The days seemed to fly by. Before they knew it, graduation had come and gone, and they were all on the train back home. Harry was going to be with the Weasleys for a while. Even with Voldemort still on the loose, he refused to stay with his aunt and uncle. Grimmauld Place and the Burrow were just as safe as anywhere as far as Harry was concerned, and the company would be much better. Now that he was officially out of school there was no reason for him not to be able to join the Order and be of more help. These thoughts went through his mind as he talked to his friends in the train compartment.
"So, Hermione, you're coming with us to Order Headquarters aren't you, at least for a while?" asked Ron.
"Umm, actually I'm going home…then I'm leaving for Bulgaria for two weeks," she answered.
Harry was caught off guard by this news and so was Ron. Ginny was the only one who didn't appear surprised, and her brother didn't like it at all that she already knew.
"Oh don't tell me you're going to see Krum!" Ron burst out, looking upset with both girls.
"I don't know why you're so surprised, Ron. You know we've still been keeping in touch," Hermione responded, trying to avoid looking at Harry.
Strangely enough, it was Harry who came to her defense. "She can do what she wants to, Ron," he said, trying to calm him down. Then he added, "I really hope you have a good time, Hermione. You'll have to write to us and let us know how you like it."
He really did want to mean what he was saying and thought he sounded pretty convincing, but there was no lying to himself. He had been just about to eat a cauldron cake, but lost his appetite and decided to save it for later. The thought of Hermione alone with Krum doing…whatever it was she was going to do didn't sit well with him at all. At the same time, though, he felt selfish. He wanted her to be happy, and Krum had always seemed like a good person.
"Of course I'll write," Hermione assured him.
Then she glanced at Ginny sitting beside her in a most uneasy way. She had trusted her with pretty much everything that happened in her personal life and felt that Ginny was probably the only person who really understood her. At this point Ron and Harry began having their own conversation and Ginny tried to comfort Hermione, who was clearly torn apart by the hurt she was causing Harry.
"It'll be ok, Hermione. He'll be ok, I'm sure of it," she said softly.
"I just can't believe it. The thought of Harry actually having feelings for me still seems so strange. I never thought it would happen. But I'd agreed to visit Viktor since well before…"
"The ball. I know," Ginny finished for her, "And you were really looking forward to it, too. Hermione, you should stop feeling guilty. It's not like you planned for things to happen like they did."
"But maybe I shouldn't have…you know, kissed him," she said, her expression thoughtful.
"Well, I can't say as I'd blame you. Who wouldn't have wanted to?" Ginny said, smiling slyly.
Hermione blushed a little before saying, "Ginny!"
"Really though, Hermione, I doubt it would have mattered much. If he already felt like he was in love with you, he would have still felt that way, kiss or no kiss," Ginny said firmly.
"Maybe you're right. I just wish…I don't know anymore, Ginny. What if going to Bulgaria isn't a good idea?" she said sadly.
"The vacation can't hurt. I think you need it. There's nothing wrong with wanting to be free for a while. You need to go places and spend time with other people." Then Ginny's face fell a bit. "I'll miss you and Dean, though, especially next year when I go back to Hogwarts and you guys don't. I wish I could have graduated with you."
Hermione was moved. "I'll miss you too. We'll keep in touch though, you and I, and I'm sure Dean isn't about to let you go. You've only got one more year. That'll go by fast."
Ginny looked slightly reassured. "Yeah I suppose you're right."
Since Hermione usually was right, this did make her feel better. After a while the boys started talking to them again, but there was still a little bit of tension in the air. Hermione and Ginny both tried to avoid looking Ron straight in the face. Hermione and Harry, however, locked eyes several times. It was sad to think of this being their last train ride home from Hogwarts together, and although the weather outside was lovely and sunny, it didn't make it any easier. The goodbye at King's Cross was bittersweet.
"If you do care to join us after you get back, you're still welcome to, you know," Ginny told Hermione as she hugged her.
"I just might take you up on that," Hermione said, attempting a smile.
Ron hugged her rather briefly, still feeling some indignation on behalf of Harry and added, not too harshly, "You be careful with Krum, alright?"
Hermione nodded and offered him a smile.
When it came Harry's turn to bid her farewell, he wanted to say more, but just settled on, "See ya later then?"
"Of course," she replied and squeezed him tight. Hermione had a rather troubled feeling, not like she was hurting him, but something deeper than that, and she didn't quite know what it could mean.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley walked over with the Grangers and reminded her that she could visit anytime she liked, just to send them an owl. As she stood there with her mother and father, watching the rest of them leave together, she couldn't help it that a tear escaped down her cheek.
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