Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.

Chapter Twenty-Five

September

Hermione woke up early that morning, just like she always did when she was excited about her classes starting today. She got ready quickly and was out of her room before either of her roommates even woke up. She then choice a couch by the fire, open a book and waited for her friend to come downstairs. She was happy that Ron was the first one down, especially since she knew how much he liked to sleep in.

He kissed her quickly as he sat down next to her, "why did you go to bed so early last night? You didn't even say goodnight to me?"

"Sorry," Hermione chuckled. "I was a bit tired."

"Well, next time remember that I'd like a goodnight kiss," Ron said leaning closer to him.

"I'll try to remember that," Hermione said before leaning up to kiss him, a simple kiss at first but Ron quickly deepened it.

"Or a goodnight snog… that will work too," Ron chuckled a minute later as he caught his breath.

"Well, if it's anything like the good morning snog, then it's possible," Hermione smiled, and so did Ron as he leaned in to capture her lips once again…

"So is this what I have to look forward too?" Harry said just then, causing them both to jump. "You two snogging all the time?"

"Yeah pretty much," Ron answered shrugging his shoulders. "That's what it would have been like all summer if Mum wasn't always there."

"Well, as long as I'm warned," Harry sighed dramatically.

"That's why it's a good thing Gin and Neville are going to hang with us now too," Ron said. "It will give you someone to talk to."

"I suppose that's not so bad," Harry said, he had a weird smile on his face. "So do you want to head down?"

"We have to wait for Ginny and… oh just Ginny then," Hermione said, because she noticed that Neville was now behind Harry. It was only a few seconds later that Ginny showed up and they all made there to the Great Hall were they ate. Ginny left them soon after that, having gotten her schedule for her classes, but the rest of them had to wait to work out theirs.

"So, what classes are you going to keep taking?" Hermione asked Neville, she had forgotten to ask him yesterday.

"Herbology, Defense and Transfiguration," Neville said.

"You got an E in Transfiguration," Hermione said, knowing he was worried about that class.

"Yeah… thanks to your help," Neville smiled.

"You mean until the last month," Hermione said.

"Yeah, but you helped me all year," Neville said.

"But what about Charms?" Hermione asked smiling. "You said you got some help with that… don't you think you want to keep that class too."

"Maybe," Neville blushed a little. "But Grans said it was a soft option and I don't know if I can handle having four N.E.W.T level classes. I hear it's really tough. Though, I suppose you're taking all eleven classes."

"No, only seven," Hermione said.

"Only seven," Neville shook his head at her.

"Well, you should take the classes you want, but I think you could do it," Hermione smiled at him.

But before she could know what he had decided she got her schedule and rushed off to her class. Neville was right; the classes were ten times harder than they were last year. Merlin, she could hardly understand some of the things that her professors were saying. And the amount of homework… even she was going to have problems with this.

However, it was a nice surprise when Harry and Ron said that they were going to be able take Potions because now Slughorn is teaching them. Knowing that they both wanted to be Aurors, it was good that they were now able to keep that dream alive. She was annoyed when Ron teased her about the amount of homework she already had, though he wasn't so happy when she pointed out that this only meant that she was going to spend time have away from him, now. He didn't like that at all.

The Potion class itself was very interesting, and she found that she liked Slughorn's teaching style (a lot easier than being yelled at or thought of as being incompetent like in Snape's class). Plus, when she had heard about what Harry said to Slughorn about her, well it was nice to know that he thought so highly of her. Of course Ron's comment about it being the obvious thing to say just made her smile more.

Then something happen that has never happened in a Potions class before. Harry was actually doing better than her… much better. What was this… he's never shown this much ability in Potions before and she knew it wasn't just because of a new professor. Of course this had to happen when Slughorn had offered them something that everyone would want- a vile of Felix Felicis or liquid luck- and this is the time that Harry decides to get good at Potions.

She was fuming at Harry by the end of class when he won the potion (though she had to admit that it was a good thing that Harry had a lucky potion the way his life was). "How did you do that?" she asked.

"Er… there were some notes in the book I got," Harry said, rubbing the back of his head.

"And you just decided to follow them," Hermione said. "That could be dangerous Harry."

"But it wasn't, it was brilliant," Ron said, and then he sighed. "I wish I got that book."

"Let me see it," Hermione said and didn't wait for him to hand it to her. When she had to book in her hand she study it and tried to figure out if it was dangerous in anyway, but really, it was just a book. That didn't mean that Harry should follow what it said though. "I don't think you should use this."

"I suppose you think this is cheating," Harry said.

"Well, it's not really your work now is it," Hermione said, but this issue wasn't what was important… it was just what was really annoying.

"Look Hermione," Harry said taking the book back but she held on harder than he thought she would and it fell to the ground. When they all looked down they could all see This book belongs to the Half Blood Prince. "I wonder who that is," he mused to himself, but Hermione had heard him.

"I don't know," Hermione said, "and I don't think it's wise for you to just follow whatever this guy says."

"What's this," Ginny said, they were all in the Great Hall for lunch and she had just come up to them. "You're following what a book says," she added her tone even, but her face was dark.

"Er… it's not like that," Harry said tactlessly, "it's not like you and Riddle."

Ginny narrowed her eyes at him, but didn't say anything.

"Look, I'm going to use the book okay," Harry said firmly and it was clear that he wasn't going to listen to what anyone had to say about it.

O

The next week went by with no free time and nothing too exciting happening, because everyone was working hard at their school work. Ron complained loudly at that, but he was ignored (and even he realized how important it was for him to study like this). The only exciting thing that happened was when Harry went to his first 'lesson' with Dumbledore. Ron and Hermione had waited up for him to return… which was the only alone time they had the whole week, something that Ron was quick to point out (and that they were going to have to do something about that).

When Harry got back to the common room he cleared his throat loudly to break the two apart (Hermione had made him promise he would tell them as soon as possible or he wouldn't have bothered). It was really fascinating hearing about Voldemort's past… even though Harry was telling them about Voldemort's parents this time and he wasn't really in the story yet. However, it was true it was hard to see why Dumbledore was telling Harry this, it didn't seem like it was going to help him. True knowing your enemy is important to defeating, and knowledge could be a powerful weapon as she knew well, but still.

"Don't tell the others this though," Harry said after he had finished explaining about the Gaunt. "Dumbledore said that I could only tell you guys about this. He said that the more people that knows the more chances it has that Voldemort would find out how much Dumbledore knows."

"So why tell us?" Hermione asked. "Er… not that I don't like that you did… I was just wondering…"

"He said I could," Harry shrugged. "I suppose he knows that you wouldn't say anything… and maybe that I need to tell someone. Look, it's getting late, I think I'll head up."

"Yeah… I'll be there soon," Ron said.

"I bet you will," Harry smirked at the two of them. "Take your time."

"Shut up Harry," Ron and Hermione both said, blushing a little.

Ron didn't stay down there too long, though he made the most of his time, knowing that he wasn't going to get much of it in the next week. He was right, though they had spent most of the day together, it was never alone. They were usually always surrounded by books, and Harry, Neville and Ginny were around them, though Neville wasn't their whenever they were studying Herbology or Charms (he had decided to take the class after all… and that had nothing to do with the person that he was studying with during those time).

When Saturday came, and it was time for the Quidditch tryouts (Harry was made captain this year and Ginny and Ron were trying to make the team), they all made their way down to the pitch.

"I don't know if I should do this," Ron said, looking a little pale. "I mean last year…"

"You were brilliant," Hermione encouraged.

"You weren't even there for that game," Ron pouted.

"I miss that game Ron, but I don't need to see it to know that you're brilliant," Hermione said. "I know you are."

"Thanks," Ron smiled down at her. "But of course seeing as you don't know a thing about Quidditch, I can't really take your word for it."

"Prat," Hermione said smacking him. Then she leaned up and kissed his cheek, and whispered. "Just have confidence in yourself Ron, you can do this, I know you can."

Ron felt weak in the knees after she said that, his face was red and he smiled goofy at her. He couldn't say what it meant to him that she believed in him like this. He didn't know what he did to deserve a girl like this. "Thanks Mione," he whispered back and then went off to join the others.

She then went into the stands where she found Neville sitting.

"So Nev… how's it going with you and Hannah?" Hermione asked.

"Alright," Neville blushed.

"Still haven't asked her out yet have you," Hermione said.

"No," Neville said. "And it only seems to be getting harder to."

"Then may I suggest that you asked her soon," Hermione smirked.

Neville rolled his eyes. "Why did I tell you this again?"

"Beats me," Hermione chuckled.

"I was thinking about asking her to Hogsmeade… but who knows when we'll be able to do that," Neville sighed.

"That's a good idea," Hermione said and she was about to say something else but Neville pointed out that Harry had started trying out the Chasers and they should watch Ginny. The tryout seemed to take forever. There had to be more the a hundred people there, and most of them sucked. Neither Hermione nor Neville were very confident fliers but they knew that much (and they knew that they could have out flown a few of the people). Halfway through the Beaters tryout Hannah and a few of her Hufflepuff friends joined them and Hermione could see firsthand how Neville reacted with her. She could see it right away that Hannah had feelings for Neville too, and she could see that they really would make a lovely couple. When it was time for the Keeper tryouts Hermione excused herself from their company, mainly because she didn't want to talk to Ernie (one of Hannah's friends) about her study schedule anymore, though she was really nervous for Ron too.

So, she moved as close as she could get to the goals and waited for Ron's turn. While there, she was able to hear the other people trying out talk, one guy in particular was really annoying. She realized quickly that he was talking about Ron… and Ginny, and he wasn't saying anything nice. She gritted her teeth when she heard that, she wanted to curse him so badly. She could see at once that this guy wouldn't be a good element on the team. However, when he took to his broom, it was obvious he was a good flier. After watching him make his first three saves she thought about cursing him again, she had even brought her wand out, but she couldn't do it. Even though no one was looking at her and she could have gotten away with it easy enough, she couldn't do it. She had told Ron that she believed in him. And she did, it didn't matter how good this guy was, there was no way that he was going beat Ron.

He had saved five, and she knew that Ron was feeling beyond nervous when he looked at her, his face was almost green. But she smiled at him encouraged and shouted that he could do it. He didn't smile, or look any less nervous, but his eyes were more detriment this time. Her nerves were on edged, but he saved the first one… the second one… the third one… the fourth one (barely) and yes… he saved them all!

However, there was a problem now… there were two Keeper that had saved everything, so what was Harry going to do now? She noticed that Harry was on the ground now and he was looking thoughtful.

"So what is going to happen now, Captain?" the annoying boy said.

Harry didn't answer him right away, he was still thinking. "Well, I'm going to have to make a decision now aren't I, McLaggen?"

"Aren't you going to have the Chasers shoot on us some more," McLaggen said in a busy voice.

"I don't think so," Harry said coldly, Hermione could see that he was quite annoyed by this guy too.

"So you're going to just pick now," McLaggen said, his eyes narrowing. "You better pick what's best for the team."

Harry's expression was hard to read for anyone that didn't know him, but Hermione could tell (and Ginny too judging by her smirk) that he was thinking that he was definitely doing what was best for the team. "Ron is Keeper."

"You're just picking your best…" McLaggen glared at him.

"If you really wanted to be on this team, why weren't you here last year?" Harry questioned.

"I told you…" McLaggen started.

"Yes… I think I would prefer having someone on the team that puts Quidditch before a bet," Harry said. "I made my decision McLaggen, Ron is the Keeper."

"You have no idea what you're doing Potter," McLaggen spat and then stocked off the field.

"Thanks Harry," Ron said smiling smugly.

"No, thank you," Harry said. "I don't know if I could have stand dealing with him all year."

"Now that this is all decided," Ginny said. "Don't you think you should say something, oh fearless captain."

"Yeah, there will be no mocking of the captain on my team," Harry said.

"Well, I might as well leave right now," Ginny smirked and Harry chuckled.

"Okay, for really now," Harry said. "You all did good, and our first real practices will be on Wednesday."

"Ron, you did brilliantly!" Hermione shouted when he got close.

"Thanks Mione," Ron beamed, and just like the last time that he did well, he started talking about all the saves he had made. She found that she liked it when he was confident like this; he rarely had anything that he talked about this passionately, and his good mood was contagious. Harry, Ron and Hermione went to Hagrid's hut, Ginny saying she had something to do (but really she knew how upset Hagrid was about not having any of the sixth years taking his class and she didn't want to be there) and Neville was still talking with Hannah.

It was difficult to get Hagrid to talk to them in the first place and when he did, it was obvious that he was hurt by their not taking his class. However, when he started to cry out of nowhere, Hermione tried to comfort him. It was Aragog, Hagrid's giant spider that had nearly killed Ron and Harry, and he was sick. She felt so bad for Hagrid, though she didn't really mind the creature dying, she knew that Hagrid was going to take it hard… he was already taking it hard. After Hagrid had gather himself he started talking to them like his old self and they happily chatted the rest of the afternoon away.

However, seeing as Hagrid's food was deadly, the three of them made their way back after Great Hall where Harry was asked by Professors Slughorn to come to a dinner he had plan for some of the students. To her surprise, Slughorn asked her to go too, however he completely ignored Ron like he wasn't even there, something that seem to really bother him. Harry told Slughorn that he couldn't go because he had detention with Snape (sometimes Harry could act so childish, she thought). Slughorn seemed confident that he could change Snape's mind but of course there was no chance of that happening. After he left for his detention Ron turned to Hermione and he looked annoyed.

"So, I suppose you're going to go to that dinner now," Ron said coldly.

"I don't know," Hermione said, not appreciating the tone at all. "I was thinking about staying but if you're going to be acting like that I might as well go."

"Yeah, right, you were always going to go, don't use me as an excuse," Ron huffed, his ears turning red.

"Why are you so angry at me for this," Hermione said. "It's not like I asked to be invited."

"No, you don't have to ask to be invited to places like this," Ron said and looked away from her. His expression was unreadable, but there was something in his eyes that she didn't like to see at all. "You should go… I'm sure that Ginny was invited too. You two could have fun there."

"Do you really think that I'm going to have fun?" Hermione scoffed, she couldn't enjoy herself if she knew he was fuming like this.

Ron surprised her there by smiling. He lean forward and rested his forehead again hers. "Yes, I want you to have fun."

Hermione heart beat faster as he stayed where he was, she could smell all of her favorite smells coming off of him and she didn't want to move. "I think I might have more fun here."

"Oh, you definitely would have," Ron softly, but she could see his smirk. "But your punishment for getting invited to this party is that you have to go to it."

Hermione pulled away from him shaking her head. "You are such a prat."

"But I'm you're prat," Ron smiled.

"That you are," Hermione smiled, too. Soon after that Hermione went to Slughorn's dinner party, with Ginny (Ron was right about her being invited). She had completely missed the look in Ron's eyes when she left, but that's the way he wanted it.

On the morning of her seventh birthday she woke up excitedly. She was an adult… well, in the wizarding world at least. She was able to do magic wherever she wanted now and she wouldn't get in trouble… that is as long as she didn't do anything illegal. It was weird, she didn't feel any different and yet, she did.

She looked over to her drawer and notice there was a presents on it from her family, Ginny, Harry and Neville… but nothing from Ron. Pushing the last thought aside, she opened her gifts for her parents, reading the note first of course.

Dear Hermione,

I can't believe that my little girl is actually seventeen today. How did you get so old, it seem like only yesterday I was taking you to your first class... you in that yellow…

It seems like your father wants me to just get to the point already, so I just have to say Happy Birthday, and I hope you're surprised about your gift.

Love From,

Mum

Hermione smiled at the letter, but wondered why her dad didn't sign it, however as soon as she opened the gift, finding that it was a wizarding watch, and a nice one too, she noticed another note in there.

Dear Hermione,

I was told that it was tradition for a witch or wizard to get a watch for their seventeenth birthday by a very excited Arthur Weasley, who insisted on taking me to shop to get one. My suspicion is that he just wanted an excuse to come over to a Muggle house for awhile, because it must have taken us an hour to leave the house because he asked all these questions about some of the things we have. Of course, you know that I was no better once we got to Diagon Alley… it's a marvelous place… even though it was quite darker than I last saw it. Arthur assures me that this is a good watch, and I hope you can understand it (but of course you can, you understand everything), because I sure as heck can't.

Have a happy birthday sweetheart, I love you so much.

Love,

Dad

P.S. What was this that I heard about you and Ronald… you have some explaining to do!

Hermione snorted as she read this letter from her dad and looked at the watch with a smile. It seem to symbolize to her more than just the tradition that it had, it said that her parents really did accept the world that she lived in now.

After that she opened her other presents from her friend, they were all nice and she smiled at them but it was the watch that she was now proudly wearing, that she liked best. When she got downstairs all of her friends were there and they all wished her a happy birthday.

"You didn't get me anything," Hermione said to Ron after she hugged all her friends.

"Don't be ridiculous Mione, of course I did," Ron said, his ears red. "I just wanted to see… to see your face when you opened it."

"Really," Hermione smiled at him, blushing a little.

Ron looked more flustered them before, "not now though. After classes."

"Okay," Hermione said.

"That's a beautiful watch Mione," Ginny said.

"Yeah, my parents got it for me," Hermione said. "Your dad actually gave them the idea."

"I don't think so, Mione," Ginny smirked. "I mean, he did, but not really."

"And what does that mean?" Hermione asked.

"It means that Dad never would have thought of this if Ron didn't mention to him that your parents wouldn't know about the tradition," Ginny said.

Hermione didn't know what to say to that, but she just smiled, Ron could really be thoughtful when he wanted to be.

"And I think it's about time that I told you something else," Ginny said.

"What's that?" Hermione asked.

"I didn't come up with the name Mione," Ginny said. "Ron called you that this one time when he was talking about how annoying you were to George… I thought it fit you."

"You thought a name that Ron said while annoyed with me was a good nickname for me," Hermione said.

"Yep," Ginny smiled. "Isn't, Mione."

"I suppose it is," Hermione said, shivering inside to know that Ron had actually thought of that name. Like Ginny had said, he was annoyed with her at the time, but still… you don't think of a name like that unless you have feelings for that person.

Somehow, and it took a lot of work, Ron had convinced Hermione that they could give their homework a rest for one day and spend it peacefully together. So, it was now seven o'clock and they were in the Room of Requirements. Ron had thought of a comfy room that was a lot like his living room at the Burrow and they were just sitting on the couch, Hermione in his arms, as they looked into the fire and talked about the little stuff in their lives.

It wasn't until they were getting ready to leave that Ron finally gave Hermione her present. He was red when he handed it over to her, and she smiled at him, not really caring what it was that he got her, the fact that he cared this much really touched her. It was a silver bracelet that had a little charm, a cat, on it.

"Ron it's beautiful!" Hermione exclaimed.

"I made the charm myself," Ron said proudly, obviously relieved that Hermione really liked the present; he had been worrying about it since he thought of the idea. He had a feeling that she would appreciate it more if it was something that he made himself.

"Really!" Hermione said, looking at the cat charm more closely. "I didn't know you could work with metals… how did you do this?"

Ron chuckled at that and said one word. "Magic!"

Hermione groaned, blushing before she started laughing. "I should have known that."

"Some most brilliant witch of your generation you are," Ron teased.

Hermione made a face at that and then asked, "Er… Ron, is that a string in the cats mouth?"

"No," Ron said, "it's a rat tail."

Hermione looked at him oddly. "Why?"

"Well, it's supposed to be Crookshanks…" Ron started.

"I gathered that," Hermione smiled at him, it really did look like her beloved cat. "In third year I take it."

"Yeah… it's the picture of what I wish could have happened," Ron said, his eyes turning dark.

"And that look is why I'm asking why you chose this…" Hermione said.

"Because this was when I first realized that I liked you," Ron said. "Or I should say, this was when I first realized that I couldn't stand really fighting with you... it hurt not speaking to you."

"So you made a charm to remind us of a fight," Hermione asked, trying to sound confuse because it was fun to watch Ron fumble around trying to explain this.

"I made the charm," Ron said wrapping his arms around her and looking fiercely into her eyes, "to remain us of one of the most important things in my life."

Before she could give him any kind of answer to that, he was kissing her, and she was kissing him right back. He certainly did know how to get this kind of feelings from her. Feelings of pure happiness. She knew that she could stay in this room with Ron forever and she would be as happy as it is possible to be, but she couldn't. They had to go back to the real word, go back to the Gryffindor tower.

"So you really liked it?" Ron asked, as they walked into the common room hand and hand.

"It's the most thoughtful gift anyone has given me," Hermione said truthfully. "I love it."

"Good… though it's going to be hard for me to think of something better next time," Ron said. "You wouldn't mind if I just make you more charms."

"I wouldn't mind that," Hermione's smiled was very bright indeed, loving the fact that he was thinking about future presents. "But now I have to think of something good to get you… You know I never liked to be outdone."

Ron looked uncomfortable about something for a second but he was quickly smiling, "just like you know I won't let you out do me."

"Obviously, it wouldn't be a challenge if you just give in," Hermione laughed. "I… you've made this the best birthday I've ever had," she added hugging him. "Thank you, Ron."

"Well, you're very important to me Mione," Ron said hugging her back, "I had to try."