Better Man

The Last Day of Summer

The last few days of summer passed by in a fun but rather uneventful blur. Everyone was relaxing before the return to a normal, magic filled life. Ron and Harry were due to start their Auror training soon, much to Hermione's annoyance. She had hoped that they might change their minds at the last second but they seemed determined not to go back to Hogwarts for their last year. They were more than happy to go straight to work in rounding up any lingering Death Eaters or other people guilty of assisting in Lord Voldemort's return to power.

Hermione sat on the ground of her's and Ginny's room, sorting through all of her books. She had so many that she wanted to bring with her but knew there was no way that they'd fit in her trunk so she was trying to cull as best as she could. She decided to take a break from bookworm heartache to venture downstairs where everyone was gathering for lunch. With Hermione and Ginny going back to school, Ron and Harry headed for training and everyone else going back to work, Mrs Weasley had wanted everyone to gather for meals on the last day of August.

She walked into a bustling kitchen that seemed like it might burst at the seams any second from the amount people huddled around the table.
"Oh Hermione dear, take these plates out to the garden please," Mrs Weasley pushed a stack of plates into her arms as she passed. Hermione nodded and moved towards the door.
"No problem, Mrs Weasley," she said. Ginny stood by the sink, furtively slipping berries into her mouth. Hermione shook her head and smiled. You had to have some nerve to steal food from a Weasley meal before it's time to eat.
"RONALD WEASLEY YOU HAD BETTER PUT THAT DRUMSTICK DOWN OR SO HELP ME MERLIN-"
"Hermione, do you need a hand with those?" Harry appeared out of nowhere, pointing to the plates. He didn't wait for an answer, grabbing more than half of them. They walked through a bunch of daisies to the garden table.
"I think you'll be starting Auror training solo if Ron doesn't keep his mitts off of the chicken," Hermione smiled. Harry let out a barking laugh.
"He does like to live dangerously doesn't he?"
"Obviously, look who his best friend is?" Hermione teased. They put the plates down on the table.
"Hmm, very true. What about you though? How are we friends?" Harry questioned.
"Oh I live for danger. Danger is my middle name."
Harry burst out laughing when the back door crashed open and a head of long red hair came darting out and made for the fields.

"GINNY WEASLEY, YOU GET BACK HERE WITH THOSE BERRIES!"

Harry and Hermione laughed as they watched Ginny, who had a small bowl clenched between her teeth, hop the fence and head towards the forest. Harry rolled his eyes and looked at Hermione. 

"I'd better go grab her before Mrs Weasley curses her hands together," Harry said. Hermione laughed.

"Or hexes her mouth shut. Can't eat berries then," Hermione countered. Harry grinned.

"One or the other," he replied. He waved goodbye as he jogged over to the fence, legging it over the fence in one swift move and walked into the forest. Hermione turned around, about to head back inside to assess the gravity of the food theft situation when Ron appeared carrying several goblets. Hermione rushed over to help him before he dropped them all amongst the weeds. Ron accepted her help gratefully as they walked back to the table.

"Where did Ginny get to?" Ron asked. Hermione pointed to the forest and Ron rolled his eyes.

"S'pose I'd better go get her-" Ron began when Hermione placed her hands on his shoulders to stop him.

"Harry's already gone and I doubt you want to interrupt them," Hermione said calmly. Ron screwed his nose up.

"There's some things I never need to hear and this is one of them," Ron replied. He got busy setting all the goblets out at each place and Hermione followed suit.

"Sorry," Hermione chuckled. Harry and Ginny's sex life, existent or not, was none of her business. Though she supposed it was a little bit different when it was your sibling. No one wanted to think about family like that. She was an only child though, so her knowledge in this area was kind of limited. Malfoy was an only child too, she thought. Thank God she didn't turn out like him. Snotty nosed brat. He had changed, however. She knew he could still be the world's biggest ass but at least he could go near her without a full HAZMAT suit. That's...something.

Lunch passed uneventfully from there. No foods were stolen and nobody was hexed. Hermione and Ginny returned to their room and finished packing everything they would need for this year. They would actually be in seventh year together and Hermione was excited to have her friend by her side for once. She knew Luna was returning but she wasn't sure who else would come back this year. She thought Dean might since he'd been on the run last year. She wasn't sure about Neville, he had attended last year but she wasn't sure how much of an education he'd actually gotten in-between torture sessions. He might be there, she reasoned. Or it might be too much on him to return to a place he was tortured for a year. She could understand that, she never wanted to see Malfoy Manor again as long as she lived.

Speaking of, she still had that chocolate bar. She pulled it out of her bag and examined it. It was a little melted and soft but otherwise alright. Looked to be a Swiss brand, probably super expensive, knowing Malfoy. She still wasn't sure what was going on with the pure blood. Like, he had probably changed, Hermione could admit that much but giving her a chocolate bar? Actually making skin to skin contact? Maybe he was possessed, she thought.

The evening meal was a quiet one, partly because of exhaustion from getting ready and partly in sadness. Mrs Weasley looked only a few steps away from tears. Hermione prayed that Mrs Weasley wouldn't break down and make Hermione cry too. She'd had cried enough, Hermione thought to herself. She didn't want to cry anymore.

After dinner, Hermione and Ginny retreated quietly to their room. Ginny got into her pyjamas and immediately laid down, watching amused as Hermione pottered around, making sure she hadn't forgotten anything. When she was finally satisfied, Hermione got changed and climbed into bed. She stared at the ceiling, listening to Ginny ramble on about Quidditch. She didn't understand half of it but she tried to participate in the conversation. When silence fell upon them, Hermione rolled over, eyes searching out Ginny's in the darkness.

"Are you nervous about going back tomorrow?" Hermione whispered. Ginny rolled over, the moonlight resting on her face.

"A little bit. I mean, I didn't have a whole year off like you but...it was different last year. Not like it usually is," Ginny replied quietly. Hermione thought about what she'd said.

"Do you think it will go back to normal now?" Hermione murmured. Ginny rolled onto her back and gazed at the ceiling.

"I don't know."