"Hey Hermione. How are you doing?" the boy asked her, smiling. "Ron? It's really you?" Hermione asked, scanning him from head to toe. "I thought you were still at Hogwarts!" she said, looking into his eyes. "Mum and dad didn't have enough money to pay for all of the supplies for everyone for next year and the rest of this year. So I kind of had to drop out. I live in the Muggle world now. I only come for visits." Ron said, wiping more dirt off his face. "I have a small apartment. You should visit sometime." Ron told her, helping her up from her chair. They walked along the streets. "I'd... I'd love to! I haven't visited the Muggle world since, well, my parents died in an airplane crash." Hermione said to Ron. Ron nodded. "Er, how much do you need?" Ron asked her. "Huh?" Hermione asked him with a quizzical look on her face. "Money. How much do you need?" he asked her again. "What do you mean by that?" Hermione asked him. "Herm, robes, books, food. You have to get that stuff. Stay with me in my apartment and I can get you all of that stuff." Ron said. They stopped in front of Gringotts. Ron pulled her in. "Vault 22223, please." he said to a nearby goblin. Hermione sat down in the cart and Ron sat in next to her. It started rolling down a slope and a few minutes later it stopped at a vault with the number 22223 engraved in silver on it. The goblin reached out and opened it. There was a heap of Galleons, some large piles of Sickles, and in the back stacked high to the top were seven piles of Knuts. Ron reached into his jacket and pulled out a bag as Hermione stared in awe. "Ron, you're rich!" she said, pulling out a Galleon and examining it. Ron started piling Knuts and Sickles into the bag, and throwing in some Galleons. "We're ready." Ron said, and the goblin closed the vault. "Where'd you get that much?" Hermione asked him. "Easy. I have a job at a factory in the Muggle world. I bring the money I get paid here and have it converted into Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts. I still have Muggle money at home, though." Ron said, once again pulling Hermione out of the cart. She followed Ron to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. "Pick out any kind you like." Ron said. "Thank you." Hermione replied graciously. She chose a deep purple set. As Ron paid the bill, she turned to look at him. "Why are you doing this?" Hermione asked him. "Well, uh, you're a friend. And you're living on the streets, for Heaven's sake!" Ron exclaimed. Hermione nodded, although she was still confused. They walked to the bookshop and went in. Ron bought Hermione all of the latest books and a new set of reading glasses. "Thank you so much Ron, but you don't have to be doing this." Hermione said, looking gratefully at Ron. "Yes I do. Come on, come see my place. We'll stay here for the night, at a nice hotel maybe, and then in the morning we'll leave for my place." Ron said. Hermione nodded, and they walked off into the moonlight.