Disclaimer- The characters etcetera are not mine except for Blake who most definitely is mine. Please do not sue me…No money or anything else is being made off of these stories and are purely for enjoyment purposes and are property of J.K Rowling.

A/N-The title of the 6th Harry Potter book has just been released…it is to be called Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince…ooooh…gasp…I can't wait!!!

The Good Old Summertime

Chapter Four- Surprises

'Finally! This bloody week is over and I get to see Hermione again. It has only been a week since I last saw her, but it seems like so much longer.' Ron Weasley thought, smiling, as he raced downstairs to eat breakfast.

"Morning Mum," he said happily as he sat down at the table and began to scarf down his bacon and eggs. He nearly choked when he saw the evil gleam in Fred's eyes (Or was it George? Nope, it was definitely Fred).

"Why are you in such a hurry dear brother?" Fred asked, sarcasm dripping from every word. "Oh! I quite forgot…you are going to go pick up your girlfriend today."

"She is not my girlfriend!" Ron exclaimed as he jumped to his feet, nearly knocking his plate onto the floor in the process. The tips of his ears turned a tell-tale shade of red as he hurried out of the room. "Dad! It is nine o'clock and I told Hermione that we would be there at nine-thirty on the dot!" He yelled hoping that wherever his father was that he could hear him.

Mr. Weasley emerged from his work room covered in grease. "Alright Ron. We will leave straight away." He said as he muttered something while touching his wand tip to his soiled muggle clothes. Instantly they looked clean and fresh. "Don't tell your mother." He whispered as he headed out the front door with Ron at his heels.

They quickly climbed into the car that they had borrowed from the Ministry of Magic specifically for the occasion. (A few slight modifications were made, of course, to ensure the comfort and convenience of wizards since muggles are so far behind in the transportation area.) One moment they were speeding down the dirt road leading away from their house and the next moment…BANG…they appeared on an empty road less than a mile from the Granger's house.

Ron anxiously straightened his blue t-shirt and smiled as he hoped that Hermione would notice the thought that he had put into his attire. She had always told him how blue brought out the color in his eyes. His father must have noticed the smile on his face because only seconds later…

"What are you thinking about son?"

"Oh…erm…um….I mean…nothing." Ron stuttered as he looked about frantically.

"I know that look. As I ought to after all these years…you are quite smitten with Hermione I think. Am a correct that it was she who you were thinking about?"

A look of shock and utter horror overtook Ron's already pale face.

"I 'spose. But how did you know?" Ron muttered in response as the color returned to his face.

"Many years of experience." Mr. Weasley said laughing as he winked at his youngest son.

After what seemed like an eternity to Ron, they turned the corner onto the Granger's street.

"There is her house!" Ron exclaimed happily as he pointed at a dark green house with white shutters. "She told me about it in her letters and that is it!"

They pulled into the cement driveway and stopped just as Ron leapt from the car. Mr. & Mrs. Granger appeared suddenly in the doorway and greeted them warmly.

"Hermione dear! The Weasley's are here!" Mrs. Granger called from the front lawn. The sound of racing footsteps could be heard as Hermione raced to the door and emerged.

She looked different…beautiful…but different. Her hair was tied back in a low ponytail. She wore a cream-colored gauze dress that fell to just below her knees. Just a touch of makeup was all that adorned her smiling face. About her neck was that cursed necklace that he suspected was a gift from Viktor Krum. Necklace or no necklace she looked just like an angel.

Hermione raced over to Ron and enveloped him in a giant hug.

"'Ello Mione." He said as he returned her hug "You look really nice."

"Thanks Ron you don't look half bad yourself." She said with a grin on her face as she tugged on the bottom of his shirt.

'She noticed' he thought smiling.

"Mione where do you want this." A masculine voice interrupted.

Ron looked up in search of the origin of this voice. His eyes narrowed as he found its source. In the Granger's doorway, stood a tall rather muscular young man who was holding Hermione's suitcase and knapsack. His hair was a warm brown color and his eyes were dark green. His black sleeveless shirt and jeans looked new and expensive. Ron did not like him at all.

"Oh Blake! I'm sorry, put it right in the trunk of the car." Hermione said turning around and smiling at him.

Blake put the suitcase and knapsack in the trunk before striding over to the other two teens.

He extended his hand towards Ron and said "I'm Blake Monoghan. You must be Ron Weasley."

"Yup that would be me." Ron replied as he shook Blake's had rather firmly as he openly scowled at him. Blake returned his scowl with one of his own.

Hermione looked confusedly between the two boys before hugging Blake and kissing him lightly on the cheek.

"See you in a couple weeks Blake…ok?"

"You bet Mione. Wouldn't miss it for anything in the world." Blake replied before kissing her on the cheek.

Ron kept his arms crossed across his chest even when Hermione grabbed his arm and pulled his towards the car. Hermione rolled her eyes and let out an exasperated sigh as the boys glared at each other one last time before they got into the backseat of the car and pulled out of the driveway.

"Ronald honestly! You could be a little nicer to him, he is my best friend and I have known him since we were very young!"

"I thought Harry and I were your best friends." Ron mumbled as he studied the door handle with great interest.

"You two are my best friends…but he is one of my best friends too." Hermione said quietly as she laid her hand lightly on Ron's knee.

Mr. Weasley abruptly cleared his throat startling them both. "Um…I just wanted to let you two know that the special transport device should kick in any second now.

"Thanks" they answered in unison as there was a sudden BANG and they appeared again in the Weasley's driveway.