Harry Potter and the Summer To Remember

Hermione looked at Ron as he and Harry went downstairs to set up the chess set. Ron Would never realize how extremely joy-filled she was at his words. For a few minutes as they sat at the kitchen table playing chess, she allowed her mind to wander. Little did Harry know, but she had loved him since the second task in fourth year. He had saved her life better and quicker than Viktor Krum ever could. She had grown tired of Krum's total unwillingness to say her name correctly. His constant "Her-my-own-ninny"ing had gotten awful. How could a guy love you if he can't even say your name properly? She shook her head at the thought.

Harry had been her best friend for going on seven years. It is commonly known that best friends make the most loyal companions. This of course was if they didn't break up and destroy everything that they had created together including the friendship. At the bitterness of that thought, her mind came back to earth and she began watching, really watching Harry and Ron embark on the first game of Wizard's Chess.

Hermione thought Ron was an expert player at chess, though admittedly Harry had gotten very good at it himself after playing the Weasley brothers at the game for six, nearing seven years. She watched the battle, not sure of whom to root for as always. Luckily, unlike most people at Hogwarts the pair never fought about who had won. She had realized she really wasn't paying attention when Harry yelled, "Checkmate!" He still didn't win too terribly often, so he was happy about winning. Hermione was inwardly quite happy for him as well.

After Harry won the first game, she watched as Fred, George, Bill, Charlie, and finally Ginny came into the room and pulled up chairs, happy to watch some of the next games in progress. As the two boys played, Hermione and Ginny talked, with the occasional humorous remark from Fred or George. Ginny, ignoring any comments from the twins said, "So you and Harry are an item, huh?" Thankfully, she said this out of curiosity, with no sign of jealousy.

"Yes I suppose we are, right Harry?" Hermione said as she watched and waited for his reaction. She watched quietly as Harry broke his concentration off of the chess game, and looked at her. She waited for a response, but noticed he was thinking. She had no reason to feel upset that it was taking him so long, but she was eager to hear what he had to say.

He smiled at her, and said, "Yeah, you can say we will be the item of seventh year!" She smiled at his response.

Ron did not look a bit happy at this conversation. For him, his mind was on chess and only chess. Ron was a bit angrier than he was letting on, though. Hermione realized this by the cold flat tone in his voice as he said, "OK you two lovebirds, that is ENOUGH! Let's get back to our chess game, Harry."

Hermione's eyes left Harry, and she had to make herself start talking to Ginny again.

"You heard it straight from Harry, we are really and truly together now," Hermione said happily.

Ginny said happily, "That is great. We better change the subject before Ron explodes. So who do you think will get the Defense Against the Dark Arts job this school year?"

Hermione's brow furrowed as she was thinking about this question. Ginny brought up something interesting. Just who would get that longed for job this year? She mused over it in her head, and said "Lupin was the best one yet. Moody was ok, a bit too harsh, but then of course that really was not him in fourth year. Lupin taught again fifth year, then finally this past year, we got to see the real Moody. That experience was, needless to say, quite interesting. I like Lupin's hands-on style of teaching best, though."

Ginny, not realizing she would get a monologue out of Hermione about school, decided to change the subject to talking about the rest of the summer. She knew about the upcoming birthday party, yet did not want to say anything too major about it in front of Harry. Hermione was glad that Ginny kept quiet. She had a bad habit of blurting things out to anyone who would listen. She just knew that by the time they were off of the Hogwarts Express, Ginny would have told everyone, including Slytherins, about she and Harry's relationship.

Hermione was startled out of her thoughts by Harry once again saying, "Checkmate!" She was really happy for him. Quidditch was more of his game, but she realized quickly that he had finally gotten better at chess. She watched as Harry and Ron set the board back up and continued playing.

Hermione said to them both "Congrats, Harry! Ron you played a great game as well." She smiled back at both of them as they played the third game of chess.

Hermione watched as Harry's winning streak continued. Soon Harry had won all but the last game. This set the score to Harry having three wins with Ron having one win, the very last game.

Ron started to speak, and both Hermione and Harry looked as he said "Looks like your boyfriend is the winner again, Hermione!"

She felt extremely helpless, when even his family couldn't stop him from storming off to his room. Whether she and Harry liked it or not, nearly his whole family was involved. Hermione looked at Harry, who should be happy about his win, but had a very sad look on his face, and said, "Well, what do you want to do now?"

Harry looked at her somewhat sadly, and said "Honestly, let's just let him be for a while. He is angry with all of this more than he lets on. He needs to calm down before we go up there and talk to him. I don't feel like dodging flying objects at the moment."

Hermione, filled with bravery, and annoyance at Ron, gently took Harry's hand and led him outside. She then proceeded to kiss him. He returned the kiss. She had never felt as filled with happiness as she did right then. She always had it in the back of her head that they would end up together, but never dreamed it could come true this easily. She held Harry's hand as they explored all of the wooded area around The Burrow. Hermione simply wanted to spend some time with Harry, alone. She loved Harry, but wanted to be courteous to her best friend, therefore not rubbing the relationship in his face more than had been done already.

She walked with Harry, hand in hand, and immensely enjoyed it. She noticed that it had gotten rather late in the afternoon, but didn't want the time to end. The area was breathtakingly beautiful to both of them. Even Harry admitted thinking so. She noticed a beautiful old oak tree and pulled Harry down to sit against it with her. They just sat close together, not talking, but looking at the late afternoon sky. It was very peaceful for both of them.

"I never properly told you thank you for earlier today," Hermione said to Harry. She was smiling happily now. She knew all too well if she hadn't of fallen and scared him half to death, he would not have kissed her.

Harry responded, "For what? Oh, me rescuing you. You should know that I refuse to let you fall, ever!"

"Oh, Harry!" She then gave him a hug so tight that he had trouble breathing. She realized it was time that they head back, but she hated to think of ever forgetting this moment. She felt so very comfortable with Harry being tightly embraced in her arms. This was when it finally clicked for her that their relationship had really deepened. Hermione was lost in her train of thought.

Her thought was interrupted with Harry lovingly questioning her, "'Mione can you loosen your grip on me a little? I can barely breathe." She laughed, then lightened her grip while looking into his beautiful, yet playful emerald green eyes.

She began speaking slowly, but firmly, not sure how Harry would take what she wanted to say to him. "Harry, I want this moment engraved in my mind forever. I want you to know that I have been in love with you ever since the second task in fourth year. You don't have to say anything, but I wanted you to know. Oh, I like the shortening of my name, by the way. It is cute coming from you."

She watched his face closely as his expressions changed from happy, to shocked, then to happy again. She hated to cut it short, but thought it was late enough that they needed to head back and find out what Ron was so belligerently angry about.

Hermione allowed Harry to gently clasp her hand in his as they walked back to the Weasley's house. The sun was getting very low in the sky. What had seemed like simple moments had really been hours. She really hoped that the time alone away from Ron had given him time to cool down. Soon, they were both back inside The Burrow. It was nearly time to eat. Fred and George were setting the table, while Bill and Charlie were doing an enlargement charm to make it bigger (they did this at every meal, it saved space in the kitchen until mealtimes). Ginny was busily helping her mum with the meal preparations.

Hermione asked Mrs. Weasley if they could do anything to help, and she said "Sure, go fetch Ron for me you two. He has been in his room all day, and just let him know that dinner is nearly ready."

Harry answered for both of them, "OK no problem, Mrs. Weasley." They walked away from her, and then both proceeded to debate on who should be the first one to talk to him. It was decided that they should both go up there and talk to him.

They approached his bedroom, and Harry knocked on the door, saying "Ron, can we come in?" He waited for Ron to answer, or open the door. Finally, he did. The expression on his face fell when he saw, once again, it was both of them together.

"Oh whatever, just tell me what you two want!" Ron said. He looked angrily, yet coldly at the couple.

"Well, it is time for dinner and your mum told us to come up here and fetch you," Hermione said innocently.

"You shouldn't have bothered. I would much rather stay up here away from you two and by the way, I am not hungry. Now I have had ENOUGH! Go away!" Ron exclaimed.

Before they left, Hermione was about to cry.

She finally lost it when she asked him "What is the matter, Ron?" She was openly crying now.

In response, Ron glared and slammed the door. This was not good. Ron and Hermione had fought plenty of times before, but this just did not look good to either of them. "Well, I suppose we should go down without him," Hermione said. She had calmed her crying down. Now, she was just pure and simply angry.

"Yeah, I guess we better," Harry said. They both went downstairs and returned to the kitchen, where all of the family was already sitting down, and about to eat. As they went to their places, each of the Weasleys looked at them with questioning expressions on their faces.

Harry answered the expression. "Ron is still angry with us and claims he is not hungry. He refused to come down with us." Hermione noticed the expression of anxiety on everyone's faces including Harry's.

"What, is this the second time he is genetically fused with Hermione?" George questioned, hoping to bring some humor to the meal.

Hermione glared at him evilly. She then said, "Well, when I miss my meals, it is to get more studying or reading done, which I doubt I can say for you two!" Fred decided to play along, and threw a massive cookbook at George's head.

The book dropped in George's plate of roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, mashed potatoes, and green beans.

Mrs. Weasley was visibly angry at the boys' stupidity.

"You two are going on nineteen years old, WHY CAN'T YOU ACT LIKE IT?"

At this, she plucked up the book, which was called "A Modern Witch's Guide to Cuisine" by Jane Ketchup and did a simple repairing and cleaning charm on it. She then replaced it back on the shelf. Everyone continued eating rather quietly, after all of the commotion. No one said a word. At the end of the meal, Mrs. Weasley fixed up a plate and brought it up to her son, quietly.

After dinner Fred, George, and Harry played Exploding Snap. Hermione went up to her room, and girl-talked with Ginny. She told Ginny about her time alone with Harry. Ginny was surprised at her braveness, but extremely happy for her. Hermione realized that of all the girls at Hogwarts, Ginny was the one that she could tell things, and hope that they stayed between them. She realized that it had gotten rather late, and decided to go tell Harry goodnight.

Hermione found Harry on his way to Ron's room. She hugged him, and then he kissed her. She said, "I just want to tell you goodnight," as she walked to Ron's room with him.

She watched open-mouthed, as when Harry opened the door a pillow and blanket came flying out at him. He caught them easily, and walked to the living room. He was confused at this utter meanness of Ron. Hermione walked down with him. He began making up the couch to sleep on. She said, "I am sorry this has caused such an uproar." He finished setting the couch up.

"Hermione, it is not your fault," he said. "I hope we can settle this soon though. Now, see you in the morning." He lay down and went to sleep. As much as Hermione wanted to sit and watch him sleep, she was obviously tired herself. It had been a long day for both of them. She went quietly up to her room with Ginny and went to bed.