Ron had never been so happy in his life. Hermione was clinging onto him practically, and now everyone had been on several rides together, and they were all having a great time. Harry even seemed to enjoy Ginny's company a lot, and they were deep in conversation about Quidditch at this point. Ginny was hoping to be a chaser for Gryffindor when the space was open.

"I've been practicing with Fred and George," she said with a grin. "They have really boosted up my confidence, they say I'm a natural for it. I can evade people quite easily."

Harry smiled. "You know, my dad was a seeker when he went to Hogwarts…"

They were just chattering away like you couldn't believe. However, Ron and Hermione were completely silent, with satisfied grins on their faces. Everything seemed to be going fine…then Draco Malfoy had to show up and ruin their fun. He was, of course, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't the ugly mudblood, the red-haired freak show, weasel and potty" he said smoothly. Crabbe and Goyle chuckled stupidly.

Harry narrowed his eyes, and Ron looked like he was about to pound Malfoy.

Since they weren't at school, they suddenly started attacking each other. Harry and Ron had both attacked Malfoy, and Ginny and Hermione were ripping Crabbe and Goyle's hair out. The whole thing would have been quite funny to watch, but they were in a public muggle area, and Fred and George knew better then to cause trouble there.

"Oy, break it up!" George shouted as he rushed towards Malfoy, Harry and Ron, and Fred rushed towards Ginny, Hermione, Crabbe and Goyle.

Everyone looked hot and angry, and if it weren't for George holding onto the back of his shirt, Ron would have ripped Malfoy to shreds.

"I swear upon my life, Malfoy, one day, I'll have the last laugh" Ron said icily.

"In your dreams, Weasley" Malfoy said, rubbing his face which now had a pretty big bruise. He stalked off with Crabbe and Goyle clutching their heads. Ron smiled a little when he saw Malfoy's look of defeat.

"Hah" Ron said, holding up his head. "That should teach him…at least for the moment."

"That boy is always causing trouble" Fred said, rubbing his head.

"Oh, he'll have his day" Harry said, watching Malfoy with utter disdain through the crowd. "He'll be one of the first to join Voldemort and the death eaters."

Harry had expected this, but everybody gasped around him.

"Blimey, Harry!"

"Don't say the name!"

"Oh, come of it, will you!" said Harry in a bit of an irritated voice. "How can we defeat him if everyone is afraid of his name? Huh? How? It's ridiculous."

They all silently nodded in reverence.

"You know what?" Harry said, starting to pace a bit. "We need to stop calling him Lord Voldemort. That's not his real name at all. It would really, really bring him down if we started calling him by his real name. Tom Riddle."

"Harry's right" Ginny said, nodding. "That would really bring him down. I remember-"

Ginny's voice faltered as she remembered her first year at Hogwarts, and her eyes suddenly grew wide.

Hermione came up and squeezed Ginny's shoulder. "It's okay, Ginny, it's over."

"Not entirely" Ron said, walking up to his sister as well. "But it will. Soon."

They nodded and strolled along.

It was late now, and they had to decide what to go on for their last rides. They were caught between two at one point.

"I really wanna go on the roller coaster, Ron! Come on! It's my birthday, after all!" Harry pleaded, looking at the no wait line for Zoomaton.

"Harry, I've been on so many roller coasters today, and I went on them because you wanted to" Ron said exasperatedly.

"No, you didn't! You made us-"

"Harry, hold it!" Ron said, looking at the girls, and Harry understood. Ron didn't want them to know that he and Ron had been on the kiddy rides most of the morning. They were 15 now…they couldn't stand that kind of embarrassment, especially not in front of them.

"Ron, I really want to go on it one more time before we leave. It's so cool, and Ginny wants to go…"

Harry stopped himself and Ron cocked an eyebrow at his best friend. This is funny. I think Harry might fancy Ginny…ooh I'm gonna have fun at Hogwarts this year. Total blackmail…nah, I won't humiliate him, but I got something good, in case he starts to annoy Hermione and I…

"Well, Hermione and I wanna go on that pirate ride with the boats again. It's funny, and I'm too tiered to take another fast ride."

Harry suddenly got an idea.

"You guys go on the boat ride, and we'll go on the roller coaster."

"Great idea!" Ron said, catching more then what Harry was saying as he winked.

"Meet you guys back here" Hermione said, walking off with Ron in the opposite direction Harry and Ginny went.

Ron felt quite nervous standing in line and just getting into the boat. It was only two to a boat, and the ride was very dark.

This is your lucky day, buddy.

But was he really up to this? Could Ron actually tell Hermione…that he loves her? What if she doesn't like him? He'd be so humiliated. Maybe he could tell her in another way.

He turned and looked at her. The ride had started, and they were now totally alone. Her bright brown eyes glowed. Wow. She is so pretty.

"You are really beautiful," Ron said before he could stop himself.

Hermione looked at him and blushed as his ears turned red at the realization of what he said.

"And you are the cutest guy I've ever met" Hermione said, unable to stop herself either.

Now Ron gave her a curious glance.

"Now, come on. I'm the clumsiest-looking guy around!" Ron said, his ears turning even redder.

"Not true. That's-what I really think."

Now they both looked at each other, and their eyes locked. They weren't exactly thinking. It was there, calling them. They both leaned in at the same time and kissed.

*****

Harry was twisting his hands like a nutcase. He wasn't exactly sure what to do. Here he was, alone with Ginny, pitch black outside. Knowing Ron and how he felt about Hermione, no doubt he had taken the chance to kiss her.

About time, really. They look really cute together. But what the heck am I doing? I mean, I've liked Cho for so long. This is Ginny, Ron's little sis-

He looked at her. Her chocolate brown eyes, so full of life, excited by the night sky.

1 Where the heck have you been all these years, Harry? She's extremely pretty, sweet, kind…

But she's my brother's sister. He'd hate me for it. He'd think I only hang out with him because of her. Of course, that's insane, really, but Ron has such a bad temper…

"Harry?" Ginny said, looking at him and interrupting his train of thought.

"Huh?" he said, a bit bewildered.

"You look like you are really troubled with something."

Harry bit his lip.

"Yeah, I am. I get troubled with a lot of things. It's just really difficult, as no one understands or can relate to me."

Harry twiddled his thumbs nervously.

2 Ask her if she still likes you. Come on…

"So…did you have fun with Neville at the Yule Ball?"

Stupid git. You are as bad with women as Ron.

"Oh!" Ginny said, suddenly going a bit red. "Um, he was really nice, but I really just can't seem to make conversation with him. He's a bit awkward. And…did you have fun with Lavender?"

Now Harry went red.

"Er…she kinda led me around like a show dog, to tell you the truth."

Ginny giggled.

"Wow. You've changed a lot, somehow" Harry said, looking at her curiously.

Ginny smiled and blushed. "Well, I'm still me."

"That you are."

Their eyes met. Now, by just inching towards each other slowly and steadily, they were nose to nose. Harry felt something different…he just couldn't put his finger on what it was.

They were so close…so desperately close…and then the ride slowed down in a half-stop abruptly, which made their lips collide.

They were there for a moment, then, realizing what was going on, the softly pulled away.

"Um, er…sorry, Ginny" Harry said, starting to go red.

"Oh, uh, don't worry about it!" Ginny said in a half laugh.

They got off the ride and met up with Ron and Hermione, who were smiling and looking a bit red in the face. Hermione was giggling.

"Have I got a lot to tell you" Ron whispered to Harry.

"So do I."



Feedback, please! Have I stayed in character so far? I think my next fic will be the gang going to Disneyland…