Disclaimer: -sigh- I own nothing apart from Faith. Got it?

Comments: This was only a short chapter, but I got a little carried away, sorry. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed my story so far. Read on... -bows with twirling of the hand-

Chapter 4: Ron's Birthday

Harry woke up to hear Ron still sleeping, noisily. No surprises there then, he thought. He quickly grabbed Ron's present from under his bed, and made his way down to the kitchen, not expecting anyone to be there. The kitchen door was locked. He tried knocking.

"Who's there?" came Mrs Weasley's voice.

"Harry. Can I come in?"

"Of course, Harry. Alohomora!" the door sprang open to reveal half the Weasley family, Tonks, Lupin and Dumbledore putting up decorations. When Harry glanced up, a banner announced: "Ron's sixteenth birthday... is today. Happy Birthday."

"Do you need a hand?"

"Yes please, Harry dear, you give me that and help Tonks."

Within half an hour all of the preparations had been completed, presents wrapped and cards written, (Fred and George had forgotten) and everyone sat down at the table and waited for Ron to appear.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door. "Can we come in, please?" came a chorus of high voices.

"Of course my dears," replied Mrs Weasley, and unlocked the door. In walked Hermione, Ginny closely followed by Faith. The latter quickly located Harry, and hurried over to sit next to him.

"Hey Harry!" she said, beaming.

"Morning Faith... Hey, what did you do to your hair?"

As quickly as it was hitched onto her face, her smile vanished. "Don't you like it?"

Harry saw Hermione roll her eyes; it took him a moment to realise why. "I didn't mean it like that!" he said awkwardly. Silently he groaned, why can't I talk to girls? Why do I always say the wrong thing, to the girls like? "I really like it, Faith, it suits you. It came out wrong, that's all."

Faith looked relieved. "Oh good. I was getting worried for moment. Can you guess why I chose red?"

"You like the colour?"

"Partly, but it was because I want to be in Gryffindor. Well, that's the reason why I chose the red over the blue, anyway." She paused and glanced around the room. "So, its Ron's birthday is it? What did you get him?"

"You'll find out soon, I want it to be a surprise." He answered mockingly.

"Don't mock me, Potter," she said with a small punch at Harry's shoulder.

"Ouch!"

"Don't do it then!"

Harry didn't answer; instead he chose to grumble incoherently, whilst rubbing his shoulder. This seemed to amuse Lupin somewhat. "And what do you think is so funny?" snapped Harry.

"Sorry Harry, I just remembered something."

"What?"

"Well... in my last year at Hogwarts, when your mum and dad were going out, the exact same thing happened to James, and it was really funny. Me and Sirius teased James for years after that."

Before Harry had time to react about the news of his mother and father, and Sirius, there was a knock at the door.

"Are you all in there? Let me in, I'm hungry!" Ron's knocking soon became pounding. "Oi!"

After many 'Happy birthday's and a hurried breakfast of warm chocolate muffins, Ron had started to open his presents. So far the pile on the kitchen table included; an immense amount of Honeydukes sweets, and chocolates, a selection of products from Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes, ("Not on sale yet!" said Fred, "So, no one at school will know," said George, evilly.) a complete set of Chudley Cannons books, (from the beginning of the club up until the present day.) and a few other items. He was just coming round to opening Hermione's present, when there was a tap at the window.

"I don't believe it," said Ron, sounding astonished, "It's Hermes!"

"What's he writing to you for?" chorused the twins.

"Open it!" said someone else.

Ron opened it and read out loud the letter that was enclosed:

Dear Ron

First of all, I would like to wish you a "Happy Birthday." Sixteen is an age where you should be starting to act more mature. I also want to apologize for some of the 'stuff' that I wrote in my last letter, you must realise that this was only said, as there was no tangible evidence to say that Harry was telling the truth. For this reason, I would like to ask your forgiveness.

I also would like to present my compliments for your spell work, in the Ministry last June, from what the Minister tells me, you all performed extremely well. Well Done.

I want you to give the attached letter to Mother and Father, as soon as possible.

Last of all, please open the present that will be sent sometime today (Owl Post) as I think it may be of some use to you, as you still hold the responsibilities of a prefect, don't forget that. Keep up the good name of the Weasleys!

Love from

Percy

"Bloody hell, he's changed his tune a bit hasn't he?" said Ron, handing the other letter to Mr Weasley, who put it in his pocket.

Remembering the last letter sent to Ron, Harry couldn't help but agree. Not sure whether I forgive him though.

"So, where did that present go, Hermione?" asked Ron.

"Here you are. Happy Birthday, Ron."

"Thanks." Within seconds Hermione's present had been unwrapped, his smile fayed slightly, when he saw the cover on the book. The Comprehensive Guide To Goal Keeping. "Hermione, thank you, but you realise that I don't have a broom, so I can't be on the team this year."

She replied, "We'll see, the school brooms can't be that bad!"

"Only one left," said Ron sadly, "And this is from Harry."

"Yep," confirmed Harry, grinning, as Ron picked up the long box that the broom was packed in. Harry had to ask Lupin to conjure a box for him, as it was obvious what it was.

"Oh my GOD! Harry!" Ron looked ecstatic. "I've never even seen one."

"What broom is it?" asked Fred.

"The Nimbus Two Thousand and Four!" said Ron.

"Four? But we went in yesterday. There isn't anything after the Two Thousand and Three!" replied George.

Everyone turned to Harry, who just grinned.

"Harry...How on earth?"

"I... erm... leave me alone!" he said laughing. "Just don't bother looking for it for about two or three months. It won't be out in the shops 'til then."

"Harry," said Ron, "This must have cost you a fortune. You realise that I can't accept it?"

"Well, in that case, I'm going to have to throw it away. You see, theoretically, I don't own this broom, and I never bought it."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that, as it is not on sale, I can't have bought it, I can't own one, so, I can't take it back. You just say thank you, and think what the Slytherin team are going to say, when they see it."

Ron's mouth was still open. "Thank you, Harry."

"No problem, mate."

"Ron," said Faith. "I didn't know that it was your birthday until today, so you will be getting it a little late. Is that okay?"

"Sure."

The rest of that day was spent, either eating, or admiring Ron's presents. A few of the joke shop items got used on some people, unfortunately, no one managed to get Fred or George, as they knew exactly what was going on.

"This is totally unfair, how on earth am I going to get my own back on them, when they know what I am going to do?" asked Ron.

Later that night, Harry and Ron were in bed, talking.

"So, what did Percy get you in the end?"

"Oh, it was a book, Being a Hogwarts Prefect."

"Sound's interesting."

"Yeah well, this is from Percy, remember. What do you think of his letter?"

"Well, it was nice of him to apologize, but... don't take this the wrong way, Ron, but... I'm not sure whether I forgive him."

"I'm not bothered in the slightest, mate, I know I don't, not yet anyway."

Little did Ron and Harry know, they were not the only ones talking that night. Once Ginny had fallen asleep, Faith and Hermione got up again and made there way back down the kitchen, to get a large mug of hot chocolate each.

"So," prompted Faith, "What is going on between you and Ron?"

"Nothing," said Hermione.

"Uh huh," replied Faith, completely unconvinced.

"Honestly, there is nothing going on between us."

"You wish there was."

"Well... Yeah. I don't know what it is about him, I just..."

"Do you want to go out with him?"

"Well... Yes, but... he doesn't want to go out with me."

"You know that?"

"Yes, I've known him for five years. I've seen him act around girls that he likes; he doesn't act like that around me."

"I say, he does like you, you are just too blind to see it!" said Faith, rather bluntly.

"Really?"

"Yep," confirmed Faith, "Believe me, I know how this works. I think you should go upstairs, I'll distract Harry, and you should give him a happy birthday kiss."

"WHAT?"

"Nothing major, so no snogging, but just a peck on the cheek, like you should have when you gave him his present. You know you wanted to."

"But... But..." for once, Hermione was speechless.

"But what, Hermione," Faith replied reprovingly.

"The guy should make the first move!"

At this Faith laughed, "I've known Ron for about a day, and you think if you wait for Ron to make the first move, you two will be together before you leave school?"

"Good point."

"So..."

"Fine, I will! But I want to know what is between you and Harry."

"Nothing, we've only just met!"

"And?" prompted Hermione.

"Well, I like him and from what uncle Sirius told me he is a good catch."

"What did Sirius say?"

"He said that he was kind, generous, caring, and he kept going on about how good he is at Quidditch, and he also said," she paused.

"What?"

"He said that he's had a lot of problems lately."

"Too right," muttered Hermione, "He doesn't have much luck with girls," and she went on to explain about Cho. She also said that she would have to ask Harry about his problems, ("They are his own business.")

"See what you mean!" sighed Faith. Before asking the question that had been burning on her mind, she took a long drink from the mug in front of her. "Do you think he likes me?"

"Of course, we all like you!"

"I mean, like me."

"Obviously! You should have seen how jealous he was when you hugged Ron! And he was relieved when you hugged me. It was soo funny!" suddenly the smile on Hermione's face broadened. "If I kiss Ron, to distract Harry, you have to kiss him."

"What!"

"Shhh, keep your voice down."

"Hermione, I've known him for two days, I can't just kiss him!"

Back in the boys' bedroom, the conversation had changed.

"So, Harry, what are you going to do about Faith?"

"Don't start that again. Tell you what... I'll tell you, if you tell me about Hermione."

At this Ron blushed deeply. "What about her?"

"When are you going to do something about her?"

"How about, when you do something about Faith?"

"Ron, I've only just met her!"

"I've known Hermione for five years; she's one of my best friends. How weird would that be? Anyway, she doesn't like me in that way."

"You are totally wrong, Ron, you should have seen the look on her face, when Faith hugged you."

"Really?"

"Yep."

"Tell you what, Harry, if we see them before eight o'clock tomorrow morning, then we give them a good morning kiss."

"You have no intention of getting up tomorrow, have you?

"Nope." He grinned.

Suddenly, there was knock at the door. Harry got up to open it, and Ron saw his blush, and cursed silently.

"Hermione, Faith! What are you doing here?"

"Harry," replied Faith, grabbing hold of his pyjamas, as Hermione brushed past him. He turned quickly, and gave Ron a pointed look of warning, before the door closed. Harry and Faith were left alone on the landing, both confused.

"What's going on?" they both asked.

"Hermione is going to kiss Ron, to say 'Happy Birthday'!"

"Ron promised he would kiss Hermione, if he saw her by eight am tomorrow!"

"Finally," they muttered together. There was an awkward silence between them, both of the fifteen year olds reflecting on the conversations they had just minutes before.

"Faith," said Harry, she looked up, and he bent down slightly, and went to kiss her on the cheek, she turned her head at the last moment and their lips touched briefly.

"Sorry, Harry... I just..."

"Don't be."

The door behind them opened and Hermione came out, her face a bright crimson, matching the pair outside.

"Good night, Harry!"

"Night Hermione," said Harry, with a wink at Faith. She returned it, along with a smile.

Once inside the room, door shut, Harry looked over at Ron. He was sat upright in bed, looking as though he couldn't believe what had happened.