Just as Hermione and Ron entered the crowded kitchen, Mr. Weasley appeared next to his wife. "Molly, dear. Could you join me outside for a moment?" he whispered hurriedly into her ear.

Mrs. Weasley opened her mouth to say, " Not NOW darling." But the look he gave her indicated the importance of whatever he had to say. She swished her wand and the food landed on the long table in the center of the kitchen. At that moment, no one would notice they were gone.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Molly whispered fiercely once her husband had led her into the garden.

"Molly dearest. You and I have both known since Ron wrote us his first letter from Hogwarts that Hermione was something special." He started slowly, not sure how to tell his wife that his son could save the wizarding world.

"Arthur, if this has anything to do with a letter from Albus. You needn't worry I have one too. I know all about his research and I agree with him. Ron and Hermione are something else. It's not a normal crush; sparks fly every which way when they are together. And when he looks at her, it's like a powerful magic. The way he feels, I mean."

Mr. Weasley's mouth dropped, "You already KNOW?"

Mrs. Weasley chuckled, "Of course I know. How could I not notice the way they look at each other?"

Arthur shook his head, "No no. You already know about Dumbledore's theory?"

"Yes dear. I already know. I thought I made that clear." Molly said mockingly. "If that's all, then I suggest we go back inside. The others will wonder where we have gone to."

Dazed, Mr. Weasley followed his wife back inside the house.

After dinner, Ginny, Ron and Hermione were sitting in the living room. Ginny and Ron were playing Exploding Snap and Hermione was working on Arithmancy extra credit. Well she was TRYING to at least. Her mind kept drifting back to the conversation she had had with Ron earlier that evening.

Finally, she stood up. "Well goodnight you two. I'm headed to bed!"

Ron waved with his free hand and mumbled, "Night Mione."

But Ginny, looked up and waggled her eyebrows at her older friend, "But it's still quite early Hermione. What's the rush?"

Hermione glared at the female redhead and said firmly, "I'm tired. That's why. Now if you two don't mind. I'm headed to bed, before either of you come up with another witty comeback or worse, lose focus and blow off your eyebrows." With that she turned on her heel and stalked up the stairs to Ginny's Room.

Ron smiled inwardly; Hermione had done that on purpose. That sounded almost exactly like the reprimand she had given to him and Harry back in their first year, "Now. If you two don't mind, I'm going to bed before either of you come up with another clever idea to get us killed, or worse EXPELLED." He raised his eyes just in time to see Hermione disappear around the bend in the stairs.

The game continued for a while. But Ron was distracted. He too was thinking about what had happened in the study earlier that day.

I don't understand. What's going on? How are we both feeling whatever the other is experiencing? How come I'm not feeling what Harry's going through? What is wrong with me?

Another voice in the back of his head answered his question, you great prat. Just admit it. You're in love with Hermione.

Ron shook himself, Am I? I am. I'm in love with my best friend. I have been since I first met her practically. And look at me. What chance do I stand? Red hair that never lies flat, a freckly face, long arms that remind me of a gorilla, two huge left feet, and a nasty temper. What could she possibly see in me?

"RON!" Ginny shrieked. But it was too late. BAM! The cards exploded, singeing both of their eyebrows. Just like Hermione had said it would.

Ginny quickly muttered a spell and their eyebrows reappeared, "Great going Ronald. Well I'm headed after Hermione. How much do you want to bet that she's reading?"

Ron glared at his sister, rubbing his eyebrows, "She's doing extra credit. For Arithmancy. She says it's her hardest subject,"

Ginny chuckled as she cleaned up the remains of the game with a flick of her wand, "Oh really what's she got, an E?"

Ron grumbled and crossed his arms, "An O but she says just barely."

Ginny flipped her long red hair over her shoulder and pranced obnoxiously toward the stairs, "Good night my lovesick brother!" She said in a singsong voice.

"GINNY!" Ron yelled as he tore up the stairs after her.

She giggled as she sprinted towards her room, "Goodnight Ron!" She screamed as she slammed the door just as Ron reached it.

"GINNY!" Ron roared ferociously again, "COME BACK AND FIGHT LIKE A…UM WOMAN!"

Sighing, Ron quickly pulled out his Extendable Ears; he threaded them under the wooden door, instantly Ginny's voice floated through, "NICE TRY RON!" Someone- namely his sister- tugged on the end of the ears and he fell into the door.

Even without the old Extendables, he could hear Ginny howling with laughter. "The stupid prat! HE…FELL INTO THE DOOR!"

Muttering, Ron headed to his room. He plopped down onto the bed and pulled a pillow over his face, "ARGH!!!!!"

He stood up and fed Pig an owl treat; the bird promptly began choking on it.

"Stupid bird." Ron grumbled as he unstuck Pig's beak. "You're just as clumsy as me."

Just then his old slightly cracked mirror that was perched above the wardrobe startled him by saying, "Ah well. You know what the say, Birds of a Feather flock together!"

Ron savagely hurled an owl treat at the mirror, "Oh, shut up you."