It was just after one when they arrived back at the Burrow. Ginny was setting the table for lunch. She looked visibly relieved when Ron and Hermione walked in the door.

It was a serious let down to come in and find such tension in the house.

"You two are just in time," Molly said, setting a large tray of sandwiches on the table. "Ginny, will you pour the juice?"

Ginny gave Hermione a kind of pleading look and started taking glasses out of the cabinet. Hermione got the juice out of the icebox.

Molly stood at the bottom of the stairs and called everyone to lunch.

Everyone slowly assembled at the table. Ron and Hermione looked at each other wondering what had happened while they were gone. George came in and Harry joined them at last. Everyone began taking sandwiches and sipping juice, but no one said anything.

Finally, Molly cleared her throat. "How was Australia, dear?"

Hermione smiled awkwardly. "Fine. My parents are well. They didn't recognize me at all."

"Did you speak to them?" Arthur asked.

"Yes. I had my teeth cleaned. My mother did it. She's a talker, so I got to hear all about their life in Australia." Hermione set her sandwich down. She'd lost her appetite. With the exception of Ron, no one at the table seemed to be eating much.

"Any news while I was gone?" Hermione asked.

"I'm reopening the shop," George said from the other end of the table.

Everyone looked up. Clearly this wasn't just news to Hermione.

"When?" Arthur asked.

"We plan to open next Monday."

"We?" Ginny said.

George cleared his throat. "Yeah. I've been talking with Angelina. She was helping us out quite a bit with the books before, so now she's going to help me run the shop."

"That's excellent, George," Arthur said and everyone agreed. Hermione was not only pleased for George, but also pleased that the awkward silence around the table had been broken.

xxx

After lunch, Harry asked Ron if he wanted to toss a Quaffle around. Ron agreed, but the invitation didn't seem to extend to the girls, which Hermione found odd since Harry always invited Ginny to play Quidditch even if they were just playing catch.

Ginny didn't seem to notice, or if she did, she didn't seem to care.

"What are you up to this afternoon," Hermione asked her.

"School starts up in few weeks, so I thought I'd catch up on my reading."

Hermione couldn't have been more surprised if Ginny had announced she'd planned to spend the day sticking pins in her eyes. "Oh, that sounds like a good plan. I think I'll do some reading too."

She followed Ginny up to her room, but the minute Ginny shut the door behind them Hermione turned to her. "What on earth happened here while we were gone?"

Ginny sighed. "There was a bit of an incident last night."

"What sort of incident?" Hermione asked sitting on the twin bed she thought of as hers in Ginny's room.

"I had a nightmare."

When Ginny didn't say anything else, Hermione prompted her. "And?"

Ginny walked over to the window. Hermione wondered if she could see the boys on their brooms. Ginny sighed. "It was a bad one. A really bad one, like the kind I used to have first year. I don't know why I had it. I haven't had a nightmare like that in ages. I woke the whole house screaming."

Hermione was missing something or Ginny was leaving something out. She suspected the later. "Gin, what happened?"

Ginny sniffled, but kept staring out the window. "Everyone came running, wands drawn, but Harry got here first. He was so much ahead of the others he already had me in his arms when everyone else got here. I don't know what happened exactly. I wasn't really fully awake. I guess they thought he was in my bed before I had the nightmare. To be honest, I think he Apparated to my room. There's no way he could have gotten to me that much ahead of everyone else if he'd been running. Mum and Dad are just across the hall.

"So they thought he'd snuck into your bedroom while they were sleeping."

"Yeah. He was just in his underpants and I was only wearing a T-shirt. Mum and Dad were upset and yelling. George totally bailed and went back to bed, which was the smart thing to do."

"Well, didn't you explain?"

"I started to, but Harry…Harry got really angry."

"Seriously?" Hermione said, her eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Really angry. He shouted back at them. Something like I shouldn't have to sleep alone and that I was almost of age and no one should have to face nightmares like that by themselves. I don't know, it all came out in a rush and it was so not like him, that we all just stood there for a moment. Hermione, he was shaking he was so angry. The air was crackling around him. It was kind of scary and kind of hot all at the same time."

"So, what happened?"

"Nothing. Mum said she thought we should all go back to sleep and that's what happened."

"What did Harry do?"

"He went back upstairs."

"Then what happened this morning?"

"Absolutely nothing. No one said a word at breakfast."

"Well that's good, right?" Hermione said, trying to see the bright side.

"No. I meant that literally. Not one word was spoken."

"Oh," Hermione said. "That sounds awkward."

"You've no idea. I've never been so happy to see you and Ron in my life."

"Have you talked to Harry?"

"No. He's been holed up all day. I've been afraid to go up there for fear of setting off Mum and Dad." She wiped her eyes and sat down on her bed.

"So how did things go with you and Ron?"

Hermione could feel her face flush. "Good."

Ginny smiled. "Thank goodness. I'm glad something went right yesterday. Did you talk to him about you moving to Heathgate?"

Hermione nodded. "He's all for it. He even thought it was a good idea for Harry to move in."

"I don't suppose you've asked Harry."

"Not yet," Hermione said, "but I will when they get back. Then I just have to tell your Mum and Dad."

"I think they'll be all for it, especially the part about Harry moving out of the Burrow."

Hermione shook her head. "I'm so sorry that happened."

"Me too," Ginny said. "What do you think set Harry off like that?"

Hermione thought for a moment. "You probably scared him and being scared makes him angry. I'm sure he didn't mean to take it out on your parents."

"I wish he hadn't."

Hermione sighed. "Me too."

Ginny let herself flop backwards on to the bed. "When do you think you'll move?"

"I thought about leaving tomorrow."

Ginny lifted herself up on her elbows. "Ron was as good as all that?" She grinned.

Hermione threw a pillow at her. "You'd be surprised."

Ginny stuffed the pillow behind her head. "So, it didn't hurt?"

Hermione leaned back against the wall. "Well, part of it did, but the rest was kind of amazing. Weasley is definitely my king."

Ginny laughed. "Then I guess he was right to study up."

"What?"

"He talked to Bill about it and Bill gave him a book, which he read and passed on to me."

"He did research? For me?" She was touched, although she wished he hadn't talked to Bill about it. What was it with these Weasleys? They went to Bill for everything. She wondered if that was what it was like to have siblings. If she had had younger brothers and sisters, would they have come to her with all their questions? She thought probably so. After all, everyone else did.

"I was just happy he passed it on," Ginny said. "It's not like I was going to go to Bill, and I sure as hell wouldn't have gone to Fleur."

"When did this happen?"

"Fifth, well your sixth year."

"Oh," Hermione said sourly. "Then that wasn't about me. It was about Lavender." She couldn't help wondering how much of what had transpired between her and Ron had happened between him and Lavender.

"I think it was probably about you," Ginny said. "He asked Bill for the book at Christmas, and by then he was already tired of Lavender."

Hermione picked a piece of lint off the bedspread. "Do you think he'll get tired of me?"

"It's been seven years and he doesn't seem tired of you yet. And I don't think he's hung around all these years just waiting to get in your pants, if that's what you mean."

Hermione smiled shyly. "No. I suppose not."

xxx

Ron and Harry walked toward the broom shed.

"I don't really want to toss the Quaffle around," Harry said.

"Well, that's not a shock. What the hell is going on? The tension at lunch was so thick you could choke on it."

Harry ran his fingers through his hair leaving it sticking up even more than usual. "Last night was a catastrophe."

"Oh no!" Ron said. "Tell me they didn't catch you sleeping with Ginny."

"They didn't. Only they thought they did."

"How's that?" Ron said.

"It started because Ginny had a nightmare and woke up screaming. It was two o'clock in the morning. I know, because I couldn't sleep, so I was wide-awake when I heard her. It was awful, bloodcurdling"

Ron could still hear Hermione screaming at Malfoy Manner so he knew exactly how Harry felt.

"I freaked out. I thought someone had gotten into the house. I Apparated to her bedroom, wand drawn, full battle mode."

By the time George and your parents opened the door, I was already holding her and trying to calm her down. She was still half asleep, crying and saying something about Dementors. I just kind of pulled her into my lap and held her against me."

Ron shook his head. "And you were wearing?"

"Just my underpants."

Ron groaned. "And Ginny was wearing?"

"Just a T-shirt. I don't even think she had on knickers."

"She must have been upset if you don't remember if she was wearing knickers."

"She was more than just upset," Harry said tugging at his hair with both hands, making it stick out in a hundred different directions. "But you can see how it must have looked to your parents."

"Sure. The door was closed. You two were barely dressed. It doesn't take a genius to suss out that one. No one can Apparate from a sound sleep. They probably didn't even consider that possibility. So, what happened?"

"I don't know. Your dad or maybe it was your mum started yelling…" Harry stared off across the field.

"Yeah, and?" Ron prompted.

"And I lost it," Harry said. "I just…lost it. I yelled at them for making her sleep by herself and not understanding what it was like and something about her almost being of age. I don't even remember what all I said. I don't know why I got so angry, just all of a sudden, I was furious. It was like they were attacking her and I just lost it."

Ron was shocked. It wasn't like Harry to lose his temper and it certainly wasn't like him to go off like that. "Bloody hell, mate. You're lucky you just saved the world or I'm not sure you'd be standing here."

"Yeah, I've thought that myself. I've never been so grateful to be the Chosen One."

Ron put his hand on Harry's shoulder. "What're you going to do?"

"I don't know. No one's said anything about last night, but I can't just pretend it didn't happen. I need to apologize to your parents to start with, and I need them to know I don't sneak around their house at night to shag their only daughter."

Ron raised an eyebrow at him.

"Hey, she came to me that night! I can't control what Ginny does."

"No one can control what Ginny does," Ron said.

"Besides it was just that once," Harry continued. "It hasn't happened since. I respect that it's their house and that they have rules."

"But that was weeks ago," Ron said. "You two haven't…in all this time?"

"Not really. It's driving us both around the bend too."

"Then you should talk to Hermione. She has a solution to all our problems."

"Typical," Harry said. "What is it?"

"I'll let her tell you."

"Fine. So how did it go with you two anyway?"

Ron grinned. "She's brilliant. I mean really. Last night is just more evidence that there's nothing that girl can't do."

Harry laughed. "Well, I'm glad it worked out. It took you two long enough."

"Me. It took me long enough. I think Hermione had her head on straight about us a long time ago."

Harry shrugged.

They reached the broom shed and Ron opened the door. "Listen…I don't want details, but the first time you and Ginny…you know, uh, did it hurt her?

"I don't think so."

"It seemed to really hurt Hermione." He lowered his voice. "I made her bleed."

Harry looked at him. "I think that just happens for some girls the first time. Besides, I'm not dragging that thing around," he said, pointing to Ron's crotch.

"Come on," Ron said. "It's not that big."

But Harry had warmed to his subject. "Not that big? It's like a third leg, Ron. I'm surprised she didn't shrink from it entirely, for fear you'd split her in two."

Ron threw a Quaffle at him. "Shut up."

Harry caught the Quaffle and grabbed his broom and took off. "You have to give her points for Gryffindor courage though," he shouted over his shoulder.

Ron took off after him. They proceeded to race around the field trying to hit each other with the Quaffle or drag each other off their brooms. By the time the sun was starting to sink, they were both exhausted and Harry felt a lot better.

"We should head in," Ron said.

"Yeah, I want to talk to your parents before dinner. I don't think I can handle another tense meal."

"That would be nice." Ron said, putting the brooms and the Quaffle back in the shed.

When they got back to the house, everyone except George was sitting in the parlor listening to the radio or reading the paper.

Ron flopped on the couch next to Hermione. She gave him a shy smile.

Harry stood in the center of the room and cleared his throat. "Mr. and Mrs. Weasley," he said. "Could I have a word?"

Molly and Arthur looked at each other.

"Of course, Harry." Mr. Weasley said.

Harry looked at Ron, Hermione and Ginny. "In private," he said.

Ginny looked panic-stricken, but Hermione grabbed her elbow and the three of them headed up to Ginny's room.

When the parlor was empty, Harry cleared his throat again. His mouth felt dry and his ears felt hot. "I wanted to apologize for last night," he finally managed to say. "I shouldn't have shouted at you like that. I know that, but I do feel that perhaps you misread the situation. I know what it must have looked like when you came into Ginny's room, but that's not the truth of the situation. You see," he said, trying to remember it the way he'd rehearsed it in his mind, "I haven't been sleeping very well. So, when Ginny screamed I was already awake, so I didn't run to her room like everyone else. I Apparated there."

"Why didn't you just say that last night, dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

Harry pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose. "I don't know. I was so freaked out when I heard her scream. I thought someone had gotten in. I was in battle mode and I'm not always reasonable when it comes to Ginny. I know she can take care of herself, but she's been through so much, we all have. I think I just lost it. But I want you to know, I respect you. I respect the rules of this house and I know Ginny's been giving you guff about going back to Hogwarts and being of age soon and all that. I know how she is, but I want you to know that I think she should finish school too. I'm not trying to do some kind of end run around you and sneak off with her. I want what's best for her, not just what's most convenient right now."

Arthur stood up and put his hand on Harry's shoulder. "You're a good man, Harry."

"Yes, dear," Molly said, hugging him. "And so mature, speaking with us like this." She seemed pleased as punch, as if he was a child that had done something clever.

"Thanks," Harry said awkwardly, not sure what to do now.

"How long until dinner?" Mr. Weasley asked with false cheer. He and Mrs. Weasley were still worn around the edges from grief, but Harry figured all was forgiven.

"I can get it on the table in two shakes," Mrs. Weasley said and hurried off to the kitchen.

xxx

As they walked up to Ginny's room, Hermione had pealed off to use the toilet so Ron followed Ginny into her room.

"Hey, Gin," he said quietly. "You know that book I loaned you, the one Bill gave me. Can I get that back?"

Ginny raised an eyebrow at him. "Sure. You want it now."

"No. No," Ron said shaking his head. "Could you just give it to me later. Discreetly."

Ginny smiled knowingly. "Forget something, Ron? I thought you memorized it."

"I just want to check something, that's all."

Ginny let him off the hook. "Sure," she said. "And maybe you could loan it to Harry when you're finished with it."

It was Ron's turn to raise an eyebrow.

"Not that he needs it," Ginny hastily added.

"Girls!" their mum called from downstairs. "Come help me with dinner."

"Coming Mum," Ginny said, rolling her eyes. "Why doesn't she ever ask you boys to help?"

"She thinks we make too much mess," Ron said.

"Well that's certainly true," Ginny grumbled and went downstairs.