Disclaimer: Harry Potter and everyone that sounds too good to come from my imagination belongs to JK Rowling.. everyone, everything else is mine... you can tell the difference because hers is a work of art, while mine is just crayon drawings on a wall...

(A/N Woohoo! Reviews! :D

yeah-i love hp too : Can't put anything past you can I? Well nothing definite gonna be said about this right now, because if I said that, then there'd be no point in continuing the story! :D But you'll see in the next few chapters more about Howtiz. :D

liulover : Must be a contagious thought! Howitz is.... well you'll just have to wait and see like you said!

So I dedicate this chapter Friends Found? to yeah-i love hp too and liulover! Thanks for the reviews guys! )

Chapter 2: Friends Found?

Hermione ate the meager items she had purchased from the Market. She pondered what Donald had said and done that afternoon. She wasn't quite sure why it perturbed her so much. As far as she was concerned, they were still indeed friends, and that was not going to change. She was sure he had wanted a more formal farewell, and she should have obliged. It was kind of inconsiderate of her to just say good-bye as she did, seeing as how she might not ever see him again, but she could not help it. His obvious infatuation with her, put her in such an uncomfortable position she could think of nothing but escaping it.

She decided to brush Donald from her mind, for now. She would keep her promise and write to him at his new Howitz Prestigious School, wherever it was. She smiled at that thought and then her smile broadened as she realized how jealous Ron would be when he found out about yet another male pen pal. She laughed at that thought as she made her way back up to her room.

She had received an owl the night before from Mrs. Weasley inviting her to stay at the burrow once more. Harry was already there having left the Dursley's in a huff three weeks after school left out. Some how he had managed to invite Moody over for tea one afternoon, ironically the same afternoon Uncle Vernon was giving a Drill presentation. And well, Moody isn't exactly the best person to have around when pitching a sales idea. Definitely bad for business. Uncle Vernon was so furious he threatened to kick Harry out, and Harry decided he'd had enough and just left with Moody. This was all in a letter she had received halfway through her summer.

And since then, her two best friends had been causing all kinds of chaos at the Burrow, since Fred and George were away at their shops, some one had to create trouble. It would be good for Harry to unwind some. Her face fell and her eyes glazed over as she recalled what had happened at the Ministry. She had not been conscious to witness it, but she still felt the pain of Sirius' demise. A tear escaped and rolled down her cheek as she began to pack her trunk. It was such a series of mis fortunate events that had led up to that night, she wished she could have seen through Voldemort's tricks and had caught on before. And as much as she didn't want to admit it she wished she had not believed in the goodness, that was not present, in Kreacher. She sniffed and forced those thoughts from her brain. She couldn't help feeling an overwhelming sense of guilt though, for what she knew was he fault that Sirius was gone.

She forced herself to concentrate on packing her bag and truck. She stacked in all her schoolbooks, robes, and extra school supplies before shutting the trunk lid. When Mrs. Weasley came for her, she would have her place the shrinking charm on it, so they could easily take it by floo to the Burrow.

Hermione sank into her Papisan chair and unfolded her recent edition of the Daily Prophet. Having given up her subscription the summer before, she now opted only for the larger sunday edition. She skimmed headlines that read, "Ministry Infested: Death eaters at the Helm", "Atrocity in Azkaban: Where have the Dementors gone", "Gorging Giants: Latest D.E. Recruits", and so forth. Since the Daily Prophet had began telling the truth about the return of Voldemort, that had been all they had talked about. They had a lot to write about with all this 'new' information. When in all actuality they were just catching up on the stories they had refused to print the year before. Hermione snorted at that thought but read the entire paper, before deciding it was time she got some shut eye.

She dressed into her night gown and laid in her bed, the eerie silence of her flat having no effect on her, as she drifted off to sleep, dreaming of Donald and Howitz.

She awoke early the next morning and ate a quick breakfast before starting her final chores for that morning. She cleaned up the kitchen and cleaned her room one last time before starting the preparations.

She pushed her trunk into the den, where the fireplace was located, and went back to her room to retrieve her bag. She changed into a comfortable pale yellow tank top, that accentuated her newfound womanly curves, but covered it up with a cotton cardigan button sweater. She wore a light blue jean skirt that skimmed below her knees and comfortable black tennis. She went into the bathroom and pulled her now very long hair, having not cut it in her entire attendance at Hogwarts, behind her head in a loose ponytail, letting a few strands frame her face. She brushed her teeth quickly before returning to the den, where she became comfortable on the overstuffed chair that occupied the room.

She decided to get to work on her proposal for the muggle intervention on the misuse of fossil fuels. She was becoming increasingly aware of the damaging effects this was having on the world around her, looking up at the polluted skyline was obvious enough, and had decided that the wizarding world would need to intervene before the muggle damages could not be mended. She was so enthused in her proposal she didn't notice the arrival of a select group of people through the fireplace behind her.

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"Ginny! Are you ready yet?!" Mrs. Weasley called up the stairs to her youngest child. She was dressed and had been ready for quite some time. She looked at the clock that hung on the wall, wondering why she never put a slot for 'Annoyance' in between 'Home' and 'Mortal Danger.' If she had, she was sure that is where her hand would occupy at all times. She tapped her foot impatiently as she heard footsteps bounding down the stairs.

To her grief it was Ron and Harry.

"What are you yelling about, Mum?" Ron asked as he went around her to get to the kitchen. "Where's breakfast?" He asked incredulously looking around the empty table. His mother snorted behind him.

"If you had been down earlier, I would have been able to fix you something. But you boys, I swear sleep in later every day. You do realize it's almost 10 o'clock, don't you?" She asked as she tugged on her House coat that was stained with soot from the fireplace. "You'll just have to suffice with toast." She gave a flick of her wand and toast immediately sprung from Mr. Weasley's makeshift toaster. Ron caught it and was disappointed to feel that it was cold.

"Thanks mum." He said his eyes drooping slightly, his stomach growling loudly. Harry just laughed behind him. "Well it's your fault, Harry." He said shoving the toast into his mouth, not bothering to give Harry any. "If you hannit pot upf suzt a fight lasft night.." He swallowed than continued, "we would have finished that chess game sooner and woken up sooner and gotten some real food." He said cramming the second piece in his mouth.

"Oh honestly, Ron." Mrs. Weasley said in amazement. "Here you go, Harry." She flicked her wand once more, and more toast magically appeared. Harry caught it with a grin.

"Mmmmm, nice and warm. Thanks Mrs. Weasley." Harry nibbled on a corner, his face contorting to that of utter desire. "Oh.. so warm and soo good." He oozed before running off before Ron could attack him and steal his toast.

Harry thought, looking back on his stay at the Burrow, that this was what a family was meant to be. He had missed Sirius more than he thought should be humanly possible. He had literally felt his soul turn to ice, and had at one point contemplated giving up the magical world all together. It had brought him nothing but pain anyways. Why let that pain dictate his life. But then he had come here with Moody and he couldn't imagine wanting to be anywhere else. This was where he belonged and he gave up all notions about leaving this in his past.

Ron had been his lifesaver. He had sensed his troubles, and although he had not directly brung the subject up, he had enough sense to not let Harry fall into his pit of hell once more. He had made sure the Harry felt comfortable and as if nothing had happened at all. It might have been that Ron didn't want to accept the truth, or he didn't know how to broach the subject, but Harry was eternally grateful to his friend.

So for the past month and a half, Harry had done nothing but play quidditch with Ron and Ginny, occasionally Fred and George would drop by, usually for testing new merchandise, but would stay and play for a while as well, and lounge around. Mrs. Weasley had tried to have Harry talk about his feelings every so often, but Ron would interject and that would be that. He didn't feel like delving into his feelings, which he hadn't kept bottled up last year, he just wanted them to be subsequent to his current feelings. And those were of languid laziness and fluid fun. And that's why this had been the best summer holidays since he started at Hogwarts.

Hermione would be furious at how little work they had done over the vacation but he didn't even let that get him down. But as he thought of Hermione, he stopped running suddenly, and Ron crashed into the back of him and they both went flying headfirst down the hall. Harry helped Ron up laughing. Ron just looked at Harry as if he had lost his mind.

"Mrs. Weasley, when's Hermione getting here?" He asked returning to the stairs, finishing off his toast.

"AS SOON AS GINNY GETS DONE PRIMPING HERSELF! WE'LL LEAVE!!! I swear I don't know what's gotten into that girl. Where's more makeup and clothes now than i ever have in my life. GINNY I'M LEAVING!!" She called up the stairs marching to the fireplace. There was a slam of a door upstairs and a quick set of footsteps bounded down the stairs. Harry looked up them, straightening his glasses and having trouble keeping his mouth from dropping open.

Ginny's bright red hair was pulled back neatly in a fashionable clip, her freckles dimmed slightly by the light foundation she was wearing. Her green eyes were brilliant as was the pink lip gloss that shimmered on her pouty lips. She had on a loose chemise that clung to her body in places it should and hug from places it should. She had on classic blue jeans and black boots with a slight heel. Harry hadn't realized when Ginny had transformed from Ginny.. to well.. to Ginny. But he was sure he should have noticed sooner. He sure was gonna miss going back to school and seeing her in Robes compared to her clothes as of late.

"Mum, you wouldn't really leave me would you?" She asked grabbing her house coat as well. Fred and George had sent Ginny money to buy herself some new clothes, as all the ones she had owned were now much too small for her. She had ordered all her new clothes, a complete new wardrobe, from a Muggle Catalog, Hermione had sent her. She enjoyed her muggle clothes, as did her Father who was really interested in the science of the 'claw-clip' for her hair. None were too revealing, but none were too reserved either. She enjoyed her new look and when she noticed Harry's approving gaze she blushed, her pale cheeks turning a light pink.

Mrs. Weasley had her back turned as she approached the fire place. "No of course not dear. You ready?" She asked grabbing a handful of floo powder.

"We're coming too, Mum." Ron sputtered as he went to the fireplace behind Ginny. Harry wondered at that thought, but felt best not to delve too much into it.

Mrs. Weasley turned a knowing smile on her youngest son and beamed. "Ok well lets get going then, she's probably been waiting for a while." Ginny went in first, than Mrs. Weasley, followed by Ron and then Harry.

They all came out the other end, and dusting themselves off on the hearth, took note of their surroundings. They appeared to be in a den of sorts. All the walls were lined with books and there were leather ottomans and overstuffed leather chairs lining one wall. A globe was near the fireplace, and Ron eagerly wanted to spin it, but looking down at his soot covered hands, resisted the urge.

"Well I'd expect nothing less from Hermione. Even out of school she's in a library." Ron joked as he saw Hermione jotting down notes furiously in one of the chairs. She jumped at his voice and looked up immediately. She smiled when she saw whom it was and stood up to greet them all with a hug. She hugged Ginny first.

"Look at you! I see that catalog came in handy!" She said fingering the clip in Ginny's hair. Ginny just beamed and twirled showing off her new attire to Hermione, and to Harry who blushed and looked away quickly. Hermione than hugged Mrs. Weasley. "It's so nice to see you! Did you get that blender I sent earlier?" She asked breaking away from her Wizarding mother.

"Um, well yes... but Arthur got his hands on it. He was sure you were supposed to put paper in it to shred into thousands, upon thousands of little pieces. When I tried to tell him it was for food, he looked at me like I was stupid and confiscated it immediately." She said with mirth. Hermione laughed at that and embraced her once more. She moved on next to Harry. He seemed genuinely happy. Hermione felt her eyes glazing over once more just looking at him.

"Harry.." She whispered as she flung herself at him. Ron felt a lump form in his throat at the sight, but willed it away, attributing it to allergies from all the rising soot in the room. Harry wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her tightly. She was in such a good mood, he would hate to find out how she was going to react when she learned they hadn't done any of their homework. He just settled for hugging her for now and thought to give those details to her later. Much later.

Hermione let him go and squeezed his hand knowingly as if to say they'd talk later. Ginny and Mrs. Weasley left to take care of Hermione's belongings. Harry decided to join them as not to have to explain his feelings to yet another female, he smiled at the thought of so many women caring for him.

Hermione looked from Harry's retreating back to Ron's sheepish face. He was obviously uncomfortable with what he knew was his turn to be embraced. Hermione frowned at that, him being uncomfortable with her, was something that didn't settle well with her, and that made her heart falter. She attributed it to just congestion from the rising soot in the room and decided a hand shake would suffice. She stuck her hand out to-wards him and said casually.. "Ron, how have you been?"

Ron looked at her hand stupidly before realizing she wanted to hold his hand. He gave her an odd look before slipping his hand into hers gingerly. When she began to move her hand up and down, he caught on. She didn't want to hold his hand, she wanted to shake it. He mentally slapped himself on the forehead and returned the handshake. So she didn't want to hug him. Was she that repulsed by him? Was she mad at him? Was it something he had said in a letter? Was she mad at him for some fight they had had at school? He couldn't think of any reason for her to not want to hug him and that angered him. What angered him more was that he desperately wanted to have her want to hug him... He realized he was vigorously pumping her hand up and down and she was giving him a rather strangled look. He dropped her hand suddenly and ran a hand through his hair to come to rest at the base of his neck.

"I'm good." He said before blushing furiously and stepping around her to help Harry with her trunk. Mrs. Weasley had already charmed it to be a tenth of its original size.

Hermione looked crushed at Ron's curtness. What had gotten into him? He was the one too uncomfortable to hug her! How did he think that made her feel? She felt her face grow warmer as she felt the anger well up inside of her. She huffed out a sigh before taking a few calming breaths.

"Ok, well we're all set? Ready?" Mrs. Weasley asked before taking the trunk with her and disappearing into the flames. Ginny was next, Harry almost went into the flames with her, finding himself suddenly dumbfounded. He attributed it to his blurring vision with all the rising soot in the room. He followed after her. Which left Hermione and Ron...

"Um.. go ahead Hermione. I'll be right after you." Ron said. Hermione picked up her bag and shouldered it.

"No, Ron, I insist you first." She said ushering him in front. Ron felt his face grow red once more. Why was she deliberately being so difficult today?

"No, thats fine really, go ah--" He was stopped mid-sentence as a knock came from the front door to Hermione's apartment. Hermione gave Ron a perplexed look before exiting the Den and going downstairs. Ron curious, decided to follow, in case she needed.. protection, or something.

Hermione looked through the peephole of the door and gasped. She shrunk quickly from the hole and hearing a noise behind her jumped slightly. It was only Ron, who was looking at her as if she were loony.

"Hermione... you alright? Who is it?" Ron asked, she could see him reaching inside his pocket, no doubt for his wand. She grabbed the back of his hand to stop him, feeling a quick jolt and the sudden connection. She kept her hand on his warm skin nonetheless.

"It's ok, its just a... " before she could finish there was another more insistent knocking and Donald's voice calling out on the other-side, his words muffled, "...a friend?" She finished looking into Ron's eyes. He jerked his hand from hers and looked at her, heat glaring from his eyes.