Disclaimer: No, Harry Potter does not belong to me, but on June 21st, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will. I can't wait!
CHAPTER II: THE TRAIN RIDE
The Hogwarts Express started off carefully, the train whistling cheerfully. Kids were shouting and laughing as they found compartments for themselves. Ron and Hermione had a difficult time fighting their way through the crowd. It was quite hard for Ron, since Hermione was pulling him along by the sleeve of his black robe. People would occasionally greet them with a warm hi, but they continued to move along. Every compartment seemed to have been occupied by students.
It was all Hermione could do from stopping Ron from attacking Harry. They had passed their section, which they were sharing, and it was easy to know it was they since Ginny had been laughing merrily. A dark shadow had crossed Ron's face, when he heard it and she could've sworn his fist had curled up unconsciously. He was just about to yank open their door and give them a face-to-face Howler, when Hermione grabbed his hand, just in time, pulled out her wand and commanded in a low voice, "Leave them alone Ron, or I swear I will hex you."
She waved her wand at him threateningly, even though there was a mischievous twinkle in her dark brown eyes. He gave a lopsided grin and said, "Sure thing, Mum."
Finally, at long last, they found an empty compartment at the very end of the train. It was better than nothing. Ron opened the door for his friend in a gentleman fashion and closed the sliding door behind them. Once they were alone, however, they both found it difficult to start a conversation, especially since they were sitting away from each other.
"So," Hermione began slowly looking at Ron's intent face, which at that moment was staring at the rolling hills they were passing by.
"So what?" Ron replied averting his gaze away from the window and fixating his calm blue eyes onto her face. The very sight of him caused her knees to feel weak and wobbly.
"How was your summer?" Hermione stammered, praying he didn't notice the tremor in her voice. She never knew she could act this way around Ron. He was her best friend, for Merlin's sake. She had known him since he was incapable of saying a proper spell correctly.
But, even now, Hermione couldn't help but notice that he had changed. Playing Keeper on the Gryffindor team had improved his muscles and was showing how important his height was now. He wasn't that awkward 11-year-old boy she had so long ago treasured and respected. Ron Weasley certainly had changed. She escaped her daydream when Ron's voice broke her thoughts.
"It was okay, really. I mean, even though, Ginny and I were the only kids left preparing for Hogwarts; we still had a good time. Dad was busy at the Ministry and Mum was quite occupied, especially since Bill and Charlie were over. Oh, and I forgot to tell you; Fred and Angelina are getting married," Ron, responded.
"Really," Hermione squealed happily. She had heard that their business was booming and she couldn't help but feel glad one of the twins had decided to settle down. "How are they?" she remarked leaning against the windowpane.
"Oh, they're fine." Ron said airily waving his hand in the air. "I wanted to invite you guys
over, but our house was so crowded, I didn't want to bother Mum with two more mouths to feed, even though I know you must have been too busy anyway to come and visit or write to me," he finished softly. He suddenly realized he had been babbling far too long so he shut his mouth and waited for Hermione to retaliate.
Hermione was extremely amused by Ron's remark, and she definitely didn't want to start an argument with him at that very moment so she replied slowly, "For your information, Ronald Arthur Weasley, I wasn't able to receive any letters from anyone," she grinned as she saw Ron raise an eyebrow at her questioningly.
She continued, however, with her answer. "My parents, you see, were attending a Europe convention, and I was dragged along. Not that I regret it, however, Europe is such an amazing continent, but I only did wish I was seeing it in the wizarding world rather than the Muggle world," she finished breathlessly.
"Wow," Ron commented, after she had finished defending herself. "I didn't know you were that busy to notice, you happened to be enjoying your life solo, instead of being with your two best friends. Unless..." he stopped suddenly and glanced at Hermione.
"Unless what?" Hermione probed curiously staring at the redhead, as his mind was on constant work.
"Unless you were with a certain person," Ron finished slowly not tearing his gaze away from her bewildered face. "A certain Bulgarian boy," he added threateningly.
"Oh shut it Ron," Hermione joked, throwing her Transfiguration book at him. He dodged it expertly laughing. "For your information, I didn't see Viktor throughout the summer." She didn't add why she didn't for she knew it would only launch her into another raging feud against him. And she didn't want that to happen now, especially not in their last year together.
"Fine fine," Ron grinned at her flushed face as he handed her the book. Their conversation surprisingly had become more relaxing and easygoing. Time flew by so quickly, that Ron didn't even realize time had in fact gone by, when he heard his stomach give a low rumble. His action, however, caught the attention of Hermione.
"What was that?" she asked Ron, who was now sitting right next to her.
"What was what?" Ron answered avoiding her inquisitive stare.
"That noise," Hermione remarked glancing around her.
"I don't know," Ron, uttered hesitatingly, when his stomach again gave a louder growl.
"There it was again. And I think it was coming from..." her voice trailed off as she concentrated on the direction of the noise. A light dawned on her alert face as she proclaimed lamely, "I think it was coming from your stomach, Ron." She pointed at his stomach covering her mouth to smother the giggles, escaping her.
"Well, Ms. Detective, it just so happens that I'm apparently very hungry. I didn't eat much breakfast anyway," Ron stated defensively as he glanced at his watch. It was already three o'clock. They would be reaching Hogwarts soon and the plump old food trolley lady hadn't even arrived yet.
"I wonder where the lunch witch is," Ron mused as he strode over to the door and yanked his head outside, glancing down the corridors in search of the witch, who held all he ever desired...chocolate.
"You must be really hungry for those Chocolate Frogs," Hermione commented as he sat down across her.
"Mmm, the very taste of it makes me crave for it. I could live on chocolate," Ron answered, rubbing his stomach in anticipation for her arrival.
"I've never met anyone who adores chocolate as much as you do," Hermione said running her hand through her thick bushy brown hair, in hopes of straightening it.
"You've never met anyone who adores chocolate as much as I do," Ron repeated in mock amazement, placing his hand over his heart. "Really, Hermione. Doesn't Vicky, your boyfriend, adore chocolate?" he spat out, bitter all of a sudden. The instant he said it, he wished he could take the whole sentence, or at least the part where he said the word, "boyfriend," back because at that moment, Hermione had faced him with such a feeling of loathing, he wondered how he had managed six years with her. He knew, however, that he and Hermione would not leave this train without a battle of words.
"First of all, Ron," she stressed out his name, "Viktor is not crazy about chocolate, you are. Secondly, if you would really like to know, he and I broke up this summer. He left me for this Swedish girl he met over the Muggle way of making friends they don't know. And" she continued, glancing over his lean body critically. "At least I had a boyfriend, Ron. You aren't even capable of snatching up a girlfriend?
"Well, excuse me. Is it my fault that Victor Krum, star of the Quidditch World Cup Tournament, left you for such Swedish babe, who stole his heart?" Ron retorted sharply at her, since her comment had really stung him.
Ron immediately regretted what he had just said to her, because at that moment, Hermione's warm eyes had swelled up with tears and she had stood up so abruptly that he thought she had just received a tremendous shock. She approached him, her eyes blazing with anger, and she looked determined to punish him in some way, when at that moment, the door opened behind them.
"Hungry kids?" a voice shrilled cheerfully behind Hermione's back. She groaned inside herself. She had been at the verge of making Ron pay or at least apologize to her, when the food lady had arrived. She moved away from Ron as he leaped up and mumbled, "Finally," and reached into his robes for some change to give her. Hermione shook her head and grumbled how Ron would never change.
"I hope I wasn't keeping you kids," the lady chatted merrily as she distributed food to the two teens that were sitting as far away from one another as if both of them had a contagious virus, which was lethal.
"Oh, not all," Hermione remarked, as she daintily placed her food in front of her. "If only you had taken longer," Hermione thought to herself silently. She avoided eye contact with Ronald Weasley that insufferable git. Oh, how she despised him right now! He always knew how to make her outraged. If he had any feelings, he would have automatically figured out that she and Viktor had broken up. Harry would have...but Ron was another case.
Once the lady had left, Ron was too occupied with his food and Hermione was too frustrated with her own thoughts. She adored Ron and yet she loathed him. How come her feelings for him were so complicated, when with Harry she was completely straightforward? Maybe it was because Harry had a girlfriend, and Ron seemed available, since he was single? Who knew?
All she knew was that Ron had certainly ticked her off and he wasn't even regretting it. She brushed at her eyes furiously, hoping to erase any signs of emotional disturbance. She wanted Ron to feel sorry, but right now wasn't the time. They were approaching Hogwarts soon, and she wanted to prepare herself for meeting the new Head Boy. "I hope he's good," Hermione prayed to herself, crossing her fingers behind her back, as she felt the train slow down to a stop.
Ron and Hermione got up uneasily; Ron knew that Hermione would have to pass him since the door was on his side. This very thought had crossed Hermione and defiantly she held her head high, walked right passed him, opened the door bravely, and slammed the door in his face. Ron laughed to himself, apparently bewitched by her entertaining behavior. "That's Hermione," Ron said aloud as he followed her out.
***
CHAPTER II: THE TRAIN RIDE
The Hogwarts Express started off carefully, the train whistling cheerfully. Kids were shouting and laughing as they found compartments for themselves. Ron and Hermione had a difficult time fighting their way through the crowd. It was quite hard for Ron, since Hermione was pulling him along by the sleeve of his black robe. People would occasionally greet them with a warm hi, but they continued to move along. Every compartment seemed to have been occupied by students.
It was all Hermione could do from stopping Ron from attacking Harry. They had passed their section, which they were sharing, and it was easy to know it was they since Ginny had been laughing merrily. A dark shadow had crossed Ron's face, when he heard it and she could've sworn his fist had curled up unconsciously. He was just about to yank open their door and give them a face-to-face Howler, when Hermione grabbed his hand, just in time, pulled out her wand and commanded in a low voice, "Leave them alone Ron, or I swear I will hex you."
She waved her wand at him threateningly, even though there was a mischievous twinkle in her dark brown eyes. He gave a lopsided grin and said, "Sure thing, Mum."
Finally, at long last, they found an empty compartment at the very end of the train. It was better than nothing. Ron opened the door for his friend in a gentleman fashion and closed the sliding door behind them. Once they were alone, however, they both found it difficult to start a conversation, especially since they were sitting away from each other.
"So," Hermione began slowly looking at Ron's intent face, which at that moment was staring at the rolling hills they were passing by.
"So what?" Ron replied averting his gaze away from the window and fixating his calm blue eyes onto her face. The very sight of him caused her knees to feel weak and wobbly.
"How was your summer?" Hermione stammered, praying he didn't notice the tremor in her voice. She never knew she could act this way around Ron. He was her best friend, for Merlin's sake. She had known him since he was incapable of saying a proper spell correctly.
But, even now, Hermione couldn't help but notice that he had changed. Playing Keeper on the Gryffindor team had improved his muscles and was showing how important his height was now. He wasn't that awkward 11-year-old boy she had so long ago treasured and respected. Ron Weasley certainly had changed. She escaped her daydream when Ron's voice broke her thoughts.
"It was okay, really. I mean, even though, Ginny and I were the only kids left preparing for Hogwarts; we still had a good time. Dad was busy at the Ministry and Mum was quite occupied, especially since Bill and Charlie were over. Oh, and I forgot to tell you; Fred and Angelina are getting married," Ron, responded.
"Really," Hermione squealed happily. She had heard that their business was booming and she couldn't help but feel glad one of the twins had decided to settle down. "How are they?" she remarked leaning against the windowpane.
"Oh, they're fine." Ron said airily waving his hand in the air. "I wanted to invite you guys
over, but our house was so crowded, I didn't want to bother Mum with two more mouths to feed, even though I know you must have been too busy anyway to come and visit or write to me," he finished softly. He suddenly realized he had been babbling far too long so he shut his mouth and waited for Hermione to retaliate.
Hermione was extremely amused by Ron's remark, and she definitely didn't want to start an argument with him at that very moment so she replied slowly, "For your information, Ronald Arthur Weasley, I wasn't able to receive any letters from anyone," she grinned as she saw Ron raise an eyebrow at her questioningly.
She continued, however, with her answer. "My parents, you see, were attending a Europe convention, and I was dragged along. Not that I regret it, however, Europe is such an amazing continent, but I only did wish I was seeing it in the wizarding world rather than the Muggle world," she finished breathlessly.
"Wow," Ron commented, after she had finished defending herself. "I didn't know you were that busy to notice, you happened to be enjoying your life solo, instead of being with your two best friends. Unless..." he stopped suddenly and glanced at Hermione.
"Unless what?" Hermione probed curiously staring at the redhead, as his mind was on constant work.
"Unless you were with a certain person," Ron finished slowly not tearing his gaze away from her bewildered face. "A certain Bulgarian boy," he added threateningly.
"Oh shut it Ron," Hermione joked, throwing her Transfiguration book at him. He dodged it expertly laughing. "For your information, I didn't see Viktor throughout the summer." She didn't add why she didn't for she knew it would only launch her into another raging feud against him. And she didn't want that to happen now, especially not in their last year together.
"Fine fine," Ron grinned at her flushed face as he handed her the book. Their conversation surprisingly had become more relaxing and easygoing. Time flew by so quickly, that Ron didn't even realize time had in fact gone by, when he heard his stomach give a low rumble. His action, however, caught the attention of Hermione.
"What was that?" she asked Ron, who was now sitting right next to her.
"What was what?" Ron answered avoiding her inquisitive stare.
"That noise," Hermione remarked glancing around her.
"I don't know," Ron, uttered hesitatingly, when his stomach again gave a louder growl.
"There it was again. And I think it was coming from..." her voice trailed off as she concentrated on the direction of the noise. A light dawned on her alert face as she proclaimed lamely, "I think it was coming from your stomach, Ron." She pointed at his stomach covering her mouth to smother the giggles, escaping her.
"Well, Ms. Detective, it just so happens that I'm apparently very hungry. I didn't eat much breakfast anyway," Ron stated defensively as he glanced at his watch. It was already three o'clock. They would be reaching Hogwarts soon and the plump old food trolley lady hadn't even arrived yet.
"I wonder where the lunch witch is," Ron mused as he strode over to the door and yanked his head outside, glancing down the corridors in search of the witch, who held all he ever desired...chocolate.
"You must be really hungry for those Chocolate Frogs," Hermione commented as he sat down across her.
"Mmm, the very taste of it makes me crave for it. I could live on chocolate," Ron answered, rubbing his stomach in anticipation for her arrival.
"I've never met anyone who adores chocolate as much as you do," Hermione said running her hand through her thick bushy brown hair, in hopes of straightening it.
"You've never met anyone who adores chocolate as much as I do," Ron repeated in mock amazement, placing his hand over his heart. "Really, Hermione. Doesn't Vicky, your boyfriend, adore chocolate?" he spat out, bitter all of a sudden. The instant he said it, he wished he could take the whole sentence, or at least the part where he said the word, "boyfriend," back because at that moment, Hermione had faced him with such a feeling of loathing, he wondered how he had managed six years with her. He knew, however, that he and Hermione would not leave this train without a battle of words.
"First of all, Ron," she stressed out his name, "Viktor is not crazy about chocolate, you are. Secondly, if you would really like to know, he and I broke up this summer. He left me for this Swedish girl he met over the Muggle way of making friends they don't know. And" she continued, glancing over his lean body critically. "At least I had a boyfriend, Ron. You aren't even capable of snatching up a girlfriend?
"Well, excuse me. Is it my fault that Victor Krum, star of the Quidditch World Cup Tournament, left you for such Swedish babe, who stole his heart?" Ron retorted sharply at her, since her comment had really stung him.
Ron immediately regretted what he had just said to her, because at that moment, Hermione's warm eyes had swelled up with tears and she had stood up so abruptly that he thought she had just received a tremendous shock. She approached him, her eyes blazing with anger, and she looked determined to punish him in some way, when at that moment, the door opened behind them.
"Hungry kids?" a voice shrilled cheerfully behind Hermione's back. She groaned inside herself. She had been at the verge of making Ron pay or at least apologize to her, when the food lady had arrived. She moved away from Ron as he leaped up and mumbled, "Finally," and reached into his robes for some change to give her. Hermione shook her head and grumbled how Ron would never change.
"I hope I wasn't keeping you kids," the lady chatted merrily as she distributed food to the two teens that were sitting as far away from one another as if both of them had a contagious virus, which was lethal.
"Oh, not all," Hermione remarked, as she daintily placed her food in front of her. "If only you had taken longer," Hermione thought to herself silently. She avoided eye contact with Ronald Weasley that insufferable git. Oh, how she despised him right now! He always knew how to make her outraged. If he had any feelings, he would have automatically figured out that she and Viktor had broken up. Harry would have...but Ron was another case.
Once the lady had left, Ron was too occupied with his food and Hermione was too frustrated with her own thoughts. She adored Ron and yet she loathed him. How come her feelings for him were so complicated, when with Harry she was completely straightforward? Maybe it was because Harry had a girlfriend, and Ron seemed available, since he was single? Who knew?
All she knew was that Ron had certainly ticked her off and he wasn't even regretting it. She brushed at her eyes furiously, hoping to erase any signs of emotional disturbance. She wanted Ron to feel sorry, but right now wasn't the time. They were approaching Hogwarts soon, and she wanted to prepare herself for meeting the new Head Boy. "I hope he's good," Hermione prayed to herself, crossing her fingers behind her back, as she felt the train slow down to a stop.
Ron and Hermione got up uneasily; Ron knew that Hermione would have to pass him since the door was on his side. This very thought had crossed Hermione and defiantly she held her head high, walked right passed him, opened the door bravely, and slammed the door in his face. Ron laughed to himself, apparently bewitched by her entertaining behavior. "That's Hermione," Ron said aloud as he followed her out.
***