily in her ear and inhaling deeply savouring her sweet vanilla fragrance.

Hermione shivered visibly.
‘Ron not here’ she whispered half heartedly ‘not in my room, the bed isn’t big enough for the both of us for a start and if we enlarge it we’ll break my desk’

‘Where is big enough for the both of us then?’ Ron said trailing kisses down her neck and pushing aside the shoulder of her shirt to suck softly on her skin.

‘Across the hall Mum and Dad’s room’ Hermione replied a warm feling of contentment coursing through her body ‘but we c-ca...’

‘Who’s saying we can’t?’ Ron said pushing down her bra strap and kissing her again.

‘Really Ronald.....’

Ron got to his feet and grinned.
‘C’mon lets go to their room’ he said holding a hand out to her ‘they won’t know and if you’re really paranoid we can strip the covers and wash them’

Hermione made a face but grasped Ron’s hand and got to her feet.

‘You’re slowly corrupting me’ she said going bright red ‘I can’t believe I’m seriously considering shagging in my parents bed’

Ron lit up like a christmas tree.
‘One is only corruptible if they chose to be’ he said with the widest grin ‘you know it’s quite a turn on to see you the second most straight laced person I’ve ever met next to Percy and a self confessed bookworm and study nerd admitting out loud you’re corruptible....Merlins pants I ought to take out a full page ad in the Prophet to let the wider wizarding world know’

Hermione rolled her eyes.
‘That Ronald Bilius Weasley is an idiotic statement’ she said.

‘Aw yeah but you love me’ Ron said turning on the charm pulling her slowly toward the door ‘c’mon Hermione don’t make me beg’

‘I should you know’ Hermione said following Ron out into the hallway ‘you were a squirming mess last time you did’

‘Yeah well your lips were around my wang weren’t they?’ Ron said ‘I’d challenge any bloke out there not to beg for release when they’re girls lips are around their danglies’

‘Oh and such an eloquent way to put it’ Hermione said dryly leading Ron into her parents bedroom which was sparsely furnished save for a dressing table and two bedside tables which matched the huge pine king sized bed.

‘Hells bells this bed is huge’ Ron exclaimed.

‘Mum and Dad had it especially made’ Hermione said bending over slightly and running her hands over the black satin sheets.

Ron suddenly grasped Hermione’s hips and rubbed his burgeoning erection against her rear end. Hermione jumped and squeaked in surprise, falling forward onto her parents bed.

‘Ron!’ she exclaimed turning onto her back to glare at Ron who was now laughing.

‘Knew you weren’t expecting that’ he said with a grin ‘can I join you?’

‘Only if you take off that rediculous shirt you’re wearing’

Enthusiastically Ron ripped off his shirt and with a childish whoop leapt onto the bed and began furiously tickling Hermione she twisted away from him and began shreiking.

‘RONALD WEASLEY LEAVE ME ALONE YOU INBRED ARSE!’ she squealed half heartedly twisting away from him.

‘Excuse me missy I am not inbred’ Ron declaed theatrically.

‘But you admit you’re an arse?’ Hermione said in amusement collapsing in a fit of giggles.

Ron grinned too and soon he was laughing out loud.
‘Yes I do solemnly declare that I Ronald Bilius Weasley am an arse’ he said.

Hermione propped herself up and leaned over Ron.
‘Good I shall take that memory and store it in a penseive for later perusal’ she said with a grin.

‘So are you going to take your shirt off or am I going to have to shag you fully clothed?’ Ron asked reaching up and tucking a curl of hair behind her ear ‘I have my wand here I could hex you naked’

Hermione didn’t reply but got up, straddled Ron’s hips and whipped off her shirt revealing and simple white lace bra she then leant down and Ron captured his lips with hers. He reached around her and unsnapped the clasp of her bra with a twist of his fingers. Hermione reluctantly sat up and flung her bra away which came to rest upon the dressing table.

‘Now that’s better’ Ron said capturing one of her nipples in his mouth ‘Next time we’re alone Hermione I’ll need you to be topless’

‘Oh you will will you?’ Hermione said imperiously as she reached for her wand ‘and what if I don’t want to?’

‘I’ll have to bend you over my knee and spank your ample backside’ Ron said as Hermione flicked her wand and vanished her skirt and knickers.

‘My ample backside?’ Hermione exclaimed in mock anger ‘My ample backside? Excuse me Ronald Weasley you’re no pixie yourself’

Ron fell back on the bed covers and began shaking his face turning red from the effort of holding his laughter in. Eventually he couldn’t hold it any more and his amusement burst out. He laughed so hard Hermione’s breasts bounced.

‘You amuse me’ he said eventually after catching his breath.

‘Is that all you can say about me?’ Hermione said lasciviously leaning down and dangling her breasts over Ron’s face.

Ron took the time to suck on each of her nipples before runnung hs hands down her back to cup her rear in his hands. Hermione dropped a long heated his on his lips and ground her hips on his burgeoning erection.

‘I can say lots of things about you Hermione’ he whispered huskily in her ear ‘god you’re gorgeous you now that? Would it be corny to say I can’t believe you’re mine?’

‘No because I know you mean it’ Hermione said ‘now enough talking how about you get naked? It’s not fair you’re half clothed and I have to sit here in all my glory’

‘Fair doos’ Ron said with a grin ‘shall I hex them off or take them of fthe normal way?’

Hermione climbed off him.
‘The normal way’ she said laying down with a grin.

Ron hurriedly kicked off his shoes and socks and hastily yanked off his trousers and underpants. His erection bounced from it’s constrainsts each vein almost popping out. Hermione who had proved quite adventurous in the bedroom since she and Ron had began sleeping together stared down at it hungrily and licked her lips as if contemplating a great treat. She went to grasp it but Ron stopped her.

‘My turn first’ he said ‘lay down’

Hermione obliged and spread her legs slightly. Ron positioned himself between them and poked out his tongue licking her from bottom to top and causing her to squeal.

‘Shit Ron!’ she groaned.

Ron ‘tsk’d’
‘Naughty girl, swearing I might have to dock some house points for the deplorable lack of decorum’ he said with a wide grin.

‘Sod off’ Hermione hissed.

Ron laughed and returned his attention to Hermione’s pussy which was glistening from his earlier attenttions he leaned down and began teasing her with his lips and fingers. He kissed the inside of her thighs and tickled her skin with butterfly kisses til she was trembling in anticipation.

‘Ron p-please!’ she groaned running her fingers through his messes up hair.

Wordlessly Ron spread Hermione’s lips with his fingers and dove in with his usual careful enthusiasm. Hermione immediately tensed up grabbing handfuls of his hair and painfully yanking as a torturous heat swept through her body.

Ron feasted on Hermione’s core as if he were starving and her wetness was his only sustinence he ran his tongue around her outer lips then circled her clit with the tip of his tongue, the latter causing Hermione to squeal like a pig. Ron sucked on her nub of sensitivity and slowly inserted two fingers into her. At the intrusion Hermione came instantly gushing all over his mouth and chin with a screech.

‘AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGH! she squealed flopping back onto the bed ‘holy hell Ron!’

Ron crawled up the bed and driven by pure lust thrust into Hermione in one hard stroke she squeezed her eyes shut and clamped himself around Ron.

‘You’re a hippogriff’ she grunted as Ron began thrusting into her hard and with undeniable need ‘oh shit!'

Ron was so consumed with need he thrust into Hermione driven on by her squeals and grunts. He was fucking her so hard the frame of the bed began creaking and the headboard began banging against the wall. Normally he tried to hold off climaxing but it wasn’t longe before he peaked and spilled his essence into Hermione. Seconds later she followed over the edge and they lay there drenched in sweat and gloriously sweaty, sticky and sated.

‘Oh my God I so cannot belive we just shagged in my parents bed!’ Hermione exclaimed moments later as she regained her composure ‘I’m never going to be able to look them straight in the face again!’

‘Oh I reckon I might be able to’ Ron said with a wide grin kissing her on the lips ‘every time I look at your old man I’ll think about this moment ‘Mr Granger I fucked your daughter into a screaming pile of cum on your bed. Lucky he can’t perform Legilimency or he would string me up by the bollocks’

‘Oh Ron dooooon’t!’ Hermione exclaimed half amused half horrified ‘you’re awful you really are’

Ron rolled off Hermione and drew her close.
‘I don’t hear you complaining’ he whispered in her ear squeezing her breast.

‘Yes well I’m n-....Ron that is not the issue!’ Hermione said ‘Oh I give up’

Ron snorted and laughed.
‘I suppose we better be heading back to the Burrow then?’ he said reluctantly ’or we could go another round’

Hermione rolled her eyes.
‘Oh you are so crass’ she said not entirely offended 'you just made what we just did sound like a quidditch match’

‘No way it was way better than quidditch’ Ron said honestly waving his wand and summoning their various pieces of discarded clothing ‘loads better. I’d rather...’

‘Ride me all day then ride a broomtick all day?’ Hermione said grinning like an idiot.

‘Well if you wish to be so crass then yes’ Ron said pulling on his shirt.

Hermione rolled her eyes.
‘Ha ha’ she said putting on her bra ‘very funny’

‘Yeah I thought so’

Minutes later Ron and Hermione were re-dressed and standing staring down at the bed. The covers were no longer tucked in and were in a messy pile in the centre of the matress. A large wet patch was visible amongst the wrinkled linen.

‘Oh my god look at what we did’ Hermione said her hand over her mouth and her face a bright red ‘Oh I so cannot believe we just shagged the living hell out of my parents bed!’

Ron waved his wand and the sheets re-aranged themselves tucking themselves in and smoothing out. Hermione then pointed her wand at the be and said...
‘Evanesco Maxima!

‘Maxima?’ Ron said raising an eyebrow ‘we didn’t make that much mess’

‘I know I just wanted to be careful’ Hermione said watching the spell work on the bed ‘paranoia if you will’

‘Just a bit’ Ron said with a grin ‘I’m actually quite proud of that session aren’t you? Didn’t last long but when we do it on the cuff it never does’

‘It was great’ Hermione said kissing him on the lips ‘as it usually is, you know that Ron you make me feel out of this world when we’re together like that’

Ron felt his face warm.
‘Aw thanks’ he mumbled ‘well shall we head back to the Burrow? Then we can come back here tomorrow and finish up. And maybe make another mess on your parents bed’

‘Ronald Weasley!’ Hermione exclaimed.

Ron laughed.
‘C’mon let’s lock up and head home’

Hermione and Ron made their way downstairs and out through the front hall where Ron once again stopped to admire Hermione’s red horse painting. They then left the house where Hermione locked the front door and front gates with her wand then hand in hand they disapparated back to the Burrow.

‘And where the hell have you been young man?’ Ginny greeted them as they entered the kitchen through the back door.

‘None of your bloody business nosey’ Ron said ‘where are Mum and Dad?’

‘They went to bed’ Ginny said contemplaing the chessboard between her and Harry ‘so where have you been?’

‘Well after you lot left the Leaky Cauldron Hermione and I made a trip to Gringotts then to London for dinner then up to Hertfordshire to undo all the protective charms on Mr and Mrs Grangers house’

‘So you two are making plans to go to Australia then?’ Harry asked Hermione.

‘Yeah’ Hermione said ‘I’ve decided to get the house ready for their return, Ron and I are leaving next Wednesday to go and get Mum and Dad’

‘I was wondering when you would’ Harry said as she sat down and Ron put the kettle on the stove ‘I half expected you to go straight after the battle’

‘I couldn’t’ Hermione said taking a seat beside Ginny ‘I wanted to attend all the funerals first and there’s all the Patronus tutoring sessions we’re doing. Now that the funerals are over and done with I can get away and with the rest of the D.A there’s more than enough people to go on the Dementor Banishing missions while Ron and I are away’

‘So did you buy your plane tickets while you were out?’ Harry asked moving his Bishop forward a square.

‘No we’ll do that tomorrow’ Hermione said ‘I only went to Gringotts to transfer money into my building society account’

‘I bet you both got a frosty reception’ Harry said with a laugh.

Ron snorted.
‘You’re not kidding we did’ he said ‘all the damage the dragon we escaped on did has been repaired but the way the goblins reacted when we entered was like we were holding them up at point blank range’

‘I said to Ron we can’t blame them for assuming we were going to’ Hermione said ‘but I got the transfer done rather quickly’

‘They probably wanted to get the two of you out there as soon as possible’ Ginny said with a giggle ‘Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger violent armed robbers ha ha!’

‘Oh shut up’ Hermione said dryly ‘you think it’s funny don’t you?’

‘Hilarious’ Ginny said with a grin ‘everyone I know thinks it’s the biggest joke around you three breaking into the most secure magical building in Britain. No one will ever try it again but you can bet the story of what you three did will be told to kids around the dinner table a thousand years after we’ve all died’

‘Oh don’t exaggerate’ Hermione said rolling her eyes.

‘So how long do you think you two will be gone?’ Harry asked as Ron made them all tea.

‘No idea’ Hermione said ‘first we have to find Mum and Dad then undo all the spells on them. That will take a little while it took me a full half an hour to do each of them on my own. Then I want to stay while they organise to leave the jobs they’re in and organise to come home. I’d also like to have a little holiday with them should they want to. Then I suppose we’ll all come home together. All of that of course is if things go to plan’

‘And knowing our luck over the years something along the way is going to stuff up’ Ron said levitating the mugs of tea to each of them ‘I mean it’s bound to isn’t it? Nothing we’ve ever done has gone smoothly. I don’t know what I’d do if I did something and it went by uncomplicated’

‘Well when you get back you’ll have to tell us’ Ginny said ‘I think everything will go fine. I’ve had that feeling ever since the battle. I think from now on everything will be fine. All the jinxes associated with Voldemort have gone and I think even Neville’s parents will get better’

‘You think so?’ Ron said doubtfully ‘aw I dunno Mr and Mrs Longbottom aren’t well, you know that from our trip to St Mungos in fifth year’

‘Yeah but Bellatrix LeStrange is dead now and McGonagall says all the time a spell can come undone when the caster dies. Mr and Mrs Longbottom may not fully recover but I think they will get well enough to leave St Mungos and I think deep down that’s what Neville wants’

‘We’ll have to wait and see I suppose’ Ron said 'okay who fancies two a side chess?’

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