A/N: The third chapter's up ahead of schedule! Like four days or something, but still! In my opinion, this is were the story begins to kick of. But that's just me. Plus, I'm biased to these next two chapters ^_^ It's slightly different in tone from the first two, but it's still recognisable.

Disclaimer: J.K. owns Harry, as I sadly don't.



Chapter 3. The week before the journey



Harry was awakened by the sound of a loud bang coming from the kitchen, followed by loud curses (no, not the magical kind) over "Those hopeless boys!"

"Guess Gred n' Forge have tested one of their products again..." said Harry sleepily. Ron, who also had woken up, groaned loudly.

"It's the third time this week!" he exclaimed, irritated. "Can't you get any sleep around here for once!" A moment later they heard a furious scream from Ginny's room.

"I, and Hermione it seems, agree with you, Ron."

"I mean, I need my sleep!"

"Especially after coming home so late last night, right?" Ron froze. He looked at Harry, trying to look like he didn't have the slightest idea of what Harry was talking about.

"Don't know what our talking about, Harry..." Harry rolled his eyes.

"Ron, you very much DO know what I'm talking about. I hear you come back late after our walk with Hermione, and t was pretty late." Ron felt a bit disappointed with his sneaking ability. But then he thought of something.

"What's your proof?" Harry smiled, and took up something from the floor. Something Ron recognised.

"This." What Harry was holding was Ron's sweater he'd been wearing the day before. It was full of grass stains. The walk had evidently ended nicely. Ron paled immediately. "Grass stains don't jump on sweater by themselves, eh Ron?"

"Potter, If you'll show that to my mum, I'll kill you." Harry was trying hard not to laugh. He didn't do very well.

"Hahaha! Ron, I'm just teasing! I'm not gonna show this to your mother." Ron looked relieved, and gave laughed.

"Sorry, for even thinking that. It was a little stupid of me."

"Well, I let you think it. Didn't I?"

"Yeah, well I guess you did. I'm gonna go make sure Hermione won't turn Fred and George into toads or something."

"Okay." Ron put on a pair of pant and a T-shirt, and stood up to walk out the door. "Ron?"

"Yes?"

"Maybe you should...um...leave this to Hermione. It fell out of one of the pockets on your sweater." Harry gave Ron something that looked suspiciously much like the scarf Hermione had worn the day before, only with some grass stains on it. Ron took it, swallowed hard, and walked out the door.



*Start Flashback story-telling*



It was four days since Harry arrived at the Burrow. When Ron came home from the walk with Hermione, when she told him about the offer, he'd told Harry about it. When Ron finished Harry came to the same conclusion that Ginny had. "Hermione must really love Ron if she let him decide," Harry had thought.



The following day everyone, except Mr Weasley and Percy who had to work, went out for a picnic. The weather had been sunny and not a single cloud was visible on the sky. While walking they talked about different things. Ginny was actually talking quite a bit. Harry was used to her being this quite girl, being quite or not talking all that much around him, so it came as a bit of a surprise. Although, it was a nice one. Harry just thought it was nice to talk to her, he didn't choke like he did when trying to talk to Cho. Ron and Hermione went, not all that unexpected, by themselves a bit behind the others. Harry chuckled when he saw them. Ginny looked at him with an asking look.

"What's so funny?" she asked Harry.

"Those two," he answered and nodded towards Ron and Hermione. "It couldn't be more obvious that they were in love even if they stamped it on their foreheads."

"I see what you mean..." Then Ginny looked at Harry in a way that he couldn't quite decide what it meant, only that it was something kind (A/N: Ok, I was going to write something waaaayy more fluffy here, but I changed my mind at last minute. Thank God). Harry just smile back at her. He felt that he absolutely started to like Ginny more than he had before.

"Is anymore than I hungry?" asked George. They thought and yeah, guess they were hungry. So they sat down under a big oak, with just the right amount of shadow. It was just at the edge of a field with high grass. Mrs Weasley opened they picnic basket and gave everyone a sandwich each. Ron and Hermione went to the other side of the tree and sat to be alone.

"Ickle Ronnikins and his girlfriend is going round the tree..." said Fred.

"...To make out, no doubt about it," said George.

"Shut up," they heard Ron's voice say. Though, Fred and George were probably right. Harry was just about to take the first bite of his sandwich, when a scream was heard form the side of the tree. He immediately got to his feet and ran to the other side of the tree, closely followed by Ginny, Fred, George and Mrs Weasley. When they got round the tree they saw Ron, rolling on the grass a few yards from the tree.

"What?" Harry asked Hermione, who stood by the tree, looking slightly pale. She shook her head.

"I...I don't know..." she said. "We were just sitting, leaned against the tree, and he just screamed and started rolling on the grass..." Now Ron stopped rolling around, took out something from under his sweater, and threw as far as he possibly could. He then turned towards the others, looking very pale.

"Spider... a HUGE, HAIRY spider crawled in under my shirt..." he said. The others immediately looked relieved. "It's serious! I hate the bloody spiders!"

"Yeah, we know, Ron. But you screamed like you were going to die or some-" said Harry, but Ron interrupted him.

"IT WAS HUGE!" Now Hermione had a very hard time, trying not to giggle. Ron noticed. "Oh, you think this is funny?" A hint of a smile showed on his face. "I'll get you for fun!" Ron started running towards the now loudly giggling Hermione, who sat of as fast as she could into the field. After about forty yards Ron caught up with Hermione, and threw himself on her. Once on the ground he started tickling her.

"Come on, let's go back round the tree," said Harry to the others. Ginny looked curiously at Harry.

"Why?" she asked. Harry smiled.

"'Cause they'll probably want to be alone in about five seconds."

"Oh." Harry, Ginny, Fred, George and Mrs Weasley went back around the tree.



They all sat and talked for a long while, therefore they didn't notice that dark clouds were filling the sky. Ron and Hermione would have noticed this, but they were lying comfortably in each others arms on the grassy field, eyes closed, and with smiles on their faces. Hermione was just starting to wall asleep, when a raindrop fell upon her forehead. She opened her eyes, saw the dark sky, and sat straight up. Although, the seemingly sleeping Ron had another idea and quickly pulled her down again.

"Ron?" Hermione asked impatiently.

A "Hmm?" came from Ron.

"There's nothing more I'd like to do than to lie here, but..."

"But what?" Ron still hadn't opened his eyes. Then the sound of distant thunder reached their ears, and almost immediately it started raining. Ron's eyes went wide open. Hermione sighed.

"That's why, Ron..." The both got up and started running towards the tree. "Ron, what are you doing?! A tree is the LAST place you want to be under if there's thunder!"

"Hermione, the others are under the tree..."

"Oh...yeah, right...the others..." She started running after Ron. Once at the tree the others had already packed everything.

"Hold on, I'll do a drying charm so we won't get wet," said Hermione. The others looked surprised. "What?"

"Eh...Hermione?" said Harry.

"Yes, Harry?"

"We're not supposed to do any magic away from Hogwarts..."

"Oh...right..." For Harry this was the ultimate proof of Ron's influence over Hermione: she'd forgotten a rule, if only for a little while.

"Well, I don't have to worry yet, it's not like she's stopped going to the library. Then I would be REALLY worried!" Harry thought, showing a slight smile."

"But...can't you just tell it to mum, and she'll do it?" said Ron.

"No, we can't do that," said Mrs Weasley. The other looked at her with surprised looks.

"Why not?" said Ginny. Mrs Weasley now looked a bit troubled.

"Because I forgot the wand at home," she answered. "Besides, It's not like I thought we'd need it." All the teenagers sighed, all at the same time.

"Okay, how far is it back to the house?" asked Harry.

"About 2 miles," said Mrs Weasley. The teenagers sighed again.

"Well, I always have liked hot chocolate," said Harry. "We'll probably need some of that when we get back...". Everyone took their stuff and started running home in the heavy rain.



Once home Mrs Weasley performed a drying spell on them all. Then they got a blanket each to wrap themselves in, and Mrs Weasley made some hot chocolate. They looked a bit funny, all wrapped in blankets of different colours and sizes. Ron and Hermione naturally shared a blanket. Harry thought a bit how he and Ginny would look if they also shared a blanket. What Harry didn't know was that Ginny was thinking the same thing.



The next day it still was raining, so everyone stayed inside. Hermione went ballistic when she discovered that Ron wasn't finished with his homework for the summer yet, and forced to do them.

"Ron, if you don't do your homework I'll never speak to you again!" said Hermione, a very decisive tone in her voice. Though, this didn't make Ron feel bad, but instead he smiled.

"Now, now, Hermione, there is other things you do when you're a couple..." he said.

"Ron, when I say I'll never speak to you again, that includes EVERYTHING you do when you're a couple!" Ron's smile quickly died out. Later Harry thought that he'd never seen a person do homework with such dedication that Ron did that day.



The next day went by without any major problems, except when Fred and George tested some products in the morning, causing the whole house to wake up. Their punish: cleaning ALL the windows of the house and, especially because they were not allowed to, without magic.



They following day passed without anything major happened. But that changed at dinner.

"Kids, tomorrow we're going to Diagon Alley. We leave at ten a.m.," said Mr Weasley, getting the youngsters all excited. After dinner Harry and Ron went up to Ron's room.

"Harry, do you what Fred and George has planned?" Ron asked after he closed the door.

"What do you mean planned?" Harry said.

"Well, they said something about a surprise for me when we came to Diagon Alley. Do you have an idea of what it is?" Harry knew what it was. On the train back from Hogwarts Harry had given Fred and George the one thousand galleons (A/N: Correct if I'm wrong on this one, don't know all the English words for HP...) he won in the Triwizard Tournament. He had got them to promise that they would use some of it to buy a new dress robe for Ron, since his old mostly looked like a ladies dress.

"But I think Ron is gonna get to know that tomorrow," thought Harry.

"Don't have the slightest idea of what you're talking about, Ron," said Harry, but he didn't look all that convincing. Ron looked at him suspiciously.

"It was your idea, wasn't it?" said Ron. "Whatever it is, it was your idea, right?" Harry tried to look totally innocent, which had the same effect on him as on Fred and George earlier: he only looked guiltier.

"Don't know what you're talking about..." he said anyway. Ron realised that Harry wasn't going to tell him what it was.

"Fine, don't tell me then. But I promise that if it's something that I'm gonna suffer by, you've got to hide pretty well, Potter." And with that Ron gave up the matter. For now at least.

A while later Hermione came and asked if Ron wanted to go on a walk. Ron naturally agreed to this. When Ron didn't come back for a while Harry lay down to sleep, only to be waked by Ron sneaking back in to the room. Harry lay with his face away from Ron, so Ron didn't notice that he was awake. Then Harry heard Ron change to go to bed, and soon a sweater and a pair of pants came flying over Harry, landing on a chair (No, not by magic, Ron threw them there). When Harry was sure Ron was asleep he picked up Ron's sweater. It was full of grass stains. Harry smiled.

"Guess the walk ended nicely," he thought. He then lay back the sweater on the chair, and went back to sleep.



*End Flashback story-telling*



Now Ron came back into the room. Harry had just dressed, and now looked at Ron.

"So?" Harry asked.

"What do mean 'so'?" said Ron.

"Did you manage to stop Hermione from turning Fred and George into toads?"

"Yeah, but only because mom got to them first."

"What?!" said Harry, his eyes wide. "She turned them into toads?"

"No," said Ron. "I said that mom got to them first, not that she turned into toads."

"Oh, okay." said Harry. "But what was the punishment then?" Now Ron smiled.

"They are to carry all our things we're going to buy today, and they can't go of by themselves while in Diagon Alley." Now Harry got a bit nervous. This meant that Fred and George couldn't buy the new dress robe for Ron as promised. Ron saw the slight change in Harry's expression. "What?"

"N.nothing." said Harry. "Gotta go ask Hermione something." Harry stood up.

"Ask her about what?" said Ron, looking suspiciously at Harry.

"Ron, once again: I'm not trying to hit on Hermione. So cut it out, okay?"

"That wasn't what I meant," said Ron. "I said last night and I'll say it again: if it's something I'm gonna."

".Suffer by I'll have to hide pretty well," said Harry, who was getting a bit tired of Ron being so enormously curious of the surprise. "Relax, it's nothing bad. Besides, if I tried to humiliate you in some way, do you really think I'd co-operate with your girlfriend on it?" Ron didn't answer, but Harry knew he got the point. Harry went out of the room to find Hermione. He found her, Ginny, Fred, George, Percy and Mr Weasley down in the kitchen, sitting round the kitchen table having breakfast. Mrs Weasley was standing at the stove, making the last of the breakfast.

"Morning everyone," said Harry.

"Morning, Harry," said the others almost at the same time.

"Hermione, could I talk to you about something?" Harry asked.

"Sure," she said, not standing up.

"It's kind of a secret, so could you."

"Oh, okay, sure." She got up and followed Harry out of the kitchen, looking at Harry with a questioning look. As soon as they were out of listening distance of the kitchen, Harry turned towards Hermione.

"We've got a little problem, Hermione," said Harry.

"Oh?" said Hermione. "What problem?"

"Well, you know that I gave Fred and George the prize money from the Triwizard Tournament," said Harry. He had told her about it in a letter a few week or so after it happened.

"Yes." said Hermione.

"I got them to promise to buy a new dress robe for Ron." Harry saw on Hermione's expression that she remembered Ron's dress robe clearly.

"Good, it certainly is needed." said Hermione.

"Yes, we all remember that one." said Harry.

"Exactly," said Hermione. "But what does that have to do with this?"

"Well, Fred and George were supposed to buy it today," said Harry. "But now they can't do that because they're not allowed to go of but themselves. That's were you come in."

"It is?" said Hermione.

"Yes," said Harry. "You and me have to ask Fred and George about money, so that you and Ginny can go of and buy a dress robe. I can't do it since Ron's going to go with me once we're in Diagon Alley. Besides, You have better taste in clothes than me." Hermione looked a bit flattered by the last part.

"When do we ask the about the money?" said Hermione.

"After breakfast," said Harry.

"Okay," said Hermione. "Come one, let's go and eat." The went back into the kitchen, were now Ron also was sitting at the kitchen table. Everyone looked at Harry and Hermione with questioning looks. "We're not telling, so don't even start asking." The others gave up the idea of getting something out of Hermione, since they knew how decisive she could be, and wouldn't change her mind. Harry and Hermione sat down at the table and ate their breakfast.



After breakfast ell the teenagers went up the stairs to their rooms to get ready. Fred and George went into their room. Harry and Hermione clanged at each other.

"I'll be right back." they both said at once, and started going towards the twins room. Ron and Ginny looked at each other with questioning looks, then just shrugged and went into their rooms. Once they had closed their doors Hermione knocked on the twins door. It didn't open. Hermione got a slightly panicked expression, her eyes wide.

"Duck!" she called, and threw herself on the floor dragging Harry with her. Then nothing happened.

"Look, Hermione, I'm flattered and all, but don't you think tha-" said Harry jokingly, but stopped when Hermione nudged him in the ribs with her elbow. A moment later a small cloud which had a for Harry familiar blue colour, sprayed out of a small hole in the door. Once the cloud had disappeared Harry and Hermione stood up again.

"That's why we ducked, Harry, so don't go getting any ideas," she said, her voice a teasing tone at the last part. "I got that colour on me about a week ago. Took me the rest of the day to get rid of it. They use as some kind of anti-intruder device."

"They must've tested it on the car the other day," said Harry. "I recognised the blue colour."

"Wouldn't surprise me the least," said Hermione. "Let's try again." Hermione knocked once again. George opened the door. They knew that it was George since Fred sat at his table writing what seemed to be a letter. Well, that and the big G on the shirt.

"What?" asked George irritably. "We're busy!"

"We need to talk to you," said Hermione decidedly. "It's about a promise you made to Harry." George arched an eyebrow, but let them into the room and closed the door.

"What promise?" said George.

"You promised me before that you'd buy a new dress robe for Ron," said Harry.

"Well, that's pretty problematic now," said George. "Since we have to carry things for everybody today."

"I know, but we have a solution," said Harry. "If you just give enough money to Hermione, she-"

"To Hermione?" said George. "Why?"

"What? you don't trust me?" said Hermione, pretending to be hurt.

"Of course we do," said George. "But we'd like to know why should take the money."

"Because Harry can't take them since he's going to be with Ron today," said Hermione, slightly ticked at George's lack of brain. "Therefore, I and Ginny will go and buy the dress robe."

"Oops...didn't think about that..." said George, cursing his apparent lack of brain. "It's all right, wait a moment and I'll give you the money." He went over to a corner and did something that neither Harry nor Hermione could see. He then turned around, holding a little bag, which he gave to Hermione. "There you go, should be enough. But remember that you got to know Ron's measurements."

"No problem, I can get that," said Hermione. Harry and George looked at her, seemingly surprised. "I read it in a book." Harry and George's ceased being surprised. Harry moved towards Fred, trying to see what he was writing.

"What're you writing, Fred?" he asked, and in the same moment he saw the headline. Fred started, and quickly hid the paper.

"Nothing, and you shouldn't snoop around in other peoples business!" Fred snapped.

"One of you giving a lecture about not snooping around..." said Hermione. "That's one thing I thought I'd never hear..." Harry on the other hand had a light smile, since he'd seen the headline, and Fred's reaction to him seeing it was quite funny in light of that.

"Okay, I get the point. I won't ask again," said Harry, and then turned to Hermione, who looked at him with a questioning look. "Come on, we better get ready." They went out of the room. A soon as the door had closed Hermione turned to Harry.

"Now I've got to know. What was Fred writing?" she asked curiously. "I know you saw what it was, or otherwise you wouldn't be having that smile." Harry smiled again. "Yes, that smile."

"Well...I only saw the headline, but it was enough," said Harry. "Especially 'cause of the way Fred reacted to my question!"

"And the headline was...?" said Hermione, bursting with curiosity.

"It was 'Dearest Angelina'," said Harry. "Clearly Fred and Angelina are much closer than we other Gryffindors have thought." Now Hermione was giggling uncontrollably.

"Tehehe! Wait 'til I tell Ginny! Tehehehehe!" Hermione now entered Ginny's room.

"What? What is it?" Harry heard Ginny say, before the door closed behind Hermione.

"Ron's gonna want to know this," Harry thought and entered Ron's room.





A/N: I know what you're asking yourselves: Is EVERYONE in this fic getting paired up?! And the answer is: of course not! There will be lots of singles in this story too, wouldn't be any fun otherwise ^_^

Now, how the **** do you write a giggling sound? Is my version "Tehe" good, or is it just silly? Wait a second that didn't come out well...since giggling indicates something silly or funny, this must be also...hm...

Oh, I bought this truly GREAT anime movie last week. It's called "Escaflowne: The Movie". It's a really good Fantasy/Sci-Fi movie. If you haven't seen it, at least rent it of borrow it from someone. And if you like anime, just buy it now! If you buy the "Ultimate Edition" DVD (like I did) you get the absolutely wonderful soundtrack also (plus some special features). The box on the movie say that's it's rated PG-13, but I really think it's a R movie, 'cause there was some pretty graphic violence in it. But if you've seen like "Ghost in the Shell" and "Akira", you can handle it easily.

And thank you to my reviewers, making this to my most appreciated fic! You guys rock! Here's a list thanking everyone from the beginning:

Chapter 1:

Jessika Organa Solo - I agree with you 100%. When I fall in love with a girl (and I mean REALLY in love) I really do love her. So I guess parents have forgotten it a bit.

HarryPotHead - Ha ha, fun name. Thank you, guess I'm not making a total ass of myself when translating then ^_^ Well, that's what I thought to, so it was the only logical thing to do.

Leah Danielle - Thank you for appreciating my work!



Chapter 2:

dragonlover87 - No kidding! Though, this year seems to be a lot of fun. Except for the fact that I have to get up at 5.20 a.m. on Tuesdays... But, it's the last year of High School, so it's kind sad at the same time... Was ten days soon enough? I'm sorry for taking so long, but were halfway there now! Only three chapter of slow updating left!

KellyBelly - Thanks for the tip about the anonymous reviews, really appreciate it.

harypotrfan - Your review is one of the most positive ones so far! Of course I'll finish it, it may take a while, but I swear that I WILL FINISH IT!!!! *discovers that I called the last part out loud, making every in the room stare at me. I hunch back down into the chair* Well, you get the point...

kokuro - Also a one of the most positive ones! Thank you!

LilDoodle - Thank you, it's supposed to be cute (well, at first anyway)! Of course I'll read your story! I'm sorry I haven't done it yet, but I've been real busy with school 'n all.



Everyone only posted only one review each though...wee bit mad...kidding. But it would be really nice if you posted some more reviews!

The following chapters there's only going to be thanks to the reviewers of the previous chapter, so keep on reviewing if you want to be thanked!

I'm thinking of starting a fun little thing, in which every reviewer will say his or her favourite movie. I'll go first: My favourite movie is Forrest Gump. Now, some people don't like it that much, but I can't help but loving it! So please say your favourite movie in the review.

And if you haven't reviewed yet at all, then remember that I also accept anonymous reviews! So...review! Click the little button down to the left!



Emher