A/N – Sorry it took so long to put this up but I went out of town. I really
like this chapter I hope you do too.
Hermione's response came on the following Monday. She didn't seem too worried about Harry at all, she thought that he would be fine after a few days back at Hogwarts. Hermione's right. Ron thought Give him a few days and he'll be fine. She suggested for his birthday a card with a picture of the two of them in. To do this thought they would have take the picture and send it by Friday so it would get to him by Saturday, Harry's birthday. She said she would be visiting Diagon Alley on Wednesday. So it was up to Ron if they were going to make the card or not. She then went on about her summer, in which she visited relatives in Scotland and finished all her homework in the first week and how she really misses being at Hogwarts with him and Harry.
During breakfast their letters from Hogwarts arrived. Ron had another moment of excitement as he read the letter aloud to his parents and Ginny.
Professor McGonagall, Head of Gryffindor House, would like to asked you, Ronald Weasley, to be the new Gryffindor Quidditch Captain . . .
It then went on about the responsibility of being captain and need to find new players for the team.
"I don't understand though?" wondered Ron, "You'd think they would ask Harry or Katie Bell to be captain. They have both been on the team for five years and I've been on the team for only one."
"Maybe they think you're a better player," replied Ron's mum.
"No Harry's the best Quidditch player Hogwarts had since Charlie, maybe even longer. Maybe he really is permanently banned from Quidditch. I don't know about Katie though," Ginny said to everyone's surprise.
Feeling rather betrayed by his younger sister he muttered under his breath, "I'm as good as Harry."
Ron then went on to tell his parents that he wanted to go to Diagon Alley on Wednesday to meet his friends, though by 'accident' forgot to mention that Harry probably wasn't going to be there. Ginny though caught on.
"Harry isn't going to be at Diagon Alley, isn't he?" she asked as Ron was heading up the stairs to his room.
"I don't know." Ron replied.
"Come on you can tell me." Ginny insisted.
"Damn it, Ginny! No he's not, are you happy!?" Ron yelled. She was constantly asking questions about Harry and it was getting rather annoying.
"Fine! I was just wondering." Ginny's voice quivered as she turned around looking dejected.
"Oh, come her Gin." Ron put his hand on her shoulder and she shrugged him off. She started toward her bedroom door but he wrapped her in a hug. "I'm sorry Ginny. I'm just worried about Harry and I don't like talking about it too much."
"Your not the only one worried about him." she replied.
"Your right, I'm going to better about telling you about Harry. Ok?" He let her go and she gave a small smile and a nod then she went into her room.
Ron looked down the stairs and saw his mum looking up at him with watery eyes and a big smile. She must have heard Ron yell and wanted to find out why only to find them making up.
"What?" Ron asked.
"My kids are all grown up." she replied and before Ron could say anything she had turned around and went down stairs.
On Wednesday morning the Weasleys ate a quick breakfast and got ready to go to Diagon Alley. When they were all ready they went in front of the fireplace.
"Alright Ron you first." Said Ron's mum as she gave him the Floo powder. He took some powder threw it into the fire and said clearly "Diagon Alley," and stepped into the fire.
Ron was spinning like mad. He had gotten use to the sick felling he got in the bottom of his stomach as he spun in circles and now thought traveling by Floo powder was quite fun. He felt himself slowing and next thing he was standing outside a fireplace in a building in Diagon Alley. The building was called the Diagon Alley Floo Station. It was a new idea inspired by the Atrium, in which there were several fireplaces on either side of a room. On one side people came out of the fireplaces and on the other side they went into the fireplaces. They also had a Quick Floo Cleaner that magicked away all the ash on your face and clothes. Ron paid three Knuts and stepped in the Quick Floo Cleaner; he didn't want to be dirty for Harry's picture what would Hermione think. Stepped out burping soap bubbles he found Ginny and his parents waiting for him by the door.
"Ron, why did you use that, you know it's a waste of money?" his mum asked as they left the station.
"Because I'm going to get my paycheck from Fred and George for working at their joke shop today and I'm going to have loads to spend."
"Well you best spend it wisely Ron Weasley." Ron's mum replied, shaking a finger at him.
He said goodbye to his parents and Ginny and started wondering aimlessly through Diagon Alley looking for Hermione. He checked everywhere but couldn't find Hermione. He was almost positive she would be in Flourish & Blotts tucked away in a corner surrounded by book but there was no sign of her. He checked the animal shop were she bought Crookshanks to find nothing but animals locked in tiny cages. He even checked Quality Quidditch Supplies were he almost bought a banner with the whole Chudley Cannon team playing Quidditch on it.
Feeling defeated he went into Fred and George's shop Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes to got his paycheck. Fred and George by the look of it had just given a girl a drink of one of their new inventions. The girl had her hands on her face trying to cover the fact that her face was blue but the attempt was no good, soon her entire body was blue. Fred, George, and the rest of the customers were sprawled on the counter shaking with laughter.
"Oi Fred, George! Giving out free samples?" Ron asked.
At the sound of Ron's voice Fred and George looked up while the girl backed into a corner, too embarrassed to be seen by anybody else.
"Ya, but Hermione here took the last but–"
"Hermione?" Ron looked at the girl. All he could see was here hands and her bushy hair, only Hermione had hair that bushy. "But how did you get her to drink it?"
"What's that suppose to mean?" said Hermione. She had taken her hands off her face and folded her arms.
"You don't seem like the person to be testing Fred and George's trick drinks. I mean you threatened to tell are mum if they continued using first years as gimps last year."
"For your information I didn't want them testing their snack boxes on first years because it could have been dangerous. If they are giving out these drinks that means they have tested them and they know they are not dangerous."
"Well Hermione," began Fred, "you're only part correct."
"Ya, we know they aren't dangerous but we aren't finished testing them," said George.
Hermione's face was turning purple.
"Come on Hermione –" began George
"– Come have some of this green drink –" continued Fred. He held up a flask with a green potion in it.
"– It will make it so you aren't purple anymore."
"Well we think it does –"
Hermione's face was completely purple.
"– We haven't had anyone turn purple yet."
Hermione drank the green dye reluctantly and slowly turned red.
"Uh, well, your still mad aren't you?" asked Fred.
Hermione looked at the floor and gave a slight nod.
"Then you'll be fine." George insisted.
Fred and George then went through a door into the back to get Ron's paycheck. The entire time they were in back Hermione scowled at the door. They came back out gave Ron his paycheck and ten extra Galleons.
"Go buy Hermione a nice, big book or something." Fred whispered to Ron with a wink.
When Ron and Hermione left Fred and George's shop Hermione had stopped scowling at the ground in front of her but was still pretty red and she continued to look at the ground.
"So Hermione, have you bought any of your stuff?" asked Ron.
"No, I was waiting for you." Hermione said this while looking at the ground.
"Is that why you were in Fred and George's shop?"
Hermione nodded.
"Well lets go get are stuff then."
They then went and bought all their new supplies stopping occasionally stopping to talk with fellow students from Hogwarts and once for ice cream cones. They also stopped at Gringotts to cash Ron's paycheck. Finally they had everything they needed except their new spell books.
"So er, Hermione, what kind of books have you been reading lately," Ron asked as they looked through Flourish & Blotts for their required spellbooks.
"Well, after visiting Scotland I've been really interested in their history."
As Hermione was looking for her new Arithmancy book Ron when into the history section and found the biggest book on Ireland history. The title of the book was Scotland through the Ages: A History of Scotland's Rise and fall of Magic. They bought their books and started heading toward a photography studio.
"Hermione I bought a book for you," Ron held out Scotland through the Ages.
"Did you really? Look at the size of it. Thank you Ron, you shouldn't have." She took the book and began looking through it.
"So what kind of place are we going to get are picture taken?" Ron wondered.
"It's actually a couple's photo studio," Hermione said, looking up from her book, "You get a discount if you want a picture of two people. I never realized how expensive a same day photo in the wizard world would be."
They came to the studio and entered. Indeed it was full of couples waiting to get their photo taken but the annoying thing was that they were all staring at Ron and Hermione. They went up to the cashier and Hermione paid for a single photo that would be developed in five minutes but Ron handed over some extra gold to be next in line. They sat and were soon called to the back to have their picture taken.
"What kind of backdrop would you like, hearts, flowers?" asked the photographer as he waved his wand changing the backdrop. Ron decided to let Hermione handle this.
"Do you have one with candles?" asked Hermione.
"Birthday or romantic?"
Ron's stomach gave a lurch. Romantic? Puke!
"Birthday," replied Hermione.
With a wave of the photographer's wand the backdrop changed to a bunch of flickering candles that spelt out 'Happy Birthday.'
"We have birthday cards in front if you like," said the photographer, "now get together –"
Hermione put her head on Ron's side and Ron feeling kind of stupid put his arm around Hermione's shoulders.
"– Alright," continued the photographer, "on three. One . . . two . . . three, lovebirds!
Before the photographer could take the picture Ron's eyebrow's shot up and he gave a sheepish grin while Hermione gave a small giggle. They then went in front and found a birthday card for Harry as the photo was being developed. When they had paid for the card and received the photo they went out side and sat on a bench.
"Alright Ron, sign the card and maybe even put a little note." Hermione gave the card and a quill to Ron.
Ron wrote 'Can't wait to see you at Hogwarts, Ron' in his neatest handwriting and handed the card back to Hermione. She then began writing, which she did a considerable amount more of, and then she bound the picture to the card with a bit of magic. They then went to the Leaky Cauldron and found Ginny and their parents. Hermione parents were explaining the use braces to Ron's father. He looked like a five-year-old that was enjoying an exceptionally good bedtime story. They then said their goodbye and the Weasleys went back into Diagon Alley as the Grangers went through the front door to the Muggle streets.
As the Weasleys headed for the Diagon Alley Floo Station Ron thought Lovebirds, doesn't sound so bad after all.
Hermione's response came on the following Monday. She didn't seem too worried about Harry at all, she thought that he would be fine after a few days back at Hogwarts. Hermione's right. Ron thought Give him a few days and he'll be fine. She suggested for his birthday a card with a picture of the two of them in. To do this thought they would have take the picture and send it by Friday so it would get to him by Saturday, Harry's birthday. She said she would be visiting Diagon Alley on Wednesday. So it was up to Ron if they were going to make the card or not. She then went on about her summer, in which she visited relatives in Scotland and finished all her homework in the first week and how she really misses being at Hogwarts with him and Harry.
During breakfast their letters from Hogwarts arrived. Ron had another moment of excitement as he read the letter aloud to his parents and Ginny.
Professor McGonagall, Head of Gryffindor House, would like to asked you, Ronald Weasley, to be the new Gryffindor Quidditch Captain . . .
It then went on about the responsibility of being captain and need to find new players for the team.
"I don't understand though?" wondered Ron, "You'd think they would ask Harry or Katie Bell to be captain. They have both been on the team for five years and I've been on the team for only one."
"Maybe they think you're a better player," replied Ron's mum.
"No Harry's the best Quidditch player Hogwarts had since Charlie, maybe even longer. Maybe he really is permanently banned from Quidditch. I don't know about Katie though," Ginny said to everyone's surprise.
Feeling rather betrayed by his younger sister he muttered under his breath, "I'm as good as Harry."
Ron then went on to tell his parents that he wanted to go to Diagon Alley on Wednesday to meet his friends, though by 'accident' forgot to mention that Harry probably wasn't going to be there. Ginny though caught on.
"Harry isn't going to be at Diagon Alley, isn't he?" she asked as Ron was heading up the stairs to his room.
"I don't know." Ron replied.
"Come on you can tell me." Ginny insisted.
"Damn it, Ginny! No he's not, are you happy!?" Ron yelled. She was constantly asking questions about Harry and it was getting rather annoying.
"Fine! I was just wondering." Ginny's voice quivered as she turned around looking dejected.
"Oh, come her Gin." Ron put his hand on her shoulder and she shrugged him off. She started toward her bedroom door but he wrapped her in a hug. "I'm sorry Ginny. I'm just worried about Harry and I don't like talking about it too much."
"Your not the only one worried about him." she replied.
"Your right, I'm going to better about telling you about Harry. Ok?" He let her go and she gave a small smile and a nod then she went into her room.
Ron looked down the stairs and saw his mum looking up at him with watery eyes and a big smile. She must have heard Ron yell and wanted to find out why only to find them making up.
"What?" Ron asked.
"My kids are all grown up." she replied and before Ron could say anything she had turned around and went down stairs.
On Wednesday morning the Weasleys ate a quick breakfast and got ready to go to Diagon Alley. When they were all ready they went in front of the fireplace.
"Alright Ron you first." Said Ron's mum as she gave him the Floo powder. He took some powder threw it into the fire and said clearly "Diagon Alley," and stepped into the fire.
Ron was spinning like mad. He had gotten use to the sick felling he got in the bottom of his stomach as he spun in circles and now thought traveling by Floo powder was quite fun. He felt himself slowing and next thing he was standing outside a fireplace in a building in Diagon Alley. The building was called the Diagon Alley Floo Station. It was a new idea inspired by the Atrium, in which there were several fireplaces on either side of a room. On one side people came out of the fireplaces and on the other side they went into the fireplaces. They also had a Quick Floo Cleaner that magicked away all the ash on your face and clothes. Ron paid three Knuts and stepped in the Quick Floo Cleaner; he didn't want to be dirty for Harry's picture what would Hermione think. Stepped out burping soap bubbles he found Ginny and his parents waiting for him by the door.
"Ron, why did you use that, you know it's a waste of money?" his mum asked as they left the station.
"Because I'm going to get my paycheck from Fred and George for working at their joke shop today and I'm going to have loads to spend."
"Well you best spend it wisely Ron Weasley." Ron's mum replied, shaking a finger at him.
He said goodbye to his parents and Ginny and started wondering aimlessly through Diagon Alley looking for Hermione. He checked everywhere but couldn't find Hermione. He was almost positive she would be in Flourish & Blotts tucked away in a corner surrounded by book but there was no sign of her. He checked the animal shop were she bought Crookshanks to find nothing but animals locked in tiny cages. He even checked Quality Quidditch Supplies were he almost bought a banner with the whole Chudley Cannon team playing Quidditch on it.
Feeling defeated he went into Fred and George's shop Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes to got his paycheck. Fred and George by the look of it had just given a girl a drink of one of their new inventions. The girl had her hands on her face trying to cover the fact that her face was blue but the attempt was no good, soon her entire body was blue. Fred, George, and the rest of the customers were sprawled on the counter shaking with laughter.
"Oi Fred, George! Giving out free samples?" Ron asked.
At the sound of Ron's voice Fred and George looked up while the girl backed into a corner, too embarrassed to be seen by anybody else.
"Ya, but Hermione here took the last but–"
"Hermione?" Ron looked at the girl. All he could see was here hands and her bushy hair, only Hermione had hair that bushy. "But how did you get her to drink it?"
"What's that suppose to mean?" said Hermione. She had taken her hands off her face and folded her arms.
"You don't seem like the person to be testing Fred and George's trick drinks. I mean you threatened to tell are mum if they continued using first years as gimps last year."
"For your information I didn't want them testing their snack boxes on first years because it could have been dangerous. If they are giving out these drinks that means they have tested them and they know they are not dangerous."
"Well Hermione," began Fred, "you're only part correct."
"Ya, we know they aren't dangerous but we aren't finished testing them," said George.
Hermione's face was turning purple.
"Come on Hermione –" began George
"– Come have some of this green drink –" continued Fred. He held up a flask with a green potion in it.
"– It will make it so you aren't purple anymore."
"Well we think it does –"
Hermione's face was completely purple.
"– We haven't had anyone turn purple yet."
Hermione drank the green dye reluctantly and slowly turned red.
"Uh, well, your still mad aren't you?" asked Fred.
Hermione looked at the floor and gave a slight nod.
"Then you'll be fine." George insisted.
Fred and George then went through a door into the back to get Ron's paycheck. The entire time they were in back Hermione scowled at the door. They came back out gave Ron his paycheck and ten extra Galleons.
"Go buy Hermione a nice, big book or something." Fred whispered to Ron with a wink.
When Ron and Hermione left Fred and George's shop Hermione had stopped scowling at the ground in front of her but was still pretty red and she continued to look at the ground.
"So Hermione, have you bought any of your stuff?" asked Ron.
"No, I was waiting for you." Hermione said this while looking at the ground.
"Is that why you were in Fred and George's shop?"
Hermione nodded.
"Well lets go get are stuff then."
They then went and bought all their new supplies stopping occasionally stopping to talk with fellow students from Hogwarts and once for ice cream cones. They also stopped at Gringotts to cash Ron's paycheck. Finally they had everything they needed except their new spell books.
"So er, Hermione, what kind of books have you been reading lately," Ron asked as they looked through Flourish & Blotts for their required spellbooks.
"Well, after visiting Scotland I've been really interested in their history."
As Hermione was looking for her new Arithmancy book Ron when into the history section and found the biggest book on Ireland history. The title of the book was Scotland through the Ages: A History of Scotland's Rise and fall of Magic. They bought their books and started heading toward a photography studio.
"Hermione I bought a book for you," Ron held out Scotland through the Ages.
"Did you really? Look at the size of it. Thank you Ron, you shouldn't have." She took the book and began looking through it.
"So what kind of place are we going to get are picture taken?" Ron wondered.
"It's actually a couple's photo studio," Hermione said, looking up from her book, "You get a discount if you want a picture of two people. I never realized how expensive a same day photo in the wizard world would be."
They came to the studio and entered. Indeed it was full of couples waiting to get their photo taken but the annoying thing was that they were all staring at Ron and Hermione. They went up to the cashier and Hermione paid for a single photo that would be developed in five minutes but Ron handed over some extra gold to be next in line. They sat and were soon called to the back to have their picture taken.
"What kind of backdrop would you like, hearts, flowers?" asked the photographer as he waved his wand changing the backdrop. Ron decided to let Hermione handle this.
"Do you have one with candles?" asked Hermione.
"Birthday or romantic?"
Ron's stomach gave a lurch. Romantic? Puke!
"Birthday," replied Hermione.
With a wave of the photographer's wand the backdrop changed to a bunch of flickering candles that spelt out 'Happy Birthday.'
"We have birthday cards in front if you like," said the photographer, "now get together –"
Hermione put her head on Ron's side and Ron feeling kind of stupid put his arm around Hermione's shoulders.
"– Alright," continued the photographer, "on three. One . . . two . . . three, lovebirds!
Before the photographer could take the picture Ron's eyebrow's shot up and he gave a sheepish grin while Hermione gave a small giggle. They then went in front and found a birthday card for Harry as the photo was being developed. When they had paid for the card and received the photo they went out side and sat on a bench.
"Alright Ron, sign the card and maybe even put a little note." Hermione gave the card and a quill to Ron.
Ron wrote 'Can't wait to see you at Hogwarts, Ron' in his neatest handwriting and handed the card back to Hermione. She then began writing, which she did a considerable amount more of, and then she bound the picture to the card with a bit of magic. They then went to the Leaky Cauldron and found Ginny and their parents. Hermione parents were explaining the use braces to Ron's father. He looked like a five-year-old that was enjoying an exceptionally good bedtime story. They then said their goodbye and the Weasleys went back into Diagon Alley as the Grangers went through the front door to the Muggle streets.
As the Weasleys headed for the Diagon Alley Floo Station Ron thought Lovebirds, doesn't sound so bad after all.