Summary

Ginny hasn't gotten over her crush on Harry Potter and is annoying the heck out of a certain busy-haired Gryffindor. What if Hermione is determined to show Ginny a big flaw in the Boy-Who-Lived? That would mean that Hermione is going to be forced into spending more time with Harry. What happens when the more Hermione tries to find something bad in him, she finds good? What happens when the big flaw in her big plan is that she is falling head over heels for someone she's only allowed to look at as a best friend?

Chapter 2

Disclaimer: I do not owe any of the Harry Potter characters that were created by the brilliant mind of J.K. Rowling. So thank her…not me! :D

Author's Note: I am extremely sorry that I haven't uploaded this chapter, but I've been in…a writer's block. I haven't come up with anything new. I hope you like this chapter.

It was probably the coolest of night in Little Whinging, Surrey, where everyone was calmly sleeping with a refreshing breeze through the windows. Only one occupant in 4 Privet Drive was thrashing around drenched in sweat.

Harry Potter was having dreadful nightmares.

It has been two weeks since Harry had led six Hogwarts students, which included himself, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Ginny Weasley, Neville Longbottom, and Luna Lovegood to the most dangerous adventure he had ever had. It had also been two weeks worth of nightmares where he would see his godfather, Sirius Black, fall through the veil at the Department of Mysteries. That's all that has been going through Harry's head at night, before, during, and after he slept.

All in all, it has been a tiring two weeks.

The next morning had been the same as all the mornings for the past two weeks.

Harry Potter woke up drenched in sweat and extremely exhausted. He got dressed quietly, and went down for breakfast.

Since the beginning of his summer vacations it was the same thing when Harry entered the kitchen. Uncle Vernon would clear his throat and mutter a simple "good morning." Dudley would also do the same but he said it in a stronger and clearer voice than his father and he would add a true smile.

Harry suspected the change was because of last summer when Dudley was attacked by a dementor.

The one who had a total and shocking transformation was his aunt. Every morning after Uncle Vernon and Dudley said (mutter in Uncle Vernon's case) their good mornings, Aunt Petunia would usher Harry into a chair and give him a plate piled up with some of his favorite foods. He was taken aback that she even knew the foods he liked best.

The first day that happened…well, you can imagine Harry's face when he was pushed toward the kitchen table so he could eat breakfast and not clean up the dishes.

This morning, however, was quite different.

"Good morning, Harry," said Aunt Petunia from the hot stove, where she was cooking eggs and strips of bacon. "You're up early. Your uncle and cousin aren't even up yet."

"I know," replied Harry. "I just couldn't sleep."

"Oh, I see…anything that you would like to talk about, Harry?" she asked as she put a plateful of food in front of her nephew.

Harry couldn't believe his ears. Aunt Petunia was actually asking him if he would like to talk to her. To say the least, he was astounded.

Seeing the surprised look on his face, she said, "Well, you are my sister's son, are you not?"

"Yes, b-but you've n-never cared a-about me b-before," Harry stammered.

"I've come to realize that you probably have to carry a burden in the magical world with Vol- oh what's his name?"

"Voldemort."

"Yes, him. Since last summer that you said that he had returned, I remembered what your mother, Lily, used to tell our parents about this horrible person and the horrible things that he would do to people like us. I realized that that with Voldemort back, those things would soon come to pass again. I suddenly began to understand different things and I began to realize that your world, mostly, is going to suffer or is suffering.

Again, Harry was shocked.

"In a way, all that I'm doing is to show you that I'm extremely sorry for the way I've treated you for these past sixteen years," finished Aunt Petunia, as Dudley and Uncle Vernon entered the room.

"Good morning, cousin," said Dudley, with a grin on his face. "Mum is taking me shopping today; goodness knows how long I can live with these pants riding down my bottom, would you like to come?"

"Sure," agreed Harry.

When Harry arrived at 4 Privet Drive and saw Dudley, his jaw had dropped to the floor, not only by his attitude but also by his look.

Dudley was not as skinny as Harry (and frankly, I think you all agree with me that he will never be) but wasn't as huge as a hippopotamus. His facial expressions had made a big difference on his appearance. His face did not look like a sickly pig looking at you as though he wanted to punch the living lights out of you.

Once the breakfast plates were cleaned and put away, Uncle Vernon headed to work, while Aunt Petunia, Dudley, and Harry made their way to the nearest shopping mall.

"Come on, Harry, see if you like any of these clothes," said Aunt Petunia, going into a store called Gap.

"For me?" questioned Harry.

"Well, of course, for you, unless your name isn't Harry Potter," she said.

"Okay," was the only reply he could make.

As they went to more and more stores, Harry became less and less amazed to hear his aunt ask him if he wanted any of "these clothes."

Until after they had walked, what Harry felt like, the entire shopping centre, this trio entered a store named Old Navy, where he liked the clothes that were on the display window.

About an hour and a half later, Harry came out of the store carrying about three large bags filled with clothes that Aunt Petunia bought him. For some strange reason, he couldn't stop thanking her. (Though I think our smart and beautiful readers at home do know the reason wink wink)

"Will you stop your thanks, please?" asked Aunt Petunia exasperated. "I already told you that you deserve these clothes. I daresay maybe next summer I'll take you to go buy more."

"But I really don't deserve these," Harry protested as they arrived home. (A.N: the only chance he's got to get back at the Dursleys, he's being all modest, don't you all think? I say you all flame the author…oh wait, that's me…eh…never mind!!)

"Now, go up to your room and put those clothes where they belong, neatly!" cried Aunt Petunia, as Harry bounded up the stairs to his room.

Harry couldn't believe his luck! Not only did was his only family changing into good people (sounds kind of weird calling the Dursleys good people) but they bought him clothes that actually fit him well and weren't ten times his size. If he couldn't believe his luck, it was about to get better.

"Hello, Hedwig," said Harry, as his snowy white owl flew into his bedroom through the open window. "Who's the letter from, girl?"

It was from Hermione.

Dear Harry,

Look, I know that you are probably just going to read this letter and then throw it away or throw it inside a drawer filled with all the other letters that you haven't answered from Ron or me. Just listen, okay?

I'm not going to tell you that you should stop feeling sorry for yourself and I'm not going to tell you that I know how you feel inside because I don't.

But I will tell you one thing…no one blames you for what happened. Dumbledore, Moody nor all of the other Order members blame you for going to the Ministry of Magic (well, maybe Snape but you know how he is), Ron doesn't blame you for what happened to him with the brains, Neville doesn't blame you for getting a broken nose, he's actually thanking you because he wouldn't have the courage he has now because of you. Luna doesn't blame you for…well, anything because nothing did happen to her, Ginny doesn't blame you for breaking her ankle, it was because of those "stupid, bloody idiots of Death Eaters," as she so nicely puts it. I most certainly don't blame you for getting hit with all those spells and hexes. Madame Pomfrey got me right back on my feet in a couple of days, didn't she? Yes, with loads of nasty potions, but hey, it was for my own good, wasn't it? So please don't blame yourself. I beg you.

On a happier note, Dumbledore told the Weasleys that you are allowed to come to the Burrow (that's where I am right now). I, along with the Weasleys, are going to pick you up two days before our birthday at 5 in the afternoon so please be ready. Oh, and tell the Dursleys not to worry because we are going to pick you up in a car. It seems that Professor Dumbledore found the Ford Anglia in the forest last term when he went to look for Umbridge. Well, I'll see you soon.

Love from, P.S: Ginny says hi…oh, and also Ron.

Hermione

Just great, Harry thought. I'm going to a house where I'm just going to receive these looks of sympathy. Wait, two days before my birthday…

He looked at the calendar.

"That's today!" he said out loud. "At 5? That's in an hour!"

Just really great, Harry thought once again, bounding down the stairs.

"Aunt Petunia!" cried Harry, as he entered the room.

"Yes, what is it?" she said getting up from the sofa with a concern look on her face.

"I'm leaving in an hour. My friends are going to come pick me up."

"Oh, ok. Umm, well, why don't you go gather your things and place them in your trunk, while I go see if there's any of your clothes in the laundry room." Aunt Petunia said, leaving the living room.

Harry went upstairs, picked up all the clothes he had, folded them as best he could, and placed them on the bottom of his trunk. Then, he picked up all the books and placed them on top of his stacked clothes.

When he finished packing and checking twice that he hadn't left any of his books, quills, or bits of parchment, he went to the bathroom to change into his new clothes. Finishing getting ready, he took a look in the mirror.

Wow. He looked completely different.

He was wearing a dark forest green t-shirt that bore the legend "Tiki's Surf shop." He was also wearing some semi-baggy blue jeans with some khaki suede shoes.

Exiting the bathroom, he saw Dudley looking into his room, turned around, and headed to where Harry was.

"Hey, Harry."

"Hey, Dudley."

"Mum wanted me to come and tell you that it's already 15 'til, so to hurry. Oh, she also said that she placed your clean clothes on your bed," said Dudley looking at Harry.

"What?" Harry asked.

"You look nice. You gonna see your girlfriend or something? I'm pretty sure that there are good looking girls at your school."

"Thank you, but no. I don't have a girlfriend," he replied.

"Oh," was the only thing Dudley said as he went back down to the living room to watch television.

He entered his room and put the clothes that Aunt Petunia left on his bed into his trunk. Just to make sure, he checked carefully one last time all around his room, the closet, in drawers, on the desk, and the loose floorboard under his bed. After he made sure that nothing was going to be left behind, he sat down on his bed and reread the letter that Hermione sent him.

He thought about how Hermione fell over with an astounded look on her soft face when she was hit with that hex that made her go into unconsciousness. He didn't ever want to see that ever again. But as he was going to reminiscing about all the other people that got hurt, there was a knock on the front door below. He knew that the Weasleys had arrived but he didn't get up from his bed. Instead, he waited.

"His room is the first one to your left, dear," he heard Aunt Petunia say.

So, thought Harry, someone wants to see me first. I wonder who? Could it be Mrs. Weasley or maybe Ron or maybe…

"Harry?"

Oh, it's Hermione. Good.

"Come in." Harry replied.

"Did you get my letter?" she asked timidly.

"Of course I did, if I hadn't I would be extremely surprised that you're in my bedroom, while the Weasleys are downstairs talking to my aunt, no doubt," said Harry in a monotonous tone, still not facing her. "Shut the door."

She did as she was told.

As Harry stood up and faced her, he said, "Listen, you were right on your letter. You don't know how I feel; no one does, because you, Ron, and Ginny still have both your parents. In a way, thank you for writing those things, it sort of helped me. I'm pretty sure that you're probably the only that's thinking what you wrote. So thank you."

"You don't need to thank me, Harry. I'm your friend and that's what friends do. They help each other," Hermione said closing the space between them.

"Also, thank you for tolerating my scream sessions last year," he said, with an apologetic smile on his face.

"It's okay, you know, after my ear drum nearly burst, it's still okay," she reassured him.

Harry laughed softly.

"Oh my goodness, he laughed! Alert the press!" she laughed.

"Oh, shut up," he said jokingly.

"It's really good to see you smile again, Harry," said Hermione, throwing her arms around her best friend's neck.

At first, Harry didn't know what was going on, until he realized that Hermione was hugging him. Unsure about himself, he wrapped his arms around her small and tucked his face in her neck.

"Harry, Hermione, Mum wants to know what's taking you two too long," said Ginny Weasley barging into Harry's room, but stopped short at the sight in front of her.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know I was interrupting anything," her voice dripping with ice. (Which only Hermione noticed.)

Hermione let go of Harry as though he were on fire, with a sort of nervous look on her face, while Harry slowly let go of Hermione leaving one arm on her waist.

"You weren't interrupting anything, I swear," said Hermione a little bit apprehensively, earning her a disbelieving look from Ginny. (My, my, aren't we the jealous type? Hehe…sorry…proceed)

"Hello, Ginny," smiled Harry. "I was just giving Hermione a hug because she's an extremely good friend."

"Oh, I see," Ginny said, looking at Hermione letting her know that Harry's arm was still on her waist.

"Well," Hermione began, "we best start dragging your trunk to the top of the stairs so someone can help us take it down."

"Ok," responded Harry as he finally let go of Hermione.

After a couple of minutes of pushing and pulling, they got Harry's trunk to the top of the stairs to see that they were keeping certain people on the edge of their patience or stomachs.

"Finally! I'm starting to get hungry down here, you know?" came the voice of Harry's other best friend, Ron.

"Well, listen to your stomach later, Ronald Weasley, and come help us!" came the very annoyed voice of Hermione.

"Ok, ok, geez, I can't even joke around with my best mate," said Ron coming up the stairs.

When they finally got the trunk on the bottom landing, Harry heard his aunt call him into the living room.

"Yes, Aunt Petunia?" asked Harry seeing that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were in there along with Dudley.

"Harry, tell them that we haven't been mistreating you, since they don't want to believe me. I daresay, they have a reason not to." She said.

Harry turned to the Weasleys and said in a calm voice, "They have treated me well for these past two weeks that I've been her. Heck, they even bought me new clothes and shoes, for crying out loud! They have also fed me three regular meals a day."

"Ok, Harry, ok. We just wanted to make sure," Mrs. Weasley said, "though I would like an explanation for the certain change."

"That, Mrs. Weasley, is between my nephew and I." said Aunt Petunia, coldly.

"Umm, ok, I think that it's time to hit the road, now," said Mr. Weasley trying to break the ice between his wife and Mrs. Dursley. "Harry, say good-bye to your aunt and cousin. We'll be outside waiting for you."

"Ok." Harry said as Mr. and Mrs. Weasley left the room.

"Oh, Harry, I truly am sorry for the way we've been treating you these past sixteen years," said Aunt Petunia, her voice trembling.

"It's okay," Harry reassured her.

"Now, expect something for Christmas, ok? Nothing fancy but just a little something," she sniffed.

"Ok."

"Hey, Harry, do you mind sending me some treats? No funny stuff and if it is funny tell me first. Also, none of those ton tongue toffees please," said Dudley reminiscing on his humongous tongue he received two years ago. (Courtesy of Weasley Wizard Wheezes, I think…)

"Sure thing, Dudley?" laughed Harry, also remembering.

"Well, good-bye, Harry, 'til next summer," said Aunt Petunia, giving him his first hug ever, from her.

"Good-bye, Aunt Petunia," said Harry, returning her gesture.

"Now, owl me if you need anything, ok?" she asked.

"Sure. Be safe," he said, walking out the front door to the Weasley's parked Ford Anglia. He settled in between Hermione and Ginny thinking that he was free once again, but not from a horrible home, at least it wasn't a horrible home anymore.

A.N. ok, ok I accept flames but just for today 'cause I know that this chapter, apart from being extremely boring it was extremely long! Believe me people it wasn't only long for you guys. I'm the one who wrote it!!! Hopefully I'll update in a week or so. I'm starting the next chapter tomorrow. So hopefully you liked it…still review if you didn't. Peace.