Harry Potter and the Power of Love

Ron Weasley was sitting at the table in the Burrow starting absentmindedly at Hermione. He couldn't stop thinking about her. As the sunlight caught her hair, Ron became even more entranced.

"Ron, I was thinking that maybe we should at least leave a note for everybody or something," Hermione said, "I mean, they won't like it if we suddenly just disappear. They might think we were attacked by death eaters, or something of the sort."

When Ron didn't answer her, Hermione was slightly annoyed. She then tried waving a hand in his face.

"Ron?" Hermione said, "Ron, answer me!"

At this, he came out of his trance and back to the real world.

"What, huh?" he asked.

"Honestly Ronald, I see why wizards are worried about the end of our species."

Ron just looked at her with a blank stare.

"I'm sorry, but can you please tell me what you were saying, 'Mione?" he asked.

"Fine Ronald," she said, "I was just saying that we should leave a note for everyone instead of just disappearing."

"Yeah, I guess so," Ron said blankly.

"Besides, your mother would be furious if we left without doing anything. If we don't die on the mission, she'll kill us," Hermione said.

Ron knew that Hermione was right. Mrs. Weasley still thought of them as children, and wouldn't let her babies go out to war.

"Ron?" Hermione asked, "I'm scared."

"Me too Hermione. Me too," Ron said.

Suddenly, Harry walked through the door.

"Harry!" Hermione screamed, jumping up to hug him.

Ron scowled at this in disgust.

"What, Ron? You want a hug too?" Harry asked, smirking.

Harry knew perfectly well why Ron was jealous, and hoped that things wouldn't be this way all of the time. Then again, he knew exactly how Ron was feeling right now. For instance, if someone were to hug a certain pretty, red headed, fifteen year old girl...

Harry sat down on Ron's bed, and Harry and Ron proceeded to talk about everything from wizard chess, quidditch, and exploding snap to Voldemort, horcruxes, and Dementors. They talked about these things until Ginny came in to call them for dinner.

"Ron, Hermione, dinner!" Ginny yelled.

Harry was fascinated with her voice, most likely because he hadn't heard it all summer. As she walked in the room, she stopped when she saw Harry.

"Oh, Harry. Um, hi. How are you doing?" Ginny asked.

"I'm holding up. You?" Harry asked.

"I'm okay. Just a little bit tired, I guess," Ginny said.

"That's good. I'm glad you're okay," Harry said with concern evident in his voice.

Ginny smiled sadly at him, and then walked out of the door.

"You know, Harry, Ginny really isn't as okay as she claims to be. She's been moping around all summer, and locking herself up in her room all day. I even caught her staring at that picture that Colin Creevy took of you two by the lake last spring. I think she's really depressed. I think you need to talk to her. After all, you did put her through this," Hermione said.

"Fine, I'll talk to her. But that doesn't mean I'm going to change my mind about the mission. I can't let her get hurt," Harry said, slightly annoyed.

"Harry, just think about it. After all, she is almost sixteen. You were facing Voldemort when you were eleven. She's perfectly capable of protecting herself," Hermione said, matching his tone of voice.

Harry sighed.

"I suppose so. I just don't want her to get hurt. I'd die if that happen. What do you think, Ron?" Harry asked.

"I think that I'm going to kill you if you don't get back together with her because it will break her heart. I also think that I'm going to kill you if you do get back together with her, because I'll have to be worried of you doing things that you shouldn't be doing. Excuse me," said Ron stiffly, as he bolted out the door towards dinner.

Harry sighed, and banged his head against the wall. If he was going to die at the hands of Ron no matter what decision he made, he might as well die happily, right? And happy to him meant being with Ginny.

Harry sat up quickly and walked down to dinner, leaving Hermione alone.

"Boys," she muttered, as if this was the explanation for everything, and then followed him out the door.

Harry walked down the many flights of stairs to the bottom floor where the kitchen was. He sat down at the table, and waited for some of Mrs. Weasley's delicious cooking. Soon Hermione joined the table. Harry kept sneaking glances at Ginny to see what she was doing, and mostly found her staring into space, with a sad expression on her face. Fred and George were waving their hands in front of her face to see if she would notice.

The whole dinner was fairly quiet, unless you count the faint small talk between the Weasleys and Harry, asking how his summer was. He politely answered, and then continued looking at Ginny.

After dinner, Mrs. Weasley had Harry and Ginny wash dishes, and Harry couldn't help wondering if this was all a plot by the family to get them together again. He better be careful, because he was afraid it might work.

"Ginny? I've got to tell you what the mission is about. But you've got to promise not to tell a soul, okay?" Harry asked.

"Sure, Harry. I can keep a secret," Ginny said, thrilled to be talking to Harry again.

"Okay, so remember your first year with the diary..."