Harry, back in his own room, rummaged through his trunk looking for something to wear.

"I s'pose this is as good as anything," he said, pulling on a pair of old jeans and one of Dudley's smaller t-shirts. He then studied himself in the mirror.

"You don't look too bad today, dear," said the mirror happily.

"Er... thanks," Harry answered, pulling on his robes. Then, suddenly he remembered something.

"I didn't write Ron back yet!" He exclaimed, pulling out some parchment and scribbling down a reply.

Ron-

Hey, mate! I'm staying in the Leaky Cauldron with Hermione, and she hasn't nagged me about school once! Yet, anyway.-

"Good ol' Ron, know that'll give him a laugh." said Harry, smiling.

I'm glad your holiday's been good, and I'll see you at Hogwarts. Have a safe trip home.

Harry

"That should do it, " said Harry, attaching the letter to Hedwig's leg. "Take this to Ron. I'm not sure how long it will take you to deliver it... I may be at Hogwarts when you get back."

Hegwig hooted and flew off.

Hermione rushed around her room, trying to look her best in the few minutes she had to get ready. She stopped in front of the mirror to check herself over.

"Well, no sense in trying to do anything to this mop," she sighed, running her fingers through her hair.

"Aside from that, though, you look quite alright, darling." replied her mirror, taking Hermione a bit by shock.

"Erm... thank you," she said. Just then there was a quiet knock on the door.

"Hermione, it's me. Are you ready?"

"Yeah, just a second, Harry," she shouted. She stuffed her booklist and her money into her robe pockets and walked out.

Harry and Hermione were simply under the pretext of buying their schoolbooks, but Harry felt very strongly like taking her somewhere that they could sit and talk, and perhaps he might be able to make a first move. Of course, every time he thought about it, his face reddened, his palms sweated, and he grew shaky, so he highly doubted that was possible.

"Oooh, look at this, Harry!" Hermione said excitedly, drawing Harry from his thoughts.

"Hrm?"

"Look, Rita Skeeter's written a book!" laughed Hermione.

"Oh? What's it about?" Harry asked nervously. He was sure to be in there somewhere.

"Oh, I don't know. Probably rubbish. I'll pick it up for some light reading, anyway, just to be sure," Hermione answered, lifting the rather heavy tome and bringing it to the counter with all her other schoolbooks.

Harry said goodbye to Hermione in the bar back at the Leaky Cauldron. He wandered up to his room, stowing his new things in his trunk. Just as he stuck his head in to retrieve a rather nasty pair of Uncle Vernon's socks, there was a tapping on his window. It was a rather large, tawny barn owl, carrying an official looking letter. Harry opened it as quickly as possible.

I'd like to see you in my office at the beginning of the school year. Promptly, please, Mr. Potter. I'd like you there as soon as you arrive at the school.

- Professor M. McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress

"Dear Lord..." thought Harry. "What have I done now?" Harry packed the letter away with all his other school things, and went down to the bar to meet Hermione.

Just as Harry reached the bottom of the stairs, he heard a loud yell, which sounded very familiar.

"Hullo, Harry!" shouted Ron. He was sitting a small table with Hermione, very freckled and grinning happily.

"Ron, I didn't expect you for a week. How've you been?"

"Good. Ginny and I are staying here until school starts again. Thought we'd surprise you."

"It was quite a surprise," laughed Hermione. "I barely recognized you , you're so... erm... bronze."

"If you mean my freckles have finally taken over every inch of my skin, then I agree," Ron said, smiling. "Ginny browned up very nicely, but I ended up with spots."

"Well, look at it this way: at least they aren't purple or something," said Harry.

"But I'd stand out of a crowd, wouldn't I?"

"I think you do already, Ron. How many people have hair like ours?" asked Ginny, who had just walked over and was pulling out a chair.

"Erm... well, there's mum and dad, Bill and Charlie, Fred an-"

"It was a rhetorical question, Ron," added Ginny, smugly.

"It didn't sound mathematical to me..." said Ron curiously.

Hermione rolled her eyes and laughed, and doing so, she brushed her leg accidentally against Harry's. He gave a bit of a startled jump.

"You alright, mate?" asked Ron, looking around as thought Voldemort might walk up and sit with them.

"Yeah... yeah, I'm just fine," He sighed.