Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter characters but I own the plot.

As Ron awoke, he could not help but feel anxious. Today he would be starting his final year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry but that was not the main cause of his anxiety. His mind was occupied with thoughts of the summer and the many things that had changed.

Harry had finally been able to defeat the Dark Lord with the help of himself and their other friend Hermione Granger. Just the thought of her made him smile. They had finally been able to express their feelings for each other and had been dating for most of the summer; the key word being had been.

"I guess some things just aren't mean to last forever," Ron thought to himself sadly while he tried to get the memory of his break-up out of his head.

FLASHBACK

" Ron...!" Hermione yelled. " I am so sick of you always ignoring me and then suddenly acting like you care about what I am saying just because somebody else gives me attention."

"I don't always do that," Ron muttered.

"Oh no?!" Hermione shouted. " What happened when Dean asked me about Harry and the whole thing with V-Voldemort?" Hermione rolled her eyes as Ron winced at the sound of the name that still haunted him months after the man was gone.

"You'd think he would have gotten over that seeing as how the guy is dead." Hermione thought to herself.

" I just don't like him is all" Ron mumbled.

" It's not just him!" yelled Hermione. Her voice was beginning to rise. " You can't see any guy besides Harry talking to me without feeling threatened."

"So you don't want me to protect you?" Ron asked his temper getting the better of him.

"Yes, but not like that." Hermione said lowering her voice. "I don't need you to be my father."

" So that is how you see me now? I remind you of your father?!" His temper was definitely getting the best of him.

"Sort of, but that is not the point. Ron... I'm tired of arguing with you."

They were quiet for a while. Neither one of them knew what to say to the other. Finally Ron spoke.

"So what are you saying"

Hermione sighed. " What I am saying is...I think we should go back to being friends.

Shock filled Ron like water in a sinking ship. He stilled loved her but all the wanted to do was make her happy. If that was what she wanted, then that was what he would give her.
"Okay" whispered Ron

"Okay?" repeated Hermione

"Yeah. Okay"

"Mum said to wake up" Ginny yelled as she throw the bedroom door open bringing Ron out of his thoughts.

"Bloody hell Ginny. Do you think you can be any louder?" Ron yelled sarcastically.

"I can try." Ginny said

He decided to ignore her and her answer. He turned his attention to the figure in the cot near the wall. For a moment he forgot that Harry was staying with them for the whole summer. He had no reason to go back to the Dursleys nor did he want to.

"You can go now" Ron snapped at Ginny.

She held her hand at her chest and gasped pretending to be hurt and turned around walking out of the room. Harry and Ron got out of bed and packed the remainder of their things into their respective trunks.

It was about 9:45 in the morning and as usual they were all running late. When they got downstairs, the kitchen was in chaos. Dishes were flying everywhere and everyone was yelling about something or another.

"Ron, are you sure you packed up everything?"

"Yes mum"

"And you Harry"

"Yes I have everything" Harry replied.

"Now both of you, sit down and eat breakfast. I don't want you filling up on that junk on the train."

They both nodded all the while knowing they would be buying practically all the contents of the snack trolley anyway.

About an hour later Harry, Ginny, and Ron were at the muggle train station about to go through platform 9 3⁄4. They had made it on time. Putting their luggage on the train, they boarded and searched for an empty compartment. Ron hadn't seen Hermione yet and he wondered if she would miss the train. After a while he decided to put the thought behind him.

Harry stopped so suddenly that Ron ran into him and almost knocked him over.

"Damn Harry. What did you stop like that for?"

Harry wore an expression of shock on his face that made Ron quite nervous.

Suddenly Harry started pushing Ron back mumbling something that sounded like "these are all full. Let's go that way." Before Ron could get control of Harry, he looked up and immediately stood frozen right in the middle of the corridor.
Hermione was standing in the middle of the corridor holding hands with the most unlikely person possible; Dean Thomas.

A/N: Please Review. Feedback is greatly appreciated.(Even flames- though I hope I don't need any)