Hey all! Remember, I don't own any of this but the plot! Enjoy!
When McGonagall dismissed them from the Great Hall, Ron had to do his prefect duties and he began telling the first years to follow him. Harry watched him, remembering when Ron's part had been Percy in their first year. He hadn't been friends with Ron that long at that time, and he didn't like Hermione much, either.
Speaking of Hermione, he looked over at her. She seemed to be getting on pretty well with Malfoy. 'What's he after?' Harry wondered. 'Why are they all nice to each other now?' He followed Ron and the crowd of Gryffindors out of the Great Hall and up the many stairs to the Fat Lady's portrait.
"Indivisibility." Ron's voice rang out.
"Nice to see you too." the Fat Lady muttered before swinging open. The first years were amazed at the deep scarlets and vibrant gold colors strewn around the Gryffindor Common Room. Harry threw himself into the most comfortable armchair by the fire and listened to Ron tell the newcomers which staircase was the boys' and which was the girls'. The tired Gryffindor students, all years, made their way up their respective staircase. Harry stayed in the chair.
Ron plunked down next to him in the armchair closest his best mate of 6 years so far.
"Want to play Exploding Snap? Or chess?" Ron asked him. Harry chose the quiet game of Chess, and 5 times in a row, Ron beat him. "You are really bad at this game, mate." he teased.
"Yeah, but who says I want to be all strategic?" Harry said. "This is a game completely about strategy!" He laughed, and put away his pieces, which all complained and grumbled about being put back in a box to be taken out at some unknown point in the future.
Ron reached into his pocket and threw Harry a chocolate frog. Grunting a thanks, Harry gnawed on the frog and looked at the wizard card. It was Dumbledore. He remembered how that was his first wizard card he ever got.
"Is it just me, or is everything reminding us of our first year here tonight?" Harry asked his best mate.
"It's just you, man. I try not to remember much about our first year here. Good memories are tucked away, and everything else is forgotten." Ron said. It was the truth, too, and Harry smiled at his friend. He wished Hermione was there to make some snappy remark of him being a bit conceited, and Ron would argue back, beginning a fight. He suddenly grew angry with Ron for their most recent fight, and he stared into the fire, not saying a word.
"What's the matter, mate?" Ron asked him.
"What's the matter? I don't like the fact that you and Hermione are having a petty fight." Harry exclaimed, looking at Ron over the taped bridge of his glasses; Dudley had broken them again and he hadn't bothered to fix them. "D'you realize that you always start them?"
"I didn't start this latest one!" Ron retorted, his pride injured. "Hermione did. She bloody accused me of cheating-"
"Which you were." Harry interrupted. Ron fell silent. "How could you do that to her?" Harry asked him. "She's our best friend, the smartest witch of our generation, and you don't think she's smart enough to realize when your attention is elsewhere?"
"I was... I... I don't know why I did, or why I figured she wouldn't notice." Ron said quietly. "I miss her, Harry." he admitted.
"So do I. Hopefully your latest lie hasn't scared her off to the point that she won't visit us in here." Harry said spitefully. Ron dropped his head into his hands. "Your tempers... I don't know why you two don't just duel and get it over with."
"She would win, that's why!" Ron said, a bleak smile on his face. "She always wins." he added wistfully.
"You should apologize to her." Harry said to Ron.
"To who?" a female's voice said. The boys turned and saw Hermione in a fuzzy bath robe walking towards them. She smiled and embraced Harry warmly. "So, who are you two talking about?" she addressed Harry.
"Well, the most charming witch of our year." Ron said. Hermione's gaze turned a little icy and met Ron's fiery gaze head-on. "You."
"Thank you, Ronald." she said. "Why would you talk about me behind my back?"
"We're not. Well," Ron began, "we are, but I-" Ron began to fumble for words. "Hermione, I'm sorry." he managed to blurt out a few seconds later, looking away from her icy stare. Instantly, the ice melted.
"Why didn't you just say that, you big dolt?" Hermione asked, hugging him. His long arms enveloped her and held her close to him. "I hate fighting." she said, her voice slightly muffled because her head was on his shoulder. She pulled away from him and stood before sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of the fire.
"So do I." Ron said.
"Speaking of fighting, how come you weren't hexing Malfoy all through dinner?" Harry inquired.
"Well," Hermione began, looking uncomfortable, "D-Malfoy and I have decided to be friends." Ron and Harry stood.
"Hermione!" Ron yelled. "You can't be serious!"
"Honestly, 'Mione! He's untrustworthy!" Harry shouted.
"Have I ever been wrong?" Hermione asked dangerously, her eyes glinting. "Has my judge of character ever been wrong before?"
"Yeah, with Krum!" Ron replied, his hands in tight fists.
"And you with Lavender, Ronnie-poo!" Hermione said, anger dripping from her voice.
"And whoever it was you dated between our fourth and fifth year!" Harry added. "Whatever his name was."
"James-Jack-Jamie" Ron said, trying to remember his name.
"Jasper Toldire." Hermione said coldly, her tone and her eyes icy now. She stood, fury evident in her body movements. "It's obvious what my biggest judge in character mistake was." she said. When neither answered her, she said simply, "You." She then stalked up to the girls' staircase and disappeared from view.
Harry and Ron looked at each other, looks of utter bewilderment and confusion on their faces.
"What in the bloody hell just happened?" Ron asked Harry.
"I asked her why her and Malfoy weren't fighting and she got really touchy." Harry said. "I don't like her being friends with him."
"Neither do I." Ron replied. "We have to stop it before it goes any further." he said, his fist hitting his open hand forcefully.
"We can't." Harry said, sitting in his chair again. "She's of age, and we're not her keepers. She is completely on her own on this one." Harry said. "But, we can let her realize her mistake and when he's hurt her, we'll accept her back, and then go kill him."
"Great idea, mate." Ron acquiesced, yawning widely. "I think it's time to get some sleep."
"That sounds like the best idea all night." Harry complied, yawning as well. Together, they stood and walked up to their four posters for a night of sleep.