A/N: Hi - again thanks for all the follows and reviews!

I was going to start this story off when the party was in full swing but I changed my mind so the next chapter will be the party. After the next chapter I will begin telling this story as well as starting another story from Ginny's POV that will go along side by side with this story (but will also have a few flash backs to her year at Hogwarts when the trio was off hunting). Hopefully everyone enjoys that as well.

Thanks again - please review and follow if you like the story! - ficerella

Pantry of Sibling Bonding and Kissing

Harry paced back and forth on the floor of the bedroom that once belonged to Percy but he was currently occupying. At the way his feet were pounding into the wood he was sure they would leave a rough indented path that people could examine years later and exclaim 'This is the very spot where "The Chosen One" was driven mad by a girl. He could face Voldermort head on, but Hermione Granger? He was screwed, and not in a pleasant way!' He sighed and grumbled to himself, stopping beside his desk and looked down to the pond.

He realized he wasn't even that upset with her, he was angrier with himself. He seemed to suddenly lack self control whenever she was around. Of course it didn't help matters that she seemed to wear very little as of late, but still, the fact remained that around her he was driven insane. She had looked like she had felt the same though…

He brushed the hair from his eyes as people started to apparate into the back yard, near the kitchen entrance. The party was about to begin. He watched as the guest of honor, Minerva McGonagall, arrived with Kingsley Shacklebolt, who was assigned temporary Minister of Magic, after the fall of Voldermort, but it looked as though it may become a permanent vocation for him. Bill and a very pregnant Fleur popped up next followed quickly by George who dashed past everyone and into the house. Harry heard him hollering for Ron down below as he crashed into something in the kitchen, more than likely the wooden kitchen table covered in food. The next group to arrive made his stomach twist has Charlie appeared with Ginny at his side and a few of Charlie's friends from the reservation who Harry believed had probably been former Hogwarts students as well.

Harry turned from the window, a forlorn expression across his face. He took off his glasses and squinted his eyes as though it would help him process his thoughts better.

Ginny…he hadn't really talked to her since a few days after the final battle. He had avoided her at first when the battle had just ended and he walked along in his cloak, hidden from everyone. He knew he should talk to her but he told himself he could do it later. Deep down though he really hadn't wanted too. He had been worried she still harbored feelings and held onto the unspoken promises they shared on that kiss that Ron had interrupted before they had left and would expect him to dive right into a relationship with her. Logically, at the time, he knew it was the best idea because pining after Hermione was pointless. Ron and Hermione had shared a kiss and he assumed they would begin a relationship rather quickly now that Voldermort was gone. He was surprised to find Ginny acting cool towards him at the Burrow a few days later and he was a little more than relieved. She hadn't mentioned a relationship beginning again with him and almost seemed like she was trying to avoid him. Then, the next thing he knew Ginny and Molly had a huge fight and the next day Ginny was sent to live with Charlie. No one was told why but there had been rumors that she had taken up with a Slytherin while Harry and company had been away from school. Harry couldn't blame her for moving on, but the thought of a Slytherin with her did make his blood boil and he had deeply wondered who it had been and if it was still going on.

He walked over to his wardrobe and picked out a nice jumper to throw over his jeans, it was a little to warm to wear a robe even with the cooling charms scattered around the Burrow. The sound from those gathering downstairs was getting deafening and Harry decided he should probably go and join the festivities. He smiled to himself; at least he would get to see Teddy later tonight.

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Ron stood there staring at his brother who was talking a mile a minute. It was nice to see his brother so excited, he hadn't really been since Fred had died in battle, but it was also a little disconcerting having all this attention directed towards him.

The kitchen was filling up rapidly and Molly shooed the two of them to a small room off the side of the kitchen used to store dry goods.

"Ron, with this contest – the winnings we could open a new shop! We could have two shops."

The 'we' in George's statements weren't lost on Ron and he shifted, crossing his arms across his chest defensively waiting for George to breathe so he could make comment.

"Well, Ron, what do you think? We just need to gather the funds to actually enter the contest but then we will win! You have to know that!"

Ron decided he should choose his words carefully and really wished Hermione was here, she was much better with these things. "I, erm, think it is a great idea George…"

"Great idea? It is bloody brilliant!"

"George!" Molly yelled from the kitchen, she was as good as Hermione at picking up on foul language.

"Sorry Mum!" George shook his head laughing and whispering to Ron, "We should study her, she has like super sonar ears! Make some improvements on that extendable ear."

Ron nodded and waiting for George to continue.

"Anyway, Ron, do you not want to partnership with me? I can't do this all alone."

"George, we haven't even discussed this before. I didn't know you wanted me to even partner with you. If it is just for the Galleon then you might want to hold the partnership idea, I don't have any right now really. Just a small amount that we all got after various settlements but nothing that you'll need to enter the contest and invest in your product idea. Maybe try Percy or something? He has money and nothing better to do any longer."

George looked at Ron crest fallen. "Ron, it isn't the money, we can figure that out…I just assumed you'd want to join in. You always seemed eager when Fred and I talked about the shop and expansions. We both just assumed you'd eventually come on board one day if Harry and yourself didn't get killed with all your stupid stunts. Then, of course, Fred now being…you know…" George's voice cracked and he stopped talking.

Ron felt his face flushing and his eyes sting. He was a man. He wasn't going to cry. He shook his head roughly to fight the emotion overtaking him. Fred had wanted him to join in? Ron had always felt like an outsider with his siblings. Charlie and Bill were the close ones, being the first two born. Percy was always a loner. Fred and George were of course inseparable so that left Ron with Ginny. What boy really wants to spend his time with his little sister who would sneak his broom and ride it around when she thought no one was looking?

"I hadn't known George. I would like to talk about this with you then." Ron gulped at the gruff sound of his voice and George nodded to Ron blinking hard himself.

They stood there, blushing and awkward for a moment both denying the emotional mood that had taken precedence over the situation. George groaned and threw his arms around Ron giving him a fierce hug and Ron hugged him back. In an effort to seem more masculine, despite the tears that were now running down each others cheeks, they pounded on one another's backs and kept their back ends thrusted out in an effort to keep their hips as far apart as humanely possible.

Ron heard a squealing "Awww" coming from the door way and both boys jumped apart from one another wiping at their eyes and cheeks and turned their attention to Hermione who was standing at the entrance her own eyes blurry and her face plastered with a grin.

"So great to see you George!" Hermione ran over and jumped upon George. Ron marveled at how different their hug was. No body parts pushed away – their bodies were flush against one another and Ron felt himself growing jealous but took some deep breaths trying to control it and tugged gently on the back of Hermione's yellow top. "Hermione let the bloke breath." He laughed trying to sound casual and not green with envy at the fact that it wasn't him being hugged.

Hermione smiled and stepped away from George who was blushing head to toe, his eyes now dry and glittering with mischief.

"Thanks 'Mione. It's good to see you too. Now, where is the food?" George rushed out of the storage pantry, slapping Hermione on the rump as he passed her, and into the main kitchen and joined in the conversations that were going about in the room.

Hermione turned full on Ron and looked him once over.

"Want to talk about it?" Ron shrugged his shoulders, realeaved that Hermione seemed to of entered at the very end of their conversation, when they were hugging and hope she hadn't noticed the tears to much.

"Not much to say…George just wants me to partner up with him and the shop. Enter some contest, open a new shop with the prize money." He winced slightly and waiting for Hermione to tell him he was wasting his life away and why had he bothered with school at all if he was going to just run a joke shop for the rest of his life.

"Is that really what you want to do with your life Ron?" Hermione leaned against a tall stack of flour and looked him over again – he could almost feel her gaze on him making him blush with insecurity.

"I don't know, I mean, I think it might be nice. It doesn't have to be a lifelong thing or anything – just something to help George out. I know it isn't like a 'high class' job or anything like Harry will probably get but I think it'll make me happy."

"Ron, do you think I would care if you don't have a, what was it, 'high class' job? As long as you are happy that is all that matters…that is all anyone should really want anymore after everything we've all been through." Hermione sounded very soft and hurt at Ron's accusal and he suddenly felt dreadfully guilty.

"I'm sorry I just thought…" He signed and ran his hands through his hair. Hermione shook her head and went over to Ron wrapper her arms around his waist and leaned her head against his chest. Shocked he stood still a moment then slowly let his arms fall down and wrap around her in return. He leaned his head down and rested his it against her full head of curls breathing in the fruity scent of her shampoo. Smiling at their closeness he placed a kiss on the top of her head.

Slowly Hermione lifted her head and looked up into Ron's eyes. He loved how her eyes looked like a deep rich chocolate, his absolutely favorite sweet on earth. He licked his lips in response to her licking her own and slowly dropped his head down until his lips just barely brushed against hers asking for permission. With a sudden force she slipped her arms out from under his and then threw them around his neck and into his hair, her nails scraping into his scalp. Her lips parted and he felt her tongue trace against his lips and he opened his mouth slightly so it could slip inside, his hands running up and down her back, gently pressing her body into his, trying to get closer to her than George had managed.

They stood like that, their bodies trying to become one in the deep kiss, until someone outside the doorway coughed loudly to get their attention.

"Uh, excuse me?!"