The grounds surrounding Hogwarts were strangely empty for a sunday afternoon.People usually used to sit on the grass, chatting and playing and just having fun,but today, maybe because of the icy wind of those days, the outside of the castle was unusually desert.

It was october, school had already started, and the common room was overcrowded with people absorbed in their books, playing chess in front of the fireplace or reading a magazine sitting on the sofa.But Ron was not in the mood to stay in an overcrowded place, so he headed to the lake and sat under the beech where he, Hermione and Harry had shared many beautiful and happy moments.Ron though, wasn't particularly feeling happy today.

On the contrary, he felt really stressed.In the last few days he was feeling rather alone, despite the beautiful summer he had spent at the Burrow with family and friends: the wedding of his brother and the great amount of time he had spent with Harry making theories about the whole Voldemort thing.Even though they laughed and talked every night in the common room, Ron could see how much Harry was focused on what to do with his enemy, and that Hermione was always here and there studying and reading, or reading and studying, whatever it was...

Ron felt tension increasing between him and his two dearest friends in those days, and it was not because of the study, but because of something else.When they were together, they barely talked to eachother.Like everyone else at school, they seemed to be bringing a very heavy burden inside.Aparrently, the old Headmaster had been more than just a headmaster and everyone was missing him, even those who were not so glad to have him at school.So, being in touch again with what he represented, or had represented, made feel everyone a little bit uncomfortable.In fact, this subject was out of bound, even for Harry and friends.And Ron felt the particular need of being left alone, breathing at the open air.

Now he felt the cold air running through his ruffled hair.He brought his knees against his chest and he started enjoying the sensation the wind made him feel on contact with his freckled skin.

-Hey, you okay?-Hermione asked sitting beside him, looking into his eyes with a worried expression on her face.He greeted her with a weak smile not saying a single word, then he started staring at the lake again.

-I'm fine thanks...just tired of sitting in there with all the others, you know...- he added unwillingly.

-In fact, I was wondering where you'd gone but couldn't find you...so I came down here to check if the red-haired man with the most beautiful blue eyes I've ever seen was here, thinking that I am an irresponsible kind of friend for letting him alone all this time when he's needing me the most...-

-I do not...-he started gasping, his jaw dropped, both in confusion and in surprise.How the hell had she found out how he was feeling if he hadn't expressed his own feelings to anyone except himself?Sometimes he really thought that Hermione was not so normal after all, and that she possessed some kind od dark and misterious power which made her know everything.

-Yes you do Ron!And you can be mad at me.I've been pretending to be busy all the time but actually,I was not.I did this because I knew that I couldn't stand talking to you and Harry, it was just too early.This whole process of coming back to school after what happened at the end of last year, makes me feel so uncomfortable, excited but sad at the same time.I understand how you feel Ron, really, so just don't pretend to be okay because I know you're not.And talk to me instead of coming here all alone in the cold air without saying anything to me or Harry.I was not exactly happy when I couldn't find you anywhere, you know...-

Ron mumbled something that sounded like "I'm sorry", guiltily bit his inferior lip and hid his head between his legs.At the end, he had been very selfish thinking that his two best friends were not worried about him and his recent behaviour.They were going through this difficult and new situation too, he was not the only one to suffer whenever he looked at the castle...

-There's no need to feel sorry Ron!-and she sweetly started stroking his hair with her fingers.When she took her hand away from his head, trying to stand up, Ron caught hold of her wrist.

-No!Don't stop doing that!It was...-

-Relaxing, was it?-she continued.

Ron nodded, but thought that "relaxed"was not exactly the way he was feeling.He was amazed by the sensation that touch had caused in him, a pleasant sensation though, of warmth all over his body...He shivered.

-Ron?You here?-she asked trying to get eye contact with him.-My hand, I'd like to have it back if you let me...-

-Oh, sure!Sorry, I was just thinking.-he said, unsure if that was the right answer to give, feeling her staring at him so closely.

-Well, we better get going or we won't eat a single thing!You hungry?-she asked helding out her hand to him.

-I can do it on my own.-he said jumping to his feet and cleaning his trousers from the leaves.The tone of Ron's voice seemed to Hermione unusually but truthfully bitter..

-Oh, okay...-she answered putting her hands inside the pockets of her jeans, and starting to walk towards the castle.

Ron watched her for a while before starting to walk himself.Her hair was flying all over her face because of the wind but she didn't seem to care and kept walking.Outside the castle the sun was hiding beside the trees and lot of noise was coming from the inside.People were already heading back to their common rooms.

In fact, the great hall was almost empty when they sat at an empty table.Harry was nowhere to be seen.

During their brief dinner, Ron didn't say a single word, and Hermione couldn't help noticing that he was not eating but he was just playing with his fork...this only happened before a quidditch match...But tonight she was too tired to start a conversation, that also seemed a very bad idea considering Ron's mood.So they silently left the table and they made for the common room, where they decided it was better for the both of them to go to bed and relax.