Relentless - A Dramione FanFic

London ~ The Hotel, The Spa, The Dinner

Hermoine flooed herself into the newly rebuilt Lovegood home mid-morning on Friday.  She and Luna each received owls from Ginny explaining her newly changed plans, and they'd decided it would be best if they traveled together to the Burrow to retrieve Ginny in case Molly had a last minute change of heart.  "Its harder to shoot down three birds than two," Luna had informed Hermoine, using a metaphor that made a remarkable amount of sense.  Luna was unique in that way.  She was rarely direct, but, true to her Ravenclaw background, she had most things figured out before anyone else even knew to ask the questions.  After a quick goodbye to her father, Xenophilius, Luna took Hermoine's arm, there was a loud pop, and they were gone.

Ginny was in her room when she heard Hermoine and Luna arrive in the garden.  She leaned out the window to greet them, but Ron had beaten her to it.  He was already aggressively snogging Hermoine as if his life depended on it.  Luna seemed oblivious to the make-out session happening two feet from her as she waved up at Ginny and shouted: "It's good to see you've gotten those gnomes relocated."  

Hermoine had managed to push Ron off her by the time Harry & Ginny joined them in the garden.  He reluctantly settled for draping his arm over her shoulders.  It wasn't like she didn't enjoy snogging Ron.  She just preferred to do it in a more discreet and private setting.  Ronald, however, was more of an anytime, anywhere type bloke.

"Long-time, no-see, Hermoine," Harry chided as he pulled her into a hug, leaving Ron pouting.  "Molly's been dying for you to sample her latest muggle baking creation... chocolate chip cookies."

"Ay, that I have!" Molly declared from the porch.  "Hermoine, Luna... lovely to see you dears."

The five friends made their way into the Burrow's kitchen, and exchanged nervous looks before biting into Molly's still warm cookies.  

"Wow, mum, these are ... delicious."  Ron shoved the rest of his cookie into his mouth, while grabbing four more off the plate.

"Chocolate chip have always been my favorite Molly," Hermoine added, glancing sideways at Ron, and trying unsuccessfully to hide the disgust and annoyance in her voice at the crumbs cascading wildly off his chin.

"What?" He asked, mouth full.

"Ron's right, Molly, these cookies are wonderful," Harry chimed in, hoping to diffuse the tension building between his two best friends.

Molly beamed at him, and offered him the plate, eagerly nodding her head, "Go on then, have another, dear."

"Thanks, Mol-"

Molly cut him off, sweetly reprimanding him, "Oh for heavens sake, Harry, how many times do I have to tell you, just call me mum?"

"Ok.  Thanks, mum,"  Harry smiled.  That word felt good coming out of his mouth.

**

"I'll see you tomorrow at 1," Molly confirmed, as she hugged Ginny goodbye.

"We'll have her to the Leaky Cauldron at 1 pm sharp, Molly," Hermoine assured her.  And with that, the three girls took their leave, apparating into their hotel room.

"I checked in this morning," Hermoine explained as Luna and Ginny gaped at her, wondering how they could just pop into this muggle establishment without notice. 

The room was like nothing Ginny or Luna had ever seen.  Instead of old, well worn-in furniture like they were used to, it had modern, elegant furnishings.  Ginny threw open the doors to her bedroom, and didn't think twice before flinging herself upon the bed.

"I feel like I am the first person to ever lay on this bed!" she exclaimed.  "There are no lumps, and no smells of relatives past," she sat up and teased, "What else have you been holding out on us, Granger?"