Always and Forever (Prequel) second year

Chapter 4: The Burrow

When Hermione knocked on the Burrow door the next morning Mrs. Weasley answered. "Oh George just scrub!" Then she noticed who was standing there and exclaimed, "Oh! Hello dear!" "Oh hello miss." Hermione looked embarassed. "I'm Hermione. Granger. I'm so sorry I should've sent an owl to let you know I was coming!" "Oh no! Of course not!" Mrs. Weasley answered. "You're welcome anytime. Ron's let me know you're coming to visit. But he never told me when, silly boy!" "Oh well... I was supposed to come next week but..." Hermione started to explain. "...things are a little tense at home so-" "Oh! I'm sorry dear. Say no more! Come in, come in!" Fred and George were washing dishes when they saw Hermione they said, "Oh Mione! Nice to see you again!" Fred bowed jokingly and Hermione laughed. "Arthur won't be home for a bit so dinner will be a little whikle ok dearie?" Mrs. Weasley asked. "I'm just glad you're letting me stay. Thank you so much by the way." Hermione said politely. "Well you're just so nice." Then Percy walked in with terrible bedhead. "Just woke up, Mum." He said mid-yawn. "But I heard some commotion." When he saw Hermione trying to hold back her giggles at his hair. He looked very embarassed and ran back to his room. (He was a prefect and prefects were expected to look tidy so he was embarassed). "George, would you go get Ron and Ginny and tell them we have a special guest?" Mrs. Weasley asked smiling at Hermione. "Sure Mum." George ran up the steps and a short time later Hermione heard loud footsteps coming down the stairs. "Hermione!" Ginny ran to give her a big hug. (She sorta looked at her like the big sister she never had and Hermione sort of thought of Ginny as the little sister she never had). "Ginny!" Hermione said as they embraced. "I missed you!" Hermione glanced up to see Ron grinning at the cute (sister-like) moment. "Ron!" Hermione exclaimed running to give him a hug. "I missed you!" "I missed you too!" Ron said beaming. "But what are you doing here a week early?" "Oh, just family stuff." Hermione said nervously. Ron frowned. "Oh." was all he said. But Hermione's heart couldn't help but soften a little at his caring face. "Well, Ginny, Ron why don't you show Hermione where she'll be sleeping?" Mrs. Weasley told Ginny and Ron. "Sure!" Ginny said excitedly. Ron nodded. "Come on!" Ginny grabbed Hermione's hand and they ran upstairs. She opened the door to a tan colored bedroom. "This is the cramped room I share with my stinky brother!" Ginny said laughing a little. Ron looked embarrassed but Hermione just grinned. "It's not much." Ron said. "It's amazing." Hermione reassured Ron. He smiled a little. "So where will I sleep?" Hermione asked. "On that couch." Ginny pointed to an old-looking couch that definitely couldn't fit Hermione's long legs. Ron tightened. "No." He told Ginny firmly. "She'll either sleep in your bed or mine." Hermione looked taken aback by that. Ron saw her face and hurried to say, "No! You wouldn't sleep with us! You'd sleep in one of our beds and one of us will sleep on the couch." "really it's fine-" Hermione started. "I don't want to sleep on the couch!" Ginny yelled. "Then I guess you'll be sleeping with Mum and Dad won't you because Hermione will be comoftable. She's our guest. It's only fair." While Ron stood there scolding Ginny Hermione smiled. He was just like his mum. In a good way. Ginny sighed loudly. Ron finally gave up. "Fine!" Ginny can be really stubborn. "Have it your way then spoiled brat!" He tickled her and she started screaming laughing. Hermione was smiling at this adorable sibling moment. She didn't have siblings so watching these moments felt precious to her. "Stop!" Ginny finally managed to push Ron off her. "So." She caught her breath then continued, "You'll sleep in Ron's bed. Ron'll sleep on the couch. And I'll sleep in my bed." Ginny looked very pleased. "But-" Hermione was ashamed Ron was doing this for her. The couch looked miserable to sleep on. "Naht." Ron shushed her. "That's the deal. So don't start apologizing or I'll do what I did to Ginny." He held up his hands threatningly to Ginny. She ran down the hallway screaming. "I hope you're happy!" Ron called after her. "I am!" She yelled back. Ron rolled his eyes but Hermione just giggled. "That's so precious." she smiled longingly watching Ginny run down the stairs. "Hey you okay?" Ron asked looking concerned. "Oh yeah. Never been better." she answered honestly, beaming. Ron smiled back. "Good." They locked eyes for a moment but then Mrs. Weasley called, "Dinner!" and Ron jumped at the thought of food. He ran downstairs. Hermione stood for a moment. She loved the Weasleys. They were a beautiful family. Hermione, going downstairs, promised herself that she would find love like that. And she had a feeling that she would.