Hey guys, sorry it took me so long to update, but I've had a lot on my plate these past couple of months, with coursework and modular exams, but they're out of the way now, so here we are! Please read and review, it means a lot to me. Some of this is rated PG-13 because of mild language.
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Maria – As you can see, yep I'm going to continue, sorry it took me so long last time! Hopefully it should be more often from now on.
Disclaimer – I do not own any of J. K.'s characters, nor am I the original author of the books!
Chapter 4 – Bouncing Ferrets
Later on, when everyone was settled around the dinner table, Harry leaned back in his chair and smiled at the laughter and chatter that was going on around him. This is what he had missed; at the Dursley's, it had been so quiet and kind of formal, but here, the hustle and bustle was what he loved. Suddenly, raised voices brought him out of his contemplations and, looking around, he realised that they came from Ron and Hermione at the other end of the table.
"We have OWLs this year, if you hadn't noticed, and if you want to make sure you get good grades, and if you want me to help you, you'd better start revising now!"
"Hermione, the OWLs are months away, we haven't even done any of the work for them yet! Anyway, who says I need you to get good grades! Who says I can't do it myself!" Ron's ears were bright red, and there was anger flashing in his eyes.
"Well you've always needed me before! Never listen to me do you, then you panic when the exams are a couple of weeks away, then it's 'Hermionnneee, can we copy your notes?' 'Hermione, can you check this for me!' You're pathetic, both of you!" here she flashed an angry look at Harry, who held his hands up in mock defence. "Well I'm sick of it! If you won't listen to me, then you can do it yourselves!" She flung her chair back and stormed out of the room, leaving a deflated Ron behind her. Shaking his head, he stalked out in the opposite direction, leaving the kitchen in an amused silence.
Catching Ginny and the twin's eyes, Harry laughed, listening to Ron stomping upstairs.
"Do you think they'll ever realise?"
"Oh Hermione already has, that's why she's so upset, it's Ron that's as thick as two short planks….have you tried speaking to him?"
Both Harry and the twins nodded. "Yeah, but he gets all defensive and starts babbling on about Viktor Krum."
Ginny sighed and glared at the ceiling. "He needs to get over himself!"
Harry nodded. "And in the mean time, I'm stuck having to make my own bloody notes! I mean, what the hell did I do!"
There was general laughter at this and Sirius and Remus, who had been watching the exchange with amusement, grinned.
"So Ron and Hermione like each other then?"
"Like each other! They're practically in love with each other, and the whole of Gryffindor has known since the end of the first year."
"And the whole of the school since the end of the second!"
Harry laughed as he remembered the look on Ron's embarrassed face as Hermione hugged him after she'd been petrified. By the looks on his friend's faces, the same image was in their minds.
"In third year, when they were so mad at each other…"
"Like an old married couple…"
"Drive everyone mad with their bloody bickering…"
"You don't have to hang around with them all the time, you should hear them…"
"Oh we do…"
"We need to do something."
"Like what?"
Fred and George's faces lit up and a mischievous grin spread over their faces. "Leave it with us."
"Hey, we want to be in it too!"
"You will be, we just need to do something first." With that, they scurried out of the room, looking very happy.
Mrs. Weasley narrowed her eyes as she watched them go, but sighed and shrugged her shoulders. At Harry's enquiring look she replied,
"I've given up with them. It's what they really want to do and I can't talk them out of it."
"Yeah, they've been up there most of the summer, they sound-proofed their room and won't come out unless it's for meals. I don't know where they got their money from though; it must have cost a fortune some of the stuff we've seen. They bought me and Ron new dress robes too!" Ginny paused seeing the grin on Harry's face. "What?"
Realisation dawned on several faces in the kitchen as Harry shrugged. Ginny folded her arms, struggling to suppress a grin.
"You gave them that money didn't you! From the Triwizard Tournament!"
Harry rolled his eyes. "I didn't need the money, and I thought we could all do with some laughs these next few years." He spoke lightly, but there was a slight heaviness to his tone that dared anyone to argue with him. "My only condition was that they bought Ron some new dress-robes." He shrugged, "It seems they do have a heart, as long as they didn't turn you bright yellow or set fire to your hair."
Ginny laughed, "They wouldn't have dared." Her face softened and she looked at Harry as if in a new light. "Thank you. You're right, we are going to need some laughs, and I know you've made Fred and George happy."
"Happy?" A voice exclaimed from the doorway. "They've been bouncing around like bloody rabbits all summer!"
"Or ferrets?"
Ron burst out laughing "Or ferrets."
"You calmed down a bit now then?"
"Yeah, sorry about that mate, you shouldn't have to suffer as well."
"Oh I won't I'll copy your notes instead!"
"I wouldn't trust my notes, the only reason I passed anything is because of Hermione!" Ron rolled his eyes and glanced around.
"I suggest you go and talk to her mate, otherwise we'll both fail our OWLs!" Harry smirked, avoiding Ginny's eyes.
Ron scowled, but glanced up at the ceiling and walked determinedly out of the door.
"Was that Ron Weasley? Did he actually listen to me?"
Ginny laughed, "I think he might have finally realised what a stupid git he really is."
