Chapter 5

Wish Granted

"Okay, Ron, you have to stay calm," Ginny said, looking firmly at her older brother.

Harry thought Ron looked anything but calm. Ginny had helped him know what to say and how to say it and what he shouldn't say and what looks he shouldn't give and on and on. Harry could barely remember any of it and he couldn't possibly see how Ron was going to.

Ron seemed to have gained some confidence and he was smiling at Ginny, though a little sourly. A moment ago Ron had come to himself and asked Ginny how she knew everything that she was telling him. Ginny had merely smiled and turned away, but Harry figured that Ron hadn't liked the look in Ginny's eyes. Harry had to admit that he wasn't all that happy about it either. Was she seeing someone? But then why would she have kissed him?

Ginny stepped back and pointed toward the door. "Alright Ron! Get to it!"

Ron fumbled toward the door, smiling happily. Harry followed him down the stairs, but when Ron came to the kitchen door he froze. Hermione was sitting at the table with a book spread in front of her. Harry gave Ron a nudge, then saw that Ron was turning pale again. Ginny, standing just up the stairs, groaned.

Harry gave Ron a bigger shove and Ron took a few awkward steps forward. Hermione didn't look up.

"Er, Hermione?" Ron said in a much higher voice then usual.

"Hmmm?" Hermione replied, not looking up.

Ron looked nervously at Ginny and Harry hiding in the door frame. Ginny nodding encouragingly.

"I was wondering…would… I mean, how's your book?"

Ginny rolled her eyes and Harry smiled. He wondered if Ron was ever going to get through to the point.

Hermione closed the book and looked up at Ron, her eyebrows raised.

"Ronald, what do you want?"

"What?" Ron asked.

Hermione sighed, "You are never interested in what I'm reading."

"No, I am! I want to know!"

Hermione looked at him and then began, "Well, I'm researching more about Australia. I'm trying to track were my parents might be going next so I can catch them and undo the charm."

"Aw," Ron mumbled, clearly not very interested.

"What do you want?" Hermione asked again, this time rather irritably.

Ron swallowed and stepped forward. He cleared his throat and Hermione waited impatiently.

"Are you, er, well, er, going to be reading later?"

Ginny slapped a hand to her forehead as Hermione looked Ron up and down.

"Ron, you of all people know that I will definitely be reading later."

"Well that isn't really what I meant."

"Then what did you mean?"

"I…I, er …you …"

"You know I really should be reading," Hermione said, turning back to her book.

"No! Hermione, will you go out with me?" Ron shouted.

Hermione froze in the act of opening her book. She sat there for a moment, as if trying to realize if Ron had really said it, which was strange because he had yelled it to the whole room.

Finally Hermione turned around, a small smile on her face. "Yes Ron. I'll go out with you."

"Really?" Ron stammered, "I mean, okay. How about tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow is fine."

"Great! Er, we can go to Diagon Alley. Nothing special though. Maybe just hang out."

"Alright," Hermione said. Then to Harry's great surprise, she looked past Ron at him and Ginny. "Is it a group date? Are Harry and Ginny coming too?"

"Er," Ron said turning around.

Harry felt himself blush. Ginny was staring at the floor, looking like she was trying not to laugh. Harry looked up at Ron. Ron had a lopsided frown on his face. He looked at Harry and then slowly nodded.

"Ginny?" Harry began, realizing that his voice was much higher then usual as well. "Will you come to Diagon Alley with me tomorrow?"

Ginny started to laugh, "Yes Harry!"

As Ginny was joined in laughter by Hermione, Harry heard someone else laughing upstairs. Harry looked up and saw George smiling down at him. George hopped down the last steps and landed between Harry and Ron.

"Well! Harry, you are a natural! Ron, I'm surprised Hermione said yes!"

Ron frowned while everyone else laughed. Harry joined in the laughter and soon a smile stretched across Ron's face and he too began laughing.

Once they all gained control George smiled and turned to Ron. "I hope that you four have a good day tomorrow. I myself will be busy in the shop. Lee Jordon said he's coming tomorrow and he might possibly want a job. You four can come in any time, but I'll personally make sure you don't make off with anything you didn't pay for."

Ron glowered at the floor, knowing that there was no point in arguing. Ron had had many disagreements with George about how it wasn't fair that he, his brother, had to pay in the shop, Weasley's Wizards Whizzes. Harry didn't like to think that George permitted Harry anything he wanted in the shop free of charge. When George turned back around, he winked in Harry's direction and bounded back up the stairs.

Ginny, Hermione and Ron began talking about were they would all go the next day. Harry stared off after George. If he'd only finished it sooner, there might have been two red heads jumping up the stairs only a moment ago. Harry sighed and turned back to the table to see Ginny gazing at him, a sad smile on her face. She beckoned him toward and with a heavy heart, Harry made his way to the sides of his friends.