AN: Everyone needs to give Singer a big cyber hug, since it's her fault that this chapter was posted so soon

AN: Everyone needs to give Singer a big cyber hug, since it's her fault that this chapter was posted so soon. I was on-line when I got her review for Wolf Child and decided that I better post something for Forgotten Heart too.

Ron sat staring at the muggle television. He had never been really impressed by it. He had always preferred a nice game of wizard chess. Especially, when he was playing against Marie. She was the only person he knew who he actually found it hard to beat. Either she was really good at the game, or Ron just never paid attention to it when he was playing against her. The truth was probably a mixture of both. He loved the way she bite her thumb when she was really trying to concentrate. He loved how she always twisted her hair around her fingers when she got nervous. Most of all he loved that no matter what whether he lost or won she always gave him a kiss on the check when they finished playing each other. He remembered one night in the Gryffindor common room very well.

It was midwinter, and Marie had just sat down across from him to play a game of wizard chess. Ron spent most of the game either staring at her or thinking about her. She was beautiful sitting there in the firelight with her long hair pulled back into a ponytail. Ron couldn't remember any of the moves he had played during the game. All that he remembered was that the game had ended in a stalemate, which is very hard to do while playing wizard chess. As Ron started collecting all of the pieces, he felt Marie coming over to give him the kiss that had become almost the ceremony to officially end the game. Before she had a chance to kiss him Ron put his finger over Marie's lips.

"Marie, before you kiss me I've got to ask you something." Ron said looking for some type of answer in her steady green eyes as he moved over so that they were both sitting in chairs facing each other.

"Yes." She replied looking at him as tough she didn't understand something vitally important.

"Why do you kiss me after each game?" Ron could feel himself turning red.

"Well," Marie said her body relaxing a bit, "that's an easy enough question to answer. When you lose I kiss you because you are a good loser who doesn't wine about losing to a girl. When you win I kiss you because you are a good winner who doesn't brag about betting me." Her answers made since to Ron, but there was still one thing on his mind.

"So what if there's a stalemate like tonight?" Ron asked timidly.

"When there is a stalemate like tonight, I let you ask me a stupid question, and I give you a special kiss." With that she leaned forward, and kissed Ron lightly on the lips. She then stood up and whispered in his ear. "Good night, Ronald Wesley." She lifted her head and smiled at him for a minute before walking up the stair well that lead to the girl's dormitories. For a while Ron just sat there, but from that moment on he would say that that was the exact moment during which he had fallen in love with Marie.

This had all happened what seemed like so long ago. They were fifth years then, and he and Marie didn't even start dating until a year later. It's not that they didn't want to it was just that there were complications. His family, her family, her father to be precise, and all of the other emotions that circled around them. On another night Ron remembered her telling him that one of the things she wanted most in the world was to fall in love. When Ron asked her why she didn't date more, suggesting that that might solve her problem, she told him that she didn't really know she just wasn't ready for it yet. Ron remembered making some comment about her being to picky and having her throw a pillow at him. That was one of the things Ron liked most about her she knew how to take a joke. If he had said something like that to Hermione then she would have blown up in his face, but with Marie it had always been a little bit different. A little bit like she knew he would never say anything to hurt her, and if he did she would know that he didn't mean a word of it. Ron looked up as Harry walked into the room.

"All right," he said sighing, "I talked to Dumbledore. He says he's sending us an invisible coach to try and get us to Hogwarts safely. It's the best he can do. All of the students left for the Hogwarts Express an hour ago so we won't have to worry about getting past any of them. Oh, and Ron, Ginny sent you an owl. Hermione read it for you. It says that she misses you and can't wait to see Marie again. I think Draco got one too, but he wasn't really willing to share what it said. So John maybe you… should… um… Wow!" Harry said looking past both Ron and John to the long hallway that led to the bedrooms in the house. At first Ron just sat there staring at his friend but he turned around when he heard Taffy's voice.

"Gentlemen," she said with a note of elegance in her voice, "may I present to you the lovely, Marie." A smile filled Taffy's face as Marie steeped out of the darkened hallway so that they could see her. She was wearing long emerald green robes, which matched her eyes beautifully. Her hair was lying loose across her shoulders, and she was wearing the all to familiar pendent that Ron knew her mother had given her. She looked like an angel, and Ron could feel his jaw drop open. Marie turned red with embarrassment. Even in her most wild moments Marie never really liked being the center of attention, but at the moment that really couldn't be avoided. Almost mechanically, Ron followed Harry approaching her with the gallant walk of one of the knights of old as they were once called.

"You look quit beautiful, Marie." Harry remarked upon reaching her side, and Ron bowed down to kiss her hand, which was as smooth as silk. Marie giggled almost childishly at this small gesture. The three of them sat down on the couch together, and Taffy laid a small white duffel bag at Marie's feet.

"Well, Marie," Taffy said with a sad smile on her face, "you're ready to leave whenever you need to. You packed your trunk and here are your papers." She said as she handed Marie a folder, which was quickly shoved into the duffel bag.

"Marie, maybe we should go get your trunk for you?" Ron asked cautiously. He wasn't really sure which would be better. If she said no then he could sit here with her for a while longer. If she said yes then he could do a little bit of showing off by carrying the trunk himself.

"Oh, no, Ron that's all right. I want to try something. Some of the basics are coming back to me. Watch this!" Marie pulled her wand out of the duffle bag and pointed down the hall.

"Accio trunk!" she called. For a minute Ron looked at the surprise on Taffy's face, who obviously hadn't realized that her niece could do this yet. Then he watched as a gigantic red trunk came screeching to a halt at the side of the front door. Ron looked back to Marie who seemed very proud of herself with this little feet. Wait until she finds out what else she can do! He thought to himself.

Marie smiled proudly as she watched her trunk slide out into the hall. She wasn't really sure about the look Ron had given her. Either he had thought her to be completely ridicules for having been impressed by her own magical abilities, or he had been overwhelmingly proud of her. The look on his and Harry's face when she had come into the room had been priceless. They had both seemed shocked, and she was almost sure it was because she never dressed like that when they had been in school together. The papers her aunt had handed were mostly identification documents. They included a degree from Hogwarts that her aunt had told her she hadn't really earned yet seeing as how she had left before she passed her finals. It also contained her apperater's license, and her original acceptance letter from Hogwarts. She was feeling a little sad about having to leave her aunt and uncle, but she was also excited about returning to a world that was feeling more and more like home with every second that passed. She just wished that she could have one last meal with her family before she left them. Of course while she was thinking this Marie had no idea that her aunt could read minds.

"Well," Taffy said standing up, "I think that we should all have dinner since you won't be able to eat in the coach."

"The coach?" Marie responded with a questioning look.

"Oh, I'm sorry Harry! I didn't realize that you hadn't said anything yet. I just picked it up from your thoughts and registered it as if you had." Marie looked at her aunt her eyes widening in shock. She was amazed by how everyone else seemed to take this as a commonplace event.

"Well, don't look to shocked dear!" her aunt replied with a soft giggle. "You knew I had special powers, well, reading minds is just one of them! Come along dear let's go cook dinner." With her eyes still wide Marie followed her aunt into the kitchen to cook a late dinner for he family and newfound friends.

Marie and Taffy had only just walked through the door when Ron called after them.

"I'll help!" he said as he ignored the obvious look of annoyance on Harry's face, and rushed into the kitchen. John looked at Harry who just sighed and looked down at the floor.

"She's a big girl, Harry. She can take care of herself." John said in an effort to calm Harry's fears.

"It's not her I'm worried about. It's Ron" Harry muttered as he looked back at the kitchen door.

Marie watched in amazement as Ron hustled about the kitchen doing practically all the cooking himself. They had decided on a simple dinner. It was to be beef stew with bread. It was very simple, but it was all they had time to make. Marie and Taffy had been given the task of chopping vegetables for the stew while Ron did everything else on his own. Marie looked over to her aunt who smiled and shrugged her shoulders, and returned to chopping celery.

"Gee, Ron, I never knew that you could cook," said Marie with a sudden feeling of apprehension coming over her. She hoped Ron really could cook.

"Yes, you did." Ron said smiling at her. He was wearing an apron of her uncles that read We're off to see the wizard because he's a wonderful cook! It was a little cheesy, but Marie couldn't help, but think how she had never noticed the apron before. In fact now looking back on it there were many things that should have hinted her family's magical past to her. There were photographs, which seemed to move, snow globes that would seem to talk to you when you walked by them, and a whole collection of other magical odds and ends. For her part Marie had chosen an apron that said Proud to be married to a muggle! This one was her aunt's and the only husband she had ever had was John. This, Marie thought to herself, explains why the house seems very muggle most of the time. Carefully, Taffy and Marie picked up the vegetables they had been chopping, and threw them into the pot.

"Well," Marie said smelling the delicious food cooking, "I guess all we have to do is wait."

"Not with magic we don't," said Taffy as she pointed her wand at the simmering stew. A burst of blue flames shot out of her wand, and the stew boiled before the flames suddenly burnt out.

"All done!" Taffy said a look of pride coming over her features. "Here Marie" she said handing Marie a plate with a loaf of bread on it, "take this out to the dinning room. Harry and John should have already set the table by now. Ron will you help me with this stew, dear. That's a good lad. Thank you." Everything that had been directed toward Ron, Marie heard only as she walked through the door and into the dinning room. The table was set simply with the usual plates and cups that her family used all the time. Quickly, Marie set the bread on the table, and returned to the kitchen. As she was taking off her apron, Taffy and Ron carried the huge bowl of stew out to the dinning room. Marie smoothed out her robes and her hair before entering the dinning room where everyone else had gathered. Slowly, she walked through the door.

It seemed to take Marie forever to return from the kitchen Ron thought to himself. He and Taffy had taken their aprons off before bringing out the stew, but Marie had to go back to put hers up. Ron looked around the table. It was a circle in shape. John and Taffy stood at two seats next to each other, and Harry sat one seat away from Ron. The seat in between them was left empty for Marie to sit in.

Slowly, Ron heard the kitchen door creek open, and out came Marie. She looked beautiful as ever, and seemed to move almost without thought to sit between Harry and Ron. Before she could sit down, Ron pulled her chair out for her.

"Thank you." She said smiling. Ron then sat down next to her. At first the conversation was limited to the passing and serving of food. Finally, Marie was about to eat a bit of the stew. Ron was hoping for a positive reaction. He wasn't the best cook in the world, but after years of helping cook for his own brothers and sister he knew a few things about food. Marie bit into the stew, and she seemed to dissolve instantly into the taste.

"Wow! Ron," she said still chewing, "this really is good. Where'd you learn to cook like this?"

"Well, I have a pretty big family," Ron said almost blushing, "and when you have to cook for nine people you begin to pick up on a few good cooking skills." At this Marie laughed, which Ron liked. He liked to hear her giggle and laugh because she sounded like her old self when she did.

"You know what I just remembered? I always really liked the food at Hogwarts! I think the school was one of my favorite places. Is it really as beautiful as it sound?" At this Ron looked at Harry who gave him a slight nod of encouragement. Finally, something they could talk about.

"Of course it is. The castle itself is a work of art. To an outsider it may seem uninviting at first, but once you've been there for a while you find what places you like to go to and what places you don't-"

"The girls bathroom." Marie interrupted with a sudden burst of laughter.

"Excuse me?" said Harry who looked as confused as Ron felt.

"There's a ghost in one of the girls bathrooms named Moaning Myrtle. Oh she did not like me one little bit. I remember I told her once to sod off while I was brushing my teeth." It didn't take long before everyone was laughing about Moaning Myrtle. Ron, Harry, and Taffy had already had their own encounters with the depressing ghost, and John never could resist laughing when other people did. Ron had to fight hard to resist the urge to kiss her. She seemed so happy that he wondered what her reaction would be to other memories, ones that were less comical and more scary or romantic. Ron felt himself blushing at the thought.

"Ron," Taffy said interrupting his thoughts, "Ron are you still there?" Ron shook his head trying to free himself from the fuzzy haze that had surrounded his brain.

"Oh, yeah, sorry! Like I was saying. The castle itself is kinda gloomy, but it's really nice once you get used to it. There's this field in the back that leads towards the Forbidden forest, and Hagrid's hut. In the middle there's this lake with merpeople, giant squids, and grindylows in it. It really is quit amazing. I don't know what else to tell you. It's best you see it for yourself." Ron finished, and Harry was nodding in agreement. The rest of dinner went by quickly, and before they knew it the carriage was there. Ron and Harry helped pack all of Marie's things into the storage compartment on top, but Marie insisted on keeping her duffle bag with her. As they prepared to leave, Harry climbed in first, and Ron watched as Marie hugged her aunt and uncle goodbye. She climbed in the carriage quickly after that. Ron could only just see the tears that were beginning to well up in her eyes. Ron smiled at John and Taffy before climbing in the carriage and shutting the door.

AN: So what did you think? Next Chapter, Marie reaches Hogwarts.

Roll Call:

Singer: I'd love to write a fan fiction with you. Sounds like fun! I'm running rehearsals for a play right now, so I probably won't get anymore out until Monday at the earliest even though it's already finished. Gilmore Girls, I've got to remember to watch that show.

Mystical Kiwi: Hurray for the Mangos of the world! I'm sure you're not an airhead, because most airheads either doesn't know they are one or won't admit to it. Keep reading, Marie might end up having a few airhead moments too, especially when a certain red-haired Weasley is around. (I'll give you a hint. It's not Arthur, or Molly, or Bill, or Charlie, or PERCY, or Fred and George, or Ginny. Now, whose left? Just Ron and that accountant cousin of his.)

Everyone else except for Annonnymous: Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Now, for my next trick I will attempt to make Ginny, Draco, Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Marie get along! Now that's gonna be tricky!

Annonnymous: If you ever even read this you will be happy to know that your flame was the most pitiful I have ever received. It was used to keep the sacred fires of Avalon burning.