A/N: Replies,

Will and Tennessee Sweetheart and fanficaholic1377 and Shadows-zephyr - Thanks for the good thoughts!

Sabrina - Patience, girl. Here you go!

Chayamouse - I have other plans for the ring, but thank you for

the suggestion

Shadow Pals - Writing as fast as I can. The chapters are longer so by default, fewer.

Sami Potter - Harry's just done being ashamed of them, not showing them off. And maybe he has other motives.

Star-Light - I'm very happy for you! And even more so that I could add to the joy of the day.

Starbeam 13 - I aim to serve. I suddenly feel like a house-elf. Where's the butterbeer?!

David Potter - Ron is so stereotypically "boy" with his comments, isn't he.

Psy-gurl - Rushed shrushed. I go at the pace the story drives. Enjoy!

Chapter 8

For the first time in six years, Harry, Hermione, and Ron boarded the Hogwarts Express with thirty minutes to spare; quite probably owing to the fact that Harry was tired of living in the same house as Hermione and not being allowed to do anything but hold her hand and peck her cheek goodnight. Mrs. Weasley was more than tyrannical over the subject.

But now that they were in the safety of their own compartment with Ron checking in as sixth years prefect they finally had the chance to ... snog.

Harry pulled the window curtains closed and turned to Hermione who was waiting by the door, "I didn't think we would ever escape."

He closed into her and captured her lips with his own. After a minute or two Harry trailed his mouth down her exposed neck. Hermione moaned softly. "Oh, Harry ... I've wanted to do this since that night you told me. I'm such a fool for wearing that ring with Ron's mother in the house."

He nipped lightly at the nape of her neck making her squirm in response. "Don't care ... we're free now."

Time came and went faster than they had anticipated when they heard a single sharp knock on the door. It was Ron's signal that fifteen minutes were up and Hermione was needed in the prefects car.

Harry pulled away from her and looked at her face. She was severely flushed and her lips were swollen. She gripped Harry's shirt and pulled him back down, with hunger in her eyes, kissing him one last time before she moved away and opened the door.

Harry adjusted, to release a little tension, and threw himself on the seat by the window. He tied off the curtains to their original position and watched as the platform filled itself with students loading onto the train.

The door slid open and he looked up to find Neville Longbottom standing there.

"Do ya mind, Harry?"

Harry smiled, "Course not, get in."

He dragged a pack in and Harry helped him put it in the luggage rack.

"Thanks," Neville replied.

Neville sat across from him and as they settled in the door slid open again.

"Morning Harry, Neville. Will Ronald be joining you?" said Luna Lovegood rather dreamily.

Harry couldn't resist, "Of course. Make yourself at home."

She smiled somewhat eagerly for her personality, which meant she had a knowing smirk on her face instead of a lopsided grin.

She sat next to Neville and opened the latest edition of the Quibbler.

"All Aboard!" yelled the conductor as the last student set foot on the train. Harry looked at his watch and it read 11:00. Right on time, as always.

"Your Summer okay, Harry?" Neville asked tentatively. He was there that day, at the Department of Mysteries, when Sirius Black fell through the veiled archway to his apparent death. Now he and Harry truly had something in common. Both of their loved ones had been destroyed by Bellatrix Lestrange; Neville's parents had been driven insane and Harry's godfather had been killed.

Harry nodded, "Yours?"

"Brilliant!" he exclaimed. "My Gran bought me a new wand. Had the pieces of my dad's framed over the mantelpiece."

The jarring of the car signaled the beginning of their journey back to Hogwarts. Within minutes the door slid open at last revealing Ron and Hermione's return. She slid in beside Harry and took his arm.

"Malfoy's back."

Harry frowned, "Guess his father being in Azkaban couldn't stop him."

Ron looked back and forth between the empty seats, one by the lovebirds and one by Luna Lovegood.

"Hello, Ronald!" Luna said eagerly. "I've saved you a seat next to me."

He looked back at Harry and Hermione with fear and resignation on his face. "Um ... thanks."

He sat and tried to put as much space between them as possible, but Luna would have none of it. She sidled up next to him and looked over at the couple seated in front of them, "I think they make the cutest couple. Don't you?"

Hermione smiled back at her, "I think we do."

Ron scrunched up his face, "I think I'm gonna be sick."

Luna immediately became concerned and felt his forehead, "You don't seem to have a fever. Are you cold? We could share our body heat. Here, let me move closer."

She closed in and took his arm. Ron had gone catatonic, his eyes wide with fright.

"There, that's better. Don't you feel better, darling?"

Neville looked sideways at the newest couple and covered up his mouth trying not to laugh at Ron's predicament.

Harry encouraged the couple. "I think it's better."

******************

"That girl is completely bent," Ron waved and smiled at Luna as they separated to their house tables.

"Ron, she's in love," Hermione chided him. "People do strange things when their in love."

He held his stomach and feigned an ache, "Please, you're gonna put me off my dinner."

Hermione rolled her eyes, "I seriously doubt that having someone in love with you will slow your insatiable need for food."

"SqUEEEEEEE!"

Everyone jumped back, thinking they were under attack, however it was only Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil rushing up to them with bright, wide eyes and throwing their hands all about.

"Ginny told us, but we didn't believe it for a second. Let us see!" Lavender squealed.

Hermione took her cue and released Harry's arm so they could inspect her ring. Harry and Ron continued to the table to leave the girls in their moment.

Ron nudged his friend's arm, "Female talk."

After they sat down Ron looked back at the growing group of girls surrounding Hermione from the different houses, "I thought mum wanted you to get that ring resized to a different finger."

Harry shrugged, "Hermione tried, but the jeweler said the ring sizes itself to the wearer. Nothing he could do."

"Uh huh."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Harry returned.

Ron made to respond but was cut off my the voice of Professor McGonagall.

"Your seats please!" she yelled above the crowd of voices. "The sorting's about to begin."

She exited and the throng of girls reluctantly broke away from Hermione letting her have a seat next to her boyfriend.

"Goodness, you'd think they had never seen a ring before," she commented.

Harry smiled and pulled her close for a brief hug, "Are you saying you didn't like them fawning all over you and feeling jealous or anything?"

She tried feebly to look insulted, "Of course not." Then she looked down and smiled to herself.