Chapter 6-
It was after breakfast the next morning. Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione were busy helping Mrs. Weasley clean up all the dishes from breakfast. Suddenly, Fred came bursting into the kitchen. "Mum! Mum, Katie's just owled me! Her folks have given her permission to stay here for the rest of the summer. She'll arrive here sometime around eleven." Fred exclaimed, sounding out of breath. "Excellent! My side've the table's got one extra seat, so she'll have to sit there. And since we've no more available rooms, she'll have to share with Ginny and Hermione." Mrs. Weasley said, turning to the girls, who beamed. She pointed her wand at a chart that was hanging on the wall across from her chair at the table. It was a chart that looked like this:
Weasley Family & Friends Chores Chart
Mr. Weasley
Mrs. Weasley
Charlie
Bill
Percy
Fred
George
Ron
Ginny
Harry
Hermione
Katie
Hermione and Harry had been added that morning, but Katie had just been added. The chart showed certain chores that each person had to do. When complete, the person had to write what time, what chore, where it was completed, in what room, on what day. Mrs. Weasley had thought up of the chart herself. Harry placed a dirty wash-rag in the sink by the door, and then checked off his chore. "Mrs. Weasley, Ginny and I have completed our morning chores. May we go upstairs now?" he asked. Mrs. Weasley looked over at the chart, and nodded. Harry and Ginny went upstairs. "Fred, we need to talk about a few things." Mrs. Weasley said, escorting her son into the living room. Hermione and Ron were left alone in the kitchen. Hermione's khaki pants and black turtle-neck were matching with her glimmering black earrings and and black sneakers. She had straightened her hair, so that it wasn't bushy anymore, and had applied a small amount of make-up to her face. Ron was so caught up in his thoughts, he didn't notice Hermione turn to look at him. "Ron, are you okay? You look sick." She came over and put her hand to his forhead. "Yup, you're running a fever. Go and lie down, and I'll bring you a cold compress for it." Hermione said, pushing him towards the living room. Wow! She touched me, she actually touched me! I think I could learn to grow on that gesture. Ron thought lying down on the couch. Hermione came in, her white body apron only on her waist now. She knelt down beside Ron, placing a cold cloth on his forhead, and stroking his head. "Feels better already." Ron said with a smile. Hermione looked longily into his baby blue eyes, still stroking his head...
Ron awoke with a start. He was still in the living room, lying on the couch. On the table behind him, their was his cold compress from the previous day, and a glass of water. 'That Hermione.' he thought. Ron got up from the couch, and sleepily walked into the kitchen. Hermione, Ginny, and Mrs. Weasley were busy making breakfast, while Harry was setting the table. Hermione and Mrs. Weasley turned to see Ron. "Well, it's nice to see you're up and running." Mrs. Weasley said, turning back to the stove as Hermione walked over. She placed her hands on his cheeks and kissed him on the forhead. Then she ran a hand through his hair, and went back to help Ginny butter the toast. Hermione quickly turned back around and flashed a smile at him, her straightened brown hair flying to the side. She was wearing a black mini-skirt, a hot pink half-sleeve shirt, and her black and hot pink sandals. Her hair was in a french braid with a hot pink hair ribbon. Ron came over as his mother kissed him on the cheek. Then he went over and planted a kiss on-top of Ginny's head. She put her hand on his cheek, just to say good morning. "So, what's for breakfast?" he asked, grabbing all the cups and putting them on the table. "Bacon and eggs, toast, gritts, sausage, and fruit. Along with milk, orange-liquid and water." Mrs. Weasley said. Fred suddenly came rushing downstairs. "Alright everyone, Katie's here! Now keep- you know, straight." Fred said. He ran over to the door and opened it. Katie Bell, a girl about 6 inches shorter than Fred, long, dirty blonde hair in a french braid, wearing a black mini-skirt, a yellow half-sleeve shirt, black and yellow sandals, and a yellow hair ribbon, was standing at the door. She was holding a leather suitcase. Fred pulled her into a hug, and then kissed her on the cheek. "Katie, we're happy you could come." Mrs. Weasley said, motioning for her to come in. Fred took her suitcase as she came over. "It's good to see you again, Mrs. Weasley. Harry, Hermione, Ginny, Ron." she said, waving at them all. Fred carried her suitcase upstairs. "So, is there anything I can do to help? It all smells great." she said. She held out her arms for Ginny to come into them. The two were now great friends, and had re-united. Hermione handed Katie a half apron, which she put on. Ginny was of course, wearing her 'Momma's Girl' half apron over her black mini-skirt. She was also wearing a baby blue half-sleeve shirt and black and baby blue sandals, and her hair was in a french braid, like Hermione's and Katie's, with a baby blue hair ribbon. "Well, we're just about done. Fred, George, and their brothers will be down soon, but Mr. Weasley's already at work." Mrs. Weasley said, placing two bowls of gritts at each end of the table. "You'll be sitting on my side of the table, across from Fred." she said, pointing to Katie's seat. "Oh, and don't forget to-" "Mark off my chores. Yes, Fred's already informed me. I think I'll catch on fast." Katie said.
After breakfast, Katie, Hermione and Ginny had gone for a stroll. Fred, Ron, and Harry found the girls out by the pond. "Well, if it isn't the clothes-copying trio." Fred said with a snigger. All three girls had their sandals off and were throwing bread crumbs to the ducks. Katie turned around to find Fred grabbing her. They bent down, embracing in a long, wet kiss. When Fred realesed, not pulling up, Katie stroked his head. Hermione came over to Ron, stroking his head and putting her fingers through his gingery red hair. "Oh Ron, this place is so beautiful." she said. "Well, if you like this spot, shall we call it ours?" Hermione nodded. Ron flicked off his sandals, and they went off for a stroll, alone. Ron put his arm around her shoulder, kissing her on the cheek. "Ron, I'm really glad that I was able to stay here. I mean, I do love my parents and my house back in the muggle world; but I just feel so much, you know, safer here." she said. "Yeah. I mean, it is the wizarding world, and you're a witch. So I can understand that you feel safer." Ron said. They came to the front of the quidditch pitch. "Bet Charlie and Bill miss quidditch. What do ya reckon?" he asked, as they climbed up into the one stand they had. Hermione nodded. She stood up in the stands, and held her arms out, her eyes closed. "Hermione, what're-" "Shhhhhh." Ron kept quiet, trying to figure out what Hermione was doing. "Don't you ever just take some time to stop and feel life's air? I mean, it's so. . . peaceful." she said. She sat back down next to Ron, who gave her a strange look. "What? Feeling life's air calms me down, and just opens up my soul." she said. They left the stands in dead silence, hand in hand.