A/N: -sigh- sorry this hasn't been updated in months but I'm in the process of finishing this. Yes, I'm for real. I have said to my group that no fics will be updated until this fic is done so you know when this is done there will be plenty of chap's at my group and hopefully regular posting and this will finally be done! Done! Done! Done! I can't wait.... I deem probably five more chapters? That's a guess, maybe a chap less or more but give me by the end of the month - that's the goal... hopefully it'll be fulfilled, let's all cross fingers though. -smile-

Warning: See previous chapters

Disclaimer: See previous chapters

How It All Started.

Ch 12

Hermione hung her head down and for the first time she truly was regretting what she had done but she was sure that she was doing the right thing. She was helping a friend and there was nothing wrong with that.

"If either of you know anything then I suggest you speak up now!" Charlie spoke angrily. He was beyond angry and at the moment he wished Severus was there with him since that man could do a much better intimidating presence.

Ron lifted his head and stubbornly denied anything. He was doing this for his best friend who had no business with a Slytherin Snake! "We don't know anything but Harry and the Ferret breaking up."

"Why the bloody hell did he break up with Malfoy? Did you do something to force the apart Ron? Do you know how much they loved one another? Or were you being a prat and a selfish bastard?"

Ron's face colored quickly and Hermione flinched at the tone of voice and implication. She tuned out Ron's very colorful response as she remembered how most of this started.

xxxxxx

The Burrow was rowdy with celebration but both Ron and Hermione managed to find a spot of their own, right under the tree by the small lake. "Will this work?" Ron asked as he bit into his apple.

Hermione sighed with exasperation - why did she love him again? "Yes, do you trust me?"

"Yea."

"Then why are you questioning me?"

Ron made a point to nudge her with his shoulder as he pretended to be interested more on the paper in his girlfriends hand. "You think we got everything?"

"I'll read it again."

"Good, you're cursive isn't easy to read with the moonlight."

"Ron."

"What?"

"Shut up!" Hermione wanted to be offended but she just couldn't. Squaring her shoulders she read. "We (Ron Weasley, Harry Potter, and Hermione Granger) do so solemnly swear to remain best friends forever no matter how far we live from each other or if the other is behaving like a prat. We uphold the rules of friendship:

1) Trust one another with our secrets no matter how grand or insignificant it is.

2) Will not betray one another to Dark Lords even if we are tortured to the point of death and insanity.

3) Remain obnoxious even when Hermione .... Ron!"

"What?"

"You ruined it."

"I did not!"

"Yes you did!"

"Not!"

"Did!"

"Not!"

"Di - Oh for the love of Merlin! You added three - see, Remain obnoxious even when Hermione is in McGonagall personality and will dutifully pull her out of it so she could have some fun other than with her books! I'm changing it!" Hermione glared at the red head.

"Come on Hermione! You made it sound boring and dreary." Protested Ron as he tossed the apple core aside. "Besides, it'll be a good laugh for the future."

"Yea, for you maybe but -" Hermione scowled as the paper was rudely snatched from her hand.

"It's fine the way it is 'Mione. Just leave it and get on with the spell."

"Afterwards lets see if this betrayal falls under the betrayal clauses." Hermione muttered as she reached over and re-snatched the paper.

Ron's face paled slightly. "You wouldn't." Hermione simply gave him a look that had him crossing his legs. "But - it was a joke -" her eye brow raised. "How can you consider removing the family jewels because of a joke?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "You idiot. The only way you'll loose the Family Jewels as you put it, is if you pull a Wormtail. Maybe a few days as a ferret can put some sense into you."

Ron breathed a sigh of relief. "Just get on with the spell so we can sign the damn thing."

xxxxxx

Hermione was jerked back into reality as Ron grabbed her arm and pulled her up from her seat. "Stay out of this Charlie. I'm his best friend and I think I would know what's better for him. Just because I don't know a damn thing about this crap doesn't mean I'm sad. Harry can do a hell of a lot better than that ferret and you know it." Ron shouted as he marched himself out of the hut relaxing his grip on his girlfriends arms enough so he wouldn't bruise her.

Hermione blinked owlishly - how the hell did she end up outside? The cool fresh air hit her face and it took her back into the past.

xxxxxx

Both she and Ron were searching everywhere for their best friend but it seems he was no where in sight. Deciding to check further away from the party near a clump of trees they followed the trail. It wasn't long that they found Harry resting against a trunk of a tree nursing a bottle of the 'good stuff' that Sirius had given him as part of a gift.

"Harry?" Ron called. "What the bloody hell are you doing out here?"

"Oh -" Harry's eyes squinted in their direction. "Hey! Where have - you've been? Snoging under - in the closet again?" Harry asked with a slight slur.

Hermione narrowed her eyes. "Are you drunk Harry?"

"Me?" Harry attempted to sit up but he quickly toppled over. "No, no, not - drunk." He once again propped himself against the tree with a dopey smile. "Not drunk - Aunt Molly - kill me, she said no."

Ron snorted, trying to hide his amusement. "He's plastered."

"Immature." Hermione rolled her eyes before she settled herself on the ground beside her friend. "Harry? We need you to sign something."

Harry's eyes lit up. "Ooh! Is it an auto - autophrag?"

"Yea Harry it's an autophrag." Ron was having a grand old time - this would be great material for future embarrassment. Harry would be mortified when he learned when he was trying to give out autographs, it was too bad Creevey wasn't there.

"Gimme." Harry held out his hand where Hermione placed a pen and held his as she steadied his movements.

Hermione jerked her arm away from her boyfriend, furious at herself. She remembered clearly how she held his hand as his eyes squinted while he mumbled on about the woes of fame... basically forging her best friends name since all the poor boy could manage a few scribbles.

"Hey!"

"Leave me a lone Ron!" she shouted stomping in the opposite direction.

"Fine!" Ron also went in the opposite direction unaware that he and his girlfriend were being watched.

xxxxxx

Authors Note: -sigh- I know! Very short but truely, I'm trying to get back into the flow of this fic and I promise it's coming to an end soon. Maybe a few more chapters, I've yet decided.... don't hate me! Anyways, I've desided to finish this once and for all so no more updates for a quite a while on other fics that are true updates meaning other posted fics that aren't up to date with already up to date material from my yahoo group aren't being touched but if it's a fic that's behind a chapter or two then you're in luck... it should be updated soon... did that make sense?

THANKS 4 reading. Reviews always welcomed even the nasty ones. If you want your questions answered quickly, rather than waiting for the next story then email me and I'll gladly answer. THaNK YoU and GOoDNiGHt!!!!