Chapter 4:

Both Harry and Hermione glanced up at Ron startled. "Oh hey mate" Harry greeted calmly, seemingly oblivious to the sudden tension in the room. "Hey" Ron said uncomfortably, looking at Hermione instead of Harry. Hermione for her part looked flushed, not wanting to meet Ron's eyes.

Harry was staring at both of them, realizing that something fishy was up. With that he broke the silence.

"I'm going to go down stairs, I'll just meet the both of you there." Harry told the two. Hermione stood up and said. "I'll come with you." But Ron lightly touched her arm "Can I talk you first?" Harry looked at one to the other and left the room, closing the door behind him.

While walking down the stairs, Harry could feel his heart beating, hard. He didn't really want to leave both of them there. Alone. At the word alone, Harry's heart sped up faster. "This is crazy", Harry muttered, "Why don't I want to leave Hermione with Ron?"

"Talking to yourself, there mate?"

"That's not very healthy now, right Fred?"

Harry saw the Weasley twins, in front of the kitchen table, grinning at him. He forced out a smile "Oh hey guys"

"Tsk tsk, you're looking pale mate, perhaps we should offer you a drink." Fred said grandly and with that George offered a glass of water to Harry. Harry, who does feel rather thirsty, gratefully took the glass and was about to take a drink when he caught the mischievous smiles on Fred and George's face. Suddenly not trusting the glass of water (or Fred and George for that matter), Harry put the cup down on the table.

"errrrmm… Suddenly I don't really feel that much thirsty anymore."

"Oh come on Harry, you do look really thirsty, a cup of water will soothe you." George said innocently. "No thanks, now out with it, what's in that stuff?" Harry asked the two.

"What are you talking about mate?" Fred asked in an innocent voice that didn't fool Harry one bit.

Harry raised his brows at the two questioningly.

George threw both his hands up and sighed "All right, all right, it was supposed to turn your gair in to different colors, but if you look at the mirror, everything's normal."

Harry grinned, for real this time, "That's rather brilliant!"

"But we still have to test it see? We just finished it yesterday." Fred told Harry

It was at that moment that Hermione entered the kitchen looking rather upset. The three looked at each other and Harry was the first to ask.

"Hermione, what's the matter?"

"Yeah Hermione, did you and Ron had a row again?" Fred asked

"What's this all about anyway?" George added. "You two have been fighting more than usual lately, I asked Ron but he always snaps and walks away."

Again Harry had that uncomfortable feeling at his stomach but couldn't understand why. The three of them was waiting for her to talk but she was just looking down, not facing any of them. A bit uncertainly, Harry asked again. "Hermione, what's going on?"

Hermione finally looked up, first at Fred, then at George and her gaze stopped at Harry and stayed there for a long time, biting her lips while looking at him. Harry's heart sped up, what could have happened to Ron and Hermione that none of them were admitting.

"Well?" George prodded

Hermione opened her mouth nervously to say something when the kitchen door opened again and Mrs. Weasely entered the room, causing Hermione to sigh with relief and The three boys to look rather irritated at being interrupted. Mrs. Weasely told them "Dinner would be ready shortly. It's noce to see that you came down Harry dear." She smiled and proceeded to the table, preparing their meal, unaware of the serious talk between the four.

After Mrs. Weasely came Remus and Tonks talking loudly about something with Moody just behind their heels listening. Harry, feeling frustrated turned to Hermione and was about to ask her to go upstairs with him to finish the conversation when he suddenly felt the funny feeling in his stomach increase.

Ron entered the room, looking at no one but Hermione, with her looking right back. The intensity of their glares made his stomach drop even further if possible. No one else noticed this, not even the twins because they now joined Remus and Tonks' conversation.

Ron turned from Hermione to Harry and pulled him aside. "Can I talk to you after dinner mate?" Harry stared at his best friend who looked unreadable and just nodded.

"Dinner's ready" Mrs. Weasely announced and at that moment Harry wished that the dinner would take all night.