Standard disclaimers apply!

I do not own Harry Potter. I have nothing to do with Scholastic, Warner Bros or Bloomsbury. I'm not JKR and I am certainly not making any profit out of this.

"I think it's time I took you to bed, Miss Granger."

"That's a good idea, Mr Weasley," Hermione smiled up at him, absently running her fingers over the top two buttons of his shirt. "I am so dreadfully tired, but can you help me with this first?" She lifted the box with her free hand.

Ron took the bracelet from its box and held it carefully. "Right or left?"

"Left," she said, promptly holding out her wrist and watching his face as he fumbled the delicate piece slightly while securing the clasp.

"Good," he nodded firmly and took her hand to hold her arm up a little higher in the moonlight. "Very pretty."

"It is," Hermione agreed, "I can't believe you saw me admiring it, I thought I was being discreet."

"Hmmm," Ron pressed his lips on the inside of her wrist gently. "I was talking about your arm," he chuckled, "but yeah, the jewellery's good too. Oh, that reminds me! Fleur said I have to tell you that these are wizard found diamonds, not muggle ones. She thinks that is something you would find important."

"These are real diamonds?" Her eyes widened.

"Yeah," Ron nodded casually, slightly amused at her expression. "Why?"

"I assume they're not regulated by DeBeers?"

"I don't even know what that means," he chuckled, "you'd best talk to Fleur about it; it's her sort of thing."

"I will," she took both his hands in hers and pulled him over to her bed. "I thought you were going to take me to bed, Mr Weasley."

"BLOODY FUCKING HELL!"

Hermione's eyes flew open as she sat bolt upright, looking around in alarm and confusion. "WHAT? WHAT?"

"Have you seen the time?" Ginny's hair flew behind her as she sprung from her bed and half ripped off her pyjama's while searched frantically for her uniform.

"SHIT!"

"Made it," Hermione whispered as she and Ginny slid into their usual places at the Gryffindor table.

"Where the hell did you learn that spell?" Ginny demanded as they both filled their plates with toast, eggs and bacon. "I've never seen anything like it."

"It's something I've been working on," Hermione blushed as she poured herself a large mug of coffee.

"Well it's dead useful," Ginny breathed, "you'll have to show it to me."

"That's actually the reverse spell," Hermione lowered her voice and grinned, "I'll show you both."

"The rev ... ooooh!" Ginny laughed loudly. "That's bloody fanastic!"

Thursday 24th September, 1998

7th Year Girls Dorm

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

My Ron, we have an accord. I love it when that happens.

About George's chairs. Tell him to make sure there's some sort of cushioning charm, so people don't hurt themselves, or he might find himself in legal trouble. What is the theory behind the fake wands? Is it transfiguration or charming? Perhaps what's needed for better control is to reverse the process. I'm sure you'll both figure it out.

I was thinking about HER and it sounds like there's a protego charm involved, which may be the key to cracking the problem. I had a word with Professor Flitwick, and he couldn't think of anything on the spot, but said he'd have a think about it and let me know, because now his curiosity is piqued. I'd like to have another look at her myself. If you've got no objections, I thought we might pop down there for an hour on the next Hogsmeade weekend. I've looked at the rules, and there's nothing there about not being allowed to leave Hogsmeade but I'll double check with Professor McGonagall, of course. It also occurred to me that as a curse breaker, Bill might have some useful input with the matter.

Kreacher worries me. He's getting on a bit, after all, and I'm worried that he'll throw himself headlong into work and do himself damage. I realise he's completely against the idea of being free, and I can even accept that it wouldn't be the best thing for him at his age. Even so, it doesn't sit well with me. I also don't know how he's going to react to the idea of removing HER – despite the fact that his loyalty is now with Harry, he did genuinely love her and I suspect it would upset him. BUT I have no intention of creeping around Grimmauld Place and being subjected to a barrage of abuse from a portrait! Ginny agrees.

Speaking of Ginny. We were in the kitchens last night, visiting Kreacher, and we saw Winky. It seems that without Dobby there to look after her, she's gone even further downhill. The other house elves have washed their hands of her completely, aside from Kreacher – and he said he is close to doing the same thing, as she is almost impossible to deal with, but he will persevere because Harry has told him to. Honestly, after all these years, you'd think something could be done for her.

We're having dinner with Hagrid tomorrow night, and meeting Neringa. That should be interesting. Wish me luck.

Just between you and me, I wonder a lot of things about Dumbledore. It amazes me that Harry could have been SO angry with him, and questioned everything about him, over something Dumbledore did when he was a teenager – yet he's never said a word against him for leaving him with those people.

In the end it all worked out for the best – even his "saving people thing" – but I would have thought Dumbledore could have taken a little more interest in Harry's life before he came to Hogwarts, given that he must have had an inclination as to what type of people the Dursley's were. I know now that Mrs Figg was there to keep an eye on Harry, but just what could she do?

I don't know, perhaps I'm being too harsh – and I realise that Dumbledore had a lot of other things to keep him occupied; but he managed to send that howler to Mrs Dursley when they were about to throw Harry out of the house, and I can't see how Dumbledore wouldn't have had time to just ... I don't know ... pop in occasionally, and make sure they were treating Harry decently.

There! I've wanted to say that for a long time – but I'm obviously not going to bring it up with Harry, because it's really none of my business.

On to more fun things (well, it was frustrating actually). I was dreaming about you this morning, about us, the night you gave me my birthday present (I wear it every day, by the way, although technically speaking it's a uniform infraction, so I make sure to keep it well covered). You were just about to take me to bed when I woke up to the sound of Ginny swearing her head off because we'd both slept through the alarm.

Promise me one thing. If we DO move into Grimmauld Place, we will have a sleep-in at least once a week (maybe on Sundays) and there will be no siblings, parents or alarms, or anything like that, to interrupt us.

Would it be out of order to tell you that the thought made me stop writing for a little while, seal my curtains shut, cast a very strong muffliato and "take care of myself"? Because that's what just happened. Do you remember that day in July? When we found the shop in Manchester with the funny pink door (as if you would forget!)? Do you remember what we did later that night, with our purchases? I was thinking of that. Not quite the same, unfortunately, but it was better than nothing ... and I'm going to be struggling to get everything cleaned up before Ginny comes back from Quiddich practice. My legs are like jelly.

Merlin's pants, Ronald Weasley, I love you.

Your Knee.