Disclaimer: I do not own any Harry Potter concepts or characters; I am merely borrowing them, hopefully for the entertainment of others! I'm not making any profit!

Note: HBP Spoilers!

This is my second in a series of 'Muggle Studies' stories I'm writing. I know this subject of the hospital scene in HBP has been done before, but this is my take on what could have happened! Please review! (PLEASE!)

Here's the story

Lessons in Muggle Studies: 'Hospital Etiquette'

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Chapter One- What they don't see, everyone else noticed long ago!

Ginny stood in the sixth year girls' dormitory with a slight smirk as she looked around the room. There was something to be said for a person's room reflecting their personality. Hermione's side of the room was neat and meticulous while that of her room mates looked suspiciously like a small hurricane had destroyed everything in its path. The room was empty of people except for Hermione, who looked very much like she was trying to convince her she was still asleep.

"It's Ron's birthday today". Ginny's voice roused Hermione from a restless sleep with a fact she knew perfectly well but was trying desperately hard to ignore. She sighed, sitting up in bed and meeting Ginny's watchful eyes.

"You can't punish him forever you know"

"Aren't we just a master of the obvious this morning" Hermione muttered grumpily. cringing as she felt the effects last night's restless tossing had had upon her hair. There was no escaping the intuitive red head standing before her. Honestly she thought with disgust, if her brother had inherited half of Ginny's 'get a clue genes' she wouldn't be having this problem.

"Are you planning on hiding up here and avoiding him all day?" Ginny questioned with raised eyebrows, obviously hoping to guilt her into forgetting the past couple of weeks, based solely on the fact that the prat just happened to be born on this day, which seemed to mean he should automatically be forgiven for being with her. Damn right she'd been planning on avoiding him all day, just perhaps not in such an easily accessible place.

"I'm sure Lavender will give him all the birthday presents he needs" Ginny cringed at the thick sarcasm. Ok, so it was official, her brother had gone completely insane and was being the world's largest prat (well maybe not the worlds largest, but pretty damn close). However as Ginny watched Hermione moving quickly out of bed, not allowing Ginny to see her face and unable to meet her eyes, she couldn't help but hope Hermione hadn't given up on him. There was no way her brother was dumb enough to continue this charade much further, was he?

Hermione changed quickly, ready to beat a hasty retreat; "I'm going to the library Ginny" she called out, making an exit which left Ginny to find her own outlet for her frustrations.

"I swear someone should just bang those two heads together" Harry looked up startled from where he was standing in the common room, having just come down to grab Ron's birthday present that he'd hidden. The sight of Ginny standing indignantly in front of him in her dressing gown was enough to cause a slight pink tinge to cross his cheeks.

"I'd enjoy having a discussion over whose heads these two should be but I have a feeling I already know".

"He's jealous of Victor. He's insecure. He doesn't think he's good enough for her so he decided to turn himself into Mr. 'look-I have-a girl-fawning-all-over-me-so-that-makes-me-better-than-Victor-so-there'! Hermione who is smart enough to know Ron's being a prat is still too hurt/angry/scared to do anything about it!" Harry gaped at her for a moment, unsure how to respond to this. He hadn't spent much time thinking about his two best friends having feelings for each other until recently. The idea was still very new and surprising to him.

"Then our dear 'too-clever-for-her-own-good-sometimes' Hermione decides to play as dirty as he does! Honestly!" Harry had to smile in remembrance of the Mac Craggen backfire. He wasn't going to let Hermione off that one too quickly.

"Ginny, I don't think there's anything we can do about it right now. It's Ron's birthday, we can sort him out tomorrow".

"You'd think with times the way they are people wouldn't be so easy about leaving things to tomorrow would you!" Ginny snapped back suddenly, anger darkening her eyes.

"It'll be ok Ginny". Harry looked surprised by her outburst. "We both know Ron and Hermione, they'll get through this. They always do!" he smiled at her then held up Ron's present.

"I better get going and give this to Ron or he'll think I've forgotten too. He was asking about her this morning again you know". Ginny nodded with some satisfaction.

"I guess jealously can be a good sign. I mean, it can show how much you care about someone right?" Harry turned and fled, deciding this line of questioning was way too dangerous to follow up on his best mate's birthday.

…………………………………………………To be continued……...