Ron's Birthday

"She's mental I tell you! Mental!" Ron screamed at Harry as they left the common room and headed for the Quidditch Pitch.

"Hermione is not mental; she is just having a tough time. With all those classes, we'd be having a rough day too." Harry was trying to reason with Ron, but he had a feeling it was not going to work.

"It's not that she has so many classes, it's that she has an A in so many classes and is determined to get better. You can't get better than an A!" Ron nearly hit Neville as he swung his arms up in the air in frustration. Neville ducked just in time, avoiding Ron's arms. He was able to miss Ron's wildly swinging arms, but he couldn't avoid the bench. He hit his head hard on the wooden surface; the objects on the bench wobbling as he did so. Harry helped him up and then turned back to Ron.

"You can get an A+ Ron."

Ron sighed and rolled his eyes. This conversation was pointless. Harry just could not see that Hermione was slowly detaching herself from reality. She had studied everyday, all day for the past three months. She didn't even go with them to Hogsmeade to stop at Dervish and Banges last weekend! She never passed up a chance to go to Hogsmeade, unless Harry wasn't going...

They reached to Quidditch Pitch to find that Oliver Wood was already starting practice. He turned to Ron and Harry. "Where have you two been? You're late!"

Harry looked at Ron and rolled his eyes. "We are right on time, Wood."

"What time is it Harry?" Oliver swooped down to the ground now.

Harry looked at Ron's watch for he had broke his trying a new spell last week. "It's three o'clock --"

"It is three o'clock and three, four, five seconds and counting Harry! You are late!" As Wood swept back up, a Bludger zoomed past his knee. Wood swore and tumbled over on his broom, trying to keep his balance. Harry and Ron both held in laughter, threatening to burst out.

"Oh no! We are five seconds late. I think we should go get beat up by the Whomping Willow Harry!" Ron nudged Harry in the side. Wood was a little too crazy about this being on time now a days. Harry shushed him so Wood wouldn't hear them. Last time Ron had mocked Wood's obsession with being early for practices, Wood had made them both dodge Bludgers for the whole practice! If Wood heard them again, it would be the fifth time they'd have to dodge the darn balls - and last practice Ron just got away from a rogue Bludger. They both took off into the air to start practicing. Harry was still the best seeker Gryffindor had, while Ron was now a keeper, in case the others couldn't make it. Ron was not very good considering he was scared of heights, but Harry had talked Madam Hooch into letting him onto the team!

In practice, Wood had nearly been hit by Bludgers about seven times, most of it thanks to Fred. Harry had successfully caught the Snitch every time. Ron was just getting the hang of turning around when Angelina swept past him with the Quaffle sending him spinning in the air. All in all, this practice was a success.

*********

After practice they trotted up to the Gryffindor common room all tired from all the training Wood had put them through. They collapsed into the cushioned chairs by the glowing fire, exhausted. Hermione quickly shut her books and ran up to the girls' room when she saw them.

"Mental..." Ron said shaking her head. Harry just glared at him. Everyone knew Ron really did admire Hermione, even though he constantly picked on her. Neville and Colin were playing Wizard's Chess on the tables by the fire, and chuckled slightly at Ron's remark. Harry smiled at them and shrugged, as if to say 'Ridiculous, isn't it?'

Harry, Ron, Neville, and Colin all talked about school, Hogsmeade, ghosts, teachers, and Slytherin's bothering them until it was nearly midnight. When the clock struck twelve, Colin rose from his chair.

"I better go to bed," he said. "I've got a Transfiguration test tomorrow... McGonagall would kill me if I fell asleep in her class."

The other three agreed, yawning. It was rather late. They all made their way up to the boys' room and fell asleep almost instantly.

Hermione did not get to sleep until about three in the morning. Her books were open all night long, and the muttering of spells and flipping of pages was constantly waking the other girls up. Long after the sun had set, Hermione went to sleep. Somehow, she managed to wake up bright and early to study again before breakfast and classes.

*********

Ron and Harry were one of the firsts down to breakfast at the Gryffindor table that morning. They were busy talking about Quidditch and Wizard's Chess to notice that Hermione was not at breakfast, again. They went to all their classes and occasionally caught a glimpse of Hermione throughout the day, but not that much. She did not miss any classes but during class she was buried in books, although she made it clear she was paying attention by answering every question...correctly.

Wood came up to Harry and Ron as they were walking down to the Library. "There's no Quidditch practice today," Wood said bitterly. "Snape gave me a detention. He said I was bragging about Gryffindor's Quidditch team. Told me that Gryffindor hadn't an ounce of talent, it was all just luck... so I told him to shut up. You should have seen his face, went as purple as a beetroot..., but anyway, just wanted to tell you guys that Quidditch practice is off. Sorry."

Harry and Ron nodded somberly as Wood ranted on about Quidditch practice and Snape. They tried to hide their glee at the fact that Quidditch practice wouldn't be held after all. Though Quidditch was great, practices with Wood were grueling and lasted from sun up, to sun down.

As soon as Wood left, they ran off to the common room. Ron took out his Self-Shuffling Playing Cards, while Harry scoured the room, looking for Hermione. She wasn't there, which didn't surprise them at all.

*********

The next day, after Potions Class, everyone from Gryffindor seemed to have vanished so Ron and Harry made their way up to Common Room to see if anyone was there. Harry gave the password to the Fat Lady. She let them through without a glance; too busy gossiping with Violet about the antics of the portraits on the third floor. Ron followed him, closing the portrait door carefully behind him. As soon as Ron stepped into the Common Room, all the Gryffindor's jumped out from behind the furniture and shouted,

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY RON!!!" Hermione was grinning from ear to ear, Fred and George were swapping jokes, and Colin was taking pictures of everyone, especially of Ron who was shocked beyond all belief.

Ron's face was a mix between shock and fright. He had hated surprises ever since Bill had jumped out of a corner once in the Burrow. He was slightly pink around the ears but he was getting better at hiding his embarrassment around friends.

"How come I didn't know about this?" Harry asked Hermione. He had figured out that she had planned all of this from Seamus.

"You would have told Ron, Harry," she said without even thinking.

"No I wouldn't have!" Harry claimed. "When have I ever told Ron something that I wasn't supposed to?"

That was a bad thing to ask. Hermione looked at Harry like he was stupid. "What about the time you 'accidentally' told him I may have a crush on him? Or the time you told him about the time turner? Or when you told Ron about Ginny trying to trick him? Or when he just happened to find out about --"

"Alright already!" Harry interrupted. "I get your point. Sorry I asked." He turned to walk away then remember something. "Hey, Hermione?"

"Yeah?"

"Those books weren't really for classes were they?"

Hermione just smiled and walked up to the girl's dormitories. She came down carrying a huge card with Ron's name on it. Everyone turned to look at it. She had put so many spells on it, and used so many enchantments that it glowed with magic. When Ron opened it, it sang him "Happy Birthday" in eight different languages, including Parseltongue and Mermish.

"Thank you Hermione!" Ron ran up to her and hugged her. He actually hugged her. After about two seconds he backed away though, thoroughly embarrassed. He smiled shakily and shook her hand. This action caused Fred and George to snicker with mirth and punch him in the shoulders.

"Ow!" Ron exclaimed, rubbing his shoulder.

They all celebrated and had cake, which Parvati and Lavender made. It was chocolate covered in pink frosting. Ron hated pink, but I don't think the girls cared much. On the top they had written what looked like 'Happy Birthday Ron' but there were so many divination signs around the top that nobody could really tell. Ron was even overhead saying that this was the best birthday party he'd ever had!