A/N: I like pushy!Hermione and cocky!Ron. So that's what you get. Hehe....





Chapter 5



~Ron~



"It's bazaar seeing you around with that little creature." Harry said, as we walked to Care of Magical Creatures.

"Really? I don't even notice anymore. Maggie is kind of....a part of my life now. I can't explain it." I said, looking sideways at the little sleeping form the was snuggled into my rucksack, only her head and a chubby little arm were visible.

"I think she's adorable." Parvati said.

"So do I." said Lavender, giggling with Parvati.

"You two are right, she's fascinating." Hermione said, pushing through Lavender and Parvati to walk in between Harry and I. This new protective way of Hermione's was entertaining and kind of cute. But it gave me weird feelings too. Definitely good feelings, but I couldn't identify them, and even if I *could* they were things that I didn't want to admit to myself. Damn bugger of a male ego. All I really allowed myself to understand at the time was that fighting with Hermione was becoming less of a burden and more of a...game.

"You are one pushy woman." I said, hoping to egg her on for just a bit of a row.

"What?," she asked incredulously, "I don't understand."

"That's the second time in week that you've innocently *pushed* in between Parvati and Lavender, and Harry and I. Is someone *jealous*?" I said, flashing her a cocky grin.

"Jealous! Jealous?" she tutted and folder her arms, "I cannot believe you. *Why* would I be jealous of the four of you?"

"It's very simple," I said, looking at her, "You fancy me."

The moment that I said it I regretted it. And also knew that there was some truth in it. Color flooded into her face and a look of genuine anger took over her features, she spoke in a dangerously low voice, "*You* are a pompous, prat. How *dare* you assume that I am jealous of two giggling idiots. And worse, that I am jealous over someone as thick as *you*."

I stood there looking dumbfounded and Harry raised his eyebrows wearily.

Hermione stomped ahead of us and I hurried to catch up to her, but before I could, Maggie, who I'd jostled awake, was racing toward Hermione and landed lightly on her shoulder. Hermione stopped and turned to the side. I could see that she was everything but steaming from the ears. Her face was very red and her fists were balled up in rage. Maggie stood precariously on Hermione's shoulder and put her little hands on her temple. I caught up with them as Maggie whispered into Hermione's ear. Hermione took a few deep breaths and opened her eyes. I was the first thing she saw. She immediately went icy.

"Hey, I'm sorry. I was just kidding, you know?" I said, too hopefully. She had the most beautiful eyes, even angry. *What was wrong with me*!?

"Someone like *me* fancy someone like *you*?" she paused as a suspicious crimson crept into her face, "In. Your. Dreams."

Her words gave me a low, painful feeling that sunk into the pit of my stomach, Maggie landed back on my shoulder as she began to walk away, "But, am I forgiven?"

Her head swivelled around and I couldn't help noticing the curve of her hip as she cocked it out. *I was completely Crazy!*

Her cold face warmed a bit and she allowed her mouth to curl up into a secret smile that I doubt I was supposed to see, "Yes, you are."



~Hermione~



With my mind on Ron for most of the week I had conveniently allowed myself to forget about the mysterious package that had come to Harry, Ron, and I through McGonagall. That was, until the night I walked into the common room and saw Harry, leaning over the pieces and rubbing his scar in aggravation.

"What are you doing Harry? Your scar isn't hurting is it? Oh Harry, we *told* you that you could always come to us when your-" but Harry cut me off.

"*Stop*! Would you Hermione? It's not hurting. This is called, *rubbing your forehead*!" he said with venom.

"Well, I certainly didn't mean to interfere with you and your *rocks*! If you'll excuse me then, I have lots of more important things I could be doing than caring about you." I tried to stomp off but Harry called me back, having softened.

"Hermione..I..I'm sorry. I didn't mean to come across like that. I'm just confused and frustrated about everything. This, school, NEWTS, and...." he trailed off, his face contorting into a small smile and crimson cheeks.

"And....what? Or should I ask...*who*?" I let a smug smile cross my face.

He looked at me and shrugged, "You know."

I smiled, " You know, I don't. Why don't you tell me?"

"If I told anyone, my best friend would go after me with the sword of Gryffindore."

"Why would I do that?" I teased.

He looked at me contemptuously, "My *other* best friend. And you know perfectly well what I'm talking about."

"You're right, I do, but unless you can tell me out loud, I'm afraid that I won't be able to tell you what to do." I crossed my legs.

"Alright. I can't help getting this....weird feeling when I'm around...Ginny." Harry looked up as though he were the most guilty person alive.

"Well don't look like you just committed the worst crime in a century. You, are a seventeen-year-old boy and she is a beautiful, fiery, redheaded sixteen-year-old girl. I was wondering when you were going to notice."

"Oh, I've noticed alright. I feel like I'm going to go completely insane whenever she's around. But that is a crime. It's a crime against guys, it's part of the guy code. One guy does *not*, under any circumstances, fall for their best friend's little sister, no matter how beautiful, and fiery, and redheaded they may be." he blushed, realizing all of the secret feelings that he had revealed.

"I know what you mean," I said miserably, "I committed the second worst crime against that same friend."

Harry looked at my sympathetically, but feigned clueless-ness, "What did you do?"

I looked at him feeling helpless and confused, " I fell in love with him."

"Woah, love is pretty strong word Hermione. I mean, I knew you kind of fancied him...but, love?" Harry asked, interested.

"Yeah, I think I love him. I feel drawn to him. I can't control myself around him. Harry, he makes me want to do things to him that..." I cleared my throat, and sat back, my face becoming hot. I'd forgotten who I was talking to.

Harry's eyebrows went up and he snickered, "Well, little miss bossy boots is having some fantasies about Mr. Weasley himself. You're a scarlet woman, Hermione." Harry laughed.

"Sod off Harry." I said, grinning just the same.

"I'm just kidding. I'll tell you what Hermione. You may see it as a crime, but I doubt that Ron would think it was." Harry said.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I *mean*, I think he feels that certain recklessness around you just as you do around him. It's just that he won't let himself admit it."

My heart nearly stopped and I leaned forward, "Do you really think so?"

"Yeah, I think the bloke has *it* bad and it's going to hit him very hard when he realizes it."

"Well, for the record, Ginny's head over heels for you too. But you should already know that." Harry smiled, like he was a million miles away.

"Yeah, I guess I did. Anyway..." Harry looked more content as he turned back to the contents of the package which were strewn about the desk.

"Have you figured this rubbish out then?" I asked, picking up a piece of the rock.

"No, I haven't got a clue. These pieces don't fit together and they have nothing whatsoever to do with the map. The bloody map isn't even complete. There's parts missing from the corners." Harry's mouth seemed to draw up and his eyes darted over my shoulder.

"Boo!" someone said, very close to my ear, I jumped and the fragment of rock flew out of my hand. Harry barely caught it before it hit the floor, blessed Seeker reflexes.

Ron came around and plopped into the arm chair right next to me. I wanted to hit him, so I did.

"Oof! Hermione! What was that for?" he rubbed his stomach.

"Scaring the *life* out of me!" I glared at him.

"I was just joking. I'm sorry. Good heavens, you pack one hell of a punch."

"Ron, language!" I was irritable, I hated it when Ron caught me off guard. He was the only person who could and it was unnerving.

"We were just talking about this stuff." Harry said, pointing to the pile of rock,"I can't figure it all out. It's like nothing here makes sense. As I was telling Hermione, the rocks aren't a puzzle, they don't fit together like it seems that they should. I don't know what to make of it." Harry looked at Ron who as carefully studying one of the fragments.

"Hey, what's this?" Ron asked, leaning over to me and pointing to little slash marks and swirls in the side of it.

"I can't believe I missed that." Harry said, scratching his head.

"What are you all doing over here?" asked a voice from behind me. By the look on Harry's face I figured it was Ginny.

"Looking at this stuff that came in the package McGonagall gave to us." I said, knowing Harry too well to expect him to hold a complete conversation all by himself without babbling.

"Oh, you mean the rocks? Have you figured anything out Harry?" she asked, trying to compel him to talk to her.

"No, I haven't." he said, cheeks beginning to burn.

"But Ron has," I said, "there's something written on these pieces."

Ginny picked one of them up and began to examine it with care, "I've seen this before."

All of our heads shot up to look at her, "You *have*?" Harry asked.

"Yeah, somewhere...but I can't remember where." her face was screwed up in a frown of concentration.

"I can't figure this map out either." Harry shook his head and let his eyes drop, defeated to the map lying before him

Ginny walked over to look over his shoulder, Harry tensed just a bit, but smiled just the same.

"Oh my gosh! This is at home Ron. This is under the Burrow!"





A/N: Do you know why this is ultimately evil? This cliffie isn't resolved in the next chapter. *laughs evily* BUT!! Never fear, because all will soon become clear! REVIEW!!!