"You're not staying at Hogwarts over Christmas?" Harry cried. A little too loudly; people looked curiously in their direction. It was breakfast the next day, a Saturday, and Hermione had just announced to him that she was be boarding the train from Hogsmeade the next day.
"But Hermione!" Harry cried. "Why?"
Hermione shrugged, picking at her cereal. "Mum and dad want me to go home…after all, I haven't spent Christmas with them for quite a while, and…"
"This isn't because you're fighting with Ron, is it?" Harry interrupted.
Hermione looked annoyed, as she always did when Harry brought up the subject of Ron. "Of course not!" she snapped. "I just thought if I went home I could spend some time with Mum and dad and do some more homework…" her brow furrowed, as though the memory of the 'C' was still painful to her.
"You do more homework than the entire class put together," said Harry. "If anything you need to stop doing homework, you're going to make yourself sick!"
"Well Harry, it's too late now, isn't it?" said Hermione. "I'm sorry but you can't change my mind; I'm going home!"
Harry knew that Hermione was forgetting to add a few reasons- most of the Gryffindor house still refused to talk to her, not to mention that the Slytherins had now found about Hermione's mistake and kept pestering Viktor Krum to tell them the password. Viktor stood fast however- he was as loyal to Hermione as Harry and Ginny were. And, no matter how much Ron insisted that Hermione Granger meant less to him than Percy's reports on cauldron bottoms did, Harry knew this wasn't true either. Perhaps by habit, Ron jumped to Hermione's defence if Malfoy or someone insulted Hermione, but was always heartily embarrassed after he did.
When Harry got back up to the common room (Parvati and Lavender, both going home for Christmas as well, had dragged Hermione upstairs to pack) he found Ron sitting with Fred and George in front of the fire. Harry immediately strode over to Ron, "I need to talk to you," he said. Ron looked up at him curiously. "What's up Harry?"
Harry saw both Fred and George were eying him curiously too. Harry grabbed Ron by the arm and said, "Now, alright?" and dragged him away up the stairs to the fifth year dormitories.
"What's the matter with you?" Ron asked, pulling his arm away and giving Harry a reproachful stare.
"How long are you two going to keep this up?" Harry asked quietly.
'Huh?' Ron said. "Me and who?"
"You and Hermione, dungbrain! How long are you going to argue like this?" Harry said.
Ron rolled his eyes. "Harry, give it up already. I told you- I don't care."
"Yes, you do," Harry snapped. "I know you do. And it's quite obvious Hermione does."
"Well, aren't you the smart one," said Ron sardonically. "You know what I think, Harry? I think it's none of your business."
Harry frowned up at Ron, pushing his glasses up his nose. "You know Hermione's not staying at Hogwarts for Christmas?"
A momentary flicker of surprise flashed across Ron's face, but he recovered himself quickly enough.
"So what? Maybe we'll be able to have a peaceful Christmas for once without her nagging at us to do our homework."
"How can you say you honestly don't give a damn about her?" Harry said, feeling anger swell up inside him. "What's your problem?"
"I'm not the one with a problem," Ron snapped, and he looked angry too. "It's her…and you Harry, why are you so defensive of Hermione all of a sudden?"
"Why am I-" Harry repeated in exasperation. "Ron, she's my friend! And she's your friend too, and it's because of you that she's going home to cry this Christmas!"
Ron stared at Harry for a moment, with a troubled but otherwise indeterminable expression. Then he said, rather snakily, "Well, if you like her so much Harry, why don't you go home with her too?"
Then he turned on his heel and stormed back down to the dormitories.
*
The next day, Christmas eve, Harry went to see Hermione off at the Hogsmeade station. (This wasn't strictly allowed, but Professor McGonagall seemed to be in a festive mood and Harry was taking advantage of that.) The bright red Hogwarts express station billowed steam into the air as Hogwarts students filed onto the train. After Harry and Hermione ahd hugged each other goodbye and the train had zoomed out of sight, Harry walked back to Hogwarts, dropping into Honeydukes on the way to buy Ron's and Hagrid's Christmas presents. He didn't want to fight with Ron again. In his fourth year, when he and Ron hadn't spoken for a month or so, it had been awful. (Though he wouldn't admit it aloud). Ron was, after all, his best friend. After buying a cauldron sized block of Honeydukes best chocolate for Ron and paying for it, and a wizard cookbook for Hagrid, Harry strolled back to Hogwarts, blowing on his hands to keep warm. When he got back to the caste, he found Ron just walking down the entrance Hall steps.
"Hi," said Harry, holding his Honeydukes bag behind his back.
"Oh…hi," said Ron, looking a little uncomfortable. "Where have you been?"
"Seeing Hermione off at the station," said Harry. "Where are you off to?"
"Thought I might go and see Hagrid," said Ron. "We…haven't been to visit him much this year."
"Yeah…you're right," said harry. There was an awkward pause. Harry felt uncomfortable too. He wanted to make peace with Ron…but somehow he couldn't apologise. And he knew Ron would never back down and say sorry.
"Um…want to come?' Ron said.
"Oh…yeah!" said Harry and he smiled. "Um, do you mind waiting while I go put this up in the dorms?"
"Not at all,' said Ron, politely, and Harry ran upstairs to stow Ron's Christmas present in his trunk. Neither he nor Ron mentioned their fight yesterday and they stayed at Hagrid's until dinnertime. There were quite a few Hogwarts students staying for Christmas, including (to Harry and Ron's displeasure) Draco Malfoy, so the house tables were left set up and students ate in their houses as usual. So Christmas break passed in the same way as usual, and even Ron cheered up enough to enjoy the season. On the day when Hogwarts students were due to return, Harry managed to persuade Ron to come with him to meet Hermione at the station.
"Oh…fine," said Ron, giving in for once. "That's if she doesn't hex me as soon as she sees me."
"She won't," Harry promised. "I'm sure she'll be happy to make it up as well,"
"I never said anything about making it up," Ron muttered, as he pulled on his cloak and followed Harry down the marble staircase. They walked together to Hogsmeade, their breath coming out in clouds and kicking up the snow at their feet. When they got to the station, they saw, wrapped in thick furs, none other then Viktor Krum. Ron froze. He hadn't spoken to Krum since he had come to visit him in the dormitory.
'What are you doing here?' Ron blurted out rudely before he could stop himself. Krum glowered at Ron from under his thick black eyebrows.
"I haff com to meet herm-eye-no-nee-nee…" he muttered. "She did not tell me she was goink for Christmas."
"She didn't?" said Harry, surprised. "That's weird."
"Harry, I'm going back to the dorms," said Ron suddenly, "I…have to do my homework."
"What are you talking about? We didn't get any," harry said blankly.
"Well, I forgot to do something…back at the dorms," Ron muttered. 'I'll see you back there, all right?"
Harry noticed Krum smirking at Ron from inside his furry, hooded cloak. Harry had an inkling that Ron wanted to get as far away from Viktor Krum as possible. But that wasn't like Ron at all…
"Stay," said Harry, catching the end of Ron's cloak before he walked off. "She'll be happy to see you."
"So?" Ron said. "I don't…" but his retort was drowned out by the arrival of the Hogwarts Express, tooting its horn loudly. A chattering crowd of Hogwarts students, some of them still wearing Muggle clothing, jumped off the train, carrying their rucksacks. Some of them waved at Harry and Ron as they made their way out of the station and back up to Hogwarts. Hermione was one of the last out of the train. She was squeezed between Parvati and Lavender, both of whom were chattering at her at an incredible rate. Hermione, who had neglected to put on her robes and was still wearing jeans and a sweater, looked incredibly relieved to see Harry, Ron and Krum waiting for her. She broke free of Parvati and Lavender's grip and pelted towards the three boys.
"Harry! Ron!" she cried, hugging Harry tightly. "Oh, hello Viktor!"
Parvati and Lavender, both let out a cry of, "awwww!" as Viktor bent down to kiss Hermione's cheek.
"Um, you girls go on ahead to the castle," Hermione said, "I'll be there in a moment." Parvati and Lavender both set off towards the castle. Hermione breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank heavens they're gone!" she cried.
"Did you have a good Christmas?' said Harry, grinning at her.
"Yes, thanks, Harry." She turned to look at Ron, who was looking determinedly at the scarlet steam engine with his hands in his pockets.
"Hi, Ron,' she said.
"Hi," said Ron awkwardly. "Um…good Christmas?'
"Yes," she said.
"Good," said Ron and turned to go back to the castle, but Harry stepped on the back of Ron's cloak to stop him doing so.
"Um, so Hermione," he said quickly, shooting a warning look at Ron. "How are your mum and dad?'
Hermione's expression changed, as though she had just recalled something. "They're…fine."
"Herm-owe-nee-owe-eee," Krum said gruffly. "I vould like to tokk to you for a moment…"
"Later, Viktor," said Hermione, looking at Ron. "I actually have something very important to tell to these guys first.."
Viktor gave Harry and Ron and extremely chilly look and said, "Very well." He stalked off to the castle, throwing a last glare over his shoulder.
"I think you annoyed him, Hermione," said Ron, and he almost smiled. Hermione almost smiled too. It was the longest sentence Ron had said to her in weeks.
"Did I?' she said, looking only slightly anxious. "Oh, he'll be okay…"
"Aren't you cold, wearing only that jumper?" Harry asked. "You must be. It's freezing out here."
"I'll live," said Hermione dismissively. "But I really need to talk to you, Harry…" she looked at Ron quickly, who looked back at her, stonily.
"Maybe it should wait until we get back to the castle,' said Harry, looking at the shivering Hermione with concern. Abruptly, Ron shrugged his cloak off his shoulders and draped it around Hermione.
"O-oh, thanks, Ron!" said Hermione, with great astonishment. "But you'll freeze to death wearing only your robes."
"It doesn't matter," said Ron, in a very chilly voice indeed. "I'm going to run back anyway. You two can talk in private for as long as you want." And so saying, he turned on his heel and jogged off, in the direction Viktor Krum had gone.
"What on earth is his problem?" Harry muttered. Hermione shook her head, looking at Ron run off, and expression of great annoyance on her face.
"I don't know," she said, "and I don't care any more."
Harry chose to ignore that remark and instead asked her what she wanted to talk to him about that was so important. Hermione shook her head "It's actually not that important," she said, still staring after Ron. "In fact, it doesn't matter at all."