Change of Heart

"He's visiting some of his old friends in London," she replied.

"Oh," murmured Harry. "Is Todd here?" Maddy shook her head again.

"He's shopping with mum for new clothes, and Dad's at work." She shrugged.

"Oh," Harry said again. "I'll guess I'll be going..." Maddy grabbed his sleeve.

"Nonsense!" she exclaimed, with a voice that reminded Harry of Mrs. Weasley. "We can wait for them!" She led him into the dark house and flicked on the lights. Suddenly, the Belle family, the Weasley family, and Hermione popped out from behind furniture.

"Surprise, happy birthday!" they chimed together. Harry flew backyards in shock. The house was covered in birthday decorations, some of them looked as if they were being used for a three-year-old.

"W-what's going on?" Harry stuttered. He was deeply confused of why the Weasleys and Hermione were here.

"Well," began Mrs. Belle. "Hermione here was sending a birthday letter to you, but Pig accidentally sent it to us."

"So we sent another letter back, explaining what had happened," said Joseph.

"And we realized that your birthday was coming up," piped Fred.

"So we all met here," said Ron.

"Knowing that you would come here anyway to see Joseph," said Todd.

"And we threw you this," finished Maddy, gesturing around the room. Harry smiled shyly.

"Look!" exclaimed Mr. Weasley. He pointed to the Pin the Tail on the Donkey poster. "That was my idea." He beamed as Harry called everyone over to play it. The party lasted a good three hours. It had been Harry's best birthday ever. As everyone helped clean up the party remains, Ron dragged him over to an empty corner.

"I'm thinking of asking her when we get to Hogwarts," he beamed. Harry knew exactly what he meant.

"Do you think she'll say yes?" asked Harry as he glanced at Ginny, Hermione, and Maddy chatting. Ron shrugged.

"I hope so," he replied. Fred and George teetered over to Harry and Ron.

"Did he tell you yet?" questioned George. Harry nodded.

"I for one know she's going to say yes," declared Fred. "She fancies you Ron, and we all know it." They four boys cast a wary glance at the huddled girls, who stared back.

"It's time you learned 'bout girls, Ronnie," began George. "You too, Harry." The twins sat down in the corner and sighed.

"Girls are-" began Fred.

"Unexplainable," finished George. "They usually won't fish for compliments."

"So you have to give them a lots anyway," said Fred. Harry had the feeling he should be taking notes, but he didn't have a note pad.

"They can get emotional over really stupid things," continued George.

"Hear, hear!" exclaimed Harry, remembering all the times Cho had bawled. Their lesson on girls only lasted a few minutes, but while they were talking the girls had their own thing going on...

"Boys are stupid," declared Maddy.

"She's right," shrugged Hermione. "I've even read about it once."

"Dean isn't!" exclaimed Ginny. "He's wonderful..." Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Who's Dean?" asked Maddy.

"Ginny's boyfriend," replied Hermione. She nodded.

"What about you?" Maddy asked Hermione. Hermione raised an eyebrow.

"What about me?" she asked.

"Who do you like, are going out with, broke up with, what?" she questioned.

"Well...erm...no one, actually," she replied, blushing slightly. Ginny grinned.

"Tell her, 'Mione," she taunted. Hermione frowned.

"Don't call me that," she replied with a sigh. "I like--" she was cut off by a loud shriek in the kitchen.

"Fire!" screamed Mr. Weasley. "PUT OUT THE FIRE!" The girls watched curiously as the adults sprinted into the kitchen. A few minutes later they came back out.

"Don't panic!" exclaimed Joseph. "We put out the fire." He collapsed on the couch, but popped up a few seconds later to join the boys.

"So anyway, who do you like?" asked Maddy. Hermione blushed.

"Well," she began quietly. "If you tell anyone I'll kill you. But I like ...Ron."

Ginny gagged.

"Ew," she shuddered. Hermione gave her a stern look. Maddy sighed quietly with relief, which Ginny noticed.

"What was that for?" she asked curiously.

"Nothing," Maddy replied. But Ginny wouldn't take nothing for an answer.

"What would you do if she said Harry then?" she asked cheekily.

"Nothing!" Maddy insisted. Ginny grinned even wider.

"You wouldn't happened to, like Harry, would you?" she asked. Maddy shook her head violently.

"No way!" she yelled. "He's the one who let me fall off my broom!"

"Sure," Hermione smiled, who had just started in the conversation.

"I hate him!" she snarled.

"She blames me for everything!" Harry hissed. "'Course I don't like her!"

"I for one believe him," Joseph declared. "She whines about everything, she's spoiled rotten, therefore, she's simply the biggest prat!"

"She is," Harry murmured. All the boys turned to Harry.

"Let's change the subject," announced Ron to Harry's relief. "So what should I do about Hermione?"

"Ask her on the train," Fred suggested.

"Yea, but what do I say?" Ron questioned.

"Isn't it obvious?" George said. "Just say Hermione, will you go out with me?"

"Okay," sighed Ron. "I'll do it when we get on the train."

The party passed quickly, and before he knew it Harry was getting his trunk and walking to the Weasley's Ford Angelia. As everyone said their goodbyes, Harry caught Madison's eye. They stared for a moment, until Maddy stuck her tongue out at him and mouthed "Bye, jerk." Harry glared at her and sat down into the car. The drive to the Weasleys' passed quickly, as Harry, Ron and Hermione told one another about their summer. When they got to the Burrow, Harry dragged his trunk up to Ron's room and unpacked. Ron sat at the foot of his bed, droning on about Hermione. Harry sighed, annoyed.

"Why don't you just ask her now?" Harry whined. Ron looked shocked.

"Because I can't!" he exclaimed.

"Well I am getting sick of hearing you talk about her!" Harry said slowly. "I mean, don't you think it was better when we were all just friends? I like to hear about Hermione every so often, but not every four seconds!"

"Well, we're not kids anymore, Harry!" Ron declared. "We're not the same as we were in our second year! We still don't believe that girls have a horrible case of cooties! I know I sure as hell don't, but do you?" Ron's ears turned red.

"No, I don't," Harry said coldly. "But I am sick of hearing of Hermione. Sick of it." Ron scoffed and strode quickly out of the room.

'What's going on' Harry thought unhappily. 'My two best friends like each other.' Another thought made its way to Harry's head. 'When they get together, what am I going to do?'

Four weeks had passed since Harry arrived at the Burrow. Maddy and Harry had been sending threat letters to one another for the past few weeks.

Rain splattered on the roof of the Burrow. Harry forced his eyes open and shoved his glasses on. He dressed quickly, brushed his teeth, and trotted downstairs into the kitchen. He slipped into a seat in-between Ron and Ginny. He ate his pancakes quickly, casting quick glances up at Hermione and Ron. After breakfast, the three of them walked into the den, plopping themselves on the couch.

"What do you want to do?" droned Hermione, crossing her eyes nonchalantly.

"I don't know, what do you wanna do?" Ron asked, picking at a hole in the couch.

"I don't know," muttered Harry. An owl pecked furiously on the window. Hermione got up to open the window.

"Don't open it! It's Snitch," hissed Harry as the owl soared into the family room. The large, pale gold colored owl landed on his leg, dropping a blood red envelope in his lap.

"Oh god," Harry muttered.

"Open it now," Ron sighed. Harry opened up the small envelope. Maddy's shrill voice filled the room; OH YEA? WELL IM NOT SENDING ANOTHER ONE OF THESE, HARRY! THEY'RE EXPENSIVE, YOU KNOW! AND DON'T YOU DARE SEND ME A LETTER OR HOWLER AFTER THIS! AND TELL HERMIONE AND GINNY I SAY HI! The letter tore itself into several pieces.

"What's going on?" Mrs. Weasley asked as she poked her head in the room.

"Nothing mum," replied Ron. "Just a Maddy Howler."

"Ah, all right then," she replied, disappearing back into the kitchen.

"She's mad!" groaned Harry. "I thought it was impossible to hate someone more than Umbridge, but she's living proof that I'm wrong!"

"So I guess you won't send her back saying I say hi?" Hermione asked quietly.

"Guess not," growled Harry. Ginny trotted into the den.

"If you guys care, we're going to Diagon Alley today," she announced.

"In this weather?" Ron exclaimed.

"Well, obviously Diagon Alley has spells put upon it to deflect water," she replied coolly as she stalked up the stairs.

"I'm going to go change," muttered Hermione as she followed Ginny.

"We should get into our robes too," Harry shrugged as he and Ron trotted up the stairs into Ron's room. Thirty minutes later, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Mrs. Weasley stood in front of the fire.

"I think you four are old enough to go on your own," Mrs. Weasley said quietly as she handed Ginny the Floo Powder. She took a handful and stepped into the fire.

"Diagon Alley!" she called. Ginny threw down the dust and was engulfed in the emerald flames. Harry went next.

"Diagon Alley!" he exclaimed. Harry closed his eyes and kept his limbs close together as he spun through the flames. A quick pain flailed through his legs as he fell on to the street. He waited for Hermione and Ron, and the three of them hurried after Ginny into Flourish and Blotts.