Love at The Burrow

Harry was sitting in the end compartment on the Hogwart's Express, leaving Hogwarts. Harry wasn't feeling sad or depressed as usual though, because Dumbledore had said that this year he could go straight to the Weasley's. Currently, he was lost in a daydream about Ginny. Across from him sat Hermione, fully recovered from the Freezing Draught and totally immersed in 'Hogwarts a History'. Ron was next to him, eating a chocolate frog. They were silent.

BANG!

The door flew open, and, what a surprise, there stood Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle.

"Couldn't leave without saying goodbye, huh Malfoy?" asked Harry lazily. The bang had brought him back too earth.

"Didn't know you cared!" this was Ron. Malfoy sneered. Hermione was still reading and hadn't shown that she'd noticed anyone come in.

"Actually, Weasel, I was thinking about cursing you into next Thursday, but whatever takes your fancy..." replied Malfoy scathingly.

"Certainly not you, Malfoy, certainly not you," replied Ron as he was looking at a Chocolate Frog card. It was another Morgana. When Malfoy didn't reply Ron looked up in amazement. Malfoy had never missed a cue in his life!

Harry saw Hermione tucking her wand back into her robes out of the corner of his eye. He turned to look at her, and she smirked. He turned back to Malfoy, and discovered he was lying on the floor, covered in what looked like a mixture of a Jelly Legs Hex, and a Numb body Curse. Behind Malfoy was Ginny, her wand at her side. Crabbe and Goyle picked Malfoy up, and wandered out of the compartment.

"That was easy," remarked Ginny as she stepped inside. She sat down next to Hermione. Hermione grinned into her book. Ginny flashed Harry a shy smile. After their 'encounter' a few days ago, they hadn't really seen each other in the business of packing, at least not alone.

The rest of the train journey passed quickly and soon they were pulling into Platform 9 ¾ where Harry could see Mrs Weasley, obviously intending to meet them off the train. He grabbed his trunk and hauled it off the train behind Ron and Ginny. Fred and George were already standing beside Mrs Weasley and Hermione was tucking her book into her robes behind him.

"Ron! Ginny! Harry! Hermione!" Mrs Weasley cried, pulling them all into a hug. Harry, extremely squashed between Ginny and Hermione grunted.

"Hi - M - Mrs We - asley!" he squeezed out.

"How many times do I have to tell you dear - call me Molly!" she replied.

While they'd been talking, Mrs Weasley had been steering the six of them over to the barrier. Harry gave Hermione a quick hug before they stepped through the wall. Hermione was going home for the start of the holiday, then going to the Burrow for the last two weeks. Harry would miss her.

Hermione had gone, and Mrs Weasley had finally managed to flag down two Muggle taxis. Into one car climbed Harry, Ron and Ginny, and Mrs Weasley went with the twins claiming they needed to be kept 'an eye on' or the taxi service would never take them again.

On the trip back to the Burrow, Harry and Ginny were mainly silent. Perhaps they were slightly embarassed? Probably not. They were just lost in their own thoughts, something Ron didn't take kindly to. Eventually he unearthed 'Quidditch Through The Ages' (a library book he had conveniently 'forgotten' to return) and ignored his best friend and sister.

The ride was therefore fairly uneventful, though they later learned that the other cab had had a hard time. Despite being with their mother (who was not someone to cross when she was angry) this had not stopped the twins letting of three stink pellets and a dung bomb.

Three weeks later, while lying in bed, Harry was eagerly awaiting the arrival of Hermione. She was coming in three days and Harry couldn't wait to see her. Not because he liked her that way of course - he and Ginny had occasionally sneaked off for a quick snog session, (he like Ginny - not Hermione!) and Ron hadn't noticed!

Though Harry was looking forward to Hermione coming, he was also nervous. Harry thought that she already suspected something between Ginny and him, and two weeks would surely cement her suspicions. Unlike Ron, she wasn't that, uh, naïve shall we say.

That morning Harry traipsed down to breakfast at about 9:30. Ron was still in bed and the frequent explosions from Fred and George's room suggested they'd been hard at work for hours. Mrs Weasley was out shopping, and as far as Harry knew, Ginny was still upstairs. As he popped down two slices of toast, Harry heard movement upstairs. He ignored it and poured himself a glass of orange juice. Harry sensed someone behind him and turned sharply. Going into the living room was Ginny, her hair up in a clip, wearing light blue denim shorts and an apple green vest top. Her feet were bare, though Harry noticed her toenails were painted a bright purple.

She bviously noticed him staring at her because she turned, and said, "Hey Harry. Hermione's coming early - tomorrow, alright?"

These words shook Harry out of his daze. He closed his mouth and nodded mutely, turning back to butter the toast that had just popped up. Ginny was standing behind him, watching.

"Hey!" cried Harry. Ginny had nicked a slice of toast and vanished out of the door into the garden. Harry downed his juice, grabbed the second slice of toast and followed her.

Ginny stopped running a little way into the trees at the bottom of their Quidditch 'field'. She liked it here. When no one was playing it was so peaceful. There was a thrashing of trees behind her. She turned and saw Harry, grinning at her. She patted the ground next to her. He dropped down.

"Ginny - " he hesitated.

"Yeah?"

"What are we going to do about Ron? We can't hide it from him forever, and when Hermione arrives she'll figure it out in about two seconds!" This all came out in a rush.

"Well, 1. Hermione already knows - I told her, 2. I have no idea about Ron. Do you think he won't like it?" she added in a small voice.

"You told her?!"

"Come on, she already knew, it was just confirmation. And, Ron...?"

"Shit. Sorry. No, to be perfectly truthful, I don't think he will like it. In case you didn't know he's really protective of you, Hermione too actually..."

"But you're his best friend -"

"That might make it worse."

"We should tell him soon anyway...he deserves to know, I guess. But let's not worry about that now," she said, a smile playing across he lips. She leaned across and kissed him tenderly, which he returned. Growing more confident, she pressed harder, losing herself in the kiss...

Ron wandered downstairs just past midday. When he'd woken up, (aided by a particularly loud bang from across the house) Harry had gone. Now he was downstairs, he still couldn't see him, and his Firebolt was still in his trunk, meaning he hadn't gone flying. Come to think of it, he hadn't seen Ginny either. Maybe they were...no. Ginny might like Harry, but Harry had never shown any interest in his sister. Ginny would be in her room, Harry had gone for a walk. (A/N. Just keep telling yourself that Ron!)

He lightened at the thought that Hermione would be here soon. Harry had been withdrawn into himself all summer, despite no news on the Voldemort front, and he'd hardly seen Ginny or the twins. Charlie and Bill were both abroad and Percy and his dad were nearly always at work. Mr Weasley insisted that he was trying to rally support for Dumbledore's 'fight back against the dark' campaign. Percy never being at home was not unusual. Even his mum was never around anymore, and when she was she was usually involved in some domestic task. Truth to tell - Ron was bored.

Harry was lying on his back staring at the sky, Ginny next to him. A beeping from his watch distracted him, and he looked at it.

12:30!

They'd been out here nearly three hours. He looked over at Ginny. She was asleep. Should he wake her? Probably - if he just left she'd wonder where he'd gone. Gently, he shook her shoulder. She stirred, but didn't wake. He bent over and kissed her on the lips - her eyes fluttered and she woke up.

"I'm gonna go in - Ron'll be wondering where we are. I can say I was walking," he said.

"Why - what's the time?"

"12:30."

"Holy cow! I mean - oh... uh,"

"Shucks?" asked Harry grinning.

"Yeah. Oh shucks," she replied, smiling back. Harry gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and turned to leave, but Ginny pulled him back.

"You call that a kiss?" she asked sweetly, and he relented, giving her a proper kiss on the lips. He checked his watch again.

"Now I've really got to go," he said as Ginny lay back down.

"Harry-"

"Yeah?"

"Let's tell Ron tonight - before Hermione gets here, ok?"

"Sure," replied Harry, turning in the direction of the house. Ginny closed her eyes again, and within minutes she was once more asleep.

The time was 7:30. The place was Ron's bedroom. The people were Ron, Harry and Ginny. The noise level was non-existent. Neither Harry nor Ginny knew exactly how to start. And Ron was getting agitated.

"Just spit it out will you?" he shouted.

"Umm," stuttered Harry.

"I don't care what it is - just get it out!"

"I love Harry," Ginny stated plainly.

"I know - you have forever," replied Ron.

"Ron, you don't get it. I love Ginny," said Harry quietly.

"WHAT?" screamed Ron. Ginny actually covered her ears. Harry winced.

"We like each other -" he began.

"SHUT UP! I know you bloody like each other! That's where you were this morning wasn't it?! Why you've been spaced out all holiday! You," he said pointing at Harry, speaking in a dangerously quiet voice, "You stay away from my sister. Get out, now. Stay in Fred and George's room or something. Just go." His voice was almost a whisper now. Ginny got up and ran out of the room crying while Harry picked up his stuff.

"Ron-" he tried again. Ron fixed him with a steely glare, and Harry shut up.

'Well,' thought Harry, 'I guess I'd better go see if Fred and George'll let me kip on their floor.'

The next morning Harry woke up feeling very weird. Very weird indeed. He looked down and shrieked. He was a canary! He waited patiently while he moulted and returned to being Harry, then shrugged. 'That's what you get for sleeping in the twins' room! Still, I'm not sleeping in there tonight! I'd rather sleep in Percy's room! Well, maybe not...'

From downstairs he heard girls shrieking. He dressed quickly then ran down. Hermione had arrived.

"Herm!" he enveloped her in a bear hug.

"Nice to know I'm missed I guess," she said, slightly taken aback, but amused.

"We need your help," explained Ginny, "Ron didn't take lightly to our news..."

"You told him?" Hermione asked, completely serious now.

"Yup. I was a canary this morning," replied Harry.

"He hexed you?"

"No, I slept in the twins' room."

"Oh, not a surprise then," she said flashing him a grin. He grinned back, despite feeling slightly depressed. Ginny obviously sensed this, for she wrapped her arms around him and whispered "he'll come round," into his ear. Harry smiled.

"Okay - plan of action. I talk to Ron, Ginny, you're through there, in sight, out of hearing distance. Harry you're bugger knows where, just not here. Okay?" Hermione sounded a bit like a drill sergeant shouting out orders, but Harry ignored it. He nodded. "Okay - get out of here!"

Ginny grabbed a duster and began to dust the dining room. Harry picked up his Firebolt and made his way to the Quidditch field. Hermione went into the kitchen, where Ron was eating some cereal. She sat down.

"Ron, we need to talk," she started.

"Nice to see you too, Hermione. What have you been doing all summer?" his tone was sarcastic, but contained no malice.

"It's about Harry and Ginny-"

"Oh," his face hardened.

"Ron, Ginny's going to start to date sooner or later. She's not your 'little' sister anymore,"

"She'll always be my little sister," he said sullenly.

"You can't wrap her in cotton wool all her life, Ron! Aren't you glad she's found someone you like that you trust?" Ron was silent. "She could have chosen Draco Malfoy, or, or Neville or someone!" At the mention of Malfoy's name, Ron had looked utterly disgusted, which Hermione took as a good sign, but when Hermione mentioned Neville he looked, well, amused.

"I like Neville," he replied, his voice and face void of emotion.

"You like Harry too, a lot more than Neville," Hermione said earnestly. Ron cracked.

"Okay! They can go out. I don't care! I'm happy for them!"

"There's no need to be sarcastic, Ron."

"I'm not. She's got to live her own life, and I suppose she could do a lot worse. If Harry hurts her though, I'm going to completely forget he's my best friend and punch his lights out. Until then. Fine, good call Gin," he smiled.

"Thanks, Ron. Now, can Harry sleep in your room again? He was a canary this morning apparently," Hermione grinned. Ron snorted.

"Okay, where'd you send him so he wouldn't be in eyesight? Oi! Gin! You can stop cleaning now!" he added.

"Thanks!" Ginny yelled back, and disappeared upstairs.

"Quidditch pitch. Firebolt." Replied Hermione. Ron was gone.

"Hey, Harry! Get down from there!" yelled Ron. Harry looked surprised, but dived to the ground, stopping next to Ron.

"Hi, R-"

"Shut up a minute. Look, I'm sorry ok? I heard you got turned into a canary..."

"That's alright Ron. Does this mean I can move back into your room?"

"Yup, oh, and you can date Gin too."

"Thanks."