Ron looked at Harry. Harry looked at Ron. Hermione glared at them both and then cleared her throat so roughly, Harry was worried for her voice. Of course, nothing happened to reduce the volume of the following outburst.

'You gifted Harry a book! And any other book and Merlin knows I'd be so happy but this!'

Harry winced. Hermione's obsessive cleaning had led to the discovery of Twelve Failsafe Ways to Charm Witches. It had not been pretty.

'What was the need for this book, in the middle of a War? And at any rate, Harry's at least had a girlfriend who didn't call him,' Here she sniffed loudly and adapted her voice to the Voice of Doom and said, 'Won-Won!'

'Yeah, well, Harry's girlfriend was too busy bawling her eyes out-'

'I thought you guys were talking about Ginny?'

'Oh Harry, you're too ahead. Rewind yourself a bit.'

'And what about Krum?' A sneer worthy of Malfoy was present on Ron's face. Hermione blanched.

Harry mused, that this was the first time, a fight had occurred due to a birthday present. Ron's ears were scarlet and so Harry, quite sensibly, went outside to watch, but really, he reckoned, even Death Eaters would run away at this racket.

ooo

The next day morning, Harry made two cups of coffee for himself and Hermione(Ron was snoring), and sat down beside her and her mountain of books nearby.

'Hermione, er, can I have a word?'

She looked surprised. 'Sure.'

'Ah, well, I've been meaning to ask,' His face was going red, he was sure. Harry had never been good at these sort of things. But honestly, he couldn't stand them having a go again. 'DoyoulikeRon?'

'Slime balls? Is that what you said?'

ooo

'Mate, look, this is getting ridiculous,' Harry started as Hermione was outside. The talk in the morning hadn't even proceeded to her answering, so Ron was a chance.

'What's getting ridiculous? Your hair?'

'No, though I do need a haircut. What I'm saying is you and Hermione- Ron, you have to make a move.'

'Oh, shut up, Harry, did you get drunk or something? Or wait, is it those mushrooms we had yesterday?'

ooo

Harry hadn't had much experience in match-making but he didn't have much experience in this saving-the-world thing either. At any rate, he was pretty sure, Ron would be happier today- they had had some thing good to eat and no mushrooms.

Time to go for them both.

'Look, Ron, Hermione, I am so thankful to you both for accompanying me here.'

'Oh, Harry,' Hermione whispered and she looked at him like she was going to fling herself on Harry. Ron looked amused.

'But, if you both want to be an, er thing, I have absolutely no problem. You don't need to sacrifice your relationship for this Horcrux hunt. And, to be honest, it is getting kind of-'

Ron was going red. Hermione looked a bit pink, but she succesfully managed a fake sigh. 'Harry, whoever put such an idea into your head? We are not sacrificing anything, are we, Ron?'

Nope, thought Harry. This wasn't happening with a few words.

ooo

'You really need a haircut, mate.'

'And you need to make a move before my head explodes.'

ooo

Time to talk with actions. He vaguely wondered if he could force them into one room with some mistletoe and hike away, but it was freezing outside. There was the slight matter of his life in this new plan.