*****
Ron stuck his head out of the kitchen when he heard some one floo into his flat.
When he saw Harry, he turned to the fridge and pulled out two Guinness and walked into the living room. He wordlessly handed Harry one and the two sat down, finding a quidditch match on the TV he and Harry had charmed. They sat in silence for the longest time.
"I made Hermione throw her copy of 'Hogwarts: A History' across the room," Harry said after the first half had ended. Ron paused mid-swallow when he heard that.
"Really?" he asked. Harry nodded and looked down, suddenly finding the rim of his bottle very interesting. Ron let out a low whistle; Hermione never did anything to mar her copy; never cracked the spine, dog-eared the pages or even pick it up without washing her hands first. "Are we talking, tossed it on a table across the room?"
"Across the room, where it hit the wall and slid down, crumpling the pages in the process." Ron sat quietly for a moment.
"What happened?" Harry shrugged; he wasn't really sure what had led to that himself. "No idea at all?"
"She asked my why I was always looking out the window. I answered her and then she responded. I went to change and I heard a big thunk. I saw the book just before I flooed over."
"She's worried about you."
"I know."
"We all are."
"I know," he said again, getting a little annoyed with Ron, who got up for more beer. Harry finished off his bottle before taking the new one from Ron. The both turned to the window when they heard the thunder. "Poor Crookshanks," Harry said absently.
"Still doesn't like the thunder?"
"Not in a dark house when he's home alone." They fell into silence again and watch the rest of the quidditch match. Ron checked the fridge.
"Want to head to a pub, mate? I'm out." Harry considered it for a moment.
"Which one?"
"Leaky Cauldron? Three Broomsticks? Hog's Head?" Ron named off a few more.
"Three Broomsticks," he replied after a moment. "Hermione's not going to like this."
"Nuts to Hermione," Ron replied as he retrieved his cloak and wand. "It's just us tonight. She
doesn't like it; you can pass out on my couch." Harry nodded, that sounded fine to him. The two got ready and
quickly apparated over to the little pub in Hogsmeade to drink away whatever they could.
*****