While it was rather disturbing to learn about Voldemort's history (really, could anyone be surprised his family had a history of mental illness?) I actually found myself more worried about the lack of response from Fleur and Angelina over the next day. So by the time Monday rolled back around I was quite worried, and lonely.

Once again, it was Ginny who drew me from my thoughts, this time at breakfast on Monday.

"Mione, what is wrong with you? Did George hurt your feelings? Did you two have a fight?" She asked, poking me with her spoon. I jerked in surprise before turning towards her.

"Hmm?" I asked. Coming out of my daydream. I had been re-visualizing the Daydream Charm. She smiled patiently at me and repeated her question.

"No, nothing like that Ginny." I said honestly. I stirred my porridge absentmindedly before continuing. "It's just that I, I think I'm.." I turned my head to make sure Ron and Harry weren't listening before I finished. I would tell Ginny, I had to let someone know how I felt. "It's, nothing. Don't worry about it. George and I are doing fine." I finally answered, chickening out at the last moment. Her eyes grew big and she choked on her muffin.

"Really?" she said, looking oddly relieved. "I was worried you were thinking of breaking up with him."

"Mails here!" Ron called out, catching Pig with a smile. A beautiful black owl landed in front of me, its deep auburn eyes locked on me. It held its foot out towards me and I removed the letter from its leg with a smile.

"Thank you." I said as I opened the letter. It was in French, and that made me more excited than anything else. I had a reply from Fleur.

Dearest Hermione,

Thank you so much for the letter, I really loved hearing from you. Bill is doing fine, he has actually gotten a raise! He stopped an uprising in the bank last week and his boss was very pleased, so he gave him a raise.

Not much has changed here though, except that Fred and George no longer visit. Mrs. Weasley still does not talk to me, but at least Ginny is no longer glaring at me. I am going to go shopping this week for wedding robes, do you like the color yellow? I think it would look lovely with your hair. On that matter, would you mind doing me the biggest favor, would you be my Maid of Honor? I had originally thought to have my sister be my Maid of Honor, but I would rather she be a flower girl. You are a dear friend to me, and I would love to have you as my Maid of Honor.

Now, pertaining to the question you asked me, when did I know I was in love with Bill?

I have always known I was beautiful, I have always been beautiful. I've had thousands of men try to woo me, yet it was Bill that caught my attention. It took me forever to figure it out, but it was because when I was with him, I felt beautiful. When he looked at me, it was like he couldn't see anything else. The way he softened when I smiled, the way he gazed at me warmly when I spoke, the way he smiled anytime I touched him. I just felt beautiful in his presence. That's how I knew I loved him. When I found myself reacting the same way to him. I would only smile like that when he was around, I would only feel that flutter when he spoke. I would only feel excited when he touched me. That's when I knew I loved him. When I realized the good days were the ones when he was there, and my bad days were ones when he wasn't.

The precise moment I realized it was the night of our six month anniversary. He had heard his favorite song playing on the radio and started dancing to it-not well I might add. He was goofing off, strutting around and doing crazy moves, and I realized he was the only one who could make me laugh like that. The only man that made me want to be silly too. I realized I would still date Bill even if he was hideous, because I loved him. I love him, the man he is, not his looks.

Now, as far as telling him (George) how you feel, I have two pieces of advice. First, make sure and do it in person. Men are impossibly bad at getting hints, I tried writing 'Love Fleur' on all my notes, and Bill never got the hint. So, it's best to just come out with it and say it. Second, make sure and say it sincerely from your heart. Men are often insecure in the idea of their woman actually loving them, so make sure he understands that you aren't saying it flippantly.

Lastly, don't worry, he is in love with you. I can see it in the way he watches you anytime your near. He looks at you like a flower looks to the sun, as though you're the only thing that can sustain him.

I hope you have a good year at Hogwarts, and I can't wait to see and hear from you again. Good luck with George, everything will go well.

Your friend,

Fleur

A smile spread my lips as I read the letter, I missed Fleur dearly. Far more than I would have ever expected I would. I was thrilled at the idea of being her maid of honor.

"What's that?" A voice questioned over my shoulder. I jumped before turning towards Ron , who was attempting to read over my shoulder. I tucked the letter into my robe before glaring at him.

"None of your business, Ron." I said curtly, grabbing a muffin and shutting my bag.

"It was in French." He said, as though that answered his reason for snooping.

"So?" I questioned as I stood up from the table, swinging my bag over my shoulder.

"Who would write to you in French?" he said suspiciously, his eyes narrowing. "Are you writing to a boy from Fleur's school? Does George know?" He was now glaring at me, a look of protectiveness filling his eyes.

"What?" I asked, feeling annoyed and hurt. Did he really think I'd do that to George? I loved him far too much for that, I didn't even notice other guys anymore. "It's from Fleur." I finally said, getting annoyed at his assumptions.

"oh." He said, looking surprised. I shook my head and headed out of the hall towards the library. I had a half hour till class started, and I'd already finished all my homework, so I decided to relax in the library.

I grabbed my favorite novel once I settled myself in my favorite chair and began to read it.

"Knew I'd find you here." A familiar voice said. I jumped in my seat before looking up at who had spoke.

"Angelina?" I exclaimed, dropping my book and jumping up to grab my friend in a hug. "What are you doing here?" I questioned as I squished her in a back breaking hug. She laughed at my eagerness before gently pulling back and sitting in a chair. She had a huge grin on her face and her eyes were sparkling with happiness. She leaned back in the chair, crossing her legs before laying her arms on the table. I sat beside her with a big grin, I couldn't believe she had come!

"So," she finally said, a grin playing on her lips. "I got your letter." I nodded my head, curious about what she would say.

"You asked how I knew I was in love with Fred-right?"

"Yes."

She smiled and closed her eye, looking as though she was recalling a rather pleasant memory."I didn't actually realize it until I heard him say it." She explained, her smile growing. "It was last year. I had just got out of my first detention with Umbridge. He'd already had one, and was waiting by the door for me. I was feeling light headed from my lack of blood and he caught me before I could fall in the hallway. He carried me all the way to the secret passage way that's caved in. Him and George stored most of their products in there. He carried me all the way there, didn't even use a feather light charm, and laid me out on a couch they'd snatched from somewhere.

'Anyway, he laid me down and started stroking my hair, brushing it from my face in an incredible gentle, tender way. He washed my hand off with some Murtlap- said George had recommended it-and kept telling me that I shouldn't have been treated like that. I'd never seen him so mad at Umbridge, his wand was shooting out red sparks, I thought he was going to actually hurt her. I held him to my chest and made him stay with me, told him that I couldn't bear the thought of him being hurt on my account. He held me closer, his eyes filling with tears and," she stopped opening her eyes and staring right at me. I had unconsciously leaned forward, feeling thrilled by the tale. It made me long to see George. Her eyes sparkled and she was smiling in the way that only really good memories can make you smile.

"and he said he loved me."

Tears filled my eye s at the image of it, what can I say, I'm sappy. She smiled at my reaction before continuing.

"I knew, the minute he said it I just knew. It was as though some dam burst in my chest. I was hit by a flood of emotions and I found that I really did love him back. I just hadn't realized it until he said it to me."

"So," she finally said after a pause. "Have you told George how you feel?"

"No," I answered honestly. There was no point in pretending I didn't love George, I'd already come to terms with the fact that I loved him. I just didn't know how I was going to let him know that fact. She smiled at me, probably knowing what I was thinking.

"It's hard to get up the courage to tell some one you love them, isn't it?" She said, smiling softly. I nodded my head feeling sad suddenly. I really missed George.

"Do you have a class for first block?" she asked suddenly, drawing me from my thoughts. Yipes, I'd completely forgotten about Ancient Runes. I nodded my head, already rising.

"Okay, I won't keep you from it." She said, handing me my bag. "Just don't worry about telling him, let it happen naturally."

The rest of that week past in a haze of school work, most of which I found oddly dull. Harry was still using the Prince's, as he liked to call it, book religiously and it was annoying me to no end. He didn't listen to me though, just accused me of being jealous, which I most certainly was not. Anyway, before I knew it September had arrived, and with it, Quidditch tryouts.

Harry was terrified about the idea of being Captain, he'd no idea on how to turn people down. He kept asking me about ideas on the way to the quidditch pitch, as though I would know about tryouts. I hung back for a minute after Harry went to start the tryouts to wish Ron good luck, he'd been terribly nervous about getting back on the team.

I was walking back to the locker rooms when I saw Ron standing with a willowy blonde. I ducked behind a pillar before the saw me and peaked to see what was going on.

"Good luck today Ron, make sure and watch out for Wrackspurts." Luna said, smiling up at Ron. He was grinning down at her, looking nervous and unsure.

"Thanks, I…" His statement was cut short by Luna, she leaned forward and up on her tip toes and placed both her hands on his shoulders. Leaning still closer she placed a soft kiss on his lips. He froze against her before he raised his arms and gently placed them on her waist.

She pulled back after a moment, smiling in her happy, dreamy way. "See you at dinner, I'll save you some pudding." She then turned around and skipped down the hall.