To my lone reviewer for Chapter 6 - wonderbats - thanks for you kind review! It made me smile (and write two more chapters!) So without further ado...here is Chapter 7...with Chapter 8 soon to come. Anyone reading this, please review...it makes me happy :)

Just Thought You Should Know Part 2

Harry spent the remainder of the afternoon wandering around outside and thinking. He supposed Ron actually was right and he should have just told Hermione how he was feeling when he had her alone. Who knew when that would happen again at the Weasley household! Soon, he realized it was getting dark and started making his way back to the house for dinner.

"Harry Potter!" exclaimed Mr. Weasley, "Good to see you, my boy, good to see you. Staying out of trouble this summer?" His eyes twinkled at Harry with the mischievous way he had about him.

"Yes, sir," Harry replied as he shook Mr. Weasley's hand, "And it's good to see you , as well. How are things going down at the Ministry?"

"Well, you know…lots to clean up there these days…but, all things considered, it could be going much worse!"

Harry didn't really like that answer. It seemed to him that it was just a fancy way of saying things weren't really going well at all.

"Now, now, don't worry Harry with business down at the Ministry," chided Mrs. Weasley. "Besides, dinner is on the table!"

Dinner itself was quite uneventful, other than the fact that anytime Harry tried to catch Hermione's eye, she averted her glance as though his gaze burned her. Even though he didn't want to see her uncomfortable, the predicament she appeared to be in cheered him because it seemed to justify Ron's prediction about how she was feeling. He just hoped he'd have the chance to get to her after dinner…

He got a little discouraged when he couldn't find her anywhere after dinner. Neither Ron nor Ginny knew where Harry could find her, and he surely wasn't asking Mrs. Weasley after all the knowing looks she had been giving him since breakfast. He looked up at the stars as he walked along and was so preoccupied in his thoughts he didn't even notice where his feet were carrying him. He only stopped and looked around when he heard somebody crying softly nearby and realized he was in the spot he and Hermione had been in earlier in the afternoon.

"…Hermione?" he asked, tentatively - he didn't want to startle her.

She looked up at him, and even with the tear streaks running down her face he knew she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Her eyes were shining still with tear left unshed, and he had to struggle to swallow the lump that came up in his throat.

"Harry," she said, struggling to wipe her face clean. Leave it to Hermione to try to act like nothing is wrong, he thought. "What are you doing out here?" Her voice was slightly husky from crying, and he wondered fleetingly just how long she had been sitting outside.

He realized it was getting chilly outside and put his sweatshirt around her shoulders. She shivered, but hugged it close to her as if it were a lifeline and she were drowning. He knew he had to take action, because if he didn't he'd never get the courage up again. "Actually," he whispered, "I was looking for you."

Harry hoped he didn't imagine the look of relief on Hermione's face when he said that. He sat down next to her and they sat in silence for a couple of minutes. Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity, she said, "I was hoping you would come." Hearing the hesitation in her voice as she said it and seeing the trepidation in her eyes was all he needed to do what he was about to do next.

He grinned at her shyly and took her hand. "Hermione…er, there's something I've been wanting to talk to you about all day - and it's not getting any easier the longer I wait." Harry looked up at her and saw a loose strand of hair falling down over her forehead. Okay, he thought, this is it. He took the lock of hair and gently tucked it back behind her ear where it belonged and the next thing he said was so quiet she wasn't even sure she had heard him properly. " 'Mione…I've been wanting to say that I - er, well…I…" Harry was horrified that he couldn't even get the words out of his mouth.

Uncertainly, he glanced away nervously and then back at Hermione, who, to his great surprise was smiling. It was a wavery sort of smile…but it was still a smile. "Oh Harry," she replied, "I never thought you'd tell me."

Harry had no idea what she was going on about - he didn't tell her anything! However, then she reached down and took his hand and leaned her head back on his shoulder and he figured whatever she had gotten out of what he said couldn't be all that bad. This is why it's a good thing it's Hermione you fancy, he thought, who else would be that perceptive?

"Actually," Harry answered (still a bit uncertainly), "I probably wouldn't have, but I had a talk with Ron this afternoon that changed my mind."

She stared at him in disbelief and thought, even if I was that transparent, what could Ron possibly tell Harry that made him think differently? What she said was "I didn't really think it was common knowledge…but I guess he knows us pretty well."

"Knows us? I wouldn't think it would be that difficult to figure out, seeing as how you told him about how you felt and all."

At those words Hermione felt nothing at first but utter confusion - then as the realization of what must have taken place hit her she grew absolutely livid with anger. She snapped back up from where she had been leaning, stood up as quickly as possible, and stood facing him with her hands on her hips. "Oh really?" she hissed through clenched teeth. "And what exactly did Ron tell you about my feelings?"

Somehow I've made a horrible mess of things already - and it's only been 5 mintues! Harry thought as he groaned inwardly. "Well, ah…it seems that I…er…can't exactly remember what Ron said…but something about the Yule Ball, and…ah maybe something about you liking me then…but that's it!" He couldn't understand what she was so mad about since she was the one that had told Ron these things.

Ever since he started talking, Hermione's face just kept getting redder and redder. Actually, he was wondering when it would stop - it was turning a color he had never seen before and it was kind of scary.

"You can tell Ron," she spat out mercilessly, "that I'm looking for him if you see him…I have to tell him a thing or two he doesn't already know!"

With those words hanging in the air she flounced off towards the Weasley house, leaving Harry speechless and wondering what the hell just happened.