Harry and Hermione walked back to the house hand in hand and each went to their separate rooms. Hermione was sleeping in Ginny's room, Harry in Ron's. Both of them were glowing as they climbed into bed and feeling pleased with themselves, they fell asleep dreaming of each other and the year ahead.

The next morning when Harry woke up, Ron was already up and out of bed, so Harry went downstairs for breakfast, sniffing appreciatively at the smell of sizzling bacon. When he got downstairs, Ron was already shoveling food into his mouth.

"Good morning, Ron. Thanks for waiting," Harry teased, but got only a grunt from Ron, who didn't even look up. Hurt, Harry sat down as Mrs. Weasley piled his plate high with food.

"Good morning, Harry! I hope you slept well," she said cheerily.

"Yes, Mrs. Weasley, thank you." Harry suddenly was starving and so the two boys ate with voracious appetites without speaking, soon joined by Fred and George. Hermione and Ginny were the last two downstairs.

"Good morning, everyone!" Hermione said brightly, with a special smile for Harry. "Ron, honestly. Must you glower like that?" Instead of replying, he only glowered more and continued eating. Hermione sat in the empty chair next to Harry while Ginny sat next to Ron, giggling in Harry's general direction. When Harry smiled at her in his good mood, she giggled even more, turning bright red. Hermione kicked up under the table.

"Jealous," he whispered to her. She kicked him again. "Ow!"

"Is something wrong, children?" Mrs. Weasley inquired with the sweet tone of a mother who knows all to well when trouble is on its way.

"Not at all," Hermione replied just as sweetly. She reached under the table and grabbed Harry's hand. He squeezed her hand as Mrs. Weasley began to plan their day.

"We're not ready to go to Diagon Alley because we're not quite sure what you children will need until you get your." At that moment six owls came swooping in, dropping letters in each of the students laps. "Letters," Mrs. Weasley finished. "Well, I suppose we can go to Diagon Alley today.Fred! George!" She exclaimed, seeing the look on their faces at the thought of new pranks. "There will be no detentions this year, do you hear me!"

"Yes, ma'am," they said in unison as they ran to dress, the others quickly following. Hermione stood in front of her trunk, trying in vain to find something to wear that would look nice. All of her clothes were.bookish. She needed better robes, she decided. She counted her money and decided that she had enough to buy everything required in addition to one or two nice new robes.

Harry on the other hand, dressed quickly and was standing nervously by the fireplace with the rest of the Weasleys when the girls arrived.

"Harry, you aren't still afraid of a little Floo Powder, are you?" Hermione teased. He shook his head, but his eyes told a different story. His first experience with the stuff had been no pleasure trip. They each took a pinch and vanished in a puff of green smoke.

Harry came out exactly at Diagon Alley, albeit on his bum and smudges on his nose which Hermione quickly rubbed off. He quickly pecked her on the lips before Ron appeared.

"You have to tell him," Hermione whispered.

"Tell me what?" Said Ron bitterly, seeing them hold hands. They hadn't heard him come up behind them and they turned to see one angry Weasley.