Another short Chapter... but like I said they'll get longer soon. It's time for That Awkward Moment when Hermione gives Ron a handshake instead of a hug! :D And I added a scene because, hey, why not?

Chapter 5 – Thank You

Ron's POV

"Harry," Neville exclaimed. "It's Hermione!"

Quicker than Harry, my head shot to the entrance of the Great Hall. Sure enough, there stood Hermione – unpetrified and smiling. I wide smile crossed my face in return. I'd never been so happy to see her.

She began running to meet us. I stood up, Harry behind me. Hermione threw herself at Harry and embraced him in a huge hug. My stomach twisted into knots as I hoped for a similar greeting. She let go of Harry and turned to me. Hermione opened her arms as if she were about to give me a hug, but then stopped short. I then realized that instead of greeting her, I'd simply stood there like a lunatic while smiling. She glanced up at me, only a hint of nervousness was detectable in her eyes.

"Er…" I stuttered and frowned, realizing just how great of a friend I was being. I nodded and swallowed uneasily, extending my hand. She shook it and my grin returned. "Welcome back, Hermione."

Hermione's eyes glowed. "It's good to be back."

This was followed by small-talk and congratulations about how we saved the world again. We insisted we had gotten a lot of help from her and stuff like that, but I didn't realize much. I was feeling much better than I had in what felt like forever. Yet, at the same time, an emotion I'd felt many a time was rushing through me.

Why was I jealous?

I can understand why I would be jealous if say Charlie got a new Nimbus 2001 or if Ginny became a famous Quidditch Player, but why was I jealous now? Hermione was back! The duo was a trio once again! So why was their jealousy in me stronger than nearly ever before?

The answer came to me later that night. Hermione was talking to us gleefully when she said, "I'm lucky to have friends like you." While this may have seemed directed at both of us, she was looking at Harry when she spoke. The jealousy stabbed harsher than ever, and I realized.

I was jealous because it would appear that Hermione fancied Harry.

Hermione's temporary petrification had led me to realize how important our friendship really is to me. Without Hermione, it just hadn't seemed right. While she was gone I'd found myself wishing she was around to tell me when to study or pulling me to the library against my will.

A voice seemed to talk to me in the back of my mind. It said, You should tell Hermione how much you missed her. It'll be a nice gesture to prove you're truly glad she's back!

Yeah, I agreed with the voice. That's exactly what I'll do!

I didn't actually consider talking to her about such things until we were on the Hogwarts Express. The three of us were alone in the compartment until Harry left to pick up candy with his excessive amounts of money, leaving me and Hermione alone.

My eyes wandered from the window to Hermione casually. She was also looking out the window in comfortable yet awkward silence that somehow managed to happen at the same time. Her eyes flicked to me and she blushed faintly. "Er, Ron?"

"Yes, Hermione?" I asked a little too eagerly for no apparent reason.

"Thank you for… for defending me from Malfoy back in the fall…"

I beamed. "No problem Hermione! And, for the record," I glanced side-to-side cautiously, "I'm glad your back. It was quite lonely without you."

Hermione smiled so I could see her large front teeth, causing me to smile wider.

And then Harry walked in to find us smiling foolishly at each other. Thankfully, he was so preoccupied by chocolate frogs he didn't seem to notice.

/

"So, kids," I cleared my throat as I finished, "by this point we've told you all the real vital parts of our friendship, right?"

Rose and Hugo nodded. Hermione shrugged as if there were other things she would've liked to say.

"Well, there's something we've failed to emphasis, and Uncle Harry will second this statement without a millisecond's hesitation. In our years at Hogwarts, Hermione and I fought. A lot. And I mean next to constantly. We nearly always were bickering about one thing or another. But we didn't have our first real big row until third year."

"My turn again," Hermione said. "Just in time for the year of cats and rats."

/

Dear Mum and Dad,

I'll be coming home soon. Can you believe the year is almost over? Hearing about my petrification must've come as a shock to you but I assure you I'm better than ever, all thanks to Harry and Ron once again. They snuck into the Chamber of Secrets and killed the monster that petrified me and defeated You-Know-Who again.

I will fill you in more when I see you; it's a lot to write on one piece of parchment. And Ron is bugging me about how 'I have been gone for months and I need to get out more' and stuff.

Love, Hermione.

Hermione's back. :D And it's time for the year of cats and rats! As always I appreciate any Reviews and keep reading!