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Recap: I left off a month ago, but just so you remember, Draco visited the Burrow to do a Potions project, and now Ron has to come downstairs to face him.

Chapter 40

Ginny was the last to walk into the kitchen. Mrs. Weasley mentioned that there were some people to see Ron, not just one person, but some. Who else would be there other than Malfoy or Snape?

I better get this over with, she thought. I just really hope it's not him. Please don't be him!

But it was him. He was sitting at the table, hesitantly picking up a cookie that Mrs. Weasley offered him, and he was probably intimidated by Malfoy and Snape, but his eyes brightened when he saw his fellow Gryffindors. Ron was also very glad to see him which almost made up for Malfoy being there as well.

"Dean!" Ron exclaimed purposely ignoring Malfoy, "How are you?"

"Hey, Ron! I'm great! I'm so glad to see you; all of you!" Dean answered right after he jumped out his seat to greet them. While he was hugging Hermione, he spotted Ginny and smiled at her. Ginny gave him a weak grin and brief wave.

"Have a go on the brooms, Dean? I'm trying a new trick," Harry suggested.

"I'm teaching him the new trick," Ron said smugly. "The day is good--"

"Your professor reminded me for you boys to keep busy on that project so there won't be any Quidditch today!" Mrs. Weasley cut in.

"But Mum, it's--" Ron started, but got cut off again.

"It's NOT your birthday, Ron! It's Harry's!" Mrs. Weasley reminded him. "Now, you three," she said politely to Harry, Hermione, and Ginny.

"Please, Mrs. Weasley, let me help them with their project," said Hermione. She was probably jealous that they had extra school work to do and she didn't. Malfoy hadn't said a word because Mrs. Weasley was in the room, but Ginny knew what he was thinking by the look of his face. He wanted staple Hermione's lips shut, tie her arms behind her back, and leave her on a train track.

"Oh, sure, Hermione, if you want to," Mrs. Weasley approved. Hermione looked at Ginny and smirked. Ginny figured that there were other reasons for Hermione to volunteer to help, but she wasn't sure what so she gave her a blank expression.

Hermione came closer to her and spoke quietly through gritted teeth, "I think someone has to tell somebody about somebody." She then eyed Harry and shifted them onto Dean.

"Oh," was all what Ginny managed to say, but she knew what Hermione meant. Harry already knew about Dean so it wouldn't have had to be a problem. But what if he forgot? She didn't even decide what to do about Dean. What would she have to tell him later?

"Ginny and Harry," said Mrs. Weasley as she tried to come up with undone tasks but she brushed them off. "I guess there is nothing else for you to do. You can go out on the brooms if you like, but be back soon. We are going to eat out in the garden in about an hour," she turned to Harry, "Please don't let her fall."

Ginny rolled her eyes and she left the room with Harry. "I think we should keep things private until school starts again," she said abruptly when they entered the back stoop.

"Oh, is there a reason? I was thinking tonight would be all right--"

"Not with Dean here!" she fizzed. Harry seemed uncomfortable. "I'm sorry; I'm really tense about this."

"It's fine. You can work it out with Dean later," Harry simply stated.

"Just me? We both have to tell him," said Ginny.

"No, I don't have to be involved. You're the one two-timing us," Harry replied unworriedly with a smirk. He seemed amused by it.

"You are just about involved in this as I am! You're going out with your friend's girlfriend, you pig!" Ginny asserted.

"And you're two-timing me, you scarlet woman!" Harry answered teasingly. Mrs. Weasley had obviously rubbed off on him to use such a term as "scarlet woman".

"Fine! I'll go tell Dean that we're going out in front of everyone!" Ginny said and started counting names off her fingers, "Hermione, Ron, Malfoy--"

"No-no-no-no!" said Harry as he stopped her from entering the house again. Ginny knew she wasn't going to do it, but it did make Harry take things a bit more seriously. "Let's just wait until school starts and we can figure out a way to tell him until then."

"That's what I was thinking. We have about a month. For now, I guess I'll just have to pretend to Dean that everything is normal."

"So what have you gotten for my birthday?" Harry asked coolly.

"You'll see," Ginny answered. The tables were already set up and Harry and Ginny waited on the porch until sunset when everyone came out.