Chapter Three: Quidditch Dates

"Great dinner, Mrs. Weasley," Harry said as he helped clear the dishes from the table. "Thanks."

"You're certainly welcome, Harry dear," Mrs. Weasley said, smiling. "Here I'll get those dishes."

"Ok," said Harry as he followed Ron out of the room.

They hurried up to Ron's room, twisting up the staircase and to the top of the house.

"Great!" Ron yelled as he punched his fist into the air. "Ginny already sent you a reply, Harry!"

Ron seized Hedwig and tore the letter off her foot. Hedwig gave a loud screech and then hurried over to her cage. "Here, Harry!"

With trembling hands, Harry slowly opened the envelope.

Dear Harry,

Hey! It was nice to hear from you. I would love to go to the Quidditch Game with you, Ron, and Hermione! But especially you. Yeah, I come as your 'date'. But my friend can't come; she has to go somewhere to visit her sick grandmother, and she (Jenny) doesn't mind if I go to the Quidditch game with you instead. Can't wait to see you Harry.

Love,

Ginny

Ron gaped at Harry, who was smiling so hard he thought his face would split. "YES!" Harry cried loudly.

"Harry! She wrote 'love, Ginny'! That means she likes you!" Ron screamed. "That is so cool Harry!"

"YES! I am the luckiest man alive!" Harry cried, but then thought of his dead parents. "Maybe not so lucky."

"Harry?" said Ron, looking concerned. "You shouldn't let a sour moment ruin a good one like this! I'm sure your parents would be proud if they knew you had a Quidditch date."

"Yeah, you're right Ron," Harry said, smiling once more. Then something caught the corner of Harry's eye. It was Pig!

"RON! IT'S PIG! I DON'T BELIEVE IT!" Harry yelled, and he grabbed hold of the owl. "HERMIONE REPLIED ALREADY!"

"Great," Ron said, though he didn't mean it. He looked weak and shaky as if he were afraid of her answer.

"It is great, Ron! C'mon, you should look more excited!" Harry took the letter off Pig's leg, unfolded it, and handed it to Ron. But Ron shook his head. "Harry, I can't read it. You have to." Ron looked sick.

"Ok," said Harry not waiting any longer as he looked down and read:

Dear Ron,

It is great to hear from you again! I didn't think you were going to write me all summer! I was about to write you, but then Pigwidegon arrived at my window! I'm very sad though, since this is our last year at Hogwarts! I don't know where I'll end up after I get out of Hogwarts, and I'll be very sad to leave.

So, about the Quidditch Game. I would really like to go with you Ron, as your date. 4 o'clock is a good time, too, because I have a meeting at 1 o'clock and it's done at around 3:30. So I'll just come over when I'm done there. Is anyone else coming to the match, or just you and me? I don't really care, I was just curious.

I will see you then,

Hermione

"Great, Ron!" Harry exclaimed. "Now we both have Quidditch dates!" He let out a whoop.

Ron was grinning from ear to ear. "Wonderful! Superb! Fantastic! Excellent! Outstanding! Great! Incredible! Awesome! Marvelous! This is just...!" Ron was so ecstatic. So was Harry.

"Harry? Ron? What's all that yelling?" Mrs. Weasley hollered from the other side of Ron's door.

"Sorry mum!" Ron yelled back. They could distinctively hear Mrs. Weasley say, "Boys," as she walked back down to the kitchen.

Ron and Harry both laughed so hard until their faces were beet red. The grinned from ear to ear as they headed down to the Quidditch field, broom over shoulders, talking and laughing.