A/N - I'm so sorry about the slow updates, I've become busy all of a sudden and my lazy self isn't used to it. I promise I'll get better :) also, this is a shorrrrt chapter, so I'll probs post the next one with it.

Chapter 15 - Pre-Wed

The next few days at the Burrow were the busiest days of Ron's life. His mother had everyone working their socks off in preparation for Bill's wedding. He had never seen her so stressed in his life. Not only was she piling up chores for them to do, she also seemed to be ensuring that Ron, Harry and Hermione were not in any sort of proximity the whole day. It was alright with Harry because Ron would still see him every night up in his room, but as for Hermione, Ron hadn't spoken to her properly since their encounter on the landing on the night of Mad-Eye's death, and he was starting to get more and more annoyed at his mother for it.

He knew why she was keeping them apart, of course. It wouldn't take a genius to wonder if the three of them were trying to devise a plan, but unfortunately for Mrs Weasley, their plan was already mostly set. Ron knew his mother would be angrier than he could even imagine when she had found out what they had planned, but he hoped that in the end she would understand that he had to do what he had to do. The end. It seemed so far away yet Ron couldn't help but feel that he, the wizarding world and especially Harry were being pulled closer to it, like a magnet. Although he was mostly a laid back person, Ron knew it would be a difficult hunt, and Merlin only knew how long it would take. When he really thought about it, Ron deemed this mission nearly impossible, but then he would think of Hermione. Just the thought of her was like a gold thread tying him to motivation and positivity; they would finish this. His family would be okay. Harry would be okay. She would be okay.

It was another boiling day at the Burrow. Breakfast was a quick affair, as it had been every day that week, and sure enough Mrs Weasley had lain out a list of all the different chores that needed to be done and who was devised to complete each one. Hermione had spent most of this week with Ginny. She knew Mrs Weasley was doing her best to keep Hermione away from the boys, and keep them away from each other in turn. This only made her guilt worse, though, as Hermione knew that Mrs Weasley would be devastated by their plan, but there was nothing else they could do. Both her and Ron were going to join and help Harry, and Hermione knew that Ron wouldn't be stopped, not even by his own mother. Ron. She had missed him so much these last few days, it was silly really, they saw each other at meals and throughout the house briefly, but it wasn't enough.

And what had amazed more than anything, was that for the first time since she had known him, Ron didn't seem to be under the tantalising effect which was simply, Fleur. It was hurtful in fourth year to watch Ron utterly drool over the part-Veela. Then came sixth year when Fleur had stayed for the summer, and even though she wasn't there, Ginny had informed her of the hold the beauty still had on Ron. Which tore at Hermione's heart all the same. But not this summer. He did have a million things on his mind, Hermione supposed, and she imagined that he hadn't seen much of Fleur. But it was still amazing to see, and maybe, possibly, hopefully, Hermione wondered if there was a chance she had something to do with it. It wasn't too unreasonable, but with her and Ron, anything could be.

The evening sun was beginning to fall over the horizon. Hermione had managed to finish all of her assigned chores and had time to spare before she would help Mrs Weasley with preparing dinner. She noted that everyone else of the household was busy with their own chores, so no one would notice if she just dashed up and visited a special redhead that she hadn't spoken properly to in a good few days, especially Mrs Weasley who was out in the garden, her music playing. And with that last thought that Hermione felt rather guilty about having, but not guilty enough to retreat from her plan, she ascended the many flights of stairs up to his room.

Cautiously knocking the door, Hermione was greeted with a rather hostile retort which was quickly retracted as Ron learnt that it was actually her outside the door. He opened it with a welcoming smile on his face and ushered her in.

"Managed to escape, have you?" He asked with a grin as he sat down on his bed.

Hermione gave him a disapproving look. "I didn't have to escape from anywhere. It's nice to have something so lovely to prepare for." She added.

"Strange innit, having a wedding now." Ron mused.

"I suppose." Hermione looked around his rather untidy bedroom before sitting down on Harry's camp bed."You've been keeping yourself busy, then." She smirked.

"Oh yeah, I'm drained." Ron replied with the same sarcasm in his voice. "Don't see the point in cleaning my room, not like any of the bloody guests are gonna come up here." He grumbled.

Hermione rolled her eyes at his laziness. "How's Harry?" She asked in a more cautious voice, she knew he would still be having nightmares along with everything else going on.

"Been better." Ron sighed. "Haven't seen him all day actually,"

"Neither have I," Hermione added. "Come to think of it, Ginny asked me to keep an eye out for him."

"Ginny?" Ron repeated.

"I think she just wanted to talk to him. She is the only one who knows what we're about to do." Hermione reasoned.

"So?"

"So, Ron," Hermione rolled her eyes, "I imagine she just wants to say goodbye, nothing more." She sighed at his still-negative attitude towards Harry and Ginny. They broke up, for goodness sake.

Ron grumbled something that she couldn't decipher but Hermione chose to ignore it. She wished he would just accept that his best friend and his sister liked each other, but she knew he still had a long way to go before he did. "Would you like some help?" She asked, changing the subject.

"What, with my room?" He asked dumbly.

"No, Ron, you're Herbology homework." She chuckled. Ron mimicked a laugh in a mocking tone before finally standing up and muttering spells. Hermione got up with him and soon enough clothes were flying back to where they belonged, as well as other miscellaneous items that were scattered around the room. "See." She said as they finished.

"Yes, Mum." Ron rolled his eyes and slouched back down on his bed.

Tentatively, Hermione perched at the end of his bed, too. "Can you please stop calling me that?"

"Why?" Ron chucked. "Winds you up, does it?" He said with a menacing grin.

"No." She part-lied, shoving him playfully. "Because I'm not your mother." She added simply.

"Oh, glad we got that cleared up. Things could've got weird." He laughed as he lay his head down on her lap, sprawling the rest of his body across his bed.

Hermione shook her head with a chuckle but she couldn't help sigh inwardly. What were they doing? They had agreed to remain friends, strictly friends for Harry's sake as well as themselves. Hermione knew they had been pushing the boundaries for years now but this flirting was really getting too much. She loved him, and it made her happier than anything to know he also felt something there. But they had a task ahead of them and this could only get in their way. Instead of voicing the matter, however, Hermione just closed her tired eyes and leaned back against his bedroom wall, listening to the sound of his breathing become steady before hers did the same.

"What the bloody hell are you playing at?" Ron shouted heatedly in the garden. Oh no, Hermione knew the second that Ron had burst through the door of his sister's bedroom that this could only end badly. And here it was, Ron fumed to the back garden to be shortly followed by Harry, Ginny and Hermione as they took their argument outside.

"Look, Ron, I know you're angry but please-" Harry tried to justify himself but Ginny soon stopped him.

"No, Harry. Don't you dare apologise! Ron, you need to accept that I, believe it or not, live my own life and am perfectly capable of making my own decisions without my hothead brother getting in the way!" She shouted, hands on her hips. Hermione looked between the Weasley siblings nervously.

Ron laughed in Ginny's face. Not a good idea, Hermione thought. "Capable of making your own decisions?! You broke up four weeks ago, for a reason might I add-" He added pointedly at Harry. "And now you go snogging each other?" Ron's face was getting redder by the second.

Hermione knew she had to intervene. "Ron, please stop shouting." She requested from beside him, trying to hold down his arms in an attempt to calm him.

He looked at her briefly and his expression softened ever so slightly before he looked back at Harry. "Ron, please, mate. I know it was a stupid thing to do, I promise if anyone cares about your sister's feelings, it's me." Harry stated with a blush. Ron just sniggered but didn't retaliate any further. "It's just, we have no idea what's going to happen. But one thing I do know is that I… feel very strongly about your sister." He added sheepishly. "I promise I wouldn't hurt her." He said more firmly.

Hermione smiled at the scene of Ginny, with tears dazzling her eyes and Harry, only holding love in his green ones. She on the other hand, was trying to tame her overprotective 'more-than-friend'-friend. She looked up at him and was happy that he had calmed considerably. "Promise?" He asked, considerably softer.

"Promise." Harry confirmed and smiled at his best friend.

Ginny and Harry both walked inside, Ginny still didn't look too pleased and Hermione was thankful that Ron hadn't seemed to notice.

"Should we go to the lake?" Hermione asked Ron, trying to defuse any lasting tension.

Ron looked back down at her and nodded, taking her hand. Walking in silence, Hermione knew that Ron was still calming down. They plopped themselves against a tree. "You're lucky I half agreed with you today, or Ginny wouldn't be the only person expressing that she was annoyed with you." Hermione said warningly.

Ron just looked toward the lake, his face not showing any expression, really. Hermione retook his hand and squeezed it. "I know you only care, Ron, but Ginny can take care of herself and if she gets hurt then she only has herself to blame. Also, Harry is your best friend! You need to trust him more." She added.

"But what were they doing, snogging like that? They're not gonna see each for months. Surely that's more upsetting than leaving as friends?" Ron asked.

Hermione sighed. "I don't know. I doubt they'd ever be just friends, no matter how long Harry would leave for. It's a difficult time for him, Ron. He needs your sister."

"He has us." He countered.

"It's different with Ginny, you know that." Hermione said firmly, Ron didn't seem to have a response. She looked down at their joined hands, and with her best attempt to pull him around, she began to trace his thought scar again, with her free hand. She leaned into him, placing her head on his shoulder. Mimicking how they sat in the library that evening. Much to her relief, Ron rested his head upon hers. They remained in companionable silence.