"They were there, both of them, sitting outside Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor — Ron looking incredibly freckly Hermione very brown, both waving frantically at him." --JK Rowling, POA  

  "Ron, just put it back in the box before you hurt someone."  

Ron was proudly twirling his new wand, flourishing it ridiculously until it emitted a burst of orange sparks and accidentally set a dry patch of grass, poking up from a crack in the road, on fire. The fire fizzled out in a moment but it was enough to leave Hermione fuming.

"You could have hurt someone!"

"Relax, I'm putting away." Ron hastily shoved his new wand back into its box and stowed it safely inside his bag.

Hermione and the Weasley family had arrived at the Leaky Caldron early that morning and after unpacking their things, the entire clan had traipsed off to Diagon Alley to buy their required school equipment. Once there, they had divided into groups. Fred and George; Ginny, Mrs. Weasley, Percy; and Ron and Hermione. It would take less time to gather all their supplies this way. Also, Tom, the barkeeper had told them that Harry had been staying there for a while already and they were all anxious to see him. Though they hadn't had much luck yet finding him.

"Can we nip over the Quidditch Supply Shop?" Ron glanced sideways at her, knowing very well that both her knowledge and patience with the sport was lacking.

"If we have to. Maybe Harry will be there."

A group of younger boys was goggling at the Quidditch shop display window. Despite only being thirteen, Ron was a head taller than most of the other children and was able to see over their heads to the Firebolt in the window, it's polished handle glistening in the sun. He gaped in awe at it. Hermione, who was quite a bit shorter, found it difficult to get a glimpse of what Ron was staring at. When she saw what it was she rolled her eyes.

"It's only a broom, let's—

"Only a broom." Ron closed his eyes looking highly offended. "Hermione, it's a Firebolt!"

"So?"

"So, it's only the fastest racing broom in the world! All the pro Quidditch teams are buying them."

"But I thought the Nimbus 300—

"2000!" Ron corrected her looking exasperated.

"Nimbus 2000 was the fastest broom." Hermione finished glaring at him.

"It was, but they have to keep coming out with new models, don't they?" Ron explained. It was a humorous scene really, normally it was Hermione doing the explaining.

With a 'humph' that meant Hermione was both annoyed with Ron and understood what he was telling her, she walked into the Quidditch shop, Ron trailing after her. They spent about fifteen minutes there, Hermione rifling through her bag of newly purchased books seeing as she was completely uninterested with her surroundings, and Ron examining with wonder all the latest Quidditch equipment.

As soon as they left the shop Hermione felt considerably less grumpy. They sauntered down the main road, not headed anywhere in particular. Occasionally they saw fellow Hogwarts students some of who gave a wave of greeting.

At one point they came across Lavender Brown and Pavarti Patil coming out of Madam Malkin's each with a bag of new robes.

"Hi Lavender, Parvati." Hermione greeted them out of politeness. "Did you have good holidays?"

"Hi, Hermione!" Lavender smiled at her. "Pretty good."

Pavarti nodded in agreement, "You?"

"Mine's been good."

"Looks that way." Parvati glanced at Ron who was standing a little ways off watching Hermione.

Hermione felt a blush creeping over her face. "Well, see you at school, I suppose."

Lavender smiled smugly at her, "See you."

As soon as Hermione turned her back on them, she heard the girls burst into suppressed giggles.

"What's with them?" Ron asked eyeing the laughing girls suspiciously.

"They're idiots. It's nothing." Hermione began walking hastily in the other direction, hoping her pink cheeks weren't too obvious.

Ron gave her a searching look but didn't press the matter. "It's so bloody hot out." He exclaimed suddenly. "Do you fancy some ice cream?"

Hermione hesitated for a moment, "Alright then."

They headed to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor and set their book-filled bags down at a small, umbrella covered table just outside the front door.

"I can get it." Ron offered in a surprising act of generosity, "What kind do you what?"

Hermione didn't answer at first. The truth was she had only had ice cream once before and she couldn't remember what flavor it had been then. Her parents were faithful believers in a strict "no-sugar" policy, therefore making the chance for her to experience such a treat rather rare.

"Um, it doesn't matter. Just get me whatever you're going to have."

Ron disappeared into the ice cream parlor leaving Hermione alone at the small table. While she waited Hermione dug inside her bag and pulled out her new Ancient Runes book. Being in the third year she was allowed to take some new classes and, frankly, she had never been more excited.

Before long Ron reappeared carrying two large cones towering with ice cream. He handed one to Hermione and sat down opposite her.

"What is this?" Hermione stared at the mountain of ice cream before her.

"It's what I'm getting." Ron grinned maddingly at her. "You told me to get you whatever I'm getting."

"Yes, but isn't this a bit much?" Hermione asked faintly.

"No, They've got bigger ones." Ron began licking his cone with enthusiasm. When all Hermione did was stare at hers in apprehension, he stopped. "Aren't you going to try it?"

"To tell you the truth, I've only had ice cream once before."

"What!" Ron looked at her as if she had gone crazy.

"Really Ronald." Hermione rolled her eyes. "My parents are dentists, remember? They don't like me eating sweets."

"Well, it's a good thing I got you some." Ron nodded seriously at her. "Imagine what a sad life you'd have if you'd never eaten more than one cone of ice cream."

Hermione's only reply was another eye-roll. Tentatively she leaned forward and took a small lick. After a moment her eyes lit up. Her second lick was much bigger.

"Like it?" Ron smiled smugly.

Hermione tried to look annoyed by the satisfied I-told-you-so look on Ron's face but she failed and a smile crossed her own face.

"How was Egypt?" She changed the subject and looked at him expectantly while taking another lick of the addicting treat.

"Different."

"That is enlightening Ronald."

"Well, it is." Ron said indignantly. "It's hot, sandy, some of the Pyramids were cool. There's all sorts of mental stuff past wizards have hidden in there. Some of it was really gruesome. But there was this one chamber that was full of knickers, every kind you could ever imagine. It was really weird."

Hermione let out a burst of laughter. Ron looked pleased with himself.

"You've got a bit of ice cream..." Impulsively Ron leaned forward and swiped a finger over the corner of Hermione's mouth. She stopped laughing, looking at him in surprise.

Ron seemed to have realized what he had just done and leaned back quickly. His ears would have put the Gryffindor common room to shame. Bright pink patches were beginning to show on Hermione's face. The spot where he had touched her was oddly sensitive all of a sudden and she was very aware of it.

A tense silence fell over them. Ron was blushing furiously and Hermione was eating her ice cream trying to distract herself from the fact that Ron Weasley had just touched her face. How long this awkward silence would have continued they never found out for just then Hermione caught sight of a familiar blacked-haired boy with round glasses.

"Harry! HARRY!"

Harry turned, smiled, and head toward them.

Their previous embarrassment seemed to be forgotten as Harry joined them.

However, years later in a dark forest, in a dark tent hidden by protective enchantments, Hermione gave a small smile as her mind wandered back to the ice cream parlor. She glanced over to where Ron was asleep, his injured arm lying limply besides him. She noticed a smudge of blood on the corner of his mouth. It must have splattered there when his arm had Splinched. Quietly Hermione got up from her bed, knelt gingerly on the tent floor beside Ron's bunk, and, with a damp cloth that was lying on his bedside table, she used her hand to wipe away the blood.

With a melancholy sigh, she wished with all her heart for summer days, sweet ice cream, and simpler times.