"Grandmum, please... not so tight..."

Jack's face had already begun to boast a purplish tint before he even choked out the words, but Mrs. Weasley didn't seem to notice his discomfort, nor the fact that he was squirming in her arms in an effort to get her to loosen her stranglehold, if only a wee bit. It was of no use, however. Indeed, she seemed perfectly content to just keep on squeezing the life out of her grandson, despite his not-so-subtle protests.

Hermione had to admit, though, she couldn't exactly blame her mother-in-law for wanting to hold onto Jack for dear life; God only knew if she had her way, her son would never leave her side again ("Love, you do know you're being far too overprotective again, right?" Ron had told her, this despite the fact that he himself had toyed with the idea--albeit only briefly--of having Jack stay home for the rest of term).

Poor Jack was beginning to show signs of serious oxygen deprivation now. Hermione decided that desperate times called for desperate measures, and she made a move to tap on Mrs. Weasley's arm, but it seemed Ron had had the same idea as well, and beat her to the punch.

"For God's sake, Mum," he wailed, "d'you think you could ease up on my son a little? His eyes are starting to bulge out of their sockets!"

The entire room exploded in a sputter of coughs, which Hermione suspected was everyone's sorry attempts at covering up certain laughter. Mr. Weasley, Harry, Ginny, Emily, and the girls were all quick to cover their mouths at once to hide their smiles--a sure sign that there was not some sort of cold epidemic that had just invaded the Burrow.

Mrs. Weasley, however, did not seem too amused at Ron's cheek. She turned to her youngest son in annoyance, inadvertently loosening her grip on Jack, who did not hesitate in celebrating his newfound freedom of movement by taking in big gulps of air.

"I'm just happy he's back," she huffed at Ron. "Is there something wrong with showing my grandson how thrilled I am he's all right?"

"Of course not... but do you have to be this enthusiastic?"

Hermione could actually hear Ginny mutter beside her, "Oh, smashing thing to say, Ron..." Hermione caught her and Harry's eyes, but had to turn away at once, lest she accidentally set free to the laughter she'd been trying to hold in for some time now.

Sure enough, this particular comment seemed to offend Mrs. Weasley even further.

"My grandson has just been through a horrible ordeal," she said, planting her hands at her hips.

As if by instinct, Ron leaned back a few inches. It seemed Mrs. Weasley was just getting warmed up, and Hermione had been in this family long enough to know that when Mount Molly blew, there was no telling how many casualties would be left in her wake.

"He's been through so much in these last few days, and now he's home again, thank God, and he's safe--and so are you, for that matter..."

She took a deep breath, obviously fighting back tears that had surfaced only at that very moment.

Hermione had always guessed that Ron had a soft spot reserved for his mother despite their frequently cantankerous exchanges, and sure enough, guilt seemed to seep into Ron, who opened his mouth to try to do damage control. Nothing came out of him for a few moments, however; clearly he was trying to gauge her before he said another word, then he threw a pleading look at Hermione, who could only shrug and offer him a sympathetic smile.

Apparently, though, he was hoping for more than that.

"Mum, I just meant... that... er..."

"Oh, just come over here!"

Before Ron could even get another word out, she pulled him into her for a bone-crushing hug, catching him so completely off-guard that she would have surely toppled him over if Ron hadn't anchored his feet to the ground right when he did.

Barking, he mouthed to Hermione. Harry finally couldn't help himself any longer and let out an audible chuckle, only to be nudged in the ribs from either side of him by Ginny and Emily.

"I'm just so pleased that my family is all together once again," Mrs. Weasley said, finally releasing Ron.

Ron only smiled in return, surreptitiously rubbing at his ribcage where she had gripped him.

"Isn't it just wonderful-"

The doorbell rang before Mrs. Weasley could finish her sentence. Puzzled, she looked about her, as if mentally taking note of who happened to be present in the room, then she looked at the door.

"Who could that possibly be?"

"We did send word to everyone, Molly," Mr. Weasley said. "I'd expected them to be dropping by all day."

"But they would have just apparated in, Arthur," she said. "Nobody rings that doorbell... I always forget that we even have one!"

The doorbell rang again, but nobody seemed to be making a move to let in the mysterious visitor. Finally, Harry said, "I'll get it."

There was a few moments' pause after he opened the door, then Hermione heard talking: Harry's voice, blended with that of a stranger's that sounded awfully familiar. Ron had the oddest look on his face when she looked up, and when she turned around, she understood why.

"Viktor."

If Ron felt even a twinge of jealousy or being threatened, he hid it well. Hermione looked at his face again, and she realized she had been wrong; that hadn't been resentment she had seen in his eyes just moments before--it had been surprise.

She gave his hand a small squeeze--and he gave her one in return as well--then she turned to Viktor, who was still standing just outside even though Harry had gestured for him to come in. There were others with him, Slava, whom she recognized standing on one side of Viktor, and a woman. Hermione guessed her to be Svetlana, his wife.

Mrs. Weasley made her way to the door.

"Hello there," she chirped. "Don't be shy, dears, come in..."

Viktor gave her an awkward smile, then came in, one hand at the small of Svetlana's back to lead her in, and the other on Slava's shoulder, who was the first to walk through the door.

"I'm Molly Weasley, Jack's grandmum," Mrs. Weasley said. "And you must be one of Jack's friends from school..."

Apparently, Mrs. Weasley didn't follow Quidditch as closely as her husband and children did.

"Oh no, Molly, this is Slava Krum," Harry told her. "He was-"

Mrs. Weasley seemed to recognize the name at once, and let out a soft gasp before Harry could even finish telling her who he was.

"Of course... I'm so sorry, dear, how silly of me..." She looked up at Viktor and Svetlana. "You must be so happy to have him back..."

"Yes," Viktor said. "Ve are very grateful for your son and everything he has done to bring our son home..."

Ron turned scarlet.

"That is vhy ve came here... to give you this..."

He stuck out his hand, holding out a small box. Ron looked at it, then at him, then stammered, "Viktor, you didn't have to... I mean, it wasn't necessary..."

"Please," Svetlana said, "it is nothing compared to vhat you haff given us, but ve must thank you somehow..."

At last, Ron nodded and took the box. Hermione watched as he opened it. It was something small and round, and reminded Hermione of a compass. It seemed to be made of solid gold, gleaming in Ron's hand as he took it out and held it. Ron seemed flabbergasted.

"What is it?" she said.

"It's... a sneakoscope..."

"Ve had it specially made for you," Svetlana explained. "The maker assured us it is von hundred percent accurate..."

"You are pleased with it, yes?" Viktor said. "Harry told us you had broken your old one..."

Ron suddenly let out a laugh and turned to Harry, who was grinning as well.

"Yes," Ron said, "I did..." He must have caught Hermione's bewildered look, because he leaned into her and whispered, "I'll explain later, love..." Then he looked at Viktor again and smiled. "Thank you. This is... very kind of you..."

Viktor nodded.

"You brought back our son," he said. "Ve vill never forget that."

Ron reached beside him and wrapped his own arm around Jack.

"We're both very lucky," he said, catching Hermione's eye and giving her a smile.

Hermione smiled back at him. She had never heard truer words.