Updated materials and additions, such as new chapters, will probably occur toward the end of the week. I'm busy throughout most of the beginning of the week and can only find enough time to write closer to Wednesday and Thursday. I will try, however, to post a new chapter once a week around this time. And again, I would greatly appreciate all the reviews I can get, both positive and negative, to let me know where you guys stand with my story.

Thanks for reading everyone :)

xxxxxxx

The following day was one most uncomfortable among the best friends. Ron got up from a sleepless night and dressed. He walked past Harry's bed and gave him an utmost loathing look, then proceeded down to the Great Hall for breakfast. Harry awoke moments later to find Seamus, Dean, and Neville awake and getting dressed.

"Hey, Harry," said Neville. "Want to go down to breakfast with us? Ron's already left."

"He what? When did he leave?" asked Harry, getting out of bed.

"Oh I'd say about ten minutes ago," Seamus said. He was now fully dressed and awaiting departure to the Great Hall.

"What a git," mumbled Harry. "Yeah, I"ll go with you guys. Just give me a minute to get dressed."

After only mere minutes, they progressed out of the dormitories to breakfast. Harry walked into the Great Hall just in time to see the owls flying in to drop letters and packages to their owners. He didn't bother looking up for his snowy white owl, Hedwig; the Dursley's never sent him anything. He walked past the Hufflepuffs toward the Gryffindor table, only to see Ron talking animatedly with Hermione. Jealousy rose through his body as if fire had just seeped through his veins. His stride quickened and his heart raced. He strode over to Hermione and sat down beside her.

"Oh, hey, Harry," she said.

"Hi." Harry began shoveling eggs and bacon onto his plate.

"Hey mate," Ron said, obviously trying to lighten the air between them. Harry had conveniently just piled a whole egg into his mouth and therefor could only muster a nod of acknowledgement.

"As I was just telling Ronald," Hermione began, "the first trip to Hogsmead is this weekend. As I assume we're all going," she shot stern looks at Harry and Ron that resembled Professor McGonagall all too well. "I daresay I need to stop at Honeydukes. I've just heard they've got new cherry flavored sugar quills, and I know my parents would just die for them."

"Er-my-nee," Ron said thickly through a mouthful of sausages, "I faught yo pants wurr dents."

"Excuse me?"

Ron hurriedly swallowed his food; he choked a bit, allowing his ears to turn an even more impressive shade of pink. "I said, I thought your parents were dentists."

"Well, that's the whole fun of it, Ronald. Sending dentists boxes full of sugar quills. It's a bit of a joke, you see."

"Wow, Hermione, getting a bit daring are we? I haven't seen you this out of control since you socked Malfoy," joked Ron. Hermione hastily looked down at her plate, color rising to her face. "I'm only joking, Hermione. Well, erm, why cherry then?"

"Well honestly, it's my favorite flavor, but I'm telling them I got it because it's new. So Harry, did you give Ron the chocolate truffles and frogs we got him last night?"

"What? Oh, oh no, we got back so late I figured he was asleep."

Ron tried to act surprised that they stayed out late, although he knew perfectly well that they didn't return to the common room until well after eleven o'clock. "Late? You said you didn't want to be out after hours, what kept you?" he tried to ask in a calm voice, but his curiosity wasn't well masked.

"Winkie was having one of her fits again. Don't forget to give Ron his treats, Harry. Oh, by the way Ron, did you finish Binns' essay?"

"Well . . . well, no, but you see –"

"Save it, Ronald, but you better hope that doesn't cost us points. Am I going to have to personally check to make sure your assignments are finished from now on?"

Seeing as how Ron never missed an opportunity to spend time with Hermione, he quickly said, "Well, if it'd help, then I guess," in the most defeat-stricken tone he could muster. "Thanks Hermione, you really are the best."

Hermione, who had been attempted one last bite of her toast, fumbled it and it fell to the floor, jam side down. Her ears had, in the mean time, turned as violent red as Ron's hair and she muttered, "Yes, yes, thank you Ron, but all the same, homework needs to be done and done properly. Oh no! We're going to be late for lessons! Come on, Ronald."

Ron, who had just stuffed his fifth egg into his mouth, said thickly, "But Hermione, we've still got ten –"

"Come on! Harry, Ron, hurry! I want to get good seats for today's lessons."

Hermione stormed past the house tables and out into the entrance hall. The tension between Harry and Ron had momentarily disappeared as they both stared after her. Harry turned to see Ron smirking.

"Mental, that one," Ron said, with an admired look in his eyes.