>Insert typical disclaimer here<
"Your sister and the ferret?!" Harry repeated again for what had to be the sixth time.
"Trust me mate, I couldn't believe it either." Ron shook his head with a sigh.
Hermione stood in the doorway of the kitchen in amusement, watching the boys talk over the idea of Ginny's new boyfriend. She wasn't thrilled by her choice by any means, but it was fun to watch them nonetheless.
"Hem, hem," Hermione cleared her throat, making her presence known as she made her way to the table to join them.
Both boys involuntarily shuddered. "Merlin 'Mione that sounded far too much Umbridge. Knock it off." Ron said as she came up to the empty chair next to Harry.
"Merlin knows that woman has been my idol since I left…" Hermione rolled her eyes at Ron's comment as she took a seat. "Good morning to you too by the way," she smiled at Ron and then Harry before quickly placing a kiss on Harry's cheek.
"Morning to you too 'Mione," Ron spoke slowly, raising an eyebrow as he looked carefully between his two friends.
"Enough about the bane of my existence," Harry started as he stood up from the table and made his way over to the counter, "I think what we're most interested in is how Ron's date went."
"Oh yes, was Ms. Lovegood everything you imagined she would be?" Hermione crooned with a laugh.
"If you must know we had a rather pleasant evening," Ron responded trying to keep a straight face.
His stern demeanor quickly melted away as he received baffled stares from both of his friends. "Alright alright, it was bloody brilliant. I really fancy her. Sheesh, you two need to lighten up. I am capable of intelligent conversation; it just hurts too much to think about."
This comment made everyone, including Ron, erupt in laughter.
"So how did you find out about Gin and Draco anyway?" Hermione queried even though she had a feeling about it whenever Ginny would hint around to it in her letters.
Harry came back to the table with three mugs in his hands, handing one off to each of his friends.
Ron was just about to speak when an unlikely squeal came from Hermione as she took a drink from her mug.
Harry had a huge grin on his face as he looked to Hermione. "A Chai latte! Oh Harry you remembered!" Hermione smothered him with a hug.
Harry looked past Hermione's bushy hair to Ron. Ron's eyebrows were raised as he looked at the strange phenomenon between his friends. Ron pointed at the two of them signifying the question if they had finally gotten together. 'I think so,' Harry mouthed back as Hermione finally detached herself from him and took her seat again.
"So can I answer your question now 'Mione or do you need to catch your breath first?" Ron asked with a smirk.
"Oh bugger off Ron," Hermione hissed back.
Ron rolled his eyes, "Anyways, Luna and I were sitting on the park bench and we were about to kiss when I see the bloody ferret and my sister across the way. It was so disgusting. I was about to go hex him to pieces but Luna made me stop."
Hermione smirked. "Don't start Hermione." Ron interrupted her before she could make some comment about that.
"Anyways Luna said I couldn't, err I mean shouldn't do anything, so I went over there as civilly as I possibly could. Words were exchanged and basically I got him the best way I could." He smirked at the thought of his plan that was going into action this afternoon.
"Which was?" Harry and Hermione said together as the leaned on the table in anticipation.
"Let's just say we're going to have an extra guest at the party this afternoon."
Hermione gasped and Harry rolled with laughter. "Oh mate, that's the most bloody brilliant thing I think I've ever heard."
Ron nodded his head with a gleam in his eye, "It's officially ferret hunting season."
*~*~*
Hermione could hardly be seen as she was being enveloped in one of Mrs. Weasley's famous hugs. Tears were streaming down the older lady's face since she hadn't seen Hermione in a few years.
"Mum, you need to let her breathe." Fred said with a grin from ear to ear.
"We would all like to see her!" George chimed in.
"Yes we have a lot to discuss with her," Fred added with a mischievous gleam in his eye.
Harry and Ron stood back from the crowd just watching as Hermione was being passed from Weasley to Weasley. Luna and Neville were there already and several more Order members would be arriving shortly.
"I wonder how we are going to break the news that Malfoy is coming because I highly doubt Ginny came home to shout it out." Ron muttered so no one could hear.
"You mean, how are you going to break the news that Malfoy is coming." Harry said a little louder causing the commotion around Hermione to pause.
"What was that mate?" Fred and George said in unison.
"Malfoy?" Bill raised his eyebrows.
Charlie's head peeked out from behind Mrs. Weasley, anticipating a response.
"Aww yes, young Mr. Malfoy is going to attend Hermione's welcome back party tonight. In fact he is due to arrive with Ginny any minute." Mrs. Weasley said as she busied herself in the kitchen.
There was an odd and tense silence thick in the air as everyone contemplated what this truly meant. "And you all will be civil." Mrs. Weasley called after them.
At this comment the group burst into an uproar.
"That ferret better not think…"
"If he steps one foot into this house…"
"…killing him be doing him a favor."
"…she's our baby sister…"
Ron stood back with his arms crossed looking on with pride at the chaos of his family members. The only people who weren't saying anything were those who already knew and Neville. Only Neville was either too angry or upset because he had lost his chances with Ginny once again.
"Silencio," Mrs. Weasley shouted as everyone's mouths kept moving but nothing came out. It took a good thirty seconds before everyone realized that they weren't saying anything anymore. They all stared at the fire headed matriarch.
"I don't believe I made myself clear. I know that we have all had unpleasant encounters with the Malfoy family, but we will give him a chance. Ginny has obviously found something good in this boy and if she has, then we can too. If any of you step out of line, even once, you will have to deal with me and the pointy end of my wand. Is that understood?" Mrs. Weasley glared out at all of her children.
Each one seemed to sigh with reluctance and nod their head. Even Ron had resigned to a sorrowful nod. He felt sure that Ginny wouldn't have told their mum so she would be just as upset too.
Mrs. Weasley took the charm off and made everyone head outside to the garden where the festivities were going to take place. By the time they had made their way there, Lupin, Tonks, and Moody were already there.
When Hermione saw Tonks, they rushed at each other with hugs. Since Hermione was way too smothered at the moment, Harry grabbed a couple of glasses of pumpkin juice and made his way over to Ron who seemed to be way too lost in thought.
"You look like you could use one of these mate," Harry handed one of the glasses over to him.
"Are you sure you don't have anything stronger?" Ron muttered as he took a drink.
"Cheer up mate, you really don't think that your mum's threat is really going to stop everyone do you? Even I know your brothers better than that." Harry's glance took him over towards Hermione who was busy chatting with Neville and Tonks.
"So are you going to tell me how you only 'think' you two are together? What happened last night anyways?" Ron asked, breaking Harry's concentration on Hermione.
Harry nearly spit out his drink as Ron blindsided him with his question.
"That good mate?" Ron grinned as he slapped Harry on the back as if he were choking.
"I don't know what to tell you really. I found her after you left sobbing so I just went into comfort her. Next thing I know I wake up on her bed with her in my arms, and no not that kind of sleep Ron. We get to talking which resulted in snogging. That's about it really and then we just fell back to sleep," Harry ran his hand through his hair, "I really need to talk to her about it because I don't know where we stand, I mean I like her a whole lot and everything, but do you realize how much more at risk she's going to be?"
"Mate, I hate to break it to you, but she's been at risk since that incident in first year. Nothing is going to change that at all. And for what its worth, I know she cares about you a whole lot, and if you tried to push her away now she'd be in a right state, which will do you and I absolutely no good at all."
"Too right," Harry grinned knowing how determined Hermione could get.
"Oh yeah, just a side note, if you hurt her Harry, I'll kill you," Ron grinned and slapped Harry on the back again.
*~*~*
"C'mon Draco. You said you would come so my mum is expecting you," Ginny said as she was dragging him towards the door. They had decided to apparate outside the house because Draco was still hoping he could get out of the dinner.
"Alright. You just better not leave me, not even for one second Gin. I don't trust your brothers or Potter for anything." Draco said as he gulped.
"You and me both," Ginny muttered.
Ginny braced herself as they entered the kitchen but luckily only her mother could be found.
"There you are Ginny. I was wondering when you were going to get back here. Ah, Draco glad to see you could make it." Mrs. Weasley tried to be as friendly as possible.
"Mrs. Weasley," Draco held his hand out to shake hers, but Mrs. Weasley would have none of it. She enveloped him in one of her famous hugs.
"Now, now Draco. That's not the way we do things around here. If you're to be Ginny's boyfriend, then we're going to do this right." Mrs. Weasley smiled as she felt the boy relax a little under her grasp.
"Mum, let him go already. He needs to breathe." Ginny whined as she pulled her mum off. "Mum you did tell the boys to behave didn't you?"
"I did what I could Ginny. Your father will be out with you too when I'm not. If anyone steps out of line, they will be seeing the pointy end of my wand." Mrs. Weasley jutted her wand out in a threatening matter. Draco wasn't sure if she was trying to prove a point with him. "Now run along you two. Everyone is out in the back. I'll be bringing out the food shortly."
The two walked out to the garden and everything went silent. Draco could feel all eyes on him. He steeled himself and put on his best uninterested face. He should have expected this when he got involved with Ginny, but he had hoped it wouldn't have been some family announcement.
Finally the silence was broken by a very girly scream that came from Ginny. She ran up and practically tackled Hermione with a hug and started speaking a mile a minute. No one could understand what was being said but went back to their conversations but kept a close watch on the blonde in the room.
Draco slowly edged his way up to the two girls where he felt the most comfortable. "Grang…" Draco stopped because of being elbowed in the ribs, "Hermione."
"Hello Draco. It's definitely surprising to see you here." Hermione said.
"I definitely never thought I'd be here either," Draco said as he scanned the room in distasteful awe.
"So Malfoy," George started as he and Fred flanked each side of him.
"What a pleasant surprise," Fred finished.
"You don't mind if we steal your friend here for a moment would you Gin?" George said as he clamped his hand onto Draco's shoulder.
"Of course she wouldn't George," Fred said, clamping his hand onto Draco's other shoulder to lead him over to the group of boys in the back. Luna made her way over as she saw that Draco was being escorted away.
Hermione had to stifle a laugh as she saw Draco's look change from anger to fear as he was being dragged away. She saw Ginny start to say something, but Hermione held her hand up to stop her. "Don't Gin, it's going to happen whether you like it or not, not matter who you brought home."
"She has a point you know," Luna stayed matter-of-factly.
Ginny let out a defeated sigh and decided to change the tone of the conversation.
"So what about you and Harry? I'm dying to know." Ginny probed.
"What about Harry and I?" Hermione questioned back.
"Well the fact that you can't keep your eyes off of him, and you're too deliriously happy based on the recent incidents."
Hermione's blush that crept to her face seemed to answer Ginny's question, but that wasn't enough to satiate her.
"So?" Ginny asked again, "Don't make me force it out of you."
"What's there to tell? We just kissed last night that's it. We haven't even really gotten a chance to talk about where we stand or anything," Hermione stated, "Besides I think the most interesting relationship news apart from your dramatic choice in a boyfriend would be Luna and Ron's date last night." Hermione smiled. She was more than happy to turn the conversation off of her and Harry and onto something else.
"That's so true," Ginny said, turning to Luna expecting the full details, "I didn't totally ruin your night did I?"
"Not in the least. Ronald and I had a pleasant time. I'd say that Hermione and I are tied as far as where our relationship stands at this point. Or maybe we're in the lead a little bit. I don't mind though, I'm just glad that Ronald is finally paying attention to me. That in itself was the greatest problem." Luna said, casting her eyes in Ron's direction. "Speaking of the boys…"
Harry snuck up behind Hermione, wrapping his around her from behind and placing a soft kiss on her temple. Hermione looked at Ginny who was giving her a smirk, but all Hermione wanted to do at that point was melt.
"You're done harassing Draco already?" Luna asked.
"Well I'll leave him alone for now, but if he hurts Gin I'll be in line to hex his arse. I figure if Gin's happy with him, and only Merlin knows what she sees in him, then I'll be civil. I plan to stay on Ginny's good side thank you." Harry said with a shudder, knowing what being on the bad side could be like.
"Well that's awfully mature for you Harry," Hermione said with a laugh. Harry just shot back a glare that cracked into a smile within seconds.
"Thanks Harry, that means a lot really." Ginny smiled, glad to see that someone was taking the step forward. "Well I see group is finally letting Draco go."
Ron and Draco kept a safe distance but managed to walk over to the group together.
"Well it looks like you managed to make it out alright," Ginny said as she looked Draco over.
"Yeah your brothers and I got along really well. I imagine I'll be inducted into the family in no time," Draco rolled his eyes, his voice dripping in sarcasm.
Ron's breath hitched at Draco's comment. He wanted nothing more than to throttle him but he was told by Luna to be nice to the ferret but he didn't like it one bit.
The thick tension in the air was enough to suffocate the whole group. It was obvious that Draco wasn't very welcome.
"Come on Draco, let me give you the tour of the Burrow," Ginny said, breaking the monotony and grabbing his wrist to drag him away.
Everyone seemed to let out a collective breath of air except for Luna. "Merlin I hate that guy," Ron grumbled.
"Ronald we've been over this already. I am proud of you though." Luna smiled, kissing him on the cheek, hoping to relieve some of his tension.
Ron's ears became tinged with redness as he realized Luna had kissed him. He felt elated that she would show that kind of affection in public. It meant a lot to him.
"So Hermione, are you glad to be back home?" Luna asked as she snaked her hand into Ron's.
"Oh most definitely, I just wish it were under other circumstances and everything. I am glad that Alex is here though and of course you guys," Hermione said with a giggle.
"You mean Tonks don't you?" Luna asked.
All three of them turned to Luna with a similar perplexed look on their faces. "How did you know?" Ron asked, knowing that he didn't mention that part of their adventure the night before.
"Well it was rather obvious don't you think? Hermione is a huge asset to Harry so it was likely that no matter where she went she would need to be watched, and what a better way to do it. I realized that's what they did when we never saw Tonks anymore." Luna said evenly as if it was as easy as counting to ten.
They all shook their heads. Luna always seemed to know things and pick up on things that others didn't.
Their silence was broken by screaming coming from within the Burrow. It seemed that everyone stopped what they were doing once they realized that the only people missing from the backyard were Ginny and Draco. Everyone got up at once and stormed into the kitchen ready to see what was going on.
The sight was not a pretty one. Ginny was sobbing and trying to pull away from Draco as it seemed he was trying to reason with her. He towered over her and there was anger blazing in his eyes.
Before all the boys could draw their wands out to attack Draco, Mrs. Weasley's voice could be heard. "DRACO MALFOY YOU WILL GET OUT OF THIS HOUSE RIGHT THIS INSTANCE AND IF YOU EVER COME NEAR MY DAUGHTER AGAIN THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY," Mrs. Weasley's face had become beat red.
Before Draco had turned around to run out, Mrs. Weasley hit him with a bat-bogey hex that doubled Ginny's in power, and once Draco had made it to the door she shot him with a stinging hex to comfort him on his way home.
While the whole house sat stunned at the actions of Mrs. Weasley, she rushed forward to console her daughter. She needed to find out what had happened.
Hermione and Luna seemed to break out of their shock first and rushed to Ginny's aid while the boys continued to look at each other astounded. They had never seen their mother like that, ever. Sure she had gotten angry at them before, and they'd seen their fair share of her wand, but never like that. It was scary, but it brought Mrs. Weasley into a whole new light with them.
Slowly everyone seemed to gather around Ginny. Her sobbing seemed to have subsided and she was just trying to regain her bearings on the situation and tell everyone what had happened.
Hermione felt Harry's presence behind her while she knelt down by her friend. "So what happened in here Gin?"
"Oh 'Mione just an argument. He, he basically didn't want to be seen with me anymore and he was angry for making him come to the house. I shouldn't have reacted like I did, but I couldn't help it. I really liked him you know? And I thought he liked me too," Ginny looked up at her whole family, wiping what little tears were left.
"Well at least we now know where Ginny gets her bat-bogey hexes from," Fred said with a laugh to lighten the mood.
"Yeah, that was bloody brilliant mum," George added.
"George I'll have none of that kind of language in my house." Mrs. Weasley scolded with a soft smile.
"Oh yeah," Ginny piped up, "which one of you charmed the ferret tail on him?"
All of the boys seemed to turn to Bill, causing Mrs. Weasley's jaw to drop. "Bill?" she asked quizzically.
"Sorry mum, I couldn't help it. The ferret couldn't just date my sister and get away with it."
After the soft laughter of the group subsided, a large growl radiated the silence. Everyone turned to its source: Ron. Everyone erupted into another bout of laughter.
**A/N: Alright another chapter down, and on time even. We weren't too pleased with this chapter as a whole. It just didn't flow the way we wanted. Hopefully there was a little bit of surprise in this chapter. We got our highest reviews last chapter, we were ecstatic. We can't believe how well of a turnout this is getting. Thank so much for sticking with us. As always, reviews are much appreciated, even if it is to tell us how much this chapter sucks because we're with you on that. :) **