Disclaimer: I own Nada. I am just playing in the shallow end of this wonderful pool that JKR has built.
Chapter 2 – Best Friends
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"Blimey, I wish whoever this person who keeps messing with my food would stop!" Ronald Weasley stated as he tossed down his fork at dinner. "I am so hungry and I hate spicy food."
Hermione Granger sat across the Gryffindor table from Ron shaking her head in agreement. She had tried to find out if the spell or charm was on Ron himself, since it wasn't on the plate. Hermione reached out her hand patting Ron's. It was the first physical contact they had in front of anyone since school had started. The spark ran through their hands.
Harry and Ginny had not arrived at dinner yet. Hermione wondered if they should tell them soon. She decided to say something to Ron about it.
"Ron, we need to tell Harry and Ginny," her brown eyes searching his blue ones.
"Why?" His exasperation at the situation was evident in his voice.
"Because I don't like hiding it from them. Harry deserves to know as our best friend and Ginny is one of my best friends."
Ron took her soft petite hand in his larger Quidditch roughened hand. "I know you're right. We can tell them tonight when we are studying."
Hermione nodded in agreement and went back to her dinner. By the time that they were finished eating, neither Harry nor Ginny had appeared. Ron and Hermione agreed to go on to the common room to work on homework. As they left the great hall, Ron and Hermione didn't see Harry peel back his invisibility cloak from Ginny and himself.
"Well, I had a hard time not laughing. What about you?" Ginny smirked. Her eyes danced in merriment.
Harry looked at Ginny his own emerald eyes twinkling. "Hardest thing I have ever done. Red, you are a mastermind."
"Why, thank you Black."
They spooned some dinner on their plates to eat dinner. Ginny started thinking about everything from the past two days.
Being under that cloak with him was the best part of the prank. I can't wait to do that again. Ginny mused to herself. I should have never told him I would help him find a girlfriend. Her brows furrowed at the thought.
Harry was picking at his food trying not to look over at Ginny. I shouldn't be excited about sitting here beside her. Gin is one of my best friends, not some girl I have a crush on! He looked across the other house tables. Though, she was the only person I could really talk to this summer.
The pair sat in silence as they ate, neither knowing what the other thought. They finished dinner grabbing their knapsacks and heading back to the common room.
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Ron and Hermione had already garnered a table in the Gryffindor common room for their study group. They sat together thinking about what was discussed at dinner.
Hermione broke the silence. "We should tell them when they get here. Do you want to tell them or should I?"
Ron fidgeted in his chair for a moment. "Er… I should?" He asked.
"Ok, you should. It will sound better coming from you." Hermione sighed with relief. She couldn't imagine how to tell her best friends that she wanted to date one of them. Add in that the guy in question was also Ginny's brother and she was completely lost.
The portrait hole opened as Harry and Ginny walked in together. They were chatting about Quidditch. Hermione could hear them talking about some play for the chasers. It seemed to be about the only thing they talked about since Harry had been made captain. She watched them notice the table and make their way to where she and Ron were sitting.
Ron spoke to the approaching pair first. "Hey Mate, Ginny."
"Lo, Ron, Hermione." Harry said in his normal docent tones. The girls exchanged pleasantries as well.
Harry and Gin sat in the two seats that had been saved for them. For a couple moments they were busy pulling out homework and books. They stole a glance at each other before bursting out laughing.
Ron and Hermione were a little perplexed by the sudden outburst.
"What are you two laughing about?" Hermione asked the pair before them.
"Sorry, private joke." Ginny said trying to stop her laughter.
Harry tried not to laugh anymore. "We were talking about something on the way into the common room. Sorry about that." The smile that had been on his lips since dinner wasn't leaving his face anytime soon.
"Nutters, both of you." Ron said shaking his head. "We need to talk to you, Hermione and I," his voice suddenly taking a serious tone.
Ginny and Harry glanced at each other before she spoke. "Oh, what do you need to speak to us about?"
"Er… I don't know how to say this…" Ron began.
Harry interrupted him. "You and Hermione are running off to start your own brain bank?"
Hermione jumped at his words. The thought ran though her mind, how much do they know?
"You have suddenly realized that you loved each other?" Ginny said perking up.
Ron and Hermione turned a lovely shade of Weasley red. They stole a look at each other.
"Ok. You are very close." Ron sputtered. "Hermione and I are dating." He suddenly felt proud that he could say it.
"About bloody time!" Harry and Ginny said in unison. They glanced at each other before falling in to hysterics again.
"What do you mean about time?" Hermione questioned them her eyebrows starting to hide in her bushy hair.
Ginny rolled her eyes. "The both of us have heard you talk about the other for the past year. We are glad that you finally told each other."
"So, it doesn't bother you?" Ron asked looking at Harry. His thoughts were racing through his mind. This is too good to be true. Why were we worrying about this?
"Nope, not a bit." Harry responded as he opened his transfiguration book. "We do have a couple rules though."
Ahh, I knew that something was up. Ron thought to himself. "Rules?"
"Yes, rules." Ginny broke into the conversation. "Number one, No snogging in our presence." She looked at Harry wondering what he would say next.
"Number two, all fights or arguments will be in private. I have had five years of it." He said matter a factly.
"We don't fight!" Hermione said indignantly.
"Hermione, please. You two hold the record for Gryffindor tower." Ginny waved her hand at the pair.
"So let me get this straight. No snogging in front of you and no fighting or arguments in public. Is that all?" Ron asked the pair.
"Yes, that covers It." Harry spoke pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Anything else you can think of Gin?"
Ginny shook her head no. "I think if they can keep the no argument one, then all of the tower will be a much happier place."
Hermione sat across from two of her very best friends with a scowl on her face. During the "rules" she had crossed her arms over her chest. Hermione couldn't believe they said that. "Ok, deal." She sighed.
Ron reached over and took her hand in his. "Is this fine?" He asked his traitorous best friend and sister.
"Yes, Ron hand holding is fine. We just don't want to watch you do "dental" exams." Ginny smirked at her brother.
Hermione had enough of this. "Honestly!" She began gathering a books and throwing them in her bag. Her head snapped to Ron with a pleading look.
Ron knew what the look meant. "We are going to the library. See you later." He grabbed his books standing beside the table. Ron held out his hand to Hermione.
She stood up and took his proffered hand leading him out of the common room.
Harry and Ginny dissolved back into laughter as they left.
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The Fifth Year Girl's Dorm
September 11th around midnight
Dear Black,
The OWLs are going to be a rough year. I should have never let Hermione talk me into Arithmancy or Ancient Runes. I already have two three-parchment roll essays due for both classes. The arithmancy should be easy. I just have to do some equations. The runes on the other hand are pure translation. It will take me all night when I start them.
I am happy to be one of your best friends. I know that we had a rocky start in the friendship department, but I am happy that we are past that. Harry, you know if ever need to talk about anything, I am here for you. That is a promise I made to you this summer. It still stands.
Now on a lighter note, Ron and Hermione. What should we do the budding lovebirds? I have a couple ideas, but I would like your input. Think about the next prank for them. Tomorrow morning, we should leave Ron's food, plate or utensils alone. He has to be starving at this point.
See you in the morning
Your Co-Conspirator and Best Friend,
Red
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The Sixth Year Boys Dorm
September 12th after midnight
Dear Red,
On Ron and Hermione, let's give them a day off. They did tell us finally. I will leave the final decision up to you. Has Ron said anything about Dean yet? Ron is starving. He came up to root through my trunk for food.
I did enjoy our late night talks this summer. You helped me through a lot of things during them. I am glad that I have such a good friend in you.
Ginny, when I got to the Burrow, I was still very depressed over Sirius. It still hurts. That will never go away. I can only hope that it becomes an ache than a stabbing pain. We had many sleepless nights sitting in the living room or on the porch talking about everything and sometimes, nothing. You never pushed me to talk. Thank you for that.
You will do fine with your OWLs. You are quite intelligent and refuse to accept defeat. I expect that you will have as many as Hermione this time next year.
Till Breakfast…
Your Best Friend and Co-Conspirator,
Black
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Ginny sat back on her bed the next morning reading the letter that Harry had sent. Her crimson bed curtains were closed. Tears fell silently down her face as she read Harry's reply. Gin had no idea how much the talks had meant to him.
The talks had a place in her heart. She had wanted him to just let all of the pain out in to the open. Harry had to so he could heal. It was important to her that he does just that. There was too much at stake for him to keep it all in.
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Harry was waiting in the common room when Ginny came down for breakfast. Ron and Hermione had already gone to the Great Hall. He watched her walk down the stairs. Harry knew the letter he had sent before was a little exposing for him, but this was Ginny. She would never use the information against him.
Thoughts were crossing his mind when she reached him. It's strange how much difference a year can make. Last year, she was Ron's sister. This year, she is my best friend.
"Ready for breakfast?" Harry asked her quietly knowing she wasn't a morning person. Ginny shook her head in agreement.
They left the common room to go and have something that might wake them up for another full day of classes.
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A/N: I am glad that everyone likes my little musings. They are fun to write, but also allow me to delve into the personalities of my two favorite characters.