Chapter 2



Even though his eyes were closed Ron could tell morning had come. Bright morning sunlight shone on his face from the window at the head of the bed. He used one eye to peek up, as if to slowly get used the brightness. He sat up slowly before attempting to open the other eye. Rubbing his eyes, he glanced over to Hermione, actually, to the lump covered totally by blanket that breathed lightly next to him. He could never understand how she could breathe all cocooned like that. Ron was now used to waking up with no blanket covering him; Hermione always seemed to roll up in it through the night.



"Oh shit!" It was 9:30 Ron noticed, "Hermione, honey, wake up."



"Mmmf," came the muffled reply.



"Baby, we're late, we were supposed to be up over an hour ago!"



It was unlike Hermione to sleep in; she was always the early bird. Ron knew she had been extremely nervous about having to tell Harry about their engagement. To be honest, he was worried too. He knew Harry had feelings for Hermione, everyone knew that, but what surprised him is how Harry did not suspect he and Hermione were together. As widely known as Harry's crush on was, Ron's feelings for her since the first year was common knowledge to everyone. Hadn't he gotten a bit suspicious once he had stopped being a bumbling idiot over Hermione 5th year? How all of the sudden he'd needed one on one "tutoring" from her in EVERY subject? How Hermione had automatically become his date for every dance until graduation? How summers were spent back and forth between his and Hermione's families? Harry could smell a secret a mile away and he hadn't figured this out?



"What are you thinking about?" Hermione rubbed her eyes.



Ron snapped back to reality, "oh, erm, just, you know, Harry."



"Oh yeah...." Her voice trailed off.



There was silence, an uncomfortable silence. You could cut the air with a butter knife.



"Breakfast?" Ron chirped.



"French toast!"



"Powder sugar?"



"Loads!" Hermione loved that Ron cooked. It wasn't that she couldn't, she just hated the "a woman's place is in the kitchen" stereotype, so the avoided it whenever she could.



"We need to hurry though," Ron began again, "we've only an hour before we meet with Harry."



Hermione groaned before shoving her toothbrush into her mouth. She didn't want to think about it. After the gargled the remainder of the paste out of her mouth, she quickly threw on a crisp white collared shirt. She joined Ron at the table and started to cut into her French toast. Since they were now able to travel by floo powder to Hogwarts, she wasn't too worried about time.



Ron kept looking at his watch. The ticking seemed so loud while he waited. 9:45.....9:55 .....10:15.....



"We should get going," he grumbled half-heartedly.



Hermione nodded, "yes, I suppose you're right."



They both grabbed a handful of floo powder and headed toward the chimney.



"Hogwarts!" -=BOOM!=-



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Harry paced back and forth in the lounge. It had only been two weeks since he'd seen his two best friends, but it felt like forever, especially when he thought about Hermione. Not a minute went by she wasn't thought of. He had tried to tell her how he felt once before, but she wasn't ready then. He was going to try again. They would be working together he hoped. He put in for the defense against the dark arts position that never seemed to be filled at Hogwarts. Working alongside Hermione would buy him time to find the right thing to say.



There was a flash of green light, then suddenly, Hermione appeared. She attempted to dust herself off a little before the ran at him. Harry wrapped his arms around her and didn't want to let go, but a second flash of green indicated that Ron had arrived. He let go of Hermione. He knew Ron also liked in more than a friendly way. He didn't want to make him uncomfortable; he was quite sure that around their 5th year at Hogwarts Ron must've told Hermione how he felt and was let down. He noticed how they wouldn't look at each other while he was around. Luckily they got over the awkwardness and were able to become close friends again. There was no awkward period after he had told Hermione how he felt; that's how he knew that she must have feelings for him as well.



"Ron!" He walked over and slapped his old friend on the back.



Ron felt queasy, "H- Harry, how are you mate?"



"I'm great, I'll be even better if I can pull of getting the dark arts spot."



"Right, how's that going?" Hermione squeaked in.



Harry perked up, "well, since I'm fresh out of school, I need two more teachers' recommendations, then I'll be set."



"Whom do you need still?" Ron inquired.



"McGonagall, that should be easy enough," Harry paused with a grimaced look on his face, "ugh, ... and...... Snape."



Ron's jaw dropped, "no way! Isn't he your competition for the position?"



"Erm, yes," Harry cleared his throat, "but I'm fairly confident I can get some sort of a slightly positive recommendation out of him."



"Don't worry Harry," Hermione chimed in, "I'll work on him for you, plus, he couldn't take the position this year anyway, I'm apprenticing under him."



"He couldn't very well do both - could he?" Ron asked.



Harry sighed, "well actually, he could."



The air seemed so heavy all of the sudden. All three friends were lost for words.



"So....." Harry began, "What have you been up to these past couple of weeks? I haven't heard from you guys."



"Erm," Ron swallowed, "yes well, there has been a new, er, development you could say." He began to sweat. Hermione shot him a look for referring to them as a "development."



Seeing the panic spread over Ron, Hermione blurted out, "we've got some exciting news actually.... we've -"



She was cut off by the door slamming open. The three jumped up and veered their attention toward the door. Standing there was Draco Malfoy, looking pissy as ever.



"Sorry," he began sarcastically, "interrupt your little party did I, Potter?" He spat.



"What are you doing here?" Harry sneered.



"Oh, haven't you heard? I'm the new Quidditch coach."



"You?!?!?!"



"That's right, surprised? But don't sweat it Potter, I seriously doubt we'll have to worry about working together, Snape will never give you that job." Draco snorted. With that, he turned on his heel and walked out of the room.



Hermione looked over at Harry who was fuming so much there was nearly steam coming out ov his ears.



"Don't worry Harry," she said reassuringly, "I'm confident you'll get it."



"I don't get it," Harry growled, "how did he get the Quidditch coach position? His father bought his way on the team to begin with. Besides, Madam Hooch is still here!"



"Yeah," Ron huffed, "but she's strictly doing flying lessons now."



For a moment or two they just stood their gritting their teeth.



"Well Hermione," Harry smiled again, "you were saying?"



"Hmmm?"



"You know, just before Malfoy barged in?"



"Um, er, oh yes," Hermione passed a quick glance at Ron, she was clearly losing her nerve, "we've got some news.... You see, Ron and I, erm, we've, well we're, you see we..."



"We're engaged Harry." Ron piped up.



Harry's jaw dropped. How? When? What?!?!?! So many emotions came flooding in, the main one being disbelief. No! How could this be? Engaged? No!! He stared blankly as Hermione. His whole body stiffened. His eyes slowly turned toward Ron, confusion and disbelief locked on his face.



"Harry?" Hermione choked.



Harry opened his mouth to speak....