"I'm going to miss you, Hermione." Ron told Hermione quietly.
"Why don't you come with me? Don't you want to graduate?" Hermione asked, looking miserable.
"I don't need to go back to Hogwarts. We've already discussed this; Harry and I are going to be Aurors. This is what I want." Ron attempted to reach out for Hermiones hand, but she pulled away before he came too close.
"Hogwarts is what I want." Hermione placed her arms across her chest, holding herself tight. She had become used to comforting herself.
"And I'm happy that you have the chance to go back. It won't be so terrible without me, Ginny will be there with you."
"I know she will be, and I'm thankful that I will have someone there with me." Hermione couldn't help but feel alone in her decision to return to school, but she wouldn't be completely alone.
Hermione glanced towards Ginny, and found her talking with Harry. She had a foul look upon her face, and her arms were crossed just as Hermiones were. Things must have not been going too well with Harry either.
Hermione watched as Ginny moved away from Harry, and began walking towards her. There was something about the way Ginny moved that captured Hermiones full attention. She watched as Ginnys hips swayed left and right, and couldn't help but lick her lips in response.
"Hermione, I think the trains are leaving. We should be going." Ginny announced as she stopped in front of Hermione.
Hermione blinked a couple of times, realizing that Ginny was right, and nodded her head. "Goodbye Ron." Hermione said in a whisper, before she turned around to leave.
"Wait!" Ron grabbed Hermione by the arm, and turned her around sharply.
Hermione was momentarily angry about the way Ron handled her, but then saw the look upon his face, and was curious as to what he wanted.
"What about us Hermione? Can I count on you to wait for me?" Ron asked, trying to be discreet around Ginny who was still standing there, watching.
Hermione didn't know what to say. She had kissed Ron once during the war, but she had seen no affection from Ron after that one kiss. Hermione had gone to Australia over the summer to be with her parents, and never heard from Ron the entire time she was there. She had returned to the burrow only two weeks ago, and Ron had acted like nothing had happened. He was so wrapped up in becoming an Auror, Hermione feared that any affection he had for her was pushed aside. As far as Hermione was concerned, Ron wasn't showing any attempt to have a relationship with her.
"What would I be waiting for? You ignored me all summer, I had the impression that I meant nothing to you." Hermione said coldly. She had become bitter around Ron; she couldn't help it. Maybe Ron was just scared to make another move, but Hermione didn't want to be the one to initiate everything.
"I know this summer has been confusing for both of us, and I'm sorry for ignoring you, but I want to be with you, honest." Ron tried to explain.
The sound of the train engine began to pick up, and Hermione knew the train was about to leave.
"Why did you only bring this up now? I have to go." Hermione began to walk toward the train, leaving Ron behind.
"Promise me that you'll think about it! I'll write to you soon!" Ron shouted as Hermione, followed by Ginny got on the train.
Hermione waved to Harry, and he waved back slowly. She could tell something was wrong, and that's when she turned to Ginny.
Ginny was staring out of the window, just watching Harry.
"Is everything alright, Ginny?" Hermione asked.
Ginny sighed, and turned to look at Hermione. "Harry just broke up with me…again. He doesn't want me to get hurt, so his solution is to end the relationship. Just because he is going into training, doesn't mean it's going to hurt me. I don't think he really wants to be with me, and if that's the case, then I don't want to be with him either. This is the last time he will be able to break up with me. Never again will I give Harry Potter another chance."
Hermione placed a hand on Ginnys shoulder, and rubbed it slightly. She had not known what it was like to break up with someone; she had never been in a relationship for that to happen. She only hoped that Ron would come around and ask her, but it was a little too late now. It seemed their lives were going in two separate directions, she had her life at Hogwarts, and his was with the Aurors.
"I'm sorry Ginny. I don't know why Harry keeps doing that. It's not like his life is in danger anymore; it's like they want to find trouble. When Harry and Ron have a peaceful life, they have to go out and bring trouble to them." Hermione couldn't help but feel out of place. She had wanted a peaceful life, but it seemed her two best friends didn't.
Hermione felt Ginnys hand touch her cheek, and her head was slowly turned to meet the bright brown eyes of her friend.
"Everything will be okay Hermione. At least we have each other." Ginny smiled weakly.
"Very true. I'd like to have you for company instead of being surrounded by boys all the time. You're the best friend I have." Hermione stared back into Ginnys eyes; she couldn't seem to brake their gaze.
Ginny slowly took her hand off of Hermiones cheek, and said. "Shall we go find a compartment?"
Hermione nodded her head, and followed behind Ginny as she searched for an empty compartment.
"Ah, an empty compartment for once!" Ginny tried to lift her mood; for she knew Hermione wasn't in the best of moods.
Ginny held the door open for Hermione, as she smiled politely and stepped inside.
Ginny shut the door behind them, and went to sit across from Hermione.
"Are you ready for your seventh year?" Ginny asked, trying to get Hermione talking about something she liked. Even though Hermione had been at her house the past two weeks, Hermione seemed to be in her own world. Ginny wasn't able to get Hermione alone so they could talk.
Hermione smiled, thankful that someone asked her something she was interested in. "Oh yes, it's going to be a busy year for me."
"What all are you going to do?" Ginny asked.
"Well besides my N.E.W.T.s, and being Head Girl, I'm going to help Professor McGonagall out with her Transfiguration classes. She has asked me to be a teachers assistant. Since she is now the Headmistress she won't have much time to cover the entirety of her classes. So I'll be there to cover the classes she can't attend."
Hermione was excited about the opportunity to be a teachers assistant, although she was not technically teaching the class, it gave her some authority over the students. She would be busy this year, but she needed the distraction.
"Wow, so you're going to be a teacher? Will you be teaching me?" Ginny smiled.
"I'm not technically a teacher, I'm just helping out when Professor McGonagall can't be there. And yes, I believe we have similar schedules. When Professor McGonagall isn't there, I will be the teacher instead of the student."
"So you'll be a teacher and student?" Ginny asked.
"Yes, I suppose you can say that." Hermione smiled at Ginny.
"Hmm, do you have access to our marks?" Ginny asked after a minute.
Hermione rolled her eyes in a playful manner, "No Ginny. I don't control them, I just report to McGonagall what happened; she handles all the marks. You can't bribe me into giving you a good mark, I'm sorry."
"Damn, and here I thought I would be able to seduce the teacher into giving me a good mark." Ginny raised her eyebrows suggestively.
Hermione laughed, thinking that Ginny was playing around. "Even if I let you seduce me, I still wouldn't give you a good mark. That, you have to earn on your own."
Ginny just smiled, and Hermione could sense there was something else behind that smile, but she couldn't tell what it was exactly.
"We have all year Hermione. Plenty of time to butter you up." Ginny finally said.
"We shall see about that." Hermione replied, wanting to know what exactly Ginny was thinking. It made Hermione feel something she hadn't felt in a long time, she felt wanted.
"What about you Ginny? How is your year looking?" Hermione asked.
"About as busy as yours I would say, except I will be playing Quidditch instead of teaching."
"You must be excited about playing Quidditch again." Hermione said.
"I can't wait. I have so much frustration, and I need to take it out on something. Better Quidditch than it be someone I care about, like you." Ginny said.
"I'll be sure to come to all of your games. Consider me your number one fan." Hermione said, smiling at Ginny.
"That's sweet of you. I'm going to need someone in the stands cheering for me, and I'm glad it's going to be you." Ginny replied.
Hermione and Ginny fell into comfortable conversation, talking about everything they were expecting in their final year together. Before they knew it, the train had arrived at Hogwarts, and they were on their way to the castle.
It wasn't as glamorous as Hermione had seen it in previous years due to the damage it had taken during the war, but Hermione was determined to make this a good year.
Memories of the final battle flooded Hermiones thoughts as they entered the Great Hall, and she tried her best to push them out of mind.
Hermione didn't realize that Ginny had been staring at her almost the whole way up to the castle, and into the Great Hall. She knew it was going to be hard for Hermione, as it would be for herself. Ginny only wanted to make it a good year for the both of them. She would be there for Hermione, whenever she needed it. Ginny needed Hermione for her own sanity, so she was going to cling onto Hermione as much as she could.
Ginny grabbed hold of Hermiones hand as they sat down at the Gryffindor table, and awaited Professor McGonagall to make her announcements.
"It's going to be a good year Hermione, I will be with you as long as you want me around." Ginny whispered into Hermiones ear.
Hermione felt shivers trail down her body from the proximity of Ginnys mouth, and turned to face her. "Thank you Ginny. I don't know what I would do without you."
A/N: So I'm posting this because it's been on my computer for a while, and I'm contemplating making this into a full length story. I don't know if it's something of interest to anyone, that's why I'm only posting this chapter for now. Depending on how much my urge for writing something keeps bugging me, and the hits I get, if it's positive I will certainly continue. Don't worry, I'm not asking for reviews or anything, I'm just looking for the stats. So review if you wish, if not, that is fine as well. As long as you read the story, I will continue. :)