Chapter 4
A Quarrel and Its Solution
After having dinner that very same day, Ginny hurriedly went upstairs and straight to her room. She opened her drawer, took out her diary and got a quill and a bottle of ink. She took a candle and a chair near the window of her room, opened the window and there she wrote on her diary.
Dear Diary,
It's Harry's birthday today. I finished my present on time and gave it to him. He caught me sneaking in his room (because I wanted to give him his present), and he held my hand. I felt really good but then I felt nervous I thought I was going to faint.
Anyway, before having our lunch, Hedwig and Pigwidgeon arrived with Harry's packages and some letters (including our letters from Hogwarts). Hermione wrote to me and told me she'll be here next Sunday. I'm sure Ron will be happy if he learns about it. I also learned from Harry that Hermione and Viktor Krum are—I guess—talking to each other through owl. Ron's going to have a tough rival when it comes to Hermione by now.
By the way, Harry and I are already best friends. Can you imagine that?! I guess being his best friend isn't so bad after all… When I looked for him to return his hanky, I saw him sitting on one of the branches of my favorite weeping willow and we talked. He opened my present and he liked it. I hope he wasn't lying 'cause that really made me happy. And then he asked me all about the drawings and lastly—if we could be best friends.
This day was really, really happy!
Ginny
After writing to her diary, she closed it and locked it. She looked around outside. Although it was already dark, the huge outline of the weeping willow was clearly visible on her window.
Ginny couldn't believe what had just happened. Being close to Harry. Did that mean she could have a chance on Harry? She really didn't understand what was going on, things were too fast for her. All she understood was that her love for Harry grew even more.
Ginny smiled at her thoughts and listened around her. The whole surrounding was already silent and the bright moon shone together with the twinkling stars in the dark skies.
While deeply entranced in the moon's magnificence, Ginny didn't know that that very moment she was looking out on her window, two floors up, Harry Potter was also looking at the moon above him on his window upstairs.
"Harry, what are you staring at?" asked Ron, lying on his bed, preparing to sleep.
"I was just thinking," Harry reasoned. He closed the windows and sat on his bed. "Where were you the whole afternoon? I haven't seen you anywhere," said Harry, taking out a box and envelope from his drawer.
"I have done an errand for Mum," said Ron. "Had to go to the town and do her marketing. She said she's too tired." Ron continued to say.
"By the way," said Harry, "Hermione told me to tell you that she's very busy with her homework that she can't reply to your letter. She said that I tell you she's fine and that she said hello. She gave me a pretty nice present." He took the box and handed Ron the scrapbook. "You can read her letter if you like." He added, also giving the envelope to Ron.
Ron sat up to take them and he, at once, read Hermione's letter—silently.
After he finished reading Hermione's letter, Ron looked at Harry and said, "Is she reading books about Divination or what? How did she know we used magic?"
"I dunno." Harry shrugged. "Maybe, she just knows us very well." He said, grinning.
"Yeah, very, very well." Ron agreed, looking back at the letter. "So she's going here next Sunday, earlier than expected?" Ron looked happy about it and Harry could clearly see that.
Harry only nodded but Ron didn't mind Harry. He was just too happy that Hermione would come earlier. Ron gave the letter back to Harry; he turned to the scrapbook and opened it.
"Wow!" Ron exclaimed as he flipped the pages of the scrapbook. "Hermione managed to get all these pictures and autographs of famous Quidditch players! How did she do that?" asked Ron, his eyes gleaming, telling Harry that he simply loved the scrapbook too.
"Simple. Hermione got help from Krum. Krum was the one who suggested that Hermione must give me a scrapbook since I loved Quidditch very much." Harry said, looking at Ron's amazed face.
Instantly, after hearing Krum's name, Ron snapped the book close and handed it quickly back to Harry as if he saw a spider on it.
The amazed expression on Ron's immediately wore off and was altered with sudden bad temper.
"I'm already sleepy, Harry. I'll just go to bed." Ron snapped as he pulled his blanket over his head.
"Don't want to finish the scrapbook?"
"No." Ron said firmly.
"Okay, good night, Ron."
And Harry too fell asleep, wondering what had gotten into Ron after he mentioned Krum's name.
Harry woke up just in time for breakfast the next day. He—and also Ron—were very thankful that they didn't receive any warning letter from the Ministry of Magic or worse have the Ministry knocking at the very door of the Burrow to punish them.
"Harry, guess what?" Ron said beaming at Harry, his smile reaching both ears.
"What?" Harry asked yawning, his voice still very sleepy. He stood up and fixed his bedding.
"We have a good news and a not that bad news," Ron told Harry. "Which would you prefer to hear first?"
"The good news." Harry connoted, looking at Ron.
"Okay. The good news is we didn't get any warning letters and we won't be getting any." Ron said to Harry.
"I guess the Ministry didn't take our case seriously because there's no Muggle involved." Harry noted, feeling relieved and happy about the news.
"Yeah, but the not so bad news is that Dad knew about it," Harry heard Ron say, "and he talked to me a while ago when I was in the front yard sweeping."
"Did he scold you?" Harry asked uncomfortably to Ron.
"No, but he warned us not to do it again." Ron answered. "He didn't tell it to Mum though, he didn't want us to get scolded—not after your birthday." He added, smiling again.
"By the way, Mum told me to call you for breakfast," said Ron.
"I'll be down there in a minute, I'll just change." Harry said as he opened the closet.
"Oh, Harry, come here. Breakfast is ready to be served." Mrs. Weasley said upon seeing Harry.
"Good Morning, Mrs. Weasley." Harry greeted as he took a seat beside Ron.
Mrs. Weasley began to fill their plates with pancakes. While they were eating, Ron talked to his father.
"Dad, Hermione's going to come here next Sunday around two in the afternoon." Ron declared, taking a big bite out of his pancake. "She said that if there will be any changes in her parents' schedule, she may come here as early as this coming Sunday."
"Okay then, we will prepare her bed in Ginny's room," said Mr. Weasley. "You two will bring the bed in Ginny's room after breakfast." Mr. Weasley commanded to the twins.
"Dad, can we put a wooden bench outside our front yard?" Fred said.
"We're planning to make one this morning," said George.
"Go ahead, boys." Mr. Weasley answered.
After having their breakfast, all of them busied themselves on their particular activities.
"Molly, did you see the parchments I left here last night?" Mr. Weasley asked, searching the shelf under the kitchen mirror.
"No, dear." Mrs. Weasley answered, her wand pointed at the plates that started clicking and rattling in the sink.
"Dad, I have it in here." Percy said, waving the parchments he was holding.
"Let's go then."
After saying good-bye to the family, they Apparated to their working place with a soft pop.
Fred and George stood up and went upstairs to bring the bed in Ginny's room. Ginny went with them to finish her remaining homeworks for Potions and Divination.
"Ron, did you finish your homework in Potions?" Harry asked while on their way to their room.
"Not yet, but I'm sure Hermione can help us." Harry heard Ron reply.
"That's the only homework I haven't done yet," said Harry. He opened the door towards their room and entered. He took out some of his books from his trunk. "I don't know why Snape gave us this homework after all." Harry complained, taking out a piece of parchment and his quill.
"Yeah," Ron said in consent. He followed Harry and took his own books out together with a roll of parchment. "Make a report about the Diminishing Potion and Crying Potion. Discuss their uses, their ingredients, etc. One roll of parchment each topic." Ron groaned and started flipping the pages of his books.
Harry started nibbling his quill as he read the page about Diminishing Potion on his book.
(See next page for the ingredients and page 43 for the instructions and measurements of each ingredient.)
The Diminishing Potion is commonly used to shrink a person's size. Witch and wizards who were in hiding used this in early 16th century. They shrink themselves as small as a rat and hide in the gutters for safety. They prefer using this potion rather than be an Animagus which is highly dangerous for inexpert wizards and witches.
Doctors who repair faces and other body parts also used this potion in the late 17th century. Just by dropping a few drops of this potion on the certain part you want to diminish, the former big nose you have will shrink into the perfect nose you dream of.
Precautions were given by the Ministry of Magic that to achieve its effect best; you have to follow the right measurements and instructions. Many cases have proved that because of simple negligence of the instructions before drinking the potion resulted into shrinking your nose or teeth too small that it seems that it has never been there at all.
Harry read the page over and over again but still he had no idea how to start his report.
"Ron, do you know how I can start my report about this Diminishing Potion?" Harry asked, hoping Ron would answer him.
"I dunno, Harry. What did the book say?" Ron replied, not taking his look away from his book.
"It's nonsense. Only people who went hiding and those who wanted to reduce the size of their noses used this potion." Harry said looking at the book once again. "The ingredients are weird though. You need a piece of skin of a yellow toad, a shinpherlite, some dust powder of wishing cottontails and powder from a pixie's wing." He read in the book.
"Mine's no good either," snarled Ron. "Crying Potion is used by people who need tears to roll from their eyes, mostly stage performers." Ron said, scratching his nose.
"You make your report on Crying Potion while I make mine on the Diminishing Potion. Then we'll exchange and read our works. I'll just revise your report on Crying Potion while you revise my report." Harry instructed Ron.
"That's all right with me," Harry heard Ron reply.
The two became silent afterwards and went on with their work. Harry kept on grouching every time that he found his report too lousy. He would quickly crumple the parchment and throw it on the trash bin. Ron would, time to time, tell him to keep it down because he was losing his concentration.
They went on doing that for a few more hours and stopped to go to the kitchen for their lunch.
"Mum, Ron and Harry are coming." Ginny said when she heard footsteps going all the way down the stairs to the kitchen.
"Hi, Mum!" Ron greeted, sitting on the chair in front of Fred.
"Hello, dear." Mrs. Weasley said, filling Ron and Harry's plates with some fried potatoes and pork steak.
"Mum, we finished transferring the bed to Ginny's room." George announced with his mouth still chewing his steak.
"Stop talking when you're chewing your food, George!" Mrs. Weasley muttered to George.
"I'll fix Hermione's bed after finishing my homeworks," said Ginny softly.
"Thank you, Ginny. That's very sweet of you." Mrs. Weasley said, smiling.
"We've already finished the bench, Mum. It's already outside. You can look at it later." Fred told Mrs. Weasley.
"I've seen it already, Fred. It's very lovely. You can sit there on the afternoon and relax." Mrs. Weasley said happily, enjoying her iced tea.
"So Harry, how about a game of Quidditch at the paddock after lunch?" George asked invitingly.
"I'd love to," said Harry, "but we got to finish our homeworks."
"Maybe we can play tomorrow." Ron suggested.
"Okay."
Harry and Ron (after finishing their lunch) went upstairs and continued their work.
"I'm already finished my Crying Potion report!" Ron said, after about three more hours of writing and thinking (and crumpling parchments).
"I'm also finished with mine," said Harry, feeling his burden lessen. "We can exchange reports now."
"Okay."
The two exchanged and began to do their second report for Potions silently.
"You made a great report on the Crying Potion." Harry praised Ron after he finished reading it.
Ron's ears slightly went pink and he mumbled, "Thank you. You did great on yours too."
They continued their work for at least four or five more hours. It was already dark outside when they managed to finish. The two didn't bother to go down and instead they just ate Harry's cake and sweets from Hagrid. After eating, the two immediately curled up in their beds and slept without bothering to keep their homeworks and change their clothes.
"Ron? Harry?" A female voice from outside their door called. "It's me, Ginny. Aren't you going to eat your dinner? We already finished eating and Mum would start cleaning if both of you don't have any plans of going to the kitchen."
Ginny pushed her ear hard on the door. No answer. The whole room was dead silent. She quietly turned the doorknob and pushed it open.
The room was dark except for the dim light coming from the window. Ginny looked around and saw the two boys' figures lying on their beds—sleeping.
She walked across the room to look some more. Ron's bed was scattered with books and rolls of parchments. Ginny gathered the books and scattered parchments and fixed them neatly on one corner, placing the parchments on top of Ron's books.
She walked a little more to Harry's bed and saw the same things she saw on Ron's bed. She sighed and muttered, "Boys, boys, boys. Always messy with their things… I guess they finished their homeworks already." She collected every book and parchment on Harry's bed and placed them neatly on top of his drawer. She opened one parchment and saw his work on the Diminishing Potion.
"He's not that bad in writing reports," Ginny said, returning the parchment and looking at Harry's face.
"I'll tell Mum they fell asleep and they can't go down for dinner anymore," Ginny told herself, walking towards the door.
After one more glance at their room, Ginny left the room without any trace of those scattered books and parchments lying on their beds.
* * M * *
Days passed quickly and Harry and Ron enjoyed each day playing Quidditch at the paddock together with Fred and George. Sometimes, Harry and Ron would even play a game of wizard chess on the bench outside. Before they knew it, it was already Sunday. Last Sunday of July. One more month and vacation would be over. Harry and Ron couldn't wait any longer to play Quidditch on the real Quidditch field—especially Ron.
They were on their way to the Burrow after their long practice of Quidditch from the Weasley's small paddock up the hill. The four were already tramping up the hill, talking about their long but fun game of Quidditch.
"That was a remarkable block you did, Ron!" Fred applauded, giving Ron a sharp tap at the back.
Ron looked pleased with himself. "I wish I could make it to the team this year." He said.
"I'm sure you'll make a splendid Keeper just like Wood." Harry said reassuringly to Ron.
The four reached the Burrow and were now seated on their chairs eating lunch.
Then suddenly—Knock! Knock! Knock! Someone was knocking on the door.
"I'll get it," said Mrs. Weasley as she stood up, heading for the door.
The others stopped eating and looked at the door.
"Hello, dear! We didn't expect you'd come today." They heard Mrs. Weasley say followed by a short chuckle.
Mrs. Weasley turned to them and said, "Look who's here, everyone."
Mrs. Weasley moved aside to show the person on her back. It was none other than—
"Hermione!" All of them cried out together then stood up to approach her.
Hermione gave them a warm smile. Her trunk and stuffs were all resting beside her.
Fred and George immediately caught her things and said, "We'll bring them up now. You can eat already and then take a rest afterwards." And they were off, stomping their way to the stairs.
"Thanks." Hermione called out, before their stomping died away.
"So how are you, dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked Hermione as she lead the four children back to their seats.
Hermione sat on an empty chair beside Ron. "I'm fine, Mrs. Weasley." She answered politely.
Mrs. Weasley gave Hermione a plate and started filling it with some sausages, peas and carrots.
"By the way, how did you get here?" Harry said.
"I rode a Muggle cab and stopped a block away from here then I walked all the way here." She explained, taking a spoonful of peas.
After they finished, the four children went upstairs and decided to go to their respective rooms. While on their way, Harry, Hermione and Ginny were nonstop on telling stories to each other. Ron kept silent and away from the others. Hermione, who was the first one to notice this queer behavior of Ron's, stood beside him and whispered in his ear, "What's the matter, Ron?"
Ron's ear felt hot when Hermione's breath touched it. Ron looked into Hermione then looked down. He didn't know what to tell Hermione.
Hermione looked worried but she didn't know the words to tell Ron either.
Both fell silent while Harry and Ginny, who were still talking to each other, laughed at their own jokes.
Hermione followed Ginny into their room. The two boys continued their trip upstairs to their own room.
Ginny helped Hermione with her things. After they finished unpacking her stuff, the two sat on their respective beds, facing each other.
"So, I see that Harry and you are getting pretty much at ease with each other. Looks like he's falling for you little by little…" teased Hermione, smiling to her best friend.
"It's not what you think, Hermione. Harry and I are just best friends. But I wish it would be more than that," Ginny said, slightly glowing pink on her cheeks.
"I'm sure it will. Did he like your present?" Hermione said.
"Yup. He said it was a splendid present." Ginny replied, swinging her legs. "What were you saying when you told me you'd tell me something important?"
"Oh, that," Hermione said, biting her lips. "Ginny, I guess you heard about Krum from Harry by now." She started.
"Yes, but only a bit. I know that you and him are talking," Ginny said, turning serious with their talk.
"You see, Krum began owling me ever since vacation started. And—"
"And?" Ginny asked, looking excited with what she was about to say.
"And he began courting me." Hermione said in a fast manner.
"Did you answer him already? What did you tell him?" Ginny said, getting more interested on the topic.
"I told him I'll think about it. And he said he's willing to wait. But then I know I can't say yes 'cause I don't love him and then this letter came." Hermione said. She took an envelope from her pocket and showed it to Ginny.
In front of the envelope a single word was written: Hermione
"From whom is it?" Ginny asked, reaching for the envelope and opening it.
"It's from Ron." Hermione simply answered.
"What?" Ginny squealed in surprise, nearly tearing the parchment inside. "Ron? But what did he—I mean—did he tell you?"
"Open it." Hermione said firmly.
Ginny unfolded the parchment and immediately saw the familiar penmanship of Ron.
Hermione watched Ginny read the letter. Hermione would see Ginny's eyes widen and her mouth gasp but both of them remained silent.
Ginny placed it in her lap and told Hermione what she had read so far.
"It's a love letter." Ginny began.
Hermione nodded slowly.
"And he said that he loves you… He said that he likes to court you," continued Ginny, looking at the letter again.
"And it also said here that he wants you to be—his girlfriend?!" Ginny exclaimed. She looked again on the letter and up to Hermione's face.
Hermione only shrugged and said, "That's what I think the letter said, right?"
Ginny grinned at Hermione. "I guess he has finally realized what he feels for you."
"I don't know, Gin. I really longed for this but now that it's here, I don't know what to say." Hermione said emotionally. "Ron's acting very weird since I came. He just stares at me with this look I can't understand. It's like he wants to tell me something but he hesitates," She recalled the look on Ron's face on their way up the stairs.
"Just give him time." Ginny advised, sitting beside her friend. "He'll surely make it up with you."
Hermione sighed. "I wish you're right, Gin. I wish you are." Hermione said hopefully.
"Come now, Hermione." Ginny said warmly. "Let's go outside and pick some flowers near the riverbank!"
"We can put it in a vase afterwards and give it to Mrs. Weasley!" Hermione said, trying to cheer herself up.
"I already gave some flowers to Mum yesterday. She still have them in a vase near the sink, she used her Refreshing Spell for plants on them so they won't wilt easily." Ginny told Hermione. "Let's just pick some for our room. We can put them on a vase and place them near our window." Ginny suggested to her.
"Okay."
The two girls went downstairs and headed for the door outside when—
"Where are you going?" A voice from behind them asked.
Both knew who exactly the person was and they turned around—looking straight at Harry.
"Harry." The two said, sounding annoyed but both were smiling at him.
"Hello," said Harry. "Want to come with us for a walk at the riverbank?" He said smiling at Ron.
"Sure." Ginny replied.
And soon Hermione was walking side by side with Ron, Harry and Ginny towards the riverbank.
"Hermione and I are going to pick some flowers. You two can go walking around if you don't want to pick with us. We'll catch up as soon as we finish our picking." Ginny said, running to the nearest flowerbed to start picking some flowers.
Hermione looked at the two boys and followed Ginny.
The two boys decided to walk along the riverbank to explore.
"Did Ron talk to you already?" Ginny said while she picked a red flower.
"No," Hermione answered, feeling bad. "He just kept looking at me sideways."
"That's bad."
"Pretty bad."
The two finished gathering flowers and decided to look for Harry and Ron.
"So finished picking?" Ron asked Ginny, looking at the flowers in her hands.
"Yup." Ginny said smiling, pushing the flowers to Ron's face.
"Gin, take them off." Ron grumbled, pushing the flowers aside. "Why did you pick those flowers, anyway? Mum still has those flowers you gave her yesterday, right?"
"I know. We're not giving these to Mum. We're going to put them in our room." Ginny said, fixing the flowers she was holding.
"What did you do while we were picking?" Hermione asked Harry, her hands also full of flowers.
"We walked and walked and had some talk." Harry replied.
"Why don't we take a walk again before going home." Ginny suggested.
"Okay." The three replied in unison.
Hermione was walking silently beside Ron. The two just walked without any word to each other. They would just glance at each other and sigh. Harry and Ginny, on the contrary, were laughing and telling stories at their back.
Harry, who was also conscious about Ron and Hermione's quaint behaviors, felt bothered too but he didn't know what exactly must he do to help them.
Ginny, on the other hand, knew what they could do. They had to give Hermione and Ron some time to be alone and so she made an excuse to Harry so the two could be left alone.
"Wait! I dropped my hanky." Ginny squealed, pretending to search her pockets for her hanky.
"Harry, can you help me find it? I know I dropped it here somewhere." Ginny said, pulling Harry with her, walking back where they had walked a while ago.
Harry didn't know what was going on until Ginny looked at him and winked.
"We'll be back soon. Just stay there, okay!" Harry called out as he and Ginny walked farther away.
"You didn't lose your hanky, did you?" Harry asked, walking slowly beside Ginny.
"Nope. The truth is I forgot to bring one." Ginny said, grinning at Harry.
"Why are the two acting weird? They didn't talk to each other ever since Hermione came. Normally, the two would start fighting but now they just look at each other but don't talk at all." Harry said, looking back toward Hermione and Ron.
"Didn't Ron tell you anything?" Ginny asked.
"He told me while we were walking a while ago that he gave Hermione a love letter but I didn't believe him. I mean, he's not the guy I imagined to write one," said Harry sarcastically.
"But it's the truth. He gave Hermione one and he said there that he loves Hermione. Hermione wasn't sure either if he was serious." Ginny said.
"So that's the letter he told me to give Hermione." Harry said, remembering the letter Ron gave him.
"I think they had enough time already," said Ginny. "Let's go back."
They were already near Hermione and Ron when they heard angry voices swelling from them. They stayed on their position, not able to move, listening to every word Ron and Hermione threw to each other.
"Alibi? At last! You admit that you just used that line 'you were too busy with your homework' as an alibi! You were never busy with your homework. You were busy because you were writing love letters to that Krum!!!" Ron shouted loudly, not minding the two, who were staring at them.
Hermione looked at Harry and Ginny but turned back to Ron. Her lips were shaking with fury and her eyes were blazing. "You were never serious with what you said to me in that letter, were you?!" She said, her fists clenched on both sides. The flowers she was supposed to be carrying were already lying on the ground—forgotten.
"I was serious. But now I doubt it! I think that letter has been the greatest mistake in my whole life!" Ron roared, his whole face red with anger.
Hermione had taken enough of Ron's insulting words. She raised her hand and sent it flying into Ron's cheek.
Slap!
Ron couldn't believe that Hermione had just slapped her. Ron looked at her, his face feeling sorry but mixed with anger.
Hermione's face looked very hurt because of Ron's words. Tears started to roll down her cheeks. "Loving you—Ron—was the greatest mistake—I have ever done—in my life!!" Hermione yelled at Ron, making every word she said audible. "I thought we could work it out this summer but…" Hermione's tears fell faster and faster down her eyes. "I tried to explain but you never gave me a chance," She tried to speak between her sobs.
Ron didn't know what to say. He just continued to look on the ground, his fists clenched on both sides.
"Well, that alibi I told you? It's true that I wasn't busy with my homework. Happy? But I was busy for a worthier reason—which was thinking about that stupid letter of yours! I didn't reply shortly 'cause I was waiting for you to tell it to me personally. To tell me that you love me! I thought you weren't serious and so I didn't reply to give you more time to think. And the least that I was expecting from you when I come here was to accuse me of writing love letters to Viktor! Viktor and I are just friends! No more than that!" Hermione said, still yelling but a little softer than before, trying to control her anger. Tears just continued falling down her cheeks.
For the last time, Hermione glared at Ron and went running back to the Burrow, not minding Harry and Ginny or the flowers she had left.
Ginny looked at Ron, her eyes telling him that she felt sorry for everything that had happened. Then, Ginny looked at Harry, as if telling him to talk to Ron, and went running to catch up with Hermione.
Ron looked at Harry and walked slowly to him.
"I didn't want that to happen to us. I also thought we could work things out but—I lost my chance. Just because of my stupid envy towards Krum. I misinterpreted their closeness to each other. Now, I know that they're just friends but now I don't know if Hermione and I will even be friends anymore." Ron said sadly. He really felt ashamed and sorry for what he had just done.
"I know you didn't mean it, Ron." Harry said to comfort his friend. "You were just carried away by your emotions."
Ron sighed and started to walk back home.
Harry instantly followed Ron and patted his shoulder gently. "Don't worry I'll try my best to help you. I'll talk with Ginny later."
Ron was really devastated about what had happened a while ago. He didn't answer Harry but just sighed and continued walking towards the Burrow.
"Hermione, can I come in?" Ginny said, knocking gently on the door.
"Yes, please do come in."
Ginny sighed and opened the door slowly. She saw Hermione sitting on her bed, wiping her tears with a white handkerchief. She laid the tray she was carrying on the table between their beds. "I brought you a cup of hot milk. Maybe it can help you." She said, handing the cup to Hermione.
Ginny returned to her tray and got the vase of flowers she also brought with her upstairs. She walked towards the window of their room and settled the vase there.
The sun was already starting to descend. The whole place was beginning to get dusky.
"Nice flower arrangement," said Hermione smiling weakly, her hands were still shaking as she held the cup of milk.
Ginny smiled back. "Mum helped me arrange those flowers in the kitchen." Hermione heard Ginny say. Ginny walked back towards Hermione and sat beside her. "I'm sorry this has to happen, Hermione. I thought I could help you if Harry and I would leave you alone so you can talk to each other." Ginny said mildly, tears were starting to grow on her eyes.
"Don't cry, Gin. It's not your fault." Hermione told Ginny, handing her handkerchief to Ginny.
Ginny took it without hesitation. "Thanks." She said, smiling.
"You know, this was not what I expected to happen." Hermione said, sniffing.
"What happened when we were gone? Why was Ron so furious?" Ginny asked.
"I started the talk. I just told him that I was sorry that I didn't reply to his letter. And I told him that I was never busy with homework and that I only used that as my alibi. But he interrupted me when I was about to tell him that I was confused about what he had written to me." Hermione said. "Then he started linking me with Viktor and he didn't listen to my explanation anymore. All he did was talk and never listen. I wish I never told him that I was never busy with homework. I wish I hadn't started the talk anymore." She continued, her eyes began to get soggy again as tears started to form once more.
"It's okay, Hermione. At least you tried your best. My brother was—I guess—confused too. He must have been carried away too much." Ginny said, trying to soothe Hermione.
"My expectations of this summer was way too different from what had happened," said Hermione. "I thought of a fabulous meal outside the Burrow. Ron and I will spend the day there just looking around the surroundings and being happy that we are together. You know, after having our meal we can take a walk or just stay there, even though we're not talking I can feel that he loves me. I'll tell him how much I love him and I wish he'll say the same." Hermione said, her eyes drifting into a faraway dreamland as if imagining Ron and herself together.
Ginny looked at Hermione and suddenly smiled. She returned Hermione's hanky to her and stood up. She took her tray with her and walked towards the door. "You can stay here, Hermione. I'll bring your dinner here later. You don't need to go down. I'll just see if I can help Mum with our dinner." Ginny said cheerfully, opening the door.
"Thanks." Hermione said, smiling weakly.
Ginny smiled back at Hermione and was gone.
Mrs. Weasley was already finished preparing their dinner and she was already setting the table.
"Hi, Mum." Ginny said upon entering the kitchen.
No one was there except for her mother.
"Is everything all right with Ron and Hermione, dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked worriedly.
"I think they're going to be all right as soon as I finish my plan." Ginny said, smiling.
Her mother looked confused but she just nodded and smiled back.
"Your father and Percy are coming home soon." Mrs. Weasley told Ginny, pointing to the clock on the wall. The hands where Mr. Weasley and Percy's names were written were currently pointing at the edge where the word Traveling was written.
"I'll help you set the table, Mum." Ginny said, gathering the plates on the sink.
"Hi, Mrs. Weasley!" Harry greeted. "Is dinner ready?"
Mrs. Weasley chuckled and said, "Almost."
"Ron won't go down for dinner. He's feeling bad." Harry said as he pulled a chair and sat down. "I'll carry his dinner upstairs after I finish mine." He said.
"Hermione also doesn't want to go down." Ginny said. "I'll carry hers when I also finish my dinner." She said, smiling at Harry.
"Hello, everyone!"
"Dad!" Ginny cried out. "You're just in time for dinner." She said, giving her father a kiss on the cheek.
"Hi, Percy!" Ginny said, looking at her older brother. "How's work at the Ministry?" She asked.
"Very busy." Percy said gravely and sat down.
Ginny giggled at her brother's serious attitude. She also went to her seat and sat down.
Fred and George came down afterwards and joined them.
After having their dinner, Mr. Weasley and the others went upstairs immediately to finish their tasks. Mrs. Weasley was already washing the dishes while Harry and Ginny carried Ron and Hermione's dinners upstairs.
"Harry," said Ginny.
"Mhm?" Harry said, looking sideways at Ginny.
"I was just wondering if we could talk about what had happened .to Ron and Hermione," Ginny said carefully.
"I really wanted to talk about that. So how about I meet you outside—at the bench?" Harry said.
Ginny and Harry had already reached the third landing. "See you later then." Ginny said, marching towards the door of her room.
"Hermione?" said Ginny, taking a peek inside their room. "I brought your dinner." She saw Hermione sitting on her bed, blowing her nose on a tissue.
"Hi, Gin," Hermione replied, sniffing. "Thank you."
"You've been crying again." Ginny said, noticing the wrinkled tissue papers on the trash bin beside Hermione's bed.
"It's all right. I just wanted to forget him." Hermione said, sniffing again.
"You can eat now." Ginny said, placing the tray on the table. "I'll just leave the tray here, okay." She continued.
"Gin, do you know any vanquishing spell? I want to use one on myself so I won't have to feel this pain anymore." Hermione said, trying to sound serious although Ginny knew she was only kidding.
Ginny laughed at Hermione. "Hermione, don't be silly. You wouldn't want to vanquish yourself just because of that, would you? I mean it's very ridiculous to do that." Ginny said, still laughing.
"I know." Hermione said. She was already eating her salmon slice. "I guess I wouldn't vanquish myself anymore. Not worthy, but I think Ron's the one worth vanquishing!" She said, shouting Ron's name angrily.
"Don't worry, you don't need to vanquish Ron anymore." Ginny said cheerfully. "Everything will be fine by tomorrow, you'll see." She went to her closet and got her coat.
"That wouldn't be easy. I'm telling you," said Hermione, waving her fork in the air.
"We'll see." Ginny smiled and winked at Hermione. "I'll be right back, okay. I'll just have a walk outside. Good night and sweet dreams!" Ginny said, turning the door's knob.
"I think I'm going to have nightmares tonight!! All because of your brother!" Hermione called out before Ginny could close the door.
"I'm sorry, I'm late." Ginny said as she neared the bench Harry was sitting on, her wavy hair bouncing with her as she walked. "Hermione keeps on chattering about Ron, vanquishing spell, Ron, having a bad day tomorrow and having nightmares tonight because of Ron." Ginny explained. She sat beside Harry and smiled.
Harry smiled back. "Vanquishing spell?" He said uncertainly.
"Yup. She thought of vanquishing herself then after a few thoughts, she thought of vanquishing Ron. I don't think she's serious, though." Ginny answered, still smiling.
"So what shall we do to transfigure those two into a couple? I don't know any good spell to make them friends again, do you?" said Harry.
"I know just what to do!" Ginny said determinedly. "Is Ron willing to do anything just to save their relationship?" asked Ginny.
"More than willing. He would die just for Hermione's forgiveness." Harry said, grinning broadly.
"Okay. Then it's all settled. We'll have a picnic tomorrow morning at the riverbank. Harry you tell Ron about this, okay. You tell him that he'll apologize to Hermione tomorrow and no more excuses. I will take care of Hermione. I'll tell Mum about our picnic first thing in the morning." Ginny said, serious about her plan.
"Your mum?" Harry repeated doubtfully.
"Yeah. She knows all about Ron and Hermione. My Mum knows everything that goes on our family even though we won't tell her. She just keeps silent about it." Ginny said.
"Okay. So what else will I do?" Harry asked.
"You and Ron will be going there at exactly nine o'clock in the morning. You must bring Mum with you. She'll be the one to carry the picnic basket and arrange the picnic on the riverbank. You help Mum too." Harry heard Ginny say.
"Okay." Harry answered.
"I'll help Mum prepare the picnic in the morning. You help Ron with his lines." Ginny said.
"I hope this works." Harry said hopefully.
"That will depend on Ron and Hermione," said Ginny.
"Let's go back inside, it's getting late." Harry said, standing up.
"Okay."
The two went back inside to the Burrow and slept peacefully—hoping that tomorrow would be much, much better for all of them.
A/N: Again and again, review please. Thanks to those who left some reviews on the previous chapters!