Hermione and Ron were walking along with Mr. Weasley to king cross station.

"Ron we have to first go to the Prefect carriage for instructions and patrol the corridor abit."

"Yea I know hermione, forget that, listen this is the first time I won't be sitting with Harry at Hogwarts. It's just wierd!" said Ron.

"But we can come in later, we don't have to stay there forever."

"No I mean, do you think he will be okay?"

"Oh I don't know. I honestly don't know what is going in Harry's mind nowadays. He seems so distant."

"Yea he has been so awkward since he came back. Getting angry more, bursting out for no reason. He was really awkward about the Prefect badge. And he left the party early too yesterday. This isn't him."

"Maybe we should avoid it infront of him. Once he goes back to Hogwarts and settles himself, then we can relax abit."

"Ron that's - that's a good idea! " smiling at him.

"Indeed Ron!" said Mr. Weasley who was clearly listening to their conversation and smiling. Both of them looked shocked, turned around and went quiet for the rest of the journey.

.

.

"We're — well — Ron and I are supposed to go into the prefect carriage," Hermione said awkwardly.

Ron wasn't looking at Harry; he seemed to have become intensely inerested in the fingernails on his left hand.

"Oh," said Harry. "Right. Fine."

As they dragged their trunks to Prefect carriage and settled themselves there, they looked around for the rest of the prefects from each house.

"HI Ron!" said Padma.

"Errr Hi. You're prefect from Ravenclaw?" said Ron.

"Yea. And you're from Gryffindor" said Padma, smiling at him. He smiled back. Hermione couldn't understand what is there to laugh.

"Your hair looks nice!" said Padma. Ron was looking shocked. "Err thanks"

He looked up at hermione to ask her to rescue him but she was looking at Padma with a grumpy face. The Head boy and Head girl gave them instructions which Hermione was listening to intently but she noted Ron wasn't paying attention at all. He kept touching his badge, then looked over each Prefect. She knew he would ask her for the details. After the instructions they patrolled the corridor and then hermione said "you could atleast listen to what they were saying?"

"What? I was listening hermione!"

"Were you? You kept looking over everything and especially padma"

"No way! She was talking to me, I was avoiding her and I did listen to the head boy and girl. Okay. Now let's go to Harry, this is really boring." She gave him an angry look and continued patrolling.

As they entered Harry's compartment, Ron immediately snatched a frog from Harry and started eating making her more furious. They started discussing about the Prefects when the girl sitting in the compartment asked Ron about Padma being his date and if she would have gone, she wouldn't have minded not dancing. WHO IS SHE? Why is she flirting with Ron. She looked over at Ginny who was giggling making her more furious. Then Ron decided to abuse his position and she corrected him into not doing it, but then he had to Crack a joke making her smile. But nobody laughed as loud and long than this girl. She couldn't believe it. This girl was openly flirting Ron. What has gotten to the girls of Hogwarts. First Padma now this girl. Maybe Ron has gotten attractive. But he always was. She decided she will do research of her but not now,later maybe.

But she couldn't believe her eyes how this girl still managed to join them in the carriage. Thankfully Ron sat with her, and she sat opposite Ron. Throughout the journey she kept looking at Ron with a smile. Ron barely noticed this but she noticed it. This girl definitely has something going on in her mind about Ron and she is probably going to ask Ginny all about her. Thankfully they reached Hogwarts and she drifted to the Ravenclaw table.

She had been irritated throughout the dinner. As they escorted the first years she said "Ron! You're not guiding them. You're being stupid."

"Hermione! What's wrong. Why are you being annoyed at me for no reason. I noticed it since the Prefect carriage."

"Oh, no its-well nothing Ron. I'm just tired I guess" said hermione but she thought he was right. It isn't his fault if padma or that girl have been flirting with him. And he never payed attention to both of them. She shouldn't be harsh on him. "I'm sorry Ron!"

"Errrr...for?" said Ron. Oh God. Ron is the stupidest git ever.

"For nothing. I shouldnt jibe on you. That's it. Okay. Let's go now."

"Yea Harry must bf waiting" said Ron looking at her awkwardly. Both of them went upstairs to dormitory.

.

.

"Oh, shut up, the pair of you," said Harry heavily, as Ron opened his mouth to argue back. Hermione and Ron both froze, looking angry and offended. "Can't you give it a rest?" he said. "You're always having a go at each other, it's driving me mad." And abandoning his shepherd's pie, he swung his schoolbag back over his shoulder and left them sitting there.

"Enough with Harry anger! I'm putting my foot down. Can you believe him Ron?" said Hermione angrily.

"Hermione! Give him a break. I can't believe I'm the sensible one between the three of us right now.!" sniggering now.

"What Ron!? How can you justify him!"

"I don't know what's got into both of you lately. Both having a row at me. He was angry at Seamus and having a go on his mother and you snapping at me over everything. I don't know what's wrong with both of you but I'm trying really hard to keep both of you down. "

Hermione looked at him for a moment." I'm sorry and I will try not to snap at you. And you tell your Harry too that I will stop snapping at you. "

" It's okay hermione! " laughing now.

"What? Why are you laughing?"

Ron was now roaring with laughter, while caught his breath and said " You just snap at me again. Admit it, you can't live without snapping at me"

Hermione had a smile on her face now. These cute little moments with Ron just lightens her up. "Oh well yea I guess."

"Snapping at each other is our thing. We shouldn't take that away from us" said Ron smiling and winking now. "But better avoid infront of Harry"

Feeling better now hermione said "Yes but we always bicker, why is he being angry on us now for it. He keeps having a go at us for no reason. Like he find reasons to burst out on us"

"Hermione! Who else would he have a go if not us! He hasn't got anyone to take temper out on. And you are being really unfair to him. Look how everyone is treating him. Even Snape isn't sparing him. We really have to be there for him hermione. We have to stop him and keep him normal okay."

"Youre right Ron. But I still think he shouldn't lose it out on us. So you tell him from me to not take it out on us. And we will not argue anymore." said Hermione and adding later "in front of him" said with a smile.

"Yea okay." smirking too. "Let's go, I'm going to Divination."

"Yes, see you after Airthmancy"

.

.

It was a Sunday. Hermione had finished all her homework but Harry and Ron haven't even started. She knew if she goes over to them, they would ask for her homework which decided she will not give as they didn't listen to her for not wastimg time on Quidditch. She however sat at a distance and saw them trying to complete their homework. She took out her knitting needles to make socks for the elves.

"Hi Ginny!" said hermione

"Hi Hermione! Still knitting?"

"Yes! Nothing else to do, both of them haven't touched their homework whole week now trying to finish it off. What are you doing? If free why don't you help me out?"

"Yea I'm bored. Might as well knit socks!"

"Oh good. I have been meaning to talk to you."

"Yes go on."

"Who is this Luna girl Ginny?"

"Why? Why are you asking?" She asked curiously with a smile.

"Ginny! Just tell me okay."

"No you tell me first. Why are you asking about her." she said with a smile.

"Oh okay. I want to know why is she taking so much interest in us that day. Talking to us, and joining in the carriage..."

"Taking interest in us? Or Ron?" said Ginny with her eyebrow raised. Hermione blushed. She knew she could no longer hide it from Ginny.

"Ginny!" smiling now. "Stop it!"

"I knew it! But first admit it to me. I want to hear it!" grinning now widely.

"Oh okay! Why was she taking interest in Ron! Okay!"

"Hermione! Since when...?" Ginny asked in a surprise. "I never thought..."

"Oh come on!" hermione was blushing worse than ever.

"Tell me everything Hermione! When?" laughing now a little.

Hermione sighed loudly. "since forever" said in a small voice.

"My God! You like this idiot here. I can't believe it hermione. You are like tje brightest witch of our generation and this!"

"Hey don't say that! He's amazing Ginny. You just don't notice that!"

"Urgh! He is such a baby Hermione. So that's why you said no to Krum. For Ron!? God I need a minute to sink that in. Hermione Granger rejects International Quidditch Player for...Ron!"

"Stop it now Ginny!" laughing so hard now.

"How did it happen?" said ginny

"Oh I don't know. Its always been him. He-he really makes me feel special"

"By bickering with you all the time!" said Ginny rolling her eyes.

"Noooo...Gunny stop it now. But since when did you know?"

"I-I kinda of knew. He talks so much about you in summer. During your World Cup stay, he was so possessive about you. And then ofcourse the Yule Ball! But I don't understand how Viktor came into this?"

"I was waiting for Ron to ask, he never did. Instead asks that Fleur girl. I was so mad! Viktor had asked me out. But I couldn't say yes to him. But this idiot never asked. And when I said yes to Viktor, he bothers to ask only when Neville makes him notice. I was so mad when he didn't notice me. And then lavender said if you want to check if a boy likes you flirt with someone else. And I thought maybe if he is not interested I shouldn't hold onto him. "

" Wow. So the advise you gave me, so actually what you were doing. Yea I remember it now. You by mistake mentioned Ron. " finny laughing now." so that wasn't a mistake. It was actually you thinking about Ron. "

" Well yea. But then Viktor was so nice. I couldn't say no to him. I had to choose. Ron wasn't being an option at all in front of him. But...I already had chosen him in my heart. No matter how many times I tried to justify Viktor my heart use to run to him "

" Awwww hermione. Mum will be so happy. " said gunny smiling now.

" Your Mum! You know she thought it's me and Harry but Harry cleared him. And then she saw me and Ron holding hands. I was sooo embarrassed!"

" I'm sure she must have an idea. She really has a knack on stuff like this. I still can't believe you like this idiot! That's why you were sure it isn't Harry! "

" It was never Harry. Ron just melts my heart and makes me laugh, and his smile, he is so sensitive yet so protective. I-I... "

" Ewwwww stop it Hermione. He's my brother too. So tell me, what are you going to do? Did ask him out yet? "

" Oh I'm not sure what he feels Ginny. He is never clear. "

" I think hes into you Hermione. "

" Really? You think so. I felt it when he suddenly started hating Viktor. It made no sense unless he was jealous. I sometimes sense it but... I don't know. I'm just scared to lose his friendship too. "

" Hermione this isn't going to work. You can't stay friends with him forever. Look other girls are making a pass and working on it."

"Which girls Ginny?"

"Oh forget it."

"No tell me, is it Luna? Or padma?"

"I don't know about Padma, but Luna is. Okay. And she came to ask me about you. She suspects you could be a hurdle!"

"Oh I don't know what to do. I'm so lost at this Ginny. Help me out!"

"Whu don't you find your thong. You know, something which excites Ron about you. You know something with which you know Ron will feel good about you and maybe more than he needs to."

"He just likes to praise me sometimes."

"When does he praise you."

"Usually when I say something logical or when I help him out in homework"

"Do that's it. That will be your thing. Homework. Get him to notice you by helping him out in homework and make your move."

"Oh I don't know, I don't think I should help them. They wouldn't learn it at all."

"Oh I'm not saying write their homework. You know just help out. Make him notice you more than a friend. Otherwise hermione, I'm telling you that Luna girl will make her move. She really likes Ron."

"Oh I Wil try. I-I am so bad at this."

"Still are you sure it's Ron?"

"Yes. I'm quite sure. He just makes me feel alive. I'm attracted to him badly that I can't even tell you how bad it is.."

"Don't please. I don't want to hear." grinning now. "Least you can do is start flirting with him abit."

"Ginny! He isn't like that. You know it."

"God at this rate you won't be going anywhere with him. You barely hold hands, hardly touch him, bicker instead of flirting."

"Okay! I will try okay. Now change the topic. This has gotten so embarrassing. I mean, after all you're his sister."

Ginny rolling her eyes "who is trying to step up. Why don't you go and help him abit on homework now!"

"Okay, going. Wish me luck"

Ginny rolled her eyes again.

At half-past eleven, Hermione wandered over to them, yawning.

"Nearly done?"

"No," said Ron shortly.

"Jupiter's biggest moon is Ganymede, not Callisto," she said, pointing over Ron's shoulder at a line in his Astronomy essay, "and it's Io that's got the volcanos."

"Thanks," snarled Ron, scratching out the offending sentences.

"Sorry, I only —"

"Yeah, well, if you've just come over here to criticize —"

"Ron —"

"I haven't got time to listen to a sermon, all right, Hermione, I'm

up to my neck in it here —"

She noticed Percy letter to Ron. She couldn't believe why he would send it. They read the letter and then to his surprise he threw the letter into the fire. Hermione just melted again. He is so loyal to Harry and me.

Hermione was looking at Ron with an odd expression on her face.

"Oh, give them here," she said abruptly.

"What?" said Ron.

"Give them to me, I'll look through them and correct them," she said.

"Are you serious? Ah, Hermione, you're a lifesaver," said Ron,

"what can I — ?"

"What you can say is, 'We promise we'll never leave our homework this late again,' " she said, holding out both hands for their essays, but she looked slightly amused all the same.

So Ginny was right. He melted too, with me helping him out in homework. Maybe that could be our thing which could make Ron notice me. And maybe like me more than friends. Meanwhile Ron was absorbing how Hermione just helped him out of nowhere. She is amazing! Truly amazing! Always care in the end, no matter what. Felt like hugging her right now. But then Ron thought since when has he thought of hugging a girl okay. But this is hermione. He can hug her. His special hermione who just saved them from alot of work.

"Okay, write that down," Hermione said to Ron, pushing his essay and a sheet covered in her own writing back to Ron, "and then copy out this conclusion that I've written for you."

"Hermione, you are honestly the most wonderful person I've ever met," said Ron weakly, "and if I'm ever rude to you again —"

"— I'll know you're back to normal," said Hermione. But she blushed. These kind of words from Ron always make her weak on knees and blush.