"The way things were and the way things will be"

CHAPTER 1

"Im sick of this" Ron exclaimed on the Hogwarts Express on the way to his 7th and last year at Hogwarts.

"Sick of what?" Harry grunted from behind the Quibbler, one arm draped around Ginnys shoulder.

"Well, all this mudblood stuff." He mimicked their worst enemy, Draco Malfoy. "'Don't go near Hermione, shes a mudblood'"

"What are you on about Ron? You've never seemed bothered much before" Hermione said staring at Ron.

"Yes I have"

"Well not this much, I mean Malfoy's been like that for 6 years, you've never wanted to make a stand"

"We..well, Yes I have" He said, blushing as Hermiones gaze swept past his eyes. His hand shot up to his hair and tys to make it look like he had bothered to brush it.

"Theres nothing we can do Ron, most of the pureblood families think of muggles or anyone related to them as dirt, you know that." Ginny interjected, shifting around so her head was lying more comfortably on Harrys shoulder.

"Shes right Ron, there isn't anything we can do" Hermione said, looking as if she was bored of the conversationg already.

"There must be something." He shrugged "Suppose not." He tipped his head back, leaning it against the back of the seat. He glanced at Hermione then over at Harry and Ginny.

"So how was your summer Hermione?" Ginny mumbled, giving up on attempting to complete potions homework.

"Fine, Ginny shouldn't you have done that in the Summer?" Hermione asked in a brisk voice, almost undestinquisable from Professer McGonagall.

"I didn't find the time, anyway, I've got my OWLs so it doesn't matter that much."

"What about your NEWTs? They matter more don't they?" Hermione replied sounding shocked.

"Well, I suppose, but Fred and George have said..."

"What? Fred and George want you to work for you, what about me? Why didn't they ask me?" Interuppted Ron, looking distressed.

"Well, one of the younger half of our family have to please Mum don't they?" Ginny retorted

"But, your a girl."

"So"

"Shut up you two" Harry said quietly

"Well, Im only in my 6th year to do some research, like they did, but they didn't get much done with that muppet at Hogwarts in their 7th year." She informed the group of people in the compartment.

"Did you know about this?" Ron shot at Harry "Did they say anything to you about Ginny working for them?"

"Well yeah, they did mention it once or twice." Harry replied cautiously

"We thought you knew" Hermione muttered.

"WHAT? YOU ALL KNEW?" Ron shouted

"Yeh" the three of them replied.

"Oh great, so you all knew, you all knew before I did"

"Well, I suppose" Hermione said. Ron slumped against the window, ignoring everyone.

"Why the big deal?" Harry questioned.

There was silence.

"Fine"

He fingered a strand of Ginny's hair wrapping it round and round his finger. His face fell as his thoughts focused on Sirius, he had once gone in a mood when the Black house would be empty. Exactly two years ago he had left Grimmauld Place with Sirius wishing him luck for the next year, the last year Sirius saw him off to.

"Are you ok?" whispered Ginny

"Yeah" Harry shook himself out of the daze "Yeh, I was jsut thinking about Sirius"

Ginny took his hand and interlocked her fingers with his, her thumb gently and methodically brushed his hand.

"Yeh, I think about him a lot too"