Chapter Two

Ron's Secret

The next day Hermione and Harry never made eye contact and most definitely didn't speak to each other.

"Come along, down to the fireplace; we've got to get your supplies," stated Arthur when he peaked his head into the girls' and boys' room.

One at a time they moved into the fireplace and disappeared to Diagon Alley.

"Bye everybody!" shouted Ron trying to sneak off to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.

"Hold it, where are you going," asked Harry.

"Uh…no where? I'll be back soon!" With that, he ran off.

Oh no, I'm alone with Harry again, thought Hermione, suddenly feeling ill.

"H-Ha-Harry do you want to see Fred and George?"

"Sure, I wonder how they're getting along."

"Bye Harry!" yelled Ginny.

"Bye Hermione!" chimed Neville.

"Why, can it be? Fred, do you see who I see?" asked George.

"I think I do!" replied Fred.

"It's Mr. Harry Potter!" exclaimed the twins, "And Miss Hermione Granger!"

"Where's ickle Ronniekins?" asked Fred.

"We don't know," stated Hermione.

"He just ran off somewhere," continued Harry.

The twins shrugged.

"So, how's business?" asked Harry.

"Good," replied Fred.

"Great," continued George.

"Fantastic!"

"That's good," said a dazed Hermione, trying to think of another excuse to occupy Harry.

"Well, we best be getting back to work," said Fred looking at the long, wild line of child customers.

"If you see Ron, tell him to give us a visit," stated George.

"Sure thing," replied Harry.

"Bye Fred! Bye George!" yelled Hermione on her way out of the store.

"Neville, do you know who that is over by Ron?" questioned Ginny. "I can't see them very well."

"I have no clue," he answered, not really looking at the girl and giving Ginny a quick kiss instead.

"Goyle, Crabbe, hurry it up, we have to find her," stated Draco.

"Who is it we need to find again Draco?" queried Goyle.

"Her," he replied pointing over to a young redheaded girl.

"Isn't tha-," began Crabbe.

"Yes it is, stupid," interrupted Draco staring dreamily at the girl, not even noticing the boy sitting next to her.

"S-s-so Hermione, h-how have you been?" asked Harry nervously.

"Fine," replied Hermione while thinking, why have I made a habit of lying?

"You wanna go s-sit down over there?" he questioned while pointing to a bench just outside of Flourish and Blott's. " Wh-whi-while we wait for Ron, of course."

"Er… I guess so," she answered uneasily while noticing the small size of the wood bench.

Harry, followed by Hermione went and sat down at opposite sides of the bench.

"Er… so… I wonder where Ron went," said Harry as he moved a few inches closer to Hermione.

"Uh… yeah… me too," she replied feeling awkward with Harry once again.

"The weather is lovely today," said Harry inching even closer to Hermione.

Hermione prepared to get up at any moment.

"So are you," he stated before moving in for another kiss.

Hermione got up and ran into Flourish and Blott's.

Harry felt his lips hit something hard and splintery.

Malfoy laughed on his way by. "Poor Potter, so desperate for a date that he has to go around snogging benches."

"But Malfoy, I thought you were desper-," began Goyle.

"Desperate for water, I'm dehydrated," finished Draco as Harry got out of his awkward position.

"No, you said you were des-," began Crabbe.

"Destined to… to… leave Diagon Alley, let's go."

Hermione giggled.

"So that's where you went," concluded Harry peeking his head around the corner.

"There's Ron!" she exclaimed right in Harry's ear while pointing to an extremely tall redheaded boy.

"Who's that he's with?"

Hermione shrugged.

"Is that Fleur or something?" asked Harry on their way to meeting the pair.

"No… it looks like… like…" Hermione fought back tears as she approached them.

"Is that who I think it is?" posed Harry, "Is he holding hands with her?"

Hermione nodded, pretending everything was all right.

"Hey Harry, Hermione!" exclaimed Ron beaming. "I believe you both know Luna."

Hermione's heart stopped for a brief moment, she completely broke down into tears. She turned and ran as fast as she could. Harry almost followed her but was stopped by Ron.

"Harry, I think that I should handle this," he said recalling the time when Hermione stormed into 12 Grimauld Place.

"Er… okay."

"I'll be back Luna." Ron tore off after Hermione. Where is she?

Hermione ran into Ollivander's Wand Shop. How could he? Last year he wouldn't stop saying how loony she is.

"Is that a customer I hear?" questioned a rough voice from the back of the shop.

Hermione wiped the tears from her face.

"So… er… Luna… I didn't know you liked Ron," stated Harry, trying to make conversation.

"Well, not too many people did. Except for the Nargles in my room," responded Luna dreamily.

"Uh… yea… sure."

Come on Hermione! Where'd you go? Ron looked down the extensive street of shops.

"Oh… hello Mr. Ollivander," said Hermione.

Mr. Ollivander walked to the front of the shop. "Why it's young Miss Granger, I believe it was Maple and Mahogany, thirteen inches, essence of Bog Myrtle."

"Yes sir, it was," stated Hermione a little surprised.

"Now, what brings you here today."

"Oh… nothing…" She stared out the window.

"Well, it sounds to me that this nothing is a something, a very big something indeed."

Hermione sighed and continued staring out the window.

A small boy walked into the store.

"If you'll excuse me, I have business to attend to."

Hermione drowned out the surrounding noise and delicately put her hand to the window. "Oh Ron, why can't I say it?"

"So, Harry, did you by any chance get attacked by Obbers this summer?" asked Luna.

"No…" he replied. What the heck are Obbers?

"Good, that's very good. I hear they've been on the rise."

Ron walked out of Quality Quidditch Supplies and was about to look for Hermione in the Leaky Cauldron when he saw a blur of brown through a window.

Hermione was about to leave when Ron walked through the door.

"Hermione!" he yelled not seeing her right behind the door. "Her-."

Hermione put her hand over Ron's mouth. "Will you be quiet?"

His words were muffled through Hermione's hand.

"Oh… sorry Ron." Hermione took her hand away.

"Hermione, what happened back there?"

"You wouldn't understand."

"Try me."

Hermione gave him a forced threatening look.

"What? I'm just trying to help."

Hermione looked into his concerned eyes and was momentarily lost in the emerald sea.

Ron looked away and saw Mr. Ollivander coming towards them.

"Oh yes…Mr. Weasley. Willow, fourteen inches, containing one unicorn tail-hair, am I right?

Ron shook his head up and down and getting a little frightened, he started to leave. "Well, I best be going."

"Goodbye Mr. Weasley," said Mr. Ollivander.

Ron walked out of the door to go back to Luna.

"Goodbye…" she whispered to herself in desperation.

"Well, Miss Granger, I see that this nothing you have is getting rather large," said the old wand seller.

The next day Ron sat in his room all day writing letters to Luna. Well at least this is what Hermione presumed after walking by at least eight times, hearing only the scratch of a quill.

Harry walked into the kitchen looking for Hermione only finding Neville, apparently waiting for Ginny.

"Have you seen Hermione?" asked Harry.

"Uh… yeah, she's right un-ow!-ow-outside! Yes, outside!"

Harry left the room quickly, hoping that Hermione was indeed in the yard.

"Thanks Neville," stated a sincere voice from under the table.

"No problem, sorry I almost told him. And why are you hiding from Harry anyway?"

Hermione crawled out and started walking to the stairs. "Er… no reason."

Neville shrugged.

The next few weeks went on in the same manner. Harry couldn't find Hermione except at meal times but she would eat quickly and rush off before anyone else was finished. "Must be wanting to finish her books," Mrs. Weasley would say.

On September first Mrs. Weasley got everyone up especially early to make sure that they could say goodbye to the members of the order.

Hermione ran around making sure she had packed all her things. She went up to the dresser to confirm she got all her clothes, then spun around to go to the door, positive she had grabbed everything.

"Hello Hermione," said Harry.

Hermione gave a little yelp at the sight of his familiar face. "H-H-Harry, you scared me."

"Sorry," replied Harry rubbing his calf with the top of his foot.

"Excuse me," she said exiting to the left of Harry.

"Wait…"

Hermione turned around nervously.

Harry walked up to Hermione and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

Hermione spun around to walk away.

"What's wrong?"

"NOTHING Harry, everything's just fine, I'm still smart, I'm not sick, so just…" Hermione took a deep breath and ran down to the kitchen.

After all goodbyes were said, Mr. And Mrs. Weasley got everyone in the car. Once they were in, Mrs. Weasley did a final head count. "One, two, three, four… four? Where's Hermione?"

Just then Hermione came running out of the house with something furry in her arms. "Sorry, almost forgot Crookshanks!" She opened the car door.

"Come on Hermione!" called Ginny from the opposite end of the magically enlarged seat.

Hermione looked in to find out where she was supposed to sit and found that the last space was next to Harry. She stepped in reluctantly.

They were almost there when Harry yawned and raised his arms up and put one around Hermione. She shivered in fright thinking of the very first kiss Harry had given her. Mrs. Weasley looked in the review mirror and smiled sweetly at Hermione.