"What?" Hermione said, stunned by the sudden comment.
"I like you," Draco, Ron, and Dudley all repeated.
"Why do you like her?" Draco asked Dudley. "You haven't even known her that long! And she's a witch, your family doesn't get along with our kind do they?" he added.
"She is so nice, pretty, and generous. I am guessing that she is the smart one out of you guys? Unless my dope of a cousin Harry is?" Dudley told Draco.
"So what are you saying, you want to use her?" both Ron and Draco said at the same time, at the end adding, "Jinx, you owe me a soda!"
"Huh?" Dudley said.
"So, what are you saying," Draco said. "Are you saying that you want to use her?"
"No!"
"Well, by what you said, that's what it sounded like."
"Well, that's not what I meant for it to sound like."
"Whatever," Ron said. Hermione looked over where Harry had been, but he was gone.
"Why do you like her?" Ron asked Draco.
"She is cool. I also think that," Draco started, but he got cut off.
"You've called her a Mudblood!" Ron said.
"What's a Mudblood?" Dudley asked curiously.
"That's not important," said Draco. "Why do you like her, Weasley? Does she do your homework for you? Or do you want to use her?" Draco added.
"YOU HAVE CALLED HER A MUDBLOOD, THE MOST INSULTING THING SOMEONE CAN CALL A MUGGLE-BORN WITCH! DO YOU DENY IT?" Ron bellowed, so the entire street came up for a closer look.
"Um, Weasley, Why don't we take this inside?" Draco said, as Cristy Filman and a few other girls fought their way to the front of the crowd.
"What is going on?" Cristy asked.
"Nothing," Ron, Draco, and Dudley all said at the same time. Harry then came out, wondering where all the commotion was coming from.
"Oh, hi Harry! I'm Cristy Filman. These are my friends, Meghan and Lorena. And are these your friends?" Cristy asked Harry.
"This is Ron and Hermione. They are my best friends. And this is Draco and Dudley," Harry told her. "What is going on?"
"I'd like to know that also," Cristy added, her eyes on Harry.
Hermione was still standing, shocked. If Harry didn't know better, he would think she had been Stunned. "I think Hermione isn't feeling well, I will bring her inside," Harry said, grabbing Hermione and bringing her inside onto the couch. Then she finally recovered.
"Harry, what is going on? Why am I in here on this couch? And why is there a gigantic crowd out there?"
"Ron had screamed about Mudbloods and all, so the street thought something was wrong. My street also has a bunch of nosy little brats and gossipers, so they needed to watch it. By the way, what happened? Ron, Draco, and Dudley all like you. I ran inside then to tell Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Weasley to make themselves comfortable and brace themselves, but then I heard arguing so I stepped back outside again. Then Ron screamed, and I ran to see what was wrong," Harry told Hermione.
"I must have been stunned that Draco and Dudley liked me. I mean, I've had the feeling that Ron has for years, but Draco? He insults me on a daily basis! And Dudley, well, I just met him, and he is a freak. I don't know what to say to them," Hermione said breathlessly, and finally continued.
"I feel so horrible, not telling them about it, but the truth is, I only truly would like back two people, and I will not say who they are, because then I would probably be made fun of," Hermione added, and Harry, sharing his concern, nodded.
"How did I get in here?" Hermione faintly asked Harry.
"I had to get you out from the weirdos on the street, so I just grabbed you and carried you in," he said.
"Thanks," Hermione said, with her cheeks going red.
"Don't feel bad. I mean, wait, why are you blushing?" Harry asked.
"I am not blushing!" Hermione said back, as Draco, Ron, and Dudley came back into the house.
"Hermione, are you okay?" Ron asked soothingly.
"Yes, I am Ron. What is going on?" she asked.
"Well, I'll leave you two to it," Dudley said as he walked sorrily up the stairs.
"Did you guys hurt him or something? He looks upset," Hermione said.
"We just told him the truth, that he hasn't really gotten to know you, and then we told him a mini-bluff, that you were Harry's girlfriend," Draco said, and Hermione went red again.
"Mini-bluff? What do you mean?" asked Hermione and Harry.
"We never said that," said Ron.
"Yes, we did," Draco said as he winked. Unfortunately, Ron didn't agree. He and Draco began arguing until, "Ron!"
Mr. Weasley had come out to see what the fuss was about. "What is going on?"
"Nothing, Dad," Ron said.
"Lucius, you might want to come here and see this," Mr. Weasley said, and Ron and Draco changed positions immediately. Suddenly, Mr. Malfoy came out to see a very strange scene. Harry was bent over Hermione, making sure she was okay. Ron and Draco were on their knees next to Hermione, and Ron was holding her hand. Dudley was emerging from the staircase, and he too ran over to help Hermione.
"Draco, what are you doing? You are within twenty feet from a Mudblood when you know that we don't approve of the rifraff," Mr. Malfoy said, sounding very displeased.
"Ron, I know you and Hermione are friends, but why are you surrounding her?" Mr. Weasley asked.
"I would also like to know that, Dudley," said Aunt Petunia.
"Well, Aunt Petunia, it started out fine, with the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. After the Doom Room experience, Dudley," Harry said.
"And me," added Ron.
"And me," said Draco.
"All said that they liked," Harry continued, but Hermione interupted by saying, "Me."
At this statement, Mr. Malfoy grabbed Draco and pulled him away. He started screaming at his son, and everyone could hear it.
"You know that we Malfoys disprove of anyone from a non-magical family, like the Mudblood Hermione Granger!" Mr. Malfoy screamed, and Hermione burst into tears.
"Dad, I never said that I would be following the pattern of the Malfoy blood! Hermione is a witch, so even though she is Muggle-born," Draco told his father, who interupted again.
"You would not be a pure blood! Hermione Granger is not a witch, she is a Muggle! You know that," Mr. Malfoy continued, but Draco cut him off.
"Yes, I would. And she is a really sweet girl. I don't get why I should be restricted because you don't like Muggles! Hermione is a witch, and so I would still be a pure-blood. And also, I said I liker her dad, not loved her!" Draco said.
"Same difference!"
"No, It's not! Dad, I am only 16. I am not going to marry yet, I just wanted to tell her my feelings."
"I do not care! I will send you to Durmstrang then, okay Draco? You will be far away from us, living like Mr. Potter here! Do you want that?" Mr. Malfoy asked.
"Dad, you know I do not want that. By admitting my feelings I feel that a huge burden has been lifted. It feels really good!" Draco said.
"You admitted liking a Mudblood. You know that I detest all non-magic peoples that are being taught magic!" Mr. Malfoy said, but Draco had had enough. He stormed back into the hall, where the stunned faces of the Weasleys, Dursleys, Mrs. Malfoy, Hermione, and Harry were standing.
"What's wrong?" Draco asked.
"We heard the whole thing," Dudley said.
"You did?" Draco asked nervously.
"Yes. Thank you for standing up to your dad, great job!" said Mr. Weasley.
Others, however, did not take the cheerful view.
"You know your father and I do not approve of this kind of talk! We have not brought you up to behave like this!" Mrs. Malfoy said.
"Mum, I'm sorry, but I cannot live by your rules forever!" Draco said. Suddenly, an owl zoomed into view. Harry saw the owl, and noticed it was Hedwig. He motioned for her to wait into her room, and she obeyed. Harry then told the group that he wanted to go into his room for a minute, and motioned for Ron and Hermione to come too.
When they arrived at his room, Harry saw that Hedwig had dropped the notice off on his bed. Harry grabbed the letter and noticed there were two letters, one to Ron and Hermione, the other to himself. Harry grabbed the first note and read it to himself, not noticing another note inside, which Hermione and Ron immediately had grabbed. "What is going on?" Harry asked them, but they were absorbed in the note they had received.
Harry,
Give the enclosed note to Ron and Hermione. Don't read it yet.
Sirius
"What is going on?" Harry repeated, but Hermione and Ron refused to say. "It's a secret," Hermione said.
"A surprise," Ron said.
"What are you talking about?" Harry said, but Ron and Hermione refused to say. Harry, Ron, and Hermione then headed down the stairs to find Mr. Malfoy screaming at Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Weasley arguing with Mrs. Malfoy, and the Dursleys were all sleeping. Draco was silently approaching them. "What was that about?" he asked.
"Nothing that would interest you, Malfoy," said Ron.
"Look, there's no chance I could stay with your family the rest of summer vacation, is there? My dad is having a fit, and my mom doesn't exactly like that I like a Muggle-born witch," Draco said.
"What?" Ron said, dumbstruck.
"There isn't any chance that I could stay over your house for the rest of the summer, is there?" Draco said again.
"No, you called Hermione a Muggle-born witch, not a Mudblood! Way to go!" Ron said sarcastically.
"Oh. Well, can I stay over?"
"I guess so," Hermione said, and Draco smiled.
"No, sorry, Malfoy, you can't,"on said.
"Why can't he?" both Hermione and Harry asked.
"Hermione, you know why," Ron said, and he winked. Hermione seemed to understand at once, and she agreed that he shouldn't be over.
"Why can't he though?" Harry asked.
"He just can't," Ron said.
"Do you get the idea that they aren't tellling us something?" both Draco and Harry said, and they shrugged.
Three days later, Ron and Hermione still were over Harry's house, but Draco and his family had left because Mr. Malfoy did not want Draco falling in love with Hermione. As much as Draco argued that he liked Hermione, not loved her, Mr. Malfoy still did not approve. Hermione felt flattered, but, unfortunately, this wasn't enough to overthrow Mr. Malfoy.
"Hermione, can I talk to you?" Harry asked her, and they took off alone. "What did you say to Dudley, Draco, and Ron when they said that they liked you?"
"I haven't told them anything yet. I don't like Ron as more than a friend, Draco is just changing too fast for me, and Dudley I just met. Also, I won't be able to keep in touch with him when we are at school," Hermione said. "Also, I don't like any of them as more than a friend, and that would not be good for them now would it?" Hermione added.
"I know. It must be hard to be you," Harry said.
"Tell me about it," Hermione said.
"What is so secret that you can't even tell me?" Harry asked curiously.
"Look, Harry, you'll find out soon enough," Hermione said, and she smiled.
The next day, Harry, Ron, and Hermione went to Diagon Alley to pick up their school things. The Dursleys only allowed him to go because he was going to be out of their way and could be helpful. At Flourish and Blotts, Harry ran into someone he never expected to see there.
"Professor Lupin?" Harry asked the man.
"Hello, Harry," said Lupin.
"Why are you here?" said Harry.
"I am going to take on gamekeeping duties at Hogwarts this year," Lupin told Harry. "Ah, yes, I know you probably do not understand yet, but this year will be very different than the rest," he told Harry.
"I know about the Year of Differences," Harry told Lupin, whose face immediately turned to confusion.
"How did you find out about it?" Lupin asked.
"Ron," Harry said. "His dad works in the Ministry of Magic," Harry told Lupin, who now seemed more relaxed.
"Oh. I will see you in school, Harry," Lupin said, and he walked out of the store and suddenly vanished.
"Harry, what is going on?" Ron asked. "Was that Professor Lupin, or was it my imagination?"
"No, it was Professor Lupin. At least, I think I was. He seemed surprised to see me here, and that confuses me. He knows that I need to come and get my school books," Harry told Ron, and they walked on.
When everyone arrived back at the Dursleys, they arrived just in time for dinner. Aunt Petunia told Harry that he was lucky that there was any dinner at all, for Draco had shown up again, looking for a house to spend the rest of the summer in. They told Harry that they had refused, because Harry did not need a friend on Privet Drive. However, halfway into dinner, the doorbell rang. "I'll get it!" Harry told the group as he ran to the door.
Cristy Filman was standing there. "Hi, Harry. What happened earlier this week? Is that girl alright?"
"Yes, Hermione is alright. Hello, Lorena and Meghan," Harry added.
"Hi," said Meghan sheepishly.
"Nice to meet you, Harry," said Lorena, whose eyes immediately turned to Ron. "Ron Weasley?"
"Lorena?" Ron said.
"I didn't know you lived here! How is it going?" Lorena said.
"Good, how about with you?"
"Good," Lorena told him.
"Lorena and I knew each other from way back. We used to be friends, but then we moved here," Ron explained, seeing the startled look on both of his friends' faces. "See you later," Ron added, as Lorena, Meghan, and Cristy passed.
"Is she part veela or something?" Hermione said, as she stared at Ron's overexcited face.
"No, she is not part veela," he said. "I told you, we are friends from way back, before my family moved here," Ron said.
"You are showing the same expression that you showed when Fleur Delacour passed us last year," Hermione told Ron, but he still denied her being a veela.
The next day, Ron and Hermione were going home, accompanied by Harry, of whom they wanted to repay for the weeklong visit. When they got into the car Harry waved goodbye to the Dursleys, the Weasleys told the Dursleys to enjoy the year, and they all took off.
"Has anyone been taking care of Ginny, Fred, and George?" Harry asked Mrs. Weasley.
"Oh, Bill and Charlie are at home taking care of Ginny for us. Fred and George have spent the last month over Lee Jordan's house," Mrs. Weasley replied.
"Oh," Harry said, and Ron then spoke.
"We have a surprise for you at our house," Ron told Harry.
"What is it?"
"Well, it's a surprise, do you think we are going to tell you?" Hermione added.
When they arrived back at the Burrow, Harry walked up the stairs with all his stuff and walked inside. Harry heard a voice behind him. "It took you long enough," he heard and Harry turned around.
"Sirius?"
"I like you," Draco, Ron, and Dudley all repeated.
"Why do you like her?" Draco asked Dudley. "You haven't even known her that long! And she's a witch, your family doesn't get along with our kind do they?" he added.
"She is so nice, pretty, and generous. I am guessing that she is the smart one out of you guys? Unless my dope of a cousin Harry is?" Dudley told Draco.
"So what are you saying, you want to use her?" both Ron and Draco said at the same time, at the end adding, "Jinx, you owe me a soda!"
"Huh?" Dudley said.
"So, what are you saying," Draco said. "Are you saying that you want to use her?"
"No!"
"Well, by what you said, that's what it sounded like."
"Well, that's not what I meant for it to sound like."
"Whatever," Ron said. Hermione looked over where Harry had been, but he was gone.
"Why do you like her?" Ron asked Draco.
"She is cool. I also think that," Draco started, but he got cut off.
"You've called her a Mudblood!" Ron said.
"What's a Mudblood?" Dudley asked curiously.
"That's not important," said Draco. "Why do you like her, Weasley? Does she do your homework for you? Or do you want to use her?" Draco added.
"YOU HAVE CALLED HER A MUDBLOOD, THE MOST INSULTING THING SOMEONE CAN CALL A MUGGLE-BORN WITCH! DO YOU DENY IT?" Ron bellowed, so the entire street came up for a closer look.
"Um, Weasley, Why don't we take this inside?" Draco said, as Cristy Filman and a few other girls fought their way to the front of the crowd.
"What is going on?" Cristy asked.
"Nothing," Ron, Draco, and Dudley all said at the same time. Harry then came out, wondering where all the commotion was coming from.
"Oh, hi Harry! I'm Cristy Filman. These are my friends, Meghan and Lorena. And are these your friends?" Cristy asked Harry.
"This is Ron and Hermione. They are my best friends. And this is Draco and Dudley," Harry told her. "What is going on?"
"I'd like to know that also," Cristy added, her eyes on Harry.
Hermione was still standing, shocked. If Harry didn't know better, he would think she had been Stunned. "I think Hermione isn't feeling well, I will bring her inside," Harry said, grabbing Hermione and bringing her inside onto the couch. Then she finally recovered.
"Harry, what is going on? Why am I in here on this couch? And why is there a gigantic crowd out there?"
"Ron had screamed about Mudbloods and all, so the street thought something was wrong. My street also has a bunch of nosy little brats and gossipers, so they needed to watch it. By the way, what happened? Ron, Draco, and Dudley all like you. I ran inside then to tell Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Weasley to make themselves comfortable and brace themselves, but then I heard arguing so I stepped back outside again. Then Ron screamed, and I ran to see what was wrong," Harry told Hermione.
"I must have been stunned that Draco and Dudley liked me. I mean, I've had the feeling that Ron has for years, but Draco? He insults me on a daily basis! And Dudley, well, I just met him, and he is a freak. I don't know what to say to them," Hermione said breathlessly, and finally continued.
"I feel so horrible, not telling them about it, but the truth is, I only truly would like back two people, and I will not say who they are, because then I would probably be made fun of," Hermione added, and Harry, sharing his concern, nodded.
"How did I get in here?" Hermione faintly asked Harry.
"I had to get you out from the weirdos on the street, so I just grabbed you and carried you in," he said.
"Thanks," Hermione said, with her cheeks going red.
"Don't feel bad. I mean, wait, why are you blushing?" Harry asked.
"I am not blushing!" Hermione said back, as Draco, Ron, and Dudley came back into the house.
"Hermione, are you okay?" Ron asked soothingly.
"Yes, I am Ron. What is going on?" she asked.
"Well, I'll leave you two to it," Dudley said as he walked sorrily up the stairs.
"Did you guys hurt him or something? He looks upset," Hermione said.
"We just told him the truth, that he hasn't really gotten to know you, and then we told him a mini-bluff, that you were Harry's girlfriend," Draco said, and Hermione went red again.
"Mini-bluff? What do you mean?" asked Hermione and Harry.
"We never said that," said Ron.
"Yes, we did," Draco said as he winked. Unfortunately, Ron didn't agree. He and Draco began arguing until, "Ron!"
Mr. Weasley had come out to see what the fuss was about. "What is going on?"
"Nothing, Dad," Ron said.
"Lucius, you might want to come here and see this," Mr. Weasley said, and Ron and Draco changed positions immediately. Suddenly, Mr. Malfoy came out to see a very strange scene. Harry was bent over Hermione, making sure she was okay. Ron and Draco were on their knees next to Hermione, and Ron was holding her hand. Dudley was emerging from the staircase, and he too ran over to help Hermione.
"Draco, what are you doing? You are within twenty feet from a Mudblood when you know that we don't approve of the rifraff," Mr. Malfoy said, sounding very displeased.
"Ron, I know you and Hermione are friends, but why are you surrounding her?" Mr. Weasley asked.
"I would also like to know that, Dudley," said Aunt Petunia.
"Well, Aunt Petunia, it started out fine, with the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. After the Doom Room experience, Dudley," Harry said.
"And me," added Ron.
"And me," said Draco.
"All said that they liked," Harry continued, but Hermione interupted by saying, "Me."
At this statement, Mr. Malfoy grabbed Draco and pulled him away. He started screaming at his son, and everyone could hear it.
"You know that we Malfoys disprove of anyone from a non-magical family, like the Mudblood Hermione Granger!" Mr. Malfoy screamed, and Hermione burst into tears.
"Dad, I never said that I would be following the pattern of the Malfoy blood! Hermione is a witch, so even though she is Muggle-born," Draco told his father, who interupted again.
"You would not be a pure blood! Hermione Granger is not a witch, she is a Muggle! You know that," Mr. Malfoy continued, but Draco cut him off.
"Yes, I would. And she is a really sweet girl. I don't get why I should be restricted because you don't like Muggles! Hermione is a witch, and so I would still be a pure-blood. And also, I said I liker her dad, not loved her!" Draco said.
"Same difference!"
"No, It's not! Dad, I am only 16. I am not going to marry yet, I just wanted to tell her my feelings."
"I do not care! I will send you to Durmstrang then, okay Draco? You will be far away from us, living like Mr. Potter here! Do you want that?" Mr. Malfoy asked.
"Dad, you know I do not want that. By admitting my feelings I feel that a huge burden has been lifted. It feels really good!" Draco said.
"You admitted liking a Mudblood. You know that I detest all non-magic peoples that are being taught magic!" Mr. Malfoy said, but Draco had had enough. He stormed back into the hall, where the stunned faces of the Weasleys, Dursleys, Mrs. Malfoy, Hermione, and Harry were standing.
"What's wrong?" Draco asked.
"We heard the whole thing," Dudley said.
"You did?" Draco asked nervously.
"Yes. Thank you for standing up to your dad, great job!" said Mr. Weasley.
Others, however, did not take the cheerful view.
"You know your father and I do not approve of this kind of talk! We have not brought you up to behave like this!" Mrs. Malfoy said.
"Mum, I'm sorry, but I cannot live by your rules forever!" Draco said. Suddenly, an owl zoomed into view. Harry saw the owl, and noticed it was Hedwig. He motioned for her to wait into her room, and she obeyed. Harry then told the group that he wanted to go into his room for a minute, and motioned for Ron and Hermione to come too.
When they arrived at his room, Harry saw that Hedwig had dropped the notice off on his bed. Harry grabbed the letter and noticed there were two letters, one to Ron and Hermione, the other to himself. Harry grabbed the first note and read it to himself, not noticing another note inside, which Hermione and Ron immediately had grabbed. "What is going on?" Harry asked them, but they were absorbed in the note they had received.
Harry,
Give the enclosed note to Ron and Hermione. Don't read it yet.
Sirius
"What is going on?" Harry repeated, but Hermione and Ron refused to say. "It's a secret," Hermione said.
"A surprise," Ron said.
"What are you talking about?" Harry said, but Ron and Hermione refused to say. Harry, Ron, and Hermione then headed down the stairs to find Mr. Malfoy screaming at Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Weasley arguing with Mrs. Malfoy, and the Dursleys were all sleeping. Draco was silently approaching them. "What was that about?" he asked.
"Nothing that would interest you, Malfoy," said Ron.
"Look, there's no chance I could stay with your family the rest of summer vacation, is there? My dad is having a fit, and my mom doesn't exactly like that I like a Muggle-born witch," Draco said.
"What?" Ron said, dumbstruck.
"There isn't any chance that I could stay over your house for the rest of the summer, is there?" Draco said again.
"No, you called Hermione a Muggle-born witch, not a Mudblood! Way to go!" Ron said sarcastically.
"Oh. Well, can I stay over?"
"I guess so," Hermione said, and Draco smiled.
"No, sorry, Malfoy, you can't,"on said.
"Why can't he?" both Hermione and Harry asked.
"Hermione, you know why," Ron said, and he winked. Hermione seemed to understand at once, and she agreed that he shouldn't be over.
"Why can't he though?" Harry asked.
"He just can't," Ron said.
"Do you get the idea that they aren't tellling us something?" both Draco and Harry said, and they shrugged.
Three days later, Ron and Hermione still were over Harry's house, but Draco and his family had left because Mr. Malfoy did not want Draco falling in love with Hermione. As much as Draco argued that he liked Hermione, not loved her, Mr. Malfoy still did not approve. Hermione felt flattered, but, unfortunately, this wasn't enough to overthrow Mr. Malfoy.
"Hermione, can I talk to you?" Harry asked her, and they took off alone. "What did you say to Dudley, Draco, and Ron when they said that they liked you?"
"I haven't told them anything yet. I don't like Ron as more than a friend, Draco is just changing too fast for me, and Dudley I just met. Also, I won't be able to keep in touch with him when we are at school," Hermione said. "Also, I don't like any of them as more than a friend, and that would not be good for them now would it?" Hermione added.
"I know. It must be hard to be you," Harry said.
"Tell me about it," Hermione said.
"What is so secret that you can't even tell me?" Harry asked curiously.
"Look, Harry, you'll find out soon enough," Hermione said, and she smiled.
The next day, Harry, Ron, and Hermione went to Diagon Alley to pick up their school things. The Dursleys only allowed him to go because he was going to be out of their way and could be helpful. At Flourish and Blotts, Harry ran into someone he never expected to see there.
"Professor Lupin?" Harry asked the man.
"Hello, Harry," said Lupin.
"Why are you here?" said Harry.
"I am going to take on gamekeeping duties at Hogwarts this year," Lupin told Harry. "Ah, yes, I know you probably do not understand yet, but this year will be very different than the rest," he told Harry.
"I know about the Year of Differences," Harry told Lupin, whose face immediately turned to confusion.
"How did you find out about it?" Lupin asked.
"Ron," Harry said. "His dad works in the Ministry of Magic," Harry told Lupin, who now seemed more relaxed.
"Oh. I will see you in school, Harry," Lupin said, and he walked out of the store and suddenly vanished.
"Harry, what is going on?" Ron asked. "Was that Professor Lupin, or was it my imagination?"
"No, it was Professor Lupin. At least, I think I was. He seemed surprised to see me here, and that confuses me. He knows that I need to come and get my school books," Harry told Ron, and they walked on.
When everyone arrived back at the Dursleys, they arrived just in time for dinner. Aunt Petunia told Harry that he was lucky that there was any dinner at all, for Draco had shown up again, looking for a house to spend the rest of the summer in. They told Harry that they had refused, because Harry did not need a friend on Privet Drive. However, halfway into dinner, the doorbell rang. "I'll get it!" Harry told the group as he ran to the door.
Cristy Filman was standing there. "Hi, Harry. What happened earlier this week? Is that girl alright?"
"Yes, Hermione is alright. Hello, Lorena and Meghan," Harry added.
"Hi," said Meghan sheepishly.
"Nice to meet you, Harry," said Lorena, whose eyes immediately turned to Ron. "Ron Weasley?"
"Lorena?" Ron said.
"I didn't know you lived here! How is it going?" Lorena said.
"Good, how about with you?"
"Good," Lorena told him.
"Lorena and I knew each other from way back. We used to be friends, but then we moved here," Ron explained, seeing the startled look on both of his friends' faces. "See you later," Ron added, as Lorena, Meghan, and Cristy passed.
"Is she part veela or something?" Hermione said, as she stared at Ron's overexcited face.
"No, she is not part veela," he said. "I told you, we are friends from way back, before my family moved here," Ron said.
"You are showing the same expression that you showed when Fleur Delacour passed us last year," Hermione told Ron, but he still denied her being a veela.
The next day, Ron and Hermione were going home, accompanied by Harry, of whom they wanted to repay for the weeklong visit. When they got into the car Harry waved goodbye to the Dursleys, the Weasleys told the Dursleys to enjoy the year, and they all took off.
"Has anyone been taking care of Ginny, Fred, and George?" Harry asked Mrs. Weasley.
"Oh, Bill and Charlie are at home taking care of Ginny for us. Fred and George have spent the last month over Lee Jordan's house," Mrs. Weasley replied.
"Oh," Harry said, and Ron then spoke.
"We have a surprise for you at our house," Ron told Harry.
"What is it?"
"Well, it's a surprise, do you think we are going to tell you?" Hermione added.
When they arrived back at the Burrow, Harry walked up the stairs with all his stuff and walked inside. Harry heard a voice behind him. "It took you long enough," he heard and Harry turned around.
"Sirius?"