Disclaimer: Everything belongs to J.K. Rowling!
At seven o'clock in the evening, Harry and Hermione arrived at Burrow. Once they stepped out of the fireplace, Mrs. Weasley screamed and pulled Hermione into a huge hug.
"Hermione! Where have you been? Why don't you visit me? Do you work a lot in your department? Arthur! Does she work that?" Mrs. Weasley reproached in her motherly tone.
"Hello Mrs. Weasley!" Hermione replied between gasps for air.
"Give her a breath Molly!" said Mr. Weasley and gave her a quick hug, too. Then Mrs.Weasley directed to Harry. "Harry…"
"Fred, George!" Hermione saluted the twins. They were on the table discussing something feverishly. After a long wait, they saw her. They said "Hello!" loudly in unison, before Angelina appearad behind the door. She hushed the twins muttering something about 'I could hardly put Belin sleep', while giving Harry and Hermione a small wave. Twins rolled their eyes at the same time, Hermione let out a small chuckle.
"Ginny!"
"Hermione! I am sorry, I forgot to invite you. Come with me!" she said apologeticly. She pulled her by arm before saying "Welcome Harry!" briefly and flashing him a bright smile. Hermione glanced back at Harry on the shoulder and shrugged while dragging by Ginny to the kitchen.
"Why did you tell me?" Ginny suddenly exclaimed as she bewitched a knife to prepare the salade.
Hermione leaned againts the wall and frowned. "What do you mention about, Ginny?" she asked doubtfully. Suddenly she thought that she will say something about Ron. Her heart gave an odd thump.
"You saw Oliver. Oliver Wood. And you didn't tell me a word!" she said appearing offended.
Hermione rolled her eyes and tucked a cucumber slice into her mouth. "What's the big deal with that?" she said casually.
Ginny sighed in exasperation in reponse. She stared at her stubbornly, her hands on her hips. "All right!" Hermione gave in. "I saw him last week in the Ministry. I was on the third floor to sign a file and I heard someone calling behind me."
"That means, he recognised you, hah?" Ginny cut in, smirking tellingly. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Then he asked me how I had been doing, my job. He asked about Harry and I told him." She continued. "Then he told me that he was playing for Cannos and he said he would like to see me again and he promised to owl me…" Hermione said the last sentence in a murmur but Ginny didn't miss that very important point.
"Oh my god!" she yelled excitedly. "Shhh…" Hermione frowned, throwing her a threatening look.
"Ginny haven't you finished yet? They heard Mrs. Weasley's voice coming from the room.
"We're coming, mum! Just a second!" Ginny yelled back hurriedly.
"What did you say? Will you see him again? Don't tell me that you returned him down. I know he is gorgeous. Last year he came to the St. Mungo for an operation. But I couldn't see him until discharging from the hospital. I saw him for a moment but he didn't see me. Anyway, I think you shouldn't miss that chance…" she finished out of the breath.
"What chance, Ginny? He didn't want to date me, for merlin's sake. He just said that he would like to see me again. That was all. Besides, he said he would like to see Harry, too." Hermione said. "And your brother warned me that I shouldn't give my adress to everyone I encountered." She said mimicing Ron.
"Silly git!" Ginny said naturally. They burst into laughter.
"Speaking of Ron" Hermione begun determinedly as Ginny started to slice the tomatoes. "Have you seen his latest girlfriend?" she asked hesitantly, her voice craking slightly. But she couldn't resist asking it. At least she knew Ginny would always be honest.
"Do you mention about Diana?" Ginny grimaced. "No, I haven't seen her."
"Girls!" Mrs. Weasley was shouting again. Ginny grabbed the salade and they sprinted to the room.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > >
As Hermione went out to the garden, she saw Ron had arrived. He was leaning againts the hedge and talking to Harry. Hermione started gazing at him unintentionally. He had changed. He was matured as the days passed by. He had lost the aggression manner and he was much more handsome now. The sinking sun shines were shining on his newly cut hair and shows it a brilliant shade of red. He narrowed his eyes while talking because sun was making him blink.
He was telling Harry something made him blush. Even in that distance she could see the colour of his face. He ran his hand through his hair. The way he always did. Hermione found him irresistible when he did that. Harry shook his head smiling slightly then he saw Hermione. Ron rotated his head and saw instantly her. He waved giving her a lopsided smile. Hermione waved in return. Her face ligthened considerably.
The dinner was a hectic one. The atmosphere was boisterous but merry. Everybody was talking to each other. Jolly laughs were heared from distance. Hermione was seated right across Ron. She had Ginny beside her. Every so often Mrs. Weasley was insisting her to eat more. Mr. Weasley kept asking questions about her work. Fred and George were bragging about their newly-invented jokes. Angelina was complaining about Belin. Ginny was muttering in her ear something terribly like 'Oliver Wood'. Harry was secretly indicating Ginny, reminding Hermione her promise. Belin was crawling on the floor around the table. But all in this mess, Hermione was only interested with Ron. He was looking at her. She couldn't tear her eyes from him. They smiled at one another. At that moment nothing mattered for her. Hermione felt the joy and she enjoyed the night.
After dinner, Hermione helped Mrs. Wealey with gathering the table despite her protest. Meanwhile, she was making plan to leave Ginny and Harry alone. But she hadn't got the slightest idea. Mentally, she was wondering if she could talk some with Ron.
Later that night, Fred and Angelina left the Burrow earliest because Belin had been naughty the whole day. George left after them, too. The house went silent rapidly. Mr. Weasley excused that he had an important meeting for the following day and he went sleeping. Mrs. Weasley started having knittens. Harry and Ron were still outside and after done in the kitchen Hermione and Ginny joined them.
They were on a bench in the garden and Ron was telling Harry something mutely. As they noticed the girls approaching, they stopped talking. Hermione could sware that she heard something very much like 'Diana' but she ignored. She had no intention to spoil the night.
"Scoot over, Ron!" she demanded and snuggled to him with desire. Harry stood up gently to give Ginny a seat. They stayed silenty for a long time. It was Ginny who broke the silence.
"What a lovely weather, tonight!" She sighed looking up the sky. "Yeah!" Harry confirmed her turning his gaze up the sky, too.
"What are you laughing at to?" Ginny asked Hermione enquiringly, seeing her chuckling ecstatically.
"I remember, before our fourth year, we were having dinner again and my cat, crookshanks was trying to catch the gnomes in this garden! That was funny!"
"Yeah, I remember that!" Ginny laughed, joining her.
"Do you think there are still gnomes in this garden?" She asked Ginny her eyes twinkling mischevously. Suddenly something in her mind clicked. She prayed for Harry got the hint.
"There can't be gnomes anymore!" Harry cut in. "Mrs. Weasley cleaned them all!"
"Of course, there are…" Ginny interrupted him. "I saw a single last night when I was having a walk!" she stated knowingly. "Just over there!" she illustrated him a place with her finger. Suddenly Harry saw the light.
"Why don't we go and see then? Ten galleon if we see one." Harry provoked Ginny. Ginny jumped immediately. "All right, I accept." She said as stood up. Harry followed her right away, before giving Hermione a wink.
Ron shook his head after them, smiling in disbelief. "They're mentals." He murmured. Hermione chuckled slightly. They steyed in silence, enjoying the moments they shared.
"This was a lovely night. I had a nice day, today!" she explained him cordially. "Yeah." Ron whispered in agreement. "We should see each other more often!" he looked at her, smiling cheekily.
"Who is saying this?" she asked sarcastically. "Come on, Hermione. You know we're having quite rough time in our jobs. You cannot blame us!" Hermione wanted to ask how did he find the time to have a girlfriend but she stopped herself.
They went silent again.
"Where did you go today?" Hermione couldn't resist anymore. Even if she was sure that he wouldn't tell a word, she had to hear it from himself.
"I…" he started looking at his feet. "I went to see Diana." He blurted out, avoiding his eyes from her. At the mere mention of her name Hermione became expressionless.
"Hımm…" She nodded in comprehension. She closed her eyes and sighed. The awkward silence was killing her. Ron seemed extremely uncomfortable about it.
"That was a trick. Do not think I missed that!" He said playfully, quickly changing the subject.
"What do you mention about?" Hermione answered innocently, looking at him curiously.
"Gnome thing. Do you think I'm thick that?" he asked giving her an arch look.
Hermione didn't reply but smiled at him. He turned her smile. And silence again. She was glad that she had the chance to stay together alone with him. She wasn't expecting that state. Furthermore, she was grateful to Harry. If he didn't request her, she wouldn't have come Burrow after having heard 'Diana' incident. That was better. If she preferred to stay at home, she would absolutely crying now. She was feeling great but out of the blue she saw an owl coming towards to them. It swooped near to Ron. He grabbed the letter and then blushed.
"It's Diana!" he stated. He didn't look at her direction. Hermione stunned for a moment afterwards she gathered her senses back.
"Um.. I… I had better get going." She stood up hurriedly and made her way to the fireplace. Suddenly she was back in reality.
"Hermione wait!" Ron yelled after her. Hermione stopped at the doorway and looked back at him. "It's too late already. You should read and reply your letter as a matter of fact." she explained breifly and she stepped inside the fireplace.
"Home!" She yelled in tears, before apparating. She left him standing there with a confused look on his face, an untied letter in his hand.