centerChapter 4

The Diseaseblockquote Harry awoke Ginny after the rest of the Weasley family said their joyous hellos to Ron, so that she could see him. It took him a couple tries, but he got her to wake up, and he put her down. Ginny flashed a smile at Harry, but Harry didn't even notice. Hermione however did, and she started looking slightly disgruntled.

Ginny ran to where Ron had been corralled by the other Weasleys. They had, surprisingly, forgotten about Ginny, but when she appeared in their midst, they remembered about her in seconds.

"Ron!" Ginny cried, overjoyed to see him, possibly more-so than her mother. The two youngest Weasleys had forged a bond, a brotherly-sisterly one, one that Percy had never cared to make with anyone. Not that they openly showed it, often, but they knew it was there. After Ginny let go of Ron, she had jumped at him and bear hugged him, Ron looked at her with a smile.

"Thanks, Ginny," he said. "Sounds like I owe it all to you." Ginny blushed, and Mrs. Weasley started blubbering again. It took them a long while to sort her out again, and George turned to Harry and Hermione.

"Thanks for finding Ron. We'll be sure Ickle Ronnykins doesn't go scaring Mum anymore." He turned to his family, after waving to Harry and Hermione, and ushered them off. Ron yelled to Harry something about seeing him on the train, but Harry didn't hear it.

Harry turned to Hermione with a smile. She smiled back, sleepily. Harry laughed and then realized that Hermione was holding his hand. He looked at her with a questioning face, and she blushed, removing her hand. That made Harry's smile even broader.

"So, uhh..." Harry said after a couple minutes of silence. "How are we getting to your house now, Hermione?" She looked at Harry, then gasped. Harry just started laughing and Hermione looked at him with a reproving glare.

"I don't know Harry... I guess we never figured that out did we..." her voice trailed off, and she looked at Harry with an apologizing face. Harry gave her a reassuring smile.

"Oh well, looks like we gotta find someone we know now..." Harry sighed, with mock sadness. Hermione glared at him. He laughed, and grabbed her hand. "Let's go, shall we?" he asked with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. He started walking, Hermione following.

After five minutes of searching, Harry saw Hagrid. "Hagrid!" he called.

" 'Ho called me?" Hagrid looked around for the source of the call. " O', its 'Arry! What'r ye doin' 'ere withou' the Weasley family?"

"Well," Harry started. "We kinda lost Ron, then found him, and to make a story short, they left, Mrs. Weasley bawling because she thought she had lost Ron."

Hagrid snorted. "Well, then, why'd'you call me?"

"We have no way of getting home, Hagrid, and we were hoping that you could help us..."

Hagrid let out a laugh. "You, 'Arry Potter, lost in Diagon Alley? Well then, looks like 'Agrid's gotta 'elp you two get 'ome, don't I?" Harry nodded his head. "Well, 'Ermione, is yer 'ouse part o' the Floo system?"

Hermione shook her head.

"Hmm... Well... there's a way, 'Arry, but well... I ain't supposed ta tell ya... Ye gotta figger it out fer yerself... Unless you can, erm, cast spells to get yerselves there... Or ye can find some 'ther wizards 'ho would send ye 'ome quickly... Oy! Professor Dumbledore! D'you think ye can get 'Arry an' 'Ermione to 'er 'ouse?"

Professor Dumbledore walked over to the three.

"Hello Harry, Hermione, Hagrid. Sure I can, Hagrid. Harry, Hermione, please hold hands now."

"Thank'ee Professor Dumbledore. I'll see ye when term starts..." Hagrid waved goodbye to Harry and Hermione. Dumbledore walked over to the two and put his hand on top of theirs, and with a pop, they disappeared.

They made it safely to Hermione's house, thanked Dumbledore ("You are quite welcome, see you when term starts"), and walked, still hand in hand, though only Hermione noticed, into the house. Hermione turned around though, to see Dumbledore still standing there, looking at them with a bemused smile on.

"Oh, I'm sorry Professor!" Hermione exclaimed. "Would you like to stay for dinner?"

"Are you sure, Hermione?"

"Oh, it'll be OK, my parents have wanted to meet you!" Hermione smiled, let go of Harry's hand, and rushed down to bring Dumbledore to her parents house. Dumbledore followed Hermione, who, when she got back up to Harry, grabbed Harry's hand and ushered them both back into the house.

Hermione's parents were happy to have the extra guest, and Dumbledore fit perfectly at the dinner table, even going as far as to play a few magical tricks. Everyone got laughs out of his jokes, and presently, he looked at a clock.

"Well, well, I think I've stayed past my welcome," he said with a laugh. "It's 22:30, I shall be heading off. If you get any notices from the Ministry of Magic, Hermione, you can owl them back that I was here." Hermione nodded. "Well, I'll be off then!" With a smile and a pop, Dumbledore had left the house.

"Well, Hermione," her mother said. "Looks like you two should be getting to bed. You both look tired." Hermione nodded, grabbed Harry's hand, and led him up the stairs. He complied, and as soon as they had left, Hermione's mother looked to her father.

"Looks like our little Hermione is growing up," she said with a tear.

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Hermione led Harry to his room, gave him a big hug, and then went into her room. She sighed and looked at her calendar. It was August 20th already. She sighed again, and changed into her pajamas. i He'll never like me,/i she thought as she slid into bed. As soon as her head reached the pillow, she went into a fit of coughing, like she had been for the past few weeks. This one was worse than the rest, and she stayed up much later than the rest of the household.

At 3 AM she finally found sleep, only to wake up minutes later with her cough. Usually someone in the family woke up and went to her, but this time she was surprised when Harry walked in the room. He looked at her with a worried stare.

"Its all right, Harry, " she said, in between coughs. "I should be ok soon... there shouldn't be any problems tomorrow..." Her voice trailed off as she fell to sleep, her head on Harry's chest, his arm around her shoulders. She couldn't think of any place that she would like to be more.

Harry sat there all night, holding the coughing Hermione. He wondered, i What's wrong with Hermione? I hope its not dangerous.../i he sighed. i And what'll Ron think when he realizes I like her?/i

Harry soon fell asleep, his head on her pillow, his legs off the bed, with Hermione's head cuddled on his chest. Hedwig flew in the room, and hooted softly, a note attached to her left leg, but she let the couple sleep. Though they would not call themselves a couple. /blockquote