Harry was a little reluctant leaving Hedwig with the Fred and George in the car, but they insisted that they would sit right there and not touch her. 'Yeah right.' Harry thought, grinning because he knew the twins' nature.

Harry jogged to catch up with Ron, a sidelong glance backwards at his poor Hedwig, pent up with two insane Weasleys.

"How have you been, Mate?" Harry asked. The first time they had been alone.or at least not pressed in close proximity with people who they knew on friendly terms.

Ron looked over at Harry as they both swerved simultaneously into Flourish and Blotts for their new books. Ron reddened as he headed over to the used text book piles, hunching his shoulders in self consciousness.

The Weasley's had never really been rolling in money, unfortunately Harry didn't share the symptom, so he couldn't really relate.

Harry pulled out his list of the book he needed the purchase and began sifting through heaping mountains of literature searching for the following:

See your future in the Stars: by Reed Yerpath
Powerfully Potent Potions: by Matilda Yarrow
Transfiguration, Level Six: by Harriet Freek
Useful Charms: by Usseen Mytrick
Telekinesis.Do you have what is takes?: by Lauren Ceeall

(This list continues, but the author grew bored of making up the titles of
books.)

Paying for the novels with a variety of oddly sizes coins, Harry collected Ron, who had just finished paying, and they headed off to the new 'Cauldron and Supplies' store across the cobblestone road to collect their assortments of oddities include gecko eyes and crow claws.

Harry dropped three medium sized silver coins on the counter and collected the two mugs of butterbeer. Sliding into the booth across from Ron, Harry passed him his drink.

"This is where Hermione is meeting us?" Harry asked, checking the low hanging clock to his left.

Ron nodded, his mouth full. He swallowed, choking a little as it went down the wrong way.

"At one o'clock." Ron said, glancing at the clock with Harry.

Harry was a little nervous about seeing Hermione, aside from the present and his return letter, they hadn't said much over the summer, and he found it hard to believe that the feelings he'd began to develop last year had been quashed by the none-contact-ness that had been between them for the past three months.

Harry also knew, by the reddening of Ron's ears as the clock struck closer to one o'clock, that Ron's feelings for Hermione hadn't disappeared over the summer either. Though Ron still didn't know that Harry liked Hermione as more than just a friend.