"No - listen, I'm fine - "

"Hold still, Ron!"

"It's just a - "

"Here, Mrs. Weasley."

Hermione managed to hold Ron still. Peering at the burn on his arm, she waved her wand at it, and it started to heal.

The next week since the wedding had arrived, and the Weasley's were trying to tidy up their house before leaving to go to the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. (Bill and Fleur were on their honeymoon in north Europe.) While Harry, Ron, and Hermione were weeding out gnomes, Ron got a burn from a rather nasty baby fire crab.

"I still don't understand how they got into our backyard," said Mrs. Weasley, shaking her head and closing her book of remedies on the kitchen table. "They don't exactly live around here, do they?"

Ron looked down at his arm and then at Hermione.

"Eh…."

"He's back to normal," said Hermione briskly, evidently pleased at Ron's lack of gratitude.

Mrs. Weasley looked up at the clock on the wall that showed all the Weasley family's names on it (Which were all pointing to "Mortal Peril" as usual.) But Mr. Weasley's had just turned to "Traveling".

"Oh, good," said Mrs. Weasley. "When Arthur gets here, we're leaving."

"How are we getting there?" Harry asked.

"Well, we'll Apparate in front of the headquarters." Mrs. Weasley said. "Ginny's not old enough yet, so I'm doing Side-along with her, and…"

She bit her lip.

"Oh, I forgot - you and Ron can't, can you?"

"Er…Harry can," Ron said placidly, "even though he's not old enough."

"Do you want to Side-along with Hermione, then?"

"I can do it myself!" said Ron indignantly. Harry glanced over at Hermione, who had a eyebrow raised.

"So you want to end up without your eyebrow again?" she said, sniggering slightly.

"Like it matters," said Ron gruffly.

Frown lines appeared on Hermione's forehead, and just then, Mr. Weasley arrived at the door, and Mrs. Weasley went to meet him just as Ginny came downstairs.

Noticing the matching resentful looks on both Ron and Hermione's expressions, she stepped towards them hesitantly.

"Erm…so where is our Apparition spot?" she asked.

"Just in front of Grimmauld Place," Hermione informed her, then muttered, "Unless you want to know where Ron's going, London."

It looked as though Ron had heard her, because his eyes flashed.

Harry, sensing the atmosphere growing tenser, persuaded Ron to go upstairs to get their bags.

As soon as they entered Ron's room, he exploded with fury.

"Who does she think she is! I expected her big brain to at least register that I know I'm not good at Apparition, but she still mocks me anyways! She's - "

"Ron!" said Harry firmly, cutting him across. "It's surprising, hearing this from me, but I think the reason Hermione got all worked up because you offended her!"

"Already have a copy of her book, do you?" said Ron, noting the thing he said to Hermione two years ago about writing a book about girl's feelings. "I didn't say anything to her!"

"Well, I think she would've liked it if you did Apparate with her," Harry answered.

"Is it really that big of a deal?" said Ron, sounding more exasperated than angry now.

"Well, you're her boyfriend, aren't you?"

Ron paused before answering.

"She could've said something instead of insulting me!"

"Yeah, I agree on that, mate."

There was a moment's pause until Ron muttered, "Let's get our stuff."

Harry nodded as he picked up his luggage, Hedwig's cage safely under his arm; Hedwig's

When Harry and Ron returned to the kitchen, Hermione and Ginny were not there.

"Probably outside already," Harry suggested.

Sure enough, the Weasley's and Hermione were outside when Harry and Ron came out.

"Here, dear," said Mrs. Weasley anxiously, rushing towards them and taking Ron's bag.

"Your father will hold onto that while he Apparates; I've got Ginny's."

When Mrs. Weasley strode back to Mr. Weasley, Harry turned to Ron.

"I guess whoever is Apparating alone holds their bags," Harry said obviously. "So…."

He looked at Ron, his eyebrows raised.

"Fine!" Ron said, exasperated. "I'll go talk to her!"

"Do it in a nice way," said Harry hastily, before Ron turned away. "And think about what your saying before you say it; I had to learn that with Cho."

Ron exhaled heavily and walked over to Hermione. Harry felt, as Ron walked away, that his relationship between Hermione was much more trouble than it was worth, and Ron didn't seem to care.

Mrs. Weasley bustled up to Harry again.

"Dear, if you can't Apparate properly, you could go with Arthur - "

"No, it's okay Mrs. Weasley," said Harry reassuringly. "I've done it before, long-distance, too."

"Well, if you're sure," she said apprehensively, then walked away again.

"Is everyone ready?" Mr. Weasley's voice called out abruptly.

Harry clutched the handle of his bag tightly, ready.

Before Mr. Weasley spoke again ("On the count of three - "), Harry distinctly heard Hermione say, "Now, Ron, just grab my arm - "

Harry glanced over at them. He smiled when he saw that Ron, giving Harry a shifty smile, grabbed Hermione's hand instead.

Hermione's tense and apprehensive expression softened, and she stared at Ron for a moment.

That was all Harry saw until Mr. Weasley yelled, "Three!"

Harry quickly spun on the spot, imagining Number 12, Grimmauld Place in his mind firmly, and felt the uncomfortable feeling of successful Apparition.