The Basement

The next two weeks were wonderful. With Hermione around Ron didn't feel the burden of having to take care of Harry as strong as before. Harry came out of his shell more when the four of them were hanging out. He even started talking about Sirius more. This freaked Ron out a little but Hermione said it was good. It meant he was dealing with it and that was the first step to making piece with it. A few days after Hermione arrived the order gave the four of them something to do. They were asked to clean out the entire basement. Harry and Hermione simply said ok but Ron and Ginny looked rather terrified. One look into the basement made them understand why. It was filled to the top with all sorts of things and incredibly dirty. They started by dividing everything into two piles: Things that worth keeping and things that should never have been made. It turned out to be good fun because the most amazing stuff was stashed away in there. The whole job was especially great because it kept everyone busy. Harry seemed to enjoy having something else to do rather than think about Sirius all day. Ron himself enjoyed the task to. It meant being around his friends, you know Hermione and Harry too of course. His eyes seemed to wonder more and more in the direction of Hermione though. She looks more beautiful than she did before the summer. Or maybe that's just my imagination, just like my feeling that Hermione is looking at me more often too Ron thought.

"Oh my God" Hermione screamed. Ron looked up afraid, you never know that's hidden in a Weasley basement after all. Hermione was just standing in the left corner holding up a piece of paper.

"What is it?" Ron asked.

"Who is this little red-haired naked fellow running across the lawn?" Hermione was now waving the picture in his direction. When he walked up to her his worst fears were realised. It was in fact his bare bottom waving at Hermione in the picture. He tried to grab the picture from her but she wouldn't let him. She tried to get away but there wasn't much room to manoeuvre in the still rather full basement. Once Ron cornered Hermione he could easily take the picture from her. Her was quite a bit taller and he had developed a few muscles due to all that quidditch practice. He put the picture in his back pocket and smiled: "so you'll never see that again!"

"I don't know why you'd be embarrassed, you look very cute" she looked at him and gave him a little smile. Ron could feel his ears go read and simply looked at her speechless. Hermione didn't say another word but simply walked past him and went back to work.

A little while later Ron and Harry walked into the garden holding several plates of sandwiches. They sat them down next Hermione and Ginny who were looking at a box. To Ron's horror the box was filled with pictures. He looked at Hermione who smiled at him: "You didn't really think you'd won did you?"

"Well you actually I did now give me the other pictures back as well"

"No, I want to look at them!"

"But I don't want you to"

"Well I don't care"

"I'm the one on the pictures so it should be my choice!"

"Who says I'm looking at pictures of you. Maybe I want to look at pictures of Fred or George..."

"... or me? I'm going to get the latest pictures. They're in a box in mum and dad's bedroom" Ginny said.

Ron looked furious and his ears were redder than ever. "Fine have it your way!!!" he yelled before he got up and walked back inside to eat his sandwiches in the kitchen.

That afternoon they worked harder but didn't have any fun. Ron was still mad at Hermione and she seemed to be mad at him as well. Although Ron couldn't think why. Of course, she was looking at pictures of him. Or maybe she wasn't lying and she was looking at pictures of Fred and George. Maybe she fancies them. Typical, Ron thought, everyone around me always gets what I want and I get nothing. Ron stopped dead. What was he thinking. He didn't want Hermione. He didn't fancy her in any sort of way. She was just a friend nothing more nothing less. Maybe he should just apologize. He really missed having her to talk to. Before dinner he caught her coming out of the bathroom. "I'm sorry" they said in unison. Then they laughed. That smile again.

"I shouldn't have looked at those pictures if you didn't want me to. It's just that I like getting to know more about you. And that includes your past."

"It's ok. I shouldn't have been such a baby about it. I just didn't look too good when I was younger"

"Are you kidding me? I think you looked dead cute" Hermione said as she walked downstairs. Again that the weird feeling. He'd never felt that ever. He walked downstairs after her with her words ringing in his ears. She thinks I'm dead cute!