Hmm... Well, I see that no one else has replied yet... Oh, well. The key to getting reviews is to post more, so here it is. (I'll post more as soon as I get at least two more replies or on Friday... Whichever comes first, so please leave me a review!)

Chapter 3: What's Beauteous?

Ron led Hermione up the stairs, carrying her heavier items. "So what have you been doing these past couple of weeks? he inquired.

"Absolutely..... nothing! Isn't it exciting?" Hermione replied excitedly, with obvious sarcasm in her voice.

Ron smiled. "Same here."

For a moment they just stood there looking at each other, smiling. Finally, Hermione broke the silence. "So, which room will I be staying in?"

"Percy's old room. Mum's turned it into a guest room after Percy cleared his stuff out. She was depressed before, but now with all his stuff gone, she seems more..... cheery. Think it might be because all the bad memories aren't really here now that the room has been redone. 'Course, she doesn't like the fact that she's in a fight with one of her children, but still. 'Least she's in a better mood for once. It's pretty nice in there, I think you'll like it," Ron finished as they reached Percy's deserted room. They dumped the luggage on the bed and the floor, depending on the item's size.

Hermione looked around the room at the new styling. It was definitely different from when Percy was here. When he had been living there, the room was very plain, just bits of parchment and his schoolbooks lying about. Nothing very interesting. But now the room had a certain feeling to it, a warm, cheery feeling. Hermione enjoyed it very much, but she decided it would possibly need some changes if she was to be staying here for the rest of the holiday

It had been a couple of minutes until Ron finally sat up and spoke. "Damn that was heavy! What in Merlin's name do you have in there?"

Hermione smirked. "Honestly, Ron. Do you really think I wouldn't bring my normal belongings and my school things with me when I'm going to be here for so long?" she replied smartly.

Ron just glared at her with a look that told her that he didn't much appreciate her comment.

"What," said Hermione, starting to put on a babyish tone, "was the wittle bags too heavy for poor wittle Ronnikins?" She giggled.

Ron's glare became more intense and Hermione's smile and chuckles faded slightly. The look on Ron's face was very serious and to Hermione, it was actually almost scary.

"You're dead Granger," he said threateningly.

Hermione was shocked by this comment and she didn't know what to say. But then she realized something. "Oh, really?" she said somewhat flatly. Still with her serious voice she said, "Well, I guess you'll have to catch me first then, won't you?" Then she jumped off the bed and bounded into the hallway and down the stairs.

She had realized that Ron had obviously only been joking, but she didn't feel that she would make it too easy for Ron to "kill" her, as he put it. Usually in a situation of that sort he would tickle her until she nearly wet herself or something of the sort and Hermione didn't feel much like having to change today.

As she heard Ron's running steps behind her she picked up her speed a little bit, it was a long way down the stairs seeing as they were a few floors up. She laughed as she peered around her shoulder and saw Ron coming after her with his competitive grin on his face. When Hermione hit the landing, she grabbed the post and swung herself off of the steps and landed in the kitchen. She then ran out of the door into the back yard, the door swinging shut behind her. She hid in the flowerbed right next to the house and waited for Ron to come out. Ron stepped out of the house very quietly, as if trying to sneak up on Hermione.

"As if he could actually sneak up on me," Hermione thought to herself.

He peered around in confusion, looking for Hermione. She got to her feet very quietly, and silently tip-toed over to Ron, whose back was turned on her. "Gotch'ya!" she said as she began to tickle Ron in the sides.

Ron jumped in surprise and turned to face her, laughing as her fingers titillated his sides. "You little sneak," Ron said with difficulty as he was laughing so hard from the tickling. Then, he seemed to regain his wits and turned on Hermione, tickling her in return.

Hermione screamed in playful surprise. They were both becoming so weak in the sides and ribs that they fell to the ground. There they lay side by side, panting and out of breath. Ron smiled as he looked into they sky. It was a very beautiful night.

There had just been rain early that morning and the left over clouds still hung around in the sky without a purpose. The setting sun cast an array of colors across the evening sky, with pinks and purples and blues, all blending together to make one of the prettiest sights that either of them had ever seen.

"It's quite a nice night, isn't it?" commented Ron, breaking the peaceful silence. He rolled on his side to look at Hermione.

"Yes, it's beauteous out," she replied. At the questioning look on Ron's face, she explained, "Beauteous is a word that my grandpa and mom always use. I absolutely love that word; it can sum up so many things in life. Do you know what I mean?"

"Yeah," said Ron looking at Hermione adoringly," I know exactly what you mean."

Hermione looked up at him when he had put the emphasis on the word exactly, because she noticed he seemed to be looking somewhat dazed as he said it. She looked up into his soft amber eyes and smiled bashfully. "Was he talking about me?" she wondered silently to herself, somewhat pleased by the thought.

"Ron, w-" Hermione was suddenly cut off by the sound of Mrs. Weasley calling them inside the house for dinner.

"Come along now, dears," Hermione heard the voice calling from a spot that seemed to be quite close by. Ron instantly rolled off of Hermione. He got up and lightly brushed himself off. Hermione was a bit embarrassed about what had just happened, but she tried not to show it when Ron offered her his hand to help her up. They walked almost silently to the house, not really saying much, being that they really didn't know what to say.