Quidditch

Hermione brushed her teeth and put her hair into a ponytail. She left before Ginny could find her, corner her and bug her about Ron. She went off to find him. He was coming out of his room, dressed in a green t-shirt and khakis. He smiled nicely when he saw her. She smiled back. "Do you think I could talk to you for a minute?" She asked.

"I don't see why not," he said.

Hermione looked around him to see if Harry was in his room. "Is Harry in there?"

"No. He went downstairs with Ginny to play Quidditch." Ron said, hinting at something else. "Their probably hiding out by the shed snogging their faces off."

Hermione laughed. "It's none of our business what they do." She walked by him and sat on his bed. He followed and stood leaning against his dresser, and listened to her tell him her idea on how to help George out of his depression.

His expression was hard to read. "I dunno." He said.

"What? Why not?!" Hermione asked incredulously. "He's your brother! Don't you want to help him?"

"Of course I do, but it's not that."

"Well what is it then? You don't like my idea?" Hermione demanded.

"No, I don't." He said bluntly.

Hermione was taken aback. "Why not? Ron I'm trying to help George! It's awful that he's depressed and I want to help him! Don't you?!" She was starting to get angry.

"I told you that I want to help him." Ron scowled.

"Fine! So you want to help him but you hate my idea. Well then what do you suppose we should do, Ronald?"

"I don't know!" He yelled. Hermione shrank back slightly. "I don't know, and I don't like it. Because you had to come up with it!" He said desperately, spreading apart his hands. "He's my brother and I don't know how to help him! You're just his friend and you can come up with a way to help him! It will work no doubt, you're Hermione Granger: you're always right! How come I can't think of anything and you can?!" He looked at her, waiting for an answer with desperation.

Hermione was shocked by his outburst. Then she spoke, her voice full of sympathy. "How can you have thought of it when you're mourning almost as much as he is? Ron, Fred was your brother too. I can't understand what you or George or any one of you are feeling because I'm an only child. I haven't lost a brother, or a son, or even a twin." Ron lowered his head and her voice softened. "Ron you can't blame yourself for not thinking of a way to help George. I'm sure you've got enough to think about right now." She saw his shoulders shaking and her heart broke. She got off of the bed and walked over to him, then wrapped her arms around him and stroked his hair.

"Shh," she whispered as he buried his face in her shoulder and whispered "I'm sorry". It felt odd for Hermione having to comfort Ron instead of the opposite. But she didn't mind. She kissed his cheek. He let go of her after a few moments and looked at her with sad eyes. "Are you all right?" She asked, putting her hand on his cheek.

"Better now." He said, smiling a little. She smiled back. "I do like your idea. It's brilliant, much like yourself, and I was just jealous that I didn't think of it."

She blushed at his compliment. "Well, since Harry and Ginny are already outside, do you want to get George and play some real Quidditch?"

"Sure." Ron left to grab George, and Hermione put on some sneakers and went outside. As Ron had thought, Harry and Ginny were behind the shed.

She cleared her throat and gave them each a superior, smug smile when they sprang apart. "If you're not too busy eating each other's faces, I would like your help with something."

They both mumbled, "Yeah, sure." Hermione laughed internally at their awkwardness. She relayed the information to them. "Brilliant idea, Hermione!" Harry said.

"Thanks."

"I'm in." He said. He looked over at Ginny.

Ginny's eyes were downcast but she nodded. Harry put an arm around her waist and drew her close. He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. Hermione smiled; Harry and Ginny were very cute together.

Harry's eyes focused on something behind her and he let go of Ginny. Hermione turned and knew why. Ron had come outside. Even though he had approved of Ginny and Harry dating, he still didn't like to see it.

Hermione frowned; Ron was alone. "Where's George?"

Ron shook his head. "He wouldn't come out of his room."

"What did you tell him?"

"I knocked on his door and when he didn't answer I said, 'Hey George, me, Hermione, Harry and Ginny are all going to play Quidditch. Want to join?' and he said 'You don't need me you already have enough for two teams' and I said, 'Well you know how bad Hermione is-"

"Hey!" Hermione said offensively. "I'm not that bad!"

"You kind of are," Ron said sheepishly.

"You're bad, Hermione." Ginny said, nodding.

"It's kind of sad, really," Harry added.

Hermione threw her hands up in the air. "Oh whatever." She sighed. "Continue your story, Ron."

"I said 'Well you know how bad Hermione is. She can score keep' and he said 'If she's so bad then why don't you help her get better?' and I joked, 'It's going to take more than me, George' and he didn't say anything so I said, 'Would you like to come and watch then?' and he said 'Not really' and then I said 'Are you sure?' and he said 'Just leave me alone, Ron' and he sounded really sad and so I left." Ron finished.

Hermione sighed. "Well we can't give up. We'll just have to try again tomorrow." She said determinedly.

The four of them began playing Quidditch. Hermione was on a team with Harry, since she was sadly the worst and he was the best. Ginny was on a team with Ron because they were both pretty good. Harry played Keeper, as did Ron, of course, and Hermione and Ginny were Chasers. Ginny ended up getting frustrated and landing because Ron let almost all of Hermione's shots in, and Harry wasn't really doing the same for her.

"Just because she's your girlfriend, it doesn't mean you can let her score!" She yelled at Ron. "Harry's not doing that for me, you prat!" She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Ron. Ron brought his hands up innocently and Ginny let out a frustrated noise. Harry landed down beside her, and Hermione, who didn't exactly fancy flying, touched down too, followed by Ron.

"Get your wand out of a knot, Ginny. It's just a game." Ron said.

"I KNOW THAT! But you're cheating! It's not very fun anymore Ron."

"Ginny…" Harry began, looking warily at his girlfriend.

"Harry," Ginny warned, "don't." Harry fell silent. Hermione felt very awkward in this situation and she didn't dare butt in. "You've always been annoying, but ever since you've started dating Hermione you've been getting on my nerves."

"Oh have I now?" Ron asked. "And how do you think I feel about you and Harry?"

"We're not a quarter as annoying as you are." Ginny accused. Harry and Hermione looked at each other and backed away several steps.

Ron snorted. "Oh really? Well, want to know what I think?" The next few seconds consisted of lots of shouting, pointing, and rude hand gestures.

"Oi! What's going on out here?" George shouted, appearing at the door with his hands in the pockets of his baggy pants. Ron and Ginny both stopped bickering and their hands fell to their sides. "I thought you were playing Quidditch. Well it looks like I'm going to have to settle this. You two are both inconsiderably irritating in your relationships and I'd give anything to have something to bash my brains in whenever I'm around you." He smiled as if greatly satisfied.

Harry was grinning. He always loved George's humour the most. Hermione smiled at George. Ron and Ginny both looked like they didn't know what to do. Harry and Hermione laughed at them. "Well Mum asked me to tell you that lunch is ready."

"All right. Thanks, George." Hermione said, smiling. He nodded and disappeared back inside the house. She turned back to her friends, beaming. "I think watching you two bicker brought back some of the old George!"

"Yeah!" Harry said, still laughing from hearing George's joke. "Good job you two!" He said as if he was congratulating children, looking back and forth between Ron and Ginny.

"Oh shut up, Harry." Ron said, his brow furrowed. Harry laughed harder but Ginny still looked angry and he fell silent. Hermione took Ron's hand and pulled him towards the house. She looked over her shoulder to see if Harry and Ginny were coming but they weren't. She made Ron go ahead of her inside. She didn't want to spy but she was curious about what was happening with them.

Harry had moved closer to Ginny but she had her face turned away her arms crossed. He put his hand under her chin and made her look at him. Ginny was good at being stubborn, but whatever Harry was saying to her seemed to be making her relax. Hermione smiled as she watched them hug then slipped inside before they noticed her watching to wash up for lunch.