Hope's summer among the dragon family proved to be one of the best summers the girl had experienced to date. However, while she enjoyed being around her aunt, uncle and her cousins, she eventually wanted to go home and see her parents and other family members. She definitely missed her parents and since she had spent the majority of the summer in Romania, she would only have a short time at home before having to return to Hogwarts for her fourth year.

While her family was on her mind, she really did spend a great deal of her time away from home thinking of Henry. He sent no letter the entire time she was in Romania, which made Hope believe that he was still upset with her for the McGregor incident. She wanted to apologize, but everyone continued to tell the poor girl that she had nothing to be sorry about, but she didn't understand if that were true then why did she feel so bad?

When she returned home, she spent her remainder of her break in the shop with her parents, Uncle George and Verity.

The day before, she sat on the counter swinging her legs back and forth, praying that at some point, Henry would show up to the shop with his parents.

Fred and Eleanor watched as the girl kept a close eye on the door, whenever the bell rang signaling a person's arrival, her head would pop up in hopes that it was him. But each time she was disappointed when it turned out to be a random customer.

"We should do something..." Eleanor whispered to Fred.

"And by do something...you mean...what exactly?" Fred glanced over at the woman.

"I don't know, but look at her little face. She's so sad." the mother frowned.

"Oh don't you go frowning too!" Fred groaned. "It's bad enough she's doing it. I don't need the two of you pouting about....it's bad for business."

"Fred!" Eleanor whacked his arm. "Honestly, this is your daughter we're talking about here. She's upset."

"Yes, because of stupid little Henry."

"He's not stupid, Fred. I think they're both just really lost and confused because of... hormones."

"Oh dear Merlin no...." Fred's face paled. "No...no...no."

"Will you stop overreacting? She's already had her first kiss-"

"I was trying to forget about that. I'm still going to get McGregor for that." Fred muttered leaning against the doorway. "Putting his dirty little boy lips on my daughter..."

Eleanor smiled at the father's overprotective nature shining through. "Well, why don't you go say something to her? You and George always know how to cheer her up."

"While that is true...I don't think we're the ones she wants right now, Ellie. Why don't I get Henry and drag him here?"

"I don't think that'll do any good. He hasn't sent a letter to her all summer...and Nixie says he's been all upset too. It's all just a big mess."

"Right, but if I drag him and force them to talk, it'll solve everything." Fred said.

"Or make everything worse. I don't think they want to have this conversation in front of us."

"A Weasley should never be sad, especially in Weasleys Wizard Wheezes. It's against the rules."

Henry sat at the water edge looking out at the waves that were crashing onto the shore lightly. He was waiting for his grandmother to appear as he was leaving that morning to return to Hogwarts. His entire summer had been absolutely terrible. No matter how time he spent with Elliot and Teddy, it wasn't the same without Hope around. She had spent all summer in Romania and he was sure it was to avoid him.

He wanted to talk to her face to face when she returned, but she didn't come around, making him believe that there was still a lot of rift between them. He was horribly upset and nothing his parents could do would change that. He knew as soon as he met up with the others at the train station, it would be awkward.

Meri appeared a few minutes later, her white hair floating in the water as she approached the land.

"Well look at that sad little face." She frowned at him. "What's wrong, Henry? You're always excited about Hogwarts."

"Yeah, but that was when my best friend didn't hate me." Henry said.

"Oh Henry...look at me." she said. "Hope doesn't hate you. I don't think it's possible for her. So you two got into a little spat before the summer. You've both have had time to relax and cool down. I'm sure as soon as you two see each other, it'll be as if it never happened. Alright? Don't be sad."

"What if she is still mad at me?" Henry asked her.

"She won't be. If I know Hope as well as I think I do, I don't think she was mad at you to begin with. I think it's all in your head, Henry."

"I really hope you're right, Nana."

"I know I am."

Henry was nervous as he walked behind his parents as they arrived to drop him off at the platform with the usual group. The Weasley family was gathered along with Remus, Tonks and Cedric, Marnie to see off the children. He was greeted by mostly everyone but when it came to see Hope, he didn't see the girl anywhere.

"Where's Hope?" The question blurted out of his mouth.

The group of friends glanced nervously at each other before Henry followed Teddy's gaze.

He saw Hope standing a little ways away talking to the one and only McGregor.

His heart sank in his chest and he was fully prepared to just accept defeat. McGregor had won and he had lost.

"I'm really sorry, Benji. I really hope you don't take it the wrong way." Hope said to the boy. 'I think you're great as friend, but that's as far as I think it'll ever go. You know?"

Benji offered the girl a small smile. "Yeah, I...I understand, Hope. I mean, I kinda thought it would end like this..."

"What do you mean?" Hope asked curiously.

"Well, I wasn't entirely sure where you and Henry were on the friendship scale of things...but I..can definitely understand where you're coming from."

"So....we can still be friends?" she said with a hopeful smile.

"Of course." he chuckled. "But not on the quidditch pitch!"

"Oh no, I agree! Gryffindor is taking the cup this year."

"I heard that last year, Weasley."

"Well prepare to experience it!"