So first all I want to say, I'M BACK!

Now, I have to tell you I've had a lot of life drama in the past year. I have a son and he's wonderful – a ton of work, but absolutely wonderful. He just turned one and my husband and I have enjoyed him so much this past year even if weren't 100% ready, which now I know no one is ever fully ready. I guess I never thought we'd get pregnant so quickly after we decided to try. We also never thought that we would have so many family issues going on when we decided to have a baby so it's been hard to balance all that. We've been so busy and tired that we were lucky when we had five minutes to talk to each other. But, we survived and life is back to normal. I still have school, work, and a now one-year old, but that's it; no craziness or hospital visits or anything else. Trust me you don't want more details.

Anyway, I want to quick say thanks to heronlove for her PMs and keeping me motivated to come back to this story. You are the best! Thank you! Thank you!

With that, let's get on to another chapter and I hope to keep updating monthly. Also, I don't own Harry Potter and the scene from HBP that is in this chapter (a bit modified). You'll know the scene when you read it.

The Day before Sixth Year

Molly had been thinking for a long time. She had to find a way to get Lily and Harry to appreciate Severus' memory as a fortunate one, to see him as someone that they had been lucky to share years with instead of just wallowing in how much they missed him. They needed to focus on something else besides how they had lost him. She wanted them to reconnect with the goodness of having him and respect how he had wanted them to move on and learn to enjoy life after his passing. He had given everything to save his son and Molly had promised him that she would help Harry and Lily with moving on, with just living. That's how she had come up with the idea of having a small get together to send the kids off to Hogwarts. She wasn't going to go to the extent of the Snape bash that had held yearly until that awful summer after the train attack. But a small going away party could bring everyone together and infuse some joy.

She tried to get the order to help ensure everyone would be safe at the Burrow, but after the last attack even extensive warding didn't seem to be enough to allow Lily, Harry, and Cassi to visit. Estella was the one to solve the issue. Their send off would be held in Swanson mansion, which along with the Snape's flat and Hogwarts were considered the only places safe enough for the Snapes. Molly would make the food and the twins would provide some fireworks. She had to admit that even though she had not been pleased with her sons' choices, they had been right and their products and the shop were an overwhelming success.

Ron and Ginny stood by their parents ready to head to Swanson mansion when suddenly they saw the flames in the fireplace come alive. The green colouring obviously indicated the arrival of visitors.

"There you are," Molly said.

"Anna?" Ron questioned as the girl came out of the fireplace with her parents and brothers in tow.

"Hi Ronald," she greeted with an honest and shy smile.

"The Davies are coming with us to Swanson Mansion. Anna is going to Hogwarts with you, so we thought she should join the celebration to send you all off," Arthur said.

"Right," said Ron, trying to sound casual but blanching at the idea. Anna is coming. And Hermione will be there. Anna and Hermione in the same place, with me.

"Ronnie? Ronnie dear? Ronald!"

"Yes mum!"

"I was saying you should introduce Anna to your sister."

"Right. Yeah. Anna this is Ginny. Ginny this is Anna Davie."

"It's so nice to meet you!" Anna greeted enthusiastically.

"Yeah, nice to meet you," Ginny said in a muted tone.

"I've always wanted a sister! Isn't this so exciting?"

"Sure, exciting," the youngest Weasley answered with a smile. Ron noticed it was the fakest smirk Ginny could possibly plaster on her face and her sarcastic tone hid whatever reply she really had wanted to give.

"That's so sweet," Molly said looking at her daughter sternly.

Guess mum caught on, Ron thought.

After that, everyone was ushered to hold onto portkeys that would bring them to their destination. They felt the pull of a portkey and arrived at a beach. Ron recognized it from last year as the beach in Swanson Island and soon they heard a familiar pair of voices calling for them. Fred and George stood nearby.

"These must be the Davies," George said trying to sound welcoming but not fully succeeding. He and Fred proceeded to shake hands with the new addition to their party.

"You two must be the business men. I saw that shop when I visited Diagon Alley during my lunch last week. It is marvellous. Very amusing items if you ask me," Mr. Davie said cheerfully.

"Thank you. We're aiming for the best jokes and pranks in England," Fred answered proudly.

"You're well on your way," Mrs. Davie added.

They finished their greeting and George explained the need to ride on the Griffins to get to the mansion. The young Davie boys were thrilled while Anna and her mother looked positively terrified.

"Georgi help Andrea, you have some experience being here. And I'm sure Ronnie would love to take Anna with him. He'll keep her safe, right dear?" his mum said.

Bloody hell! Damn it all! He thought. Yet he managed to croak, "Sure."

He helped Anna onto the Griffin and they were off. As they rode to the mansion he felt Anna practically melt into him and he couldn't help but compare her to Hermione. The last time he rode a Griffin she was with him and he remembered reassuring her, making sure she was safe, and feeling his body heating up from her proximity. It was during this musing that he felt Anna's hand taking a hold of his forearm and then slowly moving to clasp her hand to his. He stiffened. He really didn't like being touched romantically. Well, actually he did, just not by Anna Davie.

The arrival at the mansion was awkward to say the least. Ron introduced Anna to everyone. Harry seemed surprised and was still wrapped up in his own gloominess. He was nice as usual, but not very inquisitive. Mrs. Snape, on the other hand, seemed like she was studying him as if he was a new spell against the Dark Arts. That made him even more nervous. The Malfoys and Estella displayed a sense of coolness that was awkward. It figured that a bunch of Slytherins would be polite and refined, yet show no true excitement or even approval of this situation. Then came the worst, the time to introduce Anna and Hermione. He hadn't known what to expect. But seeing Hermione pretend to be surprised and interested in meeting his fiancé while her eyes betrayed her by showing pure despair was... indescribable.

They shared lunch outside in the large deck that faced the backyard. After the food was gone, the party continued with people sharing jokes and stories. Then Fred and George began to light fireworks while teasing their respective girlfriends. Ron did his best to pretend that he was enjoying himself, but every smile and question that Anna send in his direction made him want to explode. This damn girl was the reason for this mess. She might be a pretty blond and a decent person, but in this moment Ron only felt contempt. He knew she didn't deserve it. She didn't sign the contract. She actually seemed to like him and was probably acting this way only to be nice. But by Merlin, it was infuriating, especially with Hermione around. He looked at Hermione's bushy hair and small frame. Even in simple jeans and a t-shirt, she took his breath away.

With Anna at his side, Ron saw how Hermione got Harry to spend some time with Malfoy and Ginny talking about Quidditch. And when Anna took hold of one of his hands, he noticed how Estella approached Hermione and shared a conversation in shushed tones, and how Hermione's eyes settled on the ground while the Slytherin gave her hand a gentle squeeze. She's comforting her. Bloody buggering hell! Hermione shouldn't need comforting from Estella. She shouldn't be upset. She should be happy and in love and with me! Ron thought. He wanted to dig a hole in the ground and bury himself in it; disappear into thin air and never have to deal with this bullshit. And a part of him wished that he had never kissed her, never touched her, and never known how good they were together. Maybe if he hadn't learned how to nibble her soft of her lips, how to caress her heated skin, how to delve into the most intimate flavours of her body, then this wouldn't be so hard. Yet, he did not regret having those experiences. He never would.

Then came the worst part of the afternoon. It had started innocently enough. Anna had asked him if they could walk around the backyard. He agreed. Perhaps a bit of distance would make Hermione feel better. He certainly wasn't enjoying the strained conversation everyone kept whenever he, and by extension Anna, were around. Ron wanted to talk about important things like the plans for the Young Phoenix Society when they got back to school, or any news on how to fight the Black Hand, but he knew no one would breach the subject around his new fiancé. So, a nearby walk sounded good. Yet, as soon as they put minimal distance from the rest of the group, he realized he had made a big mistake.

"Ron, thank you for inviting me. I'm really happy to meet your friends."

I didn't invite you! He wanted to scream, but instead he gave a non-committal shrug and tried to smile. She seemed to think this was playful display or something because next thing he knew she got on her tip-toes and gave him an innocent kiss. He didn't know if she meant to kiss him on the cheek or the mouth, but her lips landed in between, right on the corner of his lips. Immediately, he heard something clank on the ground. He turned to check on what had happened and there was Hermione, looking like someone had punched her in the gut. One of her hands barely held onto a tray and cups were spilling juice on the ground.

"Are you alright?" Ron heard Harry ask.

That got Hermione out of her shocked state. "I'm fine! Look at this mess! I'm so sorry," she said, looking in Estella's direction. She began to get the cups and place them back on the tray.

"It's fine Hermione. Stop. The elves will clean up."

"No! It's enough that they do everything for you without pay!" she answered in an accusatory tone. After that you couldn't hear a pin drop. Everyone stared at her. "Um… I'm... Estella… I-"

Thankfully, Estella interrupted. "Why don't the two of us go inside? I heard there was this odd fever going around the island that is quite uncomfortable and would explain short tempers. It's only affected the fairies in the forest so far. But, it would be good to check if it got to you. I have a simple test inside," the Slytherin commented naturally as she gently tugged Hermione inside.

Time seemed to drag after that. Ron heard a few whispers about Hermione's outburst from the adults. Anna said that was very rude and Ron almost lost it at that point. Thankfully George picked that moment to pull Anna away and show her some fireworks. Ron thanked Merlin for his brother and how he was not only keeping his secret, but actually helping him cope.

Ron decided he had to go in the house and find her. He ran in and looked around the large living room. There were so many corridors he couldn't even think of which way to go to try to find her. After a few minutes of hesitation he picked a one and just walked. He opened a couple of rooms and nothing. "Well I'm bloody lost now," he muttered to himself. Then an elf appeared. He was small and dressed in a pillowcase with a blue seal on it.

"Mistress' guest want to get back to the party?"

"Umm… no actually. Could you take me to see Estella?" The elf held his hand out to Ron and he took it. He felt a tug and then was brought to another hallway. The elf knocked on the door that they were closest to and Estella opened it.

"Oh… hi Ron."

"Hi. Estella, where –"

"Bart you may go."

"Yes, mistress."

"Where is Hermione?" Ron asked as the elf apparated away.

"You should get back to the party," she suggested nonchalantly.

Didn't Estella understand that causing Hermione pain was killing him? That he needed to talk to her and explain. That he needed to tell her about how Anna's touches, Anna's mere presence, was driving him insane, and not in a good way!

"She's in there," Ron stated without an ounce of hesitation. Then he pushed through the door. He walked in the room, which was some kind of office filled with bookshelves and some potions. Hermione was sitting at the large desk and a small ring of twittering yellow birds were circling her head. He was sure that she had just conjured the birds out of midair. Even at a time like this, her spell work was recognizably flawless.

"Hermione?"

"Oh, hello," she said in a brittle voice.

"I… umm… nice birds…"

"I was just practicing."

"Well… they're – er – really good…."

Now that he was right in front of her, he had no idea how to proceed. There was a horrible, swelling, billowing silence until finally Estella spoke, "I'll leave you two to talk."

"No!" Hermione protested.

"Hermione… I think it's better if she –"

"Whatever it is, she can stay and hear it."

It hurt him to know she didn't want to be alone with him. But he had to explain, even if it had to be done with Estella there. "I… I just… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let Anna…"

"She's your… you are going to marry her. It's only natural that–"

"Hermione, I don't love her. I have to be with her. I just–"

"What do you want from me?" she interrupted angrily.

He wanted to say so many things. Could they run away together? Forget about the world and disappear. No – he knew that she would never leave Harry, Lily, baby Cassi, all their friends and the fight against the Black Hand. He wouldn't either. So, what was there to say?

"Hermione, this isn't his fault or Anna's or yours. It just is," Estella said cautiously as if talking to a wounded animal that could attack any second. Hermione looked like she just might lash out at the entire world. Ron gave her a look that tried to convey that he was sorry, that he didn't want to do this, but he had no choice. She slid of the desk as the little flock of golden birds continued to twitter in circles around her head so that she looked like a strange, feathery model of the solar system.

"You shouldn't leave your fiancé waiting outside," she said quietly. "She'll wonder where you've gone."

She walked very slowly and erectly towards the door. Ron glanced at Estella, who was looking relieved that nothing worse had happened.

"Oppugno!" came a shriek from the doorway. Estella spun to see Hermione pointing her wand at Ron, her expression wild: The little flock of birds was speeding like a hail of fat golden bullets towards Ron, who yelped and covered his face with his hands, but the birds attacked, pecking and clawing at every bit of flesh they could reach.

"Gerremoffme!" he yelled, but with one last conflicting look, a mix of fury and agony, Hermione wrenched open the door and disappeared through it. Even through the mess of birds, Ron was quite sure that he'd heard a sob before the door slammed.

Thank Merlin Estella was talented with summoning and healing charms. Though it took her a while, she was able to get the birds to disappear and then healed the tiny bite wounds on Ron's arms and hands until there were barely any visible scars.

"Thanks. I wouldn't have known how to explain those wounds to everyone."

"You can't do what you did today again," Estella says.

"I didn't –"

"Let me finish. Look, I know you can't help it and that you're stock between a rock and a hard place. But I also know what it's like to be in Hermione's shoes. And I assure you it's awful and it makes you do stupid impulsive things."

"Like aim a flock of birds at me."

"Exactly. Trust me, okay. I got to watch one of George's snogging sessions with Chloe once and well… I don't think Hermione will go for what I did to control my emotions. Then again, given what I am I have to control myself like it or not."

"You're not a thing Estella. McGonagall said being an Emomaster is a gift."

"It's not. But, that's not what I want to talk about. You need to know that you can't parade Anna around Hermione. It's cruel and it's driving her crazy."

"I am not! I didn't know she was going to kiss me. I didn't even know they were coming today."

"Molly didn't tell you?"

"No!"

"Well… I'll make sure if George finds out about any other gatherings where we must invite the Davies and he lets you know in advance. For now please, keep Anna at arms-length unless you two are alone."

"Trust me I want her at arms-length all the time."

"You can't do that. George tried and he didn't succeed. So, just try to keep it hidden for Hermione's sake."

"I don't want-"

"Ron you can't stop Anna from wanting to be around you. It would make parents suspicious. I know because I died a little inside every time George had to be around Chloe. But, he played it well, so it didn't happen often once we were a couple. You should talk to him about that. Maybe he can help you with trying to get her to agree to not announce the engagement to all of Hogwarts. Feed her some notion that you want people to think you two can really fall in love. Maybe you want a chance to fall in love without the pressure of the engagement."

Ron thought about this for a second. That was actually a smart idea. "You're Slytherin, very cunning."

"True plus I've seen how George and Draco played their cards with unwanted fiancés. Though Draco has it easy now since Parkinson doesn't want to be associated with him and his treacherous ways until we're out of Hogwarts and she absolutely has to."

"Bitch."

"Couldn't agree more."

The next day Ron boarded the Hogwarts' Express with Anna, Ginny and Neville. Once they were comfortable in a compartment, he tried small talk. But he couldn't get the wild look of Hermione's face as she had sent the birds out of his head. She hates me, he thought. He wanted to comfort and love her. But he also wanted to yell at her. This whole thing was not his fault! He did not deserve those damn birds attacking him! And yet, he sort of did. He shouldn't have let his mother bring Anna with them. He shouldn't have allowed her to be so close to him and get that kiss in. Estella was right; if he couldn't avoid this from happening then he needed to keep things hidden. He'll have to talk to Anna soon. But how? Cunning was not exactly a characteristic associated with Weasleys.

Malfoy interrupted his thoughts as he walked into their compartment. "Weasley, the Heads are cancelling the prefect meeting. They said we'll meet after the feast. I'm taking first patrol around the train with Hermione. You're assigned to patrol with Hanna."

Malfoy left swiftly. Ron hadn't even thought about prefect duties until then. Anna began to ask him questions about being a prefect. Ron answered, but soon told her he needed to find Hanna to figure out their patrol.

I had to include the birds. I just couldn't help myself. Plz R&R