*screams and throws live grenades at muse* Somehow I have pissed off my muse. Is it jealous? Is it ill? No, it apparently just hates me and so I hate it in return. The fifth part of "Finding the Way Back Home" had gone through three (yes, three) rewrites and I am just about to start the fourth. The first part (of part five) says just what I want it to say and the second part is alright even though I may have to axe that too and just start from the end of part one. I really want part five to end with Hermione and Ron back at Hogwarts which was always my original intention but I'm not sure how to do that when I also want to fit in a conversation with Arthur/Percy/or Harry with George and Hermione. It's driving me up the wall. I really wanted the thing to be mostly Ron centric and end with confrontation between he and Hermione in the common room after every one has all gone to bed. It was supposed to be set to the song "What Hurts the Most." 

I'm thinking about axing the conversation and fitting in a much shorter bit with the rest of the Weasleys. Perhaps a late night conversation with Molly and Arthur as they prepare for bed.... It could then mirror the start of the third part with George and Hermione waking up the next morning (that is the current second part). I could end part three in such a way that it could then lead into a small time jump and they could all be back at Hogwarts. It could work.... But the thing I am trying to avoid is too much tension between Harry and Hermione. I have read a few Hermione/someone other than Ron fics where Harry is a complete arse and I see Harry as more of an innocent by-stander. He will undoubtedly feel more for Ron and know that George and Hermione have acted in a slimy manner but he will not fight for Ron. Ron can take care of himself and in the end manage his own battles. Harry will stay friends with Hermione but the mechanics of their friendship will change, as do all friendships as the people involved fall in love, change, and mature. 

I know I have to have this part end with Ron and Hermione, to the structure of the plot it is imperative. But how do I do this without the flow being completely disturbed? The main problem though is the length which, in the end, is the source of all my problems. I have no problem writing looong chapters, I've done it before but I don't want to present savepureness with a 9,000 word chapter. She would cross oceans to come after me with a machete. Not really of course, she's a dear, but you get the idea. I also don't want one chapter way longer than the others.

What to do?