Heart to Heart

Chapter 3: Quidditch Practice

"What are you reading?"

It was Saturday and Harry, Ron and Hermione were at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall.

It was a beautiful day, but clouds loomed in the distance suggesting a storm. They were eating breakfast, well, Ron and Harry were. Hermione had barely touched her's; she was immersed in a book.

"Big surprise" Ron had said when he and Harry had caught up with Hermione coming out of the library, holding the book and reading as they walked down the corridor.

They had been there for about twenty minutes, and Hermione still wasn't done with her first piece of toast. She was oblivious to the world around her.

"Hermione!" Ron said even louder after trying to get her attention for five minutes. She looked up, startled.

"What are you yelling about, Ron?" she was getting over her shock, and now just looked annoyed.

"I've been trying to get your attention for five minutes, what are you reading?"

She held up her book, and Harry and Ron read the title 'Turning the Nightmare of N.E.W.T.'s into a Dream: A study guide to help you prepare for the N.E.W.T's'

Hermione went back to reading and Harry and Ron exchanged looks.

"Hermione," she lowered her book, to look at Ron. "You do realize that N.E.W.T.'s aren't until the end of next term?"

"Yes, of course I do." She started reading again.

"Just making sure, I guess she wanted to get started early so she would beat the rush," Ron added to Harry.

~*~

"Hi captain!"

Ginny yelled as Ron and Harry approached the Quidditch pitch. The team was already waiting for them. Being a Weasley, Ginny had grown up playing Quidditch, and after her brief time on the team in her 4th year, she had decided to try out as a chaser. She had convinced Dean Thomas to join as well. They had broken up since then, but they were still friends. Harry had heard from Dean that Ginny had broken up with him, but didn't really understand why. Dean, Ginny, and Andrew Watson, a sixth year were the chasers. Andrew was a great Quidditch player. He had light brown hair, hazel eyes, and was almost as tall as Ron, who was probably the tallest person in school. Euan Abercrombie and Mark Saunders, a fifth year with blond hair and brown eyes were the new Gryffindor beaters.

"Hi Harry," she added seeing Harry.

Ron had been captain for the last year. Harry had been a little upset when he first heard. Well, saying Harry was a little upset was an understatement. Harry knew that there were plenty of good reasons for Ron being made Quidditch captain instead of himself, the same reasons he was the prefect instead of Harry. Ron was shocked that he was chosen, but was thrilled all the same. Harry remembered the time in their first year when Ron had seen himself in the Mirror of Erised as Quidditch captain, and that settled the matter. Harry put away all of his feelings of jealousy and anger and learned to just be happy for him.

Ron, it turned out was a great captain; they had won the Quidditch cup the previous year. Ron had improved greatly from his fifth year and Harry was proud, he was there through much of Ron's extra practices, and had seen him improve a lot. Harry helped Ron a lot of the time with new moves and scheduling practices, and Harry was glad he could help.

They reached the team and they all sat down in the stands. Harry looked around at the team, there were six boys and one girl. Harry remembered the time last year when the team had been chosen, and how he first realized she was the only girl.

Dean had teased her a lot, but she explained very calmly (with her fist) that she could take any one of those boys any time she wanted. Dean had only been in the hospital for a few hours, before Madame Pomfrey fixed him up.

"Did you all have a good summer?" Ron asked them.

"Well, I certainly did," Euan began, "My family and I went to see the Ballycastle Bats play the Puddlemere United in Ireland!" He said excitedly.

"How was it?" Andrew Inquired.

"It was incredible, so close; if Oliver Wood hadn't made that save Puddlemere was sure to loose. They barely made it, 220 to 210." He trailed off, an awed expression on his face.

"Well, I certainly didn't have a good summer said Mark. "I had to spend a month with my grandmum, and she's a Muggle, it was dreadful."

Lightening light up the sky as Mark finished his description of his holiday. It was immediately followed by thunder and more lightening, and then almost instantly by rain.

"Let's go in the changing rooms." Ron yelled over the noise of the sudden storm.

They all followed him inside and sat down on the benches.

"Well, I don't really feel like starting our Quidditch training season in that. He glanced out of the window at the storm. "So why don't we just go over some plays"

~*~

"Have fun?" Hermione asked them as they entered the common room soaking from head to toe.

"Oh yeah it was wonderful!" Ron said sarcastically as Hermione giggled.

"I'm going to change." Ginny said

"So am I." said Harry. "Are you coming?"

"I'll be up in a minute." Ron answered as he took a seat next to Hermione, who had gotten over her fit of giggles and was now once again immersed in 'Turning the Nightmare of N.E.W.T.'s into a Dream'

"You know, you already know everything, it's not like your going to fail, I mean you did get twelve O.W.L.'s, that has to be some kind of a record."

Hermione didn't say anything, but looked at Ron and smiled. He smiled back then blushed.

"Percy got twelve, but you got O's on everything." He added as if to make it more of a general statement, rather than praise. "You should have a little fun."

"Oh like you, out side completely soaked"

"Well, it's not usually like this, you know that."

"Yeah."

"Don't you ever get bored just reading?"

She looked over her book and looked at him as to say 'You have known me for six years, and I have read the whole time. Have I ever gotten bored?'

"Reading is fun, Ron." She said simply. "It's fun for me."

"Well, I'm glad, I don't want you waste your life, but if you really like it that much.I mean you have to have a little fun in life, especially when it could be over before you know it."

Hermione now put her book down all together, and moved onto the couch, next to Ron. Ron was a little shocked by her sitting so close to him, but got used to it.

"Are you worried?" she asked.

"Well, I'm worried about you.and Harry" he added hastily, seeing her smile. "I mean this is Voldemort, who knows what he could do to you, or Harry." He added hastily again. "I better go change." He added seeing her look like she was trying to control her happiness.

He walked up the stairs and could feel her eyes on him as he climbed.

~*~*~

Short I know! The next chapter is coming soon. Again I'm sorry for the delay, thank you SO MUCH to those of you who stuck with me, it really means a lot!

Also, in case you're wondering, there are two reasons that I wanted Ron to be Quidditch captain: 1. Ron is my favorite, and I wanted him to be happy. I felt kind of bad for Harry not being captain, but that leads to my other reason: 2. I wanted Ron to be really busy this year, (for reasons I cannot disclose yet!) so he needed not only his homework and Prefect duties, but also Quidditch. Don't worry too much about Harry; he will defiantly get a bigger role in that later!

Special thanks to Jennifer Lupin from my granger-weasley group for helping me at the last minute, she's the reason you have this chapter now!

HW