A/N:I worked really hard on this chapter to get it up before I leave for vacation, so I hope you all like it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I'll be on vacation the next couple of weeks and then my schedule is really hectic, but I'll bring my notebook around with me and try and get in as much fanfiction time as possible. I really like how this story is going so far, but please keep reviewing! Suggestions and comments and even criticism are all welcome! I won't be able to post for a week or two, but I promise to keep this moving as fast as I can. I know how hard it is to wait forever for a new chapter to be posted! Happy reading everyone!

thanks to my reviewers thus far, your kind words and encouragement really meant a lot to me. keep reading! I'll keep updating.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. That's all, thanks for your time. :)

"Hermione's coming! Hermione's coming! Hermione's coming!" Ginny announced in a sing-song voice.

"Ginny! Cut it out this instant! You need to be on your best behavior for when the Grangers get here. They've never been to the burrow before, save Hermione," Mrs. Weasley commanded and straightened her new muggle blouse. Ron and Ginny shot each other look and began to sing together.

"Hermione's coming! Hermione's coming!"

"Very funny. A regular Fred and George you are!" Mrs. Weasley stated and shook her head. Ron grinned and put his arm around Ginny's shoulder.

"Well you know, she's my favorite sister," he said and began to laugh. Ginny rolled her eyes and plopped herself down on an arm chair.

" Ron, you won't hurt my feelings by being honest.. We all know Percy is the better sister," she said and avoided her mother's stare. Ron laughed and nodded vigorously.

"Ginevra! Percy may be spearating himself from his family at the moment, but it's no reason to insult him. He is your brother, and I'd appreciate it if you'd speak of him as you normally do," Mrs. Weasley begged, not willing to hear her son made fun of.

"But that's just it mum, if he were still talking to us... we'd tease him anyway. Don't you remember 'humongous bighead'?" Ron asked, trying to justify Ginny's comment.

"Percy was really upset about that! If the twins would learn to just accept him once and awhile maybe he wouldn't have felt the urge to be away from us!" Mrs. Weasley cried. Ginny patted her mother on the back and shook her head 'no' to keep Ron from saying anything more.

"It'll be alright, mum. Lets beat up the twins!" Ginny suggested, clapping her hands in excitement.

"Good idea! You take Fred, I'll take George," Ron added.

"Why Fred?" Ginny asked, curious.

"I always thought George was the weaker one, and you have claws Gin-gin," Ron answered with a grin.

"Come now, they're arriving," Mrs. Weasley informed them with a frown. Ron ran a hand through his hair nervously and bit his lip. Seeing Hermione after being apart was never easy for him, but now that he had been dreaming about her in ways that could hardly be called normal it was going to be even more difficult.

Mrs. Weasley opened the front door and smiled warmly at her visitors. Hermione was standing between her parents in a t-shirt and jeans, thank god for Ron who was still envisioning that sun dress. She immediately burst through the entry way and wrapped Ron in a back-breaking hug.

"Ron! You have no idea how much I've missed you!" she exclaimed and continued to squeeze. Ginny raised an eyebrow in amusement. Mrs. Weasley shook her head at Ron's confused expression and stepped aside for Mr. and Mrs. Granger to come in.

"I missed you too," Ron said simply and smiled down at her, "how was France?"

"Well, good as usual, but I really missed you and Harry. I don't know, I feel like... with everything that's going on, this is where I should be," Hermione answered and let go of him, starting to blush.

"I agree!" Ginny piped in and gave Hermione a friendly hug.

"Ginny! How've you been?" Hermione asked grinning.

"Wonderful, but it's nice to see another girl around the house, as always!" Ginny replied and Ron shook his head.

"What are you talking about? With Fred and George always off at the shop, it's basically like we're even now," he stated. Hermione smiled and patted Ron's arm.

"Sure it is, but I'm sure Ginny doesn't want to discuss boys with you," Hermione said to him and giggled.

"Well she should. Instead of just blurting out that she's dating Dean Thomas on the train!" Ron whined and gave Ginny his overprotective "brother knows best" stare.

"What do you care? It's not like he's some whimpering git from Ravenclaw like Micheal was," Ginny reminded him.

"True, he and Cho make a perfect pair," Hermione snorted.

"And Harry and Gi.." Ron started, but Hermione smacked him in the arm.

"So, how've you been Ron dear? It's been ages since we met!" Mrs. Granger cut in a shook Ron's hand.

"I'm doing much better now that Hermione's here. Thanks for letting her come and stay," he answered and grinned sheepishly.

"Well, with a set of pearly whites like you have, you're acceptable. I give you permission to be friends with my daughter," Mr. Granger joked and gave him a pat on the back. Mrs. Weasley beamed with pride.

"Arthur and I definitely enforce good dental care for our children. No magic involved either," she said, placing her arm around Ginny who was now smiling like crazy. Ron tried his best to stay out of the spotlight.

"No doubt, no doubt. We don't hassle Hermione here, she can take care of herself. Always has," Mr. Granger responded and took a seat at the kitchen table.

"Mum, Dad! They don't need to hear all about me!" Hermione tried to switch subjects, "tell them about the little girl you thought was witch the other day. Remember?"

"Maybe later, Hermione. Right now I'd like to get to know Molly a little better," her mother answered.

"Have you heard from Harry any? I keep thinking I'll write him a letter and then never do!" Ron asked Hermione, hoping for some news. Or maybe Ron was more concerned about whether he was getting the same amount of mail as Harry was these days...

"I wrote Harry once a few days ago, but I haven't gotten a reply yet. I would have written Ron! I just knew we'd be seeing each other," Hermione replied as if reading Ron's mind.

"Of course! You know... that was my reasoning as well..." Ron mumbled, relieved.

"Since when do you use reasoning?" Ginny asked thoroughly interested. Ron blushed and gave his sister a look that clearly meant 'back off!'.

"Mrs. Weasley, Molly, I just have to wonder how in the world you manage all this! I mean, surely seven children must be a handful!" Mrs. Granger asked as she marveled the Weasley family's clock.

"Ah yes, well the first two were angels, and well... the third was a bit different, he kept to himself a lot," Mrs. Weasley said fanning herself as she spoke. Ginny hung her head sadly and Ron scowled. Hermione patted his hand for comfort.

"And these ones are darlings! It's the twins who cause the most trouble, but loveable men in their own right. Couldn't imagine life without them," she finished.

"Could you possibly see us with twins?" Mrs. Granger asked her husband jokingly. Hermione's eyes widened and she coughed to hide her alarm.

"No, no. I think things are fine the way they are," Mr. Granger answered with a laugh.

"Are you thirsty?" Mrs. Weasley asked setting a pitcher of lemonade down on the table.

"NO!" Ron and Hermione shouted in unison.

Mrs. Weasley placed her hands on her hips in frustration. The Grangers stared puzzled at the liquid in front of them.

"Honestly Ronald! There's no excuse for such nonsense!" Mrs. Weasley roared. Ron turned a lovely shade of crimson and avoided his mother's glare.

"Really Hermione! Acting up in front of our host?" Mr. Granger interrupted, befuddled.

"I'm sorry mum, I just thought that if Fred and George made that... it could be a little... well, off if you follow me.."Ron hinted, trying to remind his mother of the shrunken elm tree in the backyard.

'If only you knew!' Hermione thought to herself and grinned. The Grangers turned their attention to the Weasley clock as chimes, bells, and multiple other objects shook like mad and created a racket.

"Sorry, big house you know...need to reach everywhere. It's five in the evening, time for dinner you see," Mrs. Weasley explained.

Ron and Hermione watched in horror as Hermione's parents disappeared with a crash and a 'pop' and were replaced by two red-haired menaces.

"Mum! Dad!" Hermione wailed and rushed to their side. Ron smacked his forehead and attempted to stay calm. He was three seconds away from pummeling his brothers.

"I told you we should have been fashionably late!" George grumbled and whacked his brother in the arm.

"How was I supposed to know muggles would be in our seats?!" Fred asked, indignant.

"Is that rhetorical question?"

"FRED! GEORGE! LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE! OUR GUESTS!" Mrs. Weasley bellowed in both anger and surprise.

Mr. and Mrs. Granger burst into a fit on laughter on the floor, surrounded by a mess of broken chair.

"So," Mr. Granger said as he stood up and brushed himself off, "what's for dinner?"

June 29

I've decided to go back to writing the normal way since it's easier to believe I'm doing my homework with Hermione around. I don't even want to get into the events before dinner. Lets just say that two broken chairs were involved and the twins were present. I'm betting that Hermione's father is kicking himself for letting me be friends with his daughter. I can't imagine what would happen if he knew I wanted to be MORE than that!!

Still no word from Harry. I was hoping for a letter by the end of June, but that seems improbable now. If I wrote a letter to Harry, what in the world would I say? "I know that you're upset your godfather is dead, but I've enclosed this chocolate frog that I personally enjoy for resolving emotional distress". Ha! Not only would Harry never speak to me again, but I bet he'd just sink further into depression and it would all be my fault. Maybe this is another instance where I need Hermione's magic touch. She always knows how to handle words, but she's also known for forcing her opinions down other people's throats. Not that I don't enjoy that particular aspect of her... her controlling nature can be quite appealing sometimes. But how did I start on the subject of her again? Weren't we talking about Harry? What else can you say about Harry really other than if he doesn't leave the Dursleys soon he's bound to go even more insane than he already is. Oh, and that the Daily Prophet is sure getting a kick out of making up stories about him and his troubles. And to think I used to LIKE reading that paper...

Hermione has only been here a few hours and already she's driving me mental. Do you know how hard it is to sit across from her and NOT stare? Something about her today..

Anyway, being around her makes me want to be romantic, even though I know I'm not the sort of guy who would be able to pull that off. I'm not even the sort of guy Hermione wants! I guess I could practice my quidditch skills a bit.... and speak with an accent. BUT I refuse to try and grow my eyebrows into hedges! How can she find that even the least bit appealing?

I just wish we could go watch the sunset, instead of me just sitting here watching her read about somebody else. Maybe I can get her attention by cracking my knuckles... she goes berserk!

"STOP! ENOUGH ALREADY! What's your problem?" Hermione asked. If looks could kill...

"Nothing, sorry. I just wanted you to get your nose out of that book and go do something with me," Ron answered and pouted. Hermione began to feel extremely uncomfortable. It wouldn't have anything to do with those dreams she'd been having about him of course...

"Sorry, but I'm not in the mood to help you with your homework," she stated bitterly.

"Neither am I! I mean... agh 'Mione! Is that what you think our friendship is about?" Ron asked, obviously hurt by her comment.

"Well it's not about me parading behind you holding a banner that says 'Weasley is Our King' now is it?" Hermione spat. Neither Hermione nor Ron had any clue what she was talking about.

"You can't even be around me for five minutes without starting an argument!" Ron yelled in frustration, and probably confusion as well.

Hermione fell silent. She had started the whole thing, and for what? Because he'd made her nervous and she couldn't think of an alternative...

Ron through a mis-shaped piece of clothing at Hermione and grabbed his journal as he stormed out of the room. Hermione looked down at Ron's best attempt at a scarf and began to cry. Attached was a small slip of paper..

'Just in case the house-elves get cold - Ron'

June 29, still...

So, I overreacted a bit when she yelled at me, but who wouldn't? She bursts through the door acting like things are going great and then she blows up! The woman is crazy, but I like her anyway. That's why the situation is completely out of control...

maybe I shouldn't have thrown the scarf at her. I was just frustrated. No matter what I do I end up screwing things up somehow. I got her attention by doing something she hates...

I'm a moron.

I'm going to bed.

Hermione knocked softly on Ron's bedroom door. No answer.

"Ron, I've come to apologize!" she whispered through the small opening. No answer. She slowly turned the door knob and opened the door just a crack. She squinted her eyes to see past the never ending moving posters of the Chuddley Cannons Quidditch team, but to no avail.

"Talk to me Ron!" Hermione pleaded as she stepped inside.

"Oh.." Hermione sighed as she noticed a tuft of red-orange hair sticking up from underneath bed sheets. Ron was fast asleep.

Hermione tip-toed back to her guest bedroom, wishing she could take back what she'd said before. But as soon as she hit the bed, she drifted off to sleep.

"Ron! It's gorgeous!" Hermione exclaimed breath-taken.

"I know, who knew it would be such a great sun set tonight?" Ron asked no one in particular. Hermione laughed as she rubbed her arms to warm up.

"What's so funny?" Ron asked her, amusement in his eyes. Hermione pointed at a tree the size of her hand. Ron nodded in understanding and shrugged.

"It's getting sort of chilly," Hermione thought aloud and curled herself up into a ball.

"What do you expect, for me to have knitted you a scarf or something?" Ron asked sarcastically.

"It would have been a nice gesture!" Hermione joked and rolled her eyes.

"I can think of something better," Ron commented and pulled her in close to him. She leaned her head against his shoulder and felt nothing but content.

"Hermione?" Ron asked in a whisper.

"Mmhmm?" she replied, barely making a sound.

"Why do you always argue with me? Do you hate me?" he asked her, concerned.

"Never. But if we don't fight, how will we make-up?" Hermione asked and lightly kissed his cheek. Ron grinned and took her hand.

"Good point."

Ron pulled the blankets around him just a bit tighter. He didn't want to get up yet. His dreams were too fantastic.