Chapter 9

"'Mione? Is it really you?" Ron said, his voice shaking a bit. Thousands of thoughts raced through his head as he examined her face, eyes dashing from her lips to her eyes.

"Yes."

That was all she managed to get out of herself without her voice betraying what she felt. To be quite honest she was not sure of what her voice would give away if she spoke. What was it that she felt? Was it happiness to see him, after all those years? Actually, it had just been three, to be precise, but it could have just as well been forever to Hermione.

Ron had not changed much but she could tell he had grown up. Yes, the hair was, still a flaming red, but longer and there was a hint of sadness in his eyes as he looked down at her, wearing one of her jumpers as a hat. Hermione couldn't hold back her laughter and started to giggle as Ron's so far serious lips produced a grin.

"What? What is it?"

"Well…if you really want it then you can have it…although I am sure that it will look better on me than it does on you…." She simply couldn't continue as new fits of laughter awaited their turn to break free from her throat. Ron looked just like Quirrell in their first year as Hermione's dark blue jumper sat on his head, sleeves on both sides. He finally figured it out, as Hermione wouldn't stop laughing, pointing towards his head and breaking into new fits of laughter.

Hermione laughed and stared into the blue eyes of a certain Ronald Weasly. She felt she couldn't turn away, even if she wanted to and the truth of the matter was that she didn't. She really felt like a stupid schoolgirl – giggling at the boy she likes. Wait! Rewind! I do not like Ron! I am just happy to see him that's all. Her head and her heart were having a real boxing match over the matter and her head won, as usual.

"What in Gods name is going on in here?" Niles said stunned, standing in the wide, arced doorway.

That at last remark brought the two people laughing, grinning and lying on top of each other in front of the fireplace back to reality. Hermione jumped up and tried to fix her untidy clothes and hair. "Um…we were…um…"

"Yes? The only reasonable thing I have heard yet was that you were lying on the floor making out."

"Making out?" Hemione had suddenly got her voice back. "Excuse me! We just happened to arrive at the same time and then we fell…" She turned to Ron who seemed to be very amused by the whole situation and looked at him suspiciously. He leaned against the fireplace and his face was a mixture of cockiness and amusement. He lifted his eyebrows to Hermione who suddenly, for some odd reason felt unexpected weakness in her knees, but gathered herself quickly.

"Why did we arrive at the same time? Why did you arrive at all? Harry never told me you were coming! So you are here uninvited, is that it?" Hermine lifted her chin trying to fight the feeling that told her: This is a lost battle. It was probably all because Ron was giving her this I-am-in-control-of-things pose.

"Uninvited! Uninvited? Why do you always just jump to conclusions? Harry asked me to help, for your information. I, on the other hand, don't have the slightest idea of what you are doing here, though!"

"Why I am here? You have the nerve to ask me that…I…" She was at the loss of words! This never happened to Hermione Granger! She blushed a bit and tried hard to focus on making up a good insult that would, so kindly, hit him where he least expected.

"I better go and see if I can find Mr. Potter…" Niles said trying hard to make it out of the room without them noticing.

Thank God! This servant-looking guy really saved her. If he hadn't said anything, she'd still be mumbling crazy.

"Yeah you do that! I'd really like to know what he has to say about this!" Hermione shouted as Niles fled the room.

¤

"Sir? I am sorry to have disturbed you, but…"

"This better be important…"

Harry had been sitting at the table with the new cook and they seemed deep in conversation when he barged in. Nevertheless, from the butler's point of view he could tell that if those two so-called guests were in the same room together fragile things had the tendency of breaking into a million unfixable pieces.

"Well there are two people in your living room, Sir. They are about to declare World War III."

"Ahh, I completely forgot! We will talk again later, okay? I am going to have to get certain people off each others throats."

The woman nodded silently with a knowing smile.

"Niles will show you to your room."

He walked to the door, then turned round. "They haven't hurt each other yet, have they?"

"Not yet, Sir."

¤

"…you landed on top of me, remember?"

"…it's not my fault you got here first!"

Harry was standing in the exact place Niles had originally stood.

"Hi guys."

"Harry! Hey, we have got to talk! What the hell is she doing here? You mentioned nothing about HER in your letter."

"I invited her."

"You did what? You know how we don't get along and yet you invited her? You invited her even you knew I was coming! I know the note wasn't long but this…"

"What? You invited this buckethead knowing I was coming?"

"Buckethead? Nice choice of words! Who would you like to be then, know-it-all? I'll have to think about that...Give me some time. Oh, don't worry, I'll come up with something exceptional!"

"Sit!" Harry bellowed, seeing there was no other way – he had to tell them why he had asked the both of them to come. Ron and Hermione sat down on the royally large sofa and exchanged a surprised glance – Harry had usually taken their bickering quite well and at certain times, even been entertained by it.

"Okay…Let's get down to business. The reason I asked the both of you to come is quite simple, actually. Remember the first time Voldemort and me crossed paths at Hogwarts? I would have never made it without the two of you. Same goes for the rest of the time we fought him…The truth is that I'd be dead by now, if it weren't for you two. That is why I wanted the both of you to be here. We work as a team, if one of us is missing then…Besides, I am scared out of my wits here. If it were Voldemort then, I would know, he'd choose a nice opportunity for me to hit the bucket, but now… I don't have the slightest idea of who he is? How he sees me? When he sees me? To be precise - if he is a he and not a she."

Harry shook his head in agony and let it fall to his hands.

"Don't worry mate! We'll get him!" Ron said in a convinced voice.

Hermione nodded. "With any luck you'll be celebrating in a week."

"Yeah." Ron agreed. "Just this one more question Harry."

"Hm?"

"What is that painting of Gin doing in your living room?"

B