Thank you so much for the reviews and answering the email that PansyMalfoy16 sent to me: Do not worry, they will all be returning to Hogwarts and I swear, I'll try my hardest to make my story better...but on another note...I can't make everyone happy so I'm sorry that you dislike a few things in my story. I appreciate your suggestions, but if you have so many of them that are completely different from my story, perhaps you should submit your own with your own ideas instead of trying to turn someone else's story into yours.

Not mine.

Friday, August 3, 2007

Chapter 14

A Close Friend

Ron was looking into the face of someone he would have never forgotten. He stared at them and they stared back, a small smile on their face.

"Hello Ron." They repeated their greeting, waiting for Ron to respond.

"Uh, oh, yea, hi."

"Can we talk somewhere?" They asked and Ron just nodded, heading over to a small cafe he was walking towards anyway.

He sat with that person and they started to talk...

Hermione walked into Fred and George's joke shop to look around. It had to be the most crowded shop in Diagon Alley, full of kids and adults alike. She smiled, walking around and looking at all the different toys or candies.

"'Ello there 'Ermione , doing some shopping?" Cho Chang asked as she walked up beside Hermione, her arms full of boxes and bags.

Hermione smiled, turning away from the Tongue Tied Toffees to face Cho. "Yes, and i can see you are."

Cho laughed softly. "Yes, well, this was my only free time." Cho glanced behind Hermione towards the door. "Are you here with Harry?" She looked back to Hermione, anxiously awaiting her answer. "And Ron?" She quickly asked to make it seem that she was just asking about Harry.

Hermione wondered why Cho would be asking about Harry, they did break up after all. "Just Ron, he went off to grab us a bit to eat for lunch."

Cho's smiled wavered just slightly, glancing down to Hermione's still non-rounded stomach, hoping that Hermione wouldn't notice. Hermione did notice, but she didn't say anything. "Well, have a happy Christmas, 'Ermione." Cho then rushed from the store before hermione could wish her the same.

Hermione sighed and shook her head, looking around the store again. She finally managed to get up to the counter where Fred and George were ringing up sales and handing out stuff from behind the counter. "Hi Fred, George. Busy day?" She smiled as she asked the twins.

They both glanced at her and got a strange look on their faces. "Hermione!" George took a break from listening to the kids yell and scramble about for what they want and walked to where Hermione was standing, the counter still separating them. "What are you doing here? Where's Ron?"

"Well I wanted to stop by and ask you a question, Ron's getting some lunch. What does Ron like? I want to buy him something nice for Christmas?" Hermione nearly had to shout over the loud crowd beside her, all talking frantically about what they bought in the shop.

George looked at Hermione and then motioned for her to follow him. He lifted the end of the counter up, allowing her to walk back. As they passed Fred, George said he'd be right back. George led Hermione into a back room and shut the door after him. The room was much more quiet than the outside shop. "Why don't you take a seat." George suggested as he pulled out a chair in front of a small table.

Hermione smiled her thanks as she sat down, glancing around the room. The room was small, two beds a small kitchen, and a few chairs and stools.

George took a seat next to her and then looked at her. "So, here's what you should get Ron..."

"Ron, I heard the news about Hermione. Is she back at The Burrow?" The person Ron was sitting at the small cafe table with asked him, looking into his eyes.

"Err, no, she's here shopping somewhere." Ron mumbled, still not feeling right without Hermione beside him.

"You've left her alone?" The person was getting upset. They stood up and looked around at the passing people. "You shouldn't have done that, Ron!"

"What do you mean?" Ron stood up after them. "Why not, what's going on?"

"There's something terribly wrong with the child."

Ron's heart stopped. It felt as if it had plummeted into his stomach. "What..." He couldn't form words. He stared into the serious, worried face the person standing across from him.

"Ron, as a close friend, listen to me now." Their calming voice washed over him as he dropped back into his seat.

I should be looking for her! Ron thought to himself, screaming inside his head. He looked up and asked the one question he needed an answer for. "What's wrong with our baby?"

Remus Lupin sat back down across from Ron and they locked gazes. "Listen closely..."

Yes I know, it's short. Well it was Lupin who was talking to Ron! And oh no, some thing's wrong with the baby?! You'll have to read the next chapter to find out!! Oh by the way, any suggestions on what Hermione should buy for Ron for Christmas? Because I have no idea, I was never good at buying gifts for my boyfriends...lol. Any and all suggestions will be much much appreciated.

And what the heck does AU mean?!

Short little a/n that wasn't put into the story...I can't remember how Cho spoke, with her accent and what not, so I'm sorry if it's all wrong and stuff...

Review or you get nothing. NOTHING AT ALL!!!

Yes, I have said that in a previous chapter, I just hope more of you listen this time!!