AN: This chapter comes with a little warning for sensitive readers. But don't worry, you will see it. Enjoy!

Chapter 10: Apologies and a birthday.

Hermione and Ginny sat at the bottom off the stairs nervously waiting for the boys. There had been some duns' up there; Hermione just hoped both boy were ok. She didn't know why she had agreed to wait for Ron to handle it. Normally she would have rushed up there without a second thought; maybe it was the look in Ron's eyes that told her that they had to solve this on their own, that it was a guy thing. "Arrrg what was taking them so long?" After twenty minutes Hermione were just about to break her promise and go to see what was going on when a door opened and two pair of feet where slowly making their way down the stairs above them. Both Hermione and Ginny got up from their seats and turned around to great them with questions, but those where stuck in their troth when they saw the boys.

"RON!" she shouted a started to run up the stairs towards him. Ron had a black eye; his nose where bleeding and so was his lip. "What have you done to him Harry?" she demanded when she and Ginny reached them.

"Oh don't worry Mione..."

"My Ronnie!" Mrs Weasley came out from the drawing room. "Oh what have you done to each other? Why do boys always have to solve things with violence? Come on, down to the kitchen with you now so that I can fix you up."

Hermione went and pushed Harry away from Ron and put his arm around her shoulders to give support as they walked down the stairs with Harry and Ginny behind them.

Hermione didn't care if her helping Ron looked suspicious, she was so angry at Harry that she didn't care if he found out about them. She couldn't believe what he had said about the Weasley's, the family who had welcomed him and herself with opened arms when they had first come in to the wizarding world. And all the things he had said to Ron, well that just made her blood boil and a lust to punch him just like she punched Malfoy in their third year.

When they reached the kitchen Hermione helped Ron over to the nearest chair and gently put him down, and then she dragged another one over and sat down beside him and took his hand in hers while Mrs Weasley examined him.

"Two broken ribs, a black eye and cracked lip, all will be fixed in no time; the bleeding nose will stop shortly on its own." Mrs Weasley fixed his ribs first and then his lip. Then she got up, walked over to one of the cabins and took out a salve. "Here, put this on your eye." When Mrs Weasley had turned around Hermione took the tube out of Ron's hands. Miss Basset salve for Bruises and Contusions, it read, she poured some out in her hand and started to rub it on Ron's face.

"Well here it just looks like your jaw and nose is broken, maybe I won't heal your nose because I'm sure that you have some trouble talking, and then you can't insult my family anymore then you already have." Mrs Weasley said in a snappy voice as she examined Harry who was standing behind them. "Or, you heal him just so I can go and break it again!" Hermione thought as she scrawled up her face at Harry. "Episkey!" Mrs Weasley said and Harry winched as his face became its normal shape. When he straightened out again he turned to Mrs Weasley and said:

"I'm so sorry Mrs Weasley, for all the things I said. I didn't mean a thing I swear. I guess I just snapped or something." Harry got redder and redder as he kept apologising and ended up finding his shoes weary interesting.

"Apologise accepted Harry, but if you ever say something like that about my sons, or anyone else in my family again Harry, I'm afraid you are not welcomed in our company anymore."

"I understand Mrs Weasley, I'm so sorry." Mrs Weasley hugged him, then clapped him on the cheek and walked out of the kitchen.

When Mrs Weasley had left Hermione saw a movement in the corner of her eye and before anyone could respond Ginny was hitting Harry hard on his shoulder.

"That's for all the crap you said about my family you little piece of dragon shit!"

"Ow Ginny! I said I was sorry and I really am" Harry said trying to protect himself from her wrath. After Ginny had stopped, Harry added "Gosh Gin that really hurt, I just got my jaw and nose back, and I don't want to lose my shoulder to." That just earned him another punch.

"Well I want to know what the hell happened up there!"

"Well to quote it quite literally, I kind of knocked some sense in to Harry." Ron said and smiled up at Ginny.

"It's not funny Ron; you could have hurt yourselves really bad." Hermione said annoyed.

"Oh it wouldn't have gotten that bad." Ron said.

"Yeah, and even if it had I'm sure you would be here and patch your boyfriend up Hermione." Harry said and smiled at her. She gasped.

"Oh thanks mate, way to blow the canon at her."

"Best to get it over with mate." Harry smiled at them both.

Hermione just stared at Ron, her anger towards Harry turned to him. They had agreed to not to tell Harry until the last day of the summer , and they were going to tell him together, and now he had done it without even giving her a heads up that he would.

"Ronald Weasley, I would like to talk to you, in private!" Hermione was trying to speak as calmly as she could even tough she wanted nothing more than to scream at him.

"Oh I hate when you call me Ronald, always mean that I'm in trouble."

"Just come on." Hermione hissed and got up with Ron behind her.

"Good luck mate." Harry shouted before the door closed. She heard Ron grumble to himself but she ignored him.

She led the way to hers and Ginny's room, when he closed the door Hermione turned around facing him with her hands on her hips.

"How could you tell him without me? I thought we agreed to tell him on the last night before school!"

"I know, and I'm sorry that I told him without you. I swear that I didn't plan to tell him when I walked up there."

"Tell me exactly what happened when you got there."

"Well when he started to shout at me in the drawing room I understood that this was his way to cope with Sirius death. I guess he wanted to make someone else feel as miserable as him or something." Ron shrugged when he said the last part. "When I got up there to him I he kept going on about me at first but then I started to shout some mean things back at him. He fell quiet but I saw that the breaking point where near and the last straw was when I said that we were together. That's when he started to punch me; I punched him back when I had enough and we forgave each other and now he's back."

Hermione felt some of her anger ebb away but not all of it. "What more did you say to him to make him hit you?" Ron bent his head and seemed to find the floor quiet interesting.

"Well I may have said something about him not having a family, and that everyone he loved kept dying from him."

"Ron how could you!" her annoyance at him raised again.

"Oh come on, you know I didn't mean it, I just said it to get him angry and hit me. I just wanted to get him back to us and I understood that the way to that was for him to lash out on something, or in this case someone." Ron had crossed his arms in front of his chest and the tip of his ears was red.

Hermione stared at him in chock for a moment. Her anger was totally swept away with his words. "You mean that you let him hit you so that he would be ok again? You knew that he wanted, needed, to hit something, or someone, to cope with his feelings. How did you know that?"

"Well I don't know. I just understood when he was going at me in the drawing room downstairs. Maybe it's a guy thing or something."

"And you just let him take his misery out on you?"

"Well I didn't want anyone else to get hurt, sooner or later he would have to break and I rather it was me then somebody else. I just wanted him ba..." Ron didn't get the chance to finish his sentence cause Hermione had rushed over and crushed her lips on his. She hit him with such force that he slammed his back in to the wall; she kissed him more passionately than she ever had done before and he answered her just the same. Both of their hands started to wander, hers started do stroke his chest through his shirt and eventually got under it. Meanwhile, she felt his on her back stroking her up and down on to her bum and squeezed.

"Mm" they both moaned. Suddenly they heard voices outside the door.

"No Harry! They didn't go quiet because of..." the door opened and Harry walked in.

"Hey Ron are you alive? You've gone awfully quiet in here and... Oh!" Harry said and looked away from them.

"I tried to warn you and if you'd listen to me, you wouldn't have to see that." Ginny said as she walked in after Harry.

Hermione turned around in Ron's arms but when he tried to take them away from her she took his hands and placed them on her stomach. "Well you just have to get used to it cause we can finally snuggle whenever we want to." She said and smiled up at Ron.

"Oh no, that's what I feared would happened when you finally told Harry." Ginny said and gave them a grimace.

"How is it that you figured it out that they were together and not me?" Harry asked Ginny. "I'm their best friend."

"Well first, boys are bloody oblivious and wouldn't notice a Flobberworm getting up and start to step dance naked in front of their noses."

"Oi!" both Ron and Harry said.

"Second, they've been flirting with each other at every chance they got ever sense they got out from the hospital wing. And third, and it's completely understandable Harry, but you haven't been the best best friend lately." Ginny said looking sorrowfully at Harry.

At this Harry frowned and turned his eyes to his feet. After a moment of silence he spoke again. "I know I haven't been a good friend of late, and I'm truly sorry for that. All of you got hurt at the Department of Mysteries and I was too caught up in myself to be there for any of you."

"Hey no one blames you mate. We're just glad you're back with us." Ron said and let one hand go of Hermione to give a pat on Harry's shoulder.

"How did your mother find out Hermione, or do I want to know that?" Harry asked and smiled at her.

At this Hermione felt her cheeks heat up as she thought of that night. She looked at Ron to ask him, none verbally, if they should tell them, not about the whole night of course. His ears were red but when he turned to her he just smiled and shrugged.

"Well..." she said and turned back to Harry and Ginny. "She kind of cached us sleeping on the sofa in the drawing room on your and Ron's floor." She said and smiled at them. Ginny's hand had gone to cover her mouth as she started to giggle, but Harry still looked confused.

"But how could she guess that you were a couple from that?"

"Oh Harry you're so thick sometimes." Ginny said which only made her laugh even more. "It's obvious that they were snogging and fallen asleep together, in each other's arms."

"Oh!" Harry said a small pink shade spreading across his cheeks. "What did she do when she saw you?" he then asked.

"Eh... she kind of put a blanket on us. So we didn't know until we woke up that someone had been in there at all. It was only after she asked to speak with us in Hermione's parent's room that we knew it was her." Ron said.

"Aww, it's almost a shame her parent's like you so much Ron, I've always imagine Hermione's parent's kick your sorry little ass when they found out that you where dating their daughter." Ginny said and both she and Harry laughed. "But I guess saving your in-laws may help getting them to like you and accept that you're dating their only daughter." Ginny said after she had calmed down.

"Well, her father doesn't know yet." Ron said nervously and Ginny only smiled as she was imagine her father when he found out about her and Ron.

"Speaking of Ron getting his ass kicked, when will you announce your relationship to your mother Ron? I sure she won't be too happy that your kept this for so long from her." Harry said smiling smugly.

"Oh crap! I never should have told you cause now we have to tell my family, and that includes Fred and George who will bug me with it until school starts again." Ron said and let go of Hermione to put his hands over his face.

"Oh come on Ron it won't be that bad. Let's tell them at dinner tonight and just get it over with." Hermione said and took one hand of his face and hold on to it, and then she reached up on her toes so she could whisper in his ear. "And then we could finally hold hands in front of everyone, snuggle in the sofa during the day and most importantly sneak away for a little alone time without excuses." Hermione kissed his ear and then backed away.

"Ok, we tell them at dinner." Ron said and pecked her on the lips. And then Mrs Weasley called down to tell them it was ready.

It turned out that Ron's mother was so happy for her and Ron that she just waved away that they had kept it a secret for so long. Fred and George had been like Ron predicted, they teased them both until Mrs Weasley though that they had had enough and called them off for it, though Hermione knew they were far from done. She was sure it would continue through the whole summer when their mother weren't near them. Her father had been very happy but after dinner he had asked to speak to Ron alone. Hermione saw all of Ron's colour drain from his face but he swallowed and managed to get a stuttering "O-ok." before he followed her father upstairs.

Hermione grew more nervous for every second that passed by, though she trusted her father not to be so hard on Ron that he would scare him away, she still couldn't help but wonder if Ron would come down and say that her father was too much and he couldn't be with her anymore. But it seemed that her worries where for nought as when her boyfriend and father came down they were laughing and clapping each other's backs like old friends. When Ron sat on the sofa beside her he just put an arm around her shoulders and smiled down at her. She smiled back, she wouldn't pressure him about what her father had said to him; all that mattered was that he was still her boyfriend and that all was good between her father and him.

Now it was two days later, only four days to Harry's birthday. Mrs Weasley would go in to Diagon Ally today to by all the schoolbooks and Harry's presents, Hermione had no idea what to get him. "Something educational." She thought." Harry wanted to be an Auror and for that you needed an A in History of magic in your N.E. ." Yes she knew exactly what to get him now, a book that she had longed to read but hadn't bough yet for some reason. It was called English Witches and Wizards History by Edmund Floyd, it would help Harry with his Auror dream and she could borrow it after he was done.

She wrote down the book's name and went and handed it to Mrs Weasley before she flooed to The Leaky Cauldron.

Harry's birthday arrived and Mrs Weasley had prepared a big meal for him. All the Weasley's except for Charlie and Percy was there, Remus, Tonks, Knigsley, Mad-Eye, her parent's and Fleur Delacour were also there, Fleur because she and Bill had announced that they were a couple and had been sense she had started at Gringotts bank last year. They hadn't told anyone because they wanted to see that it was serious for both of them. Neither Mrs Weasley nor Ginny were too happy with this and Hermione had to say that she wasn't either, Fleur were really annoying most of the time.

After the dinner Mrs Weasley brought out a big birthday cake that looked just like a golden snitch. Hermione saw that he got really touched by this and she thought she saw him wipe a few tears away when he thought no one was watching.

After cake they all withdrew to the drawing room on the bottom floor for it was time to open presents. From Mr and Mrs Weasley Harry had gotten a book about all the English Quidditch teams' history, from Bill and Fleur a shaving kit from France. "Theez weel make your skin very smooth." Fleur had said and she thought she heard Ron mutter something about "That's why my shaving kits text from Bill where in French." Next Harry opened Charlie's who had sent a dragon tooth necklace, both of her parent's got very interested in this. The twins, who had stayed there for the night instead of their flat above their new joke shop, had given him some of their latest products but Hermione had warned him if she saw him use some of it at Hogwarts, she wouldn't hesitate to confiscate them. Remus, Tonks and Kingsley had all given him a Defence Against the Dark Arts book while Moody had given him a new sneakoscope. Her parents had given him some sugar free candy and Ron the same, though his was all than sugar free. From Ginny he got a new polishing kit for his broomstick and new gloves. He got very happy for his book from her and said that he happily loaned it out to her when he was finished.

When all the presents were opened, the others bid her and everyone else farewell or good night and wished Harry a happy birthday once again. When they had left it was only she, Ron, Harry and Ginny left. Hermione were lain snuggled up to Ron's (who was stroking small invisible circles on her back) side on the sofa, feeling her eyelids getting heavier. Harry and Ginny were crawled up in each chair across from them, talking about nothing in particular.

Hermione woke up suddenly when she heard a gasp coming from Harry. When she looked over at him it looked like he had fainted over the arms of the chair. His whole body was shaking, then he started to roll around and it looked like he was fighting something. Hermione and Ron where up in an instant as he rolled on to the floor.

"What's happening to him?" Ginny shouted as he bent down and tried to wake him.

"He's having a vision; we just have to wait it out Ginny and stop shouting." Ron said as he grabbed Harry and hugged him so that he would hold still and therefore not hurt himself by bumping in to something.

"What do you mean he's having a vision?" Ginny asked in a softer but not less worryingly voice.

"He's sees a bit of what You-Know-Who just like he did when he saw our dad being bitten of that snake this Christmas." Ron answered.

"You mean like he did when he thought Sirius were in trouble?"

"Yes, even though that was a false one."

"He weren't supposed to have this anymore; he's supposed to practise occlumency every day so that he doesn't get any false ones again!" Hermione said annoyed. Harry had stopped struggling and was on his way to wake up. His face had drained with and he was sweating and still a little shaky. "I think you can let him go now Ron."

"Oh right. Are you all right mate?" Ron asked as he let go of Harry.

"I-I was in a dark room with a fire as the only light source, and I-I saw Voldemort, no, I w-was Voldemort." Harry said breathing heavily. "And there was a Death Eater there who had her mask on so I didn't see who it was; all I saw was that she had long blonde hair. Voldemort asked her if she got it, what "it" was they didn't say, but she said that it had been sold a couple of days ago. He asked who had bought it but she just stuttered that she didn't know because one of her companions had blown the shop assistant in the ally they had dragged her to and the whole shop behind her with it. Then they had blown up several other shops and alleys as to not wake suspiciousness on which one they had been in.

(AN: Here is the warning.)

Then Voldemort tortured her for a really long time and then asked who had killed the assistant, I didn't hear the name but Voldemort said that he would die and that she was lucky that he still had use for her. A-a-and then I woke up just before he-he was about to tear her clothes, about to r-rape her." Hermione gasped and covered her mouth with her hand and so did Ginny. Ron looked truly disgusted and Harry just put his hands over his face.

(AN: Here you can start again.)

Even though that girl was a Death Eater Hermione felt like throwing up right there on the floor. But she swallowed her nausea and asked "What do you think they Voldemort is looking for and where do you think he were looking for it?"

"I don't know..." Harry started to say but Ron cut him off.

"But it looks like we can get one answer now." He said as he saw an owl flying towards the kitchen window with The Evening Prophet. They all got up and headed for the kitchen.

When they got there Mr and Mrs Weasley were the only one in there. Mr Weasley was paying the owl and gasped when he saw he first page of the paper. "Several shops in Diagon Ally blown up!" Mrs Weasley gasped and dropped a plate she was drying for hand.

"Fred and George!" She gasped and rushed over to the table her husband sat at as Mr Weasley started to read.

"Late this morning a number of five shops in Diagon Ally were attacked by Death Eaters.

The first shop that went was Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, the other four was:

Gambol & Japes

Madame Primpernelle's Beautifying Potions

Potage's Cauldron Shop and

Twilfitt & Tatting's robe shop

No one has yet been reported dead or missing but it is still too early to tell because of the

panic that break loose under the attacks.

Nothing has been reported stolen either so it's still unclear why the Death Eater's attacked

Diagon Ally.

"We do not know if the Death Eater's just did this for fun or if they were after something but we can assure you that the best Aurores are working as hard as they can." One of the Aurores who wished to stay anonymous said.

It is reported that she shops will be up and running again before the next school term starts, read more about that in page 13 column 6.

Everyone sat quiet for a while letting it all sink in. No one had been reported dead but Hermione, Ron, Harry and Ginny new one, though they couldn't tell anyone. "What could Voldemort want from one of those shops?" Hermione wondered. "And who had it now, bought it just a couple of days before the Death Eaters had come to get it." These were questions she knew had to be answered very soonso they could warn whoever had the item and tell them that Voldemort were after them.

AN: This was a hard chapter to write because I hadn't figured out what Voldemort's plan would be yet. But now I have and it's gonna be totally awesome! ;) Yes I sang that in Darren Criss voice.

Review please!