( Read more... )

( Chapter 8, cont. )

~Chapter 8~

Hermione awoke as a shaft of sunlight fell across her face.   She felt a little disoriented, conscious of feeling that something was… not wrong, just… off, different…   And realized as she returned to full consciousness that it was because she felt… rested.

She didn’t know the last time she’d felt so rested in the morning.   It had ( Read more... )

...
( Chapter 7, cont. )

The sound of the telephone made them all start, Ron nearly leaping out of his chair.

Harry met Hermione’s amused gaze as she laughed and stood up. “Relax, Ron. It’s just the phone. It must be my parents.   They said they would ring.”

Hermione disappeared into the kitchen while Ron grimaced a little. “I don’t know how Muggles got used to ( Read more... )

A comfortable, companionable silence fell as he let his head rest against her hair. And he realized that now, finally, he felt calm again.   His heart was no longer racing. He was… at ease again, the tension and the last lingering tendrils of panic gone, dissolved.

Thanks to Hermione and her distracting, deliberately lighthearted conversation. ( Read more... )

( Chapter 6 )

( Part 2 )

( Chapter 5 )

Happy New Year ( Read more... )