Disclaimer: I do NOT own the Harry Potter series. That credit goes to the brilliant mind of J.K. Rowling. Go Jo! I also do not own some of the material used. Again that belongs to Jo and Warner Brothers.

Chapter 2 The Question Answered

Voldemort hadn't visited the Burrow since then, which Ron was thankful for.

He had been hoping to see Hermione and Harry at Diagon Alley, but they hadn't met each other.

That night, Ron got a letter from Hermione, apologizing. He couldn't really blame her for not wanting to be around his family.

To his delight, Ron had found out that they had both become Prefects.

It was now September the first again, and for the first time, Ron wasn't really sure he wanted to go back.

"Remember…" Mrs. Weasley began as she wrapped Ron in her arms.

Gasping for air, Ron said, "Yes, Mum."

"I love you, darling. I hope you know that," Mrs. Weasley sobbed, which made Ron glad Fred and George were already on the train.

"I love you too, Mum. See you at Christmas," Ron said, adjusting his prefect badge on his jacket.

As soon as Ron boarded the train, Hermione yelled "Ron!" He smile at the sight of her and Harry.

Hermione gave Ron a much more enthusiastic greeting then he, and Harry by the look on his face, had expected.

"It's great to see you, too," Ron said, his face now burning.

Hermione had apparently shocked herself as well as she looked down and didn't say another word, licking her lips quickly.

"Ron," Harry finally said as his greeting.

'Harry," he nodded. He could tell Harry didn't feel much like talking at the moment. Whether it was because of Ron and Hermione's greeting or something else, Ron didn't know.

"Let's find a compartment, shall we?" Hermione suggested as she found her voice again.

Ginny then appeared from one of the compartments and beckoned over to them.

"Ron and I have to patrol the corridors for a while, Harry," Hermione said after putting her things away.

"Prefect duties," was all Harry had said.

Ron hadn't liked leaving Ginny and Harry alone in the compartment, but Hermione had assured him that they'd be back soon.

A few hours later, Ron and Hermione finally got back to the compartment. Ginny's eyes were closed, and her head resting on the window seal.

"I know what you're going to say, Harry," Ron said, seeing the look on his face.

"Then tell us…" Harry began, but stopped when Ron lifted his hand up and said, "Harry, even I knew anything, you know I can't tell you what's going on."

Harry looked down and sighed and said, "Yeah, Lupin told me it would be something like that."

"Professor Lupin?" Ron asked.

"Yeah, I'm…" Harry began.

Ron shook his head and said, "You don't have to tell me anything. Honestly."

"Even if Ron was to tell anyone…but I know you won't," Hermione quickly recovered when Ron gave her a look, "I don't believe the Death Eaters could do anything about it."

Ron looked over at Harry as he heard him sigh.

"Yeah, I suppose you're right," Harry said. "Besides, what's the bother in even being friends if we can't trust each other? I'm staying at Sirius's house."

"Oh, brilliant," Ron replied, not expecting for what Harry had said to him. Harry really did trust him, and that made Ron feel both good and awful at the same time. "You were able to escape you aunt and uncles then?"

"You… you haven't been reading the Daily Prophet?" Harry asked.

"I stopped after they started putting in those lies about Harry and Dumbledore," Ron admitted.

The smallest hint of a small escaped from Harry's mouth. It looked so out of place that Ron wondered how long it had been since Harry had actually laughed.

"I was attacked by two Dementors this summer," Harry told Ron.

Ron's eyes widened as Hermione placed a hand on his shoulder in comfort.

"What?" he almost shouted. He hadn't heard any of this. It surprised him how mad this made him. "But how…"

"You really haven't been told anything," Hermione said, realization hitting her Ron noticed.

"No, I haven't," Ron said, anger still in his voice. He really couldn't blame them for not fully trusting him. "Suppose they think I'd run straight to my room to send you an owl. I had no idea."

"I was nearly expelled from school," Harry explained after retelling the story to Ron.

"Blimey," Ron replied, not knowing what to say about it. "The only thing I know is the Ministry of Magic is putting one of their own to Defense Against the Dark Arts."

He had actually eavesdropping on a conversation between his parents when the subject had come up.

"I'm not surprised about that," Hermionesaid with a sigh. Apparently this was new information to her. "It's their way of keeping an eye on Harry and Dumbledore."

"BUT I'M NOT LYING!" Harry snapped.

Ron's eyes grew. He had never seen Harry this angry before. Ginny sat straight up, but didn't say a word.

"Sorry, Ginny," Harry muttered.

Ginny just rolled her eyes and laid her head back on the window. This little exchange between the pair made no sense to Ron at all.

Before he could put any more thought on the subject, Hermione said, wearily, "Please, Harry, there's no need to shout. You don't have to convince us."

"Sorry," Harry apologized.

Throughout the train ride, Ron began to wonder why Ginny had called them into her compartment. A compartment that just had her in it.

And then it hit him like two Bludgers. Ginny, at some point, had fallen for Harry.

AN:

All right, so I'm throwing Harry/Ginny into the mix. It was going to happen anyway.