Hermione stared at Ron. She looked deeply into Ron's eyes. She
glanced down at her hands, folded around her soft, manicured hands was
Ron's large, manly, hands.
"I've missed you too, Ron." Hermione trailed off. She was obviously confused about Ron's sudden change in affection towards her. It was unusual for Ron to be so friendly with her. They usually were not comfortable, even with a friendly hug. This was an extreme change and Hermione noticed it immediately. She looked back up to Ron's face. His eyes were shinning with joy and his cheeks were slightly flushed from excitement. Hermione melted inside. She had a strong urge to lean in, closer to Ron, and run her fingers through his hair while they kissed.
Hermione's own thought shocked her. Ron was her best friend. He had never been more, nor had she ever thought otherwise.
"Back," Harry said as he sat down in his chair. "What have I missed?"
"Uhh." started Hermione.
"Oh, we were talking about her flat in the USA. Yah, that's what," lied Ron.
"Well, I've been trying to explain that in the US, flats are called apartments. Ron, here, just can't grasp the concept," giggled Hermione.
"Nope, they're called aparents?" questioned a baffled Ron.
"Apartments, Ron," corrected Harry. All three friends laughed. They sat and talked for hours before they finally decided to leave the Three Broomsticks around 11:30.
Harry and Ron took Hermione to their flat to show Hermione her room. They opened the door. The flat was surprisingly clean for two men in their early 20's.
"Oh, Ron, I almost forgot," started Hermione. "Happy Birthday!" Hermione reached up and gave Ron a hug and a quick peck on the cheek.
"Thanks, Hermione," said Ron, returning the hug. Ron then looked at Harry. He stood there for a moment while Harry looked dumbfounded.
"Weasley, do you think your best mate would forget your birthday?" questioned Harry, sarcastically.
"Well."
"I'd never forget your, Ron! Happy Birthday!" said Harry.
"Thanks mate."
"I have an idea," said Hermione. "Ron, how about Harry and I take you out for your birthday?
"Great idea, Hermione. Let's go!" said Harry. And they left the flat, with Hermione's luggage in front of the door, still. The first place they went to was Fred and George's Joke Shop they opened after leaving Hogwarts. They gave Ron free jokes for his birthday and also gave some the Hermione and Harry, though not nearly as many. And Fred handed Ron his birthday present.
"From Mum," Fred explained.
After the joke shop, Hermione dragged the boys into a bookstore. Hermione was fascinated and the boys were extremely bored. She seemed to take eternity in that bookshop. When they emerged outside, into the street, Harry commented, "Its still daylight!" With that, Hermione elbowed him in the ribs, and Ron cracked up watching Hermione elbow Harry.
They went to a bunch of other shops as well, and at one point, Harry had left Hermione and Ron to themselves, but they were so involved with each other, they barely noticed his absence. He returned a bit after an hour later.
Once they returned back to their flat, it was just before 6:00 in the evening. They all went to their rooms, dropped their purchases, and met in the kitchen for a drink of pumpkin juice. They all sat in silence, drinking their juice. The silence wasn't, however, awkward.
Yet, it was Harry who broke the silence. "Hermione, would you mind if, and I won't go if you don't want to. I won't be offended if you don't want me to go."
"What's up, Harry?" asked Hermione curiously.
"Well, it's just that I have a date tonight. It's for dinner as well," explained Harry.
"Of course I don't mind. Go, have a good time! I have only one question, who is your date?"
"Well, don't scream. It's Ginny."
"Aw! I should have known, Harry. Is this the first date?"
"No, actually, we've been seeing each other for about a year now."
"How sweet. Don't you mind though Ron?" Hermione asked Ron.
"No, not really. I trust Harry. And he knows that if he breaks her heart, I'll break his neck," confirmed Ron.
"I know Ron. Besides, you don't have to worry. I love her." Harry admitted, slightly blushing.
"Aw!" squealed Hermione, her eyes shinning with tears.
Harry went upstairs to go get ready for his date obviously. Hermione put the glasses in the sink as she hears the shower start. Ron then asked her to a game of wizard's chess.
"Only because it's your birthday," Hermione teased. Ron put on a fake hurt look on his face. "I'm only joking Ron!" Hermione flashed him a smile that made him tingle. Of course, since Hermione never played chess, she lost. Yet, in the second game, she started to win.
"Ronald Weasley, are you letting me win?" Hermione asked Ron.
"No," started Ron sarcastically.
Harry interrupted. "How do I look?" he asked. He was standing in the doorway, dressed in black dress pants, a dark-gray shirt, and his hair actually looked decent; for once.
"Harry, you look very sharp," complemented Hermione. Ron nodded in agreement.
"Right then, I'm off. Have a nice evening you two," said Harry, before he apparated out of sight.
"So, Ron, what would you like for your birthday dinner? Salad? Burgers? Pizza? Chicken Wings thrown on the barbie? I'll make anything you want," offered Hermione.
"Can you make me pizza, please? And maybe some sort of salad, too?" asked Ron.
"Sure Ron. I said anything, didn't I?" replied Hermione as she made her way to the kitchen to make the meal. She also made a chocolate cake, Ron's favorite, to surprise him.
Hermione had no idea what Ron did while she cooked. She heard him once go to his room and shut the door. But that was it. She played some Weird Sisters and she sang along. She sang her heart out, not caring if Ron heard or not. It felt good to be back in London. She was standing at the stove, and when she turned around to get the pizza sauce out of the fridge, she screamed a blood curdling scream.
"Ah! Ron. HELP!" cried Hermione.
~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~
Author's note: This chapter took forever to write, and yes, it is boring almost. But the next chapter is packed with action. So, please review. The more reviews, the more and better I write! Thanks so much! P.S- Sorry about not double spacing! Love Chelsea.
"I've missed you too, Ron." Hermione trailed off. She was obviously confused about Ron's sudden change in affection towards her. It was unusual for Ron to be so friendly with her. They usually were not comfortable, even with a friendly hug. This was an extreme change and Hermione noticed it immediately. She looked back up to Ron's face. His eyes were shinning with joy and his cheeks were slightly flushed from excitement. Hermione melted inside. She had a strong urge to lean in, closer to Ron, and run her fingers through his hair while they kissed.
Hermione's own thought shocked her. Ron was her best friend. He had never been more, nor had she ever thought otherwise.
"Back," Harry said as he sat down in his chair. "What have I missed?"
"Uhh." started Hermione.
"Oh, we were talking about her flat in the USA. Yah, that's what," lied Ron.
"Well, I've been trying to explain that in the US, flats are called apartments. Ron, here, just can't grasp the concept," giggled Hermione.
"Nope, they're called aparents?" questioned a baffled Ron.
"Apartments, Ron," corrected Harry. All three friends laughed. They sat and talked for hours before they finally decided to leave the Three Broomsticks around 11:30.
Harry and Ron took Hermione to their flat to show Hermione her room. They opened the door. The flat was surprisingly clean for two men in their early 20's.
"Oh, Ron, I almost forgot," started Hermione. "Happy Birthday!" Hermione reached up and gave Ron a hug and a quick peck on the cheek.
"Thanks, Hermione," said Ron, returning the hug. Ron then looked at Harry. He stood there for a moment while Harry looked dumbfounded.
"Weasley, do you think your best mate would forget your birthday?" questioned Harry, sarcastically.
"Well."
"I'd never forget your, Ron! Happy Birthday!" said Harry.
"Thanks mate."
"I have an idea," said Hermione. "Ron, how about Harry and I take you out for your birthday?
"Great idea, Hermione. Let's go!" said Harry. And they left the flat, with Hermione's luggage in front of the door, still. The first place they went to was Fred and George's Joke Shop they opened after leaving Hogwarts. They gave Ron free jokes for his birthday and also gave some the Hermione and Harry, though not nearly as many. And Fred handed Ron his birthday present.
"From Mum," Fred explained.
After the joke shop, Hermione dragged the boys into a bookstore. Hermione was fascinated and the boys were extremely bored. She seemed to take eternity in that bookshop. When they emerged outside, into the street, Harry commented, "Its still daylight!" With that, Hermione elbowed him in the ribs, and Ron cracked up watching Hermione elbow Harry.
They went to a bunch of other shops as well, and at one point, Harry had left Hermione and Ron to themselves, but they were so involved with each other, they barely noticed his absence. He returned a bit after an hour later.
Once they returned back to their flat, it was just before 6:00 in the evening. They all went to their rooms, dropped their purchases, and met in the kitchen for a drink of pumpkin juice. They all sat in silence, drinking their juice. The silence wasn't, however, awkward.
Yet, it was Harry who broke the silence. "Hermione, would you mind if, and I won't go if you don't want to. I won't be offended if you don't want me to go."
"What's up, Harry?" asked Hermione curiously.
"Well, it's just that I have a date tonight. It's for dinner as well," explained Harry.
"Of course I don't mind. Go, have a good time! I have only one question, who is your date?"
"Well, don't scream. It's Ginny."
"Aw! I should have known, Harry. Is this the first date?"
"No, actually, we've been seeing each other for about a year now."
"How sweet. Don't you mind though Ron?" Hermione asked Ron.
"No, not really. I trust Harry. And he knows that if he breaks her heart, I'll break his neck," confirmed Ron.
"I know Ron. Besides, you don't have to worry. I love her." Harry admitted, slightly blushing.
"Aw!" squealed Hermione, her eyes shinning with tears.
Harry went upstairs to go get ready for his date obviously. Hermione put the glasses in the sink as she hears the shower start. Ron then asked her to a game of wizard's chess.
"Only because it's your birthday," Hermione teased. Ron put on a fake hurt look on his face. "I'm only joking Ron!" Hermione flashed him a smile that made him tingle. Of course, since Hermione never played chess, she lost. Yet, in the second game, she started to win.
"Ronald Weasley, are you letting me win?" Hermione asked Ron.
"No," started Ron sarcastically.
Harry interrupted. "How do I look?" he asked. He was standing in the doorway, dressed in black dress pants, a dark-gray shirt, and his hair actually looked decent; for once.
"Harry, you look very sharp," complemented Hermione. Ron nodded in agreement.
"Right then, I'm off. Have a nice evening you two," said Harry, before he apparated out of sight.
"So, Ron, what would you like for your birthday dinner? Salad? Burgers? Pizza? Chicken Wings thrown on the barbie? I'll make anything you want," offered Hermione.
"Can you make me pizza, please? And maybe some sort of salad, too?" asked Ron.
"Sure Ron. I said anything, didn't I?" replied Hermione as she made her way to the kitchen to make the meal. She also made a chocolate cake, Ron's favorite, to surprise him.
Hermione had no idea what Ron did while she cooked. She heard him once go to his room and shut the door. But that was it. She played some Weird Sisters and she sang along. She sang her heart out, not caring if Ron heard or not. It felt good to be back in London. She was standing at the stove, and when she turned around to get the pizza sauce out of the fridge, she screamed a blood curdling scream.
"Ah! Ron. HELP!" cried Hermione.
~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~
Author's note: This chapter took forever to write, and yes, it is boring almost. But the next chapter is packed with action. So, please review. The more reviews, the more and better I write! Thanks so much! P.S- Sorry about not double spacing! Love Chelsea.