"I used to love you, but things change and people grow up realizing how stupid they were at the moment."

-Stephanie White

Passion Burns Deep Chapter Four

She landed in the Weasley's backyard, her face burning red from embarrassment. Seconds later Ron appeared a few feet away from her, a bewildered look on his face.

"Why did you leave like that?"

Before she could answer, the rest of the group appeared, saving her the task of replying.

Ginny, who had been smiling mischievously, glanced from Ron to Hermione, the space between them, then back to Hermione. Hermione just shook her head, signaling that she would explain everything later.

They all moved into the house chatting about their summer vacation so far, Fleur and Bill bringing up the rear with Harry's luggage and bird cage. Hermione moved into the sitting room, determined to put as much space as she could between her and Ron.

'Maybe he'll get the hint,' she thought desperately. 'Yeah right! What am I thinking; this is Ron we're talking about here. He couldn't catch it even if it was handed to him'.

She remained setting on the sofa for a long time, arguing with herself and trying to come up with the best way to tell Ron that she didn't like him anymore without him getting mad and not speaking to her for a long time.

She was oblivious to everything going on around her as she sat there trying to think. Harry and Ron had come into the room and sat down opposite her and began chatting together, catching up with everything that was going on; Harry telling them how Petunia had been acting weird lately and Ron relaying events that had been happening at the Ministry.

There was more and more deaths everyday and important members of the Ministry were beginning to disappear. Percy, it seemed, was off somewhere doing some 'important' Ministry work and hadn't been heard from since his visit at Christmas time.

"If you ask me, I don't think Scrimgeour gives a damn about people dieing and others going missing," Ron said at last.

"Oh, course he doesn't," Harry snarled. "All he cares about is that he keeps his job and that he looks like he's trying to do something to help, when in reality he's just sitting in his office laughing at the work he doesn't have to do!"

Hermione, still lost in thought wasn't paying any attention to what the boys were talking about. It was almost lunch time and she was beginning to get hungry due to the light breakfast she had.

"What do you think about all of this, Hermione?"

She looked up to find Harry staring at her anxiously, clearly expecting her to have a perfectly good explanation to the whole thing, as usual.

"Well… I… er…," she stuttered. "Actually, I wasn't listening to what you were saying".

Harry opened his mouth to repeat the question, but quickly shut it. There was a flash of light and a few sparks fell though the air to land on the floor, where they went out automatically. In their place was a single blood red phoenix feather.

Bill, who had been walking by the doorway, stopped and stared at the feather in amazement.

"Mum! Dad!" he suddenly yelled. "Come in here, quickly!"

Noting the urgency in their son's voice, they hurried into the room, Ginny right behind them. With one look at the feather, Mrs. Weasley sat down out of breath.

Mr. Weasley began to explain the odd occurrence in a hurried voice. "That feather means that an urgent meeting for the Order has been called. This means that we will all be staying at Grimmuald Place for a few days at the least. Please go pack and meet back here in five minutes".

There was a rustle and shuffle of feet as everyone left the room in a hurry. Hermione sat back with a sigh; she hadn't brought her stuff with her. Harry walked over to the sofa and sat down beside her, his belongings still packed and sitting where Bill and Fleur had left them.

"So," said Harry looking sideways at her, "um… How was your break?"

Looking straight ahead she replied, "It was good, I guess. I had some time to hang out with my muggle friends and I got caught up on my reading".

"That's great!" he exclaimed.

A silence fell between them. Finally, he decided to take a stab at it and voice his thoughts.

"Hermione," he said firmly, "what's going on with you and Ron?"

When she didn't answer, he continued. "Hermione, you know Ron's my best mate and that we practically tell each other everything. All he ever talks about now is you. It gets quite annoying someti…"

But Hermione quickly cut him off, anger evident in her voice, "So, he talks about me behind my back, does he!"

"Hermione it's…"

"What does he say? That I'm desperate and easy to get?"

"Actually, he…"

"I can see it now! Him setting there, rambling on about how he bets that Lavender is a better kisser than me and how much prettier she is!"

"You got it…"

"Yes, see you admit it. I bet he gets a real kick out of how he demolished my heart. He probably laughs about the little fantasies he has about how to get a good snog out of me just to prove his point about Lavender!"

Hermione was now on her feet and madder than Harry had ever seen her before.

As she paused for breathe, he took his chance. "Hermione, you know that's not true. Ron may be a stupid git, but he would never be stupid enough to say something like that".

He stood up and put his hand on her shoulder, trying to comfort her, but she quickly knocked it off.

"Well, I wouldn't believe that after what he tried earlier". She knew what Harry was really trying to say to her and she knew perfectly well what Ron really thought about her but she hoped that if she acted this way toward Harry, he would tell Ron to back off and leave her alone for a little while. She didn't mind acting like a git if it meant buying her some time so she wouldn't have to face Ron with the truth just yet.

She spun around, away from Harry and walked towards the fireplace. Without looking back she managed to say through clenched teeth, "Tell the others that I have went ahead and that I'll meet them at Headquarters".

Without another word, she stepped over the grate and disappeared in a flash of flames.