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.

A Tuesday Surprise

"Morning Mum," Ron mumbled as he shuffled into the kitchen and looked around blearily. "George, Percy ... you're in early."

"It's a lovely day, sonny!" George grinned.

Ron glanced out the window. "It's overcast and looks like it's going to bucket down."

"Yes, wonderful rain," Percy agreed, "the giver of life and all things green and good."

"Right." Ron eyed them suspiciously as he took his seat.

"Here you are dear," Mrs Weasley placed a plate laden with sausages and eggs in front of him. "Did you sleep well?"

"Is Harry on his way down?" George asked, glancing at his watch.

"Shower," Ron mumbled around a mouthful of sausage. "Thanks Mum."

"That won't do," Percy grumbled.

"Would you care to do the honours?" George chuckled.

"Certainly!" Percy took out his wand and pointed it toward the ceiling. His muttering was soon followed by a surprised shriek and the sound of water quickly being turned off.

"Percy! Whatever are you doing?" Mrs Weasley demanded in a shocked tone.

"I'm sorry, Mother, but he must be hurried along," Percy told her before taking a dignified sip of his tea. "I've a busy day ahead."

"Good morning," Mr Weasley came through the back door with more eggs, "did I just hear screaming?"

"Yes dear," Mrs Weasley frowned, "apparently Percy has a very busy day ahead, so decided to hurry Harry along with his shower by making the water cold."

"Percy?" Mr Weasley tried to cover an amused look as he glanced from Percy to George and back again. "What are you two up to?"

"All in good time," George said with a meaningful look at the top of Ron's head.

"Oh," Mr Weasley looked at Ron, who was too busy shovelling down his breakfast to pay any attention to the goings-on.

"What's all the racket?" Charlie wanted to know, having just followed his father inside.

"I think there's something wrong with the water," Harry said as he came into the kitchen, "it went all cold."

"You scream like a girl," Ron remarked.

"Never mind dear," said Mrs Weasley, while giving George and Percy an odd look, "sit down and have some breakfast."

"OH! I SAY!" Percy was pointing out of the kitchen window. "Look at that!"

Everyone but George, who was quickly pulling two flat packages from under his robes and sliding them across the table to sit by the tea-pot, turned to look.

"Sorry," Percy said, shrugging, "false alarm."

Mrs Weasley frowned at Percy and George heavily, but they were spared her potential remarks by the arrival of Bill and Fleur.

"Nice one," muttered George under the general hubbub of greetings.

"I try my best," Percy whispered jauntily, and then checked his watch. "The post should be arriving any moment now. You're sure they'll open your letter first?"

"No doubt," George looked slightly smug. "I put the letter in a fluorescent orange envelope, when it gets delivered it'll sing 'Me First I'm Important' repeatedly until it's opened."

"That sounds annoying in the extreme," said Percy.

"That's the entire point," George grinned.

"Harry? Ron?"

"Did you hear that?" Percy whispered.

"I heard," George rolled his eyes, "but no one else will if they don't shut up." He shook his head in aggravation. "Hey! What was that? Did anyone else hear something?"

"I did!" Percy said loudly. "Everyone hush for a moment!"

"Ron. Harry."

"What the bloody hell was that?" Ron dropped his toast.

"Ginny?" Harry said uncertainly.

"Harry!" Ginny's voice said, sounding somewhat muffled.

"RON!" Hermione's voice was much clearer.

"Hermione?" Ron looked around frantically and glared at Percy and George as they burst into laughter. "Stop laughing and tell us!"

"They've nearly worked it out, my lovelies," George said loudly, "give them another minute."

Hermione's laughter could be heard ringing through the kitchen.

"Come on Harry," Ginny's voice coaxed, "use your eyes!"

"Oh, for Merlin's Sake!" Percy shook his head in disgust and pointed at the table.

Ron and Harry swooped down on the packages and tore them open.

"Oh! Hi Ginny!" Ron laughed and shoved the mirror he was holding at Harry, and took the other one from Harry's hands. "HERMIONE!"

"Our work here is done," George said, grinning broadly as the kitchen seemed to explode with greetings and laughter.

"There's nothing quite like a successful start to the day," Percy agreed, "but I've really got to get to work, come and say hello with me and then I'll be off."

"You know, Percy," George said as they made their way around the table, "you're not so bad, for a poncy rule follower."

"It's funny you should say that, George," Percy replied loftily, "you're not so bad yourself, despite your rabble-rousing tendencies."

...

"HERMIONE!"

"Ron!" Hermione beamed at his image in the mirror.

"Oh, this is bloody brilliant!" Ginny said to Harry, all smiles.

"What's going on?" Dean asked, confused; while Hermione and Ginny spoke to the objects in their hands, and what sounded like a room full of people talked back.

"Two way mirrors," Luna told him. "That's very clever," she added, bending over between Ginny and Hermione's shoulders to take a closer look. "Hello, everyone."

"Hi Luna!" Ron and Harry said together, just as Percy and George appeared at their sides.

"You two!" Ginny burst out.

"What was it again?" Hermione asked. "Eternal love and devotion?"

Percy and George nodded.

"You absolutely have it!" Ginny grinned.

"Forever and ever, amen." Hermione said firmly.

Hermione and Ginny fairly floated through their day, both of them unable to stop smiling and even bursting into uncontrollable giggles whenever they came across each other in corridors or during breaks between lessons.

They both bolted their dinner, much to the general amusement of the Gryffindor table, and were back in the common room feverishly writing essays by 6.00pm.

At 6.30 the common room was full, thanks to the grape-vine being as efficient as ever.

By 8.00 Hermione and Ginny were surrounded by their friends – even Luna, who had received special permission from Professor McGonagall to be there - and were cheerfully gossiping with Harry, Ron, George and Charlie.

9.30 came and Neville escorted Luna back to the Ravenclaw common room, having insisted on taking over Hermione's rounds for the night.

Hermione shooed the disappointed first and second years away to bed at 9.35, over-riding their mumbled protests, and by 10.00 the third and fourth years had been packed off as well.

When Neville had returned, at 10.15, the fifth and sixth years had lost interest in the seventh years conversation and went back to their impressive loads of homework - the fifth years complaining about OWLs; "They're months away!", and the sixth years telling them "Just you wait 'til next year!"

At 10.30 Dean and Seamus had given Harry their fathers' contact details, George had made Neville promise to meet him at The Three Broomsticks for lunch on the Hogsmeade weekend, and Charlie had given both Ginny and Hermione a heart-felt goodbye as he was leaving for Romania in the morning.

10.45 found Hermione and Ginny in their dorm, with Ginny saying a quick goodnight to Ron and Hermione to Harry before both girls took to their own beds – winking at each other and then sealing the curtains tightly.

"We're still going to write letters sometimes, aren't we?" Hermione was stretched out on her stomach, her chin resting on her hands; the mirror propped up against the headboard of her bed.

"I hope so," Ron's voice took on a soft tone. "It's the best part of the morning, reading your letters over breakfast or morning tea."

"Mine too," Hermione nodded, and then giggled. "What about when we're living together? Am I going to have to keep on owling you every other day?"

"If you like," Ron laughed, "I can just see it now, reading our letters over breakfast and Kreacher thinking we've cracked up."

"I read yours at break," she said, "you didn't sound too happy. Everything alright?"

"Yeah," Ron blushed slightly and shrugged, "I was feeling a bit sorry for myself, that's all."

Hermione stretched out her hand and pressed a finger to the reflection of his cheek. "I know how that feels."

"I know you do," he smiled gently, "move your finger over a bit, I can't see you properly." When she did so, he put his in the same spot. "It's almost like holding hands."

"Almost," she agreed, and giggled when he unsuccessfully stifled a yawn. "You should sleep, Ron."

"I can't," he protested, "I'm busy."

"Doing what?" She raised her brows.

"Talking to you," he said firmly, "much more fun than sleep."

"I agree," she laughed, "but if we leave these out, it'll almost be like being together."

"George does expect a busy day tomorrow," he admitted, "we've got to decide what to do about that woman too, do you really think she's using the puking pastilles to not put on weight?"

"She could be," Hermione frowned slightly, "I can't imagine why else she'd want that many skiving snack boxes – they're certainly not making their way here."

"George is right then," Ron said thoughtfully, "we're going to have to stop selling them to her."

"Let George handle it," she advised, now yawning too.

"Right, that's it." Ron leaned a little closer to his mirror. "Time for bed."

"Wake me up in the morning?" Hermione slid under her covers.

"If you don't wake me up first. Goodnight 'Mione. Sleep well."

"You too, Ron. I love you."

"Love you too."