Disclaimer: (Sorry, I forgot to put this last time) I don't own Harry Potter.

Chapter 2: New Surprises.

Hermione turned to the students and gave them a smile. "Excuse me, students, for just a moment," she said sweetly. "Please stay here. I will be back shortly." She turned and motioned for Ron to follow her.

She was able to find her way to her office surprisingly well. Her office was Headmistress McGonagall's old office. The walls were covered with old photos. Hermione and Victor at the Yule Ball, Hermione, Ron, and Harry together after Harry won the second event of the Triwizard Tournament, and the picture of Hermione being sorted her first year. There was one where he could tell wasn't that long ago. Hermione's eyes were glazed over, he knew it must've been after whatever blinded her. There were too many to count but one did catch his eye. It was the trio after their graduation, standing proudly. Hermione kept reaching over and giving Ron a hug in the picture while Harry just stood on Ron's other side.

"So what are you doing here?" Hermione asked him, sitting at her desk.

"I'm the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," he explained, sitting across from her. "But… Wow, you. How long have you been here?"

"Three years."

"Wow… Can you believe that it's been three years sice we've se-" He paused, keeping himself from acting stupid.

She laughed. "It's okay, Ron. I'm not going to break down crying on you because I can't see."

His mind went back to that night, how she ran out of his sight in tears. "Hermione…"

"Don't," she interrupted. "I don't want to talk about that night."

"How'd you know that was what I wanted to talk about?" He asked, completely confused.

"There was a sharp intake of breath, I figured it had to be something big, and that was the only thing that is unexplained to you."

"What happened that night, Herm?" He asked, solemnly.

"I may explain it to you one day but not now."

"Okay, um, different subject. What happened to your eyes?" Oh, yeah, Weasley, he thought to himself, that's a good change in subject.

"Well, I-"

Her office door swung open as Headmistress McGonagall came in. "Hermione, the ceremony is about to start," she said. She saw Ron sitting across from her. "I see you've met our transfiguration teacher, Ronald." She turned around and walked out of the office.

Hermione stood and walked towards the door. Ron stood as well, and grabbed onto her arm. "Let me help you," he offered.

She smiled. "You have changed a lot, Ron. But I can get around on my own."

His arm dropped from hers heavily. "Right… You probably know this castle by heart by now."

"Not quite but close." She paused. "Although, I do sometimes like a little help around." She gave him a smile and held up her arm.

Ron linked his arm through hers and led her into the great hall. He walked her up to the teachers' table and pulled out her chair for her. She sat and waited for Ron to sit next to her. "You sure have changed, Ron," she said, "you would've never done this for me in school."

He shrugged, forgetting that she couldn't see it. "Well, I have to admit, you leaving kind of opened my eyes," he explained in a soft voice. "Without you, it was easier to forget to do this and do that. So I began to focus more and even be more gentlemenly towards women."

"But you don't even know why I left," she said.

"I didn't have to, all I knew was that you were gone and that I may never see you again." He tried to look into her eyes but all he could see was the hope and fire that once resided there, clouded. It hurt to see her like that.

She locked him in a hug of gratitude. "But you had to know deep down that you would see me again some day."

"I think I did. I knew that I couldn't live without seeing you again."

She smiled and blushed, her feelings for Ron, returning. "Um, so, how's Harry?" She added, changing the subject.

"Oh, he's great. He and Ginny got married last year."

Hermione's smile grew. "Really? Wow, I thought Harry would be totally dense forever."

"Nope, he finally did it."

"So what's it like?" She asked. "Your best friend and your sister? Married? Must be kind of weird."

"It was at first but I got used to it after a while. The hardest part was getting used to the fact that Harry was actually in my family. I mean, he's always been like family but now he actually is."

"I know what you mean. You and Harry have always been like family to me."

"And you have always been part of my family."

She smiled again.

"Alright, students, welcome back to Hogwarts," Headmistress McGonagall said, indicating that the ceremony was about to start.

AN: Thanks for all the reviews so far. Please R&R!