Summary: The summer before what would be Harry, Hermione, and Ron's seventh year at Hogwarts. Bill and Fleur have their wedding. Will the threat of war push Hermione and Ron towards their true feelings before it's too late?

Disclaimer: I own none of the Harry Potter characters JK Rowling does.

Author's Note: This is my first fic so please be nice to me. Please review it is very helpful. Without further ado here it is.

Chapter 1

The sun peeked over the window sill and shone on the peacefully sleeping Ron Weasely. It was the middle of his summer vacation and he was gratefully sleeping through the morning. Sleeping was the only time he had away from the drama that was his life. Him and his family were directly affected by this war, especially now that Harry Potter was a close family friend. Hopefully though, Ron, Harry, as well as Hermione would be able to have a carefree month and a half before they set out to finish Dumbledore's mission of finding the horcruxes and defeating Voldemort.

"Ronnnalllddd! Get out of bed and come help us!" the shrill voice of Mrs. Weasely broke the peaceful silence in Ron's room.

He groaned and rolled over. What do they need help with anyway? He thought to himself, then he suddenly sat bolt upright.

"Today's the day Hermione's coming," he exclaimed, "and Harry," he quickly corrected himself as he realized his mistake. He quickly got out of bed and dressed in the best casual robes he could find, and descended the many stairs to kitchen. Everyone was running around in a frantic chaos, this was not an unusual occurrence at the Burrow. With four older brother and one younger sister things could get pretty hectic, but today was different, they had a mission. The Weasely family was hurriedly preparing for the surprise birthday party they were throwing for Harry's seventeenth birthday.

"Don't just stand there!" Ginny yelled at him pulling him out of his trance, "Come help us." Ron walked into the kitchen and pulled a box of cereal and a bowl out of the cupboard.

"I have to eat first," Ron replied.

"Typical," she mumbled under her breath as she scurried away.

They continued to bustle around preparing for the extravagant party, and were still busy preparing when Hermione arrived by the Floo Network. With all the confusion no one noticed her arrival.

"Hello," she said. "HELLO!" she scream, a little louder than she had intended. Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned towards the fireplace. It took a couple of seconds for the information to be completely processed, but they recovered quickly.

"Hermione, hello. How are you dear?" Mrs. Weasely said, ushering Hermione into the living room.

"I'm good, thank you Mrs. Weasely. How are you?" she responded.

"I'm fine dear." Ron was mesmerized. She had most definitely changed over the summer. He couldn't help but stare at her. What are you doing? She's one of your best mates, you can not be thinking of her like that. He seemed to be telling himself that a lot lately.

"Ron, hello… anyone in there," he focused his eyes and realised that Hermione was now standing in front of him.

"Aa… sorry, what did you say?" He said in a futile attempt at covering up his staring.

"I asked you how you are?" she said slightly puzzled as to why he had been staring at her, spaced out for that matter. Maybe… no who are you kidding yourself that will never happen. Stop, stop thinking that. She mentally slapped herself. Lately she couldn't stop thinking about Ron but not as Ron her best mate, but something different. He is your best mate though you can't think like that.

"I… I'm fine," Ron stammered. How did she do that to him, or a better question, why? Why did she do that to him, they had been friend for years and she had never had this affect on him up until this past year.

"Well what can I help with?" Hermione asked looking around the room at the partial party decorations.

"Ron, why don't you help Hermione take her things up to Ginny's room first and then you to can go start on putting the tables outside," Mrs. Weasely suggested ushering the two teenagers up the stairs.

They climbed the stairs in an awkward silence until they reached the landing at Ginny's room, neither seemed to want to be the first to break it.

"How's your summer been so far?" Ron asked lamely, searching for anything at all to break this silence.

"Fine," Hermione said, "Glad to be back in the wizarding world again." She reached for the door handle and stepped inside the room, placed her trunk on the floor by the roll away bed and exited the room again. They climbed down the stairs and began the task that Mrs. Weasely had set them to.

One hour and a half later the preparation were finally complete and they sat back to admire there work. There were streamers hanging from every possible spot, balloons floating randomly throughout the house, tables full of food set up in the back yard and a gorgeous cake that Ginny had prepared sitting in the kitchen. The many guests that they had invited had arrived and already found places to hide and all the Weasely's except Mr. Weasely, who had gone to get Harry, were hidden as well. Everything was ready and all they could do now was wait. Suddenly Mr. Weasely appeared out of the flames.

"Harry is right behind me," he said and hurriedly hid behind the couch…

Author's Note: Love it? Hate it? I want to know, please, please review. I need to know if I should continue writing. I know this chapter wasn't great but I have to set the foundation for the story line. I promise it will get better.