Hermione awoke to a very distinct THWOMP.
'Not that there is such thing as a 'thwomp.' She thought intelligently as she looked toward the noise. Her window, which was mostly shut, was empty and she could see clear across to the neighbour's living room window. 'Oh, Mr. Harris...wearing spandex at such an hour could do horrors for your circulation...not to mention my innocence.' Hermione's eyes bulged and she looked away quickly.
Another thwomp. Not quite as loud this time, but still coming from the window. Hermione lifted it open and peered over the edge cautiously. A very small, tawny object was headed straight for her face. She yanked herself back inside (narrowly missing the window with her head) and stumbled backward as it soared past her and crash-landed on her unmade bed. The owl's chest was rising quickly, it's entire body rocking back and forth, as it recovered from it's journey.
"Oh, Pigwidgeon..." Hermione shook her head. She couldn't help but smile. Quickly, she took her place beside the bird and removed the strangely large...parchment from his little leg and pulled it open.
Dear Hermione
Sorry the reply took so long. I didn't get your owl until around eight last night and it took me a while to get to a reply. Fred and George are driving me nutters over this whole sending owls to a girl thing (like Angelina doesn't get one every other hour...).
'Was he comparing his letters to me to Fred's letters to Angelina?' Hermione thought frantically.
I was hoping that you could meet me in Diagon Alley on the twenty-second of August. Harry will be there, too, of course.
'Of course...'
I also just was wondering if you (and Harry, of course) would like to spend that last week before school at the Leaky Cauldron. Just so we could finish up any school work we haven't finished (not that I'm saying you haven't finished...not that I'm saying you are a shut-in who does all her homework over the summer instead of going outside and...I'm finished before I get myself in trouble). I just thought that , you know, it would be nice if we could all spend some time together. Maybe we could go to a real muggle store and maybe to a muggle restaurant for a nice dinner (without Harry, of course).
'Without Harry, of course...' Hermione thought, not quite getting the point.
It's getting kind of late now. If I want Pig to get this to you before we're in year 7 I should probably send him off.
Ron
Hermione laid the letter beside her and flopped backward onto her bed. 'What does he mean by saying all that 'of course' stuff in relation to Harry being present?' She picked up the letter again to reread bits and pieces.
"Would it be so awful if we spent time together alone, Ron Weasley?" She asked aloud. Pigwidgeon 'whooo'ed softly and fluffed his feathers.
"Maybe we could go to a real muggle store and maybe to a muggle restaurant for a nice dinner (without Harry, of course)." Hermione nearly spat out the words, only then noticing..."Maybe we could go to a real muggle store and maybe to a muggle restaurant for a nice dinner (without Harry, of course)." She read again, slower. 'Without Harry?' A smile slowly formed on her face as she flew off the bed and tore through her desk for a black parchment and a quill.
Dear Ron,
I would be delighted to be at Diagon Alley on the twenty-second of August. It would also be very nice for the three of us to spend some time at the Leaky Cauldron. I still have a bit of work to do for Arithmancy. It was quite hard. It involves a very tricky formula to develop a basic arithmetic operations to determine a very complicated dribble that Professor Vector outlined in the last week of classes. You wouldn't understand, of course, because you were taking that waste of brain matter elective on Divination with that lunatic Trelawney. And, of course, Harry and I would love to show you around muggle-London and perhaps it would be nice if we did have a nice dinner at a muggle restaurant.
Hermione
She held the letter at an arm's length and reread her words. Hermione bit her lip. 'Not quite what I wanted to say...' She dipped her quill in the inkpot and added:
PS- Without Harry, of course.