A/N: here's the next chapter. RR!!

disclaimer: i dont own harry potter, jk rowling, or any characters!!

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Harry winced as she spinning stopped and he fell out of the fireplace onto the cold, hard floor of the Weasleys' house. Soot covered, Harry shook his head and stood up. He was soon followed by Mr. Weasley and the twins.

"All right Harry, you can stay in Ron's room. Hermione already has the guest room occupied. Fred, George, help Harry take his stuff up to Ron's room," Mr. Weasley said standing up.

"Ok," Fred and George replied at the same time. The two took Harry's stuff and headed upstairs. Harry stayed downstairs to talk to Mr. Weasley.

"Mr. Weasley? Have you noticed anything different about Ron or Hermione?" Harry asked trying not to sound like he suspected anything.

"Well, not really. They have been acting kind of secretly lately. Like they don't want everyone else to know something. I reckon it's no big deal though. Why?" Mr. Weasley asked curiously eyeing Harry.

"No reason. Just wondering," Harry replied. Mr. Weasley nodded his head and walked into another room leaving Harry standing there alone.

"HARRY!" Harry turned around to see Ron and Hermione standing in the doorway between the kitchen and the living room. Hermione ran at him and jumped on him giving him a big hug. When Hermione released him, Harry was greeted by Ron as well.

"So what have you two been up to this summer?" Harry asked.

"Harry, come up to my room. We'll talk there," Ron said. the three walked up the stairs and into Ron's bedroom. Ron closed the door and sat down on his bed motioning for Harry and Hermione to have a seat as well.

"So what's up?" Harry asked.

"Harry, you are aware that You-Know-Who is back, aren't you?" Ron asked.

"Yes I am. I know that I have to be careful this year. What does that have to do with anything?" Harry asked confused.

"Harry, we're seventeen this year. We won't be returning to Hogwarts again once we finish this year," Ron told him.

"I know that," Harry said.

"Meaning, You-Know-Who won't give up until you are dead. Unless you can defeat him first," Hermione explained.

"Look, I know Voldemort is tough. I know he's very powerful. And I know he is the darkest wizard in the history of magic. But I also know that I will be able to make it through these attacks," Harry assured his friends.

"Harry, just because you have done it before doesn't mean you can do it again. This year he will be more powerful than ever. And if neither of you are.......... gone at the end of this year, then he will just follow you and haunt you for the rest of your life outside of Hogwarts as well," Hermione said.

"Yeah and there is nothing I can do to prevent that. I can't defeat Voldemort. Do you know how many people he has killed? I can survive his attacks but I can't defeat him," Harry pointed out.

"Harry, we just don't want you to get hurt. You're our friend," Hermione told him.

"Ron, Hermione, each year I've been at Hogwarts, something dangerous has happened to me. Why would this year be any different? I know something is going to happen. I reckon I'll just have to face it when it does. But there is something that you two should know," Harry said.

"What's that?" Ron asked.

"You two are my best friends. Therefore, you will more than likely be with me most of the time at Hogwarts like you have been in the past. So you both have a great chance of getting hurt too. I want you two to be careful as well," Harry told them.

"Don't worry about us, Harry. You are the one he is really after," Hermione said.

"Yeah. We'll be careful, but you really need to watch out for yourself," Ron agreed.

"I know. Ok, when we get to Hogwarts, we know he will try to attack me sometime. We just don't know when. When he does, you two will probably be around. If you are, then get yourselves out. I'll fight him. One of us will be dead in the end. But you two will get yourselves out of the way before he kills you. Understand?" Harry asked. Hermione and Ron were about to protest but Ron's mom came in.

"Hello Harry, dear. Kids, dinner is ready. Come downstairs," Molly Weasley told the three. The four walked downstairs into the kitchen to see Arthur, Fred, George, and Ginny Weasley all sitting around the table waiting for them. Harry sat down next to Ginny and Hermione sat in between him and Ron.

"Ok. Everyone, take some," Mrs. Weasley said. Everyone took some chicken, mashed potatoes, and corn.

"So Ginny, are you excited about your sixth year?" Hermione asked.

"I guess," Ginny replied.

"I can't believe that next year the last of the Weasley children will be starting her last year at Hogwarts," Mrs. Weasley said. "It seems like yesterday when you were born-"

"Mum," Ginny whined. "Not now."

"Oh, right. Sorry dear," Mrs. Weasley apologized. "Well, Harry, Ron, Hermione, what about you? Are you excited about your last year?"

"Mum, you know I am," Ron replied.

"Dear, you just want to escape Professor Snape," Mrs. Weasley told her son.

"I'm excited, Mrs. Weasley. I think that the last year at Hogwarts will definitely be the most fun and interesting of the seven," Hermione replied.

"Yeah. Seventh year should be fun," Harry agreed.

"Oh yeah. It is. Really. Hey, when you guys go to Hogsmeade this year, stop by our joke shop. We finally got it open," Fred told them.

"You did?" Hermione asked.

"Yep," George replied proudly.

"Sounds great. Sure we'll stop by," Harry told them.

"Good," Fred said.

"So what about you, Mr. Weasley? How have you been?" Hermione asked.

"Oh, I've been fine. Work's been normal. Nothing's changed," Mr. Weasley replied.

"So is everyone ready for dessert?" Mrs. Weasley asked when everyone had stopped eating. Chocolate cake was served for dessert.

"That was great, Mrs. Weasley. Thanks," Hermione said when she had finished eating.

"Yeah," Harry agreed.

"No problem dears. Now you go on upstairs. I'll just clean all this up real quick," Mrs. Weasley instructed. Harry, Ron, and Hermione went back up to Ron's room to talk some more.

"So, what's been up with you two?" Harry asked. He wondered if his best friends had even remembered that his birthday is tomorrow.

"Nothing. My parents are trying to get me to get a muggle job after Hogwarts and just use my magic when I need it. Not that I would ever need it in the muggle world. I don't know where parents get this stuff," Hermione said.

"A muggle job? That's crazy. What did you say?" Ron asked.

"I said no. I am going to become a professor at Hogwarts," Hermione replied.

"That's cool. You'd make a great professor, Hermione," Harry told her.

"Thanks," Hermione said.

"No problem," Harry replied. "So what about you Ron?"

"Oh, nothing. The twins have been testing their items for their joke shop on me all summer. Nothing much," Ron replied.

"Oh. So anything else?" Harry asked. He wanted to know if there was anything going on between Ron and Hermione.

"Well, there is one more thing," Hermione started.

"What is it?" Harry asked.

"I asked Hermione to be my girlfriend," Ron started.

"And I said yes," Hermione finished smiling. "Isn't it great?"

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A/N: so there's that chapter. what did u think of it? how will Harry react? keep reading to find out. please RR!!