Chapter 10

Ginny Weasley was slowly going insane. She was happiest when she was busy and doing things; sometimes she'd take long walks around the castle and the grounds of Hogwarts just because she hated to be still for long periods of time. Staying in Grimmauld Place made her feel claustrophobic.

At first, it was kind of fun. The whole Order would come and go and stay the night and Ginny got to see all sorts of people. The house was a little terrifying, but at least it was being cleaned up. After a few weeks, it got old fast.

Tensions were high and everyone was feeling it. Fred and George were driving her mad; being cooped up for this long was having a negative effect on them too. They would not stop Apparating from room to room and pulling stupid pranks just to let out some energy. The fight with Percy had taken a serious toll on Mum and Dad. Dad, who had always been cheerful even when stressed out, was on edge and rather grim and Mum seemed about to have a meltdown at any moment. Having Sirius around wasn't helping either. When Professor Lupin or Tonks was around, Sirius was bearable, but if they weren't there, he was about as irritable and whiny as Ron.

Ron had to be the worst of them all. He sulked around the house, ready to blow up at any possible moment. He whined about the house, about not being able to go outside, about not being able to join Order meetings. He snapped at Mum, yelled at Fred and George, and swore at Ginny.

Ginny walked down from her room to the kitchen, dreading what she might find when she got there. Nearly every time she went for a meal, somebody was in an awful mood. Yesterday, Mum had cried and cried all through lunch and the day before that Fred and George had practically blown up the kitchen. Ron's turn to be irritating would be next, she supposed.

She saw Ron heading up the stairs and braced herself for his wrath.

"Morning, Ginny!" Ron said happily, smiling widely.

Ginny stopped and stared at Ron. Did Fred and George spike his drink with something? Ron hadn't smiled like that or said something polite nearly all summer. Something had to be up.

"Good morning, Ron," Ginny said cautiously, not wanting to set him off.

He continued smiling as he passed her on the stairs. Ginny scurried into the kitchen, feeling thoroughly shocked. She entered the kitchen to find Mum, Fred, George, Sirius, and Tonks oddly giggly.

"Okay, what's up with Ron?" Ginny asked, plopping down at the table. "Since when is he all jolly?"

"Since he found out a certain little know-it-all is arriving tomorrow morning," Fred said, grinning mischievously.

"Cheered him right up," George added, an identical look on his face.

Ginny couldn't help but smirk. Ron's crush on Hermione had been obvious for ages but he was thoroughly denying it, although how he could deny it after his reaction at the Yule Ball was beyond Ginny. When Ginny had gone to ask him about it, he ranted about Krum and Hermione for at least a half hour before he calmed down. She was also pretty sure that Hermione fancied Ron back, but couldn't say for sure that she did. That didn't matter though; Ginny just knew they were meant to be.

Plus, Hermione was her best friend, and it'd be nice to have someone besides her family and Order members to talk to for once.

"I'm glad she's coming," Ginny said, helping herself to some breakfast. "This place gets right dreary sometimes. No offense, Sirius."

"None taken," Sirius replied easily, leaning back in his chair. "Why do you think I booked it out of here as soon as I could? It was even worse when dear old Mum was actually alive. You'd think there were a couple dementors leaving in here with us."

Fred, George, Tonks, and Ginny laughed and even Mum, who usually disapproved of Sirius' comments, let out a small chuckle. Ginny kept grinning as the conversation turned to lighter topics than usual. This had to be the first day in a week that everybody had been laughing so much; Ginny hoped that when Hermione actually arrived, things would get even better.

AN: Sorry this chapter is so short...I've agonized for weeks about this one; writer's block got me good. I hope you enjoyed it anyway. Keep reviewing! I love hearing from you guys!