Like A Star

"Hermione, I've got a question." Braeden approached his younger cousin three full days after the movie disaster, as she was in the kitchen making herself a jelly, banana and cheese sandwich. Weston, Harry and Brantley were all out in the garage showing Ron the wonders of the lawnmower. Ben was still holed up in the basement, and Jo and Ginny had driven into town to buy a few last minute things for the dinner Jo was preparing that night. Braeden had been helping with the mowing lesson, but the conversation he needed to have with Hermione was a more pressing matter.

"What is it?" Hermione asked. She turned to face her cousin and took a big bite of her sandwich.

"How much of a death wish would I have if I wanted to take Ginny out on a real date, you know, just the two of us?" Braeden asked. Hermione struggled to swallow her bite of sandwich.

"You wouldn't have a death wish," Hermione assured him. A look of relief crossed Braeden's worried face, but Hermione continued with he sentence, "You'd have the signature on your death certificate ready and waiting."

"Very funny, Hermione," Braeden said. Hermione took another bite of sandwich.

"No, sewiouswy, huh brovers would ki-ww you," she said thickly.

"Ron doesn't seem like that bad of a guy," Braeden rationalized.

"Ron's not that bad, alone," Hermione said, "but when you throw Fred, George, Percy, Charlie and Bill into the equation."

"She has six older brothers?" Braeden interrupted.

"Yes. Three of them are fully trained wizards. One of those three works with dragons on a regular basis and another is a charm breaker for Gringott's. The twins are the most famous pranksters since the Marauders at Hogwarts, and then there is Ron. While his magical abilities may not be the absolute best, they're not bad. And I'd be wary of his right hook," Hermione laughed.

Braeden's face slowly turned a rather Malfoy-ish shade of white and he sank down into a chair.

"And then there is Harry," Hermione continued. "He's like the seventh Weasley brother. I wouldn't put it past him to hex you into next week sometime if you hurt Ginny."

"So you're saying the date is a bad idea?" Braeden asked.

"Depends on how happy you are with living," Hermione joked.

%%%%%

"So you see, Ron, the blade turns around at a very high rate of speed and that's what cuts," Weston explained. He, Harry, Ron and Brantley were all crowded around an overturned lawnmower staring at the blade. Ron's face paled visibly.

"And people think wizards are bad. At least we have counter curses and pepper-up potion for most things!" Weston looked a bit bewildered at Ron's statement, but Brantley and Harry laughed.

"Ron, it's used to mow the lawn!" Harry exclaimed, when he finally realized why his friend was in such a panicked state.

"That's why it's called a lawn mower!" Brantley laughed. Ron's face turned a deep shade of red at the revelation. Harry managed to stop his laughter quite quickly when he noticed how embarrassed his friend was, but Brantley wouldn't drop the issue.

"Brantley, I've got a game for you," Weston suggested, seeing the older boys' irritation.

"What?" Brantley asked suspiciously.

"Go inside and fix me a glass of water," Weston said.

"What kind of game is that?" Brantley asked.

"Do it," Weston commanded. Brantley glared at his uncle then scampered inside to fix the water.

"That should keep him occupied. He'll probably run into Braeden and Hermione in the kitchen and need to annoy them," Weston laughed. Ron looked like he felt considerably better about the whole lawn mower incident, and he and Harry laughed along with Hermione's father.

"I'm sorry about them being here, you guys," Weston apologized.

"Mr. Granger, it's really not a big deal," Harry said.

"But I think it upset Hermione. She wanted to spend time with just her friends, but then her cousins were dropped on us last minute. She's never necessarily gotten along with her cousins," Weston replied.

"I can see why," Ron muttered. Harry glared at him, but Weston just laughed.

"Ben and Brantley are a bit annoying, aren't they?" Weston asked.

"A bit?" Ron asked. Brantley's hero worship of Harry was really beginning to get to Ron.

"Braeden seems okay though," Harry tried to cover up for his friend.

"He's changed a lot, and it seems as though it's for the better," Weston explained, "but that still doesn't make up for them ruining your trip here."

"They haven't ruined it. I'll admit that Brantley has been more than a little annoying, but Braeden took care of Ben, and Braeden himself is a really cool guy," Harry replied. Weston smiled a bit.

"Yeah, their parents don't exactly like the fact that their sons are wizards, so we don't spend to much time with them. In fact, we didn't know that the boys were wizards until right around the time you guys found out. Jo doesn't like Bethany, the boys' mother," Weston explained.

"So why exactly are they here?" Ron asked, a little less than tactfully.

"Dumbledore," Weston replied. Ron turned around quickly to fully face Weston. Harry brought his hand to his open mouth in a very surprised fashion.

"Dumbledore?" Ron asked.

"Yes. Evidently he feels the boys need protection for some reason he couldn't explain. Benjamin, my brother and Bethany refused to let him have the proper protection put on their house," Weston explained.

"Why?" Harry asked.

"Like I said, they don't like the fact that their son's are wizards," Weston explained.

"So they'd put their safety on the line?" Harry reasoned.

"Evidently. But the boys don't know that, so if you could just not say anything," Weston said.

"Is this house protected?" Ron asked.

"Are you kidding? Dumbledore put protections on this place after your second year," Weston said.

"So Dumbledore convinced their parents to bring them here?" Ron asked.

"Not exactly. Dumbledore fixed some emergency business in America that will have them detained there until September. The boy's will stay here until they return to school," Weston explained. Ron nodded in semi-acceptance. Harry ran his fingers lightly over his scar.

"I made Lemonade!" Hermione exclaimed. She walked into the garage, followed closely by Braeden and Brantley, balancing a tray of full glasses in front of her.

"Thanks Hermione!" Harry exclaimed. He quickly moved his hand from his scar and grabbed a glass off of the tray. The rest of the guys took their glasses also, and Hermione kept the last one for herself.

"When do you think mum and Ginny will be back?" she asked her father. Before Weston could answer, Jo's red Jetta pulled into the driveway. Ginny jumped out of the passengers seat and ran over to where everyone was standing.

"You guys should have seen it! There were these great ugly things in a tank at the market!" She cried.

"They were lobsters, Ginny, dear," Jo laughed. She approached the group a little more slowly.

"Right. Lobsters! They were in this huge tank thing and they had massive pinchers!" Ginny exclaimed. Ron looked interested. Everyone else just laughed at her. She paled visibly then turned bright red when she saw Braeden standing between Harry and Hermione.

"You missed it Ginny! They taught Ron all about the lawnmower!" Brantley laughed. Ron took his turn to blush bright red, and then glared at Brantley.

"Brantley, don't bring that up again," Harry instructed, using the hero worship to buy the younger boy's silence. Brantley instantly got quiet.

"Do you need any help with the groceries?" Ron asked Jo.

"Would be nice," Jo replied. Ron, Harry, and Braeden all headed for the car, "Hermione, your friends are useful. Can we keep them around for a while longer?"

"I think not, mum. They've got to go back to school. I don't think I could survive school without them," Hermione admitted. She silently thought about how many levels that statement could be interpreted on. Weston and Brantley headed over to help the boys with the groceries and Ginny took a few small bags of her own upstairs to her room.

"Which one do you fancy?" Jo asked, smiling mischievously at her daughter.

"Neither," Hermione replied.

"Oh come on Hermione. I was a teenage girl once, I know how it is," Jo insisted.

"Neither," Hermione repeated.

"Is it Harry? He is quite the handsome one with those big green eyes and that mysterious scar," Jo said.

"If only she knew the half of how mysterious that scar is," thought Hermione.

"No mum, not Harry."

"Then it's Ron! I don't blame you. He's got that innocent little boy air, and the red hair is cute, not to mention the quite nice upper body," Jo laughed.

"AMY JO BROOKE GRANGER!" Hermione shouted. Everyone turned to look at the pair still in the garage. "Enough about my friends," came the whispered end of the statement. Jo smiled again mischievously.

"How dead will Braeden be if he asks Ginny out?" Jo asked.

"Braeden and I have been through this already. He will be dead. Very dead. Why, is he planning on it?" Hermione replied. Jo just shot her daughter a grin and ran inside to unpack the groceries.

%%%%%

"Hey Ginny, how's it going?" Braeden asked. He stuck his head into Ginny's room.

"Oh, hey Braeden, I'm doing well, how are you?" Ginny looked over her shoulder to the door from where she stood arranging things on her vanity.

"I'm good. I've got a question for you." Braeden stepped fully inside the room.

"What's that?" Ginny turned to fully face the boy.

"Well, Ben's birthday is next week and I'm not really sure what to get him," Braeden began. He automatically looked at his shoes.

"Well, I don't know Ben that well," Ginny interrupted.

"But you've got six older brothers, I though you might be able to help me figure out something," Braeden said.

"Maybe," Ginny replied.

"At any rate, I thought we'd discuss it tonight over dinner if that's alright with you," Ben said.

"Won't he be sitting right there?" Ginny asked.

"No silly, I mean, me and you at Le Maximum while everyone else is here," Braeden explained, instantly going bright red. Ginny's jaw dropped.

"Uh, sure," she replied, "I mean, I'd love to!"

"Great, pick you up at 6 then?" Braeden asked, flashing Ginny a broad smile.

"Sounds great," Ginny replied, smiling back at Braeden.

"Right then, they're probably wondering where I've gone to. I'll see you later," Braeden said. He quickly turned and ran back downstairs. Ginny slowly walked over and fell backwards onto her bed. She didn't hear Hermione enter her room a minute later, as she was still trying to wipe the cheesy grin off of her face and stop staring at the ceiling.

"Okay Ginny, Braeden just came downstairs grinning like the cat who ate the canary, and I come up here and find you laying on your bed with a cheesy smile plastered on your face. You've got some explaining to do!" Hermione insisted. She jumped onto the bed next to the younger girl.

"I've got a date!" Ginny exclaimed softly.

"Braeden asked you out?" Hermione asked.

"We're going to Le Maximum tonight for dinner," Ginny replied.

"Le Maximum is only the nicest restaurant in town!" Hermione cried. Ginny sat straight up on her bed.

"WHAT DO I WEAR!"

"Hush Ginny, he'll hear you," Hermione scolded. She stood up and headed over to Ginny's closet. She threw the doors open and surveyed its contents. She pulled several dresses from the closet and tossed them at Ginny.

"Try those for starters," Hermione instructed. Ginny looked at the dresses in her hands.

"These aren't mine," she said.

"You're right, they're mine, but they don't fight right. Bethany, the boys' mother bought them for me for Christmas last year and they're not returnable," Hermione explained. Ginny crossed over to the full-length mirror and held each of the dresses up to her body in turn.

"I like this one," she said after a while. She held out a black dress to Hermione. Hermione looked at the dress and nodded her approval.

"I was hoping you would say that," she admitted, "now go lock yourself in the big bathroom and sit in the bath for as long as you want. Just don't get shriveled." Ginny headed off towards the bathroom. Hermione laid the dress across the bed and then walked down to the kitchen.

"Where is Ginny?" came Ron's first question when Hermione entered the kitchen. Ron and Harry were sitting on bar stools at the counter. Braeden leaned against the refrigerator.

"Upstairs in the bath," Hermione replied, smiling sweetly.

"Hey Ron, how dead would I be if I asked your sister out on a date?" Braeden asked.

"Pretty dead," Ron replied.

"Can you wait until after tonight to kill me?" Braeden requested, "so at least I'll die happy." Ron laughed at Braeden, but as he realized the full meaning of Braeden's statement, he slowly stopped laughing.

"You asked my sister out?" Ron asked. He jumped to his feet and began circling the counter to face Braeden.

"Yes, we're going to Le Maximum tonight for dinner," Braeden replied calmly. Ron's face turned deep purple.

"RONALD ALROY WEASLEY!" Harry exclaimed, quite loudly. Ron turned to glare at Harry. His fists were clenched and his happy blue eyes and darkened to a stormy grey. "Braeden is a good guy. He won't hurt Ginny. And he told you beforehand didn't he? That's got to count for something," Harry asked.

"And Ron, Ginny is a 14 year old young lady. You can't baby her forever," Hermione added. Ron's face returned to a healthy pink and he began pacing.

"Okay Braeden. This once. But if you so much as put one toe out of line I will scoop your eyeballs out with a spork and feed them to you in small pieces. Then I will," Ron muttered.

"Ron, we get the picture," Hermione exclaimed. Harry just laughed at the "if you so much as put one toe out of line." Braeden turned a pasty green color at the thought of being force fed his own eyeballs by Ginny's older brother.

"On that note, Hermione and I are going to pick out my outfit," Braeden announced. He quickly exited the kitchen with Hermione in tow.

"You took that rather well," Harry commented as soon as he and Ron were alone.

"If he hurts her, I will saw his balls off with a."

"RON! Enough of that!" Harry exclaimed, as his own hands flew instantly to his crotch in cringing fear. Ron snapped out of his trance and stopped pacing. He turned to look directly at Harry.

"Er, Harry. Don't let me stop you or anything, just let me get out of the room, but first can I say that the Granger's kitchen is not the time nor the place."

"What are you talking about?" Harry asked. Ron coughed pointedly at Harry's hands before leaving the kitchen.

%%%%%

"Oh my gosh Hermione, what do I wear?" Braeden asked, pulling his cousin over to his suitcase. Ben snorted loudly in their direction from his place in a chair in the corner.

"Clothes would probably be a good thing,' Hermione replied, looking warily at the overflowing suitcase lying in the floor in front of her cousin.

"Of course I'm wearing clothes, but which clothes!" Braeden cried. He fell to his knees in front of the open suitcase.

"Braeden, I'm going to have to slap you if you don't stop acting like a teenage girl," Hermione said.

"Which of the boys has he asked out now?" Ben asked.

"He's going out with GINNY!" Hermione spat in Braeden's defense. Braeden just glared at his brother.

"Surprising," Ben muttered, but turned back to the TV.

"Ignore him," Hermione instructed, "you don't want a black eye for your date."

"Keep me away from Ron then," Braeden said. Hermione had to laugh.

"He took the news rather well though, I was quite proud of him," Hermione said through her laughter. She kneeled next to the suitcase alongside her cousin.

"I just pray I never have to meet any of her other brothers," Braeden said.

"Black pants, this blue shirt and a black tie," Hermione instructed suddenly. She had come across the right combination of clothes in the very bottom of Braeden's suitcase.

"Which shoes?" Braeden asked.

"Do you have any tux shoes?" Hermione asked.

"Why?" Braeden asked.

"Because they're shiny and they generally amuse me," Hermione admitted.

"Actually, yes, I do have some from some benefit dinner thing mum made us go to earlier this summer. They amuse me too, so I brought them with me," Braeden admitted.

"Wear those!" Hermione instructed.

"Hermione, you're a genius!"

"Funny, I seem to be getting that a lot these days," Hermione laughed. Braeden threw his arms around her shoulders and pulled her into a tight hug.

"Hermione, why am I doing this?" Braeden asked when he finally let go of his cousin.

"Doing what?" Hermione replied.

"Taking Ginny out," Braeden supplied.

"Because you like her?" Hermione suggested.

"But what's the point. She's going back to her house tomorrow and I'll never see her again," Braeden said.

"That's not true," Hermione half-lied, "can't you floo to see her when you get back to your house?"

"Yeah right. Mom and dad refuse to have our fireplace hooked up to the floo network," Braeden explained.

"Braeden, everything will work out like it's supposed to," Hermione assured him. His face fell visibly.

"I hope you're right. I care about her a lot. I know I've only known her a few weeks and everything, but I swear, she's just about the most amazing girl I've ever met," Braeden said.

"Okay Mister, you will cheer up RIGHT now, or I'm calling your date off! You're being way too sappy!" Hermione exclaimed. She clamped Braeden's chin her hand and moved his face back and forth as she spoke to accent her words.

"All right, Hermione," Braeden said. He carefully removed her hand from his face.

"I'm going upstairs to read. I'll be in my room if you need anything, but send someone to get me. You can't come upstairs yourself," Hermione said. She turned and ran up to her room before Braeden could say anything else.

"Ginny?" Hermione called when she go to the top level of her house.

"What?" Ginny asked from her bedroom.

"What are you planning on doing to your hair?" Hermione asked from out in the hall.

"You're deciding," Ginny replied sweetly.

"Hermione, can I get in to talk to my sister?" a male voice asked from just behind Hermione.

"Hey Gin, can Ron come in?" Hermione asked.

"What does he want?" Ginny replied coldly.

"Just to talk," Ron replied.

"Okay then," Ginny said, "Hermione you come back in a little while to do my hair." With that, Ron went into Ginny's room and Hermione ran into her room. Hermione curled up on her bed with her headphones and Advanced Potions.

%%%%%

"What do you want?" Ginny asked, eyeing her brother suspiciously. Ron stood nervously in the doorway. He ran his hands over his hair several times.

"Just to talk," Ron replied.

"It's about Braeden isn't it?" Ginny asked. She sank down at the head of her bed against the pillows..

"Well, uh, can I sit?"

"Sure." Ginny motioned to a spot at the end of the bed. Ron walked over and awkwardly sat down.

"It's about Braeden isn't it?" Ginny repeated.

"Yes," Ron replied. He clamped his hands on his knees to relieve some of his stress.

"RONALD," began Ginny.

"Gin, please, just hear me out!"

"Talk, boy!" Ginny teased.

"I talked to Braeden," Ron said.

"Alright."

"Ginny, he seems like a really great guy. I like the fact that he came to me to ask about taking you out."

"That is pretty thoughtful," Ginny said.

"I guess what I'm saying is, you're my little sister, the only one I've got. If something happens to you tonight, I'll never forgive myself."

"Ron, nothing's going to happen!"

"Don't say that Gin. You know you've always been my favorite sibling. Fred and George have each other, as do Bill and Charlie. Percy has his cauldron bottoms, and I've had you," Ron said, "So all I'm saying is have fun and be careful! It's hard to believe you're already 14 and I'm giving you permission to go out on a date."

"Oh Ron!" Ginny cried. She flung her arms around his neck and enveloped him in a huge hug. Ron wasn't necessarily used to such spontaneous outbursts of emotion towards him from Ginny, so he just awkwardly patted her back.

"That being said, I think you've only got about an hour and a half to finish getting ready," Ron said. He stood up from his spot, wiped his hands on his jeans, and headed towards the door.

"Ron?" Ginny asked.

"Yeah?" Ron paused and looked back at his sister.

"Thank you." Ron turned redder than his hair and instantly looked at his feet.

"No problem" he muttered.

"And could you send Hermione over here when you pass her room?" Ginny requested.

"Sure," said Ron, and he left the room. Hermione came in a minute later, her hands full of muggle hair styling products.

"Are you ready to do your hair?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, but first, I need you to check the weather forecast in hell," Ginny said.

"Why?"

"Ron's giving his blessing to this date with Braeden," Ginny replied. Hermione's jaw dropped and she almost dropped half of the hair stuff.

"Maybe he's finally growing up," Hermione said.

"You should have heard what he said. Most of it made me glad he's my brother."

"Aw Gin, that is so sweet."

"So what are we doing to my hair?" Ginny asked. Hermione moved to plug her curling iron in at the dresser.

"Will I get away with just saying you'll see?" Hermione replied. Ginny looked warily at her friend.

"If you don't like it, you can give me a Mohawk," Hermione promised.

"And dye it purple?" Ginny asked, sounding like a five year old at Christmas.

"And dye it purple," said Hermione.

"All right!" Ginny exclaimed. She sat down in a chair Hermione had dragged to the middle of the room. Hermione picked up her brush and bobby pins and began working on Ginny's hair.

*****

"What's taking so long?" Braeden asked, glancing at his watched. He paced around the couch in the den for approximately the 16^th time since coming upstairs.

"She's a girl, she can't be ready on time," Harry replied. He and Ron were lounging on opposite ends of the couch.

"It's against their nature," Ron added. Harry laughed, but Braeden started around the couch again.

"Hey you guys! She's ready!" Hermione squealed as she skidded into the room, her socks sliding on the hardwood floor.

"Bout time," Ron muttered. Braeden immediately turned red and began adjusting his tie.

"Braeden, you look great. Stop fussing with your tie," Hermione instructed. Braeden was amazed she even noticed, as she was staring expectantly at the door and he was standing behind her. Jo stepped into the room. The expression on her face equaled Hermione's in giddiness.

"Is she here yet?" Jo asked.

"I hear footsteps," Harry said.

"Braeden, leave your tie alone," Jo said. Jo wasn't standing where she could see Braeden either. Braeden gave up on his tie and bent down to work on his shoe. He was so fixated on the shoestrings that he didn't hear Ginny enter the room. She cleared her throat softly and only then did he look up at her.

Hermione's dress fit Ginny more than perfectly. The black collar gave way to a halter-top and flowing skirt. The skirt stopped at her left knee and continued down to her right ankle. She wore high heel black strappy sandals. The thin material of her dress ran like water over her, accentuating her curves in all of the right places. The back of the dress was completely non-existent down to her waist. Hermione had pulled Ginny's hair into a French twist with curls spilling out of the top. The makeup was very minimal. Fake diamond drop earring completed the look.

Ron turned red and clenched his fists at the sight of his sister. Harry looked at her then instantly started examining his shoes so he wouldn't gawk. Hermione and Jo both sighed and smiled.

Braeden's jaw dropped at the sight of Ginny. He didn't bother to stand back up fully, and he evidently wasn't very worried about gawking either. He turned bright red and his shoelace, needless to say, was the last thing on his mind.

"Ready to go?" Ginny asked, extending her hand to Braeden.

"I, uh, uh, uh," stammered Braeden.

"Say yes," coached Hermione.

"Uh." Ron kicked Braeden in his butt. Braeden immediately jumped up and stepped towards Ginny. He held out his arm to her. "Shall we?"

She placed her hand lightly in the crook of his elbow. "We shall." Without another word, the pair exited to the garage where Weston was waiting in the Jetta to chauffeur them to the restaurant.

"Aren't they beautiful?" Hermione asked.

"I wish I was young again," Jo lamented.

"She looked nice," Harry said, still staring at his shoelaces.

"That's my SISTER you're talking about!" Ron shouted.

"Down boy!" Jo exclaimed. Harry and Hermione both laughed, but Ron just glowered at them all.

"Dinner!" Jo said. She led the trio into the dining room.

"Are Ben and Brantley eating with us?" Hermione asked as she took her seat next to her mother at the table.

"Nope, we ordered them pizza and shut them downstairs, I didn't think I could stand Ben's attitude." Jo explained. Harry took the seat next to Hermione and Ron sat across from them both. He still looked significantly worried.

"We're eating without Weston?" Harry asked.

"Yes, he said to go ahead and start without him" Jo said as she placed a platter of shrimp, crab legs, oysters and scallops on the table in front of them between a stack of baked potatoes and a dish of steamed asparagus. The scowl on Ron's face turned to a smile when he saw all of the food Jo had placed before them. Harry and Hermione couldn't help laughing at him.

"Not funny, guys," He exclaimed.

%%%%%

"Two under Granger," Braeden told the maitre d'.

"This way please," the tall man said. He picked up two menus and walked towards the back of the restaurant. Braeden and Ginny had abandoned their formalness from Hermione's and were just holding hands. The maitre d' walked completely through the restaurant and stopped at a pair of double doors.

"Will the terrace be okay?" the maitre d' asked.

"Yes," Ginny and Braeden answered simultaneously. The maitre d' opened one of the doors and led them out onto the terrace and into a table isolated in the very corner, right at the edge. A wrought iron rail ran along the edge of the table, as they were now on a second story balcony structure. A small lake situated just in view of the terrace sparkled in the fading sun. The only light came from the setting sun and antique lanterns hung from the ceiling.

Braeden pulled Ginny's chair out for her before taking his seat next to her. He reached over and placed his hand over hers. She smiled softly at him.

%%%%%

"Ron! Do you have to hammer it with that much vengeance?" Harry asked as Ron brought a mallet down on yet another crab leg. The mallet fell with a sickening thud, and crab shell shot to the ceiling. A splattering of juice flew towards Harry's face, and he had to duck towards Hermione. Hermione and her mother both laughed hysterically at the boys' antics.

"Harry, you leave him alone!" Jo scolded.

"Why don't we have food like this at Hogwarts? This is good!" Ron exclaimed.

"I don't know if you like eating it as much as you like hammering it," muttered Harry, sending Hermione and Jo into another round of laughter.

"Did you get the lovebirds all settled in?" Jo asked suddenly. Harry and Hermione turned to find Weston standing behind them.

"Yes, they're all settled in," Weston said as he took his seat.

"I'd watch, dad. Ron's a bit dangerous with that mallet," Hermione warned as Weston reached for the scallops and crab legs. Ron laughed and twirled the mallet between his fingers.

"Does Braeden have his command of the English language back yet?" Harry joked.

"Braeden was speaking just fine. No stuttering. No lapsing into French," Weston said with a smile.

"What if he speaks French to my sister!" Ron wailed.

"What's the problem with that?" Hermione asked.

"French is the language of love," Ron mumbled more to his food than to his friends. Harry and Hermione both looked at Ron like he was stupid. Weston let out a howl of laughter, and Jo showered the table with wine.

"And you're fussing about my crab matter!" Ron said, glaring testily at Jo, who was holding her nose.

"Did you just shoot that out of your nose, mother?" Hermione asked, mortified. Jo nodded. Harry and Hermione took their turns to howl with laughter, remembering Ron's incident with the Mt. Dew at the theatre. Weston just rolled his eyes and went back to eating.

*****

"I'm glad Ron went along with this," Braeden said as he and Ginny waited for their food to arrive at their table. They could just hear a string quartet playing somewhere inside the restaurant. The night was sprinkled with laughter from the patrons at other tables.

"Yes. He's finally growing up, I think," Ginny laughed. Braeden reached over and took Ginny's hand again. He squeezed it lightly. She looked into his bright blue eyes and smiled, squeezing his hand tighter.

*****

"So then the lady in front of us screamed so loudly! And it was right in the middle of Mass too!" Jo cried. She leaned back and slapped the table in front of her lightly. Hermione turned redder by the second. Harry and Ron were totally enthralled by the story and Weston was already laughing at the recollection of the memory. "So we looked down and there was our little Hermione holding on to the lady's ankles. And before we could grab her, she rolled under the pew and ran down the aisle and out the side door!" Harry and Ron didn't see why Jo and Weston were laughing as hard as they were, or why Hermione was giving the Weasley hair a run for its redness.

"What Jo is forgetting to mention is that Hermione had left her dress and stockings lying under the pew," Weston amended Jo's story. Harry and Ron howled with laughter and Hermione stood up.

"That's quite amusing, but we're going upstairs now!" She grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him towards the stairs. Ron jumped up and followed them.

"Hermione, I can't believe you streaked in church!" Ron chided as she ran up the stairs.

"I was THREE!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Its funny Hermione," Harry said.

"I know, but its still embarrassing," she admitted. She pulled the boys into her room and pushed them onto her bed.

"Is this the part where she," Ron began.

"Ron, don't even go there. Get your mind out of the gutter!" Hermione cried before Ron could finish his thought. She jumped onto the bed next to them. "So what did you boys want to talk to me about?"

"We found out some very interesting things from your dad earlier today," Harry said, rather bluntly.

"Such as?" Hermione asked.

"Your cousins parents are in America on business," Ron said.

"I knew that," Hermione replied.

"Dumbledore concocted business," Harry corrected. Hermione's jaw dropped. Harry reached over and tapped her chin lightly with two fingers.

"What would Dumbledore want with my aunt and uncle?" Hermione asked.

"Your dad didn't know. Evidently its more for the boys safety though," Harry said. "Yeah, cause this house is protected and it's the safest place for them until they go back to school, according to your dad," Ron added.

"So they're staying until school starts?" Hermione asked.

"Evidently."

"What about that dream you had the other night, Harry?"

"Well, it was just Voldemort, another man, and a boy about Brantley's age," Harry said.

"What were they doing?"

"They were standing at the edge of a forest. Voldemort said something about 'thank you for bringing your son to me' and then he reached out and touched the boy's head. The hood on the boy's cloak fell back but before I could see who it was, Ron woke me up," Harry explained.

"Could the boy be Brantley?" Hermione asked.

"Is your uncle a death eater?" Ron replied.

"No, my uncle is as muggle as they come," Hermione replied.

"I beg to differ. I think that award goes to my uncle," Harry laughed.

"Have you had any dreams since?" Hermione asked, ignoring Harry's joke.

"No, not really. I have the occasional nightmare, about," Harry began, but he instantly looked down at the comforter. Ron reached over and clapped his friend on the shoulder. "We know, you don't have to say it."

"But no dreams other than those, and none that make my scar do anything weird," Harry said, still staring at the comforter.

"What do you think the tingling means?" Hermione asked. She reached over and placed her hand on Harry's knee.

"I don't know. Voldemort wasn't doing anything particularly malicious in my dream, so maybe it's just a warning that he's doing SOMETHING but not necessarily something bad," Harry suggested.

"Sound's reasonable," Hermione said.

*****

Ginny pushed her chair away from the table and walked over to the rail of the terrace. She placed her hands on the rail and looked out on the lake. Braeden watched her for a moment, taking careful note of how the candlelight made her hair sparkle and how the moon outlined her pale figure. Then he stood up and walked over to her. He put his arms around her and crossed them on the rail over hers. She immediately leaned back into him and rested her head lightly on his shoulder. He could smell the jasmine scent of her shampoo.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"For what?" he asked.

"For the most awesome night of my entire life," she replied. He pulled her closer and tightened his arms around her. She reached up and placed her hands on his arms. They stood in silence for a little longer, listening to the string quartet inside play Pachelbel's "Canon in D Major."

"What are you thinking right this instant?" she asked.

"Je n'ai rien à dire parce qu'il n'y a rien que je peux dire qui décrirait comment je me sens aussi parfaitement que vous le méritez," he murmured. She nodded as though she knew what he had said. He loosened his grip on her and spun her to face him. She looked up into his blue eyes and smiled softly. He reached down and hooked a finger under her chin. He tilted her face up towards him and brushed his lips against hers.

*****

Jo pushed open the door to Hermione's bedroom. The three teenagers had been quiet for quite some time. The lamp on the bedside table was still on, illuminating the three figures in the bed. Hermione laid in the middle, with Ron to her left and Harry to her right. Harry and Ron both had arms slung protectively across the other two friends. All three were sound asleep, and didn't look as though they had a care in the world.

Jo knew Hermione's life wasn't as safe or as easy as she let on, but looking at her daughter laying between the two boys, she couldn't miss the serene expression on Hermione's face. She knew as long as the boys were around, Hermione would be fine.