Chapter Eight
Hermione was bombarded with hugs from Molly Weasley on arrival at The Burrow and though she laughed, she hugged Molly tightly in return; a few unshed tears in her eyes at the loving welcome she'd received. Molly and Hermione were soon chatting in the kitchen, catching up on news as the others chatted with Bill, and tried to control his twin daughters.
They turned as a huge surge in the noise level alerted them to Fred and George's arrival at The Burrow. Hermione smiled when she heard George cry mournfully that Rosmerta was selling The Three Broomsticks and wouldn't tell him who the new owner was. Hermione took Molly's hand and led her through to where she guessed Harry would now be making his announcement. She was ambushed with a big bear hug from Fred as she entered the room and laughed as he whispered something in her ear.
"What was that about?" Molly asked her suspiciously.
"Ah, well I might have supplied Fred and George with a few rare ingredients from Peru for their latest experiment…" Hermione said rather guiltily. Molly simply smiled at Hermione rather than admonishing her however.
"Well, at least I know they're getting some of their ingredients legally then!" Molly said in relief. Hermione blushed at this comment and turned to where George was discussing the pub with Ron and Harry before Molly could see the colour in her cheeks. Molly definitely didn't need to know that the ingredients hadn't been sent legally, she still thought of Hermione as the only one who didn't break the rules, but being best friends with Harry and Ron for so many years, you tended to pick up a little bit of rule breaking, and it was only a harmless ingredient.
"So has anyone heard anything about who bought The Three Broomsticks?" Fred asked returning to the conversation after winking at Hermione.
"Well…" Ron said with a grin.
"Who is it?" George demanded.
"They'd better not change too much. We practically live in that place!"
"I bought it." Harry said simply.
Everyone turned to stare at him, and Hermione, Ron and Lavender watched their reactions in amusement.
"But you're an Auror Harry!"
"Not anymore. As of next week I don't work at the Ministry anymore. I'll be the new landlord and barman of The Three Broomsticks."
"That's excellent!" George exclaimed.
"We know we can trust you with the place." Fred agreed.
Harry was lost in a crowd of male Weasley's for a moment before he made his way over to Molly.
"So what do you think Mum?" He asked a little nervously.
She paused before beaming at him.
"I think you'll be happy, and that's all I ever wanted for you Harry." She said pulling him into a hug.
After a typically lively Weasley family dinner, Harry and Hermione sat in the kitchen with Molly, chatting at the table.
"So you're finally settling down properly then Harry?" Molly asked him as they drank tea.
"Yep. We'll be moving into the house above the pub. Ron can just apparate to work, and Lavender will be able to just walk down the street to her shop every day which is great considering how much she hates to apparate." Harry said nodding.
"You'll be moving in there as well Hermione?" Molly asked curiously.
"Well, Hermione will always have a room wherever I live." Harry answered for her with a smile. Hermione took his hand and linked their fingers together with a smile.
"Hermione?" Molly asked again.
Harry gave his surrogate Mother a slightly warning look which Hermione caught and was rather confused by. Molly looked at them both.
"Harry wont let any of us pressure you or ask when you're coming home for good." Molly explained gently to Hermione who looked at Harry. Harry looked down at the table, unsure of how Hermione would react to that news.
"I guessed he might have…Thank you Harry." She said softly. He looked up at her and they exchanged smiles.
"But that doesn't mean I don't worry about you Hermione Jane Granger." Molly said in a mock stern voice.
"And I'm not the only one. You can't tell me you don't wish Hermione would come home for more than a few weeks at a time Harry."
Harry looked at Hermione a little nervously.
"Hermione loves her job, I'd never take that away from her." Harry said quietly.
"Don't avoid the question Harry." Molly said with a twinkle in her eyes.
"Ok, truthfully, I wish you would come home. I miss you `Mione." Harry said. There was a slightly awkward pause which Harry tried to then fill.
"Ron has no one to fight with when you're not around, and you know how he gets when that happens…" Harry teased lightly. Hermione gently withdrew her hand from Harry's and he looked up in concern, thinking she was upset with him.
"Well, I wasn't going to say anything until I'd confirmed the offer, but it looks like I'm going to be moving home permanently." She said with a smile at Harry and Molly's stunned expressions.
"Really? You're not just teasing me?" Harry asked incredulously. Hermione laughed and shook her head. Harry leant over and hugged her tight, and Molly surreptitiously wiped away a tear before the other two noticed.
"What offer?" Molly asked when Harry pulled away from Hermione.
"Well, you know Professor Grubbly Plank took over from Hagrid when he moved to Beuxbatons, but she wants to retire, so Dumbledore offered me the job of Care of Magical Creatures Professor at Hogwarts." Hermione said with a wide smile.
"Wow! That's great `Mione. You'll be an amazing teacher." Harry told her proudly. Molly nodded her agreement.
"I'm so pleased for you dear."
"And you'll be able to continue your research. You said you wanted to work more with Thestrals and Centaurs." Harry said and Hermione nodded happily.
"It fits in well with my research and I'll have time to write between classes. It's perfect timing really." Hermione agreed.
Harry's face fell a little however as he thought things over.
"So you'll be living at the castle?" He asked.
"I'm not sure…I'd really like to live with you three, but I haven't been to speak to Dumbledore yet about the details, but Hagrid didn't live inside the castle, so maybe we can work something out. But even if I need to live on the grounds, I'll still be in Hogsmeade so I can see you all the time." Hermione said. Harry's smile returned at this, and Molly watched the pair of them with amusement, wondering if they even knew how obvious they were at times.
"Ron is going to be so excited! You can volunteer to be the Three Broomsticks chaperone on Hogsmeade weekends and spend all day chatting to us!" Harry said happily and Hermione laughed at his enthusiasm.
"And I can help you with the accounting…" She said rolling her eyes.
"Well, that too." Harry admitted with a grin.
"You know you love helping me out. You can't resist teaching me about numbers and Arithmancy, you never could." He teased her back, earning himself a light smack on the arm from his best friend.
They stayed for several more minutes chatting with Molly before standing to head back to London. Harry gathered up their belongings in the other room while Hermione and Molly spoke.
"I'm so pleased you'll be at Hogwarts." Molly told her.
"It'll be good to be home." Hermione said with a smile.
"And I'll be able to come and visit everyone here at the Burrow more often." Hermione said with a smile.
"I'd like that." Molly said quietly. They stood silently for a moment.
"I went to visit her today…I told her I was coming home…" Hermione said placing a hand on Molly's arm.
"I talk to her too…I can't believe it's been so long…"
"She's with Draco now. I made him promise to take good care of her." Hermione said.
Molly smiled weakly, her eyes brimming with tears at the thought of her lost daughter.
"I made him promise the same thing." She admitted.
They hugged briefly before Harry re-entered the kitchen.
"Ready to go?" He asked, linking arms with Hermione. She nodded, and he hugged Molly goodbye before they apparated home, leaving Molly to wake up Arthur, who was fast asleep in his armchair.