A/N: Wow, I've actually entertained people other than myself!
Thanks so much to all my reviewers! In the words of The Shieldmaiden-Lady of Rohan, you kick monkey bum! Points finger. She said it first, not me. Since it's close to midnight, and sleep is good I can't respond to all of you personally, but let me try to address the main points. Ok, about updating soon. I'm on spring break right now so updates will more than likely be once if not twice a day. Oh! And I'd like to thank TheDaughterOfKings big, big, BIG time for giving me my first piece of constructive criticism. It was necessary that they have drinks with Dean, but you're right, I should have done a better transition than, "There's Dean! Let's waste our afternoon by having a Butterbeer with him and Parvati!" If I have time later I'll go back and change it. Please tell me if I've improved with this chapter. I kept you in mind while writing. Thank you!
Ok, my other fic, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans has 17 reviews. Let's beat it with this chapter! That's right, all it takes is 6 lovely people taking 30 seconds of their time to write me a short note and I'll be happy. Of course, if more than 6 people feel the need to review I'm perfectly fine with that.
Enough with my yapping. I give you, Chapter Three.
Disclaimer: If I'm J.K. Rowling the only deaths in the HP series are Voldemort's and his minions'.
Ron fidgeted slightly under Hermione's gaze. What did he do? How is it he always made himself into such a prat in front of her? Ron's thoughts were interrupted when Harry joined the group gathered around the table.
"Got our present." He said, holding up a Flourish and Blotts bag.
Ginny let out a snort of laughter. "You got her a book? And I actually thought Hermione and I would have some competition."
"So it would seem Ginerva, but how do you know I'm not bluffing? How do you know this isn't a clever disguise for a present that will blow yours out of the water? How do you know I'm not just trying to lure you into a false sense of security?" Harry flashed an evil smile at Ginny and quickly jerked the bag out of her reach.
Ginny, jumping to try and reach the bag whined, "Come on Harry! Just a peek! Please!" Harry, still smiling wickedly just shook his head. "Why did I have to get the short Weasley gene?" Ginny complained as she slumped back down into her seat.
Harry simply patted her on the head. "There, there." He said, in a mock consoling tone.
Hermione still hadn't spoken since Ron overheard her complaining about the waiter. "Mental that one," he thought.
"Well this day has been simply wonderful, but Ron and I have to go…ah, put the finishing touches on our present." Harry said.
Ron looked at him quizzically. Harry shot him an I'll-explain-later look.
"Right. See you at the party tomorrow Ginny." Ron nodded at his sister, who waved. "Hermione." Hermione squeaked in response.
"Apparate to the Burrow Ron." Harry said in an undertone.
CRACK!
CRACK!
When Ron reappeared standing outside his childhood home he couldn't help but smile. He had so many good memories here.
"Ok," said Harry who had taken up the annoying post as Ron's thought-interrupter. "Do you want to see the present I got?"
"Of course!" Ron said gleefully. He reached into the bag Harry was handing out and pulled out…
"A book? I thought you were bluffing."
Harry shook his head. Ron sighed and opened the book to see what rubbish it was about.
"It's empty." Ron rolled his eyes. "Brilliant Harry, bloody brilliant. Who doesn't want an empty book for their birthday?"
Harry looked slightly hurt, and explained. "I tried to think of the best present I've ever received. It was a tie between the coat hanger I got from the Dursleys, and the photo album Hagrid gave me at the end of first year. I thought your mum might like a photo album better. So I got her one. We just need to fill it up with pictures of your family and stuff. She'd like that…wouldn't she?" Harry ended nervously.
"Bloody brilliant Harry!" Ron yelled, pumping his fist in the air. "Mum goes all soppy-eyed over stuff like this! You're a genius!"
Harry smiled. "So where do you keep your pictures?"
"Uh, in the attic I think. Come on, lets find out." Ron led Harry into the house.
"Ron! Wait! Won't you mum notice if we—"
"Oh don't worry about it," Ron said breezily as he opened the door. "She's out shopping with some of her friends today, kind of an early birthday present for herself."
As Harry and Ron climbed the rickety staircase Ron thought back to the children who used to live in the rooms they passed. They passed Percy's bedroom first. Its door was shut, but Ron knew if he opened it he would find everything neat and orderly, just like Percy always liked it. Nothing from his room would suggest that Percy wasn't coming home. They climbed a few more stairs and reached Ginny's old room. Ginny was still in the process of moving out of the Burrow, a process that left her room a disaster area. Ron chuckled; her door was only slightly cracked, but he could still see the various bright clothes strewn all over the floor. At the next landing was the twins' room. The door was open but Ron wasn't about to go inside. Knowing Fred and George they left it open —and booby-trapped-- on purpose. A few stairs, creaks, and bangs from the ghoul later they arrived at the landing bearing the entrance to Bill's room on the left and Charlie's room on the right. Both doors were closed. Bill's door had a poster of a rather interesting looking wizard band on it, and Charlie's…Ron bit his lip as he saw the drawing of a dragon his ten-year-old self drew. Ginny had begged and begged to help and Ron finally resigned to letting her color it. They had presented Charlie with their masterpiece the night before he left for Romania. Ron was reluctant to let go of it however. He could still hear his brother say, "Listen Ron, how about this: I'll just hang this on my door, and when you think it's time it moves in with me permanently, let me know." Charlie had then ruffled Ron's hair and held him up to Spellotape the drawing to the door. Ron never did get a chance to give the drawing back to Charlie. Ron moved quickly to continue upstairs before his emotions took hold of him. The door to his room was standing wide open. Some of the orange was gone, being displayed proudly in his new home, but Ron's room was still quite a tribute to his favorite color. Finally they reached the attic. As the door slowly creaked open they were greeted by a blanket of dust, thousands of precariously stacked boxes, and a thoroughly surprised ghoul.
"How long has it been since someone's been up here?" Harry asked, coughing.
"Dunno. I haven't been up here for years." Ron replied. "Listen, you take that side and work towards the center. I'll take this side. Look for a box marked pictures, photographs, cameras, anything of the sort."
"Ok." Harry said.
Ron picked his way carefully to the right side of the attic. Baby Clothes, no. Christmas Ornaments, no. Old Wands, no. Wedding Dress, no. Ron shuddered as he saw the arm of his old teddy bear sticking out of a box. Toys, no.
"Jackpot!" Harry shouted from across the room.
Ron's head snapped up. "Uh. Mate, where are you?" All Ron could see were boxes. Stacks and stacks of boxes.
"Just follow my voice. Blimey you were an ugly baby."
Unfortunately for Harry, Ron found him right after this pronouncement.
"Uh. Just kidding?" Harry whimpered from his spot on the floor.
Ron laughed as he saw the picture Harry was holding. "Harry, that's not me…that's Ginny."
"You're joking" Harry said as he ogled the picture. His look suddenly changed to pure terror. "Oh Ron, please don't tell her I just said that."
The boys sat on the floor, slowly filling the album, while laughing and telling stories about the people in the photographs.
"Ron, who are these people with your mum? I know I've seen them before, I just can't think where." Harry stuck a picture under Ron's nose.
Two smiling wizards stood on either side of his mum. None of the occupants of the picture looked to be over thirty. The wizards had their arms draped around his mum.
"That's Gideon and Fabian Prewett. They were my uncles. I never met them. Took five Death Eaters to kill 'em. That git, Dolohov was one of them. Bill and Charlie always said they could remember them, but we all just think they were lying." Ron gazed at the picture wistfully. "Mum says they were loads of fun. A lot like Fred and George."
"That's where I saw them!" Harry said, with sudden realization. "Moody showed me a picture of the old Order that summer before our fifth year. The Prewetts were some of the wizards in it."
Ron wasn't paying any attention to Harry however. Instead, he was staring at the next picture in the stack. It was a picture of him and Hermione, taken shortly after their N.E.W.T.'s ended. They were sitting beside the lake, their feet dangling in the cool water. They were laughing, and as Ron watched, the picture version of himself grabbed Hermione's hand and pointed across the lake at something. In unison, the two looked up and beamed at Ron. Ron was taken aback. They just seemed to suit each other. His blazing hair and protuberant freckles were evened out by Hermione's dark mane and clear complexion. They just fit together. In Ron's opinion, he had never seen Hermione look more happy, or beautiful, than in this photograph. Ron's picture self still had a tight hold on Hermione's hand as they began to laugh again.
"She really liked you mate." Harry said, looking over Ron's shoulder.
"W-What?" Ron stammered.
"Seventh year. She was crazy about you." Harry said, still looking at the picture.
Ron stared at his friend in disbelief. Why did Harry tell him this now? This was information he could have used two years ago! If Harry had just acted like any real bloody best friend Ron and Hermione could be snogging right now!
Ron sighed. "I really liked her too. I still do."
Harry nodded. "I know."
"Well does she still like me?" Ron searched his friend's face desperately.
"I don't know." Harry saw Ron's face fall. "I'm sorry! I really don't know!"
"Yeah, you didn't know in seventh year either." Ron grumbled.
They worked in silence for a few minutes before Harry finally cracked.
"Fine, I'll talk to her tomorrow night. Are you happy now?" He sighed.
"I always knew there was a reason I chose your compartment on our first train ride Harry!" Ron exclaimed happily.
Harry rolled his eyes as he stood up. "Well we're done. What do you think? Better than jewelry?"
"Much better." Ron replied. As Harry stretched Ron quietly slipped the picture of him and Hermione in his pocket.
"Are you hungry?"
"Is my hair red?"
"Let's get something to eat then." And with that, the two apparated back to Ron's flat. The ghoul relaxed as he regained his solitude and immediately resumed howling and dropping pipes.
A/N: If you haven't noticed from this chapter, I absolutely adore the Weasley family, and I'm extremely sad I had to kill some of them off. I couldn't let them all live! It just wouldn't be realistic! Actually, I probably didn't kill off enough to make it realistic, but I just couldn't bring myself to kill off any more. I'm sure you understand. You don't? Walks off shaking head Heartless people. Anyways, those nice people who actually like the Weasleys, glares at those holding up KILL MORE WEASLES OFF signs (yes I meant to say "weasel") review! Thanks!
Oh and yes, the "They just seemed to suit each other" line is in response to that "D'you think they're suited?" interview J.K. did. Heh. Heh. Sorry if any H/Hr people are reading, I just couldn't pass that up.
