A/N: welll…all I can say is loads of apologies n this chapter has been rotting away in my computer 4 the past 6 months..hehe
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The next day, Hermione left after breakfast. She said she would be coming back in two days unless her parents wanted her to stay longer.
"Well, now that she's gone, I guess it's just us men," Fred said, breaking the silence that had followed as soon as she had disappeared out of the fireplace.
"Us men, Fred? Oh, it will be a long, long way til you get there, love. And what about me and Ginny?" Mrs. Weasley asked sharply as the others stifled their laughter, excluding Percy of course.
"Oh, mom, you know what I mean!" Fred replied, embarrassed.
"Us men, indeed," Mrs Weasley muttered as she headed to the kitchen followed by Ginny who had suddenly regained her shyness around Harry.
"Well, Ron, there's no time for moping now! Come on- who's game for a broomstick ride? Harry, I bet you 4 packs of Every Flavour Beans that I reach Kipper's Hill, first!" George said with a grin, ignoring the look his younger brother was giving him.
"Broomstick ride? Surely you lot could do something more productive than that! Why, when I was still in Hogwarts I used my spare time to study! Only Hermione seems to be doing that and good for her. She'll probably end up a prefect like I was!" Percy said, proudly producing the prefect pin he had once worn from his pocket.
"Oh, I better go and get my books right now! Who wouldn't want to be a prefect!" Fred muttered sarcastically as the four of them made their way up the stairs to get their broomsticks.
"Frederick Weasley, I heard that! And YOU better want to be a prefect and make me proud, just like your brothers!" Mrs Weasley yelled from the kitchen.
"How does she do that?" Fred asked, shaking his head.
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The next two days were mostly spent outdoors where the four of them would play Quidditch or just ride around on their broomsticks. This was quite a change compared to when Hermione was there as she insisted they do at least half an hour's studying a day. Not that the two of them actually did.
Harry had grown yet another inch taller but the real surprise came when his voice began to crack. The twins teased him like crazy and even Ron couldn't help but laugh when he heard Harry's voice.
"My, Harry," Mr Weasley exclaimed after hearing Harry speak at dinner that night, "you surely are growing fast!" Harry blushed while Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny laughed. Mrs Weasley glared at them and as payback proceeded to describe just how the twins and Ron's voices sounded when it cracked. Ginny was spared, of course, but that didn't stop her from laughing at her mother's descriptions.
Later on in the night, however, Ron's mood seemed to have changed from cheerful to grumpy again. As they prepared to go to bed, Harry tried to strike up a conversation but all the response he was getting was a few grunts.
"Well, um, Hermione's coming back tomorrow, right?" Harry asked, making one last attempt.
"No," Ron muttered back in reply as he got into bed.
"No? But it's been 2 days, hasn't it?" Harry asked, confused. He buttoned up the last button on his shirt and was on his way to switch of the lights when Ron flung a piece of paper at him.
Picking it up, he read:
Dear Harry and Ron,
I'm really sorry but I don't think I can make it back tomorrow. My parents close friends have come to stay today and they have two sons, one 13 years old and the other our age, so I am expected to stay on and entertain them.
Ron, please explain the situation to your mother and tell her I will probably be back before the start of next week. Have fun.
Hermione
"When did this come?" Harry asked, when he had finished and switched of the lights.
"While you were in the shower. Did you read the bit about 'entertaining' them? What's she supposed to do- give them a lap dance or something?" Ron asked, when Harry had gotten into bed.
Harry broke into a smile. He was finding it very hard to imagine Hermione giving a lap dance.
"Well, I'm sure she's the one having fun there," Ron commented again
"I'm sure she is, Ron. Who wouldn't be, if they were the only girl staying in the same house as two other boys," Harry said
"Exactly!" Ron muttered, sounding very depressed.
"Ron- I was being sarcastic,." Harry said, smiling to himself. He didn't know how he was going to phrase what he wanted to say next without getting into a major argument.
"Don't worry, I'm sure she's just doing what her parent's asked her to do….Ron- do you mind if I ask you something?" Harry said hesistantly.
"What?" Ron replied, in a bored voice.
"Well-er-..umm.. you like her, don't you?" Harry asked briskyly, holding his breath for what he knew was coming next.
"What? Like who?" Ron asked, his voice tense- as if daring Harry to even try to answer him.
"Look, you know exactly who I'm talking about! Hermione, who else? If you thought I was so stupid as not to notice, Ron- you were wrong," Harry replied, slightly annoyed.
"What?! Are you mad? How could I like her? I mean, you've seen it yourself, how we fight!" Ron said defensively, sitting up in bed.
"Yeah, I've seen that! But I've seen how you look at her too! Ron, I'm you're best friend; I know you. And I'm tired of being too scared to say anything," Harry replied.
"What?- I don't look…..I don't like her alright!" Ron yelled.
"Suit yourself," Harry sighed, turning away from Ron.
"I don't!" Ron said again, more to himself than anything.
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A/N: finally!!hehehe