Hermione wanted nothing more but to get back to her wizarding school, unpack in her dorm, and curl up with a copy of 'Hogwarts, a history' in the Gryffindor common room, but first she had to catch the train. She kissed her muggle mother and father, pulled away, waved good-bye, and slid through a brick wall. All the sudden she was surrounded by witches, wizards, and her fellow students. She fought her way through the crowd, and stepped onto the train.

She walked past several compartments until she stopped. Inside sat two boys; one boy had dark hair, round glasses, and a lightning bolt scar. He's Harry Potter. The other boy had flaming red hair, a sweater with a big R on it, and chewing a brown Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Bean. He's Ron. Ron Weasley. She smiled.

"Ugh. These are utterly disgusting. Harry, do you want them? If I eat another dog food jelly bean, I just might puke." Ron said, spitting the disgusting, chewed up bean into a tissue.

"Why don't you offer them to Hermione?" Harry laughed

"Yeah and get killed after she tastes an ear-wax flavored one. No thanks. Where is she anyway?"

Hermione cleared her throat. Ron turned his head.

"Hey guys! Ready for our fourth year at Hogwarts? It's going to be so much fun!" Hermione said extremely enthusiastically.

Harry burst into laughter. Ron made a pouting face. Hermione stepped into the compartment, put her bags away, and looked around confused. What was so funny?

"Oh-My-Merlin! Her-Her-Hermione! You-shouldn't have-said-that!" whaled harry gasping for breath.

Ron put his head between his hands. "Why? Why? Why me?!"

"What's wrong Ron?" Hermione asked, raising her left eyebrow.

"While the Weasleys were shopping in Diagon Alley, Mrs. Weasley bought all of them an Ice cream right? Well, at the exact moment when she went to wipe a dribble of ice cream off of Ron's chin, the photographer for the Daily Prophet came by and got the picture! He's on the front cover. The heading? 'Teaching wizards or babies? Adolescent wizard's learning going downhill!' "

"Oh…p-poor R-Ron." Hermione said trying to force back the bubbling sensation of the giggles trying to escape her mouth. She sat down next to Harry.

Ron sighed. "To make it worse, Fred and George are selling copies to the train so the whole school can see it. I'll be mocked for months!"

"Everyone will forget by next week, Ron" Said Hermione, with pity in her voice. Ron looked up with a pouting face, eyes glossy with held-back tears. The Hogwarts Express gave a lurch and blew it's loud horn, and they were off, heeded toward their school.

For the rest of the trip, Harry and bought all the Candy they could from the lady pushing the cart, and gave it to poor, sad Ron. After his tenth chocolate frog, Ron seemed to be back to his normal self. Hermione enjoyed just being with Ron again, even if he was only talking about Quidditch with Harry. When ever Hermione was near Ron, she felt warm and fuzzy inside. When ever Ron says or does something funny, she can't help herself from laughing, even if she was laughing at something completely immature.

After Hermione returned from changing out of her lavender sweater and jeans into her school robes, she headed toward her compartment,the train began slowing. She walked in as Harry and Ronald were in the middle of there conversation about putting belch powder in Fred and George's drinks at the feast. When the Hogwarts Express came to a complete stop, Hermione, Ron, and Harry gathered their stuff and headed toward the exits. While stepping off the train, Hermione tripped and was heading head first for solid ground. While she was falling, Long, strong, elegant arms wrapped around her waist. The arms were Ron's. sparks flew up and down her spine. Was she dreaming?

"Hermione, be more careful. you could-could hurt yourself..." said Ron, cheeks cherry-red. Hermione never saw him like this. His beautiful, sparkeling eyes; silky, shiny hair; lusious, plump lips...

"Right. Sorry." Hermione said, finally realizing she had to breath.

They loaded onto the boats and off they went, headed to their school, Hogwarts. Hermione was ready for another year with the familier friends, teachers, classes, and complicated boys.