Chapter One: The Summer Begins
"Ron...Ron! Get up!" someone shouted. It was Fred or George; he couldn't tell. "Breakfast is ready, you git." Ron groaned. He rolled onto his stomach and pressed a pillow over his head to muffle the sound. "...and mum's showing your baby pictures to some guests..."
"WHAT?!"
"Hah! Thought that'd get you up. Now c'mon or mum'll have a fit." Ron pulled the pillow off his head and sat up on his bed. Why did the morning have to come so bloody early? He glanced in the mirror on the opposite site of his room. In polite terms, he looked like hell. His hair was unkempt and there was sleep in his eyes. Ruffling his untidy mane, he crossed the room and opened the door to find Ginny on the other side.
"Oh...hello, Ron!" she said a little too sweetly. He knew her way too well.
"What do you want?" he sighed. She put her hands on her hips and pouted.
"Just because I say 'hello' doesn't mean I want something! Maybe I'm in a good mood and feel like saying 'good morning' to my favourite brother."
"Uh huh..."
"Ok, I do want to ask you something but that's not the point! You need to stop making assumptions," she said, walking in the room and shutting the door behind her. "Alright. Two things."
"Ok, shoot," he said, sitting back on his bed.
"Number one: Are you sure about what I said before? About Harry using your bedroom?"
"Yeah. No problem, I guess..."
"Good. Ok, and number two: you have to let me ask mom about Harry before you ask about going to Hermione's."
"What- Why?"
"Because! She'll think Harry's coming for you, right? So, as soon as she says 'yes', I'll owl Harry and tell him so that she can't take it back. Then, you ask about Hermione's and she'll 'yes' because she loves Hermione to pieces and she'll forget that Harry's even coming." Ron frowned.
"You haven't taken much time to think about this, have you? Maybe she'll say 'no' to me because Harry's coming? If you ask about Harry first then she'll just insist on Hermione coming here." It was Ginny's turn to frown. Ron was right; she hadn't thought of this.
"Whatever...we'll figure something out. Oh, and fix your hair you look like your wearing some kind of big...ugly, ginger mop." He raked a hand through his 'mop' as she left the room. Ron sighed to himself and got up to get dressed. Pulling a white t-shirt over his head, he could only pray that Ginny would keep her mouth shut until he got down.
-
"Hey, lookit this," Ron mumbled through a mouthful of porridge.
"Don't talk with your mouth full, dear," Mrs. Weasley warned. He swallowed and continued reading.
"Ministry official, Edna McAdams, is in debt to Mr. Arthur Weasley of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office for saving her from an enchanted vacuum cleaner last night..."
"Oh, how wonderful. You'll tell your father 'good job' when he gets home, I expect?"
"Sure..."
"Mum?" Ron looked around. It was Ginny.
"Yes Ginny, dear?" Ron scowled at her. She was doing exactly what he didn't want her to.
"Can Harry come to the Burrow this summer?"
"Oh, sweetheart, you know Harry is always welcome here whenever he wants," she replied, not looking up from her dishes.
"Right." Ginny bolted out of the kitchen and started running up the stairs. Ron knew exactly where she was going.
"You're not using Pig!" he shouted.
"Yes I am!"
"You bloody well are not!"
"Ronald! Watch your tongue," Mrs. Weasley hissed.
"Ron, he'll only be gone a day!" Ginny shouted from upstairs.
"Whatever," he grumbled to himself.
"Won't this be nice?" his mother asked cheerfully, pulling out her wand and clearing the kitchen counter. "Harry's coming over...the two of you can play Quidditch in the orchard and help your father in the yard...Ooh this is shaping up to be a wonderful summer!"
"Er- mum?"
"Hmm?"
"I wanted to ask you about that..."
"About what?"
"About summer...and Harry...and me." She put a hand to her mouth.
"You two aren't fighting, are you?"
"What-? No, it's just...can I spend the summer at Hermione's house instead?"
"Hermione's house?" she said with a laugh. "What ever for? Why don't you invite her here? The more the merrier I always say!" Ron had an 'I-told-you-so' look with Hermione's name written all over it.
"Well its just that...she needs help with stuff- and her family and-" He looked at the disbelieving expression on his mothers face. "Ok...she- she's my girlfriend." She raised an eyebrow at him.
"Your girlfriend?" Ron nodded. His ears turning a deep crimson. "Oh, Ron! That's just wonderful!" she cried, pulling him into a tight hug.
"Mum, get a grip." She let him go and stood back, smiling
"Yes, yes. I'm sorry. Oh, how sweet, Ron. And if you don't mind me saying, I always thought she would end up with Harry." Ron grinned from ear to ear. Revenge time.
"Oh, no," he said casually, "Harry's got Ginny instead." The smile disappeared from his mother's face and Ron suppressed a laugh.
"Ginny?"
"Yep."
"Our Ginny?"
"How many other Ginnys do we know?"
"Ginny!" she called. "Would you come here a minute, please?"
"In a sec!"
"No, right now." Ginny came thundering down the stairs with a letter in her hand to find her mother with her hands on her hips and Ron chuckling silently in his chair.
"What?"
"How long have you been dating Harry Potter?" She wheeled around to face Ron.
"You told her?!"
"Hey, you asked without telling me."
"So? That doesn't mean you can go telling all my secrets!"
"'All your secrets,' give me a break! You would've had to have told her sooner or later." Ginny scowled at him and turned to her mother again.
"Look, mum, I-"
"All I asked was a simple question."
"Ok six...seven months?"
"Well," she said, "Harry is a very nice boy. I trust him and I have no objections. Yes, Ron, you may spend the summer at Hermione's and yes, Ginny, Harry can still come here. End of discussion and no complaints from either of you." Ron and Ginny both gaped at her as she clapped her hands together, smiled and exited the kitchen.
"Hey, Ron...looks like you've got a letter from Harry. Hedwig just came with this," Ginny said holding a letter out to him. He abandoned folding his clothes and went to take it from her. He flopped on his bed and ripped it open as she left the room.
-
Dear Ron,
Harry sent Hedwig to me asking for food (they've got him on Dudley's diet again) so I figured I'd kill two birds with one stone. My parents said 'yes,' I knew they would. I've gained their trust over the years, so I hardly have to ask for anything anymore. Everything's settled, I just don't know how you're getting over here. You've only just passed your Apparation test and I don't think it's such a good idea to Apparate such a long distance right now. My fireplace isn't connected to the Floo network either so that's not an option either. Reply with any ideas. I'm looking forward to seeing you.
Lots of love,
Hermione
Ron sighed. He loved her...God, how he loved her! Placing the letter in his pocket, he walked over to his messy excuse for a desk and began rummaging for something to write on. Old letter...candy wrapper...envelope...another candy wrapper...aha! One blank piece of parchment. He grabbed his quill and began to write.
Dear Hermione,
I already made plans in hopes that I was coming. My trunk is almost packet and dad's arranging for your place to be connected to the Floo network this Friday. Does that sound good? Just send Pig back with a set time and I'll be there.
Miss you loads,
Ron
The looked good enough. "Ginny!" he called, "is Pig back?"
"His name is Pigwidgeon and he's in the kitchen."
"Right." Ron got up and made his way to the kitchen to find Pigwidgeon half-submerged in a large bowl of porridge. "You feathery little git," he muttered, pulling the miniscule owl from the bowl and wiping him clean with a tea towel. "Look," he said, throwing the tea towel aside, "This is for Hermione. And make it quick, this is important." He tied the letter to his leg and let him out the kitchen window. Friday couldn't come soon enough.
-
"Oof!" Pigwidgeon came barreling through the open window and landed on Ron's stomach, causing him to wake up abruptly. "Bloody bird..." he mumbled snatching the letter his owl was proudly displaying. "Go in the kitchen and see if mum'll make you anything...and try not to drown in it this time," he said as Pig flew happily down the hall. Ron tore open the letter and read:
Dear Ron,
Friday sounds great! Come around two o'clock in the afternoon. I can't wait to see you!
Hugs and kisses,
Hermione
He sighed happily. This was going to be a summer to remember.
-
"Ron, staring at the clock doesn't make time go faster, you know. Goodness, if anything it'll just go slower," Mrs. Weasley said impatiently from the kitchen.
"I just want to be on time," he said, tugging nervously on his t-shirt. His trunk was packed and sitting beside him as he sat anxiously on a chair in the living room. One-fifty-seven. He didn't want to show up before two o'clock...that might seem desperate. One-fifty-eight. He wanted to see her but he knew, if it were her, she would be patient. One-fifty-nine. He picked up his trunk and stood up.
"You'll send Pigwidgeon if you need anything, won't you?" his mother called. Shit...bloody Pig...the one thing he forgot. Ron dropped his things and bolted up the stairs, into his room. Sitting on his dresser was an empty cage but no Pigwidgeon. "Ruddy owl," he spat, looking under the bed. His room was a mess...he could be anywhere. Ron sat on his bed, heard a screech and jumped back up. A quivering lump under his bedspread told him he'd just sat on his owl. "Sorry," he said, lifting the covers to reveal a stunned Pigwidgeon. Ron stuffed him back in his cage and ran back downstairs. Two-oh-five. Perfect. "C'mon Pig, we're going on a little trip." Ron heaved his trunk into the fireplace, grabbed a handful of Floo powder and stepped inside. He dug around in his pocket for Hermione's address. He pulled out the slip of parchment, shouted, "Thirty-two Main Street, London!" and a burst of green flames erupted around him. Ron was so used to traveling by Floo powder that he'd gotten over the swirling, spinning sensation. The only part he didn't like was wh- THUD! His feet hit the hard ground and he tumbled out of Hermione's fireplace.
"Ron!" she cried, "Oh, are you alright?"
"Yeah, fine," he said, getting to his feet. She bent down to pick up his things but he grabbed hold of her wrist.
"Wha-?"
"Aren't you going to say 'hello'?" She smiled and got to her feet.
"Hello." Still clutching her wrist, he leaned in and kissed her on the lips.
"Hello to you too," he said, pulling away.
"Well!" she said quickly, "This is my living room as you can see..." Ron took the time to take in his surroundings. From where he was standing, the house looked awfully large for just three people and a cat. "And over here's the kitchen and dining room..." He abandoned his trunk at Pigwidgeon's cage to follow her. "And just down there's the loo," she motioned towards a closed door at the end of the hall. Ron gave a satisfied nod. "Do you want to see upstairs?"
"Sure."
"Right, then. C'mon." She turned and started marching up a large staircase beside the bathroom door. She was in her bare feet; Ron figured it was only polite to take his shoes off too. He kicked them off at the bottom of the stairs and followed her. "This," she said, opening a door, "is my room." Ron took one step in and laughed. Shelves upon shelves of books were crammed into her room along with the odd novel or textbook scattered across the floor.
"I knew you were into reading but bloody hell, Hermione! There's more selection in here than the school library," he joked. She gave him a playful slap on the arm and turned to leave.
"Over here," she said from the hallway, "is where you'll be sleeping." He followed her voice down the hall and found himself in a white room with Chudley Canons posters plastered all over the walls.
"How did y-"
"I got a little bored while you were still at your place, so I thought I'd do a bit of redecorating. You like?"
"It's perfect," he whispered, putting his arms around her waist. Being significantly shorter than him, she had to stand on her tiptoes to link her arms around his neck before pressing her lips to his...
"Hermione? We're home- oh my! What's all this in the living room and-" There was a loud shriek, a crash and Pigwidgeon came zooming up the stairs to perch himself on Ron's shoulder. Hermione sighed.
"Those are Ron's things, mum."
"Oh, Ron's here? Why were you two upstairs?"
"I was showing him his room."
"Well, come downstairs and say hello, dear." Hermione beckoned Ron to follow her downstairs. He obeyed. "Ronald! Such a pleasure to see you again." Hermione's mother said when they reached the bottom of the stairs. She grabbed his hand and shook it vigorously; apparently her idea of a friendly welcome. "And this is your owl is it? Sweet little thing..." she said, stroking Pigwidgeon's head.
"Mr. and Mrs. Granger," Ron said, "uh...listen, thanks for letting me stay and all. I know it must've been awkward seeing as Hermione and I- Ow!" Hermione had discreetly pinched the back of his arm. Hard.
"Hermione and you?"
"Seeing as Ron and I live so far apart," Hermione finished.
"Oh, no...no trouble at all, dear. You two must be hungry; I'll fix a snack." She gave them a quick smile and bustled to the kitchen.
"I'll take your things upstairs, Ron," Her father said, picking up Ron's trunk and cage. Hermione waited until he was out of earshot before turning to face Ron.
"What the bloody hell was that for?" he demanded, rubbing the spot where she'd pinched him.
"Look," she sighed. "My parents don't know we're together, alright?" He opened his mouth to protest but she stopped him. "If mum knew we were dating she'd have flipped."
"'I've gained their trust' she says, 'don't need to ask for anything anymore' she says," Ron said, mocking Hermione.
"I know, I know, but this is different. Just- just try to keep it hidden for a while, ok? I'll tell them soon...just not now." Ron sighed.
"Fine, I guess."
"Thanks."
"Wow, honey," her father called from upstairs, "Where'd you get all those moving pictures?"
"Ordered them by owl."
"Now those are neat!" he said, appearing at the bottom of the stairs.
"Dad's really fascinated by the wizarding world...finds it intriguing," Hermione explained.
"Our fathers should meet," Ron joked.
"Sweetheart!" her mother called, "I forgot to mention...your Uncle Tom called, he needs you to babysit Eric and Jeremy."
"What-? No!"
"Come now. Its only for a few days.
"Mum, no...please."
"Sorry, dear, I already told him you would. He's dropping them off tomorrow morning." Hermione groaned and turned to face Ron.
"Are you up for a challenge?" Ron didn't have the slightest clue who Eric and Jeremy were but judging by the tone of her voice it was going to be the 'few days from hell.' "Eric and Jeremy are my little cousins," she said through a sigh. "One's only a baby but the other...let's just say he's not your average kid."
"Oh c'mon, Hermione. He can't be that bad."
"Can you picture a five-year-old Fred or George?"
"Oh..."
"Exactly." Ron knew Hermione exaggerated when she was under pressure or aggravated...but he didn't protest. He merely smiled to himself at the thought of any five-year-old child being worse than Fred or George.
-
"Dinner was great, Mrs. Granger," Ron said cheerfully as he set his fork down on his plate.
"I'm glad you liked it, Ron," she said and turned to face Hermione, "Sweetheart, what's wrong? You haven't said a word all night." She stared at the table, picking glumly at her pasta.
"Nothing." Her mother sighed.
"Is it Eric and Jeremy?" Hermione slammed her fork down on the table.
"Yes! Mum, how could you just tell Uncle Tom I would do it? Ron just got here and now I'm stuck babysitting."
"I'm sorry, Hermione, but he was desperate. Listen, if you can tough it out for the next few days I promise no more interruptions to your summer, ok?"
"Fine..."
"Here, Ron, let me take your plate."
"Oh, its alright...I'll help." Ron grabbed his empty plate along with Hermione's and followed Mrs. Granger into the kitchen. Hermione and her father spent the following few minutes laughing as they watched Ron learn how to do dishes without magic.
After a night of talking and getting acquainted, Ron and Hermione finally said goodnight and started up the stairs. "I think my parents really like you," she said thoughtfully.
"You think?"
"Yep."
"That's good..."
"Well, I guess I'll see you in the morning."
"Good night," he said softly, placing a kiss on her lips. She pulled her face away quicker than he had hoped.
"Ron, I'm really, really sorry about this babysitting thing. I know it's only for a few days but-"
"Shhh..." he whispered pressing a finger to her lips, "as long as I'm here with you, I'm happy, alright?" He removed his finger and pressed his forehead against hers. "I love you." She smiled.
"I love you too, Ron. I'll see you in the morning."
"Night..."
chapter 2 is written just not typed yet...review plzzz!!! =)