Ron turned and walked past Ginny and started to slowly climb the stairs.
He felt as if his heart had been turned to glass and then one of those
looney toons 10-ton weights dropped on it. His best friend had turned his
back on him. Ron couldn't really blame him. But why did he keep saying
those horrible things about Colin? He didn't hate him. He didn't exactly
like him, but he could certainly hang out with him. So why all the
horrible thoughts and words? He was still thinking deeply when he reached
his room. Ron put his hand on the half of bed where Harry slept and rubbed
up and down the sheet. Somehow, Harry, somehow, I'll figure out what's
wrong with me.
Hermione and Molly arrived home Hermione's things about ten minutes after Harry and Dennis left. Ginny was still standing in the doorway between the living room and kitchen as she was when Ron appeared.
"Ginny, what's wrong? Is Ron-" Molly started.
"He went upstairs. Harry and Dennis came by and picked up Harry's things just a bit ago. Ron walked in after Harry had gone back through the fireplace. I was talking to Dennis when Ron looked over my shoulder at him. After that, he waved and went through as well."
"Oh, what is wrong with the two of them? Why can't they just sit down and talk about this?" Hermione asked.
"They are both very strong willed boys, Hermione, I'm sure that they eventually will, it'll just take some time."
"I'm going to figure out what the deal is here if it takes forever."
"Good luck to you, Hermione. If you can figure out adolescent boys, you will never have to work again," Molly said with a wry smile as the walked away.
"Something isn't right, Ginny. Your brother would never say those things, would he?"
"I don't know. I do know that he is really close to Harry. All the times when Harry's not here, he's all that Ron can talk about. 'I wonder how Harry's doing? I wish Harry was here' and so on."
"Could he be jealous, Ginny? Might that be the root of all of this?"
"Jealous of Colin taking away his attention? Maybe."
"I'll ask him tomorrow. Today has been rather, well, rough. I'm going to turn in early so I won't be too exhausted for the feast tomorrow night. G'night, Ginny."
"See you in a bit. I'm tired also."
*Back in Diagon Alley*
The boys had just returned from a wonderful pot roast dinner, and had cherry pie for dessert. Stuffed as they were, they made it back up to the room just in time to have a pillow fight. Once they were thoroughly tired, they settled down and got changed for bed. It was getting late and they had to meet the train at 10. Dennis was yawning heavily and Colin's eyes were droopy.
"Go get changed you two. You'll fall asleep standing up if you wait much longer. Go on, go." Harry laughed as he said that, thinking that he sounded like a dad.
"Okay, dad, we're going," Colin said, reading his mind.
Harry also changed, chucking his jeans and going for the shorts and a t-shirt sleep ensemble tonight. He laid in the middle of the bed and closed his eyes. He had just realized that it was *way* too quiet in here. He glanced to his left just in time to see the two Creeveys jumping off the night table and desk like Mexican luchador wrestlers. He rolled so that Colin just missed him, but Dennis got him. That of course, started a wrestling match which lasted for about ten minutes.
After the bed sheets were thoroughly disheveled, they stopped and decided it was time to sleep, mostly because Colin about fell asleep while having Harry in a headlock. The lights went out, and so did the three of them, Colin on one side, Harry in the middle, and Dennis on the other.
In the wee hours of the morning, Dennis woke as normal having to pee. He slipped out of bed and used the rest room. Coming back, he saw in the moonlight a picture that Colin would die for. Colin was laying on one of Harry's arms, and had his arm thrown over Harry like a big teddy bear. Dennis dug the camera from Colin's bag and took a single shot in the moonlight. *snap*. He replaced the camera and crawled back into bed. He was asleep in under a minute.
(ah, if I were in that bed…)
When they awoke in the morning, the grabbed a quick breakfast and took a taxi to the station. They were of course running late. It seemed to be law that no one could ever get there on time and the law was true again today. There were dozens of people running around 9&¾ trying to stow their bags and meeting friends.
They boarded the train and started looking for a car to sit in. They walked past the car that he, Ron, and Hermione had shared for the past four years. He saw Hermione and was considering going in, but then he saw Ron. He walked on after giving Hermione a friendly wave. She smiled back, a bit hurt, but nodded in understanding.
They found an empty car a little further up and they stopped there. A few of the Creevey's friends eventually wandered in and joined them, awestruck to be riding with Harry. The chatted idly for the next few hours.
In the trio's former car, Hermione and Ron were about to have quite a talk.
"Okay Ron, we've got a ride ahead of us, so we're going to figure out what the heck is going on here."
"Oh, good." Ron said glumly, and without emotion.
"Start talking." Hermione said, demandingly.
"About what?"
"About whatever has been bothering you since we were at Colin's house."
"Nothing is bothering me, except for the fact that Harry hates me. Nothing more."
"What set that off? Tell me about the trip. Anything. The whole day. We have to figure this out. I don't know if I can deal with this all year."
"Um.. Well, it started like this. I went down and found your letter and…"
*Meanwhile, in the other Important Car*
Colin, Dennis, Harry, and a handful of third and fourth years were talking about quiddich when Seamus stuck his head in.
"Hey Harry, ready for school? Think about it, only three more years and we'll- hey, where's Ron and Hermione?"
"They're back in another car." Dennis answered.
"Why aren't you with them?"
"We have had a big time fight. I don't want to talk to him again."
"Blimey Harry, really? Wow! I'd of never expected that," Seamus said "well, I'll see you later. I've got to find Neville." Seamus closed the door and the boys resumed talking quiddich.
Finding Neville dropped off Seamus' list of important things to do the millisecond the door closed. He took off looking for Ron and Hermione.
*The Other Car*
"…and we stopped by a little pond to have lunch and then I went into the woods to um, you know, and then I came back and- Crikey! I'd forgotten all about that part! Hermione, when I came back he was sprawled out in the grass and when he came to, he said that his scar had hurt so bad that he passed out! I was going to let Harry mention it when we were by ourselves, but he never did, and I was a little busy looking at Jodee- er, Mrs. Creevey and I forgot."
"Ron, that is a rather important thing to have forgotten. Goodness, you-know-who could have been somewhere around there. Or Death Eaters. Or something else pretty bad. Now, what else happened?"
Ron went on to explain the rest of the trip, remembering the rest of the details.
"Nothing in that explains anything, though. Curse it all."
"I'm sorry Hermione, I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm just a freak."
Hermione suddenly remembered her conversation with Ginny last night. "Ron, are you jealous of Colin? Any at all?"
"Jealous, of Colin?" Ron said in a very undignified voice
"I thought so. The way you said that confirmed it for me. Ginny told me you were very close to Harry. Is that what this is?"
Ron looked at his feet. Ron looked out the window. He looked back at his feet. "Yeah, I guess that somewhere in me, I thought that if he was friends with Colin, he couldn't be friends with me as well. But I never meant to say any of those awful things, I swear still. I'd do anything for him. No matter what, I'd love Harry until the end of time."
Ron was completely shocked that he had said that. He definitely wasn't planning on telling Hermione anything of that sort. Hermione was stunned but not shocked, as she always had a 'feeling'. The only thing that could have possibly made the situation any worse for Ron was the fact that the car door slid open while he was saying the last part and Seamus had stuck his head in.
"Seamus!" Ron yelped. "Oh no. you didn't hear- please say you didn't…"
"Actually Ron, I did. But worry not. Your 'secret' is safe with me."
"Why did you say secret like that?" Ron challenged.
"Ron, some of us aren't as bloody unobservant as you. I've had a suspicion for a while now."
"You're not going to - to tell anyone, right? Please?"
"Don't worry lad, mine lips are sealed. Something like that isn't the kind of thing that I'd talk about."
Hermione had been sitting stone silent for their brief exchange. She wasn't quite sure of how to take it. Yeah, she'd thought that maybe…you know, Ron liked Harry a bit. That still doesn't explain how Ron would loose his mind for a few seconds (because she believed that he didn't mean to say those things). And why didn't it happen when they were just talking about Colin? Why only around Harry?
She shook her head to clear the thinking smoke and looked at Ron. "That still doesn't really answer anything, you know."
Ron looked startled. "You mean that I've just told two something that I've kept a secret for a long time and you tell me that you've known all along? Am I that bloody obvious? Bloody hell, I wonder who else might know?"
"Ron," Seamus interjected, "Probably no one. Hermione has been around you more than anyone else 'cept Harry. As for me, well, some of us just know these things."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ron questioned Seamus with a big 'duh' sign on his face.
"Well, Ron, I guess what it means is that it takes one to know one." With that, Seamus got up and walked to the door. "I'll see you two at the feast." the door slid shut behind him.
"It takes one to know one what? Hermione, what did that mean?"
Blushing and rolling her eyes at Ron's innocence (or ignorance), she said "Ron, what Seamus meant is that he, is, um, he's gay too."
"What? He's gay too? Wait, what's this 'too'?"
"Oh Ron."
"Hermione, promise me you won't tell Harry. That's all I need. He already hates me, but if he finds out, well, you know, it would definitely be over."
"I promise Ron, I promise."
(Author's Note. I was going to fight the power and not have Seamus be gay, but I couldn't. it's just too fun. Sorry, I have no backbone. I will try to not make him the typical slut, though!)
They arrived at Hogwarts after a few hours more travel. In Harry's car, it was obvious that he had been 'adopted' by the younger years. He actually felt a little bad because he never even took the time to get to know any of them. He had maybe spoken to one or two over the years, most likely it was asking them to pleases move. The car was nearly full the entire time to Hogwarts, and by the time the did arrive the story of what had happened in Flourish and Blotts had spread through nearly the entire train. Even children who had never met either Harry or Ron knew. Draco definitely knew.
He wandered into Ron and Hermione's car half an hour before they arrived.
"What's the matter, Weasley? Your friend finally realized what wizarding trash you are and moved into a different car? Who's he with again? Oh yea, I remember. Colin Creevey. How does that make you feel, Weasel?"
Ron was determined that Draco wouldn't see him screw his face up to block the few tears he had left in him, so he turned to the window. "Go to hell, Malfoy."
Smelling blood, Draco moved in for the kill and stepped into the car. "Poor Weasel. It's still surprising that it took him four years to figure out you were worthless. I've known it since-"
He got no further because Hermione jumped up from her seat and punched Draco square in the nose. "That's enough out of you, *Malfoy*. How does it feel when you get hurt?" She stood between him and Ron. Draco was busy holding his nose and couldn't reply. "Oh no! I've hit a Malfoy. Oh no! he might run and tell his father who might tell my parents…oh, wait. What was that about a crying shame again, *Draco*? Oh, I remember." With that, she punched him again, harder than Tyson and he stumbled and fell out of their car. "Go tell your father that you got beaten by a Mudblood. And like Ron said, go to hell." She shut the door.
She looked at Ron, shaking her hand. "You know, that didn't hurt as much as I thought it would. Maybe he'll mouth off again sometime soon."
Ron looked at her and was flabbergasted. "Hermione, you, you punched the snot out of him. That was bloody brilliant."
"Actually, I punched the blood out of him. It was sort of gross. If he just wouldn't bleed, it would be much better."
"Snot, blood, whatever. It was great." For the first time in over a week, Ron was smiling.
They arrived at school and disembarked. Hagrid was there, as he had been for the last few years, pulling the first years aside and taking them to the boats. The older students got into the usual coaches and made their way up to the school grounds. Much of the conversations in the cars concerned one of three things. The first, and the least talked about of the bunch, was the attack on Hermione's family. The second was how Hermione knocked Draco Malfoy out of their car and left him covered in blood. The third, and overwhelmingly the most talked about, was the rift between Ron and Harry.
"Did you hear--?"
"Yeah, he said--"
"That's horrible. He must be--"
"Jealous. I think so too."
"They've not spoken all summer and--"
"I heard that Ron tried to curse him--"
"Yeah, Harry just managed to block it--"
"My brother said that he threatened to kill him--"
All this and more had spread around the school even before they got there. Rumor mills - even wizarding schools aren't immune. Everyone knew something had happened, but everyone had their own version of the tale. Probably the worst part of it all was that Ron was being ostracized by the majority of the school. His car was empty. He and Hermione had gotten separated in the exodus from the train and he'd not seen her since. A younger Hufflepuff stuck her head in, thinking the car was empty. Once she saw Ron, she squealed and ran to another car, whispering something to her friend.
When they arrived and stepped into the Great Hall, Hermione finally met up with Ron again. "There you are. I couldn't find you at the platform."
"You should have looked for the only singly-occupied car. That was me." He recounted the Hufflepuff girl to her.
She reached over and pulled Ron into a big hug. "I promise you, Ron, we'll get this worked out. I mean it."
"I hope so Hermione. I don't know if I can deal with a whole year of this.
They all walked to their tables and sat down. Hermione saw Harry and Colin coming into the room and motioned to them to come over, pointing to a few empty seats. He gave her a look that she could very easily read, no inner eye needed. It said that as Ron is sitting next to you, there is no chance I'll join you, nothing personal. Quite a few others saw that look and of course interpreted it in their own ways. Harry walked on and sat with some of the lower years in Gryffindor house.
The rest of the students found seats and Professor Dumbledore stood up and welcomed them back to Hogwarts.
Hermione and Molly arrived home Hermione's things about ten minutes after Harry and Dennis left. Ginny was still standing in the doorway between the living room and kitchen as she was when Ron appeared.
"Ginny, what's wrong? Is Ron-" Molly started.
"He went upstairs. Harry and Dennis came by and picked up Harry's things just a bit ago. Ron walked in after Harry had gone back through the fireplace. I was talking to Dennis when Ron looked over my shoulder at him. After that, he waved and went through as well."
"Oh, what is wrong with the two of them? Why can't they just sit down and talk about this?" Hermione asked.
"They are both very strong willed boys, Hermione, I'm sure that they eventually will, it'll just take some time."
"I'm going to figure out what the deal is here if it takes forever."
"Good luck to you, Hermione. If you can figure out adolescent boys, you will never have to work again," Molly said with a wry smile as the walked away.
"Something isn't right, Ginny. Your brother would never say those things, would he?"
"I don't know. I do know that he is really close to Harry. All the times when Harry's not here, he's all that Ron can talk about. 'I wonder how Harry's doing? I wish Harry was here' and so on."
"Could he be jealous, Ginny? Might that be the root of all of this?"
"Jealous of Colin taking away his attention? Maybe."
"I'll ask him tomorrow. Today has been rather, well, rough. I'm going to turn in early so I won't be too exhausted for the feast tomorrow night. G'night, Ginny."
"See you in a bit. I'm tired also."
*Back in Diagon Alley*
The boys had just returned from a wonderful pot roast dinner, and had cherry pie for dessert. Stuffed as they were, they made it back up to the room just in time to have a pillow fight. Once they were thoroughly tired, they settled down and got changed for bed. It was getting late and they had to meet the train at 10. Dennis was yawning heavily and Colin's eyes were droopy.
"Go get changed you two. You'll fall asleep standing up if you wait much longer. Go on, go." Harry laughed as he said that, thinking that he sounded like a dad.
"Okay, dad, we're going," Colin said, reading his mind.
Harry also changed, chucking his jeans and going for the shorts and a t-shirt sleep ensemble tonight. He laid in the middle of the bed and closed his eyes. He had just realized that it was *way* too quiet in here. He glanced to his left just in time to see the two Creeveys jumping off the night table and desk like Mexican luchador wrestlers. He rolled so that Colin just missed him, but Dennis got him. That of course, started a wrestling match which lasted for about ten minutes.
After the bed sheets were thoroughly disheveled, they stopped and decided it was time to sleep, mostly because Colin about fell asleep while having Harry in a headlock. The lights went out, and so did the three of them, Colin on one side, Harry in the middle, and Dennis on the other.
In the wee hours of the morning, Dennis woke as normal having to pee. He slipped out of bed and used the rest room. Coming back, he saw in the moonlight a picture that Colin would die for. Colin was laying on one of Harry's arms, and had his arm thrown over Harry like a big teddy bear. Dennis dug the camera from Colin's bag and took a single shot in the moonlight. *snap*. He replaced the camera and crawled back into bed. He was asleep in under a minute.
(ah, if I were in that bed…)
When they awoke in the morning, the grabbed a quick breakfast and took a taxi to the station. They were of course running late. It seemed to be law that no one could ever get there on time and the law was true again today. There were dozens of people running around 9&¾ trying to stow their bags and meeting friends.
They boarded the train and started looking for a car to sit in. They walked past the car that he, Ron, and Hermione had shared for the past four years. He saw Hermione and was considering going in, but then he saw Ron. He walked on after giving Hermione a friendly wave. She smiled back, a bit hurt, but nodded in understanding.
They found an empty car a little further up and they stopped there. A few of the Creevey's friends eventually wandered in and joined them, awestruck to be riding with Harry. The chatted idly for the next few hours.
In the trio's former car, Hermione and Ron were about to have quite a talk.
"Okay Ron, we've got a ride ahead of us, so we're going to figure out what the heck is going on here."
"Oh, good." Ron said glumly, and without emotion.
"Start talking." Hermione said, demandingly.
"About what?"
"About whatever has been bothering you since we were at Colin's house."
"Nothing is bothering me, except for the fact that Harry hates me. Nothing more."
"What set that off? Tell me about the trip. Anything. The whole day. We have to figure this out. I don't know if I can deal with this all year."
"Um.. Well, it started like this. I went down and found your letter and…"
*Meanwhile, in the other Important Car*
Colin, Dennis, Harry, and a handful of third and fourth years were talking about quiddich when Seamus stuck his head in.
"Hey Harry, ready for school? Think about it, only three more years and we'll- hey, where's Ron and Hermione?"
"They're back in another car." Dennis answered.
"Why aren't you with them?"
"We have had a big time fight. I don't want to talk to him again."
"Blimey Harry, really? Wow! I'd of never expected that," Seamus said "well, I'll see you later. I've got to find Neville." Seamus closed the door and the boys resumed talking quiddich.
Finding Neville dropped off Seamus' list of important things to do the millisecond the door closed. He took off looking for Ron and Hermione.
*The Other Car*
"…and we stopped by a little pond to have lunch and then I went into the woods to um, you know, and then I came back and- Crikey! I'd forgotten all about that part! Hermione, when I came back he was sprawled out in the grass and when he came to, he said that his scar had hurt so bad that he passed out! I was going to let Harry mention it when we were by ourselves, but he never did, and I was a little busy looking at Jodee- er, Mrs. Creevey and I forgot."
"Ron, that is a rather important thing to have forgotten. Goodness, you-know-who could have been somewhere around there. Or Death Eaters. Or something else pretty bad. Now, what else happened?"
Ron went on to explain the rest of the trip, remembering the rest of the details.
"Nothing in that explains anything, though. Curse it all."
"I'm sorry Hermione, I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm just a freak."
Hermione suddenly remembered her conversation with Ginny last night. "Ron, are you jealous of Colin? Any at all?"
"Jealous, of Colin?" Ron said in a very undignified voice
"I thought so. The way you said that confirmed it for me. Ginny told me you were very close to Harry. Is that what this is?"
Ron looked at his feet. Ron looked out the window. He looked back at his feet. "Yeah, I guess that somewhere in me, I thought that if he was friends with Colin, he couldn't be friends with me as well. But I never meant to say any of those awful things, I swear still. I'd do anything for him. No matter what, I'd love Harry until the end of time."
Ron was completely shocked that he had said that. He definitely wasn't planning on telling Hermione anything of that sort. Hermione was stunned but not shocked, as she always had a 'feeling'. The only thing that could have possibly made the situation any worse for Ron was the fact that the car door slid open while he was saying the last part and Seamus had stuck his head in.
"Seamus!" Ron yelped. "Oh no. you didn't hear- please say you didn't…"
"Actually Ron, I did. But worry not. Your 'secret' is safe with me."
"Why did you say secret like that?" Ron challenged.
"Ron, some of us aren't as bloody unobservant as you. I've had a suspicion for a while now."
"You're not going to - to tell anyone, right? Please?"
"Don't worry lad, mine lips are sealed. Something like that isn't the kind of thing that I'd talk about."
Hermione had been sitting stone silent for their brief exchange. She wasn't quite sure of how to take it. Yeah, she'd thought that maybe…you know, Ron liked Harry a bit. That still doesn't explain how Ron would loose his mind for a few seconds (because she believed that he didn't mean to say those things). And why didn't it happen when they were just talking about Colin? Why only around Harry?
She shook her head to clear the thinking smoke and looked at Ron. "That still doesn't really answer anything, you know."
Ron looked startled. "You mean that I've just told two something that I've kept a secret for a long time and you tell me that you've known all along? Am I that bloody obvious? Bloody hell, I wonder who else might know?"
"Ron," Seamus interjected, "Probably no one. Hermione has been around you more than anyone else 'cept Harry. As for me, well, some of us just know these things."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ron questioned Seamus with a big 'duh' sign on his face.
"Well, Ron, I guess what it means is that it takes one to know one." With that, Seamus got up and walked to the door. "I'll see you two at the feast." the door slid shut behind him.
"It takes one to know one what? Hermione, what did that mean?"
Blushing and rolling her eyes at Ron's innocence (or ignorance), she said "Ron, what Seamus meant is that he, is, um, he's gay too."
"What? He's gay too? Wait, what's this 'too'?"
"Oh Ron."
"Hermione, promise me you won't tell Harry. That's all I need. He already hates me, but if he finds out, well, you know, it would definitely be over."
"I promise Ron, I promise."
(Author's Note. I was going to fight the power and not have Seamus be gay, but I couldn't. it's just too fun. Sorry, I have no backbone. I will try to not make him the typical slut, though!)
They arrived at Hogwarts after a few hours more travel. In Harry's car, it was obvious that he had been 'adopted' by the younger years. He actually felt a little bad because he never even took the time to get to know any of them. He had maybe spoken to one or two over the years, most likely it was asking them to pleases move. The car was nearly full the entire time to Hogwarts, and by the time the did arrive the story of what had happened in Flourish and Blotts had spread through nearly the entire train. Even children who had never met either Harry or Ron knew. Draco definitely knew.
He wandered into Ron and Hermione's car half an hour before they arrived.
"What's the matter, Weasley? Your friend finally realized what wizarding trash you are and moved into a different car? Who's he with again? Oh yea, I remember. Colin Creevey. How does that make you feel, Weasel?"
Ron was determined that Draco wouldn't see him screw his face up to block the few tears he had left in him, so he turned to the window. "Go to hell, Malfoy."
Smelling blood, Draco moved in for the kill and stepped into the car. "Poor Weasel. It's still surprising that it took him four years to figure out you were worthless. I've known it since-"
He got no further because Hermione jumped up from her seat and punched Draco square in the nose. "That's enough out of you, *Malfoy*. How does it feel when you get hurt?" She stood between him and Ron. Draco was busy holding his nose and couldn't reply. "Oh no! I've hit a Malfoy. Oh no! he might run and tell his father who might tell my parents…oh, wait. What was that about a crying shame again, *Draco*? Oh, I remember." With that, she punched him again, harder than Tyson and he stumbled and fell out of their car. "Go tell your father that you got beaten by a Mudblood. And like Ron said, go to hell." She shut the door.
She looked at Ron, shaking her hand. "You know, that didn't hurt as much as I thought it would. Maybe he'll mouth off again sometime soon."
Ron looked at her and was flabbergasted. "Hermione, you, you punched the snot out of him. That was bloody brilliant."
"Actually, I punched the blood out of him. It was sort of gross. If he just wouldn't bleed, it would be much better."
"Snot, blood, whatever. It was great." For the first time in over a week, Ron was smiling.
They arrived at school and disembarked. Hagrid was there, as he had been for the last few years, pulling the first years aside and taking them to the boats. The older students got into the usual coaches and made their way up to the school grounds. Much of the conversations in the cars concerned one of three things. The first, and the least talked about of the bunch, was the attack on Hermione's family. The second was how Hermione knocked Draco Malfoy out of their car and left him covered in blood. The third, and overwhelmingly the most talked about, was the rift between Ron and Harry.
"Did you hear--?"
"Yeah, he said--"
"That's horrible. He must be--"
"Jealous. I think so too."
"They've not spoken all summer and--"
"I heard that Ron tried to curse him--"
"Yeah, Harry just managed to block it--"
"My brother said that he threatened to kill him--"
All this and more had spread around the school even before they got there. Rumor mills - even wizarding schools aren't immune. Everyone knew something had happened, but everyone had their own version of the tale. Probably the worst part of it all was that Ron was being ostracized by the majority of the school. His car was empty. He and Hermione had gotten separated in the exodus from the train and he'd not seen her since. A younger Hufflepuff stuck her head in, thinking the car was empty. Once she saw Ron, she squealed and ran to another car, whispering something to her friend.
When they arrived and stepped into the Great Hall, Hermione finally met up with Ron again. "There you are. I couldn't find you at the platform."
"You should have looked for the only singly-occupied car. That was me." He recounted the Hufflepuff girl to her.
She reached over and pulled Ron into a big hug. "I promise you, Ron, we'll get this worked out. I mean it."
"I hope so Hermione. I don't know if I can deal with a whole year of this.
They all walked to their tables and sat down. Hermione saw Harry and Colin coming into the room and motioned to them to come over, pointing to a few empty seats. He gave her a look that she could very easily read, no inner eye needed. It said that as Ron is sitting next to you, there is no chance I'll join you, nothing personal. Quite a few others saw that look and of course interpreted it in their own ways. Harry walked on and sat with some of the lower years in Gryffindor house.
The rest of the students found seats and Professor Dumbledore stood up and welcomed them back to Hogwarts.