Disclaimer: We said we'd take little time
For both of us to see
And wonder what it'd be like to carry on
Ya, I know I got crazy
Well I guess that's just me
If I could turn back time before the wrong

Forty Foot Echo - Brand New Day

"Hello all!" Ron groaned as his two brothers bounded into the room, dragging their girlfriends, Angelina and Alicia behind them. Harry, Ginny, Hermione, Megan and Cadin nodded their greeting.

"What the hell do you want?" Ron asked. Angelina smiled brightly.

"What's got you in a bad mood?" Ron pointed to the twins.

"Besides them?" Alicia smiled, seating herself between George and Harry.

"The twins are taking us swimming! Do you all want to come?" Everyone nodded in agreement, Ron taking the reluctant path. Fred and George smiled mischievously.

"Great! Go change and let's go!" As everyone got up Ron grabbed some toast. George shook his head.

"Don't you know you're not supposed to swim until an hour after you eat… you'll get sick." Ron rolled his eyes.

"I never get sick."

"You three didn't take long." Ginny smiled mockingly.

"You don't have to do make up when you're going to the pool, dim wit." Fred smiled.

"So wonderful…"

"So joyful…" George answered. Fred turned to his twin.

"She's always happy…" George held up a finger.

"But she speaks the truth…" Angelina rolled her eyes and grabbed Fred's arm.

"Oh stop it!" Alicia latched onto George's arm.

"She's right! Let's go!"

"Come on Hermione!" They had arrived to a large public pool in the city and Hermione was refusing to enter. Cadin was trying to coax her. "Come on!" Hermione shook her head and sat down on a lawn chair. She still had her big t-shirt on.

"I don't want to swim," she stated. Harry glanced over to Ron and winked. He then inched out of the water with Ron, raising his voice so that Hermione could hear. Ron inched around to the back of Hermione's chair.

"Do you remember that time Ron when we were by the lake?" Ron grinned.

"You mean that time when Hermione was berating us on not completing Snape's essay?" Hermione glanced up from the book she had brought along.

"Do you remember what happened when she grew tiring?" Hermione's eyes bulged and she put down her book and got up.

"Oh no you don't." Harry's eyes glinted with mischief.

"Oh yes I will!" Both boys lunged at her and she bolted. She twisted out of Ron's grasp and sprinted across the grassy area of the pool. Unfortunately, Ron and Harry had longer legs and were faster. They easily caught up with her and grabbed her. She tripped and fell to the ground wiggling.

"Get on top of her!" Harry yelled over her protesting. Ron pinned down her legs and arms, straddling her waist. Harry began to tug at the shirt, trying to get it off. Hermione felt extremely uncomfortable with Ron so close to her.

"Stop it! Both of you! I don't want to swim!" She screamed as Harry tugged.

"Got it!" Ron smiled. He got off her, but before she could run Ron and Harry grabbed her and lifted her up kicking and screaming. They took her to the deep end and to her dismay threw her in.

"RON! HAR-" She never finished her statement. Resurfacing she glared at the two laughing teens. "Oh you will pay!" They grinned and jumped in. Soon they were all swimming around.

"Let's have a cock fight!" The guys all turned to each other and grinned. Instead of running at each other they attacked the girls, dunking them under water and splashing them. They were out there for a while before they decided to get lunch. Ginny offered to go and order the pizzas. After getting what everyone wanted she went over to the snack bar. As she waited for the pizzas Harry walked up and sat next to her at the bar.

"I'll have a butterbeer please," he requested. Ginny smiled at him.

"Having fun?" Harry shrugged.

"Yeah. You?" She shrugged, grinning.

"Yeah." He rolled his eyes and took his drink.

"Har har…" She laughed then pointed at his head.

"Your hairs looks under control." Harry looked up and smiled. Standing up he leaned over and began to shake his head like a dog. Ginny held up her hands laughing as Harry sprayed her.

"Ok! OK! I get it! I arrest my case!" Harry sat back down smiling at her. She turned to her drink. "My goodness… don't you ever try to control it." He shook his head.

"It's worthless." She grinned. Harry watched her as she sipped her butterbeer. She was beautiful sitting there in her baby blue string bikini. Harry remembered when he first saw her in the suit. Personally, he thought she looked sexy, but seeing how the rest of the male population with him was related to her, he had kept his comments to himself. She turned and caught him staring. She gave him a questioning look.

"What?" His eyes grew and he turned away, reddening.

"Nothing." She smiled.

"Sure…" He turned back to her, feigning indignation.

"Really!" She cocked an eyebrow.

"You were staring…" She scrunched up her nose and rubbed it. "What? Do I have dirt on my nose?" Harry smiled, remembering his first ride on the Hogwarts Express. He shook his head.

"No… you don't have anything on your nose…"

"Really," she said. She gave him a look that he couldn't quite place and then turned to the bartender. She watched him for a minute and then turned to Harry.

"Harry I-"

"There you are!" Ginny shut her mouth and turned back to the bar as Megan came up. Harry smiled as she sat beside him. "We were wondering where you went."

"I wanted to get a drink." Harry told her. Megan smiled and then glanced at Ginny, who by now was fuming.

"Oh and Ginny… we're all waiting for those pizzas." She then turned to Harry and gently took his arm and began to lead him back to the pool. Harry stopped and turned to Ginny.

"Hey Gin." Ginny turned.

"Yes?"

"You wanted to say something?" She paused; amazed that he remembered that she had actually spoken with Megan practically pressing her boobs in his face. She smiled and shook her head.

"Forget it, Harry." He frowned and left. Ginny sighed and turned back to the bar. The bartender smiled sweetly at her.

"Don't worry… He seems very attracted to you." Ginny smiled weakly and took the pizzas from her.

"Did you have fun today?" Cadin asked Hermione as they lay on her bed. She shrugged.

"I had fun… Flying through the air wasn't the best but after that it was great." Cadin smiled and leaned in, kissing her. She smiled into the kiss and allowed him to deepen it. He pulled her close to her and rolled over so that she was below him. His lips began to travel down her neck as his hands worked on her shirt. She pulled away at first, not sure of what to do but as soon as his lips touched hers again she let him closer. He unbuttoned her shirt, allowing his hands to roam over her body. She gasped as he nipped at her neck. With trembling hands she slowly unbuttoned his shirt as he kissed her passionately. She ran her hands down his chest, smiling at the muscles her fingertips encountered.

"Whoa!" Hermione and Cadin turned to see Ron standing their in the middle of the room. He took stock of their predicament.

"What the hell!" Hermione stood up and pointed to the door, embarrassed and outraged.

"GET OUT RON!" Ron just stared out her. She could feel his eyes boring into her. "GO AWAY!" He shook his head and backed out. Hermione couldn't stand it. She grabbed a lamp and lobbed it at Ron. He ducked out of the door and slammed it.

"Hermione," Cadin reached out to touch her. She turned to him and tried to smile.

"You should probably go..." Cadin nodded and left. Hermione looked at the broken pieces on the floor. Why did he have to come in... Why did I let that happen... She closed her eyes. This is getting out of control!

Hermione stormed downstairs and burst into the kitchen, her hair fizzy and her eyes blazing. Ignoring the startled people in the kitchen, she marched straight up to Ron.

"WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM!" Everyone's eyes bulged at Hermione's outburst.

"Hermione Jane Granger! What is wrong with you?" Hermione ignored her mother and glared at Ron.

"How could you just barge in?" Ron stood up, towering over her.

"What makes you think I wanted to see that!"

"You wouldn't have seen anything if you had knocked!" Ron glared at her.

"And what exactly would I have seen if I had come in a few minutes later?" Hermione's eyes bulged with anger.

"You! I can't believe you would accuse me of… argh!" Hermione let out a cry of frustration. Fred held up a hand.

"Can I ask what you two are fighting about so I can get the popcorn?" The two rounded on him, eyes blazing.

"SHUT UP!" They screamed. They then turned on each other.

"You shouldn't have been in there!" Ron stepped menacingly closer.

"I had to talk to you!" She rolled her eyes.

"That could have waited!"

"What? Until after he'd had his way with you!" Hermione gasped. Mr. Granger stood up.

"What is going on?" he demanded. Hermione and Ron ignored him. Hermione looked ready to explode.

"You didn't seem to mind when you had your way!" She stopped suddenly, her eyes large as saucers. She smacked her hand against her mouth. Ron froze, all the blood drained from him. All Ron could do was stare at her, disbelief in his eyes. Everyone stared, surprised by Hermione's revealing outburst. Mr. Granger slammed his hand down on the table.

"What does that mean!" Hermione turned to him, her eyes still large.

"I…um… I…" Hermione was stuttering. Ron seemed incapable of talking. Fred whistled. Molly stood up. She hesitated for a moment then cautiously stated her question.

"Hermione… did you and Ron-"

"NO!" Ron seemed to have regained his voice. He had whirled around as soon as he had heard the beginning of the question. He glared at Hermione. "Nothing happened." Hermione seemed to still be stunned at what she said. Everyone was silent for a moment until Mrs. Granger decided to intervene.

"Well… that's settled… Molly… Do you need help serving?" Mr. Granger was glaring daggers at Ron while Ron was glaring daggers at Hermione. Hermione looked helpless.

"Ron? Hermione? Aren't going to sit down?" Molly asked carefully. Ron didn't take his gaze off Hermione.

"No… I'm not hungry…" He turned and left the kitchen. Hermione turned and went after him without saying a word. Ginny and Harry looked at each other and followed after him. When they reached Ron's room, Hermione was standing outside knocking on the door.

"Please open the door Ron!" Ginny grabbed her arm and whirled her around.

"What was that!" Hermione looked from the redhead to Harry. She shook her head and turned back to the locked door.

"Ron please." There was movement from the inside and then the lock glowed. Hermione pushed the door open and entered Ginny and Harry trailing her.

"Ron-"

"You said you wouldn't say anything!" Hermione bit her lip.

"Ron I didn't mean to…" Ron was pacing the floor. Ginny was still curious.

"What happened?" Ron rounded on her.

"I told you… nothing happened." Harry snorted.

"Nothing happened! From Hermione's outburst down stairs it sounds like a lot happened." Hermione blushed. Ron glared. Ginny whined.

"What happened?" she begged. Hermione glanced at Ron. Ignoring her he went to the door.

"I'm getting something to eat." With that he stalked out the door. Harry and Ginny turned to Hermione.

"Well…" Ginny pressed. Hermione looked down at her hands and sighed.

"Ron and I… we…" She looked up at them. "Ron and I almost slept together."

A/N: I love the drama! R/R!

Lovin-Lonnie: Yeah... Ron's a little scared...

x0sports4lyfe0x: Here you go... hope you like it!

Padfoot-equals-lurve: Things are about to get worse!

xMischiefManaged013: It says what's going on in the first chapter...

connieewing: Sorry it took a while... I have to read Galeleo's Daughter for school... It's a long book.

Coconut Girl: Yep... a blow up... and a secret revealed.

bellapaola: Poor Ron is right! things are about to get ugly...

IamHermioneGranger: Puppy eyes always work!

Chapter Tease:

"Do you ever think about the future?" He looked at her.

"Of course..." She gave him a ghost of a smile.

"What do you see?" He turned and looked out on the lake. He stayed queit for a while, thinking it over. He then looked over to her.

"You... I see you..."