Disclaimer: I own nothing. Nothing at all.

Chapter 2

Influenza

Hermione tucked her elbows in as she swirled around in the sooty tunnel. She suddenly landed in a fireplace on top of her trunk. She abruptly realized that she was not in the fireplace, she was in the chimney.

            "Help," she said weakly from the smokestack.

            There was a sudden scurrying of feet and some muffled laughs.

            "Hermione?" a chuckling voice said. "Is that you?"

            "Yes, now get me down from here!" she replied irritably. There was some more muffled sounds, and then she landed hard in the fireplace.

            "Ow…." She said, rubbing her duff. She unlatched Crookshanks' basket and he immediately scurried up the stairs of the Weasley's house.

            "You've still got that damn cat, eh?" Ron said.

            Fred, George, Ron, Ginny and Bill were all standing around her smiling. Hermione hugged each of them in turn and then sighed again.

            "Good to see you guys!" she said.

            "Yeah. I was kind of getting worried when you didn't answer my letters." Ron said.

            Hermione hit her forehead. "Oh! Sorry….I was sort of caught up with — stuff…."

            "Harry?" Ron said with a smirk.

            Hermione blushed.

            "What's all the commotion down here?" a familiar voice said.

            Hermione looked at the staircase. Harry was standing there, tall, handsome, with the same emerald green eyes and messy raven hair.

            "Harry!" Hermione yelled. She sprinted over to him and hugged him hard in the chest. He had grown about an inch over the summer.

            "Oof!" Harry said. "You're going to suffocate me, Hermione!" but he hugged her back anyway.

            "Harry —" Hermione stammered, "you — you're alive, I mean —"

            "It's good to see you, too." Harry said, smiling.

*  *  *

            "Hermione, dear! How are you?"

            Mrs. Weasley hugged her and kissed the top of her head.

            "Hello, Mrs. Weasley. Shall I put my things in Ginny's Room?"

            Mrs. Weasley frowned suddenly. "No, dear, Ginny's got the flu. I'm afraid you'll have to stay in Charlie's room with Harry. I can't risk you getting sick."

            Hermione went pale. She had to share a room with Harry?

            Wait, said the little voice in her head, You're being silly. Nothing will happen! This is Harry we're talking about. He wouldn't do anything. Besides he's just your friend. Why are you talking to yourself in the third person?

            Hermione blinked and nodded. "Can't Harry stay in Ron's room?"

            Mrs. Weasley smiled mischievously. "Now, come dear, surely you don't mind sharing a room with Harry?"

            Hermione furrowed her eyebrows. Mrs. Weasley acted like she wanted something to happen between them.

            She shook her head and began to heave her trunk up the staircase. It abruptly became lighter. She looked at the other end. Harry was helping her carry it up the stairs.

            "That's nice of you, Harry," Hermione said, smiling.

            "It's my job. Helping mankind."

            Hermione giggled, revealing her shrunken teeth. She had almost gotten used to them feeling so normal.

            "I can't believe you got here so fast, Hermione," Harry said. "I only got here myself about an hour ago."

            "Yeah, well, I, er, wanted to see you. Guys!" Hermione added quickly. "You guys."

They reached a door that read "Charlie's Room," with a picture of a moving broomstick on it. Hermione pushed the door open.

            It was a nice room. It had white walls with a dresser and was unusually neat. There was a bed in the corner. One bed. Hermione glanced at Harry. He looked back at her.

            "Er —" he said hurriedly, "I'm sure Mrs. Weasley can conjure a bed in about a second —"

            "Yeah…." Hermione said, smiling uncomfortably.

            There was an awkward silence. Harry picked up the trunk completely and set it down at the end of the bed. Hermione gazed at him. He was so strong. She shook herself and went back downstairs.

            Ginny blew her nose and rubbed her eyes. She put down a piece of paper.

            "How are you feeling, Ginny?" Hermione asked considerately.

            "Okay. I'm feeling better now that I've heard that my friend's coming to visit."

            "Oh, yeah?" Hermione said.

            "Yeah. Cho said that she'd be over here in a few hours."

            Hermione froze. "Cho?" she asked shakily.

            "Yeah," Ginny said, confused. "Cho Chang."

A/N: I know, horrible way to end a chapter. I'd really like some reviews! Thanks, Frances. Might have to change the rating on the next chapter…We'll see!