Chapter nine:- Having a flapping good time…..no pun intended.

"So Ron's going to be ok?" Ginny asked Bill as he came down stairs from checking on Ron.

"He'll be fine Ginny, I think he's more embarrassed than anything else". His eyes travelled to Fred and George who looked somewhat ashamed.

"I'll say this once. No one tells mum and dad, they have enough to deal with" his eyes twinkled at the relief in Fred and George's eyes.

"Further more you two lay off pranking Ron for the rest of this year at least and I'll consider forgiving you. And for Merlin's sake if you must make sweets that turn people into birds will you kindly remember not to mix magical bird feathers with ordinary muggle bird feathers. You're lucky your test subjects don't have permeant tails".

"We didn't actually check to make sure they don't" Fred muttered under his breath to Harry who couldn't help but smirk at the thought.

"Looks like you lot better go and help Tonks". Bill laughed as he saw that Ron had come downstairs as Lupin had told him and was now watching Tonks try to teach him how to play pool.

"She's over there trying to teach Ron to play pooland she knows less about it than he does!".

"This is a stupid game" Ron said decidedly as the others joined him at the table. Harry clapped him on the back to show him he was glad he was alright and indicating that he'd also be grilling him later.

"Oh Ron" Hermione took his hand, ignoring the fact that this made his ears turn a rather cute shade of pink.

She placed the cue in his hands, showing him how to aim at the ball.

"The cue doesn't move the ball Ron, you have to hit the ball with the cue".

"Oh…. No wonder if wasn't bloody working then" they all laughed at this and enjoyed learning the finer art of playing pool under Hermione's teaching. Surprisingly enough under Hermione's guidance Ron seemed to be the better out of most of the group. Even Harry was surprised to find that Ron was doing better than he, even though he had had prior experience.

"You taught him too well Hermione" Harry complained as Ron managed to sink two balls at once.

"It's all in your strategy Harry" Ron explained knowledgably, having considerably brightened as the game went on.

"You started this" Harry gripped at her "You make it stop". Hermione winked at Harry and moved to the other side of the table where Ron was preparing his next shot.

"Ron" she whispered softly in his ear, "I just wanted to thank you for protecting me today". She kissed his cheek gently, having the desired effect of throwing him completely off his game.

He turned around quickly, standing close enough to make her blush. "Oh you want to play that game do you Hermione?" he challenged with a surprisingly disarming smile that was making breathing very difficult at present. He handed her the cue and continued his smirk as she tried to make her own shot with Ron standing just too damn close for comfort. Fred and George howled with laughter as a very red faced Hermione missed her own shot and retired defeated back to her own side of the table. Ron and Ginny easily won the game and all retired to dinner with much laughter and talk of going back to Hogwarts.

Remus watched them from the shadow of the archway leading out to Diagon Alley with a smile upon his face.

It wasn't apart that they would defeat the evils of this world but together, a team, and a family. No matter the trials life threw at them it was the times like this, with their laughter and friendship that Remus knew they would all make it through this dark time, some how, he was sure they would all make it together!

THE END

(For now! Stay tuned for more 'Lessons in Muggle Studies')

……………………………………………………………………………………..

I know, I know, probably very corny but hopefully it made someone somewhere in the world smile!

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE could you be kind and review my story! I would greatly appreciate it! I'm a beginning writer and really appreciate any advice anyone wants to give me! Don't be harsh though please, I'm only new!