A/N: Thank u so much to all who have reviewed. I really, really, really appreciate it. Pls, pls all who read this review! Even a single letter of the alphabet is welcome cause I want 2 know how many pppl are reading this. if u don't like it, say so 2- I don't mind. oh, I've edited the first chapter of the 'bad' stuff so I hope dee's happyJ…ok, thank u!~!

             Harry lay down on the mattress next to Ron's bed, trying to block out his friends soft snoring. Despite all his efforts, he couldn't bring himself to fall asleep. All he could think about was Ron and Hermione. He had been miserable for the past two days. He felt as if a great distance had formed between the three of them. If it wasn't enough that they had changed physically, now their relationships with each other threatened to change as well.  Harry had always suspected Ron's feelings for Hermione but right up until two days ago, Ron hadn't realized it. Now it was clear to everyone that Ron was in awe of her. To others it seemed like a mere physical attraction but Harry knew better although he was surprised at how much his friend could drool.

           Ron, of course, had tried to continue talking to Harry the way they used to. But Harry couldn't bring himself to act the same way as before. His friend was so different now, how could it possibly go back to the way it was? For the first time, Harry was the one who was jealous.

**********

            The next day, Ron and Harry were awakened by a loud explosion from Fred and George's room. "Bloody hell!" Ron yelled as he jumped out of bed and ran to the door, followed by Harry.

         The corridor was filled with smoke and the two boys began to cough. "What's going on?" Hermione asked when she and Ginny had come out of their room. She took out her wand, pointed it at the smoke and coughed, "Clarito!". Immediately, the smoke disappeared. The four of them walked into Fred and George's room. There was a huge hole in their wall and the twins were staring at it, dumb founded.

      "What in the heavens is going on here," Molly Weasley yelled as she entered the room. Ron, Harry, Hermione and Ginny immediately made their way out, knowing what was coming next. And sure enough the yelling began. Eavesdropping, they found out that Fred and George had tried to use a spell to create a tunnel in their wall that would go directly to whichever place you wished to go. Obviously, the spell had backfired.

     "How stupid of them! The Travellers Tunnel spell can only be performed in the presence of a certified wizard!" Hermione said, shaking her head. "If they had bothered to read A History of Witchcraft and Wizardry they would know!," she continued, disapprovingly.

      Ginny laughed. "Oh, the day Fred and George read anything besides their trick books is the day Percy stops bragging about his job!" she said. All of them laughed, careful to see if Percy was lurking around anywhere.

      "Harry and Ron! I'm surprised you two have just woken up. Didn't you know Mrs Weasley was taking us to Diagon Alley? Really, you two should learn to be punctual!" commented Hermione. Ron rolled his eyes.

      "Hermione, you may look different, but you definitely haven't changed in any other way," Ron muttered. Hermione scowled and said, "Ditto!"

*******

          "Whoa! Harry, take a look at this!" Ron yelled. Harry ran towards Ron and his eyes widened. "What is that?" Harry said in a whisper staring at the multi-coloured thing Ron was holding. For a moment, the two of them just stared at it in silence.

        Hermione came up to them and asked, "What's the attraction?" Ron just pointed to the thing he was holding. Hermione laughed. "You're not serious are you?" she said, in between her giggles. Harry and Ron looked at her, puzzled. Everyone in the pet store was now looking at them.

    "Its…a…. piece of….a..Veronian's…droppings!!!" Hermione gasped, tears in her eyes. She pointed to the cage hanging above their heads. The dark brown, bird like creature was surrounded by such things in its cage.  Hermione continued to laugh.

     "What??!!," Ron exclaimed, dropping the thing, "that was bird poop??" He and Harry looked shocked. Hermione nodded and the two of them turned red. The next thing they knew, they were all laughing so hard it hurt. Harry thought it was just like before. So far, everything seemed to be like it always had been. Maybe, just maybe, things could be the same…

      "Hello, Granger, Weasley…Potter. What's so funny? Did you just realize what all of you are? An orphan, a beggar and a..Mudblood," a familiar voice drawled from behind them. Harry's feelings immediately vanished when he saw Draco Malfoy, now even taller than Ron. He smirked as Ron clenched his fists.

     "How dare you, Malfoy," he hissed. Draco just laughed. "My, how you've grown. You must feel so strong and mighty. And Granger- changing your hair and your teeth won't change what you are, a filthy…" This time Harry reacted before Ron did. He took out his wand and held it out threateningly.

      "Don't fool yourself, Potter. Look at your size. I could beat you in a second. Even Granger could, come to think of it," Draco said menacingly. Harry turned bright red. Hermione, seeing his embarrassment, took charge and pointed her wand at Draco. He gave one last smile and walked away.

        "Oh, Harry, he's such an ass. Ignore him," Hermione said angrily, staring after Draco as he walked out of the store. More easily said than done, thought Harry.

       "Malfoy was up to his old nonsense again, I suppose," George asked when the twins joined them seconds after the scene. Hermione nodded, her face still fixed in a scowl as was Ron's. Only Harry looked miserable and still red faced.

      "Come on Harry. We've got something for you," Fred said, after he and George had exchanged a look. The next thing he knew, Harry was being dragged by the twins out of the pet store and to a dark, secluded area near Knockturn Alley.

       George looked left and right before saying, "Look Harry. We think this might help" Fred removed something from his pocket and thrust it into Harry's hand. ….

A/N: Cliffhanger!!! Review, review, review!!!!! Idea's on how 2 continue the story very very very much appreciated. I hope the story line's ok so far. I know its kind of lame but…..*sigh*. So..whats the things Fred and George gave Harry and whats it for? Find out in the next instalment of puberty..Stay tuned, folks..J

p.s. try not 2 think of draco as the cute guy in the movie but as the evil one in the book…hehe, draco is just 2 cute in the movie, don't u think???

-CheekyAngel-