"Good to hear Ginny's doing a good job," he said sincerely, ignoring the rest, trying his best not to get angry and ruin the visit.
"How are your studies coming along?" Hermione asked quickly sending a pointed look to her boyfriend. They had talked about it before they came, and it was understood that Ron wouldn't harass Harry about returning to the castle.
"Pretty good, actually. George got another calculator to work so that helps a lot." He smiled at her to show he was actually happy that his schoolwork was getting done.
"That's a relief," she sighed and then brightened. "I showed the calculator to Professor Vector, she was very excited about it. I researched it and made a few more for use in classes, I hope you don't mind." She was practically bouncing in her seat.
"Of course I don't mind, that's why I gave it to you in the first place. However, George is selling them in the shop, so you may want to stop making them and point customers his way. There's a patent on them now."
"I'm still mad at you about giving her one. She spends all her time with the Professor or working on her researcher and no time with me," Ron groused, causing the other two to frown at him. The couple had had a few arguments about all her time away from him, until she made it perfectly clear that if he didn't stop she would dump him.
"Oh, hey, I got you two a present," the young immortal said, hoping to lighten the mood.
"Really? I'm sending yours by owl. You should get it sometime next week," Hermione said.
"You didn't have to get me anything," grumbled Ron, since the war money had been tighter, what with the repairs of the Burrow, and the Weasleys didn't buy gifts this year. Everything was supposed to be handmade and this redhead hadn't gotten around to making anything yet.
Hydrus remembered George saying that he had tried to give his parents money; they turned him down, so he made sure to buy them things for the house.
"Don't worry, I didn't buy them. I found them in stuff from the vaults," Harry explained as he took two wrapped gifts he had placed by the fireplace. He handed a thin square like package to Hermione and a squishy one to Ron.
Hermione opened her gift, neatly. She looked at the obvious electronic device. It was about the size of both of her hands, thin, black with a blank panel on the front. "What is this?"
"Well, I found it in Frostwell's vault; it's kind of like a book. This one is only a prototype, but it has several spell books in it already. There are also some notes and if you can figure them out, you can add more books," the younger teen explained. Since there were better book-readers in his pocketspace, he had no problem giving one up. "Here, let me show you how to turn it on," he offered and got up to do just that. The two excited teens played with it for a while, until the dark-haired wizard nudged Hermione and jerked his head to Ron, who was staring at them with venom in his eyes. His gift lay, still wrapped, by the chair next to him.
Hermione put the book-reader in her bag and looked at Ron. "Aren't you going to open it?"
"No, I think, I'll hold off on that," came the churlish response.
An uncomfortable silence filled the room. No one knew what to say that wouldn't cause an argument. Kreacher popped in and asked if anyone wanted refreshments. Hydrus asked for a tea service with cakes and biscuits before anyone could answer. Kreacher popped away to do as he was asked.
There was much fidgeting from all three teens, which made Hydrus and Hermione sad. When the tea tray appeared the immortal poured and handed out the cups. Ron grabbed the sweets.
"Oh, this is absolutely ridiculous," Hermione huffed as she set down her tea cup. "There has to be something we can talk about. We used to be so close, and I, for one, find it appalling that we can't simply talk to each other anymore."
"It's his fault," Ron accused, pointing a finger at his former roommate, bits of biscuit fly from his mouth. "If he'd just come back to Hogwarts, then we'd be the same as before. That and the fact that he shouldn't be flaunting his wealth around; giving you an obviously expensive present. I've heard the rumors about you paying off the Muggle-raised into abandoning us. Percy told me that the Ministry had everything under control until you stuck your nose into things that don't concern you. I wouldn't be surprised if the Prophet was right and you are trying to ruin everything, just to get your revenge."
....