Chapter 2: Ron's Talk
No one caught the trio as they ran toward the Great Hall, although the professors were only a few halls down from them getting ready to welcome the new students. Harry had finally caught up to Hermione and flung his arms around her waist. "Finally got you. Slow down," Harry struggled to catch his breath. Her chest was rising up and down, as she too tried to catch her breath. "Ron and I can hardly keep up. Are you that eager to start studying?" When his grip loosened from around her waist she turned to face him. "Come on, Harry. I don't want to miss the sorting ceremony. After all, I'm a perfect now." Harry looked at her confused, "It doesn't start for another thirty minutes." She smiled at him, she loved it how he furrowed his brow, and got that confused look on his face. "I know. I'm just so happy to be back. To start learning and . . . to start getting back in touch with old friends," she looked up at him, and touched her right index finger on his nose. He smiled at her. "Ahem." The two of them looked to the side and saw Ron, who had finally caught his breath, looking at them with a wide smile. Hermione got out from Harry's arms and walked toward the Great Hall doors where Hagrid just made his appearance.
Harry watched her as she walked over to greet the half-giant, "Hey Hagrid." Ron tapped on his best friend's shoulder, "I'm a beginning to see some truth in what Rita wrote a couple years back, or did I really miss something on the train?" Harry turned to him, "I'm sure you didn't miss anything, Ron. Come on, we need to get the best seats now that our best friend is a perfect."
"Oh sure. We need to get the best seats when she becomes a perfect, but not when you become the captain of the Quidditch team? Or when I actually got on the team?"
"Just drop it Ron. There is nothing going on."
"Alright Harry, but I don't see the purpose in-"
"Ron!"
"Dropping it."
***
As the entered the Great Hall, they saw the candles floating in the air, and the professors started to sit behind the long table stretched in front of them. Even though Hermione was now a perfect and Harry wanted to get the best seats, she wanted to sit in her normal seat. Harry and Ron sat on either side of her, and soon enough the rest of the students came into the Great Hall. They went to their own house table and started to talk about their summer holidays they didn't get to explain in detail on the train.
The whole student body was brought to attention when the two great doors opened to reveal all the new first years. They walked in pairs down the middle of the aisle and up to the sorting hat. The small eleven year olds looked around the hall, amazed at all the sights that were laid in front of them. Professor McGonagall led them, like she has for many years before. They gathered around and, as their names where called, were separated into the houses. Harry, Ron and Hermione greeted the new first years that sat down at their table.
After the sorting ceremony the feast began and the house ghosts began to show up. "Well, hello there," Nearly Headless Nick showed up and scared one of the new students. "Was your vacation any better, Sir Nicolas?" Hermione asked the figure as if it was a normal person in front of her. He turned toward Hermione, "Dismal, once again. If only they would consider me in the Headless Hunt." He floated off and left them to their feast. The new students began to talk and whisper about what had just happened. "That was amazing!"
"Tell me about it! I've never seen a real ghost before."
"I knew there was always one in my attic, but I never saw one this close before."
The excitement was short lived however when Dumbledore stood and did his usual announcements to the first years. The announcements ended and Hermione, Harry, and Ron led the students to the common room. "Password?" The Fat Lady's picture loomed over the new students, "Bludger." The picture opened and the new students were told where their rooms where and their things were already there. The first years were ecstatic, first ghosts, and now talking pictures. After the new first years went to their rooms Hermione settled down in the chair by the fire. "I can tell this will be a hard year." Harry and Ron came over. Harry sat on one of the arms of the chair, and Ron sat in the other chair, "Really? I thought you said you will have a normal schedule," Harry said in a smart tone. Hermione hit him in the side, making him slip and fall to the floor. "Whoa!"
"I'm so sorry Harry!" Hermione stared down at him from her chair. Harry rubbed his backside and started to laugh. She smiled and gave thumbs up to Ron, "He's ok." Ron started to crack up. They helped Harry up and went to their sixth year rooms greeted in the hall by Crookshanks. Hermione picked the big cat up, "You're such a cute kitty. Yes you are." Ron rolled his eyes and looked at Harry who gave a shrug as a response. They followed Hermione to her room. She went into her room and turned around to shut the door. "Goodnight," she looked at Harry until the door was completely closed.
"Sweet Dreams, Hermione," Harry stepped to one side of her door, stuck his hands into his pockets, and started to walk to his room. Ron kept switching his glance at the door then back at Harry, "Now I see what's going on. All though, I already knew it all along." He caught up with Harry outside of their room. "What are you talking about, Ron?" Harry stepped into their room, hoping that he could hide his blushing from Ron. "You like Hermione."
"We're just friends, Ron. Just like you and I are." Harry closed the door and Ron made a disgusted face then sat on his own bed . . . away from Harry. "I know we're friends, but if you don't mind, I would rather not be that kind of a friend."
"Very funny, Ron."
"Come on Harry, you gotta tell sometime."
Harry sat down on his bed, let out a huge breath to gather his courage, and looked at Ron, "Alright, I give. Because I know that you will keep pestering me until I do tell. I'm I right?" Ron looked at him, "So . . ." Harry started to blush furiously, "I . . . I like her."
"Just like her?"
"No- well, I don't know. It's different from how I liked Cho. I don't know, she is so different from other girls."
"Do you still like Cho?"
"No, I mean she is a year older then I am; plus I only liked her looks, and her Quidditch talent. When I think of Herm, every other girl that I have thought of like that has slipped away. She's different."
"How different?" Harry held his head and started to pace around the room, "I don't know . . . she just is."
"Come on, Harry. You got to know why."
"She's pretty."
"Ok, that's a start. Just remember what my dad said after looking at the veelas that went bonkers," trying to imitate his father as well as he could, Ron continued, "'And that, boys, is why you should never go for looks alone.' Remember at the Quidditch World Cup two years ago?"
"I know, but that isn't the only reason I like her. I love it how her smile just gives even the thought of You-Know-Who slip away into nothing. I love how I have enough courage to face anything in the world for her. I love it when her hair just sweeps over my face lightly, and her scent is in the air. I love it how she is always there for me, and has never let me down. I love it when I can look into her eyes and know that she will be by my side. I love it how she comes to help, even if she can't do much, but does everything she can. She is funny, smart, always knows what I'm thinking, and she is . . . is . . ."
"What?"
"Perfect," Harry plopped down on his bed, leaned back, and looked at the ceiling. "She's perfect," he repeated.
"You got it bad. I say go tell her."
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"I've been trying for . . . well, let's just say a long time. I mean it took me a year to find out that I actually felt this way about her. Telling her hasn't happened."
"You mean you have known that you have liked her for the last year, and you never told me?"
"Actually, I figured out I liked her in my third year."
"I don't believe it," he thought for minute, "I wonder how you felt at the Yule ball."
"How do you think, Ron?"
"Well, I could imagine. You know I like her, right?" Harry looked at Ron with sympathy in his eyes. "Well, not like how you like her. Sure, I had a crush on her in the fourth year, but I like her more as a sister now. And you as my brother."
"Ron. . ."
"Yeah?"
"You have some twisted view of what a family should be."
"Ha ha ha, Harry." Harry smiled and after a few minutes of thinking Harry got back up, grabbed some clothes and headed toward the bathroom. "I'm going to the bathroom, then to bed." Harry closed the door and Ron could hear him walking toward the restrooms. Ron shook his head, "Harry, I hope you tell her before it's too late."