Evening

Hermione ran up to Ginny's room, where Ginny was sitting on her bed looking sheepish. "Sorry about … earlier. I don't think that'll be happening again any time soon" Ginny rubbed her eyes and looked down into her lap, as though fighting back tears. Hermione, who had not been expecting such an arrival, didn't know what to do.

"Erm… what happened? Have you two had a row?" Hermione asked, as she sat down on Ginny's right, resting her hand on Ginny's forearm. Ginny seemed to choke on her tears for a minute before answering Hermione.

"Well, after you came in, Dean got really embarrassed and wouldn't kiss me anymore, I started laughing at him, telling him not to worry, to loosen up a bit… to have fun, then suddenly he said he wasn't sure if we should keep seeing each other, he said he was getting to old", Ginny spat this word out, "to be mucking about with girls, to be having fun and by me laughing at the situation, showed how immature I was, and that needed a woman, not a girl!" The tears, which had once resided in Ginny's eyes, had now been replaced by anger and Hermione could almost see the burning need to hurt Dean dancing behind her eyes. "I mean, what the hell? What have I done? Stop having fun… he's seventeen not seventy." Hermione couldn't help but laugh.

"Gin, he's not worth it, he probably only finished it because he didn't want you to do it first. You know he doesn't deserve you, you're funny, gorgeous, clever and a Weasley… what's he? Dean." Ginny laughed hollowly. "You never know, he might have done you a favour…"

Ginny looked intrigued. "What do you mean?" Ginny asked raising an eyebrow.

"I've seen Harry looking at you very differently over the last few days, whenever I mention your name he glances towards the doorway to look for you, and when ever Ron mentions Dean, Harry tends to dent anything he's holding." Ginny's eyes lit up in hope.

"Really? You're not just saying this to cheer me up?" Hermione gasped at Ginny in mock horror.

"Would I do that!" Ginny laughed, not replying. "Now, go freshen up, make your self gorgeous again and go knock that boy dead." Hermione winked at Ginny, and squeezed her hand.

"Thanks, Hermione, Ron's lucky to have you." Ginny hugged Hermione then ran out of the door towards the bathroom. Hermione remained sitting, in shock at Ginny's departing comment.

Recovering quickly at the realisation that she had to get washed and changed and join the party which she had arranged, Hermione got up and rushed over to her trunk pulling out the dress her parents got her as a welcome home present. She then pulled out her wash bag and hurried off to the bathroom. After washing, moisturising and making up her face, Hermione returned to the bedroom and pulled on her dress, examined herself in the full length mirror, and brushed her beautifully long hair gently.

Ron was sitting at the breakfast table, fiddling with his fingers and glancing towards the staircase every few moments. Heaving himself up from the chair he took to walking around the table and humming WWN songs under his breath.

A cough from the doorway announced Hermione's arrival in the doorway. Ron looked up. His mouth fell open. "Wow…" They both blushed. Hermione looked, in Ron's opinion, simply stunning, she was wearing a shimmering read halter neck dress, which fell to her knees and seemed to emit both heat and light, so that the normally dark and dingy kitchen suddenly seemed cosy and inviting.

"That good?" Hermione suggested cheekily. Ron nodded still unable to talk. "Shall we go out… into the garden, then?" Hermione quickly added. Ron once again nodded and shut his mouth. Hermione led the way with Ron hurrying in her wake.

As they stepped out of the doorway an explosion of cheers and applause greeted them over the distant sound of music. This time it was Hermione's turn to stand open-mouthed, unable to speak. Gathered in the garden was every member of the order Ron and Hermione had ever met, Harry, Ginny, Fred, George, Bill, Fleur, Charlie, his girlfriend, Hannah, Hagrid and a few of Ginny's young witch friends that lived nearby. Mrs Weasley hurried up to them, wrapped her arms around them and squeaked, "This is lovely, thank you both! What a lovely way to enjoy the summer! You must have worked so hard!" Mrs Weasley let go of them, her face shining with happiness. "And Fred told us the good news… Welcome to the family Hermione!" And before Hermione could say anything Mrs Weasley had enveloped her in a big hug.

Ron looked dumbstruck. "What! What did Fred tell you mum?" Hermione nodded at Ron as though to agree with his reasons for asking.

"Fred told us about your decision to start courting" Mrs Weasley said slowly, then winking at Ron. Ron looked at though he'd just been hit in the face by a shovel. "I think I'll go and hand out the drinks…" and with that, Mrs Weasley hurried off into the crowd of people. Hermione and Ron turned to stare at each other in disbelief.

"Did you say something?" They both asked at the same time. "NO" The then replied at the same moment. "I'm gonna kill Fred!" Ron exploded.

Bill came weaving through the crowd up to them, clutching Fleur's hand in his own.

"I hear you've joined the club!" Bill shouted a little too loudly then hiccupped. Fleur giggled at his side. Ron raised one eyebrow.

"Are you … drunk?" Bill looked mortally offended. "I do NOT get drunk, I'll have you and your girlfriend know!" Ron and Hermione blushed crimson.

"Hermione isn't my girlfriend." Ron said determinedly.

Fleur waved one of her pale hands as if to swat away Ron's comment. "She clearly ees! Eet ees obvious! I ave seen you togezzer! Eet is true!" Fleur giggled and pulled Bill away who was now laughing insanely at Fleur's conclusion.

"Let's go for a walk…" Hermione muttered. Ron nodded in agreement and walked over to an empty garden bench.

Within ten minutes half the people at the party and decided to congratulate Ron and Hermione on their new found love for one another. And however hard they tried, everyone seemed to refuse to believe that they weren't courting, as Mrs Weasley had so kindly put it.

After Ginny had ran up to Hermione, shouting at her for not telling her sooner but left laughing at her attempt to make them hold hands, Hermione had had enough. "Is there somewhere I can get some fresh air and peace and quiet?" Ron thought for a moment.

"Yeah there's the stream at the end of the garden, behind all those trees, there's a field where the muggle kids play in the day, only me and Ginny know it's there, well except for dad, but he's not even allowed close to there cause Mum's scared he'll ambush the kids and nick their toys and stuff. They laughed softly at the thought.

"Ah, cool, do you think you could show me how to get past the trees… without being seen?"

"Yeah sure, I'll come with you, if you don't mind." Ron suggested.

"Of course not, I'd like the company. And you're the only one who knows the truth about 'us'."

Hermione smiled up at Ron and followed him down the garden avoiding eye contact with the other, now tipsy, guests.