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Chapter Four

The Kitchen of Wonders

Hermione padded downstairs to look for Ron so that she could apologize but she couldn't find him. Her father was sitting in the living room reading a newspaper with a cup of coffee balanced in one of his hands.

"Dad, have you seen Ron?" she asked as she entered the room.

"Oh, yes," her father nodded towards the kitchen. "He was helping your mum with the washing."

"What!" Hermione entered the kitchen and was shocked to see her mother at the kitchen table drinking coffee while Ron sat on a low stool staring at the washing machine.

He followed the clothes with his eyes, his mouth hanging slightly open in wonder, as they spun around and around and around and around. Hermione was surprised he didn't have a headache.

"Morning Hermione," her mum said cheerfully noticing her presence but Ron just continued to stare at the clothes as they changed direction.

"Morning mum," she said smiling helping herself to a slice of melon from a sealed tub on the counter.

"Ron was helping me load the washing machine," her mum explained. "Apparently he's never seen one before."

"Oh right," Hermione took a bite of her melon as she watched the back of Ron's head as it began to move with the clothes around and around and around and around.

"Next I was going to show him the microwave," her mum said happy that someone was actually interested in the housework.

"That sounds like fun," Hermione lied. "But I promised I'd go round to Lisa's house for lunch."

"Well why don't you take Ron," her mum suggested. "I'm sure he'd like to get out of the house."

"But she doesn't know about magic remember?" Hermione said.

"Well, I'm sure Ron will be able ok for a few hours," her mum replied.

"Mum, he's staring at the washing machine," Hermione pointed out through gritted teeth. "I doubt he's going to be able to go to Lisa's house and act like a muggle."

"Give him a chance Hermione," her mum urged.

"Fine," she sighed and leaned back in the chair.

At twelve o'clock Hermione and Ron left for Lisa's house, which was just around the corner from Hermione's. When they arrived a tall black haired woman with almost white skin answered the door. She looked quite cold and Ron felt a shiver run up and down his spine but Hermione just smiled.

"Hello Mrs Henderson," she said brightly and the woman smiled back slightly.

"Hello Hermione," she then turned to Ron. "You must be Ron."

"Yes ma'am," Ron said gulping causing Mrs Henderson to laugh.

"Please, call me Kate," she smiled and held the door open for them to enter. "Lisa's up in her room Hermione, you remember where it is don't you?"

"Yes, thank you," Hermione replied laughing before heading upstairs followed by Ron.

"So who's Lisa exactly?" Ron asked as the reached the top of the stairs.

"Lisa was my best friend all through primary school but I don't really get to see her much because of schooling," Hermione explained and Ron nodded.

"So she doesn't know about me right?" asked Ron.

"No, so try not to stare at everything," warned Hermione.

"I'll try," Ron promised.

She knocked on the door and without waiting for a response opened it slightly.

"Lisa, it's me," she said poking her head through the gap in the door.

"Oh come in," Ron heard her reply.

"Um, I've brought a friend with me if that's ok?" asked Hermione nervously. "It's just his family were going on holiday and he was sick so he came to stay with me."

"Yeah, that's fine," she said and Ron thought he could almost hear the smile in Lisa's voice. "The more the merrier."

Hermione led Ron into the room and as he saw Lisa his jaw dropped. She was gorgeous. Her short, black hair flicked outward at the ends and that smile. Her smile could light up a whole city, and the twinkle in her beautiful blue eyes could fill the sky with stars for a million millennia. Yep, he was in love.

"Hi," he said quietly as his nerves got the better of him.

"Hi, I'm Lisa," the girl replied waving at him casually.

"Ron," he stated simply, not trusting his mouth enough to say anything else.

"How do you know Hermione?" she asked curiously.

"Well erm…I…she…um…we…" noticing Ron's struggle with words Hermione quickly stepped in.

"His sister goes to the same school as me, and when I go to his house we hang out together," she said simply.

"Oh, so are you going out together?" asked Lisa flatly.

"No!" said Ron rather too quickly and Hermione couldn't help but feel a little hurt.

"Oh right," Lisa tried to hide the small smile on her face.

Just then Lisa's mother told them that lunch was ready and Lisa headed for the door.

"Let's go to the kitchen," she said happily and Hermione's heart sank.