Ch 3- To the Burrow at Last

Ron woke at 9:00a.m. He rolled over to look at his clock, wondering why he was awake so early. It took him a moment to remember why and then he jumped out of his bed and got in the shower. After a good twenty minutes, Ron dried himself and put on his favorite t-shirt and jeans. He tucked in his shirt and began to comb his hair to the side. Then realizing how ridiculous he looked, he muttered "What am I doing?" to himself. He then ruffled his hair (careful to not make it too messy) and un-tucked his shirt. Then he heard a banging on the door and his sisters voice.

"Ron! You've been in there nearly an hour!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming! Gimme a minute would ya?"

"Ron, no! You don't understand! I'm going to wet myself if you don't get out this instant!"

"Oh," Ron said nonchalantly opening the door, "why didn't you say so?" Ginny shoved him out of the way without a word, ran into the loo and slammed the door quickly behind her. Ron then strolled down to the kitchen to find his bacon and eggs already on the table ready to be eaten.

He sat down and began to eat.

"Good morning dear," his mother said, "my, you're up early today!"

"Yeah well I figured I better wake up before Hermione got…here…" he said without realizing it. Then quickly changing the subject said, "How's she getting here anyways?"

"Your father hooked up their fireplace to the floo network temporarily. I think I'll go get her now. Want to come?"

"Oh…er…no thanks…I just took a shower." stammered Ron. This was true. He didn't really want to be covered in soot when Hermione saw him again after not seeing him all summer.

Ron ate his breakfast slowly. His stomach felt weird and he didn't know why. "I do know why" he thought "No! It's not because I like Hermione! It's…it's because I'm not used to getting up this early!" He reassured himself. "Why," he then found himself thinking am I up this early?" Just then, a green flame appeared in the fireplace. His stomach gave another lurch. His mother stepped out with a big trunk. Ron stood up and walked nearer to the fireplace as another green flame appeared along with a curly, chestnut brown haired girl. "Wow" Ron thought "She's even prettier than I saw her last!" For Hermione's bushy hair had died down into light bouncy curls.

"Ron!!" Hermione shrieked. She ran over and hugged him tightly. The feeling in Ron's stomach lessened to his surprise. It just felt right holding Hermione in his arms.

"Oh I've missed you so much!"

"Yeah, you too!" Ron said. Then Ginny came running down the stairs.

"Hermione!" She squealed. Hermione was forced to let go of Ron.

"We have so much to catch up on!" Ginny said hugging Hermione.

"Ginny, what could there be to catch up on I haven't been gone that long!" But Hermione knew that it seemed like an eternity before she would see Ron again back at her house.

"I know, but still!" Ginny exclaimed

"What have you been up to?" Hermione laughed. Ron just stood to the side grinning.

"I love your hair Hermione!" Ginny said

"Thanks! I found this shampoo that brings back your natural hair. This is how it used to be, until I turned about ten."

"Did you eat breakfast yet dear?" asked Mrs. Weasley

"No actually I didn't yet!" Hermione knew that Mrs. Weasley was a very good cook and had intentionally waited until she arrived at the burrow to eat.

"Well, come on, I've got plenty! Ronald you didn't finish yours. Here come and eat with Hermione." Ron and Hermione obeyed and sat down at the kitchen table along with Ginny.

"So what did you do this past summer Hermione?" asked Ron. "Besides homework I mean." Hermione stuck a playful tongue out at him and grinned.

"Well, me and my Mum went into London and bought a bunch of new clothes for breaks and weekends this year at school for me."

"Ooh! You'll have to show me!" Ginny said. Hermione smiled. Ron just shook his head smiling still.

"And my dad took me on a fishing charter, and I caught this really big fish, big enough to keep, but I didn't think it was fair, so I let it free."

"What's a fishing charter?" Ron asked

"You go on a boat and you take a fishing pole-a flexible pole with a hook and worm at the end of it," she said seeing Ron and Ginny's confused look at the word "fishing pole", "and you throw the line that's attached to the pole in the water and wait for a fish to bite the worm. Then you pull the pole up and the fishes lip gets caught on the hook and you pull it up all the way." Ron grimaced.

"I don't blame you for letting it go." He said filling his fork up with eggs. Hermione shrugged her shoulders and continued eating. They continued sharing their summer with each other for the rest of the day until finally heading up for bed.