Chapter 2 - Home Sweet Home
Well, that was uncalled for. Hermione thought on her way down to the kitchen to try and prepare dinner for them three. He was murmuring something. Beautiful? Did he say beautiful? She mused while taking out several frozen meat from the refrigerator. What was beautiful? He was sort of in a trance.
"A penny for your thoughts."
Hermione slightly squealed and turned sharply to face her "attacker."
"Honestly! Don't you ever mature?!" Hermione said upon seeing Ron laughing his head off.
"Oh, but you should have seen your face `Mione. It was priceless!" Ron choked out still trying to control his laughter.
Hermione rolled her eyes and went to the kitchen counter buttering some toast and sprinkling some garlic powder over it. She planned on making pasta for dinner.
"What are you making?" Ron asked.
"Just spaghetti. I thought it would be nice if we go Italian tonight. Since Harry is back as well."
"Hmmm…."
"You are not getting a taste while I'm not yet through here, Ronald Weasley!" Hermione slapped Ron's hand away from the garlic bread she's starting to toast.
"Aww, but "Mione…" Ron pleaded.
"No buts, buts. Get out of here. Go watch TV or something. I'll call you guys when it's done."
Ron slouched off to the living room, plopped down on the sofa and started browsing through channels on their cable TV. Since the Trio is living in muggle London, Harry and Hermione taught Ron everything there is to learn about muggles, muggle things, clothing and lifestyle. So he wouldn't be that much of a "dunderhead" when he interacts in muggle London.
"Are you done yet?!" Ron shouted from the couch to Hermione after a couple of minutes.
"You wish!"
"I noticed that you are not wearing your usual robes though!"
"Sod off, Ron! Or you're not going to get any dinner! You don't like that, do you?"
Ron sighed and continued on flipping channels.
Harry kept tossing and turning in his bed, trying to get a comfortable position to sleep in, but couldn't.
Damn. It's one little "bump" and I can't get sleep over it.
He lay on his back and stared at the ceiling. It's not like I didn't see her like that before. Ugh! What is wrong with me?
Finally, he got up, paced a little around his room, threw some sweatpants over his boxers and walked out to the living room. So much for sleeping my troubles away.
Upon arriving in the living room, he saw Ron snoozing on the couch, the remote control lay forgotten beside him. Harry plopped on the couch, took the remote and took Ron's place of flipping through the channels.
"Huh? Wha---? Oh, it's just you," Ron started upon suddenly waking up when Harry sat on the couch. "I thought you were going to take a nap," he said while yawning. "Hmm… That smells good, don't you think so?"
In response, Harry's stomach started grumbling. Ron laughed, "Blimey! Two days of Auror training does that to you!"
Harry didn't say anything but continue on flipping channels, trying to find something to take his mind off one person in the house.
"Why would Kingsley keep on training you so much when you are The-Wizard-Who-Save-The-World already? You can even do wandless magic, for Merlin's sake!" Ron asked.
"It's all part of the Auror training, Ron. If I want to get into the Senior ranks, I still have to undergo that ruddy training. It's good, actually. I still learn a lot from it," Harry explained. "How's Quidditch practice?"
"Oh, still the same. Coach is still kicking our arses when we can't get his strategies right. Then let's us practice till we're sore enough, we're not sure if we could play in the next match," Ron sighed. "Honestly, the way he's making us practice, like there's no tomorrow!"
"He just wants you to win your next game, I suppose. Who wouldn't? When you're one of the finalists for the Quidditch Finals?"
The Chudley Cannons have been on a winning streak lately. The whole Quidditch crowd is even astounded because of it. And now, they are even one of the finalists to compete for the Quidditch Finals. Harry thought that since the team changed their coach, the way they play their strategies also changed. They are now in league with Puddlemere United, one of the finest teams in Britain.
"Yeah, guess so. You guys ought to be there all right? I'm starting keeper," Ron said excitedly.
"Sure, mate. I'll have to check with Kingsley though. I hope we don't have any trainings or even missions during that weekend," Harry sighed.
"So, enough about work. How is Angela?" Ron wriggled his eyebrows suggestively and grinning madly.
"Uh, she's fine - I guess… well… um…" Harry stuttered and looked down, not knowing what to say. He's been hitting on Angela Smith, the new American Auror they just recruited, for a couple of weeks already. Only a year younger than them, Angela's quite a "catch" as most of the male population in the Ministry would say. Most are even jealous of Harry since they could see that there is something brewing between the two of them. But after his little encounter that afternoon in the house with a certain brown haired, vanilla-scented female, he's not sure why he's bothering to even flirt with Angela. But it's only one little "bump" in the hallway. It doesn't mean anything. So why am I suddenly feeling this way? Ugh! Harry thought, trying to get back on track with his conversation with Ron.
"What do you mean she's fine? Did you ask her out already? Anything new? Goodness knows, I'd like to ask her out - if it haven't been for my best mate to be hitting on her," Ron suggestively said still grinning.
"Well, no. I haven't." Harry said flatly.
"What do you mean you haven't? Bloody hell, mate! Do you even realize that majority of the male population here in Britain would die to be in your place?" Ron asked, shocked that Harry hasn't been doing anything - yet. "She's an angel! Her name fits her perfectly! Long, straight, blond hair; sky-blue eyes that you'd just like to melt into; red, luscious lips that's just waiting to be kissed and a body to die for! And - "
"All right, Ron! I got your point!" Harry broke into Ron's tirade of Angela, cutting off the dreamy look on Ron's face as well. "I just think that it's not yet time, you know. We've only known each other for a couple of weeks. And - well… I just think it's too early to ask her out. I don't even know her that much," Harry finished lamely.
Ron let out a breath, "Your choice, mate. But if ever you change your mind, let me know. I'd like to have a go on her."
"Ron! You prat! You're saying that like she's just a new racing broom to try out!" Harry chuckled while throwing a pillow at him. "I'd like to see the look on Luna's face when she hears that."
Ron's eyes grew to a size of saucers and said, "Oh no, no, no, Harry. You wouldn't dare…"
Luna Lovegood, Ron's sweetheart back in Hogwarts, is now his longtime, steady girlfriend of 4 years. Everyone is just waiting for him to pop out the "question." But Harry, knowing Ron enough, knows that Ron is not ready yet for that kind of long-term commitment. Luna understands enough to realize that.
"Hmmm… I think I'll dip this thought in my Pensieve tonight and then floo Luna and show it to her. Hmmm… That would be nice. Really nice…" Harry teasingly said to no one in particular, knowing that Ron is listening in.
"You're a git, Harry - you know that, don't you?" Ron slumped back into the couch and pouted like a kid who's just been told off.
Harry laughed and patted Ron on his back, "Don't worry, mate. Your secret's safe with me."
"Dinner's ready! Ron, could you call Harry upstairs and say that dinner is done?" Hermione hollered from the kitchen.
"I'm already here!" Harry shouted back. "Come on, mate. Let's just stuff our stomachs with Hermione's great cooking."
"Right you are, Harry. Right you are," Ron chuckled as he followed Harry into the kitchen.
It's really good to be finally home with my two best mates. Harry thought with a smile.
-->