"Bye Harry, enjoy the summer and don't let the ferret bite your head off" Ron called out to his best friend for the last time before running of the join his sister and the love of his life, Hermione Granger.
"Come on, let's go, your mother would be so happy to see you" Mr Weasley called out.
"Say Hermione, did you realize that there's something wrong with Harry? I mean, he's taken this sudden interest in Malfoy, you don't think that he's..." Ron asked.
"Ronald Weasley, how could you say that about our best friend. Harry's just being nice to Draco. Besides, you should learn to be nice as well. I'm shocked at your words" Hermione reprimanded.
"She's right you know, Ron. You really shouldn't say such things about your best friend" Mr Weasley added.
"Alright, don't need to bite my head off. It was just a guess. I mean, Harry's been acting kinda weird these days, you can't blame me for my hypothesis" Ron retorted.
"Ah...here we are, welcome to the Burrow, Hermione. Please make yourself at home, this is your home now" Mr Weasley said.
"Hermione dear, oh you poor thing, now don't you worry, we would take great care of you, right Ron?" Mrs Weasley drew Hermione into a big hug.
"Thank you Mrs Weasley. I'm really grateful, I dunno where I'd be now if you hadn't agreed to let to stay here" Hermione said hugging the elder woman back with tears in her eyes.
"Silly girl, you are most welcome here. We've already seen you as family since the day you became friends with Harry and Ron" Mrs Weasley stroked Hermione on the head.
"Alright, enough of the mushy stuffs mom. We're freezing here. Let's get inside shall we? They're all tired, they should get some rest" Fred emerged from the house and called out.
"Come on Hermione, Ginny and I will show you to your room. Mom decorated it herself" Ron said as he ran up the stairs, heaving his trunk along behind him. Followed closely by Hermione then Ginny who had decided to levitated their trunks instead.
Twisting the doorknob to the room that bore the baby blue sign "Hermione's Room" Ron entered the room which was painted a beautiful shade of baby blue, soft and light like a girl's room should be. Ron gasped at the bed with pink silk drapes and soft blue bedsheets decorated with lavender prints. Hermione's stuffs were packed neatly into a pink shelf and her clothes were properly hung in a blue cupboard.
"This is....this is...so beautiful..." Hermione sobbed, "I really don't deserve all this...Ron...Ginny...thank you for everything" she sobbed again and embraced the siblings. The close proximity caused Ron to blush.
"Well then, Ginny and I'll be off to our rooms. Ginny's is across from yours on the same level. Mine's on the third level, which is one level down" Ron said as fast as possible. He knew he had to get out of the room before anyone noticed his blush which was already spreading down his neck and the tips of his ears. Hermione let go of the pair and turned to pack her trunk while they left.
"Phew, that was close" Ron exclaimed as he closed Hermione's room door.
"What was close? The fact that she didn't see you blushing your face off or the fact that she didn't see the excess energy below your waistband?" Ginny smirked at her brother.
"Ginny! That's not something girls should talk about" Ron exclaimed, eyeing his sister.
"Oh come on big brother, anyone with eyes can tell that you're in love with Hermione" Ginny said matter-of-factly.
"Is it that obvious?" Ron asked. Ginny nodded as she smiled at her brother sheepishly.
Ron entered his own room. Thinking about Hermione's room and the hug she had given him. That bed was just too provocative for his own good. Looking beyond his waistband, he shook his head in disgust, "How could I even think of such things?"
"That's because, little brother, you're a randy old boy, just like your dear brothers" Fred and George echoed as they entered his room.
"What are you doing here? Get out of my room" Ron yelled.
"Chill it little brother. We're just here to offer you some advice. Any bloke with eyes can see that you two are in love with each other, so why don't you two just admit it?" Fred said eyeing his younger brother.
"That's not the point, Fred. Her parents just died, I can't just go up to her, tell her I love her and expect her to accept me, okay?" Ron said exasperatedly.
"It's up to you brother dear. We've already state our stands" George said before pushing Fred out of the door.
Ron let out a huge sigh and headed for the bathroom.
Hermione had just emerged out of the bathroom wearing a simple blue shirt and a pair of khaki shorts when she heard Ginny knocking on her door.
"Hey Hermione, I just thought I should come talk to you for a bit" Ginny said as she entered the room.
"You see Hermione, everyone thinks you and Ron are made for each other and I can tell that you like him a lot, so why don't you two just drop the act and admit your feelings to each other? I'm sure you know Ron likes you too" Ginny blurted out bluntly, rendering Hermione speechless for a moment.
"That's not the point Ginny. My parents just died, I really don't think it appropriate to be attached and besides, I still have to complete my studies in the University. I'm afraid love matters will have to wait" Hermione said after some thought.
"Well, if that's the case, it's your choice. I've already said my piece and just to let you know, time and tide wait for no man. Maybe someday, when you realize your feelings, Ron would have already be taken, you really should cherish what you have. Come on, let's go downstairs, mom's whipped up lots of great dishes" Ginny said before dragging the brunette down four levels to the dining area.
"Can't tell you how glad I am that you three and Draco of course, would be enrolling into the University of Magical Studies. The ministry needs elites like yourselves" Mr Weasley said.
"Oh, we'd be seeing Harry real soon, he's helping at the joke shop with me and I think Mal...I mean Draco's coming as well" Ron spoke.
"Mrs Weasley, I hope you wouldn't mind me helping out around at home? I could give Ginny lessons as well" Hermione said eagerly.
"Of course dear. I'd be glad" replied the older woman. Dinner at the Burrow was always a noisy affair, but Hermione enjoyed every minute of it. She felt warm and welcomed. After dinner, she and Ginny chatted through the night while Mr Weasley had a game of wizard's chess with Ron, losing marginally for 4 consecutive games. Finally, it was Mrs Weasley who hustled them off to bed at the stroke of midnight.
Ron, Hermione and Ginny made their way up to their rooms, "Hey Hermione" Ron called out, "erm...erm...Good Night" Ron muttered and watched as his sister and the love of his life made their way to their rooms after uttering their good nights.
"Way to go Ronald Weasley," Ron thought to himself, "You chickened out!" Ron mentally chided himself before drifting off to dreamland.
"Ron, Hermione, your apparating license are here. You're officially fully trained wizard and witch now. Ron, you'd better hurry to the joke shop now" Mrs Weasley called out.
Ron apparated into the living room, grabbed a toast from the basket and apparated off to the joke shop.
Meanwhile, over the the Black Manor.
"Boys, your apparating license are here. You'd best be off now. Don't wanna be late on your first day of work do you?" Remus called out.
The duo ran down the flights of steps and apparated their way to the joke shop.