Authoress' Note: I'm about to go somewhere, so I apologize that I don't have the time to do individual shout-outs before I upload this. Maybe later? I'll give you all candy instead, and I'll say that you guys have given me so much encouragement and great advice and I just love reading your thoughts! You're all wonderful! So now I'll do one big thing: I'm am a devoted Ron/Hermione shipper and I think Harry/Hermione is of the debbil. I just want you all to know that.

No, no, no! It couldn't be happening. Not his best friend, not with Hermione. It was like riding the thestral all over again as Ron shot down toward them. . . expecting to do what? He sailed right through the lip-locked pair, feeling nothing but a blast of heat. He tumbled back into the air, mind spinning.

"What the-?" He stared down at his ends, pale and transparent. Bloody. . .

"You know you can't touch them," Jillie sang, still laughing. "You can't do anything about them!"

"I don't think there's a need," Percy put in solemnly.

And there wasn't. The kiss lasted approximately one second.

Hermione and Harry reeled back from one another in something akin to disgust. Hermione even had the audacity to wipe her mouth on the sleeve of her robe.

"Dang," Cornelia muttered.

Hands trembling, Harry took a deep breath. "Wow. I. . . I don't think that's going to work."

Hermione nodded vigorously. "No, it's not. That was stupid." She paused, staring at the floor. "No offense."

"None taken. Sorry about that."

"It's not your fault. But no more experimenting."

"Yeah." Harry sucked in more air, looking ready to faint. "Who's idea was that, anyway?"

She gave a weak shrug. "I don't know."

"Do you think anyone saw that?"

The first-years were still playing tag. One tripped over a book someone had left on the ground. Suffice it to say they were oblivious to the world.

Hermione glanced at Cornelia and Jillie. They were visible, Ron realized; it was getting difficult to tell whether other ghosts were visible to the living or not. Percy must be invisible, or Hermione would have certainly done something. As it was, only a distant expression came over her face, one he recognized for when she was thinking hard. But then it passed. "You won't say anything, will you?" she asked.

Jillie grinned and shook her head. Cornelia burst into flame, and Hermione screamed.

"Your secret's safe," Cornelia said from the midst of her fire.

Harry made a strange noise-choking back a laugh-as Hermione collapsed against the chair, eyes wide.

"I hate it when they do weird things," she gasped.

He didn't do any weird things, did he? Ron wondered. She wouldn't hate him as a ghost. . . no. He shut the thought from his mind. There would be no more appearing to Hermione. Once was enough. She wouldn't have any reason to freak out. Which was the most he could expect for her, he supposed. At least she wasn't snogging Harry. He stared at the two for a moment as Harry collected up the gob stones, then floated back up to Percy and the girls. "What just happened?"

"I thought your wonderful best friend was trying to steal your girlfriend," Percy began in bewilderment. "Which is hardly kind since you just died a few days ago. But. . . I'm really confused."

Cornelia, now flame-free, sighed dramatically as she dumped ashes from her satchel. "It's completely obvious-"

Jillie cleared her throat. "They're invisible," she whispered. "Hero boy and Ron's girlfriend are going to think you're talking to your-"

"They can hear you right now," Percy said tersely.

"For heaven's sake." Flames raced down Cornelia's arm. "I'm just going to go invisible then."

Ron watched carefully, expecting some subtle change. There was none.

"There. Now, as I was saying, Jillie."

Jillie smiled.

Percy sighed. "Get on with it."

"Now, as I was saying, it's completely obvious that Harry and Hermione are a little upset. Very upset."

"He did just die."

"Hush. Anyway, I take it the three of you were close, and now it's just those two. And they are friends and have at least those feelings-utterly platonic, of course-for each other. Perhaps they thought that them as a couple was the only solution, the only thing left since you were gone."

"Or perhaps a way to comfort each other," Jillie said thoughtfully as she watched Hermione and Harry. "Sometimes people, when they're in mourning, can be a little crazy."

Ron stared at both girls, not at all understanding what they were saying. "So they had to make out?"

"They didn't. . . "

"Well, they did kiss," said Percy.

Ron whirled at him, fuming. "And I suppose you think this is funny?"

Percy gazed back at him, calm. "In an ironic sort of way. You've fancied Hermione Granger for years, and yet Potter kisses her before you do."

And he never would kiss her. "It didn't last that long."

"So it goes from a full-blown snogging session to a little peck?"

There was something in Percy's expression, a subtle marking of evidence that whatever genes had gone to Fred and George might just have left an echo in other places. Yes, Ron thought, he was being made fun of again.

"You know, back outside, with the thestrals, I was actually having fun for awhile."

Percy almost laughed.

"You went back to the thestrals?" Jillie asked. She swooped to Ron, till her face was just inches from his. "Did you touch them again?"

"You saw the thestrals before?" Percy sounded almost hurt.

The thestrals again. . . Ron could imagine the one in the woods, probably choking on the snitch. What a delight. "That's why I said I knew they could be touched."

"You were surprised when you told me about it," Jillie whined, turning away from Ron so fast her cloak whipped his face.

"Well. . . They're just thestrals."

"You didn't talk to me about them." Cornelia's turn to complain.

"That's because you're a Ravenclaw ghost while Ron and I are Gryffindor ghosts."

Now he was a house ghost. Wonderful.

"So Gryffindor is better than Ravenclaw?"

Ron returned his attention to Harry and Hermione, who now sat on chairs-separate chairs-talking quietly so he could barely hear them over the girls' argument. Something about a wave of cold just after the kiss-that-didn't-happen. He felt heat, and they felt cold. What was that supposed to mean? But that pondering didn't stay with him long. As he watched them, sitting feet apart, all he could see was that kiss. So it hadn't been a real one. So there was nothing to worry about. Was there? What Percy had said was correct: Harry had kissed Hermione first. That wasn't fair.

"What's not fair?" Jillie asked. She was using Cornelia's own hood in an attempt to suffocate the other girl.

He hadn't realized he had spoken aloud. "Er. . . "

"Your friends?"

"Yes. They're just friends." That was the truth. "They don't like each other like that. Never did."

"Ron, we just discussed this," Percy said.

"So Harry can't kiss anyone?" Jillie pouted.

Harry kissing? He had admitted to snogging Cho, two years before. "I never said that."

With a snarl, Cornelia managed to rip her head back. "Ron, we're very sorry. We shouldn't have made you watch that." She smiled. "But it was entertaining for us. And you're right; I can't see those two together. Even though I knew they were going to kiss."

"Which is why we came and got you," said Jillie.

"But Harry. . . I feel bad for him. I'm in Ravenclaw, I don't know what goes on here. Does he have a girlfriend?"

None since Cho. Ron shook his head, wondering what Cornelia was getting at.

Percy hovered back, watching Harry and Hermione with only mild interest. "Ron's been trying to set him up with our sister Ginny for years."

"That's not true!"

"Well, maybe not set them up per say, but. . ." Percy sighed and shook his head. "You were as protective of Ginny as the rest of us. So you never said or even did anything. But I heard Mum talking about it sometimes. . . before I left. She reckoned it was sweet, that you wouldn't let anyone date Ginny. Except, of course, your best friend."

Ron opened his mouth, prepared to deny it. But Percy was right. Right again, in that sniveling ability he had to detect everything that went on. The ultimate prefect. And he was right about Ginny. All the weird boyfriends she had gone through-well, Dean Thomas had been all right, but that Michael Corner. . . Ron had hated him without knowing him. It had to be a natural big brother instinct, to protect a little sister. Now that he thought about it, the only guy he could imagine dating Ginny without desiring to rip his head off was Harry. He closed his mouth and stared at the floor.

"That is so sweet!" Cornelia exclaimed, fresh fire licking the edges of her cloak. She brushed them away, a smile near filling her face. "So are you going to finish?"

"Finish what?"

Jillie and Cornelia exchanged significant looks, then broke into laughter.

"I have no interest in being part of whatever you're plotting," Percy said darkly.

"No, no, it's not really a plot, exactly," Jillie replied, shaking her head. "But Harry Potter does need a girlfriend, especially since he's attempting to court his friend. Quite pathetic."

It sounded like a plot to Ron; he just couldn't figure out exactly what it entailed. Percy, however, seemed to understand almost immediately. He gawked at Jillie and Cornelia, glasses nearly falling as he jerked around.

"You want that murderer to be Ginny's boyfriend?"

Ron had another urge to hit him. "He's not a murderer!"

Percy snorted. "He let you die."

No, that wasn't true. Harry had not let him die. He hadn't even been supposed to be following Harry to the cemetery. It was suddenly hard to remember, that night. Harry had told him to run, and he had, technically. And he had managed to at least distract Voldemort during the process. "It was my own fault!"

"Ginny doesn't think so."

Now that was true, from what Ron had seen of his sister. "She. . ." He couldn't think of a response.

Jillie frowned thoughtfully. "That might make things harder."

"You're still going through with this?" Percy asked.

"Of course! It sounds like fun, and we haven't done anything like it forever."

The actuality of their plot suddenly hit Ron. "You want to set them up?!"

Every eye turned to stare at him.

"Yes, Ron, we want to set them up," Jillie stated, somewhat amused. "It's fun for us. And we haven't gotten to do it for a few decades."

Cornelia nodded happily. "Another game of Cupid. What was the last couple we did? It was more you, it always is. They were in your house, Jillie, that redhead and that boy that practically stalked her?"

"Now they were adorable, once she stopped hating him." Jillie laughed. "We'll need your help, you do realize."

"But. . . ." Mortal fear struck Ron. "But I don't know if. . ."

A growling sound issued from Percy's throat as he readjusted his glasses. "I'm not being part of some matchmaking game. Especially not with Potter."

"What do you have against him?" Ron snapped.

"A lot," he shot back. "Besides, I think we have more important things to worry about than some girls' slumber party fetish." He held up his right hand, cloak sleeve slipping down to reveal the rope. "I don't know if you've forgotten about these, Ron, but I would like them off."

Of course. Ron gazed at his own rope. "I want them off, too."

"Good."

Ron waited, expecting more. "Do you have any more ideas?"

". . . no."

Jillie was rambling on about something, so loudly it surprised Ron that her voice hadn't carried through whatever invisibility process hid them. "We should get what's-her-face to help. That drowning victim. Prudence Tootenbawker, I believe her name was. She's in your house, Cornelia. Cornelia?"

Cornelia was watching Ron and Percy. "Huh?"

Percy stared back at her a moment, then turned away, a silvery blush slowly going over his face.

"I think we should make Prudence Tootenbawker should help," Jillie said more testily.

"Her?" Cornelia frowned. "I don't dare speak to her. She's. . ."

"You never speak to anyone I don't know. What about her?"

"She's a psychopath! She's mean!" Cornelia shook her head. "Do you have any idea what name she likes to be called by?"

"Oh, yes. Dream Oracle."

"Dream Oracle?" Ron repeated. "What kind of name is that?"

"Dream. Oh, yeah." Percy frowned. "She's a Ravenclaw. Drowned in the lake about twenty-something years ago."

"I think she was pushed," Cornelia said delicately. "But I don't dare talk to her. She's. . . I don't want her helping. We've never used her before."

Jillie sighed. "Fine. I don't care. Well, start throwing ideas at me."

"You can go to the spirit world."

Jillie stared. "What good will that do?"

Cornelia blushed. "I mean. . . Percy and Ron. You could get help there."

"Sir Nick did mention some council," Percy agreed.

"Yeah, and he also mentioned someone would be in this world," Ron said. "The spirit world? Isn't that full of. . .ghosts?"

"And what are we here?"

"But. . . it's the world of the dead."

"Ron." Percy's voice slipped into his classic prefect tone. "That's what you are. Cornelia, do you know anything about it?"

She shrugged. "I never bothered to go."

"Can we return to the Cupid game?" Jillie asked impatiently.

Ron glared at her. It took him a moment to realize that Percy was glaring as well. "I don't want to get involved."

"That's what you say now," she said with a wink. "Oh, well. Have fun getting to the spirit world. Cornelia, I think I have an idea." She soared to the other side of the common room, her oversized cloak trailing behind her like a floating silver curtain.

Curtain. . .

"Good luck," Cornelia said before joining Jillie.

Percy swore under his breath and shook his head. "Well, that was exciting. Watching Harry and Hermione kiss and listen to girls plotting."

"Please don't mention the kiss." The image shot back before his eyes, and he shuddered.

"Sorry. So now what? Who do you think we should talk to about the spirit world?"

Percy was actually asking him for advice. Ron thought he'd never see the day. "I don't care."