Author's Note: Alright, once again, you guys are the best. Some of you pointed out that typo I made last chapter by calling Mrs. Granger "Mrs. Weasley." Thanks for bringing that to my attention. I might go back and fix it later. In the meantime, here's chapter 7:

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Ginny lay sprawled out on her bed, looking expectantly up at Hermione.

"It's not exactly a plan, Gin," said Hermione. "It's just this…idea…that I had."

"An idea? About what?"

Hermione sat down on the bed next to her. "Alright, it's called Operation Bad-Ass."

Ginny stared at her. "Hermione, you just swore."

"I know."

Ginny pretended to feel her forehead. "Are you feeling alright?" she teased.

"Oh shut up and let me tell you about it!" Hermione told her. Ginny grinned.

Ten minutes later, Ginny was kneeling on her bed and staring at Hermione with wide eyes.

"And he tried to kiss you?" she asked incredulously.

"Well, yeah, but I didn't let him," Hermione answered.

"Was he good looking?"

Hermione paused. "Yes, he most definitely was," she said with the air of a swooning teenage girl.

"I really think you waste your time on my brother." Ginny smirked.

Hermione hit her with a pillow. Ginny threw her arms over her head and whacked Hermione with another pillow. "Well, Mione," she said in-between whacks, "I think this is a good idea. It's about time you showed everyone what a bad-ass you are."

"Think Ron will notice?" Hermione asked. She bounded off the bed and ran away from Ginny's almighty pillow.

"My brother may be thick, but he's plenty observant when it comes to you."

Hermione smiled as her cheeks tinged pink.

"Come on," said Ginny. "Let's go downstairs and see what there is to do."

She opened her door and marched out of the room. Hermione followed suit and the girls soon found themselves back in the kitchen of the Burrow.

Mrs. Weasley was sitting at the kitchen table reading Witch Weekly. She looked up when she saw the two girls enter.

"Hermione, how nice to see you again!" she said as she stood up and hugged her.

"Nice to see you too, Mrs. Weasley," Hermione returned.

"Mum, where are Harry and Ron?"

"They just went outside," said Mrs. Weasley. "Would you girls like some pumpkin juice?"

"No, thank you," said Hermione.

"I'm fine, Mum." Ginny strolled around to the back door and Hermione followed her out into the garden. Harry and Ron were playing chess on the picnic table.

"How's the game going?" Ginny inquired.

"Ron's demolishing me, as usual," Harry replied.

"How about we do something that all four of us can play?" said Ginny.

"Like what," said Ron. He was focusing on his next move.

"Umm…like Quidditch," Hermione suggested.

Ron looked up. "I just spent the whole morning playing Quidditch. Besides, you don't like Quidditch."

"When did I say that?"

"Well, you've never played before," Ron said in puzzlement.

"That doesn't mean I don't want to play," Hermione said acidly. "I told you, I read Quidditch Through the Ages yesterday."

"You did?" Harry asked.

"Yes, I did."

Ron and Harry exchanged a look. "Okay, fine," said Ron. "We'll play Quidditch."

"But I just took a shower!" Harry protested.

Ron shrugged and headed over to the broom shed. Hermione followed him determinedly.

"Umm…Ron," she said when they reached the shed, "just keep in mind that I'm not very good at Quidditch."

Ron laughed. "Oh I can't wait to beat you at something for once."

Hermione frowned at him. Then she remembered that she didn't want to fight with him anymore. She grabbed a broom and whipped her head around, whacking his face with all her hair.

"Ouch!" Ron said.

"You deserved it," Hermione said sweetly.

"Fine, I guess I did. But I'm still going to beat you." He grinned, grabbed his broom, and shot off into the air.

……………………………………………………………………………………………… Several hours later the four friends retired from their game and joined the other Weasley's for a spectacular dinner. Hermione was rather proud of herself; she hadn't fallen off her broom at all. Admittedly, she had flown rather slow, and she wasn't anywhere near as skilled as her friends, but she had still participated. And Ron had been somewhat impressed.

After dinner Ginny challenged Harry to a game of Wizarding Chess to see if she had a knack for beating him too. Ron and Hermione watched their intense game for a little while, but soon both of them became pretty bored.

"Stop complaining," Ginny said to Ron. "If you're so bored, why don't you go outside in the garden." She shot Hermione a quick look and raised her eyebrows.

Ron seemed not to have noticed. He slowly stood up and stretched. "Fine, I will," he muttered to Ginny. "Wanna come, Hermione?"

"Sure," she said. She stood up too and joined him at the back door. The two of them marched outside and stood on the patio for a few moments. "So…what do you want to do?" Hermione asked him.

Ron frowned for a minute. "We could go swinging if you want."

"Swinging?"

"Yeah…Dad put up some swings for us when we were younger. Sometimes Ginny and I like to come out here and swing at night. But if you don't want to—"

"No, I want to," Hermione said.

"Alright, follow me," Ron said.

He led her to a clearing in the midst of a gathering of trees. A swing set had been built right in the middle of the clearing, from which two wooden swings were hanging.

Hermione walked over to the nearest swing and sat down on it, wrapping one arm around the long chain that was hanging from the beam above her. "I love swings!" she exclaimed. "I used to play on the same one every day when I was in elementary school."

Ron sat down on the swing next to hers and began to sway back and forth. "Yeah?" he said.

"Yeah. One day, during recess, I was swinging with my friend Emily when Jack Minchin"—her voice hardened with disdain—"came over and started taunting me. He was this horrible little boy who used to pick on me all the time." Ron frowned as she said this. "Anyway, he kept calling me names and everyone on the playground was laughing and I got so angry that I caused his pants to rip and fall down."

A broad smile spread across her face as she remembered the incident. "He stood there mortified for a few moments in his little white briefs, and then other kids started laughing at him so he ran to tell my teacher. I got in a lot of trouble, even though no one understood how I did it when I was ten feet away from him. But it was still brilliant."

She looked at Ron, who was grinning broadly at her. "He definitely had it coming though," Hermione finished.

Ron frowned and stared at her. "What did he use to do to you?" he asked curiously.

"Mostly he would just pick on me, because I liked reading so much and didn't have that many friends," Hermione replied quietly. She fiercely kicked the dirt underneath her shoes. "And then if I got upset he would call me 'Her-whine-ee.' I think that name bothered me more than 'Mudblood' does."

Hermione looked at Ron to see his reaction to her confession. He was giving his trainers a reproachful look, as if they had teased Hermione. "Well," he said, "I never went to elementary school—Mum taught us everything—but I know how you feel. Fred and George have been taking the mickey out of me since I was three years old."

"I know," Hermione said. "It bothers me."

"You saw them when I was made prefect. They didn't think I deserved it at all. Well, neither did you—"

"That's not true!" Hermione said at once, watching his red face. "I do think you deserved it."

"No, you were shocked that it was me and not Harry," Ron muttered in a slightly angry and hurt tone.

"Ron," said Hermione placatingly, "I admit I was a bit surprised at first, but…it just seems like…you know, Harry and Dumbledore are in everything together. I mean, last year, they were involved in that whole mess with the Ministry together. So I just assumed Dumbledore would choose Harry, because, well, they're kind of allies in everything, aren't they?"

Ron nodded glumly, and Hermione plunged on, desperate to make him understand why she had acted the way she had. "I do think you deserved your badge, Ron. You're responsible and trustworthy and smart…"

"You think I'm smart?" Ron asked sharply.

"Yes, I do."

"Even when I'm making up death predictions for Trelawney?" he asked with a mischievous grin.

"Well, they're always clever death predictions, aren't they?" She smiled.

"Still, I'm nothing on you. You're probably the smartest witch Hogwarts has ever seen."

"Thanks," she said, blushing. "But that's not always such a good thing."

Ron stared at her. "Why not?" he said with a puzzled expression.

"Umm…well, it's a lot of pressure sometimes. I mean I set such high expectations for myself. And the teasing can be…well…a right pain in the ass"—Ron stared at her incredulously—"I mean, I told you about Jack Minchin. I never had many friends in school because they all thought I was just some annoying show-off. Don't you remember in first year when you thought I was a swotty little know-it-all?"

Ron grinned apologetically. "Yeah, but then I realized you were an ass-kicking swotty little know-it-all."

Hermione laughed. "I remember how happy I was when I became friends with you and Harry. I sent Mum and Dad all these letters just raving about the two of you. They were somewhat surprised that I had made friends with boys, but they were happy for me all the same. You two were really my first best friends."

"What about that girl you were swinging with? Emily?"

"Oh, well, she was my friend, but we stopped playing together the year before I went to Hogwarts."

"Why?" Ron asked.

"Er…well, she changed. She started hanging out with a more popular group of girls who were all very pretty and didn't like me. They convinced Emily that I was just a geeky bookworm, so she stopped being my friend."

"Why didn't you just become friends with Emily's new friends?"

"They didn't like me," she said simply, shrugging her shoulders. "And Emily was pretty and I wasn't."

"That's not true," said Ron. "You're very pretty."

Hermione whipped her head up and stared at him. Ron became very embarrassed and scuffled his feet in the dirt. She could see how red his face was even though it was nearly dark outside.

"Thanks, Ron," she whispered. He didn't say anything, but it didn't matter. Hermione was flushing with pride on the inside and grinning stupidly at the dirt. Ron had called her pretty…

A few minutes of silence passed in which Ron continued to stare at the ground and Hermione tried to suppress her goofy grin. Then Ron cleared his throat and said, "Er…Hermione…did you say it bothers you when Fred and George make fun of me?"

"Yeah, of course it does," she replied.

"Oh. It bothers me too." He paused. "I just thought no one had ever noticed…well, besides Mum. Everyone just thinks they're so funny and great."

"Well, I don't think they're very funny when they do that. I know how it feels, and it's anything but humorous. And you're just as funny as they are, Ron," she said assuringly.

"Oh, thanks." He began to swing faster. "You know, I never told anyone about that before."

Hermione wasn't sure how to respond to that, so she just began to swing with him. "So, what about Bill and Charlie? Did they ever pick on you?"

"No, they were great with me," Ron said. "Charlie's the one who taught me how to ride a broom. And Bill used to play with me all the time. When Ginny and I were little he would make up treasure hunts for us. He would take toy galleons and hide them all over the garden, and then Ginny and I would spend hours searching for them."

"That sounds like fun," said Hermione. "I wish I had older siblings."

"Well, there are good things and bad things about it. But I can't imagine not having any siblings. What do you do by yourself?" he asked her.

"Hmm. Well, when I was younger Mum and Dad made me take all sorts of classes. I took piano lessons, and ballet lessons, and art classes…but I spent a lot of my time reading books because I had no one to play with. I guess that's why I like reading so much."

"You took ballet?" Ron asked. He was grinning at her.

"Yes, I did."

He started laughing heartily.

"What's so funny?" Hermione said in puzzlement.

Ron sniggered. "I just had a very funny mental picture of a miniature-Hermione running around in a pink tutu."

Hermione hit him while he swung. He laughed some more at her indignation.

"Sorry," he choked out. He took a deep breath. "So, why did you have to take all those classes?"

Hermione rolled her eyes and put more energy into her swing. "Mum and Dad wanted to raise me like a proper little lady. As if I could be anything but proper with a name like mine."

Ron thought about it. "Hermione Jane Granger," he said out loud. "Yeah, that does sound pretty proper."

"Ronald Bilius sounds proper too," she pointed out.

"No, I think it just sounds stupid." He swung higher. "Ginny got stuck with a stupid name too. Who the hell names their daughter 'Ginevra'?"

Hermione laughed. "I always call her that to annoy her. Her reaction is so amusing."

"Yeah, she gets pretty riled up. When I was seven I called her 'Madame Ginevra' and she whacked me with a broomstick. I had a lump on my head for about three weeks."

Hermione giggled some more at that. "Poor Ginny. Must be tough living with six older brothers."

"Well, she has you a lot of the time. She practically considers you her sister."

"She's practically my sister too," said Hermione. She was very touched by Ron's words.

"So does that mean she tells you everything?" asked Ron.

"Pretty much."

"Yeah? So tell me honestly…does she still like Harry?"

"Ron," said Hermione in an exasperated tone, "I've already told you. She's been over Harry for ages. I think she feels like he's more of a brother to her now."

Ron frowned. "I always hoped she'd still like him. Harry could use a girl like her."

"Well Ginny's going out with Dean anyway. But…" Hermione trailed off.

"What?" Ron prompted.

"Well, I don't think she realizes it, but Neville seems to fancy her. And to be honest I could see her with him."

"Neville? Neville Longbottom?"

"Of course Neville Longbottom. Didn't you see how he stuck up for her at the end of last year? When the Inquisitorial Squad was trying to take you all?"

Ron thought for a moment. "Yeah."

"Besides, they went to the Yule Ball together."

Ron stopped swinging and looked sharply at her. "So? That doesn't mean anything. Just because you go to the Yule Ball with someone, doesn't mean you like them."

"Yes it does."

"So are you saying you fancy Krum?" Ron asked heatedly.

"When did I say that?" Hermione said dangerously.

"Why do you like Vicky anyway?"

"Ron—" Hermione was about to begin a rant, but then she remembered again that she had vowed not to fight with him. They had been getting along so well this evening; she didn't want to spoil it.

"Ron," she repeated, "I don't fancy Viktor. I've told you already that he's just my friend."

Ron was not ready to give up. "Your friend, huh? Is that why he invited you to Bulgaria?"

Hermione kept her voice calm. "I never went to Bulgaria. I spent the summer at Grimmauld Place, remember?"

Ron was still glaring at her. Hermione looked at him with a determinedly peaceful look.

"I'm sorry," Ron huffed.

"That's okay. I'm sorry too."

They sat in silence for several moments, rocking their swings slightly. Hermione gazed unfocused at her trainers.

"Ron?"

"Hmm?"

"I just wanted you to know that there's really nothing between Viktor and me. He's just a friend." She looked at him and added as an afterthought, "Nothing on you and Harry though."

"So are you saying you like me better than Krum?" Ron asked playfully.

"Don't be ridiculous, of course I like you better."

Ron grinned in a Lockhart-ish fashion. "Oh Herm-own-ninny, you flatter me."

She punched him in the arm but smiled. "Don't call me that."

"Vot else vould I call you?" he asked in his best Viktor Krum impression.

Hermione pretended to think. "Oh, I dunno…maybe Hermione?"

"Vot is that? That name is too hard for me to remember. No, I vill call you something shorter!"

Hermione burst out laughing at this mockery. "So what are you going to call me then, Mr. Veasley?"

Ron returned to his normal voice. "Can I call you 'Mione'?" he asked.

Hermione furrowed her eyebrows. "Of course you can. Haven't you called me that before?"

"No…I've always wanted to, but I wasn't sure whether you would like it."

She grinned. "Well 'Mione' is perfectly fine with me. My dad has always called me that. Ginny calls me that sometimes too."

"Good," Ron said.

Hermione smiled and turned her head toward the heavens. Many stars blinked down upon her from the dark vast sky.

"Hey Mione?" Ron said.

"Hmm?" she said, still looking above.

"Have I ever mentioned that you're a really good friend?"

Hermione brought her gaze back down to him. "Umm…I'm sure you have."

"Well, in case I haven't, I just wanted you to know that you're a really good friend."

A smile spread across her face and lit up all her features. "Thanks, Ron. You're a great friend too."

He nodded, stood up, and turned toward her. He made a sudden movement with his arm, almost like a twitch, and then tentatively held out his hand for her. She seized it and allowed him to pull her up from the swing.

At first Hermione had the instinct to pull away from him as soon as he had helped her up, but then she realized how comfortable it was to hold Ron's hand. She stared down at their clasped hands and he did too. Hermione raised her gaze to his face but then quickly averted her eyes.

Then, without a word, they both turned and walked hand-in-hand out of the clearing. It was awkward, but it felt right to Hermione. She had the feeling that this was just the beginning.

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A/n: I'd like to apologize for any errors in this chapter. It's 2:25 AM and I don't know why I'm writing so late, but that's just how things worked out. So now I'm beat and I'm heading off to bed. Anyway, on Saturday I'm leaving for vacation and I won't have computer access, so I'm going to try my best and finish this fic by then. I owe that to all of you faithful readers and reviewers. So stay tuned for several updates this week. Review, Review, Review!