Chapter two – Old Friends
Ron and Harry were sitting at the kitchen table at the Burrow, when Hermione suddenly fell out of the fireplace. It startled the boys, but they quickly ran over to their best friend. She was covered in soot, and was lugging her school truck around, then finally set it down. Harry and Ron gaped at their friend's new appearance. Hermione was wearing a purple strappy top, and low-rise, tight fitting jeans. The boys had never seen her wear such an outfit, and were surprised, but also pleased.
"What?!" Hermione finally said, interrupting the two teenage boys' thoughts.
"What are you wearing?" Ron managed to get out.
"Clothes! Honestly Ron, are you that thick?" Hermione joked. Harry finally came out of his trance and laughed.
Ron mumbled something, but Hermione stopped him, "Oh shut up Ron, and give your friend a hug!"
After Hermione had hugged both boys, they sat at the kitchen table when Ron's sister, Ginny, came into the room.
"HERMIONE!!" she shrieked.
Hermione jumped up again, and gave the younger girl a hug. They were close friends, probably the best girlfriend Hermione had at Hogwarts. She didn't much like Parvati and Lavender.
"Oooh," Ginny said, "I love your new clothes and how did you get your hair to stop frizzing??"
"Thanks, and it's a charm I learned on the first week home. All I do is use it every morning and my hair doesn't frizz! I love it," Hermione replied.
The four sat talking almost all afternoon, until Molly Weasley came into the kitchen, greeted Hermione, then shooed the teenagers out of her kitchen so she could start supper.
They moved into the living room and sat on the floor, talking about what the other Weasley brothers were doing.
"Well," Ron started, "Bill got married last year, to Fleur Delacour, then this summer they had a baby. They will be visiting soon, sometime before we go back to school. So you can see the new baby!"
"And Charlie is still in Romania, trying to recruit more people or the Order," Ginny said.
"Percy... well... we still haven't talked to him, even though he knows that Harry and Dumbledore were right. We think he's scared to admit it," Ron said, sadly. "Dad's tried to talk to him though, at work. But he doesn't want anything to do with us."
"He will come around," Hermione reassured him.
"Anyways," Ginny said, "Fred and George are still working in their Joke Shop. They say that it's going well. We've been in their once, and it looked really cool."
"Ron... well, he still is still stupid as ever!" Ginny continued, joking. Ron hit her arm rather hard, causing the younger girl to yelp. A little red welt was starting to appear where Ron hit her. Mrs. Weasley looked out from the kitchen to see what the fuss was about.
"What's going on, Ronald?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"Nothing Mum, just messing," Ron quickly replied.
"YES something, Mum! Ron hit me!" Ginny complained.
"Come here, and let Mummy look at it, hun," Mrs. Weasley said.
Ginny stood up and walked into the kitchen, leaving the boys and Hermione alone by the couch.
"So, what have you two been doing?" Hermione asked.
"Well, Harry got here in the third week of vacation. And since then we have been doing nothing fun, just lounging around here, playing Quidditch every now and then," Ron answered.
"That sounds like LOADS of fun!" Hermione said sarcastically.
"Oh, yes, it was a JOLLY good time!" Harry said, putting on a heavier accent.
"So, have you heard anything about the Order lately?" Hermione asked.
"No, we tried using the Extendable Ears, but Mum charmed the whole house so that they don't work. It really sucks!" Ron said.
"Ronald! Come here and set the table!" Mrs. Weasley called from the kitchen.
"Yes, Mum," Ron said crestfallen, and stood up and trudged to the kitchen.
"So how are you Harry? I mean REALLY?" Hermione asked her friend.
Harry was silent at first, looking down at his hands. Then he spoke.
"I really miss him 'Mione. I mean I'm better than at first, but when it comes down to it, I really miss him," Harry said, still not meeting Hermione's eyes.
Hermione knew exactly who Harry was talking about. Sirius, Harry's godfather died last year at the wand of his cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange, a known Deatheater. You couldn't expect someone to move on completely after only two months.
"I know, Harry, I really do," Hermione said, standing up and going to sit by her friend. "I miss him too sometimes, but I can't imagine what you are going through." She put a comforting arm around him.
They sat there in silence until Mrs. Weasley called them for dinner. Hermione and Harry stood up and walked into the kitchen to see Arthur Weasley sitting at the kitchen table, along with Bill Weasley, Fleur Delacour, who was holding a bundle of blankets.
Hermione went quickly over to Fleur, a beautiful part Veela, to see the new baby.
"Awww, it's so tiny. Is it a boy or a girl?" She asked Bill.
"She's a little girl, Cheyenne Summer Weasley," Bill replied, placing a hand on Hermione's shoulder and looking down at his child.
"Oh, and I love her name!" Hermione said.
"Thank you, 'Ermione. Labor waz 'ard though, sixteen 'ours," Fleur said, with a strong French accent.
"Shall we eat then?" Mr. Weasley asked. Everyone agreed, and they sat to a wonderfully cooked meal.
After dinner, they all sat in the living room, talking about anything. Finally, Ginny yawned so loudly it woke the baby up, and Mrs. Weasley told the teenagers to go to bed. They would be going to Diagon Alley the next day, so they needed their rest.
Hermione hauled her trunk up to Ginny's room, where she found a mattress laying on the floor for her. She said good-night to the boys and went into the room, changed into her pajamas, and took off the make-up that she had recently started to wear.
"Thank you for making the room for me to stay," Hermione said to Ginny as she got into her bed.
"Oh, it's absolutely NO problem, 'Mione. I would make room for you to stay and day," Ginny replied.
"Thanks again, Gin. G'night," Hermione said, sleepily.
"'Night."
And they both drifted off to sleep.
Meanwhile, the boys weren't even close to going to sleep yet. They sat talking about Hermione's new appearance.
"I mean, did you see her hair? It was like, smooth!"
"Yea, I know, and her clothes? I don't think I've seen tighter clothes on a Barbie," Harry said.
"A WHAT?!"
"Never mind, a Muggle thing," Harry said, rolling his eyes. It wouldn't have hurt him to take Muggle Studies, he thought.
"So, are you going to ask her out this year? I mean, you wanted to last year, but..." Harry trailed off.
"Yeah well, last year was just so hectic," Ron lied. To tell the truth, he was scared to ask Hermione out. "But I think I will this year. It's just that, I want everything to be perfect. Maybe the first Hogsmeade weekend."
Harry sat and pondered the idea. He liked the idea of Ron and Hermione together, but it also made him feel lonely. He wanted a girlfriend too! Why doesn't anybody want me? He thought.Little did he know, there was someone who did want him. In fact, she was dreaming about the Boy Who Lived right this very moment.
"Yeah, that sound like a good idea," Harry finally said.
Both boys sat quietly for a few minutes until Harry broke the silence.
"We should get some sleep, mate. Diagon Alley tomorrow."
"Yeah, 'night."
"'Night."
They crawled under the covers, and let their thoughts wander until sleep finally claimed them both.
Hermione woke the next morning to Cheyenne crying down the hall. She got out of her bed, and went quietly to the bathroom. She got in the shower, dressed, charmed her hair, and put on a little makeup. When she went down to the kitchen, she saw Ginny already sitting at the table, ready to go.
"Sorry I hogged the bathroom," Hermione said.
"Oh, it's no problem, we've got three others in the house," Ginny smiled.
"Where are the boys then?"
"Probably still asleep, the lazy butts. I will tell Mum to go and get them up." Ginny left the kitchen and went to her parents' room. She returned, looking smug. "I always like it when she wakes them up. It's too funny, go listen."
The girls crept up the stairs so they could hear Mrs. Weasley pounding on the boys' door, but could not be seen.
"Better get up right now or I will put your laundry, particularly underwear, out on the front lawn!"
The girls heard running footsteps, a door opening, and then two teenage boy voices.
"Ok Mum, we're up!"
"Sorry Mrs. Weasley, got caught in a dream."
"Yeah, sure. I've heard them all, get down stairs you two, breakfast is ready," Mrs. Weasley said, before returning into her and Mr. Weasley's room.
Ginny and Hermione went back down to the kitchen, both unsuccessfully trying to suppress laughs. They sat at the table and began their breakfasts when the boys came in. Both girls went into a fit of giggles once more.
"It wasn't funny! I've had it happen before, all my underclothes on the front lawn. Bloody embarrassing, it was!!" Ron said, angrily.
"Sorry, Ron... couldn't help... it," Hermione said, between laughs.
They sat and ate their breakfasts in silence. Hermione and Ginny trying desperately not to look at each other, or another round of giggles would overcome them.
Soon after they finished breakfast, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Bill, Fleur, and the baby, came into the kitchen.
"Are you all ready to go?" Mrs. Weasley asks them.
They all nod or say 'yes' and soon after, all nine of them are spinning through the fire to Diagon Alley.
"Shall we go buy new robes for you, Hermione, dear?" Mrs. Weasley asks.
"Oh yes, I was thinking about buying some new," Hermione answered.
Mrs. Weasley, Fleur, Hermione, and Ginny went into Madam Malkin's robes shop, while the boys went to look at the latest broomstick.
The girls came out of the robe shop some time later only to find the boys sitting at the Ice Cream Shop, talking about Quidditch.
"Is that ALL you ever talk about?" Ginny teased.
"Of course not, every once in a while, we wander over to the more interesting subject of the Ministry," Bill teased back.
"Oh yes, MUCH more interesting," Ginny said sarcastically.
Hermione walked into the Shop to buy her ice cream when Ron came up behind her.
"Let me buy it," he said.
"No, Ron, it's okay, I can get it."
"But I WANT to."
"Alright, if you must," Hermione said, skeptically.
Why does he want to buy things for me? Does he like me? Oh, I hope so; I've liked him for so long, she thought.
After Hermione had her ice cream, they went back outside to sit with the others. Hermione took a seat next to Ginny, when Ron sat down beside her.
"So, what's been going on with the Order?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, Hermione, you know we can't tell you those things," Mr. Weasley said.
"I know, I know, but I mean, has anything happened? Good or bad?"
"Actually, we are very fortunate that You-Know-Who is lying low. I'm surprised that nothing has happened," Mr. Weasley answered.
Just then, Ron moved his hand so that his and Hermione's were touching under the table. Is he flirting with me?
"So, nothing? Everybody is still okay?" Harry asked.
"Yea, everybody is okay, well... Moody got..." Bill started, but then Mrs. Weasley gave him a warning look.
"That's enough, talk about something else, please," she said.
"How about we go and see the Joke Shop? Hermione, you haven't seen it yet have you?" Mr. Weasley suggested.
"No, I haven't, but that sounds great."
As the group was walking down the street to Fred and George's joke shop, Hermione saw a streak of silver blond out of the corner of her eye. She did her best not to turn her head all the way around, but watched as the tall, blonde Slytherin walked down the street behind his father. She was very glad that Lucius Malfoy hadn't noticed the Weasleys. That was a sure argument.
As she watched, Draco looked up and caught Hermione's eye. She was sure that there was something more in that smirk he gave her. Just then, Draco and Lucius turned the corner and went toward a sign that read 'Knockturn Alley.'
I know he's bad, but why would he want anything to do in Knockturn Alley? If I get the chance this year, I will ask him.
"Everything alright, 'Mione?" Harry asked, noticing the blank look on her face.
"What? Oh, yeah, just thinking"
They entered Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes and looked around. The minute they entered, Fred and George, who were behind the desk, came around to greet their friends and family.
"How are you Fred, George?" Mrs. Weasley asked the twins.
"We are great, Mum. Business is booming, so we couldn't ask for more," said George. Fred was busy adoring his new niece.
Hermione went off to look around. She saw many things that were new, but also recognized a couple. Like the Skiving Snackboxes, that she refused Fred and George to test them on the first years last year. She almost smiled at the thought. She also saw the fireworks that the twins had sent off at Hogwarts last year, right before they left. She DID smile at the thought of Umbridge trying to get rid of the fireworks, only to find out that they multiply every time.
Ron came up behind her. They walked through the shop, seeing all kinds of new and different things. If they aren't careful, they will run Zonko's out of business.
"Cool, isn't it?" Ron asked.
"Yeah, it is," Hermione said, "How does Zonko's like it?"
"Not at all, they keep trying to come up with cooler things, but they can't even come close to this."
They walked by a wall where two broomsticks were mounted. Underneath them was a plaque that read 'These are the broomsticks that we flew away from the idiot Umbridge on. Thank you, brooms!'
"I couldn't believe that they actually left!" Hermione said, after seeing the brooms.
"I know, Mum and Dad weren't too happy, but they got over it when Fred and George offered them one fourth of the income of this place."
"Wow that was nice of them."
"Yeah, we liked it." Ron tried to take Hermione's hand but she moved it out of his reach just before. Damn! he thought.
"Well then, I better contribute to your one-fourth," Hermione said as she picked up a box of Canary Creams. Maybe I will give these to Crookshanks, oh, wait... She put down the Canary Creams, and got a box of purple flower looking things. Hmmm... I wonder what these are.
She walked up to the counter to pay for her flower things.
"Oh, good choice, you will like these, Hermione," Fred said, as he took her money.
"May I ask what they are? I just thought they looked cool, so I bought them."
"Oh, you will have to figure that one out yourself," Fred said with a quite malicious smile.
"Alright, I guess. Good luck with the shop, and nice to see you again," Hermione said as she walked out onto the street with the others.
"Have you all got your things?" Mrs. Weasley asked the teens.
They all had what they needed, so the group set off for the Burrow.
Over the next two weeks, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and sometimes Ginny, spent the time just talking, playing Quidditch (not Hermione of course, she spent that time reading), and just having fun. Ron still flirted with Hermione, but not as much as he did in Diagon Alley, because when he tried to take her hand and she moved hers away, he took that as a hint. A hint that he didn't take very well, because Hermione didn't intend to send a message that she didn't like Ron.
The night before they were to go back to school Bill and Fleur left. After saying their goodbyes, the teenagers went off to bed, preparing for the new school year ahead.
a/n: Hay all, thanx for reading my story, and PLEASE REVIEW!!!! but remember this is my first fanfic so please be nice! and if you would be so kind, recommend this story to others! thanx so much! luv you all! oh, and thanx autumn for reviewing! love you!