Surprises and More Surprises!
"Surprised?"
"Yes I am," She accepted the hug that surrounded her willingly, "Where have you been, Harry?"
He looked down at her and into her eyes. "Everywhere," He stepped back and waved his arm in the direction of the beginning of the street, "With Ron that is."
"Why haven't you written?" Hermione flicked her hair behind her and looked at him with an impatient hand on her hip.
"I haven't been home, I've been with Ron all summer long," Harry motioned for her to follow him and walked towards the brand new store they put in.
"Muggle Artifacts and Other Exciting Items," She read aloud.
"Yeah, Ron's dad dragged him in here as soon as the Floo Powder got them all here, it was pretty funny."
At that very moment, Ron and his family walked out of the store one by one. Ron's dad was last, of course, just teeming with excitement and begging to be let back into the shop.
"RON!"
"Hello there Hermione, Harry, Nice to see you. Where have you two been all summer?"
Hermione laughed at his restless nature. It was good to be with the two most important men in her life. "Home, studying," Hermione giggled, "As usual."
"HERMIONE! What are you doing studying? It had been all summer and I haven't seen you once, and the only excuse you can give me for not seeing me is 'I've been studying'. Oh come on, you can do better than that," He looked at her warmly so she could only get weak in the knees and hope that she didn't fall over.
"Oh, shut up, you big oaf," she wrapped her arms around him and whispered in his ear, "You know the only reason I didn't come see you was because you make me feel so loved, I'd get sick," Hermione stepped back and smiled at him with her perfect dimples so HE would get weak in the knees.
"You make me feel that way, what are you talking about," they walked together in silence because all of them had assumed that too much had been said already.
Ginny jogged over to join all of them.
"Hello, Hermione, how are you?"
"I'm fine, Ginny, and you?" Hermione could feel that Ginny had a little secret to tell her, so Hermione grabbed her hand and dodged into the nearest store.
"What is it?" Hermione pretended to be browsing through a book called 'Secrets of the Divine, Lust and Love, Find out Now!'
"Didn't Harry tell you?" Ginny giggled a little bit as Hermione showed her a picture that was on a book nearby.
"No, what is it?" Hermione stopped dead and tried to imagine hat the news would be.
"We're going together, for about 3 months," Ginny smiled.
It felt as if a knife had just gone through her heart, she swallowed and tried not to make it too obvious. "Well that's wonderful!"
They both exited the store and found Mr. and Mrs. Weasley waiting with a huge pile of books to place in Ginny's cauldron.
"Thanks, mum," Ginny swallowed and stood a little closer to Harry and gently interlocked his hand with hers as if to show how much it mattered to her to have him there with her.
"Harry, may I speak to you in private, you too, Ron," Hermione pulled them into the Robes shop.
"What is it?" Ron looked concerned at always.
Harry just smiled and looked around, gleaming here and there.
"You know what, it was nice of you two to write me and tell me what is happening here and there, but no letter, no nothing? You, of all people, Harry, should know how to mail a piece of parchment!"
"Hermione, you know I would have..."
"No, Harry, I'm sick of what you have wanted to do, it's time to turn around and examine what you SHOULD HAVE DONE!" Hermione practically shouted.
"Hermione...wait!" Ron grabbed her arm and pulled her towards him as Harry stomped out.
"What now, Ron?" Hermione was so suddenly aware of who was standing right over them, listening to their every word.
"MALFOY!" Hermione gasped and pulled herself away from Ron.
"Wow, unbelievable," Draco grinned, "The Trio has broken up, how wonderful!"
"You know what, you have no right..." Ron took a swing at Malfoy but missed.
"Oh, come on you little baby," Malfoy jabbed at Ron and hit him almost every time. Poor Ron.
"STOP, please Draco, please stop," Hermione began sobbing, and tried to grab Ron's arm, but he resisted.
Draco thought for a moment. 'Wow, maybe she has changed, especially her looks, she looks great.'
"Fine, but, Weasel, I'm watching you," Draco took a step over Ron and then turned towards Hermione, "I'll see you later."
"Ron, Ron, are you okay? Oh Ron," Hermione helped him up and outside of the shop.
"I'm fine, fine, just, don't tell my mum, I fell."
"Oh, my goodness, Ronnie, what happened, dear?" Ron's mom took his face in her hands and examined the little cut on his cheek.
"I fell, sorry mum," Ron told her.
"Hermione, dear, would you like some Floo Powder to get home?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"No, thanks, I have to get the Knight Bus," She waved her wand around and the bus appeared.
"Bye, everyone, bye," the Weasleys' waved as she got onto the bus.
"Back home, I suppose?" Hermione nodded.
They were there in a second this time. Hermione thanked them and handed Stan her fare.
She headed back towards her car and drove home.
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E.N.- I know, a long, boring chapter, but what can you do?
