Mr. Weasley came through the door with a wide smile and tired eyes, followed by a very exhausted looking Percy who then smiled when he saw his family.

"Hello Harry, Ron, Fred, George, and Ginny! Oh Molly, you are quite a good sight for sore eyes!" Mr. Weasley turned to Mrs. Weasley and they looked lovingly at each other. Harry loved this about Ron's parents. They cared so much for one another, unlike Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia. Harry wished that his own parents were alive so he could be part of that love.

"So, how was your day Percy?" Fred asked very businesslike.

"Fred, I will not take that silly business! We are currently looking for a new Head of the Department of International Magic Cooperation. With Mr. Crouch gone... Well, we just need someone. There really isn't anything else wrong." Percy looked weary as he tried to explain the whole problem.

"Well, I'm very sure that Mr. Fudge will appoint Mr. Weatherby as the Head. He's very qualified." George folded his hands in front of himself and tried to look serious.

"Fred, George, that's enough!" Mrs. Weasley looked fiercely at both of the twins. "This is definitely not the time to joke around. And especially about such a sensitive subject!" The twins seemed to sink into their chairs as their smiles faded away.

"Well Molly, there isn't any trouble at the Ministry. In fact, it's very calm and there is absolutely no sign of anything. Dumbledore and Fudge are just warning everyone to be alert." Mr. Weasley smiled widely. "Boys, why don't you go do something while Percy and I eat breakfast? Don't let this beautiful day go to waste!"

"Hey Harry, you want to go play Quidditch in the orchard? We'll get Fred and George to play! Maybe even Ginny, she's getting good. Also, I've been working on some moves to be Keeper! That would be so cool, wouldn't it?" Ron looked so proud.

"Sure Ron, that'd be great!" Harry agreed. He smiled as they climbed the rickety steps to get their broomsticks.

~

Harry, Ron, Fred, George, and Ginny were all red in the face as they entered the kitchen of the Burrow. Harry grinned happily as he held his Firebolt, glad to have ridden it before Hogwarts began.

"I'm so excited for this year at Hogwarts. I've been saving up my own money to buy a Nimbus Two Thousand One this year when we make our trip to Diagon Alley." Ron opened a medium-sized black bag that he emptied out onto his bed. Out came tons of silver Sickles, some bronze Knuts, and even a few gold Galleons.

"Wow, that's impressive Ron!" Harry shared happiness with his best friend. "Maybe you can try out for the Quidditch team this year because Wood is gone. You are a fantastic Keeper, I would say as good as Oliver was before he left!"

"You think so?" Ron turned as red as his hair with pride. He was never recognized for many things, always in the shadows of his brothers.

"Yes, definitely. Oh look, Hedwig's brought a letter from Hermione!" Harry moved eagerly to meet Hedwig, while she dropped a parcel into his outstretched hands. "Here, come over here and see."

Hermione's very neat handwriting spelled out her letter:

Dear Harry and Ron, I hope you to are behaving yourselves this summer. Because I am not there to share it with you, I hope you are having lots of fun! Aruba was beautiful-I loved to watch the sun set each night over the water. I hope to see you at Diagon Alley. How about this Friday? Love From, Hermione

"Oh Ron, we'll be going to Diagon Alley tomorrow to get your school things!" Mrs. Weasley called up the stairs.

"All right!" Ron hollered back down. "That's perfect. Tomorrow is Friday, and we'll be able to see Hermione. Oh, and when we travel by Floo Powder this time, just make sure you speak clearly!"

"Yeah!" Harry agreed and grinned.

~

As the Weasley's and Harry walked down the street, Harry felt slightly lightheaded and dizzy. Floo Powder never worked for Harry. Ron and Harry tried to spot Hermione in the crowd of Hogwarts students. They saw Oliver Wood in Quality Quidditch Supplies. Harry was happy to know that Oliver was accepted into the Appleby Arrows so he could pursue a career in Quidditch. Finally they found Hermione at Flourish and Blotts, stocking up on schoolbooks and some "light reading."

"Harry! Ron! It's so good to see you!" Hermione smiled as her two best friends came into sight.

"It's good to see you too Hermione!" Harry said as he gave her a friendly hug.

"Yeah!" Ron agreed, and gave her a half-hug, half-pat-on-the-back. Ron was much too shy to actually display his friendly affections towards Hermione.

"Did you get your school books yet?" Hermione asked.

"No, not yet." Harry replied. "We'll be getting them right now. Do you mind waiting?"

"Oh, of course not!" Hermione said. They were all so happy to see each other finally after summer break.

"So, September is coming up!" Ron said. "I'd really like to pull some pranks like Fred and George did. How about that idea of blowing up a toilet? They abandoned that one ages ago when it was our first year."

"Oh please, Ron!" Hermione snorted. "You aren't serious about pulling a stupid little immature prank like that this year? I mean, I'm a prefect this year. Are you two?"

"Prefects? I didn't know that they told us this year. How did you find out?" Harry was a bit anxious to find out.

"Oh, it's just in your letter with your school supply list." Hermione answered as they got into line with their books. Harry and Ron eagerly reached for their letters while holding their books in their free hand.

"Oh, I'm a prefect!" Harry exclaimed. He looked over at Ron to see if he was as well.

"I-I-I... I don't see anything." Ron said sadly. He looked at the ground.

"What? But, it's on the attached page-" Hermione stopped. She didn't want Ron to feel worse.

"Why, has Weasel lost a paper?" Malfoy whispered quietly as he held a piece of parchment.

"Malfoy, if you knew any better, you hand that over right now." Harry looked warningly at Draco.

"Oh, calm down Potter!" Malfoy scoffed. "Don't want Dumbledore's little favorite to be causing trouble now? Here's your paper." He shoved it into Ron's hands. "I'm leaving. Good bye." Malfoy said rudely.

"Good riddance." Hermione shouted back. Malfoy turned around.

Suddenly a strangely light and fluttery feeling overcame Malfoy. As he looked at Hermione and realized she was surprisingly pretty. Was this the first time he ever noticed it? He gazed dreamily at her and smiled, and then snapped back to attention.

"I-I-I'll see you at school then." Malfoy stuttered, trying to say it normally. I cannot let anyone notice the fact that I... I like Hermione. Wow, I cannot believe that. I actually like that beautiful... I mean filthy little Mudblood, Malfoy thought to himself, denying his own feelings. He would have to hide them for a long time.

"Well, Malfoy's acting strangely this year." Hermione said to Harry and Ron. "So Ron, did are you prefect?" Ron looked at Hermione and then the piece of parchment that Malfoy had handed to him. He opened it slowly.

"I'm prefect! Yes, I'm prefect!" Ron shouted gleefully.

"Ron, not so loud!" Harry whispered-some people were beginning to stare.

"Well, we're going to have a fun year!" Hermione smiled as they walked into the bright sunlight of Diagon Alley.