Author's Note: I had a ton of requests to do something with Ron and Hermione and so this is the first of three short stories that I'm going to do on them. I'm going to post them all under this story, with a chaper for each short story...I hope that makes sense. Enjoy it! Let me know what you think : )

Mira

"They're like jelly beans but they come in every flavor." She glanced up at her mother and when seeing the woman's confused expression she spoke once more. "Every flavor," she stressed the word. "So there are the regular flavors that we would have and then disgusting flavors such as vomit and ear wax."

"Who in the world would want to each such a thing?" Her mother pondered in a repulsed voice.

"Ron and Harry are actually quite fond of them," Hermione smiled as she thought of her friends. "I think it's almost like a challenge to them...they see who can eat the most disgusting flavors without spitting them out or sicking up." It had been over a month since she had seen the two boys and she was eagerly awaiting school to begin once more, not only to be able to start a whole new year of learning, but to be able to see her friends every day. She missed them when they weren't around...perhaps one in a different way than the other.

Mrs. Granger shook her head, smiling at her daughter's recollection of her two best friends. She had only met the boys once herself but she had instantly taken a liking to them and had decided then and there that her daughter would be just fine at Hogwarts with friends like that.

"Well I purchased some of these chocolate frogs," her father announced as he approached the two. "Now they aren't real frogs I hope."

Mr. Granger was a lover of chocolate. It was well known in the Granger household that if you had or made anything that included chocolate it needed to be hidden or consumed unless you wished for it to disappear the moment Hermione's father noticed it. The moment he saw Honeydukes, he was more than eager to purchase something and Hermione had suggested the frogs.

"Right," Hermione nodded. "They do have one good jump in them though so you will need to be careful when opening the package."

"Are we ready to move on then?" Mrs. Granger asked. We'll need to get going to the Owl Emporium if we're going to eat dinner at a reasonable hour. You do still want an owl don't you dear?"

Hermione nodded in response. During her first two years at Hogwarts she had opted not to get a pet because she thought she would be far too busy with her studies to have the proper time to take care of one, but after some careful consideration she decided that it wouldn't be a horrible idea. For her, it came down to an owl or a cat but she had come to the conclusion that an owl was probably far more logical as it would save her from finding a school owl to use every time she wished to have a letter delivered.

"Right then," Mr. Granger smiled as he slipped his chocolate frog purchase into his pocket. "Let's be on our way."

Hermione pushed the door to Eyelops Owl Emporium open and led her parents inside, giggling a bit when her mother jumped at the loud sound of hundreds of owls hooting.

"Well, hello there!" A small, plump witch called out brightly as she walked out from behind the counter. "Good afternoon to you! What can I help you with today?"

"Our daughter is interested in an owl," Mr. Granger spoke.

"Well, you're in luck," the witch smiled at Hermione. "We just got a new batch of snowy owls in this morning."

"Actually, one of my best friends has a snowy owl so I was hoping for something a bit different," Hermione spoke.

"That's fine also. We have hundreds of owls to choose from; feel free to wander around and see which one suits you."

Hermione nodded. She was trying to pay attention to what the woman was telling her but her attention was going to a large cat in the corner, hovering over what appeared to be a litter of kittens.

"That's Mango," the lady smiled brightly. "She's my little love...just had kittens she did, nine of them if you can believe it."

"Can I..."

"Oh feel free to go visit with them, they're old enough to leave her now, so she isn't near as protective of them as she was; they'll actually be leaving soon."

"Leaving?" Hermione asked as she approached the kittens and gently kneeled beside them.

"I'm sending them over to be sold as pets...shame really, I've taken a liking to all of them but I just can't keep up with ten cats."

Hermione soothingly petted one of the kittens as her mother kneeled beside her tenderly pulling one into her lap.

Suddenly, out from under the mother cat poked the face of another kitten. It took one look at Hermione and instantly came towards her, meowing softly as it pushed its head into her knee.

"Well it looks as though that one has taken a liking to you," the shop owner smiled brightly. "Quite amazing actually as that one is quite fickle."

Hermione looked down at the kitten and couldn't help but instantly notice the shade of its fur...the most perfect mix of ginger and a very light brown in spots...almost exactly identical to...her face flushed lightly and her heart skipped a beat at the thought of him. These feelings had been developing all summer and though she was unsure of them, she was trying her hardest not to shy away from them either.

"Mum," she said softly, "maybe instead of an owl..."

Mrs. Granger smiled softly as she watched her daughter with the ginger kitten. "I don't see why not...he does seem to like you."

A wide smile broke across Hermione's face.

"The kitten instead of an owl then?" The shop owner smiled kindly.

"Is that okay?" Hermione asked in a hopeful voice.

"Absolutely," the witch smiled. "I'm sure you'll give him a wonderful home."

Hermione nodded in agreement as she scooped the kitten up in her arms and stood up. "I will," she nodded quickly, once again smiling to herself at the color and nature of the kitten in her arms.