CHAPTER3
"Er…Hermione, as I see you were waiting for us…" Ron said, while Harry tried to stiffen his giggles.
"What are you talking ab-….oh, sorry guys, I …erm …forgot, well, I was …oh, just come in and wait for me in the living room…"
And Hermione went up the stairs. Behind her she heard stiffened laughter and she sighed.
Hermione got to her wardrobe and stood there thinking what to wear. Of course Ron and Harry won't care because they were her friends but she was a young lady now, what she wears was important for her, not somebody else…well, maybe for somebody else…
She picked a lean black top and a plaid black-red-and-grey above knee skirt, put on some make up. She decided to arrange her hair in a ponytail leaving two blond stripes in the front loose. Finally Hermione decided that she looked quite good and went downstairs. Harry and Ron were sitting on the couch, talking.
"Hey, guys, what's up? Sorry about that latest appearance ...erm… I wasn't quite ready..."
"That's okay…you looked great..." said Ron, reddening a bit, with a playful smile on his lips.
"Ron! How can you say such things, I am your friend after all!"
"Hey, I just paid you a compliment; you are supposed to thank me, as it goes!"
"Oh, Ron you are hopeless!"
All this time Harry was giggling quietly but now he sensed that a quarrel might happen so he interrupted both of them:
"Ron, stop it, it's not funny…okay, it is…" he caught a glare from Hermione, "but Herm doesn't like it, and you don't want an argument, after all, we haven't seen each other for a month.
"Okay, peace", Hermione said, "But what are you guys doing here? Aren't we supposed to be going to Diagon Alley?"
"Well, yes, but as we were getting near your house dad got some important call from the ministry and he was supposed to go there and he said that he and mom will pick us later…"
"What about you sister?"
"Oh, she said that she wanted to see Fred and George… that's what she said… but I know that she is going to meet her boyfriend in the Alley and it's a pity I don't know who he is, he got lucky today I guess, but I'll find out", said Ron, massaging his knuckles.
"Oh, Ron, how can you not understand, Ginny is all grown up now, she is 15 and she can go out with anybody she likes, that's her choice!
"Not while I am still alive…"
"You ARE hopeless after all", Hermione sighed, "So how was your summer, Harry?"
"I wouldn't say that it was brilliant but after the Order had a talk with the Dursleys, it got better, really! At least I can watch TV and play on Dudley's computer", Harry said with a grin, "But I still miss Sirius, a lot…"
"Oh, Harry, who doesn't? He was a really great person…"
They kept quite for a minute or two.
"So Harry, did you get my owl?"
"Yes, I did… because I was just leaving the Dursleys when she came…that's okay, Herm, I don't need a presents, what is important is the attention and I already got that…
Hermione smiled:
"I knew you would say that…but I still want to get you something".
"I knew YOU would say that too", Harry smiled back.
"Hello, guys, I am still here", Ron waved his hand comically, "Get a room you two…
"Ron, don't be stupid!"
"Anybody wants tea? I'm a bit hungry because I didn't have breakfast yet, what about you?
"Just tea would be nice, I am not hungry, thanks", said Harry timidly.
"I think I'll have tea as well… do you have any pastry?" said Ron, hungry as usual, "I don't mean to be rude or something…
"That's okay, Ron, I have something. How about blueberry muffins? Mom cooked them yesterday…"
Hermione prepared everything. They sat at the table drinking tea, eating and talking about Voldemort, The Ministry and the school of course. After that they moved to the living room waiting for Mr. and Mrs. Weasley to come. Hermione went to pack and the Weasleys came. They all loaded into the Ministry cars and drove off leaving the Granger house empty and quiet for a month to come.