A/N (Michael): It's so strange that for taking such a long time to get this online, we seem to be going on with it pretty fast. Nina, thank YOU for putting up with me. I just hope the readers can put up with both of us.

A/N (Nina): Finally the second chapter. Sorry for the longing, but I deserved some vacation. Thanks for waiting so patiently. The first part is all Michael´s. I asked him to help me in the first place so I could have a more convincing guy´s point of view in the story. I´m so glad I did. He´s great, don´t you think?

Denial and Plot

"There you are," said Ginny, rushing over to him. Ron had walked absentmindedly to the Owlery, and was staring out of the window, watching a pumpkin by Hagrid's Hut that mysteriously turned into a carriage.

"Oh. Hi," he said, turning his head. "What's up?"

"I just passed Hermione in the hall. She wanted to know if I had seen you. She looked in a right state. Have you two gone at it again?" Ginny asked curiously.

Ron couldn't think of an answer. Yes, something had happened. Yes, he had gotten up and left. But it wasn't a fight. He was just mad about spew. No... It was something else. He compromised by simply replying, "Dunno..."

Ginny sighed. This did not register as an answer to her. She walked over to her brother, and in little more than a whisper said, "Oh come off it Ron. It's so obvious.."

Ron looked taken aback. "What's so obvious?" he asked, getting somewhat loud - although he knew exactly what she was talking about. Some owls that were asleep near by fluffed their faders and made a little noise.

"Well," she said carefully, "you know. You. And Hermione."

"What?! There is nothing there.. like that! Where did you get the slightest-"

"Ron, stop!" said Ginny. "You're turning very red." She knew her brother too well and he damned her sometimes for that. Ron thought he would like to keep a secret sometimes without having his body betraying him.

But still, Ron became even redder. He turned to face the window again. He told himself over and over again, "Nothing. There's nothing there. It's nothing." He knew he was trying to convince himself more then his sister.

A few moments later, Ginny came next to him. She was thinking of someway to get Ron feeling a bit better. She felt sorry for him. The more he tried to stay clueless, the more his heart and mind would throw the truth in front of him. "C'mon. Let's go into Hogsmeade for a little while."

This was Hogsmeade day, and since they were allowed to go, Ginny thought it would be a good idea to pass the time. For New Years Eve, they were able to go and shop around for any food, drinks, or anything else they might need for the night. Ron had a good dose of realization for one afternoon and Ginny knew that if continued thinking too much he would start to get annoyed and angry, and the last think anyone needed right now was one angry Ron.

Ron, who was happy for a change of subject, gave a simple nod and followed her out of the Owlery. He felt much gratitude towards his sister for not "turning him in" to Hermione. What he wanted least of all was an uncomfortable conversation with her.

They headed out of the Castle, passing the last of Hogwarts gates, where Filch was standing guard. As they passed, he granted them a sour glance that gave him the look of having just tasted a horrible glass of lemonade checking the student list. For a little while they walked around glancing at the store windows. The Three Broomsticks had a huge sale on Butterbeer. Honeydukes was crammed from top to bottom with Fizzing Whizbees, Cockroach Clusters, Ice Mice, Every Flavor Beans, Sugar Quills, and anything else you could imagine. After visiting the whole village and carrying some snacks and drinks for the night´s festivities, Ron and Ginny doubled back to The Three Broomsticks.

Ginny bought two Butterbeers from Madam Rosmerta, and sat down at the table Ron had picked - the darkest one towards the back of the room - , which was lit with tiny exploding fireworks that erupted into different colors every few seconds. She pushed one into his hands, but he didn't drink. Ginny heaved a huge sigh.

"Oh, Ron, come ON!" she said. "You haven't said a word since we left the Owlery. If what I said wasn't true, then tell me what's wrong. I want to help!" Ginny was getting annoyed herself. Didn´t her brother know that he could trust her and only wanted his well being?

But Ron did not speak. He slowly raised his glass to him mouth and took a very small drink. He placed the glass on the table once more, just as slowly, and looked up at his sister. Her look was curious, but almost sad. He opened his mouth to speak, but his lips wouldn't budge. Besides, he hadn't felt like he would have been able to make a sound anyway. His voice had long since left him. So he placed his face inside his hands and sat there.

They sat for what seemed like hours. Then, Ginny reached over and placed her hand on his arm. If Ron wouldn´t cooperate, then she would have to try from a different side, and that would mean putting Harry into some action. Whether he wanted or not. "Come on. It's nearly 8:00 already. We need to get back to the common room to change."

Ron was hesitant. He didn't want to run into Hermione. But with a simple nod, he raised his head out of his hands, and headed with Ginny out of The Three Broomsticks and back up to the castle.

In the meantime...

Parvati Patil zoomed into the Great Hall looking for her sister that she was sure would be there with her group of friends from Ravenclaw. She dragged Padma out of the group much to the girl´s disliking.

"Are you mad? Parvati, what´s going on?" Padma didn´t like to be taken in the middle of a conversation with her friends, specially if they had some fresh news form what Malfoy was telling people about her.

"First of all you have to promise you won´t be mad at me." Parvati started carefully.

"Why do I think I´ll regret ever promising you that? You know, I still haven´t forgiven you from last time." Padma was inpatient.

"Ok, I´ll go straight to the point." She took some breath. "I-told-Hermione-Granger-you-had-a-plan-to-conquer-Weasley-and-snog-him-to-madness." She splattered all at once. Parvati knew she had gone wild when she saw her sister´s eyes growing large at each word.

Padma didn´t speak. AT ALL. For a few seconds Parvati thought she would have to carry her sister´s fainted body to the hospital wing, but Padma moved and seated at the bench right behind her. "You.Can´t.Be.Serious." her breath was getting steadier. She thought she couldn´t make a scene in the middle of the entire Great Hall risking her ladylike reputation.

Padma lowered her voice so only her sister would hear it. She was very angry, one could see it in her eyes. "How many times have I told you not to use me in your cupid adventures? Have I not suffered enough with Ronald Weasley at the Yule Ball because of you?"

"Oh, come on, sis. You know I know you always fancied him a bit. Even after that. You know girls have been noticing a lot more since he´s made into the Gryffindor Quidditch team." Parvati did have a hidden plan. If she could put Padma after Ron, even if it was for just a brief moment, she would have a more active response from Hermione. She was sure her sister would come to reason later and leave him to Hermione, but for now she needed to convince Padma to fall for Ron, or at least act like she was after him.

But she was cut. "Don´t even try to convince me into such madness. You don´t fool me and you know it. Twins don´t only share DNA´s, but we are magically and mind-linked as well. Others may not see difference between you and me, but we´ll always know which one is which." Padma had always fought against the fact that people thought they were the same and because of that strong desire she was gladly put in a different house away from her sister.

Parvati frowned. "Sis, you are a genius. Go back to your friends, I´ve had a better idea. Don´t worry about it. If it goes right, I promise I´ll say it was my fault in the end."

"As long as you leave me out of this." Padma went back to where she was on the first place.

"Don´t worry sis, you won´t have to move an inch. As for me... I just need a little change." She said it to herself exiting the Great Hall in a near corridor. She losen her hair from her ponytail, tighten her clothes just like her sister, taken her wand and said pointing to the Gryffindor symbol on her robes "Transmorfos Ravenclaw".

"Dear sis, if I don´t pass in front of you till Midnight´s Celebration, nobody will know the difference. Thank you very much for the tip. Now, let´s find those nutt-head lovebirds. And may the Gryffindor Gods of Boldness be with me this time." Parvati turned the next corner and went straight back to the Common Room.