Love Potion #9

Chapter Seven: The Burrow

MARCH 30, 1997 – The Burrow

Harry had deliberately not sought out Severus in the wake of his confession over Christmas, so the only times he saw him were for meals and potions classes. He saw the dark glances his professor gave him, but he wouldn't give in, not now, not yet. And so January and February had passed them by, with February bringing with it Valentine's Day, and Harry waved goodbye to Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Draco, who had a table booked at Madam Puddifoot's for the occasion in Hogsmeade. Harry, meanwhile, did some studying for his NEWTs that day, munching on some owl-ordered chocolate from Honeydukes, and Hermione was immensely proud of him.

When March arrived, Harry received an owl from Sirius, informing him that he had been invited to the Jones household in Snowdonia to celebrate Easter. Although the invitation had been graciously extended to Harry as well, Harry politely declined, having already made plans to attend the gathering at the Burrow that year. He remembered Molly's enthusiastic response when Ron informed her that Harry, Hermione, and Draco would be joining in the festivities, and Harry thought that Molly was overjoyed.

"You sure your mum won't mind you not going home for the holiday?" Ron asked, wrapping an arm around Hermione's shoulders in their train compartment.

Hermione shook her head. "No. I am going there for the second week, and I'll be taking the Knight Bus."

"Not Apparating?" Draco wanted to know, for Ron and Hermione were both seventeen now, and had passed their Apparition tests already.

"No," Hermione replied. "I honestly don't mind the Knight Bus."

"Draco certainly didn't mind it over the Christmas holidays either," Ginny put in, flashing a smile onto her boyfriend, who pulled her so as she was cuddled closely beside him.

"Oi, now wait a moment!" Ron cried out.

"Honestly, Ronald," Hermione said, shaking her head at her boyfriend. "Let them be."

Ron huffed. "But he's running his hands all over my sister," he complained.

Ginny affixed Ron with a look. "I've never complained that you're running your hands all over Hermione, you know."

Ron sputtered. "That's different..."

"Ron, we aren't much older than Ginny and Draco are," Hermione informed him patiently. "I really don't think we need to go into depth about it."

Ginny nodded. "You're just upset that Mum said that Draco and I can share my room. I seem to recall that she said the same about you and Hermione."

Harry grinned; he was pleased to have Percy's room to himself this trip, as Bill and Fleur would be sharing Bill's childhood room, and Fred and George would be coming with Alicia Spinnet and Angelina Johnson respectively. Alicia was playing with the Wimbourne Wasps as a Chaser while Angelina was currently halfway through her four-year apprenticeship with St. Mungo's in the Janus Thickey Ward. "At least Hermione and Ron can do necessary Extension Charms as well as Silencing Charms," he put in.

Ginny giggled at that. "She and I have already discussed it."

"Oi! You'd better not be doing...that... with my little sister—!" Ron struggled to get to his feet, glaring daggers at Draco, but somehow managed to hold him back.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Oh, really, Harry..."

The quintet arrived at Kings Cross Station safely, and were greeted by an enthusiastic Molly Weasley, who embraced them all in turn. She guided them to a secluded area, and showed off a scarf with cigarette burns all over it, and informed them all that this was their Portkey back to the Burrow. With all of them gripping onto it, they popped away from the train station and appeared upon the grounds of the Weasley home, with Hermione and Ginny giggling together as the pair of them raced inside, eager to put their belongings away.