A/N: Finally, I've typed this chapter up! I hope everyone likes it, although it's not my favorite. I was originally planning to have Chapter 4 as part of this chapter, but then the kitchen scene got a bit too long, and I thought I'd leave the clothes shopping for Chapter 4...anyway, enjoy!
Chapter 3 - Kitchen Chat
Walking into the kitchen, Hermione yawned loudly. A loud crash sounded as a pot fell to the ground.
"Oh, it's just you, Hermione, a scared looking Molly Weasley said, picking up the pot she had dropped. "I thought - well, let's forget about it."
Hermione smiled at her reassuringly and sat down at the table. Ever since Dumbledore's death, everyone had become more fearful than before of Voldemort. Many had lost any hope at all that he could be defeated. Those few who hadn't were all resting their hopes on Harry. Hermione didn't know how Harry felt about this, but she didn't think it was the greatest feeling, and felt bad for him.
Sighing, she wondered how many would return to Hogwarts. Despite past talk of closing the school, it was going to remain opened to those who still wished to attend. Hermione was going to continue to go, as were Ron and Ginny, although their mother hadn't wanted them to. It had taken Arthur, Remus, Tonks and the rest of her sons as well as Ginny to convince her that returning to Hogwarts was right, and that Dumbledore would've wanted it. Hermione still didn't know if Harry would return, but she had a feeling he'd be there for at least part of the year.
"So why are you up so early, Hermione?" Molly asked, breaking into Hermione's thoughts.
"Oh, just the rooster. I still haven't gotten used to it."
Laughing, Molly started making pancakes. "Well, I guess they're hard to get used to. We don't even really need one, but we've had Fred for so long that I've grown quite fond of him." Noticing the expression on Hermione's face, she chuckled. "Yes, the rooster's name is Fred, and it was named after my own son. I didn't name him however; that honour went to Ginny."
"So why did Ginny name him after her brother?" Hermione questioned, a smile on her face.
"Well, we first got him when he wandered into our yard one day, and he appeared to belong to no one, so we kept him. Ginny was seven years old, and the twins were ten. It was the summer before they were leaving for their first year at Hogwarts. Both of them, even then, were terrible pranksters," Molly remembered, a grin on her face. "The day we got the rooster, Ginny was given the job of naming it. She was angry at Fred for taking one of her dolls at the time. So out of anger, she named the rooster Fred, claiming that they should have the same names because they were exactly alike, and as ugly as each other. Naturally, she didn't realize at the time she was also insulting George."
Hermione laughed. "I bet both of them were real pleased with that."
"Pleased with what?" a voice sounded.
Both Molly and Hermione jumped, Molly because of her fear of a death eater, Hermione because it was Ron in the doorway.
Ron surveyed the room, catching sight of Hermione, who made eye contact. The second that happened, they both immediately glanced away, Ron's ears reddening slightly.
"So, um, who was pleased with something?" Ron asked again, trying not to look at Hermione. He didn't want her catching him looking again.
"Oh, I was just telling Hermione about our rooster and how he was named," Molly replied, recovering. "He woke her up again."
"Oh." Ron sat down at the table in the seat farthest from Hermione, still not looking at her.
An awkward silence filled the room. Or at least it seemed that way to Ron and Hermione, who would take it in turns to look at one another. Molly had gone back to making breakfast. After about five minutes, Ron decided to break the silence.
"So, um, only a week left until the wedding." He said to no one in particular.
"Yes, and that reminds me, I needed to talk to you two, " Molly said, turning to look at both of them.
"About what?" They both exclaimed, looking worriedly at one another then dropping their gaze.
"There's no need to sound worried, I was just going to tell you that we'll be going with Fleur to get your wedding apparell on Wednesday. We'll be getting it at some Muggle store because Fleur wants to." Molly sniffed, apparently not pleased by this.
"But mom, I have a suit, I don't need to go." Ron looked horrified at the thought of going shopping for a suit with his mother.
"Oh yes you do Ronald," Molly eyed him sternly, "You neglected to inform me that the suit you planned to go in was at least 3 inches short on you and has holes in it."
"But it'll fit! And it looks fine, and it'll be cheaper than buying a new one!"
"It does not look fine an it will not fit! We're going to rent you one. You are going to come with us shopping to find it, and thats final, no complaining will get you anywhere, " she added as Ron opened his mouth to argue. "Also, I want you to write a speech to say at the wedding."
"Sp-Speech!" Ron spluttered. "Why can't Charlie make a speech? Or Fred? Or George? I'm not making a speech!"
"Oh yes you are," Molly continued, " Since you don't want to help plan this wedding, you're going to entertain everyone during it- "
"This is not fair!" Ron broke in, standing up angrily, "Charlie, Fred and George don't ahve to do anything! Why should I? And a speech? I'm bad at speeches!"
"You brothers have parts in the wedding," said Molly, now setting the table, "The twins are going to be hosts, and Charlie is also going to be making a speech- "
"And they know about this right?" Ron broke in again angrily.
"They'll know by tonight, dear. And as for you not being good at speeches, that's where Hermione will help you. You will help him, won't you dear?" Molly asked Hermione, who had suddenly turned red.
"Um, sure..." she replied, not wanting to disappoint Molly, "But how will I help him?"
"Just make sure his grammar is right and that it'll entertain everyone." Molly glanced at the clock. "I better go now and get everyone up, breakfast is ready and there's lots to do today." Bustling out of the kitchen, Molly headed upstairs.
For the second time that morning, and awkward silence filled the kitchen. Hermione gazed out the windows at the willow tree swaying in the wind, while Ron stared at the table. Finally it was Hermione who broke the silence.
"So er, do you know what you want to say in your speech?"
"No, but I don't really want to think about it right now either. I'm kind of tired of hearing about wedding stuff."
"Yeah, same with me, I can't wait until it's over." Hermione then cleared her throat, looked around, and asked quietly, "So do you think than Harry will be wanting to go to Godric's Hollow soon, then?"
Ron finally looked at Hermione, and odd expression on his face. "I think so. I mean, I think he wants to go on his birthday just because...well, you know why."
Hermione nodded. "Yeah, it'll also have been seventeen years to the day that his parents died."
Ron was silent. He was thinking about Hermione, and about ways he could impress her. Since the funeral, he had hid from her, something he was furious at himself for doing. No wonder she'll never think of me as being heroic, he had thought many times, Harry will always be the one who represents what a hero is.
It wasn't that Ron was jealous of Harry, he just wished that an opportunity would come in which he could be heroic, so that maybe Hermione would see him differently. He knew it was selfish to wish for a situation like this, after what had happened in the Department of Mysteries a year ago. But he hadn't really been a hero in that situation, something he wanted to have been. He still didn't feel worty of Hermione that much.
"Ron?" Hermione broke into his thoughts, "What are you thinking about?"
Ron reddened "Oh, um, the speech. I was thinking about that. Um, it'll probably take me awhile to think up something good to say, so I had better go to my room and think about it now." With that, Ron quickly stood up and strode out of the room, leaving a confused Hermione behind.
Did he leave because of me? She wondered. What did I say?
Before she could analyze more about what had happened, Fleur flew into the kitchen, beaming.
"Ah, Good Morning Hermione!" She exclaimed happily, "Eet 'ees only a week 'unteel my wedding!"
"Great.." Hermione replied sourly.
"No Hermione," Fleur took no notice she'd said anything, " Today I want you to 'elp me clean up the garden, the 'beegest job of 'uf all. 'Eet weel take all week because 'uf the gnomes. Molly and Ginny are 'elping too. But we weel still go looking for your dresses on Wednesday." Fleur then sat down at the table to wait for her breakfast.
Hermione groaned inwardly. If only Fleur could stay in this good mood all week, then I wouldn't mind helping out.