Updated AN- I can't believe I forgot to post Chapter Two over here! *has a Dobby-attack* Bad Ari! Bad Ari! Disclaimer- I guess I forgot to add in the disclaimer last time, didn’t I? Oh well. I don’t own it, Hermione, the Weasleys, recognizable places and/or characters are not mine, blah, blah, blah. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Hermione came tumbling out of the fireplace. Mrs. Weasley caught her right before she fell flat on her face, righting her and brushing soot off her shoulders. “Hello, dear, I trust you’re doing well?” Hermione smiled at Mrs. Weasley, nodding her head. “Yes, thank y—” she was cut off before she could finish by an explosion and indignant spluttering, followed closely by peals of laughter. Mrs. Weasley heaved a sigh. “Can’t leave that lot alone in one room for two seconds,” she muttered. Turning back to Hermione, she offered a kind smile. “Might as well go see what they’ve done now, eh?” The two advanced into the sitting room, where the sixteen year old Percy had a smoking parcel in his hands. Even as they watched, his skin turned a bright fluorescent pink. Ginny, who had doubled over with laughter, spotted Hermione first. “Hi, Hermione,” she said, still giggling a bit. “I’ll show you my room. We’ve set up a camp bed.” They traipsed up the stairs, turning into Ginny’s small bedroom. Hermione set her bag down next to the wooden dresser. “So, that was Fred and George.” It wasn’t a question. “Yeah, they told Percy it was a book, a late Christmas present to him. Then when he opened it, boom!” Ginny was laughing again. “And they do things like that all the time?” “Like that? Nah, that was just them feeling kind. You just wait till they really want to cause chaos.” Hermione had an instinctive feeling that she didn’t want to be on the receiving end when the twins got that urge. Ginny looked over at Hermione. “So, your parents are Muggles?” “Yes, why?” asked a surprised Hermione. “Just thought you should be warned; my dad will question you about anything and everything Muggle.” At Hermione’s confused look, Ginny explained further. “He’s got a job in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Department in the Ministry. He’s fascinated with non-magic people.” “Oh.” Having exhausted the obvious topics, the two girls fell into an awkward silence. Hermione bit her lip. “So, how’s school? What are your favorite classes?” “It’s okay,” Ginny replied. “I guess I like Charms. You?” “Oh, I love all the classes; it’s so hard to pick just one. But,” Hermione scoffed, “I can tell you it’s not Divination. It’s a load of rubbish, and Trelawney is such an old fraud. Now, Defense Against the Dark Arts, there’s a substantial class. And a good teacher as well! Trelawney could learn a thing or two from Professor Lupin. That boggart lesson was just wonderful; but I do wish I had gotten a turn. And Professor McGonagall is a great teacher as well, no nonsense in her class. Snape… isn’t the nicest, but you can’t deny that Potions is a good thing to learn...” Hermione had rambled on for quite a while before coming to her senses and shaking her head. “Sorry,” she said meekly. “It’s fine,” said Ginny. “I guess Ron was right,” she mused. “Always said you were mad about school,” she said by way of explanation. “Right.” “Hermione?” “Yes?” “Can you relate everything and anything to school?” “Why?” “Dunno. Ron can do it with Quidditch.” “Hmm. We can see.” “Fruit.” “The kitchen’s entrance at Hogwarts is a painting of fruit.” “Hermione?” “Yes?” “Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you could read peoples’ minds? Be pretty wicked, huh?” “Y’know, I’ve never really thought about it. Imagine though, if you were ever confused about a theory or spell in class. You could just see into the teacher’s mind, and then you would be able to understand it better.” “You really can relate everything to school.” “I guess.” “My brother Charlie’s a dragon keeper in Romania.” “Hagrid taught us in Care of Magical Creatures that there are over a dozen breeds of dragon native to England.” “Hermione.” “Yes?” “You’re doing it again.” The girls continued in this vein for the next couple hours, until a call from Molly rang through the house. “Lunch is ready!” Ginny was at the door in a flash. She looked back at Hermione. “Are you coming? We better go quick if we want to get anything at all.” Hermione stood up and followed the younger girl. She could already hear Ginny’s brothers clattering down the steps. As they walked into the kitchen, she heard two familiar voices, one loud and unconcerned, the other quieter but still enthusiastic. She turned to Ginny. “You didn’t tell me Harry was going to be here as well,” she said curiously. Ginny paled; she appeared not to have noticed Hermione. “Bugger,” she murmured. “Maybe we should just wait until they’re gone and take a few sandwiches up?” Ginny chanced a frantic glance in the kitchen. Almost immediately, she pulled back, but it wasn’t quick enough. “Ah, look, it’s Ickle Gin-Gin.” “Now, now, George, it’s not nice to call her that. All right there, Ginevra?” Hermione thought she heard Ginny mutter ‘Twins…’ mutinously, but she wasn’t sure. She turned to the redhead, who was currently hyperventilating. “Ginny?” “What?” “What are you worried about? It’s just Harry.” “Oho, of course. Just Harry, the boy who saved my life after I’d made a royal fool of myself in front of him the entire year before. No big deal, though, it’s not like he’ll remember.” Hermione spoke in what she hoped was a reassuring but firm voice. “If I know Harry Potter, he’ll be just as embarrassed as you are.” Ginny paled even more. Hermione bit her lip. Okay, maybe that wasn’t the best way to put it. “Er, what I meant was, he won’t mention it. Trust me. He’ll pretend like it didn’t happen. And you’re going in there, whether you want to or not.” Ginny shot Hermione with a sharp look. “If he takes the mickey out of me, I’ll string you up by your ankles. Got it?” Hermione nodded placatingly. “Go on, I’m right behind you.” Ginny setting her jaw, the two advanced into the next room. Ron glanced up to see who had entered, his mouth full of a sandwich. When he saw Hermione, he choked. Harry promptly thumped him on the back and looked up at Hermione, clearly amused. “Hey, Hermione, Ginny,” he called. “Hi,” said Hermione. Ginny seemed frozen. Hermione nudged her with her elbow. “Hi,” she squeaked out. Mrs. Weasley noticed the tension. “Here, dears, why don’t you have some lunch? Sandwiches are on that platter, crisps and fruit are on the counter, and the pumpkin juice is on the table.” With that, she bustled out of the room, leaving Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny on their own. The twins had excused themselves to their room. The four chatted aimlessly for a while, and Hermione noticed that Ginny seemed to relax as the tension depleted. After all plates had been cleared, and the platters similarly emptied (mainly by Ron), Harry suggested a pickup game of Quidditch, him and Hermione versus Ron and Ginny. Hermione declined quickly, not wanting any part of being on a broom. As it was, they ended up with a boys versus girls relay race. Harry and Ginny would do one lap around the field, and then tag Ron and Hermione respectively, who would race to a tree on the other edge. All participants were competitive, most likely too competitive. They challenged each other to relays for the next few hours, until they all collapsed under a great oak tree, exhausted. They were silent, just catching their breath, until a sudden noise made Harry jump up, wand at the ready. “What was that?” he demanded. Ron coughed, ears turning red. Understanding dawned on Harry, Hermione, and Ginny, and three pairs of eyes slid to the red haired boy’s stomach. Ron looked up at his friends and sister. “Er… Can we go check if Mum’s made dinner?” he asked meekly. They trudged back up to the house, laughing at Ron the whole way. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* The next few days passed in a blur of pranks and red hair for Hermione, and before she knew it, it was time to return to school. As she, Harry, and the Weasley children gathered around the fireplace, Hermione stole one last glance around the room. Over by the old-fashioned radio, a clock announcing each family member’s location stood on the counter. Dishes clinked as they washed themselves in the sink. Hermione looked back to the fireplace, realizing that she and Ginny were the last to disappear into the flames. Hermione gave the smaller girl a warm smile. “Listen Ginny, thanks a ton for inviting me over. It’s been loads of fun.” Ginny smiled right back. “What are friends for?” *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* AN- Hmm. That was a bit harder to write than last time. Ah well. Please review!