Chapter 11
No Title
Author's Note: Couldn't figure out a title. "Ron and Hermione's Visit" just sounded lame... so no title for this chapter. Sorry!
Saturday, July 24th, 1993
(Harry)
At ten-o-clock on Saturday morning, Harry and Ginny were lounging on the loveseat while they waited for Ron to arrive. Sirius and Amelia had left half-an-hour ago to meet Hermione and her parents at their hotel, where they would Apparate the Grangers to the beach-house.
Hermione and Harry had been sending letters back and forth all week to make sure everything would work out right for Hermione's visit that day. In one letter, Hermione had said it had taken a little while, but she had finally convinced her parents to travel by Side-Along Apparation going to the beach-house and leaving it, because the other option was a half-hour walk each way between the public beach and the house.
Meanwhile, Ginny had Floo-called the Burrow a couple days beforehand to make sure Ron was still allowed to visit. Mrs. Weasley allowed Ron to sleep-over for the evening and come back the following afternoon. It had also been decided between Harry, Ginny, Sirius and Amelia that they would return to England the fourteenth of August, which was the Saturday following Ginny's birthday. Following that, Harry and Ginny would spend a week back at Potter Manor, then spend the rest of the month at the Burrow. Mrs. Weasley was quite delighted to hear that.
Suddenly, a small duffle bag appeared near Harry and Ginny, and all they could do was stand up, before the fire in the fireplace turned green, and dust and ash blew into the room. Harry cleared it with his wand, and found Ron standing in front of the fireplace grinning. He walked over to Ginny and hugged her, and gave a one-armed hug to Harry.
"Is Hermione here yet?" he asked. "She's still coming, isn't she?"
"She'll be here," Ginny said, "Sirius and Amelia are bringing her and her parents here from their hotel. Then the four adults are going to spend the day on the town, and let us kids have our fun."
"Do you think Hermione's parents would allow her to sleep over tonight?" Ron asked, "Or would it be taking away from their holiday?"
"There is only one extra bedroom, Ron," Ginny said.
"So?" Ron asked shrugging, "We'll sleep out here in the living room."
Ron then took his first look around at the house and his eyes widened.
"This place is wicked!" he said.
"Take a look around," Harry said.
"Nah, I'll wait for Hermione," Ron said, "Tour is pointless if we have to do it twice."
Harry was going to ask Ron how home-life was when he heard multiple cracks outside the house. He, Ginny and Ron hurried outside onto the beach. Hermione was standing next to Amelia, and her parents were on either side of Sirius, looking rather windswept.
"That might take a bit of getting used to," Richard Granger muttered and shook his head as if he was trying to get water out of his ears.
"It was pretty fun, I think," Helen said, though she, too, looked dizzy.
"Hey, guys!" Hermione said, as Harry, Ginny and Ron walked over to her.
She gave all three of her friends a quick hug and saved Ron for last. Harry heard Ginny giggling in his mind when Hermione backed away from Ron, blushing.
"Hermione?" Ron said, "Er – I was wondering – I'm sleeping over here tonight and heading back to the Burrow tomorrow afternoon and -"
"I've already asked my parents if I can sleepover," Hermione said, then pointed to a large bag on the ground near them, "They said I could."
"How many bedrooms are in there?" Helen asked, looking at the house, "It is quite beautiful, but it seems rather small for two adults and so many kids."
"Three bedrooms," Sirius said, "One is for Harry, one is where Ginny sleeps, and one is for me and Amelia of course."
The look on Hermione's face told Harry she didn't believe that story at all.
"We'll sleep in the living room tonight," Hermione said, "Sleep-over tradition."
"Are you sure you want to sleep over?" Ron asked, "It is your holiday."
"We'll be here for a week, Ron," Hermione said, "And then we're going to Paris. I have enough of a holiday to be happy. Even if I ran into Harry and Ginny every day we were here, I'd still have fun here."
"Of course you would," Harry said.
"Well, kids," Sirius said, "Us adults are going to go out on the town. You four behave yourselves."
"We will, Sirius," Harry said.
"We'll see you tomorrow morning, Hermione," Helen said.
Hermione went over to her parents and hugged them. Sirius then took the hands of her parents.
"Ready?" he asked.
"My stomach is back where it belongs I think," Richard said, "Let's go."
Hermione giggled. The four adults vanished as the sounds they left behind echoed across the beach. The four friends walked back into the house and Harry and Ginny gave them a tour.
"Do you two really sleep in separate bedrooms?" Ron asked, as he looked at Harry and Ginny, when they reached their bedroom – the final room of the tour.
"No," Harry and Ginny said, in unison.
"Didn't think so," Ron said, "Mum's been excited about the two of you coming over at the end of next month. She's going to celebrate both of your birthdays then. But she's also quite talkative about the subject of you two sleeping in the same bed at night."
"It was her offer!" Ginny said.
"She said that," Ron said, "She's just hoping your Bond will behave enough from you sleeping in the same bed as long as your here that you won't do it there."
"Well bully for her," Ginny said, sarcastically, "She needs to understand we're married, and we can sleep in one bed."
"I think she does," Ron said, "She's just – I dunno."
"Being Mum," Ginny muttered.
"So... speaking of your birthdays," Hermione said, as they walked back into the living room. "What are you going to do?"
Hermione and Ron sat down on the couch, while Harry and Ginny sat back down on the loveseat.
"Ginny and I are visiting Paris," Harry said, "For both of our birthdays."
"Wait," Hermione said, "You'll be in Paris on your birthday, Harry?"
"Yeah," Harry said, "We'll be going to the Enchanted Cauldron around ten in the morning and visiting much of wizarding Paris."
"Are you going with Sirius and Amelia?" Hermione asked.
"No," Harry said, "We don't need chaperones."
"Are you upset with them or something?" Ron asked.
"Or something," Harry said, and cringed at Hermione and Ron's expressions of curiosity. "I'll explain soon. Why are you asking about Paris, Hermione?"
"I'll be in Paris starting for a week on Friday evening," Hermione said, "And one of the things I am planning on with my parents is visiting a few wizarding locations. We could meet up and visit them together on Saturday! I mean – Harry, is it really a good idea to visit Paris on your own? You are children to everyone who doesn't know your secret."
Harry knew the answer to Hermione's question, but he didn't want to talk about Sirius just yet.
"Okay," Harry said, "Then we can work out something with your parents and spend the day with the three of you."
Hermione smiled and nodded. "I'll see what they say."
"Hermione," Harry said, deciding he needed to change the conversation before it went back to Sirius, "Have you had any after-effects of the Comatose Curse? You were in it for so long."
"No," Hermione said, smiling, "But I told my parents about it. There was a bit of drama for a couple of days. They were terrified about it, of course. They took me to a Muggle doctor to get me checked up, but everything checked out and I am just fine."
"Muggle doctor?" Ron asked, "How would they know about treating for the after-effects of the curse?"
"Muggles suffer comas a lot, Ron," Hermione said, "Some are in them for many years. Doctors know what to look for with the after-effects. But I am completely fine. I did think my body was going to be a bit messed up because I missed cycles and stuff, but -"
"Too much information, Hermione," Ron groaned.
Hermione blushed and rolled her eyes.
Ginny giggled. He's such a boy!
Er... you haven't started yours yet, have you?
Sometime in the next year or so, probably.
Brilliant, Harry groaned.
You are such a boy too!
Hey! I'm not exactly looking forward to feeling your emotions when you go through that, you know.
Ginny blew him a mental raspberry.
"Really, I was more worried about my parents," Hermione continued, obviously oblivious of Harry and Ginny's telepathic conversation, "I thought at one point Daddy was going to ban me from ever going back to Hogwarts."
"But you're going, right?" Ron asked, quickly; "They didn't ban you?"
"No," Hermione said, smiling, and Harry noticed that Ron looked highly relieved, "I convinced them to talk to Professor McGonagall, and she came over to my house for a visit, and explained to my parents about what had happened. She also told me that I would be okay with being a third year with the rest of the class, and asked me what classes I wanted to take. I was disappointed that I couldn't take all five, so I chose Arithmancy, Ancient Runes and Care of Magical Creatures, because I remembered you all talking about how you were all going to be in the latter class, and I had been reading the two books you two gave me for Christmas. And then I started thinking -"
She paused and looked at her folded hands. "Harry, Ginny, I need to ask you something."
"You can ask us anything," Harry said, "You know that."
"Did I – er – I mean – did my other self," Hermione stammered, then sighed, "Did she ever have anything to do with time-turners?"
Harry looked at Ginny, who raised her eyebrows.
"Yeah," Harry said, looking back at his bushy-haired friend. "During third year. McGonagall gave her permission to take all five extra classes."
"How did that work out?" Hermione asked.
"Dreadful," Harry said.
Hermione frowned. "What do you mean?"
"She hated Divination," Harry said, "Dropped Muggle Studies at the end of the year, because she decided it wasn't that interesting. She couldn't handle the pressure. Half-way in she was getting tired and mixed up due to all the pressure of five classes. She once forgot what class she hadn't gone to and missed an important Charms lesson."
Hermione frowned. "Oh."
"Were you wanting to go that route?" Harry asked.
"I've been thinking about it," Hermione said, "I was going to write back to Professor McGonagall when I returned home from holiday. But now... I think I'm just going to stick with Care of Magical Creatures, Arithmancy and Ancient Runes."
"Well, that is good," Ginny said, "You'll be in class with me and Harry. We know nothing about Ancient Runes or Arithmancy, so we can all learn it together."
Hermione smiled and nodded.
"You don't?" Ron asked.
"Neither of us took those classes last time," Ginny said, "I decided to take those classes myself because – well – I don't think I'm going to play Professional Quidditch after we leave Hogwarts."
"Why not?" Ron asked, an expression of absolute shock on his face, "It sounds like you were brilliant!"
"I was... but... it kept me away from Harry," Ginny said, as she clutched Harry's hand a bit tighter, "I had only been doing it for a year, and I was already away from Harry for at least a week a month, if not more. I was missing Harry way too much, especially after we became married. And – well, we might want to start a family sooner than we planned, because we miss that option, and by then we'll probably really desire it. Even though we still feel nineteen and twenty or whatever... well, if we were in the old timeline, we'd be planning on having children sooner or later – four years was our decision really. So we're really going to be missing it in another four or five years from now."
Harry raised his eyebrows as he looked at Ginny. She hadn't vocally or telepathically expressed these feelings so deeply before now. She was also probably trying to keep those thoughts from Harry. He hadn't heard this at all before, and it surprised him a bit. He squeezed her hand gently and she smiled at him then looked back at Ron and Hermione.
"Anyway," she said, "I've decided I am going to be an Unspeakable for the Department of Mysteries, mostly working on Soul-Bonds. Perhaps I'll write a book like Nicolas and Perenelle did, and see if there are anyone else like us out there. It would be horrible if we were the last Bond-mates."
You're starting to remind me of Nicolas and Perenelle, Harry said, They too thought it would be dreadful if they were the only Bonded pair..
Well, I can see their point, can't you? We're the only Bonded pair in the world right now. That we know about. What if there are others out there? Or will be in the future and they will be just as confused as we were. They could die if they don't unite together. That is what I want to to do. I want to find them and help them.
Harry smiled and nodded. Ron seemed to realize Harry and Ginny were speaking telepathically, because he sparked up a conversation with Hermione.
"So you aren't taking Divination either?" he asked her, a frown crossing his lips.
"Harry said my other self hated it, Ron," Hermione said.
"She thought it was a joke class and dropped it a couple months before the final exams of the year," Harry said.
"See!" Hermione said, motioning to Harry but still looking at Ron, "What is the point of me taking a class if I don't like it, especially when I have plenty of other options?"
"I... I just hoped someone else would be in the class with me," Ron said, "I didn't want to take any other classes besides Care of Magical Creatures, and I had to take two."
"The rest of the Gryffindors took the class if I remember right," Harry said, "And Neville will be there, remember?"
Ron nodded, but the expression in his face clearly said he wished one of the other three there – and it didn't take long for Harry to realize who - had chosen the class as well.
"Oh, guess what?" Ginny said, "Remus is going to be the Defense Professor this year."
Hermione looked mighty happy about this news.
"Wicked!" Ron said, instantly becoming happier – which was probably Ginny's plan, "He'll be leagues better than Quirrel or Lockhart!"
"Best teacher we had in the previous timeline," Harry said.
"Also," Ginny said, "Tonks will be his Assistant Professor if Dumbledore lets her."
"She'll be at Hogwarts either way though," Harry said.
"Tonks?" Hermione asked, "Isn't she an Auror Cadet? Why would she be at Hogwarts?"
"Amelia and Sirius are sending a team of Aurors to Hogwarts and Hogsmeade for more security," Harry said, "Because of Pettigrew and Malfoy. Tonks is going to lead the group. That is what you get when your cousin is the head of the Aurors, and your cousin's wife is the Minister."
"But Pettigrew isn't going to try to go to Hogwarts, right?" Hermione asked, "You said you gave him a mission. Oh – Malfoy...I see. You're afraid that -"
"Malfoy is probably searching for Draco," Harry said, nodding, "And he has no idea where Draco is."
"Speaking of," Ginny said, "Draco and his mother, and Andromeda and Ted should be in Norway by now."
"Norway?" Ron asked.
"That is where Durmstrang is," Hermione said, "Where Draco is going."
"Oh," Ron said, "So... Draco's father doesn't know that?"
"We hope he doesn't," Harry said, "However, that means he might be trying to get to Hogwarts because that is the only place he knows – or thinks – that Draco will be at one point in the next few months."
"Malfoy will try to break into Hogwarts?" Ron asked.
"But they'll catch him, won't they?" Hermione asked, looking from Ron to Harry and Ginny, "Everyone is looking for him and Pettigrew."
"Yeah," Ron said, "Except... Malfoy's a raving lunatic and a Death Eater, and nobody's broken out of Azkaban before."
"Technically he only broke out because of a mistake Sirius made," Harry muttered, then realized too late what he said.
"What?" Hermione asked, "What do you mean?"
"Okay, what is going on?" Ron asked, "What aren't you telling us?"
Harry sighed in annoyance with himself. He looked at Ginny and she nodded. She entwined her fingers in his. Harry sighed, then explained to a very bewildered Ron and Hermione what had happened the previous Saturday.
"I-I wondered whether you had to do something with Pettigrew's escape," Ron said, "My parents are absolutely terrified thinking he will come to our house and kill us or something because we're the reason he was caught."
"He won't," Harry said, "We put an Imperius Curse on him to do one single mission. He won't break away from that for anything."
"Harry, he may be working with Malfoy," Ginny said.
"We told him to lay low until next year, Ginny," Harry said, "We didn't really give him an order other than that. When the Imperius sets in on his mission, he'll go do what he needs to do."
"Wait, Harry," Hermione said, "Sirius killed Bellatrix Lestrange? But the Daily Prophet said that Sirius said it was an Auror who Lestrange threatened."
"He was telling the truth," Ginny said, "Bellatrix threatened an Auror – Sirius. She threatened to kill Amelia, Harry and me."
Hermione's eyes went huge.
"Why are you so angry with him, Harry?" Ron asked, "Sounds like he basically saved your bloody lives... technically!"
"Ron, don't swear," Hermione scolded.
"He broke away from our task, Ron," Harry said, before Ron could retort to Hermione, "He could have ruined everything. There was a lot riding on Wormtail's escape."
"Have you even talked to him about it?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah, right after it happened," Harry said, shrugging.
"That wasn't a conversation," Ginny said, "it was an argument and you ran off and haven't talked to him about it since."
"Harry," Hermione said, sadly, "You can't stay mad at him. He's your godfather. Family!"
"I know that, Hermione," Harry said.
"So?" Hermione asked, "How long did you know him before he was killed last timeline?"
"Less than two years," Harry said, frowning, "And I'd be very happy if you didn't bring that up."
"Well I did bring it up Harry!" Hermione growled, "You're getting a second chance to know him. Don't mess it up because of some simple argument. Everyone makes mistakes, and you need to understand that and make up with him."
"She's right," Ron said, then smiled at Hermione, "as usual."
Hermione blushed and smiled.
Harry sighed. Great. I'm being talked down to by a thirteen year old.
A thirteen year old, going on fourteen in September, who knows exactly what she's talking about, Harry.
Not you too!
Yes, me too, and if you want to get technically, this is a nearly twelve year old, who is also nineteen you're getting talked down to by.
Yeah, but you do it a lot. I'm used to it.
Ginny glared at him.
Um... I love you?
Ginny's glare didn't leave her face.
"Fine!" Harry growled, then looked at Hermione, "I'll talk to him sooner or later. I just don't want him or Amelia going to Paris with me or Ginny. It is their honeymoon, and they deserve to do stuff without being our chaperones."
"So tell him that," Hermione said, "I'm sure he'd be okay with you two spending the day with me and my parents."
"I'll think about it," Harry said, "Now... are we just going to sit around talking all day? Who wants to go swimming?"
All three agreed with him. Because Hermione and Ron were there, Harry and Ginny decided to change in separate bedrooms, so Harry and Ron went into the master bedroom, while Ginny and Hermione went into the third bedroom.
"Harry?" Ron asked, "When Ginny was talking about the possibility of there being other Bond-mates in the world... do you really think there could be?"
"Our Bond seems to be created by an invention Nicolas and Perenelle Flamel made," Harry said, "But Nicolas and Perenelle's Bond... I bet that was natural to them. Something they were born with and it activated at a later age or something. So yeah... there could be others. Why?"
"I'm just curious, is all," Ron said, shrugging, "Sometimes – ever since I learned about your Bond with Ginny – I wonder what would be like if I was in your position with – well, not with my sister, of course, but with somebody."
"If you already met that somebody," Harry said, "it is highly unlikely you are Bonded like Ginny and I. Otherwise you would have had to kiss or something or your souls would die."
"I know I'm not Bonded with anyone," Ron said, "I just sometimes wish I was. Maybe things would be easier..."
Little did Harry and Ron know, Hermione and Ginny were about to have a similar conversation.
(Ginny)
"I think it is brilliant you want to work in the Department of Mysteries, Ginny," Hermione said, as she straightened her bikini top in front of the body-length mirror.
"Nicolas and Perenelle Flamel gave me and Harry a lot of help with that book they wrote," Ginny said, as she slipped into her own bikini, "I think it is only proper to write a book of my own and look for other Bond-Mates to pass the information onto and help them just like the Flamels helped us."
"Do you... really think there may be others out there?" Hermione asked, "Other Bond-Mates, I mean?"
"Maybe not right now," Ginny said, shrugging, "But it could happen in the future."
"Oh," Hermione said.
"Are you jealous, Hermione?" Ginny asked, chuckling.
"No!" Hermione squeaked, "I mean – I am definitely not jealous of what you and Harry have. I just think it would be exciting. You know I like learning new things, and experiencing something that very, very few people have ever experienced would be a dream for me."
"You don't need to be Bonded to fall in love with someone who is probably your soul-mate," Ginny said, "and have the same person love you too. It happens all the time without the help of Soul-Bonds."
Hermione nodded and blushed. She straightened her top and looked at Ginny in the mirror.
"Ginny?" she asked, "If I tell you something – well, I can't ask you not to tell Harry, because he will probably find out some way. But... you can't tell anyone else, especially one person in particular."
Ginny didn't need to ask who that one person was. "I promise I won't tell – nor will Harry."
Hermione rolled her eyes and giggled, then sobered up. "You remember that first night Ron and I woke up from our coma? We had to stay in the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts?"
"Hermione!" Ginny gasped, "Have you been keeping secrets? Did something happen between you and my brother that night?"
"No!" Hermione squeaked again, "But... there was something there."
"Like what?" Ginny asked.
"Ron told me," Hermione said, then sighed audibly and smiled, "He told me I do really deserve to be a lioness Animagus."
"Oh?" Ginny asked.
"He was really into that lion and lioness book Sirius and Remus gave us so we could learn about our Animagi," Hermione said, "And – well – I think it means something. The way he sounded when he told me that. The way he said I deserved to be a lioness."
"You think he might be slowly realizing he has feelings for you?" Ginny asked.
Hermione chuckled and nodded. "That is the only thing I can think of. I mean – remember when we first found out our Animagi animals? He was embarrassed that we were the male and female versions of the same animal. And now he really thinks it fits us."
"I think you're right," Ginny said, smiling, "He's getting there. Now you just have to wait for him to get past his boyish behavior and admit it."
"That will be a while, won't it?" Hermione asked.
"If he doesn't tell you by the time we defeat Voldemort," Ginny said, "I'll smack some sense into him."
Hermione blushed a deep red and laughed. "You don't have to do that."
"You too deserve each other," Ginny said, "and if it keeps Ron from doing other stupid things than I am all for it.
"What stupid things?" Hermione asked, "What did Ron do in the other timeline?"
"Went out with Lavender Brown in his sixth year," Ginny said, "And I know he did it to make the other you jealous or something."
Hermione frowned. "He fancied her?"
"No, not exactly," Ginny said, "He went out with her because he hated being the only one of his friends who hadn't kissed somebody. Harry had kissed Cho Chang and –"
"Wait!" Hermione said, "Are you saying – who did the other me kiss?"
"You don't know him yet," Hermione said.
"Oh," Hermione said, "Is he a Muggle?"
"No," Ginny said, "He just hasn't come to school yet."
"She kissed someone years younger?" Hermione asked.
"Older," Ginny muttered, "I really don't want to say who it is... he'll probably be around next year."
Hermione frowned. "I don't want to kiss anyone else besides Ron."
"So don't," Ginny said. "It might have been my fault Ron got together with Lavender anyway. I was mad at him because he yelled at me when I was going out with Dean, and I told him the other you snogged someone."
"He snogged someone else because the other me did?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah," Ginny said, "I felt really bad because they were talking about going to this party together, and Ron got all mad at her."
"I'm sure she forgave you for that," Hermione said, "I would."
"I never told her I told him," Ginny said, "I don't even know if Ron told her he knew she kissed the guy! But since you are technically the same person... thank you. It means a lot to me."
Hermione smiled.
Ron and I are ready, Harry said,Are you two?
Yeah, I think so.
I have a towel for you.
'Kay.
"The boys are ready to go swimming," Ginny said.
"I'm ready," Hermione said, as she grabbed her towel out of her bag.
Ginny and Hermione walked out of the bedroom, and the four friends made their way down to the beach.
(Hermione)
After about three hours of swimming, everyone was getting hungry. So Harry decided to make a quick lunch for everyone, and Ginny went in with him to help. Hermione stayed on the beach with Ron, and laid down on her towel and relaxed, deciding she should work on a nice tan for the holiday. She relaxed and closed her eyes.
"Tired?" Ron asked.
"Hmm?" Hermione said; she opened one eye and noticed Ron was sitting down beside her on another towel, "Oh, no, I'm just working on a suntan. I do this every summer we go on holiday."
"We Weasleys don't tan very well," Ron said, "Our pale skin burns easily. Good thing Ginny can do that sunscreen charm. Mum usually has to do it."
"Ron?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah," Ron said.
"Are you mad at me – I mean – me, Harry and Ginny for not choosing Divination?" Hermione asked.
"No!" Ron said, "Why should I be?"
"You looked quite upset when we were talking about it," Hermione said.
"I'll be okay, I expect," Ron said, "We're in every other class together."
"And you have an extra free period the three of us don't have," Hermione said.
"I'm not using it for homework time," Ron said, "It will be fun being out of class when you three are in one."
Hermione giggled. "You could use it to work on your Keeping skills."
Ron shrugged. "Oliver's last year is this year. I'll be the starter soon."
"I'm sure he'll let you play in a game," Hermione said, "You would have played last month if you weren't cursed, I'm sure. Are you okay – after the curse I mean? No side-effects?"
"I'm perfectly fine," Ron said, "I was only under it for a few days. I was more worried about you, to be honest."
"You were?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah," Ron said, "I was hoping it didn't bugger you up or anything."
"Language, Ron," Hermione said, rolling her eyes. "But thank you."
Ron smiled. "So... did your parents sign your permission slip to go to Hogsmeade?"
"Yeah," Hermione said, "Should be pretty fun. Why?"
"Wouldn't be very fun to go if you weren't going," Ron said, "I mean... I expect Harry and Ginny will want to do their own thing. You know -"
"First actual dating opportunity they can get away with in front of other students," Hermione said, "They won't miss it."
"Yeah," Ron said, nodding. "Exactly. So if you weren't able to go Hogsmeade, I'd be alone. But now that I know you can go, we can spend the day together – I – I mean –"
Hermione giggled at how flustered Ron became. "Of course we can go to Hogsmeade together. I mean - I'm not planning on going alone, am I?"
"Well, especially not if there are going to be Aurors all around the village," Ron said, "They're going to want us to stick together in – err – pairs."
"Buddy system," Hermione said.
"Exactly," Ron said, "Buddy system."
"I would be happy to be your 'buddy' in Hogsmeade," Hermione said, giggling.
Ron blushed. "Okay. Brilliant. I – err – I'm going to go swimming again. Good luck on that tan of yours."
"Thanks," Hermione said.
Ron stood up and walked back into the water. Hermione blushed, smiling to herself.
Had Ron just unofficially asked her out on a date?
Chapter finished. Unofficially... yeah, there you go. Their "official" date won't happen till later. But I think a nice Hogsmeade "Buddy system" visit will be good. Expect that for Halloween (in story).
Also... one of the conversations in this chapter will probably spark up a question. No, Ron and Hermione do not have a Soul-Bond. Yes, I am planning on another Soul-Bond happening, HOWEVER it isn't a very big thing. It will happen in the epilogue of book 3, and if I ever do decide to turn this into a four-story saga – no promises whatsoever. But if I did, the main character wouldn't be Harry or Ginny – you might see the Bond-mates in that story... however the Bond-mates would probably not be the main character either. No promises on a fourth story, though... just thoughts. Let me get through the trilogy first!
So most of this was all conversation. I was having trouble deciding what I wanted to do. Hope you all liked this chapter!
Next chapter... Remus and Tonks talk to Dumbledore, and Harry and Ginny spend Harry's birthday in France – possibly with Hermione and her parents! Speaking of... I have a new question for you having to do with the visit! Your idea could happen in the story!
What would you like to see Harry and Ginny visit in wizarding Paris? Any ideas for a magical site/building/landmark? Beauxbatons is near Cannes to the far south, so they probably won't see that. However, there will be a minor connection to Beauxbatons they will see.