Chapter 4
Hermione laid on her blanket, stomach first, reading Hogwarts: A History in the warm summer sun and listened to the chorus of screams above her.
The Qudditch game was intense. Harry bet Ginny and George the winner of the match would receive first pick of his birthday dessert, and the losers had to listen to Percy drone on about work for one solid hour.
Ron played his heart out.
They agreed first team to 150 points would win. Ron and George played Keepers; Harry and Ginny were Chasers.
Ginny with the Quaffle, twisted past Harry and sped toward Ron, who guarded all three of the Keeper's ring; and without a moments hesitation, Ginny whipped the Quaffle at the bottom left ring. Ron directed a kick at it with lightning speed, the Quaffle made a loud thud against his foot, but flung over Ginny's head and into Harry's arms.
Hermione could hear George curse at the other end of the yard as Harry raced toward him. Harry maneuvered his broom to the right, suggesting that he might throw it through the closest ring, however, at the last moment he chucked the Quaffle squarely through the middle ring as George dove to the right.
Harry grinned as Ron cheered from the opposite side. It was 90 to 70 with Harry and Ron in the lead.
"You know Harry, maybe you should bribe Ron with dessert before every Quidditch match, I've never seen him play so well," Ginny jeered.
Ron scoffed and aimed one of his shoes at Ginny's face. She swerved around it easily and continued to taut her brother as she zigzagged on her broom.
"Hermione, dear, would you come here a moment?" Mrs. Weasley called from the kitchen window.
She saved her spot in her book with a charming bookmark Ron had gifted her. He knew how she hated folding the corners of the pages.
Hermione opened the half door into the kitchen and stopped short when she saw what was on the table. "Oh my!"
"Do you think Harry will like it?" Mrs. Weasley asked nervously,wringing her hands together.
"Of course!! It—well it's amazing!" Hermione answered truthfully."Merlin! How ever did you make that?"
"It was actually quite simple really," she said bashfully. "You can return outside if you'd like, dear. I just wanted a honest opinion."
"It's wonderful Mrs. Weasley, Harry will love it," said Hermione.
"Thank you Hermione, but do keep it a secret, I don't want Harry to find out. Or my nosy children," Mrs. Weasley said.
"My lips are sealed," Hermione said with a wink, and strolled back into the garden.
It seemed as though her friends had called a time out. Ginny was rolling around in the grass holding her foot, Harry was perched on his broom lingering over Ginny, Ron was passed out on Hermione's blanket (still wearing only one shoe), and George was standing just above Ron ready to jump on him.
"Done already? Who won?" Hermione asked curiously.
"It's a tie as of the moment. Ron ran into Ginny and they both fell off their brooms. Ron said was fine but I think Ginny's got a sprained ankle," said Harry.
"You okay?" Hermione inquired, nudging Ginny with her foot.
"All good," she said grimacing.
Hermione rolled her eyes at Ginny. She clearly wasn't 'all good'.
"Episkey," Hermione uttered, pointing her wand at Ginny's swollen ankle. The pain on her face washed away and she slowly stood up to test the weight on her fixed ankle; and retrieved her broom.
"Thanks Hermione," she said with a smile.
"That's what I'm here for, aren't I? To fix Quidditch injures," Hermione retorted. She grinned and strode over to her spot.
"Ron, I hope your not sweating on my blanket," Hermione sighed.
"Oh sorry Mione," he rolled onto the space occupying her book.
"Ron my book."
"Right, sorry."
Ron laid beside Hermione and watched her read while playing with strands of her hair. The morning sun faded quickly and left the band of friends sauntering around the yard. Harry and Ginny were passing the Quaffle to each other on their brooms, while hovering over George who was trying to pull at their dangling feet.
At that moment, Hermione felt a twinge of something she hadn't felt in a while. Something she had missed all those weeks while being reunited with her parents. A feeling she normally got when surrounded by her friends. Hermione wanted to do something reckless.
"You alright Hermione?" Asked Ron looking concerned.
"You know what," she said loudly enough so her other friends could hear, "I'd like to learn how to fly."
Harry, Ron, Ginny, and George all looked at Hermione and back at each other; clearly confounded by her sudden request. George was the one to break the silence.
"Alright Hermione!" he cheered and passed her a broom.
"With a broom, are you sure? " Ginny questioned with a smile, knowing that Hermione would probably make a fool out of herself.
"Yeah let's do it, teach me how to fly one of those bloody things," she said with a laugh.
Hermione didn't know what she had just gotten into, but welcomed the returning feeling of an adventure.
"Who are you and what have you done with Hermione Granger?" Ron clapped her on the back.
The Weasley's plus Harry made a circle around Hermione telling her what to do and what not to do.
"Alright, I think I've got it down, after all I am I fast learner."
"Trust me, we know," George smiled and handed her his broom.
Hermione held on tightly to the broomstick, then with one swift movement she kicked off the ground and hovered five feet in the air.
"Oi Hermione!" George called from below, "Open your eyes! It might help a bit."
"Right! Sorry," she said.
Hermione opened her eyes and held onto the broom tighter. Her knuckles grew white. She had drifted to the height of the Keeper's rings, which were a lot closer to the ground than they should have been, but they had to keep them from Muggle eyes. She gazed down at her friends beneath her. The sun was just beginning to set behind the rolling hills of Ottery St. Catchpole. Hermione understood why Harry loved to fly, it was refreshing how small the world looked from up above, your worries seemed so far away, it was exhilarating yet terrifying.
Just then her friends mounted their own brooms and joined her in the air.
The Quidditch game was long forgotten as Harry, Ron, Ginny, Hermione, and George flew in circles around each other and later started a game of tag. Although Hermione was it the majority of the time, it was the most fun Hermione had had that summer, flying with her friends.
"Children! Come wash up for supper!" Mrs. Weasley yelled from the door.
"Yes! I haven't eaten since breakfast!" Ron cheered as he ran to the door, still wearing his Qudditch gear. The rest of the lot followed in pursuit chasing the scent of roast turkey and toasted rolls.
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"Do you ever stop eating?"Hermione asked Ron as he shoveled a fork full of food into his mouth.
"Wha—I didn't have lunch," he responded with a mouthful of bread. "Hey Mione' your hair looks different. . . I like it," he said with a smile.
"Thank you Ronald, George made a potion for me so it's not as bushy," she said cutting her turkey into fine pieces.
"Well that was nice of you George," Mrs. Weasley said to her son at the other end of the table.
"You know me mum, just a young lad making products for people and not trying get something in return," he said with a sly smile.
"Geoooorge! What did you do? Hermione are you feeling alright? Your brain isn't swelling or head isn't aching? Do you need to go to St. Mungo's? George you will not make her do anything for you," Mrs. Weasley demanded.
"Um . . . I feel great actually. George's potion really worked."
"See mum don't worry, I didn't drug her or anything . . . Or did I," he said giving Hermione yet another wicked grin.
"George Weasley!" his mother yelled.
"Wha—mum I was only joking, I didn't do any thing to our sweet, innocent, little Hermione. And you know what, it kind of hurts that you don't trust me," George said holding his heart and pretending to wipe a tear.
"Mrs. Weasley it's fine, really," Hermione reassured her.
"Alright" she said glancing at Hermione, then back at her son, staring him down, "I'm watching you, young man."
George responded with another one of his famous grins, and then disapperated up the stairs to his bedroom.
Hermione turned back to Ron who tapped her shoulder, "Hey Hermione fancy a walk with me?"
His cheeks turned rosy red, a sign she recognized to be embarrassment.
"I'd love to," she smiled, grabbing his hand. Hermione heard a thud behind her and twisted to see what had happened.
"Ouch what was that for?" Harry hissed rubbing his arm.
"Well, aren't you going to ask me if I want to go on a walk?" Ginny questioned.
"No I'm too tired, just go with Ron and Hermione," Harry frowned.
"I can't believe Ikle Ronniekins is being more romantic than you," Ginny said astounded.
Harry took a big sigh, got up and replied with the most sarcastic comment he could muster, "Come my love, a romantic evening walk beneath the moon light awaits us, then we shall dance under a blanket of stars."
"'A blanket of stars' you say?" Ginny said, raising her brows seductively and dragging him out the front door.
"Come on, " Ron said squeezing my hand as they headed out the back toward the garden.
As they walked farther away from the Burrow the sky became darker and darker until a silver crescent of moon appeared overhead.
"Beautiful isn't it," Ron smiled at the sky, taking a seat on ground and carefully bringing her down with him.
"Gorgeous."
Hermione sat with her arms wrapped around her knees and head rested on Ron's shoulder. The couple gazed at the stars that scattered the sky and sat in a comfortable silence.
Ron leaned in and gave Hermione a gentle kiss on top her head and tucked back a strand of her hair, "I'm glad your here Hermione."
"I am too Ron," she said turning to gaze into his bright green eyes.
He smiled sadly and looked at the ground, "Hermione . . . Listen I uh—I just want to be honest with you," he said quietly.
She shifted and looked worriedly at him, "Ron what's wrong?"
He opened his mouth to say something, but shut it as if he thought better of it.
"Ron . . ."
"Hermione, what we've had for the past few months has been amazing, every moment I spent with you makes me feel happy, but I also feel something else and it made me realize the truth about us," he said staring at the ground. "I love you as a friend, Hermione," Ron said quietly.
Hermione stopped breathing. After all this time they had been together, all the times he had kissed her, all the times he had told her he loved her, those gestures, those words had meant nothing. Ron was breaking up with her. She mind was buzzing but at the same time was numb. How had she not sensed a change in his demeanor? What had she done wrong to make him feel another way?
"Is there another girl?" she whispered, not able to meet his eyes.
"No."
"Was it something I said?"
"No, Hermione you did nothing wrong."
She jumped up and shoved his arm away, angry for his lack of reasoning, "Well then what the hell RON!"
He shuffled away from her and put his hands up innocently.
"Was I not good enough for you? Not smart enough? Not pretty enough to be your girlfriend?"
"Hermione, no I—it's not like that—," he stammered.
"Then what Ron? In what ways did I not exceed your expectations?!"
Ron was getting angry too now, his face was bright red and his fists were clenched, "I didn't want to waste my time! I want to be happy, I want you to be happy, Hermione!"
"If you wanted me to be happy, Ron, you wouldn't have left me to believe that you were dead all those weeks we were hunting Horcruxes, you wouldn't have kissed me in the Chamber of Secrets, and you wouldn't have led me on to believe that you loved me!" Tears raced down Hermione's cheeks, she wiped them hastily from her face and stormed away from the boy who had just broken her heart.
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Guys please comment!! And vote!! I hope you all like this chapter. The next few ones will be Harry's party and Diagon Alley and then off to Hogwarts! Stay tuned for more of the story and remember to comment!