Where I Belong (Dramione Fanfiction)

Chapter 2: Catching Up

"Hermione, thank goodness you're here. We thought you wouldn't show up!"

"I'm sorry for being late, Ginny. I'm still a bit jet-lagged and I overslept. Anyway, where are the others?" Hermione says hurriedly.

"Oh, they're all inside. Come on in!" Ginny ushers her inside.

As soon as she entered the room, Hermione heard squeals of delight from all her friends and was attacked by hugs.

"Hey guys, how are all of you?" she asked as she hugged Luna.

"We are all good. The real question is, how are you? You have changed so much!" Luna exclaimed.

Oh, you have no idea, Hermione thought.

"I'm fine, guys. Now, let's spend the night catching up. I have missed you all so much," Hermione said, trying to avoid telling them the reason she had changed.

"We missed you too. But Hermione, I want to ask you something. Did you... umm..leave because of.... Ron.. and-" spoke a shy voice from the corner of the room.

"Oh no, Lavender. Ron and I were  just not meant to be. Trust me, I really am happy for you guys. I met him yesterday, didn't he tell you that?" Hermione cut her off.

It was true, Hermione was happy for them, but she couldn't help but feel a little pinch in her heart at the mention of Ron's name. She had decided to leave to get a break from all the media, who had their eyes open for any news from the war herione. She wanted a break from all the attention and to rid her mind of Ron and the rest of the wizarding world. Things didn't go according to plan. Besides, she had to take care of some unfinished business.

"Yes, he did. But I wanted to-" she tried to speak but was cut off once again.

"Oh Lav, come on, don't worry, I'm not mad at you. Leave it, now let's have some fun," Hermione stated, putting on a bright smile to cheer Lavender up.

They all sat in a circle, trying to catch up on what's been happening in each of their lives. This reminded Hermione of the sleepovers they had 3 years ago, when they all went back to Hogwarts to complete their seventh year.

"Oh, Ginny, I forgot to ask you something. Harry mentioned that you guys are still going strong when i met him yesterday. He also said you would give me the details. So...." Hermione dragged with a teasing look on her face, as she saw Ginny go crimson.

"Yeah well, everything is great. He has given me everything i ever wanted: love, protection, care...." Ginny trailed off with a smile on her face, no doubt thinking about Harry.

"Oh but Hermione, you know who each of us are dating, yet we don't know who you are dating. Did you find someone while you were away?" Cho asked, winking at Hermione.

Hermione's face grew hot as all the memories of the past 2 years came flooding into her mind. She bit her lip as she remembered that particular night when she.....

"You're blushing! So tell us, who is he? I want to know everything!" Parvati squealed excitedly.

"Guys, nothing happened while I was away. I didn't get involved with any boys," Hermione stated looking away. "I'm going to the bathroom. I'll be back in a minute," she said as she got up and walked out of the room.

"Clearly, she is trying to avoid the subject. Do you think something happened to her while she was away?" Luna asked, worried.

"Something did happen. But Hermione is my best friend. I can tell she is not ready to talk about it. She will tell us when she is ready," Ginny assured her.

"Ok guys," Padma said as Hermione entered the room, "Let's have some fun and forget about all this. For old times' sake?"

Everyone cheered and started talking about their time at Hogwarts, while Hermione looked at them and just sighed in content. In that moment she thought,
Perhaps, this is where i belong.