The Burrow once again
"Harry!"
The ginger hair of the best friend flicked as he answered the door.
"Come in! And hello to you Sirius!"
"Hello," said Sirius. "You're very happy."
"Hey, Fred switch on the light will you?" shouted Ron. "We want some light."
"Whatever you say Ron," said Fred.
"SURPRISE!" shouted George, along with many people around him.
"Boo," said a person from behind Harry.
Harry turned around to Sirius. But Sirius was standing next to a man.
"Professor Lupin?" said Harry, flabbergasted.
"Remus rather," said the werewolf, clearly his brown hair, which looked obvious that it was going grey. "Happy birthday."
Harry had never had such a happy day - they played Quidditch in the orchard, Arthur Weasley talked about how many times Bill and Charlie got into trouble ("But Remus, you and Sirius and James were more of the troublemakers, don't you think?" Sirius laughed to this.).
Ginny was talking to Hermione about Neville.
"He says he likes me a lot, but I don't know what to say! I've told him I really don't know how I feel about him. I'm confused." Ginny bowed her head.
"Oh don't worry, it'll all come to you," said Hermione.
"How would you know?" said Ginny.
"Well, it was the same with Viktor. Now we've broken up and everything, I think I like someone else, but I'm not sure."
"Not Harry?" said Ginny.
"No, not Harry," said Hermione.
"Better not be my brother, you don't know how much he and I will kill you." Ginny smiled.
"Well, that's what I'm not sure on,"
Ginny hung her mouth open, then laughed. Ron stared at her from nearby, as no one knew what was going on. Ginny closed her mouth.
"Ginny, when will you ever calm down?" said Ron, shaking his head.
"Please keep it to yourself. Please." Said Hermione softly.
"I will," said Ginny. "But tell him in the end, will you? You never know what he says."
"True, he gave me - never mind,"
Ginny shot Hermione a look. "What?"
"Nothing, don't worry."
Ginny gave up her frown. "Ok,"
"Look Harry, what I wanted to tell you,"
"Yeah Ron?"
Ron suddenly went shallow. "Just a question, do you fancy Hermione?"
Harry laughed. "No," he said. "Why would I want to fancy her?"
"Well, cause even though I'm the complete opposite, I - I kind of . . ."
"I see. Too scared?"
"How do you know all this?"
Harry shrugged his shoulders. "Don't know, it comes naturally to me."
Ron smiled. "I hoped you understood,"
"I do mate. Now, what's your mum got with her?"
Ron smirked. "Surprise! We hoped you liked it."
The groups around them crowded round as Harry raced Ron to the table.
The happy birthday song was heard, in which Harry blew out his candles with a wish.
What was the wish?
He wished that his friends will never be affected by Voldemort, and he'd do whatever he could, even sacrificed his life, to protect them and everyone he loved and cherished, even Sirius.
~~~~~
"You taking care of the rose?" said a voice softly.
Hermione jumped. She was sitting on her own in the back garden, seeing the de-gnomed garden. She was looking up in the sky, up to the clear night. The stars seemed to sparkle.
But then she noticed what was different with Ron.
His hair seemed to out of his way more. In the wind, it made him look so angelic. His blue eyes shined more, as the haircut had shortened the hair that used to fling into his eyes.
He was much taller, and had grown handsome.
Ron noticed how Hermione had changed. She was wearing her jeans more often, which he thought looked well. She had a skirt too, showing of her slender legs.
Without the tights, for once.
She had straightened her hair for good. She wore a little make up, and seemed to have a appealing thought for fashion. She was really more in style.
But both had changed their character a bit.
They looked back to when they were eleven, both their different ways, and had fights. Hermione and Ron were closer than ever: their differences didn't matter.
This time Ron was wearing the white shirt he was wearing all day, but had changed his muddy trousers to nice non-crinkled jeans. His hair was combed, as it had grown tangles during the day.
The good thing was, Hermione didn't notice that he tidied up just to see her.
She was wearing a short skirt, in which she was sitting on a chair that time, crossing her legs. Her short-sleeved lilac shirt showed a bit of sparkle. Her hair was slightly curled at the bottom, instead of thick and bushy. The hair seemed to lie on her gently, showing her blonde highlights.
"Yes, I planted it," said Hermione. "It's not dead yet." Ron smiled at her joke.
Ron couldn't resist having one look at her legs. He did, and then quickly looked away.
"Something wrong Ron? Normally nothing's wrong with you." Hermione saw him sit on the chair next to her, and she put her hand on his shoulder.
"Nothing," said Ron. "Just seeing Ginny growing up like that - amazing, just like my own kid."
Hermione giggled slightly. "You protect her like your only child. I notice that. She respects that, and so do I." Ron turned his head to see her soft brown eyes. She took her hand of her shoulder, and turned her chair to him.
"You do?" said Ron.
"Yeah, it's not everyday you meet a guy who's protective over a girl who isn't his friend or girlfriend."
Ron blushed. "Yeah, I guess,"
"And I know you're worried about Harry too,"
"How did you know?" said Ron, softening his voice.
"I'm worried about him too. I don't want him hurt in anyway." Hermione smiled. "He knows that as his friends we would be in danger, but we have to make it clear that we will be by his side all the way. I don't care if I die, knowing you and him are all right. As long as your family, him and my family are all right, that's ok by me."
Ron smiled at her statement. "Same here with me,"
Hermione sighed. "Just as long as he doesn't sacrifice his life for ours, I won't feel guilty ever."
"It's hard times," said Ron.
Harry was going to open the door, but he heard both of the voices.
He let go of the handle, and walked back upstairs smiling.
"You know, ever since I ever came to Hogwarts, I haven't been happier," said Ron.
"Why's that?" asked the brunette.
"I met two good friends, and I am now heavily regarded as a more popular person than I was." Ron took a breath. "I have the best and bravest hero of them all: I believe Harry will be the greatest wizard of all times, mark my words. Then I met the prettiest girl of them all, smart, intelligent, who has changed a lot."
Hermione blushed. "I have changed?"
"Yeah,"
"So have you," commented Hermione back.
Ron's hair flicked forward as he leaned back on his chair. "Really?"
"If I have, you must of too, plus you're taller,"
Ron sighed. "Times have changed too. My parents are finding less people in the house, and the ministry's working harder than ever."
"I'm worried about my parents more than ever, and I put my wand in my pocket first thing in the morning," said Hermione. "Actually, Ron, I'll tell you something."
Ron sat up.
"Ever since the beginning of the summer, I've been worried about you. Worried about you and Harry. More than I've been worried about my parents ever." Hermione's eyes wobbled. She stood up, in which Ron followed the fashion and walked with her. "Every morning, I've had the same nightmare. The same image comes into my head when I put my wand in my pocket. I remember that horrible image of - of - of you both found, dead." Hermione sniffed, as she started to cry. "And - I can't imagine . . ."
"Shh, Hermione," said Ron softly as he put her arms around her. "I know how you feel," he said over her shoulder as she put her arms around him, bawling. "I've been worried about both you and Harry. I hate the image."
"I'm glad you care," sniffed Hermione, braking apart from Ron. Ron wiped her tears with his careful fingers.
There was an awkward moment, in which they both looked into each other's eyes.
"Look, let's get to bed," said Ron, making sure he broke the silence. He didn't want to do anything awkward.
"Wait Ron," said Hermione. "Thanks for making me spill it out to you, you seemed the one to spill it out to." She kissed him on the cheek without warning, and took his hand. "Let's go inside, shall we?"
"Go in, I need to find Pig around here," said Ron.
Smiling, Hermione went inside.
Ron rubbed his cheek where she kissed him. He remembered that she did the same thing to Harry, almost a month or two ago.
This wouldn't be suggesting anything, right?
~~~~~
Sitting in the garden, Percy was holding his picture of Penelope and him. He touched it carefully. He missed her. She was busy in the ministry, and he was taking time off.
And she worked in a different section from him.
"Hey Perce," said Ginny walking over to see his downtrodden face. "What's wrong?"
Percy sighed. "Look at the picture,"
Ginny took the picture with him still sad.
Percy, the swot of the year and teacher's pet stood next to the most beautiful and popular girl in the year: just like Peter Parker and Mary Jane in Spiderman.
Percy took off his glasses and rubbed his tired eyes.
"You know, she was the first girl I had feelings for," said Percy gravely. "Like you and Harry, but it was more than a crush. It was love at first sight." He smiled. "But I thought I'd never go with her, me with the teacher's pet features. She was a popular and pretty girl. But she got to know me, and she didn't care who I was. She took me as I was, and that was how I knew she was the one. Just like the muggle comic Spiderman."
Ginny smiled. "And I bet she was extremely proud of you when you were made Head Boy." She handed the photo back.
"Yeah, she saw that my hard work paid off," said Percy.
"You know, this is the first time I've heard you and you're actually admitting you are a teacher's pet," said Ginny. "And you aren't behaving like one for once."
Percy sighed. "It's just I wish I could see her - when I'm around her, she makes me shut up about my studies, and talk about other stuff - she does that, not me . . . I don't understand how."
"But how did you admit your feelings in the first place?" said Ginny, her eyes full of curiosity.
"She got to know me during a project we were put together on. We talked about stuff before we started the project, and she really helped me through the project as I told her my little jokes. Then in one session, she asked if she could go around me in our spare time. As if I had any other good friends. I said yes, and in time we became good friends. I then told her to meet her in a classroom once, when you stepped in. I had asked her out, in which she said yes to. And you saw me kissing her. I just didn't want mum and dad to know as I know they'll tell Fred and George. She was the thing that filled my life when I wasn't doing my homework or studying for exams."
"But you made more friends, didn't you?"
"Yeah. I learnt how to talk to people, and made more friends. She was the one I spent time with most of the time though."
Ginny smiled. "You'll see her, don't worry."
"Gin! GIN!"
"What Ron?" Ginny stood up impatiently.
Percy was left there, still fingering the picture that kept him alive.
~~~~~
"Right Harry," said Ron. "Diagon Alley tomorrow, and mum's going there for us."
"Why is she going for us?" said Harry.
"Because we're going somewhere," said Ron. "I dunno where, but Charlie says it's a treat for all of us, partly for Percy." Ron rolled his eyes. "I heard him talking to Gin today. He's really hurt about his girlfriend. Misses her."
"So did you with Hermione," said Harry.
"Shut it," said Ron, his ears going pink.
"George! Over here!"
George threw a fake wand to Fred. Fred caught it, throwing the wand to Ginny.
"What the," Ginny jumped. "RON!"
Ron grabbed it next and panicked. "HARRY!"
Harry panicked too. "ANYONE OVER THERE!"
He chucked it in a random direction, in which Percy caught, and was petrified for a moment until he threw it over his shoulder.
It landed on Hermione's lap, and she looked at it astonished.
"THROW IT HERMIONE!" shouted Ron.
But before she could, it exploded, leaving black on her face and her hair in a frayed mess.
Everyone laughed, except for Ron who looked at her with his blue eyes. Concern hung about them, and he pulled Hermione from her sitting position. Her book was blackened on the cover, but the pages seemed intact.
"All right Hermione?" said Ron.
"Yeah," she said. She dusted the ash off her clothes and book, mostly taking it off. Once all the black was off her shirt, she used some water to wash her face and hands.
"How embarrassing!" exclaimed Hermione, as Ron helped her wash herself in the bathroom. "Just reading my book quietly, sitting down, and then a wand comes flying towards me."
"One of the twins experiments," said Ron, wringing a wet towel. "An experiment that went very wrong. Here." He handed the towel over to Hermione. "No need for any thanks, just get you cleaned up first." She closed her mouth before she could say thank you. "Trying to improve a fake wand, but they put too much stuff that it was ready to explode like one of those Christmas Crackers, except worse." He took the towel that was now black to the sing and rinsed it. "What a mess they got you into."
"Imagine one of those on Malfoy," said Hermione. "Excellent idea." She took the towel that was now wringed out. She used it on her hair, which only had a thin layer of dust, and came off like a razor on shaving cream. In this, she spotted the two items in the bathroom. "Yours?" she added to Ron, glancing over to them.
"Well I am 15 after all, what do you expect?" said Ron, blushing slightly. "After all, there would be changes for you anyways. You know."
"For Ginny too I'd expect," said Hermione, finally cleaned up. Ron took the towel. "Puberty. Any mood swings yet?"
"Mood swings? Yeah, we have a caution sign right on her face when she does, hell is she dangerous." Hermione giggled at the comment. Ron cleaned out the towel, and put it over the rail to dry. "The first one she had on the twins was devastating. She blew up two wands in their faces. She knew how to do it."
"Oh well, you know my mood swings," said Hermione.
"Oh yeah, when you got angry with me," said Ron, rolling his eyes. "Shall we go down?"
"Yeah, and thanks,"
"Don't say thanks," said Ron. "Do you know the saying when a muggle has to go . . . oh what was it again? 'Shall we dance' - yeah that's it. It means 'shall we go' - just heard it before."
"Yeah, so have I. Well, for my sake, shall we?"
Ron chuckled. "What the hell," said Ron, taking her arm.
Harry was laughing downstairs with Ginny.
"Oh well, well, look at what we got here," said Harry.
Ron glared at Harry. "Very funny," said Ron. Hermione tied her ponytail at this point.
"Oh, that reminds me, I wonder if you'd like to look at Ron's private possessions some time," said Hermione. "I wonder if your relatives would like to send it for a Christmas present."
"Ha!" said Ron. "Them do that? You've got to be kidding me, Sirius would love to send that as a joke."
"I don't know what you're on about, but it sounds funny to me," said Harry.
"I might," said Ginny. "Fred and George will probably say 'aww little Ronniekins growing up' to that."
"Ron? What?" said Sirius, coming in on their conversation. "Sorry to barge in, but Ron growing up? Huh? He's 15 for god's sake."
Hermione started to laugh. Ginny smiled. "Don't worry Sirius," said Ron. "Some personal items of my going-into-man stage are mentioned." Hermione laughed harder. "Harry has no idea what we're talking about either." Hermione calmed herself down.
"Whatever you lot," said Sirius. "Oh yeah, about the wand. How many fake wand do they have?"
"Loads, ready to sell 5 galleons each," said Ginny.
"That's a lot of money for a fake wand," said Sirius, frowning. "I'll talk to them about them."
Remus was laughing. "These fake wands are brilliant boys,"
"I know. Marauder days brought alive," said Fred. "Alive to the home."
"I'd pay for one of those you know," said Remus, studying it as it turned into a squeaky toy mouse. "Here, take 5 galleons."
"Thank you very much," said George. "We honour you a lot: you're one of our first customers let's say."
Sirius chuckled. "You really like them don't you Moony?"
Remus rolled his eyes. "Hey, you might want to play with it."
"Whatever Lupin," said Sirius rolling his eyes.
~~~~~
"Harry!"
The ginger hair of the best friend flicked as he answered the door.
"Come in! And hello to you Sirius!"
"Hello," said Sirius. "You're very happy."
"Hey, Fred switch on the light will you?" shouted Ron. "We want some light."
"Whatever you say Ron," said Fred.
"SURPRISE!" shouted George, along with many people around him.
"Boo," said a person from behind Harry.
Harry turned around to Sirius. But Sirius was standing next to a man.
"Professor Lupin?" said Harry, flabbergasted.
"Remus rather," said the werewolf, clearly his brown hair, which looked obvious that it was going grey. "Happy birthday."
Harry had never had such a happy day - they played Quidditch in the orchard, Arthur Weasley talked about how many times Bill and Charlie got into trouble ("But Remus, you and Sirius and James were more of the troublemakers, don't you think?" Sirius laughed to this.).
Ginny was talking to Hermione about Neville.
"He says he likes me a lot, but I don't know what to say! I've told him I really don't know how I feel about him. I'm confused." Ginny bowed her head.
"Oh don't worry, it'll all come to you," said Hermione.
"How would you know?" said Ginny.
"Well, it was the same with Viktor. Now we've broken up and everything, I think I like someone else, but I'm not sure."
"Not Harry?" said Ginny.
"No, not Harry," said Hermione.
"Better not be my brother, you don't know how much he and I will kill you." Ginny smiled.
"Well, that's what I'm not sure on,"
Ginny hung her mouth open, then laughed. Ron stared at her from nearby, as no one knew what was going on. Ginny closed her mouth.
"Ginny, when will you ever calm down?" said Ron, shaking his head.
"Please keep it to yourself. Please." Said Hermione softly.
"I will," said Ginny. "But tell him in the end, will you? You never know what he says."
"True, he gave me - never mind,"
Ginny shot Hermione a look. "What?"
"Nothing, don't worry."
Ginny gave up her frown. "Ok,"
"Look Harry, what I wanted to tell you,"
"Yeah Ron?"
Ron suddenly went shallow. "Just a question, do you fancy Hermione?"
Harry laughed. "No," he said. "Why would I want to fancy her?"
"Well, cause even though I'm the complete opposite, I - I kind of . . ."
"I see. Too scared?"
"How do you know all this?"
Harry shrugged his shoulders. "Don't know, it comes naturally to me."
Ron smiled. "I hoped you understood,"
"I do mate. Now, what's your mum got with her?"
Ron smirked. "Surprise! We hoped you liked it."
The groups around them crowded round as Harry raced Ron to the table.
The happy birthday song was heard, in which Harry blew out his candles with a wish.
What was the wish?
He wished that his friends will never be affected by Voldemort, and he'd do whatever he could, even sacrificed his life, to protect them and everyone he loved and cherished, even Sirius.
~~~~~
"You taking care of the rose?" said a voice softly.
Hermione jumped. She was sitting on her own in the back garden, seeing the de-gnomed garden. She was looking up in the sky, up to the clear night. The stars seemed to sparkle.
But then she noticed what was different with Ron.
His hair seemed to out of his way more. In the wind, it made him look so angelic. His blue eyes shined more, as the haircut had shortened the hair that used to fling into his eyes.
He was much taller, and had grown handsome.
Ron noticed how Hermione had changed. She was wearing her jeans more often, which he thought looked well. She had a skirt too, showing of her slender legs.
Without the tights, for once.
She had straightened her hair for good. She wore a little make up, and seemed to have a appealing thought for fashion. She was really more in style.
But both had changed their character a bit.
They looked back to when they were eleven, both their different ways, and had fights. Hermione and Ron were closer than ever: their differences didn't matter.
This time Ron was wearing the white shirt he was wearing all day, but had changed his muddy trousers to nice non-crinkled jeans. His hair was combed, as it had grown tangles during the day.
The good thing was, Hermione didn't notice that he tidied up just to see her.
She was wearing a short skirt, in which she was sitting on a chair that time, crossing her legs. Her short-sleeved lilac shirt showed a bit of sparkle. Her hair was slightly curled at the bottom, instead of thick and bushy. The hair seemed to lie on her gently, showing her blonde highlights.
"Yes, I planted it," said Hermione. "It's not dead yet." Ron smiled at her joke.
Ron couldn't resist having one look at her legs. He did, and then quickly looked away.
"Something wrong Ron? Normally nothing's wrong with you." Hermione saw him sit on the chair next to her, and she put her hand on his shoulder.
"Nothing," said Ron. "Just seeing Ginny growing up like that - amazing, just like my own kid."
Hermione giggled slightly. "You protect her like your only child. I notice that. She respects that, and so do I." Ron turned his head to see her soft brown eyes. She took her hand of her shoulder, and turned her chair to him.
"You do?" said Ron.
"Yeah, it's not everyday you meet a guy who's protective over a girl who isn't his friend or girlfriend."
Ron blushed. "Yeah, I guess,"
"And I know you're worried about Harry too,"
"How did you know?" said Ron, softening his voice.
"I'm worried about him too. I don't want him hurt in anyway." Hermione smiled. "He knows that as his friends we would be in danger, but we have to make it clear that we will be by his side all the way. I don't care if I die, knowing you and him are all right. As long as your family, him and my family are all right, that's ok by me."
Ron smiled at her statement. "Same here with me,"
Hermione sighed. "Just as long as he doesn't sacrifice his life for ours, I won't feel guilty ever."
"It's hard times," said Ron.
Harry was going to open the door, but he heard both of the voices.
He let go of the handle, and walked back upstairs smiling.
"You know, ever since I ever came to Hogwarts, I haven't been happier," said Ron.
"Why's that?" asked the brunette.
"I met two good friends, and I am now heavily regarded as a more popular person than I was." Ron took a breath. "I have the best and bravest hero of them all: I believe Harry will be the greatest wizard of all times, mark my words. Then I met the prettiest girl of them all, smart, intelligent, who has changed a lot."
Hermione blushed. "I have changed?"
"Yeah,"
"So have you," commented Hermione back.
Ron's hair flicked forward as he leaned back on his chair. "Really?"
"If I have, you must of too, plus you're taller,"
Ron sighed. "Times have changed too. My parents are finding less people in the house, and the ministry's working harder than ever."
"I'm worried about my parents more than ever, and I put my wand in my pocket first thing in the morning," said Hermione. "Actually, Ron, I'll tell you something."
Ron sat up.
"Ever since the beginning of the summer, I've been worried about you. Worried about you and Harry. More than I've been worried about my parents ever." Hermione's eyes wobbled. She stood up, in which Ron followed the fashion and walked with her. "Every morning, I've had the same nightmare. The same image comes into my head when I put my wand in my pocket. I remember that horrible image of - of - of you both found, dead." Hermione sniffed, as she started to cry. "And - I can't imagine . . ."
"Shh, Hermione," said Ron softly as he put her arms around her. "I know how you feel," he said over her shoulder as she put her arms around him, bawling. "I've been worried about both you and Harry. I hate the image."
"I'm glad you care," sniffed Hermione, braking apart from Ron. Ron wiped her tears with his careful fingers.
There was an awkward moment, in which they both looked into each other's eyes.
"Look, let's get to bed," said Ron, making sure he broke the silence. He didn't want to do anything awkward.
"Wait Ron," said Hermione. "Thanks for making me spill it out to you, you seemed the one to spill it out to." She kissed him on the cheek without warning, and took his hand. "Let's go inside, shall we?"
"Go in, I need to find Pig around here," said Ron.
Smiling, Hermione went inside.
Ron rubbed his cheek where she kissed him. He remembered that she did the same thing to Harry, almost a month or two ago.
This wouldn't be suggesting anything, right?
~~~~~
Sitting in the garden, Percy was holding his picture of Penelope and him. He touched it carefully. He missed her. She was busy in the ministry, and he was taking time off.
And she worked in a different section from him.
"Hey Perce," said Ginny walking over to see his downtrodden face. "What's wrong?"
Percy sighed. "Look at the picture,"
Ginny took the picture with him still sad.
Percy, the swot of the year and teacher's pet stood next to the most beautiful and popular girl in the year: just like Peter Parker and Mary Jane in Spiderman.
Percy took off his glasses and rubbed his tired eyes.
"You know, she was the first girl I had feelings for," said Percy gravely. "Like you and Harry, but it was more than a crush. It was love at first sight." He smiled. "But I thought I'd never go with her, me with the teacher's pet features. She was a popular and pretty girl. But she got to know me, and she didn't care who I was. She took me as I was, and that was how I knew she was the one. Just like the muggle comic Spiderman."
Ginny smiled. "And I bet she was extremely proud of you when you were made Head Boy." She handed the photo back.
"Yeah, she saw that my hard work paid off," said Percy.
"You know, this is the first time I've heard you and you're actually admitting you are a teacher's pet," said Ginny. "And you aren't behaving like one for once."
Percy sighed. "It's just I wish I could see her - when I'm around her, she makes me shut up about my studies, and talk about other stuff - she does that, not me . . . I don't understand how."
"But how did you admit your feelings in the first place?" said Ginny, her eyes full of curiosity.
"She got to know me during a project we were put together on. We talked about stuff before we started the project, and she really helped me through the project as I told her my little jokes. Then in one session, she asked if she could go around me in our spare time. As if I had any other good friends. I said yes, and in time we became good friends. I then told her to meet her in a classroom once, when you stepped in. I had asked her out, in which she said yes to. And you saw me kissing her. I just didn't want mum and dad to know as I know they'll tell Fred and George. She was the thing that filled my life when I wasn't doing my homework or studying for exams."
"But you made more friends, didn't you?"
"Yeah. I learnt how to talk to people, and made more friends. She was the one I spent time with most of the time though."
Ginny smiled. "You'll see her, don't worry."
"Gin! GIN!"
"What Ron?" Ginny stood up impatiently.
Percy was left there, still fingering the picture that kept him alive.
~~~~~
"Right Harry," said Ron. "Diagon Alley tomorrow, and mum's going there for us."
"Why is she going for us?" said Harry.
"Because we're going somewhere," said Ron. "I dunno where, but Charlie says it's a treat for all of us, partly for Percy." Ron rolled his eyes. "I heard him talking to Gin today. He's really hurt about his girlfriend. Misses her."
"So did you with Hermione," said Harry.
"Shut it," said Ron, his ears going pink.
"George! Over here!"
George threw a fake wand to Fred. Fred caught it, throwing the wand to Ginny.
"What the," Ginny jumped. "RON!"
Ron grabbed it next and panicked. "HARRY!"
Harry panicked too. "ANYONE OVER THERE!"
He chucked it in a random direction, in which Percy caught, and was petrified for a moment until he threw it over his shoulder.
It landed on Hermione's lap, and she looked at it astonished.
"THROW IT HERMIONE!" shouted Ron.
But before she could, it exploded, leaving black on her face and her hair in a frayed mess.
Everyone laughed, except for Ron who looked at her with his blue eyes. Concern hung about them, and he pulled Hermione from her sitting position. Her book was blackened on the cover, but the pages seemed intact.
"All right Hermione?" said Ron.
"Yeah," she said. She dusted the ash off her clothes and book, mostly taking it off. Once all the black was off her shirt, she used some water to wash her face and hands.
"How embarrassing!" exclaimed Hermione, as Ron helped her wash herself in the bathroom. "Just reading my book quietly, sitting down, and then a wand comes flying towards me."
"One of the twins experiments," said Ron, wringing a wet towel. "An experiment that went very wrong. Here." He handed the towel over to Hermione. "No need for any thanks, just get you cleaned up first." She closed her mouth before she could say thank you. "Trying to improve a fake wand, but they put too much stuff that it was ready to explode like one of those Christmas Crackers, except worse." He took the towel that was now black to the sing and rinsed it. "What a mess they got you into."
"Imagine one of those on Malfoy," said Hermione. "Excellent idea." She took the towel that was now wringed out. She used it on her hair, which only had a thin layer of dust, and came off like a razor on shaving cream. In this, she spotted the two items in the bathroom. "Yours?" she added to Ron, glancing over to them.
"Well I am 15 after all, what do you expect?" said Ron, blushing slightly. "After all, there would be changes for you anyways. You know."
"For Ginny too I'd expect," said Hermione, finally cleaned up. Ron took the towel. "Puberty. Any mood swings yet?"
"Mood swings? Yeah, we have a caution sign right on her face when she does, hell is she dangerous." Hermione giggled at the comment. Ron cleaned out the towel, and put it over the rail to dry. "The first one she had on the twins was devastating. She blew up two wands in their faces. She knew how to do it."
"Oh well, you know my mood swings," said Hermione.
"Oh yeah, when you got angry with me," said Ron, rolling his eyes. "Shall we go down?"
"Yeah, and thanks,"
"Don't say thanks," said Ron. "Do you know the saying when a muggle has to go . . . oh what was it again? 'Shall we dance' - yeah that's it. It means 'shall we go' - just heard it before."
"Yeah, so have I. Well, for my sake, shall we?"
Ron chuckled. "What the hell," said Ron, taking her arm.
Harry was laughing downstairs with Ginny.
"Oh well, well, look at what we got here," said Harry.
Ron glared at Harry. "Very funny," said Ron. Hermione tied her ponytail at this point.
"Oh, that reminds me, I wonder if you'd like to look at Ron's private possessions some time," said Hermione. "I wonder if your relatives would like to send it for a Christmas present."
"Ha!" said Ron. "Them do that? You've got to be kidding me, Sirius would love to send that as a joke."
"I don't know what you're on about, but it sounds funny to me," said Harry.
"I might," said Ginny. "Fred and George will probably say 'aww little Ronniekins growing up' to that."
"Ron? What?" said Sirius, coming in on their conversation. "Sorry to barge in, but Ron growing up? Huh? He's 15 for god's sake."
Hermione started to laugh. Ginny smiled. "Don't worry Sirius," said Ron. "Some personal items of my going-into-man stage are mentioned." Hermione laughed harder. "Harry has no idea what we're talking about either." Hermione calmed herself down.
"Whatever you lot," said Sirius. "Oh yeah, about the wand. How many fake wand do they have?"
"Loads, ready to sell 5 galleons each," said Ginny.
"That's a lot of money for a fake wand," said Sirius, frowning. "I'll talk to them about them."
Remus was laughing. "These fake wands are brilliant boys,"
"I know. Marauder days brought alive," said Fred. "Alive to the home."
"I'd pay for one of those you know," said Remus, studying it as it turned into a squeaky toy mouse. "Here, take 5 galleons."
"Thank you very much," said George. "We honour you a lot: you're one of our first customers let's say."
Sirius chuckled. "You really like them don't you Moony?"
Remus rolled his eyes. "Hey, you might want to play with it."
"Whatever Lupin," said Sirius rolling his eyes.
~~~~~