A group of kindergarteners are playing tag on the frozen concrete. "HA! Tag, you're it!" shouts a boy with flaming red hair. The brown haired girl he bumped into stumbles, then trips against the hard ground. The red haired boy looks at her, then around to make sure no one is watching.
He kneels beside her. "Hermione?" he says in a quiet voice.
"Uugh, what do you want, Ron Weasly?" She looks defiant, but tears streak her cheeks.
"You okay?" Hermione shudders, then pulls her knees to her chest and buries her face. After a moment, he awkwardly puts his arm around her. She doesn't pull away, despite the severe risk of cooties.
Then she looks up. "I'm not a baby..." her voice trails off. Ron whips his arm away and leaps to his feet as another girl with long messy red pigtails runs up.
"EEEEWWW!!!!" she shrieks. "Ugh, Ron you have cooties! Go away! Shoo! Eeew, cooties! I'll tell mummy you pushed Hermy, I swear!" The glowering expression on her face as she kneels down and hugs Hermione shows that she is not one to be trifled with.
Ron backs off, sneering, "Well, I'll tell Harry that you- UMPH!"A boy with messy black hair bangs into him, bowling him off his feet. "Grr..."
A scuffle breaks out. "Come on, let's get you outta here," the girl with red hair whispers in Hermione's ear. She helps her stand and leads her away. "You can change your jacket, it's got cooties all over it."
Hermione wrinkles her nose. "Yeah. Thanks, Ginny." She leans on her shoulder.
Ginny smiles. "S'okay, Hermy. You know what, I think you need an ice pack..."
As the girls walk off, Hermione catches Ron's eye. He smiles awkwardly, and she grins shyly back. As he returns to his game, Hermione leans on the still-chattering Ginny's shoulder and closes her eyes.