It was one of the worst nights sleep Harry could remember. He woke to the dulcet tones of Uncle Vernon shouting "POTTER!" in a rising bellow. Despite only having 3 hours sleep, Harry woke with a smile on his face, the smile broadened as he remembered it wasn't his usual nightmares that had kept him awake.
"What!?" Harry shouted back, he had picked himself out of bed and had started getting dressed.
Uncle Vernon burst into the room, two weeks of bottling up his frustration with Harry exploding within him "REPORTERS! BLOODY REPORTERS. Wanting to speak to you about that fire!"
Harry looked confused; surely not even the Daily Prophet wouldn't try and harass a muggle household. "Well that's not my fault. The Daily Prophet has always been obsessed with anything to do with me."
"Do you honestly think I give a damn what a freaky newspaper has to say about you! No, this is much worse it was a reporter from the Whingeing Post." Red faced Vernon stopped for a second to let that apparent revelation sink in "All.." He said through gritted teeth "Our.. Neighbours.. Read.. IT!"
Harry looked surprised; he'd never attracted any attention in the muggle world. Well there was that time he won a painting competition when he was 7, but Dudley had claimed he'd done the painting and so it was him that got his picture publish in the local newspaper; even now his Aunt proudly got out the newspaper clipping to show her guests. "Well what do you expect me to do about it?" said Harry.
"I expect you to do nothing boy. I sent that reporter off with an earful and told him never to come back. If I find out you've been talking to the press, well godfather or not you'll regret it."
Harry suppressed his rising temper at Vernon's mention of Sirius, he was actually grateful to his Uncle for getting rid of the reporter. A thought struck him.
"I tell you what, if you let my friend Ron stay here tonight. I won't tell your neighbours or any newspaper 'exactly' how I saved that little girl."
His Uncle pulled at his hair in utter frustration, then growling moving so his face was only an inch from Harry's he spat "All right boy. One night, and one night only. Remember our deal, not a single word to anyone. And I don't want ANY funny business." With that his Uncle turned on his heal and stormed out. Harry smiled, he had expected to have to threaten his Uncle in order for him to allow Ron to stay over, but he was glad to be given such effective leverage. Yesterday turned out to be a really good day, and he had high hopes for today too.
After pulling on his shirt Harry picked up the photograph of Gryphindor common room he had placed on his bed side table in the early the morning before he'd finally drifted off to sleep. Harry looked at it again. He had spent endless hours last night looking at it and considering all its consequences, and even if there were any. Harry yawned, one consequence he was certain of, he was going to be tired all day. Harry kept looking at the picture waiting, it was such a tiny detail, and you couldn't always see it, he was impressed he had noticed it at all. There; In the picture the tiny image of Hermione moved to the left slightly so Harry could read what she was writing on the parchment, 'Eyes as green as a fresh pickled toad'. A line from the Valentine he'd received in his second year. Harry had always assumed that it was Ginny that had sent him that rather embarrassing singing valentine; he still couldn't entirely rule out the possibility, Hermione might have just been checking it for her, but given that Ginny was engrossed in writing in her diary, and Hermione seemed so cagey about displaying it, he thought this was really unlikely. 'Well another certain consequence of that photo' Harry thought to himself with a smile 'is that I now know Hermione is 'really' bad at poetry.' Harry laughed out loud and then went down to make himself breakfast.
Harry waited for Ron's train to arrive at platform 4 of Guildford train station. The morning had been rather uneventful and quiet after his Uncles outburst. At one point his Aunt looked like she wanted to say something to him, but his Uncle glared at her and she got back to her baking. Harry hadn't seen Dudley since his 'accident.' Ron's train was due five minutes ago. Harry waited. When he was told Ron wanted to visit, Harry couldn't wait to see him, but since Harry saw the photo he become a little apprehensive of seeing Ron again. Harry had guessed how much Ron liked Hermione a year and a half ago and knowing how jealous Ron could be of him he wasn't looking forward to the possibility of Ron finding out about the crush Hermione had, and may still have on him. Harry had put the photograph in his wallet for safe keeping. It wasn't only the knowledge that Hermione had once fancied him that shocked him, it was also the feeling he experienced when he found out. He felt really warm, like he'd swallowed a cup of hot syrup and it was sliding down slowly into his stomach, he wasn't sure what it meant, but now he wasn't sure how he felt about Hermione anymore. Harry had decided to keep quiet about it, at least until he saw Hermione again, he needed to know how she felt about him 'now' not in the past. 'Yeah, act normally.' Harry thought 'Ron wouldn't be happy about me slobbering over Hermione, he's liked her for ages and I don't know what I feel, I need to give him a chance. He's my best friend I can't stab him in the back.' Harry's thoughts were interrupted by the squeal of breaks as the train pulled up to the platform.
"Oi, Harry over here!" Ron shouted getting Harry's attention as he stepped of the train on to the platform, dragging a huge trunk along with him. The train conductor was giving Ron a severe look, which clearly conveyed that his day would have been much happier without meeting a certain lanky red haired boy.
"Ron! Good to see you mate." Harry gave him a good natured slap on the back. "What's with the trunk you're only staying one night?"
"First time I've stayed with muggles mate, didn't know what I might need, so I brought everything." Harry laughed and helped Ron load his trunk on to a trolley. "So how's your holiday been so far?" Ron said as they wheeled the trolley to the station exit.
"Not good." Harry said honestly "but it's just got a whole lot better." Ron smiled. "So how's your summer been?" Harry asked.
"Not much better, I really miss him too. But you're right let's make sure that this summer gets tons more fun.' Talking and laughing they reached the outside of the station. "So how are we going to get to your house?"
"Well I've got just about enough muggle money for the bus, but we've just missed one, we're going to have to wait a while for the next one to show up." Harry said looking at the pitiful amount of change he'd pulled from his pocket.
"How about we get a taxi?" Ron said.
"Sorry I don't have enough money for that." Harry gave shrug and a weak smile.
"Will this be enough?" Ron pulled out a thick wadge of twenty pound notes.
"More than enough!" said Harry with shock. "Where did you get all that from?"
With a broad smile Ron said "Dad's been promoted."
"Really!" Harry said equally as happy as Ron seemed to be. "He didn't mention it when I saw him yesterday."
"Well it wasn't confirmed until late last night. Since Fudge was fired there's been a massive reshuffle at the ministry. Dad's been made Head of muggle relations! He got a huge pay rise as well as a massive bonus. It's a really important job now the war's started; but Dad says the best part is he gets to work with muggles nearly every day, that and his new office has a window." Ron beamed with pride for his father.
"Does he know who the new Minister of magic is going to be yet?" Harry asked.
"Nah. No one really wants the job, what with V...Vol.. You know who, back. They've already begged Dumbledore, but he's refused. Right now it's anyone's guess." Ron winked "Personally my money's on you."
Harry scowled "You can't be serious."
"'Course I ain't." Ron's smile broadened even further "But the way the Daily Profit worships you it's not impossibility!" Ron waved for a taxi, "Mind you in the article that went on about what happened in the Ministry, I didn't come off too badly." and then pulling himself up haughtily like Percy "You never know you might be speaking to the next Minister of Magic." At that they both broke into hysterical laughter. The taxi pulled up and still laughing and chatting away they piled Ron's trunk into its boot and made their way to Privet Drive.
The rest of the day was one of the funniest of Harry's life. His Uncle had spent the day hammering nails, trying to avoid the two wizards by repairing the garden fence. However while Harry nipped to the bathroom, Ron had gone to offer his help to Uncle Vernon. Uncle Vernon unfortunately hadn't noticed Ron walking up behind him, and when Ron spoke, just over his right shoulder, the shock caused him to bring the hammer down hard on his own thumb. Harry rushed out to the garden at the sound of his uncle shouting at the top of his voice a stream of the worst obscenities Harry had ever heard; The memory of his Uncle hopping round the garden clinging to his glowing purple thumb still brought a tear of happiness to Harry's eye.
Without doubt the highlight of the day for Harry was what happened at dinner. His aunt against all expectations had gone to some effort to make a civilised, 'this is how proper people behave' meal. The meal indeed started in a very restrained and quiet manner, Harry could see the tension bubbling just below his Aunt and Uncles surface, but they were behaving themselves. Harry was surprised at how well it was going until Ron quite innocently asked, in an attempt to make polite conversation, what the muggle words Uncle Vernon was shouting earlier meant. Harry very carefully engraved the look on his aunt's face in his memory, just in case he ever met any more dementors in the future.
After dinner Harry and Ron, went to Harry's room to chat and unpack Ron's bedding. Harry thought Ron wasn't joking when he said he'd packed everything, it looked like Ron had transported his entire room, his trunk was crammed full of stuff. Chudley Cannon Posters, boxes of Weasley Wizarding Wheezes jokes, owl treats, enough clothes to dress a small Army and a hamper of food were just some of the items it contained. Harry petted Hedwig as Ron untangled his bright orange duvet from the rest of his stuff. "You know you ought to pack so we can go to the burrow early tomorrow" said Ron as Harry flicked Hedwig an owl treat which she caught easily in her mouth.
"Yeah.. " Harry started, but he was interrupted by the doorbell and the sound of his Uncles Voice echoing up from down in the hall.
"What you want to talk to Harry?" came the incredulous voice "You're not a ruddy reporter are you?" There was a pause and some mumbling, Harry thought he could make out his Uncles voice clearly even if they stood opposite ends of a crowd at a Rock concert, it had a way of cutting through even the loudest noises, but he couldn't make out what the person at the door was saying "No.. Well the boy's gone up to bed. I'll pass the message on. Good evening to you." His Uncle said in a very abrupt manner before Harry heard the door slam shut.
"Who do you think that was?" Ron asked Harry.
"I've no idea, but I guess we'll find out in a second." They both waited as they heard Uncle Vernon stomp up the stairs, he rapped on Harry's door, but didn't come in.
"Boy, are you awake?"
"Yes Uncle." Harry replied.
"The father of that young girl, you nearly got killed just called." Harry raised his eyebrows at that, 'Nearly got killed!' He thought, his Uncle had an amazing way of making everything his fault. "Well for some reason the girl hasn't stopped talking about you, so he and the girl's mother would really like it if you could visit her in hospital tomorrow."
"Which hospital?" Harry asked.
"St Mary's, 11 o'clock." His uncle stomped back downstairs.
"Where's St Mary's" Ron asked Harry, now attempting to remove a mattress from his trunk causing chocolate frog cards to scatter across the room.
"Not far from the train station, we could pop in before we catch the train to the Burrow."
"Sure no problem, I've never been to a muggle hospital before, it should be fun."
Ron finally managed to sort out his bedding and the both got washed and changed. Despite the lack of sleep Harry had the previous night Ron and he talked into the small hours of the morning, the subject of Hermione came up.
"Well mate I've seen her a few time since the beginning of summer, she's been trying to organise something, but she won't tell me what. I swear she's the most infuriating girl in the whole world! Nah make that the UNIVERSE!" Harry chuckled, but he suddenly felt a bit awkward. Ron yawned. "I swear girls should have their own section in the department of mysteries." Ron lay on the floor on his side facing away from Harry, they were both tired. Harry was looking at the picture of Gryphindor common room again; it was cupped in his hand so that even if Ron did turn round he wouldn't have seen anything. 'Well' Harry thought 'he can only kill me for asking' but he had to know if his guess about Ron's feelings towards Hermione was correct and he was too tired to waltz around the subject.
"You like Hermione don't you?" He put the photograph down by his side and turned so he could see Ron's back; he could only see red hair and an ear peaking above the orange Chudley Cannons blanket.
"Yeah of course I do, she's still a bit bossy, but she's a good friend."
"No. You 'like' Hermione don't you?" Harry tried again.
There was a long pause, Ron didn't move, the one ear Harry could see had gone beetroot red. After a few more seconds the conflict going on inside Ron stopped and then in a barely audible whisper he simply said "Yeah, I think I do."
"Cool mate." Harry said in a quiet but supportive voice.
"Night Harry." There was more confidence in Ron's voice now.
"Night Ron."
And that was it. Harry was surprised and touched by his friends' honesty with him, he had expected a denial maybe a bit of rage, but if his friend had finally plucked up the courage not only to admit his feelings to himself, but also to Harry, he wasn't going to be the one to stand in Ron's way. Harry switched the light off and put the photograph away, he closed his eyes and started to clear his feelings, once again he was surprised what he felt; he felt loss. Harry didn't know what the syrupy feeling he had meant when he found out Hermione had once liked him, but he'd lived with loss his entire life and knew all its subtle shades. A small realization dawned, but Harry forced it back down inside himself with a steely determination 'Loss doesn't change anything' he thought over and over to himself 'Ron's my friend and he deserves his chance.' So with a mind as clear as he could make it he fell asleep.
A/N: Hermione will finally make her appearance in the next chapter. I hope I've managed to keep everyone in character so far. I'm still not saying if this is a Harry/Hermione or Harry/Ginny story (you can't say a story is about more than 2 characters in the search parameters!). Everything is still up in the air, it's mainly about friends respect for each other, but that's definitely not saying it's not going to be romantic or even sexy.
Thank you all for your reviews and your patience waiting for this chapter to be uploaded. For those of you that haven't realised this is my first fan fiction, actually its the first story I've written since GCSE English! (Yes I say 'rubbish bin' not 'trash can.') Writing is turning into a rather nice hobby; I hope I'm not over stretching myself with this story. A big thanks to all of you who are authors for inspiring me to write! A big 'sorry I'm doing my best' for all those people who think this is a pile of tripe.