Chapter 8: The Hogwarts Express
Things stayed tense between Harry and Ron for the next week that led up to their return to Hogwarts. Ron was avoiding Harry like Harry had done to him earlier in the summer. The only time they were in the same room with each other was when they were sleeping and Ron made sure that they weren't awake at the same time on those occasions; Ron would be asleep when Harry entered their room and would be at breakfast when he woke up. It was bugging Harry but he wasn't going to be the one to make the move to fix their problems this time. He still didn't feel that he did anything wrong and would wait for Ron to realize how stupid he was being this time. It was really starting to bug Harry how much trouble Ron was causing in his life. It was like all of the sudden he didn't care about Harry's feelings about things anymore. It was just what Ron wanted and nobody else's opinion mattered.
Mrs. Weasley had discovered what was going on and also sided with Harry. She was ashamed of how her youngest son was acting towards his best friend, but Harry told her not to say anything to Ron or convince him to talk to Harry. He wanted Ron to fix this on his own, and not get any help from anyone to see the error of his ways. The big downfall of this plan was that Hermione was hanging out with Ron instead of Harry and Ginny. She sided with Harry but felt bad that Ron was all by himself all the time. She was also trying to help Ron see his stupidity against the will of Harry.
Harry was missing Ron and Hermione again but he still had Ginny and he wasn't going to give her up to get them back. She had felt very badly about being the reason for this whole fight and told Harry that maybe they should just break up so that things could return to how they were before. He had admittedly disagreed and convinced her that they shouldn't have to be less happy just because her brother was being a jerk. Ginny was something he hadn't ever had. Sure he sort of dated Cho last year but that had been a total disaster. He had already surpassed the number of normal, happy, non-crying kisses with Ginny than he had had with Cho.
It seemed funny to Harry that Ginny was a year younger than he was and Cho was a year older than him because they acted the exact opposite. Ginny was very mature for her age and could hold a real conversation with Harry while Cho had always played mind games with him trying to figure out how much he liked her. Ginny was there for him when he needed her instead of always blowing up at Harry for stupid and petty things. It felt like he had been dating Ginny for months the way that they could talk about anything and be comfortable with each other. The fact that they had both dealt with Voldemort in a very direct way in their lives seemed to be a major connection. She had the same matured attitude toward life that he had taken from the dangers that had been through. Their relationship was very strong and he wasn't even thinking about giving that up just for the immaturity of Ron.
They were now all packed and sitting in the back seat of a ministry car on their way to the train station. Harry was once again seen as a 'good guy' by the ministry so they were given the car to maximize his security on the trip. Harry and Ginny were in the back with Mrs. Weasley and an Auror was driving. Ron, Hermione, and Mr. Weasley were in the car in front of them. They were also being followed by Moody, Lupin, Tonks, and Emmeline Vance on brooms. In an emergency each car had a portkey in it that would take them to Grimmauld Place. All in all, this was about as safe as a trip could possibly be in these times of war.
"Harry, dear, you need to be extra careful this year. No more going off on your little adventures with Ron and Hermione." Mrs. Weasley told him as the driver was parking the car.
"I know. I'm not dumb. Don't worry about us too much." He told her. When Ginny got out of the car, Mrs. Weasley grabbed Harry's shoulder to hold him back for a second.
"Keep my daughter safe. It is your job to watch her back until Christmas." He nodded his head to her and got out. They met Ron and Hermione on the other side of the barrier with Mr. Weasley.
"Everyone be safe this year. Watch each other's backs and don't go looking for trouble," said Mr. Weasley.
"We never do that, it normally finds us," answered Ron.
"Well either way just be safe. We'll see you at Christmas. Have a good year." Mrs. Weasley said. She hugged all four of them and then they got on the train. Harry and Ginny got a compartment to themselves and Ron and Hermione went to the prefects meeting.
"Think we will be seeing them before we get to school?" Harry asked once they were inside their compartment.
"I wouldn't count on it. I guess we will just have to keep each other entertained won't we?" she said before giving him a seductive grin.
"What did you want to do with that privacy, Gin? Surely your mother wouldn't approve of what is on your mind." He joked with a fake stern voice.
"I guess we won't be telling her then, will we?" she said before climbing on his lap and straddling him. She bent down and started kissing him before they were interrupted by what they heard outside their door.
"Shouldn't you be worshipping Potter right now Weasel, or is he too busy banging your sister?" They heard Malfoy say. The next thing they heard was a bang and then the sound of someone falling to the ground. Harry opened the door and saw Malfoy on the ground and unconscious. Crabbe and Goyle were holding on to Ron.
"Leave him alone you two or you will regret having to face me," said Harry. They both looked at each other and then to Harry's drawn wand. They dropped Ron and picked up Malfoy before heading down the hall and into their own compartment.
"Thanks Harry," said Ron.
"No problem."
Ron was about to say something else when he saw that Ginny was in Harry's compartment on her own and a look of anger flashed over his face. Harry realized what the look was from right away.
"Why does this bother you so much? You hinted at me asking her last year on the train ride home after you found out she dumped Micheal. Hermione already told me that you were hoping I would ask her soon too so why are you angry with me for doing what you wanted?"
"Figure it out on your own. I have better things to do than talk to a backstabbing jerk of a friend like you." Ron took off down the hall before Harry could reply so he turned around and rejoined Ginny in the compartment.
"That went well, huh?" Harry said hollowly.
"Don't worry about him. Here, I will make it better." She kissed him again and they collapsed onto the seat but were once again interrupted, this time by somebody walking through the door. "Dammit!" screamed Ginny as she turned around and saw Neville and Luna standing in the doorway.
"Oh…sorry," said a blushing Neville. They turned to leave but were stopped by Ginny.
"It's ok. How have you two been?"
"Alright, Gran was real proud of me for going with you guys to the ministry. She bought me a new wand since I broke my dad's old one."
"That's great Neville. What about you Luna?"
"Summer was great. We didn't catch any Crumple Horned Snorkacks on vacation but it was still really fun. Are we still going to be doing the D.A.?" Just like the year before she was random and staring off into space seemingly not paying any attention to what was going on around her despite her participation in the conversation.
"I don't know. We should have a real teacher this year so I don't really know what the point of it would be. They will be able to teach you better than I can."
"I don't know Harry. You were a pretty good teacher. I learned more from you than anybody else," said Ginny, surprising him. He just shrugged his shoulders as if to say maybe.
"Anyway, how long have you two been together?" Luna asked.
"Just over a week. Unfortunately my stupid brother doesn't like it very much so he is ignoring us right now," replied Ginny smiling widely. Obviously she wasn't letting the attitude of her brother get to her too much.
"Congratulations. We will leave you two alone now. See you at Hogwarts." Said Luna and they both got up and left them alone. As soon as they were alone again Harry smiled and pulled out his wand and pointed it at the door "Colloportus". They would be alone for the rest of the trip to Hogwarts now.
A/N: If you are thinking that they are going to have sex then you are very wrong. Try to keep your mind out of the gutter if it was there in the first place.
