A/n: Thanx to those of you who reviewed: you made my day. Maybe my story doesn't suck as much as I thought it did. J Anyway, this chapter is gonna be more Ron's POV. The italics mean Ron is thinking to himself. BTW, if you were wondering, I really hope Hermione visits Krum in Book 5. That's not because I like the idea of them together (I don't) but, imagine how made Ronniekins would be if she really did go…maybe I'll write a fanfic about that. Tell me what ya think, 'k? OK, so here's chapter 2. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Come on, if I owned these characters I'd be the happiest person alive! They all belong to the brilliant J.K. Rowling.

Chapter 2: In Which Chess is Played and Teasing Surfaces

Down in the backyard, Fred and George were wearing identical mischievous grins on their faces. Seeing Hermione in Ron's room with him was a treat; the way they were looking at each other was a weeks worth of teasing.

Ginny had a faraway look on her face. "Aren't they adorable together?" She sighed deeply.

"Absolutely splendid. Makes me feel warm and tingly inside!" mocked Fred. George chuckled and Ginny cocked her head to one side.

"You two aren't going to give them a hard time about this, are you?" she questioned. "For the love of Merlin, they already give each other a hard time about it, being so modest and everything!"

"No!" George said, pretending to be amazed at this revelation.

"You two better keep your identical freckled noses out of their business," Ginny warned them. "And don't you dare mention Krum! Ron may murder you on the spot!"

"That's just the icing on tha cake, sister dear," Fred explained. Then he cleared his throat, squared his shoulders and hummed a note. Then he started to sing:

"My gir, talking 'bout my girl"

George smirked and joined in. Ginny bit her lip and tried hard not to laugh, which was pretty impossible.

A moment later, Hermione entered the backyard, followed closely by Ron, who was in deep thought. Aw, Hermione just made me feel like the luckiest fellow in the world. She actually LIKES being here with me. Oh, yeah, and Harry. Remembering what she had said and, strangely, having the urge to punch Harry on the nose, he stopped abruptly next to her. What a sight was in front of them!

George was on the floor, breakdancing, while Fred sang "What's Love," making a very dignified impression of Ashanti. Ginny was clutching her stomach, she was laughing so hard.

Hermione raised her eyebrows. "Ginny?" she tried gingerly, but the younger girl went on with her laughing number.

"Fred? George?" Ron said in a very low voice, for he was losing his temper. "What's this all about?"

His twin brothers just smiled even wider and went on with their act. That did it for Ron.

"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS GOING ON HERE???!!!" he bellowed. Of course, he knew exactly what was going on. Damn my bedroom window!

Ginny straightened up quickly. Fred stopped in mid-chorus, his lips pursed. George sat up, looking a little dizzy. Hermione gave Ron one of her "now-that-was-very-rude-and-don't-swear" looks. Ron ignored it and glared at his siblings. Hermione noticed his ears were red and his cheeks were flushed and she wondered why.

But Fred and George weren't too intimidated by Ron's hostility. "What's the matter, ickle Ronnie?" Fred asked.

"Why are you so upset?" George continued.

"Are you hiding something?"

Ron's cheeks became an even deeper shade of scarlet. "N-no. That was just bloody annoying!"

George scoffed. "I am offended, Ronald. We were just teaching our darling sister Virginia here our fine performing arts!"

Ginny and Fred snickered. Ron gave them all death glares to match Hermione's and that shut them up. He opened his mouth, probably to say something awfully foul to them, but Hermione grabbed his wrist. "Come on, Ron, let's go, er, unpack my clothes!" she said and tugged him inside, not giving him a chance to protest. Ron distinctly thought he heard Fred mutter, "Whipped."

"Geroff, Hermione!" he said, pulling is wrist away from her hand. Hermione looked quite insulted. He went to sit in the kitchen table.

"Is everything…all right, Ron?" she asked tentatively.

"Fine," he mumbled, sounding a bit roughly.

"Oh." Hermione sounded hurt. "Ron, is something wrong? You can tell me…" She sighed and dropped in a chair next to him.

That was smooth, oh yeah! Being rude to a special girl like her, who you li—whoa! No, I don't, I feel bad just 'cause she's a girl. Yeah, that's it. Now think of something and tell her quick, Weasley.

"It's Mum," he said. "She grounded me. She only let me play with the Showering Beetles today." Very good! And, unfortunately, the truth.

"Ron! What did you do this time?" Hermione asked sternly.

"Good of you to ask! He mistreated Mum's very favorite books." George had just joined them in the kitchen.

"You didn't!" Hermione squeaked, shocked. I mean, really, harming his mum's books!

"Mistreating is an understatement. More like pulverized!" Ginny had just entered the room. "He ripped out every page of Gilderoy Lockhart's Guide to Household Pests and Magical Me."

Fred came in. He walked over to Ron, who was now standing, his fists balled. He put his arm around him. "Seems to me that he was quite a bit resentful about your, er, feelings towards Lockhart, Hermione."

Ron would have punched him right then and there if Mrs. Weasley hadn't entered the kitchen at that very moment. "Hello, kids! Guess who's here!"

Harry was right behind her. He was the same short, skinny guy with the messy black hair and the bright green eyes. But he did look extremely stressed. You really couldn't blame him for that after what happened at the end of the year. Anyway, everyone pounced on him, hugging him and slapping him in the back.

"Th gang is back for a summer at the Burrow!" Fred and George said at the same time.

"Kodak moment," said Harry. Everyone except Hermione looked confused. "Muggle thing," Harry explained simply. They all nodded and went on outside to watch the sunset and Crookshanks chasing the garden gnomes.

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Ron swore under his breath. Thanks to his stupid temper he was grounded. Honestly, what had gotten into him? Why had he ripped those ruddy books? Because Lockhart is a mindless git and Hermione deserves better. She deserves the world, she deserves someone like me—Ron shook his head vigorously. Why did he keep thinking of her like that? 'Cause she's your best friend, stupid, what did you think, did you really believe you actually FANCY Hermione Granger? He laughed at his own, um, foolishness would be a more appropriate word than his description.

Meanwhile, Harry and Hermione sat a few feet away from Ron, playing chess. Harry was winning and Hermione was becoming quite frustrated with herself. "Why am I so horrible at this game? It's all strategy and cleverness and I have plenty of that," she was murmuring to herself.

Harry was watching Ron. He seemed to be thinking, or more like having an argument with himself. Then his gaze rose to where Hermione was muttering different chess positions. Somehow, his eyes were crystal blue, as if he didn't have a care in the world. He seemed to be watching her intently. Harry chuckled softly.

"What?" Hermione asked. Harry just shook his head and went back to Hermione and her concentrated whispering.

Harry wasn't the only one who had been watching Ron. Fred and George stayed hidden in the shadows, watching their younger brother with interest.

Ron never realized he had an audience. He was too busy staring at Hermione. She was chewing on her lower lip, her eyes darting back and forth, staring at the pieces stubbornly. Her knight was becoming impatient and her bishop was exasperated, pointing towards Harry's king, obviously in check position. She stopped chewing on her lip and lifted her hands over the board. Her eyes were glittering, making them look chocolate colored and her cheeks were flushed from the strain of concentrating. Her hair brushed her cheeks and she quickly pulled it back and—why was he staring at Hermione?? Before he could stop himself, though, he said, "How can anyone be so perfect?"

"Go ask and you'll get an answer," said a voice from behind. Ron jumped ad whipped around. Fred and George stepped out of the shadows, wearing smirks to rival Draco Malfoy's.

"DON'T DO THAT!! It's like you're bloody stalkers or something!" Ron was screaming at them and his left eye was twitching with anger. "What do you think I said, you stupid prats?"

"Ron, don't swear. What happened?" Hermione was walking across the room while Harry sat, hardly able to believe she had put him in check.

"NOO!! I mean, I have, er, work, yeah, and Mum wants me to, um, do my homework so bye!" Ron said nervously. Hermione put her hand on his shoulder and he stiffened and stopped. Fred and George snickered and Harry watched, entertained.

"Ron, calm down," Hermione said softly. George interrupted. "For him to relax and catch his breath, you need to lose body contact with him and make yourself less," he chuckled, "perfect."

Hermione blushed and Ron resembled a ripe tomato with a head of red hair. "For God's sake, you two are relentless!!!!!" he bellowed before stomping up the stairs and slamming his bedroom door.

Hermione glared at the Weasley twins. "I don't know what you two did but I suggest you stop now!"

"You know perfectly well what we meant," Fred said coolly. Hermione threw her hands in the air and stomped towards the living room, throwing the chessboard on the floor on her way out.

Fred let out a low whistle. George just shook his head. And one thought crossed Harry's mind: oh, brother!

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A/n: OK, I hope you liked it and it was somewhat funny. Sorry if it was too long. Now tell me what you think and click that little blue button and review! Don't be too cruel, please. 'k, you are free to read other stories. Tell me about any ideas you have, I'll consider them all.

Till the next chapter,

R/Hr Fan J