This will have some dialogue from my fanfic Harry Potter and the Other Side. Just giving you a heads up.

Chapter 44: That Funny Feeling

We ended up going home and just coming to Diagon Alley the day before term. Mum wanted to shop right away, but I wanted to wait until Hermione and Harry got to me. Dad had told us how Harry was okay and that he was at the Leaky, but when we got there, he was already gone.

The Grangers met us there. Mrs. Granger have me a kiss on the head and a hug, and Mr. Granger gave me a firm handshake. Hermione smiled and even though I felt the urge to hug her, I decided against it. Hermione looked a bit different. Her skin was a bit note bronzed, it seemed like she was starting to lose what Mum called her "baby cheeks" and she had grown about an inch or two. Minus that, she looked like the same Hermione...only different. I really couldn't put my finger on it.

She grabbed me up immediately and left her parents to talk to mine, and we took off for the shops.

"France was simply amazing!" said Hermione as we walked. "We went to Paris, where we actually got to eat on top of the Eiffel Tower, we toured Notre Dame- did you know that the bells were wizard made? Sometimes the bell ringers don't even have to ring them, but only they know that. And oh goodness the-"

I started unintentionally tuning her out. I was determined to figure out why she appeared so different to me. I had thought it was because I hadn't seen her since the day we came home from school, but I didn't feel this way last year, so why would I think like this now?

-and then we ended up stumbling onto a wizarding village, where-"

"Hermione, it sounds like all you did was learn instead of have fun." I said, hearing the last part of what she said, but knowing that she probably said a lot of facts and shit.

Hermione huffed. "Well, learning is fun to me, Ronald."

"Don't get snippy. Come on, after we get all our supplies, I'll show you some real fun."

We went and shopped for our quills and parchment, our potions supplies, and schoolbooks. Hermione got so many schoolbooks, I couldn't imagine what she was going to do with them. When I asked her about it, she told me she had extra classes.

"How many extra?" I asked as she paid for her books.

"Um, all of them?"

"How?!"

I already made arrangements with Professor McGonagall, don't worry about it."

We headed to Ollivander's where I suddenly felt as giddy as I did the first time I came here. We walked in and old Ollivander gave me a wide smile.

"I was wondering when I would see you again, Mr. Weasley." he said. "And Miss Granger, how is your wand fairing?"

"It's doing me good, Mr. Ollivander." said Hermione in a matter of fact voice.

Ollivander went straight to my end box and pulled it out amongst the others. He opened it, and I could just feel my magic radiating through my body, dying to gain access to the wand.

"Here as promised, Mr. Weasley. Willow, 14 inches, with a unicorn hair core. Take good care of it, and it will take care of you." he said.

He closed the box and bagged it. I gave him the money needed for it, and he gave me the bag. I walked out with the biggest most foolish smile on my face.

"Are you happy?" asked Hermione, smiling along with me, touching my arm, causing my whole body to feel tingly, and I didn't know why. Had France given her new powers or some shit?

"Happy is an understatement right about now." I said, shrugging the feeling off.

After we left Madam Malkin's, I tool Hermione to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor.

"And now, surprise time!" I said, opening the door for her to walk in.

"Oh Ron, I don't know. Too much ice cream isn't good for you." said Hermione, looking around the shop.

I completely ignored her. I was determined for her to enjoy herself.

"So Mione, what will you rot your teeth with today?" I asked with a huge smile on my face.

She looked at the menu, perplexed. "Oh there are just so many I can't decide. You eat this more than I do. You pick it." she said.

I told the creamer that she want a sundae with snozzberry sherbert, blue swirly, and firecracker punch ice cream. Its laid out in brilliant colors of purple, blue, and red. I ordered a chocolate heart attack sundae and paid for both mine and hers and went outside and found a table to sit at.

"Try the firecracker punch first" I instructed her. "Then mix the blue with the snozzberry and prepare to pass out on the bloody goodness"

She hesitantly did as I said and then she lost control. She proceeded to take 3 big bites and was about to take another when she looked up and caught me staring at her. And here I thought I enjoyed ice cream. Watching her eat it however, made me feel funny inside, and I had only taken two bites of mine. My stomach felt like it was flip flopping. Especially when she started to slowly eat her ice cream. She looked...pretty while eating it. Was pretty the right word?

"This is great Ron." she said cheerfully. "Would you like a taste?"

"Don't mind if I do" I said as I lifted up my spoon to attack her ice cream, but for some reason, she took her spoon and scooped some up and offered it to me. It felt a bit weird, but I wasn't one to turn down ice cream of any kind, so I let her guide the spoon full of ice cream to my mouth. I actually allowed her to feed me. I felt myself blushing a bit for some odd reason. Maybe it was the way she was looking at me as if she was studying me.

After she took back her spoon, I found our eyes were locked on each other. I smiled at her and she smiled back, only her smile seemed different. I had never seen her smile at me like that before. Like I was a good book or something.

It was then that I noticed exactly how brown her eyes were. Ginny's eyes were brown, but not like Hermione's. Her eyes reminded me of freshly spread fudge that Mum hadn't cut yet. I couldn't look away, and I didn't know why.

I was about to say something, but then I heard my name being called.

And then the moment, whatever moment it was, was over.

"Harry! HARRY!" yelled Hermione.

Harry waved as we did and ran up to out table. I couldn't help but feel like he ruined something. I just didn't know what.

"Finally!" I exclaimed, grinning at him as he sat down. "We were at the Leaky Cauldron, but they said you'd left, and we went to Flourish and Blotts, and Madam Malkin's, and -"

"I got all my school stuff last week," Harry explained. "And how come you knew I'm staying at the Leaky Cauldron?"

"Dad."

"Ah."

"Did you really blow up your aunt, Harry?" said Hermione in a very serious voice.

I couldn't help but bust out laughing. That was the craziest shit I had ever read when I saw the article.

"I didn't mean to." said Harry."I just... lost control."

"It's not funny, Ron," said Hermione sharply. "Honestly, I'm amazed Harry wasn't expelled."

"Its funny as hell, Hermione." I said. But I stopped when she gave me a look that said she would hex me come tomorrow.

"So am I." admitted Harry. "Forget expelled, I thought I was going to be arrested."

He then looked at me. "Your dad doesn't know why Fudge let me off, does he?"

"Probably 'cause it's you, isn't it?" I shrugged, chuckling. "Famous Harry Potter and all that. I'd hate to see what the Ministry would do to me if I blew up an aunt. Mind you, they'd have to dig me up first, because Mum would've killed me. Anyway, you can ask Dad yourself this evening. We're staying at the Leaky Cauldron tonight too! So you can come to King's Cross with us tomorrow! Hermione's there as well!"

Hermione nodded, beaming. "Mum and Dad dropped me off this morning with all my Hogwarts things."

"Excellent!" said Harry happily. "So, have you got all your new books and stuff?"

"Look at this!" I said as I pulled out my end box and opened it. "Brand new wand. Fourteen inches, willow, containing one unicorn tail-hair. And we've got all our books. What about those Monster Books, eh? The assistant nearly cried when we said we wanted two."

"What's all that, Hermione?" Harry asked, pointing at not one but three bulging bags in the chair next to her.

"Well, I'm taking more new subjects than you, aren't I." said Hermione. "Those are my books for Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, Divination, the Study of Ancient Runes, Muggle Studies -"

"What are you doing Muggle Studies for?" I asked, rolling my eyes at Harry. "You're Muggleborn! Your mum and dad are Muggles! You already know all about Muggles!"

"But it'll be fascinating to study them from the wizarding point of view." said Hermione.

"Are you planning to eat or sleep at all this year, Hermione?" asked Harry, laughing as I joined in.

Hermione ignored us.

"I've still got ten Galleons." she said, checking her purse. "It's my birthday in September, and Mum and Dad gave me some money to get myself an early birthday present."

"How about a nice book? I joked, innocently.

"No, I don't think so," said Hermione, sticking out her tongue at me. "I really want an owl. I mean, Harry's got Hedwig and you've got Errol."

"I haven't. Errol's a family owl. All I've got is Scabbers." I pulled him out of my pocket. "And I want to get him checked over. I don't think Egypt agreed with him."

It was true. Scabbers was looking thinner than usual, and there was a definite droop to his whiskers, and he always seemed as if he was always shaking like he was worried.

"There's a magical creature shop just over there." said Harry, pointing down the road. "You could see if they've got anything for Scabbers, and Hermione can get her owl."

So Hermione and I threw our ice cream cups away, and headed off with Harry to Magical Menagerie.