What You See Is What You Get...

The face was that of Madam Rosmerta, the waitress in The Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade. Hermione had always noticed that Ron blushed when he saw her. And she couldn't help but feel a little jealous, even though she knew that all the embarrassment was from a mere boyish crush. But Hermione would've settled for at least that much.

She tried to go back to sleep to re-enter her dream, but it proved pointless. Pulling the sheets down, Hermione decided to go watch a little TV and eat some toast before fully waking up. After she walked down to the kitchen, buttered and jammed her toast, she trudged into the living room and, turning on the set, made herself comfortable in the sofa.

Not usually being up this early, she didn't know what was on, and flipped through the channels until she came to a movie that looked familiar. After a few minutes of watching, and still not knowing what it was, she moved on. Again, she started surfing through the channels, but nothing interested her. So Hermione went back up to her room to make sure she had everything ready to go, and decided to get dressed.

Okay, she said to herself, you want something that hints, not screams, "I have boobs!" She decided on a sleeveless burgundy top, with lace trim below the bust and around the neckline, a pair of loose black capris, and a pair of sandals made out of that straw-looking material. She combed out her hair, and left it down. After being satisfied with the reflection she saw in the mirror, Hermione made for the fireplace downstairs.

Taking out a bit of floo powder, she threw it into the fire, grabbed her trunk, and hobbled into the now green flames. "The Burrow!" she shouted, and away she spun until she saw the familiar grate at her feet.

Hermione quickly stepped out of the fireplace to look around. But the place felt odd. Empty. She walked into the living room after dragging her belongings out of the fireplace and breathed a heavy sigh.

"SURPRISE!!" Every single one of the Weasley family (except Percy, of course, the prat) jumped out from various hiding places, and nearly knocked Hermione to her feet.

"Oh, welcome back deary!" Mrs. Weasley said, giving Hermione a hug. "I hope we didn't give you too much of a fright."

"Thanks, Mrs. Weasley, and I think I'm all right."

"Hermione!! Thank GOODNESS you're here!" Ginny exclaimed. "I've been with all of these boys since the beginning of summer, unable to get out of the house! I have SOO much to talk to you about! C'mon, let's get your things up to my room. Fred, George?"

"Yes?" They answered.

"Can you get her things?"

"Uh.." Ron cleared his throat and fiddled with his watch. "I- I'll take care it. I've been practicing my apparation skills." And with a -pop- Ron was up in Ginny's room. Within another moment or two, Hermione's trunk started to levitate to the stairs.

"He's still practicing? Hasn't he got his license yet?" Hermione asked.

Fred and George burst out laughing.

"Well... Ron had a few, well, difficulties on his test." Charlie started.

"Difficulties!! He did worse than us!" said Fred through hacks of laughter.

"Yeah! It's a wonder he passed at all!!" George continued, also having trouble speaking because of his laughing.

"Oh honestly boys, he didn't do that bad!" Mrs. Weasley scolded. "Now hush! HUSH!!" But despite Molly's efforts, the two could not control themselves.

"FRED AND GEORGE!!" Mr. Weasley yelled. The twins went silent. "Ron had some troubles but obviously he did well enough. And he's been doing a lot better since he's been practicing."

"Okay, enough of this rubbish," Ginny sighed. "Up to my room, Hermione!"

On the way up the stairs, they passed Ron going in the other direction. He went a little red. "I- I would've apparated.. but, uh, I felt a little .. queasy after I got to Ginny's room." And he hurried down the stairs.

Ginny stared after him until he was out of sight. "Hmm.. how queer."

"What?"

"Ron's never really been the nervous-anxiety type. Oh well. Suppose he's just had a lot from the twins recently. Enough of that can get you down. Anyway, c'mon! I have to tell you about these letters I've been getting from Dorian!"

"Dorian? Who's that?" Hermione didn't know any Dorians.

"Oh! He's a guy in my year that started just last year. He's a lot like Harry in a way. Well, in that his family hates all things wizard. He wasn't allowed to come to a wizarding school until his guardians died in a plane crash. He was immediately intercepted by Dumbledore. You know him. I have SO much to tell you!"

The next morning, Hermione woke up reluctantly to the many noises of nine people scurrying about, grabbing a bite to eat, getting ready for work, scrubbing dishes, being a prat, and the normal stuff that goes on inside The Burrow in the mornings. Ginny had talked endlessly about Dorian into the wee hours of the night. After a while, Hermione dozed off, and when she woke suddenly, it was four in the morning and Ginny was still going on about her new lover. She went back to sleep anyway. I've had enough of the girl talk for one night.

Before too late, Ginny had summoned up some pumpkin juice. Hermione found herself drinking one after another out of boredom, and now she realized she really had to use the restroom. She brushed her hair a little, so it wasn't all over the place and made sure she didn't smell. Not rain shower fresh but not bad.

She grabbed her glasses and found her way to the bathroom a floor below. She walked in, shut the door, and put on her glasses. She turned around and heard a -pop- and there was Ron, buck naked, getting ready to step in the shower. Not really realizing what was happening, she stood there, mouth dropped wide open, staring at what she had dreamt of so many times. Well, this wasn't the exact scenario in her dreams, but close enough.

"HERMIONE!!" Ron shouted, just as stunned as she was, covering up the appropriate (or not so appropriate) place on his body.

"Wuh..." she muttered out, in a complete daze.

"I DON'T HAVE ANY CLOTHES ON!!!! GET OUT!!!"

"OH!" Hermione shook out of her stupor and quickly opened the door, stepped out into the hallway, and slammed it shut behind her. She stood there, still as a statue, eyes wide open, half grin-half grimace on her pale face.

"Woah..."