Well shit. That was a good question. Ron hadn't factored in Hermione's fondness for asking questions. "Uh. Harry was busy with Ginny. I didn't want her throwing a fit that he was working today." That sound plausible, right?
Ron continued to lead Hermione north of the Burrow. He couldn't have asked for a better night for this. No clouds in the sky and their breath showed in the air. It was perfect and Ron always liked the way Hermione looked in the snow.
It wasn't a far walk to his house. All you had to do was cut through the orchard behind his parents' house and along a tiny creek that flowed from the Lovegood's old house to the Diggory house. No. Not the Diggory house. The Weasley house. He'd need a better name for it than that, wouldn't he?
The creek was nearly frozen over and Ron smiled to himself, imagining how nice it would be come spring. "Are you cold? Sorry it's so chilly out tonight."