Days passed in Grimmauld Place, and if it weren't for the Order meetings, sneaking up to hear what's new, and talking Ginny, Harry thought it could be as boring as Privet Drive.
The one thing that was surprising was that Ron had stopped bickering with Hermione, and when she tried to get a reaction out of him, he would just ignore her, or change the subject. When she wasn't looking Ron's way though, he watched her with a calculating expression. Harry knew that Ron was up to something, but only time would tell what it was. Fred and George popped occasionally by, either for Order meetings (because they were officially Order members now), or to stir things up a bit when they felt things were getting too quiet.
Two weeks after Harry had left Privet Drive, after dinner one night, he sat alone in his room, waiting for Ron to come up for bed. He hadn't that much trouble sleeping now. Though he spent half the night laying on his bed with his eyes opened, listening to Ron's snore, he dozed off when dawn came, unfortunately to wake up a couple of hours later. He was watching Hedwig eating some owl treats when Ron entered the room with a smug look on his face, and lied on his bed. Before Harry could ask him what was going on, someone knocked.
Hermione came in looking at her friends, "Good, you're not asleep yet," she walked and sat on Ron's bed, as he moved and stood upright.
Harry couldn't help but notice Ron's look. He had never seen him looking at Hermione like this before. He looked like he was sizing her up. Harry turned back to her, "You wanted to talk about something?" he asked.
"It's about Ginny. She's been acting really strange lately. She's her normal self most of the time, but I've found her several times crying alone in her room."
Harry knew why Ginny was crying so much. She had told him in one of the many conversations they had. After he had come back from the Dursleys, he and Ginny spent many evenings talking about Sirius in the library. Harry felt she was the only one that didn't feely sorry for him. He was relieved for that, after the irritably sympathetic looks Mrs.Weasley was shooting his way every time he fell quiet. Ginny was afraid since Sirius died, that anyone could be next, at worst someone she loved. He turned his attention backto Hermione.
"…So I thought, that if her brother was interested, he could talk to her…" she said, shooting irritating glances at Ron, who suddenly moved towards her.
He wrapped one arm around her waist, and he moved his head so that his lips were inches away from her cheek. He was blushing, mildly smiling, but his voice came out perfectly steady, " I'll go talk to her, love, don't worry," his other hand moved to her chin, and turned her to look at him, "Alright?"
Hermione looked thunderstruck. She looked at him for a few minutes, speechless, her cheeks turning a bright pink, and then with the same flustered expression on her face, nodded and walked out of the room.
Harry tried hard not to laugh, but he couldn't. He reached for his pillow, and pressed it on his face to drown the roars of laughter, that surged him. When he calmed down, he stood up right to look at Ron, "What are you trying to do exactly? Act like Lockhart?" he asked still laughing.
"No," answered Ron, turning a perfect Weasley-red, "I'm trying to push her to the edge. You see, she was surprised just now, but she liked what I did. I'll keep doing so until she spills her little secret to me . Just a way of getting back at her, I think, amongst achieving other things," he said, looking proud of his plan.
"Mate, I think that: a) You're out of your mind, b) you're not the playboy type, and c) you've really fallen for her, and as she has too, it might actually work. Anyway, I'm sure I'm going to enjoy the show!" Harry put his hands behind his head; still smiling at the murderous looks Ron shot him.
Harry woke the next day, feeling confused. He had seen a weird dream, much like the ones he had of the Department of Mysteries, but this was different. He couldn't remember exactly what it was, but he knew he had seen a forest.. Getting dressed he forgot all about it, though. He walked downstairs, to find the Weasley's having breakfast, Ron sitting next to a blushed Hermione. He smiled at them, and sat next to Ginny. He felt his heart fluttering when she smiled at him, and he returned the smile.
As he reached for a piece of toast, a flash of golden light burst in the air in front of them making Hermione shriek. Three envelopes tied to a golden phoenix feather, bearing the Hogwarts crest fell in the middle of the table. They all froze and looked at the letters, afraid to reach for them. Hermione looked terrified. They knew that inside those envelopes were their O.W.L. results.
After a minute, Mrs. Weasley spoke, "Go on then, open them," she looked anxious at the three of them.
"You first Hermione," Harry and Ron said in unison.
She picked up her letter, and opened it, her hands trembling noticeably. Her eyes ran through the lines, and then she frowned. Harry's heart skipped a bit. If Hermione received bad marks, how would he have done?
Hermione put down the letter, and looked at Ron, "I got an "E" in Astronomy," she exclaimed, as Ron grabbed her letter.
"Hermione, you got straight "O's" in everything else! You've got ten O.W.L.'s! You've passed everything!" he declared, looking at the piece of parchment in awe.
"Your turn, Ronald," said Mrs. Weasley smiling broadly at Hermione. Ron let down her letter, and hesitantly, picked up his own. Harry felt his palms sweating, as his best friend read the letter. If Ron had done bad, then he would probably done the same, if not worse.
Ron looked up at his mother, slightly smiling, "Nine," he said simply, waiting for her reaction.
Mrs. Weasley grinned, and then flung her arms around her son's neck, "Oh, Ron dear, you did really well…oh, I can't believe it, well done," she released her son, wiping a few tears from her eyes, and he stared at Hermione smiling, before turning to Harry, "Go on mate, it can't be that bad!"
Harry wiped his sweaty hands on his jeans, and picked up the letter. Opening it he read the results. He had done better, much better than he had thought in the first place, "I've got nine too," he said looking at Ron, and smiled.
"Well done mate!" Ron exclaimed, as Hermione and Mrs. Weasley both hugged him at the same time.
When they released him, he smiled at them, straightening his glasses, and feeling happy he had done so well. He turned to look at Ginny and his stomach did a back flip. She was smiling warmly at him, her beautiful eyes twinkling. He couldn't resist. He wrapped his arms around her, and spinned around holding her. They all laughed, until he let her down. He looked at her and smiled. She is so beautiful he thought, and turned around to look at the others. Ron was smiling, but looking at him puzzled. Immediately, Harry felt his face warming up, he got carried away and now Ron would ask him about it. Why did I have to hug her , he thought, but the answer came instantly from inside him. Because you're in love with her, and you couldn't resist to share this with her. … No, no, I'm not, I can't be in love with her
Hermione interrupted his thoughts, "So what marks did you get?" she asked anxiously looking at her two best friends.
"Well, I got E's in Care of Magical Creatures, History of Magic, and Herbology, A's in Potions, Divination and Astronomy, O's in Charms, Transfiguration and Defense Against the Dark Arts," Ron replied, looking at his letter, " It's great, but I can't go for an Auror now, because of the Potion's mark. Snape won't accept me in the class," Ron's smile was gone, and was replaced now by a small frown, "Well, I guess, I should think of something else I fancy doing."
Harry looked at his own letter, and realized that he too would not be accepted at Snape's Potion class, "I've got E's in Potions and Herbology, A's in History of Magic, Divination and Astronomy, and O's in Care of Magical Creatures, Charms, Transfiguration and Defense Against the Dark Arts. I won't be in Snape's class either, mate," he said frowning, but trying to see the bright side of things. No more Snape, for the next two years. That should be a relief, but it was his dream to become an Auror. He stopped thinking about it, and chatted happily with the rest about their achievement. Nine O.W.L.s were a lot more than he expected, if only it was enough for Aurors too.
Mrs. Weasley owled her husband about their son's success, and they invited the Order for diner to celebrate. Lupin was especially happy about their marks, as they had all received an O at Defense against the Dark Arts, a subject that he had taught them in their third year. They told him that it was mostly from his teaching –and the D.A.- that they had learned everything they knew. After dinner and a few bottles of Butterbeer, they all felt sleepy, and saying good night, Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione, walked upstairs. Resting his head on his pillow, that night, Harry was surprised to realize, that after that long eventful day, the only thing that lingered still in his mind, was Ginny's smiling face. With that thought, he drifted to sleep.