Chapter 13: Apologies

"Hermione?"

"In here!" Hermione called from the bathroom.

"What are you doing?" said Ron.

"Oh, hi Ron. Just getting my stuff." she replied, turning back to the bathtub. She grabbed a few bottles.

"Er…Need any help?" he offered.

"Hmm? Oh, erm. You could hold these for a second?"

"Alright."

Hermione dumped the items into his arms. She then led him to her bed and took her suitcase out from underneath. After opening it, she deposited a small blanket and a few souvenirs from the trip. Ron set the bottles inside saying, "So. Do you have anything else you have to do?"

"I don't think so. Are you all packed yet?"

"Just finished."

"Oh?"

"Yeah…"

There was a pause.

"So. I was thinking. Maybe, since you're done too, I was going to take a walk. Do you - want to join me?"

"Sure. I don't think the girls were going to do anything."

At that moment Madison sped in, dragging Haley with her.

"Hey, Hermione!" Madison said brightly, "We were just going to go swimming. Want to-- Ow!" She looked at Haley in surprise. Haley nodded her head at Ron and Hermione.

"You don't have to come," Haley said quickly, "Come on, Madison."

"What the heck was that for!" Ron and Hermione heard Madison cry out when the door had closed.

"Hello, captain obvious!" Haley exclaimed. Their voices died down as they proceeded down the hall.

"You can go, if you want." Ron said.

"No, I'd rather go for a walk."

"Really?"

"Yeah." Hermione smiled as they walked towards the door.

---

It was around nine o'clock when Hermione and Ron turned from the rocks and headed back towards where the others were swimming. The sun was already high in the sky and the air full of salt. Waves washed up a few feet way from the two.

Suddenly, Ron reached out and pushed Hermione. She stumbled towards the water, but didn't fall. Water swept up to her toes.

"Ron! What was that for?" Hermione burst out angrily.

"Come on. You can't think I'd let you walk back perfectly dry when everyone else is wet?" Ron gave a lopsided grin.

"Everyone's wet but--" Hermione paused, then grinned, "Everyone but you!" She yelled, grabbing his arm, trying to pull him after her.

"Hermione, I way far too much for you to--" But he had just fallen into the water. He came up sputtering. "Hey! That's not fair!"

"I never said I was fair." Hermione called, running towards the others.

"Oh, you're going to get it!" cried Ron, running after her.

Hermione sped up as fast as she could. Finally, she neared the others. "Harry!" She shrieked. "Get him away fr--"

This time, she was cut off as Ron grabbed her and they both toppled into the water. Hermione came up gasping.

"Ron!" Hermione burst out. But she was laughing this time.

"Guess what?" Ron said suddenly.

"Hmm?"

He poked her lightly on the shoulder and whispered, "You're it." Then he dove into the water.

"Oh you just wait!" she called after him, and she began to swim after him.

"That. Is. Sick." said Ginny.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked.

"Them! Her and-- and him-- my brother-- ugh! Their practically head over heels for each other and they don't even know it."

"Ah, they'll find out. Eventually." Harry added with a grin.

"What're you guys talking about?" asked Hermione.

"Oh, nothing. Just-"

"YOU'RE IT!" shouted Hermione, jabbing Harry in his shoulder.

"Ow!" He burst out.

"See you!" Hermione swam away towards the shore.

"Oh! She got you!" said Ginny. "Wait. Why are you looking at me like that? Harry?"

"You're it!" He yelled triumphantly, patting her head, "No tag backs!"

"Harry!" shrieked Ginny, turning red.

"What's up with you, Gin?" said Ron, gliding over. He apparently missed what had just happened.

"Nothing. You're it!"

"Hey! That's not fair!"

"No one said I was fair!" She called over her shoulder.

Ginny drew closer to Harry and Hermione. Haley and Madison had also joined them in the water.

"Hey guys." she said breathlessly.

"Get away from me, Gin! I already said no tag backs!" said Harry.

"I'm not it, you idiot. I got Ron because he was too daft to pay attention to who was it."

"Oh. Okay then." said Harry.

"Wait. Where is Ron anyways?"

Suddenly, Ron burst out of the water about three yards way from them. Almost instantly, everyone scattered as far away as they could.

"Hermione!" yelled Ginny, "Grab my hand!"

Hermione reached out, but was suddenly pulled back.

"Gotcha!" Ron said, pulling Hermione back.

"Ron! Let me go!" Hermione laughed, trying to pry his arms from her waist.

"I don't think so." Ron said, laughing.

"Ron! Let me down this instant! Ron. Ron? Ron, no! No, stop it!" she squealed as he began to tickle her. "Ahh!"

"Ooh. Ron and Hermy sittin' in a tree." said Ginny.

"K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" Harry said and they and Haley and Madison burst out laughing.

"What? What's so funny?" said Ron, forgetting to continue tickling. He and Hermione hadn't heard them.

"Your face." said Madison.

"What? What's wrong with my face?" He reached up to touch his face.

"Ha! Thanks guys!" said Hermione, drifting away from Ron.

"Hey!"

Hermione stuck out her tongue.

"You just wait until I-"

"As much as I would love to hear the end of that sentence, we're all boarding the Knight Bus in ten minutes." said Professor McGonagall, surprising them all: Ginny and Madison both swallowed a large amount of salt water and began to choke, Hermione and Ron sprang apart from each other and looked up, Harry laughed at all of them, and Haley let out a small gasp. She left and, almost all at once, the six hurried to the sand and began to run to the hotel.

(A/N: Well, 'tis the end of another wonderful chapter. Ha! I sound like Lockhart. Anyway…hope you liked the chapter. The next will be up by tomorrow. I promise! Well, unless I get grounded or something but you know what I mean. Keep the reviews coming! Love ya'll!)