Okay so from here until Summer 1997, you will see some lines and phrases from the book Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Those lines are owned by J.K. Rowling, and in no way am I trying to claim them. They are needed because this is a POV telling of the books, and I will have to use some of the things that Ron has been told and hears around him.

Chapter 163: Awkward

When I woke up the next morning, Hermione wasn't there, much to my disappointment. My small twin sized bed felt massive without her in our, and I found myself yearning for her comfortable body against mine.

As I laid there, not interested in getting up out of bed just yet, my mind drifted to the early hours when she had came into my room. The fact that she let me touch such an most intimate part of her surprised me. The fact that she not only let me kiss said part, but also ran her fingers through my hair had me confused as all hell. Should I have done more? Should I have told her how I felt? Would she be embarrassed or feeling guilty the next time we laid eyes on each other? How awkward would the day be?

I laid there for about another hour, mulling things over. A knock came to the door, and then it opened. Bill walked in, looking as if he had just rolled out of bed himself.

"Mum told me to wake you for lunch." chuckled Bill.

At first, I wasn't going to say a word. I felt like this was something I should keep to myself. However, I needed to get this out, and I knew I could never talk to the twins about it, nor Harry.

"I need to talk to you." I said, getting up and closing the door behind him. "Can you put that charm on the door so no one can hear and get in?"

"Sure." said Bill, pointing his wand at the door, which a gold light made its way on the seals of my door with a pop. "Now, what is it?"

"I kissed her. I kissed Hermione." I said quickly.

Bill's eyes grew wide. "Did you now? When, last night?"

I nodded.

"Well, I guess congrats are in order. So, are you two dating now?"

I looked at the ground then back at Bill. "Not exactly..."

Bill cocked up an eyebrow. "Not exactly? You either are, or you're not."

"Okay, we're not."

"I'm confused, Ronnie. Help me out."

I sat down on my bed and ran my fingers through my hair, frustrated. "She has a bad dream and came up to my room to sleep. Then, her stomach started to hurt because of that bloody curse she was hit with so she asked me to massage it for her."

Bill looked at me, amusement in his eyes. "Go on..."

"Anyways, she lifted up her shirt to her bra- stop laughing- and then I started massaging her belly, and then...I just...I just felt like I had to kiss her, so I did."

"Well, did she kiss you back?"

"I kissed her on the stomach. She ran her fingers through my hair some." I said, feeling my cheeks burning as if they were on fire.

Bill looked at me with an astonished expression on his face. "Let me get this straight."he said. "You basically skipped her lips and went right to the hotspots?"

"Hotspots?"

"The spots on a girl that turns them on. If Hermione was doing that to you, you must have done something right. My question is why are you doing that and you're not even dating her? You two didn't have sex, did you?"

"No, are you fucking mental?"

"Are you? Look, I get that you're into her, but don't you think you're getting ahead of yourself? From what you told me, you only kisses her once, and technically that was her showing you how that Krum guy and her kissed so you would shut up. What you and Hermione did could have led up to something that I don't think neither of you are ready for. Be careful Ron. Unless this is what the both of you want for sure, don't do that risky shit again." warned Bill, giving me a serious look.

The rest of the morning felt pretty awkward. I went down to breakfast, where I was met with a Hermione who didn't seem to want to look me in the eye. I even say beside her and told her good morning, just to try to break the tension. She mumbled a greeting and began to pretend to sip hey pumpkin juice.

As the morning went on, Ginny and I had made an unspoken truce, so the two of us and Hermione went swimming after lunch. The sun beamed down into the water, heating it up so that was fairly warm. Hermione had brought some muggle devices called floaties along, and we blew them up and floated along lazily, taking in the rays.

Fleur came out too eventually, and when she took off her robe, I couldn't help but stare at her, as the pink bikini she had on made her look very appetizing. I quickly gathered that Hermione didn't seem to like my staring at Fleur, because every time I did it or made a remark to her, she would scoff and mumble something disapproving under her breath.

"You know, for someone who fancies Hermione, you sure fuck it up for yourself when Phlegm is around." said Ginny once we were done swimming. Hermione didn't even wait for us to dry off. She simply walked off looking disgruntled.

"I'm trying, but I can't bloody help it," I said. "And besides, Hermione doesn't see me like that anyways. Maybe she thinks me shallow or something. I know she doesn't like that."

Ginny rolled her eyes, mumbled something about a clueless git, then walked off.

By the time dinner came around, Hermione and I had gotten over our awkwardness and began speaking again. What's more, Min had invited Tonks over for dinner. Only, she wasn't really her cheerful self.

Mum kept going on and on about Tonks to bill, and how she was doing so well with the Aurors and how the family liked her so much. It was soon apparent to Ginny and I the real reason why Tonks had been invited. Although, from her depressed attitude, it didn't seem to be working.

The boy excelled in Charms and Defense Against The Dark Arts. In his fifth year, he stopped a Slytherin from trying to hex a few of the teachers. He got a medal for that. However, his grandmother didn't seem like she cared very much about his accomplishment, or anything for that matter.

When he presented her with the medal, she started going on and on about his "condition". She was afraid of him. Resented him. She had wished that he could just remain at that school and never show his face.

And so, he went to live with one of his best mates. They lived in a small wizard village, where the boy was surrounded by magic and people like him.

He finally felt like he belonged again.

The scars woke me up, their memories burning as if it was the first time I had touched the brain. I had let out a scream, which caused Mum to run into my room.

I didn't have to say anything for her to know what was happening. She got the cream that Madam Pomfrey had sent home with me and began rubbing it on my arms vigorously at first, and by the time I had calmed down, Hermione was peeking into my room.

"Are you okay?" she asked, "I thought I heard a scream."

"M' fine, don't worry about it." I. said, embarrassed. Hermione would hear me screaming like a little bitch over some scars.

"He'll be just fine, dear,"said Mum, putting the top back on the cream. "And you two will be delighted to hear that Harry is here."

That perked us both up immediately. "Harry's here?!" we both exclaimed.

"Yes, he's sleeping in the twins room, but-"

Neither of us waited for her to finish her sentence. I leapt out of bed and ran along with Hermione down the steps until we were in front of my brothers bedroom door.

I pushed open the door so hard, or slammed against the wall, scaring the wits or of Harry, whom we saw scrambling to find his glasses while shielding his eyes from the sun beaming through the window.

"Wuzzgoinon?" he said, dazed.

"We didn't know you were here already!" I yelled, popping him on the top of his head.

"Ron, don't hit him!" said Hermione.

Harry's hand found his glasses and he shoved them on, smiling as his eyes focused on Hermione and I.

"All right?" I asked.

"Never been better," said Harry, rubbing the top of his head and slumping back onto his pillows. "You?"

"Not bad," I said, pulling over a cardboard box and sitting on it. "When did you get here? Mum's only just told us!"

"About one o'clock this morning."

"Were the Muggles all right? Did they treat you okay?"

"Same as usual," said Harry, as Hermione perched herself on the edge of the bed, "they didn't talk to me much, but I like it better that way. How're you, Hermione?"

"Oh, I'm fine," said Hermione, who was looking Harry as though he was sick or something. I knew exactly what that look meant. She wanted to discuss Sirius.

"What's the time? Have I missed breakfast?" asked Harry.

"Don't worry about that, Mum's bringing you up a tray; she reckons you look underfed, as usual. So, what's been going on?"I asked.

"Nothing much, I've just been stuck at my aunt and uncle's, haven't I?"

"Come off it!" I said excitedly. "You've been off with Dumbledore!"

"It wasn't that exciting. He just wanted me to help him persuade this old teacher to come out of retirement. His name's Horace Slughorn."

"Oh," I said, disappointed. "We thought-"

Hermione flashed me a look of warning.

"- we thought it'd be something like that." I said instead of what I wanted, which was that he was probably hunting Death Eaters.

"You did?" said Harry, amused.

"Yeah... yeah, now that that fucking bitch has left, obviously we need a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, don't we? So, er, what's he like?"

"He looks a bit like a walrus, and he used to be Head of Slytherin," said Harry. "Something wrong, Hermione?"

I inwardly groaned. Hermione looked at Harry as if he was some fragile flower that was about to be crushed under someone's foot.

"No, of course not!" she said quickly, trying to fix her face to wipe the concern. " So, um, did Slughorn seem like he'll be a good teacher?"

"Dunno," said Harry. "He can't be worse than Umbitch, can he?"

"I know someone who's worse than Umbridge," said a voice from the doorway. Ginny had came into the room, her face barring a sour expression. "Hi, Harry."

"What's up with you?" I asked, knowing what the answer would be.

"It's her," said Ginny, plonking herself down on the bed. "She's driving me fucking mental."

"What's she done now?" asked Hermione sympathetically.

"It's the way she talks to me... you'd think I was about three!"

"I know," said Hermione, dropping her voice. "She's so full of herself."

"Can't you two lay off her for five seconds?" I huffed.

"Oh, that's right, defend her," snapped Ginny. "We all know you can't get enough of her."

Harry looked confused. "Who are you... ?"

The bedroom door flew open again, and Harry yanked the bedcovers up to his chin so hard that Hermione and Ginny slid off the bed onto the floor, giving me a chuckle.

Fleur in all her breathtaking beauty was standing in the doorway, carrying a heavily laden breakfast tray.

"'Arry," she said. "Eet 'as been too long!"

As she swept over the threshold toward him, Mum came in behind her, looking rather cross.

"There was no need to bring up the tray, I was just about to do it myself!" said Mum in an irked voice.

"Eet was no trouble, Madame Weasley" said Fleur, setting the tray across Harry's knees and then swooping to kiss him on each cheek. Harry looked as if he had been anointed by an angel. "I 'ave been longing to see 'im. You remember my seester, Gabrielle? She never stops talking about 'Arry Potter. She will be delighted to see you again."

"Oh, honestly." I heard Ginny mumble as she got up off the floor.

"Oh... is she here too?" Harry croaked.

"No, no, silly boy," said Fleur with a sweet laugh, "I mean next summer, when we... but do you not know?"

She looked over at Mum, as if she was shocked that Harry didn't know.

"We hadn't got around to telling him yet." said Mum, shrugging, as if the matter wasn't anything.

Fleur turned back to Harry, swinging her silvery sheet of hair so that it whipped Mum across the face. I braced myself, thinking Mum would go off the bend.

"Bill and I are going to be married!" said Fleur enthusiastically.

"Oh," said Harry blankly. "Wow. Er... congratulations!"

She swooped down upon him and kissed him again.

"Bill is very busy at ze moment, working very 'ard, and I only work part-time at Gringotts for my Eenglish, so he brought me 'ere for a few days to get to know 'is family properly. I was so pleased to 'ear you would be coming... zere isn't much to do 'ere, unless you like cooking and chickens! Well... enjoy your breakfast, 'Arry!"

With these words she turned gracefully and seemed to float out of the room, closing the door quietly behind her.

Mum made a "tchah!" noise. She was totally over it.

"Mum hates her," said Ginny quietly.

"I do not hate her!" said Mum in a cross whisper. "I just think they've hurried into this engagement, that's all!"

"They've known each other a year," I said, staring at the door, wishing Fleur would come in again.

"Well, that's not very long! I know why it's happened, of course. It's all this uncertainty with You-Know-Who coming back, people think they might be dead tomorrow, so they're rushing all sorts of decisions they'd normally take time over. It was the same last time he was powerful, people eloping left, right, and center..."

"Including you and Dad," said Ginny slyly.

"Yes, well, your father and I were made for each other, what was the point in waiting?" said Mum. "Whereas Bill and Fleur... well... what have they really got in common? He's a hardworking, down-to-earth sort of person, whereas she's..."

"A cow," said Ginny, nodding. "But Bill's not that down-to-earth. He's a Curse-Breaker, isn't he, he likes a bit of adventure, a bit of glamour... I expect that's why he's gone for Phlegm."

"Stop calling her that, Ginny," said Mum sharply, as Harry and Hermione laughed. "Well, I'd better get on... Eat your eggs while they're warm, Harry."

Looking careworn, she left the room as I tried to recover from Fleur's spell .

"Don't you get used to her if she's staying in the same house?" Harry asked.

"Well, you do," I said, rubbing my eyes, "but if she jumps out at you unexpectedly, like then..."

"It's pathetic," said Hermione furiously, striding away from me as far as she could go and turning to face me with her arms folded once she had reached the wall. I suddenly felt horrible. Guilty.

"You don't really want her around forever?" Ginny asked me incredulously. When I merely shrugged, she said, "Well, Mum's going to put a stop to it if she can, I bet you anything."

"How's she going to manage that?" asked Harry.

"She keeps trying to get Tonks round for dinner. I think she's hoping Bill will fall for Tonks instead. I hope he does, I'd much rather have her in the family."

"Yeah, that'll work," I said sarcastically. "Listen, no bloke in his right mind's going to fancy Tonks when Fleur's around. I mean, Tonks is okay-looking when she isn't doing stupid things to her hair and her nose, but..."

"She's a damn sight nicer than Phlegm," said Ginny.

"And she's more intelligent, she's an Auror!" said Hermione from the corner.

"Fleur's not stupid, she was good enough to enter the Triwizard Tournament," said Harry.

"Not you as well!" said Hermione bitterly.

"I suppose you like the way Phlegm says ''Arry,' do you?" asked Ginny scornfully.

"No," said Harry, looking as if he wished he wouldn't have opened his mouth, "I was just saying, Phlegm... I mean, Fleur..."

"I'd much rather have Tonks in the family," said Ginny. "At least she's a laugh."

"She hasn't been much of a laugh lately," I said. "Every time I've seen her she's looked more like Moaning Myrtle."

"That's not fair," snapped Hermione. "She still hasn't got over what happened... you know... I mean, he was her cousin!"

I groaned and avoided looking at Harry. I knew she would find a way to bring Sirius up.

"Tonks and Sirius barely knew each other!" I said sharply. "Sirius was in Azkaban half her life and before that their families never met-"

"That's not the point," said Hermione. "She thinks it was her fault that he died!"

"How does she work that one out?" asked Harry.

"Well, she was fighting Bellatrix Lestrange, wasn't she? I think she feels that if only she had finished her off, Bellatrix couldn't have killed Sirius."

"That's fucking stupid," I said, crossing my arms.

"It's survivor's guilt," said Hermione. "I know Lupin's tried to talk her round, but she's still really down. She's actually having trouble with her Metamorphosing!"

"With her...?"

"She can't change her appearance like she used to," explained Hermione. "I think her powers must have been affected by shock, or something."

"I didn't know that could happen," said Harry.

"Nor did I," said Hermione, "but I suppose if you're really depressed."

The door opened again and Mum popped her head in. "Ginny," she whispered, "come downstairs and help me with the lunch."

"I'm talking to this lot!" said Ginny, outraged.

"Now!" said Mum, and withdrew.

"She only wants me there so she doesn't have to be alone with Phlegm!" said Ginny crossley. She swung her long red hair around in a very good imitation of Fleur and pranced across the room with her arms held aloft like a muggle ballerina.

"You lot had better come down quickly too," she said as she left.

Harry continued eat more breakfast. Hermione was peering into Fred and George's boxes, though every now and then she cast sideways looks at Harry, who had passed me his toast.

"What's this?" Hermione asked eventually, holding up what looked like a small telescope.

"Dunno," I said, "but if Fred and George left it here, it's probably not ready for the joke shop yet, so be careful."

"Your mum said the shop's going well," said Harry. "Said Fred and George have got a real flair for business."

"That's an understatement. They're raking in the Galleons! I can't wait to see the place. We haven't been to Diagon Alley yet, because Mum says Dad's got to be there for extra security and he's been really busy at work, but it sounds excellent."

"And what about Percy?" asked Harry. "Is he talking to your mum and dad again?"

"Nope."

"But he knows your dad was right all along now about Voldemort being back..."

"Dumbledore says people find it far easier to forgive others for being wrong than being right," said Hermione. "I heard him telling your mum, Ron."

"Sounds like the sort of mental thing Dumbledore would say." I said with a chuckle.

"He's going to be giving me private lessons this year," said Harry, causing me to choke on the toast, and Hermione to gasp.

"You kept that quiet?!" I exclaimed.

"I only just remembered," said Harry. "He told me last night in your broom shed."

"Blimey... private lessons with Dumbledore!" I said, not hiding how impressed I was. "I wonder why he's... ?"

I caught Hermione's eye. She looked uneasy, as if she felt the situation merited worry.

"I don't know exactly why he's going to be giving me lessons, but I think it must be because of the prophecy. You know, the one they were trying to steal at the Ministry."

"Nobody knows what it said, though," said Hermione quickly. "It got smashed."

"Although the Prophet says..." I began, but Hermione shushed me.

"The Prophet's got it right," said Harry, looking up at us with a great effort: Hermione seemed frightened, but I was simply amazed. "That glass ball that smashed wasn't the only record of the prophecy. I heard the whole thing in Dumbledore's office, he was the one the prophecy was made to, so he could tell me. From what it said, it looks like I'm the one who's got to finish off Voldemort... At least, it said neither of us could live while the other survives."

The three of us gazed at one another in silence for a moment. Then there was a loud bang and Hermione vanished behind a puff of black smoke.

"Hermione!" shouted Harry and I; the breakfast tray slid to the floor with a crash.

Hermione emerged, coughing, out of the smoke, clutching the telescope and sporting a brilliantly purple black eye.

"I squeezed it and it... it punched me!" she gasped.

And sure enough, there was a tiny fist on a long spring protruding from the end of the telescope. It reminded me of one of those Muggle comic things that I had seen of Dean's, which didn't help the situation because I had always thought they were funny.

"Don't worry," I said, trying not to laugh, "Mum'll fix that, she's good at healing minor injuries."

"Oh well, never mind that now!" said Hermione hastily, sitting on the edge of the bed.. "Harry, oh, Harry. We wondered, after we got back from the Ministry... Obviously, we didn't want to say anything to you, but from what Lucius Malfoy said about the prophecy, how it was about you and Voldemort, well, we thought it might be something like this... Oh, Harry..." She stared at him, then whispered, "Are you scared?"

"Not as much as I was," said Harry. "When I first heard it, I was... but now, it seems as though I always knew I'd have to face him in the end."

"When we heard Dumbledore was collecting you in person, we thought he might be telling you something or showing you something to do with the prophecy," I said, thinking about another conversation we had about them. "And we were kind of right, weren't we? He wouldn't be giving you lessons if he thought you were a goner, wouldn't waste his time... he must think you've got a chance!"

"That's true," said Hermione. "I wonder what he'll teach you, Harry? Really advanced defensive magic, probably. Powerful counter curses, anti-jinxes, and evasive enchantments generally. Well, at least you know one lesson you'll be having this year, that's one more than Ron and me. I wonder when our O.W.L. results will come?"

"Can't be long now, it's been a month," I said.

"Hang on," said Harry. "I think Dumbledore said our O.W.L. results would be arriving today!"

"Today?" shrieked Hermione. "Today? But why didn't you... oh my God... you should have said..."

She leapt to her feet.

"I'm going to see whether any owls have come." she said, bolting out the room.

Harry and I looked at each other and smirked. It was going to be a long morning with Hermione waiting for those results.

"What do you think she's going to do while she waits?" snickered Harry.

""Worry until her hair explodes." I laughed.

Harry laughed along with me, it felt good to have my best mate around to joke with.

"I almost passed out when Fleur entered the room, mate." said Harry, changing the subject.

"Imagine dealing with that for the past week." I said with a sigh. "She comes around just swishing her ass everywhere and I have to constantly remind myself that she is marrying my fucking brother, lucky sod. Hermione doesn't seem to like her at all.

"Gee, wonder why?" said Harry knowingly.

"What do you mean?"

Harry shrugged. "Well if you don't know, I'm not going to tell you." he said as he walked out the door, leaving me confused.

Harry and I came downstairs about ten minutes later to see that Mum couldn't do a thing with Hermione's black eye. It wasn't funny anymore.

"It just won't budge," Mum was saying anxiously, standing over Hermione with her wand in her hand and a copy of The Healer's Helpmate open at 'Bruises, Cuts, and Abrasions'. "This has always worked before, I just can't understand it."

"It'll be Fred and George's idea of a funny joke, making sure it can't come off," said Ginny.

"But it's got to come off!" squeaked Hermione. "I can't go around looking like this forever!"

"You won't, dear, we'll find an antidote, don't worry," soothed Mum.

"Bill told me 'ow Fred and George are very amusing!" said Fleur, smiling serenely.

"Yes, I can hardly breathe for laughing," said Hermione in a sarcastic voice.

She jumped up and started walking round and round the kitchen, twisting her fingers together.

"Mrs. Weasley, you're quite, quite sure no owls have arrived this morning?"

"Yes, dear, I'd have noticed," said Mum patiently. "But it's barely nine, there's still plenty of time."

"I know I messed up Ancient Runes," muttered Hermione feverishly, "I definitely made at least one serious mistranslation. And the Defense Against the Dark Arts practical was no good at all. I thought Transfiguration went all right at the time, but looking back-"

"Hermione, will you shut up, you're not the only one who's nervous!" I snapped. "And when you've got your eleven 'Outstanding O.W.L.s...'"

"Don't, don't, don't!" said Hermione, flapping her hands hysterically. "I know I've failed everything!"

"What happens if we fail?" Harry asked.

"We discuss our options with our Head of House, I asked Professor McGonagall at the end of last term."

"At Beauxbatons," said Fleur complacently, "we 'ad a different way of doing things. I think eet was better. We sat our examinations after six years of study, not five, and then..."

Fleur's words were drowned in a scream. Hermione was pointing through the kitchen window. Three Blackman specks were clearly visible in the sky, growing larger all the time.

"They're definitely owls," I said with a gulp, jumping up to join Hermione at the window.

"And there are three of them," said Harry, hastening to her other side.

"One for each of us," said Hermione in a terrified whisper. "Oh no... oh no... oh no..."

She gripped both Harry and me tightly around the elbows. As welcomed as any touch from Hermione was, this one actually hurt.

The owls were flying directly at the Burrow, three handsome tawnies, each of which, it became clear as they flew lower over the path leading up to the house, was carrying a large square envelope.

"Oh no!" squealed Hermione, squeezing my arm.

"Hermione, chill." I whispered.

Mum squeezed past us and opened the kitchen window. One, two, three, the owls soared through it and landed on the table in a neat line. All three of them lifted their right legs.

Harry moved forward. The letter addressed to him was tied to the leg of the owl in the middle. He untied it with fumbling fingers. The left owl had my results, and to our right, Hermione's hands were shaking so much she was making her whole owl tremble.

Nobody in the kitchen spoke as we looked over our results. I couldn't help but be pleased with mine.

"Only failed Divination and History of Magic, and who cares about them?" I said happily to Harry. "Here... swap..."

Harry's grades were too notch. He has gotten an O in DADA.

"Knew you'd be top at Defense Against the Dark Arts," I said, punching Harry on the shoulder. "We've done all right, haven't we?"

"Well done!" said Mum proudly, ruffling my hair. "Seven O.W.L.s, that's more than Fred and George got together!"

"Hermione?" said Ginny tentatively, for Hermione still hadn't turned around. "How did you do?"

"I-not bad," said Hermione in a small voice.

"Oh, come off it," I said, striding over to her and whipping her results out of her hand. "Yep... ten 'Outstandings' and one 'Exceeds Expectations' at Defense Against the Dark Arts." I looked down at her, half-amused, half-exasperated. "You're actually disappointed, aren't you?"

Hermione shook her head, but Harry laughed.

"Well, we're N.E.W.T. students now!" I said with a grin. "Mum, are there any more sausages?"