Okay here is the deal. No one is reading this but I like writing so I will continue with the hope that someone starts to read. If it is really bad then I can't make it better without the suggestions from the readers that aren't reading this. So please read but I will continue with updating because I want to even if you don't rate this. -Thanx angelbrat

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Chapter 4:

Seeing Hogwarts again

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As the students boarded the Hogwarts Express on platform 9 1/3, Mrs. Weasley was saying goodbye to her youngest children. "Goodbye Ginny and Ron, and Harry have a wonderful year. And Hermione if anything happens I would be happy to help in anyway possible." She added watching Hermione being protected by Ron's safe arms around her.

"Don't worry Mrs. Weasley, I think getting away and focusing on my studies will help take me mind off of everything that's happened." Hermione answered softly.

"That's right dear. Now go on and catch up with Harry and Ginny before you miss the train. Oh and Ron dear," Mrs. Weasley said making Ron leave Hermione's side and walk towards his mother.

"Yes mum?" Ron asked.

"Hermione is going through a lot lately and right now she needs a friend. So please don't make it any worse than it is already."

"Mother I know! I love Hermione too much to just let her sit back by herself. She'll always be safe with me." Ron finished while running back to the train the catch Hermione before she slipped into a compartment that he couldn't find.

"Ah there you guys are." Ron said while walking into the compartment with Harry and Ginny on one side and Hermione on the other.

"Ronald please. Could you be any more sexist? I mean I am not a guy and Hermione is not a guy so technically with your comment about there you guys are would mean that you think of us as guys or you just forgot we were here." Ginny stated. But that comment was lost on the crowd since usually Hermione would come back with a remark to support Ginny, get mad at Ron for not understanding her reasoning, and then finally actually explain her side of the reasoning to him and they would make out some where. That was usually the sequence of events but today was different only because ever since Hermione stepped onto the train, she looked close to tears. And now even before Ginny was done talking Ron was already at Hermione's side holding and whispering soothing words into her ear.

The four some sat there almost in silence with the occasional sob from Hermione or the whisper of the conversation that Ginny and Harry were having for half the way there. Once they were outside of London Hermione turned to Ron and told him she was going to do the same and that the other three of them should start thinking of doing the same.

Once she was out of the compartment Ron spoke up " Thank Merlin she finally gave me some time alone." He said with his head in his hands.

"Ah Ron what is that suppose to mean?" Harry asked.

"Nothing it's just I hate it when she cries and every two seconds she is always on the verge of another attack of sobs. I've done everything I can. And still she won't stop. It's frustrating."

"Ronald Weasley! How dare you talk of your girlfriend like that. Mother would kill you for saying those things about Hermione. You are her boyfriend and in her book she ranks you higher than any of her friends only because of that title. Gezzz I can't believe you just said that." Ginny said frustrated at her brother.

I don't know it is just hard sometimes. I almost wish, and almost more now, that she went out with you in the first place Harry because you have so much in common with each other. No offence Ginny." Ron stated.

"Ron. You are my best friend. I've known you for six years now and I know that you will do the right thing for Hermione. Right now she needs you. Even if needing you means that you sit there and just hold her when she cries. But if that's what she needs then that's what you should do. Plus I am positive that if anything traumatic would happen in your family she would be there to comfort you any way she could".

"Yeah Harry I guess you're right. I should go get dress. And so should you two because it looks like we are almost there." Ron finished.

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Once the train pulled into Hogsmade, The four of them pilled into a carriage pulled by what looked like invisible horses to Hermione, Ron, and Ginny. Harry on the other hand saw the creatures as they are, black, lean, horses. "Hey you guys. Do you think that it is weird that Crabbie and Goyle are walking around confused with no Malfoy?" Ron asked.

"Well, looking confused is normal but I didn't think that they were smart enough to leave Malfoy's side." Harry answered.

"Hey Hermione are you okay?" Ginny asked watching her friend stare out the window with a grin on her face.

"Yeah Gin I'm fine. I realized that I shouldn't mope around about a disagreement because this is Hogwarts. Hogwarts our home. This is our last year that we will be here so why not make it our most enjoyable."

"That's a good way to look at it mione. But we should go to the feast since I don't want to miss another one considering the past." Ron stated.

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Everyone second year and up was in the hall waiting for Professor McGonagall to lead the new first years into the hall. Then she put the old hat on the stool.

All the students were expecting the following but the first years were surprised when the hat started to sing,

Another year at Hogwarts,

A year to prove others ,

A year to show unnatural loyalties.

There were four great people

All with great ideas and beliefs

The friends, the four legendary friends

Slytherin and Gryffindor standing

Always with Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw.

The four houses of Hogwarts.

Each has the legacy of the founder

Each has the characteristics of the one name.

Gryffindors find themselves the brave, courageous students

Of ancient lineage the Slytherins are.

Ravenclaw is saved for the intelligent, the masterminds

Where Hufflepuff is for diversity, the students left are saved for here.

This year, the year of change

The year of differences

Students find themselves in houses

What they don't know of this year

Boundaries will collapse,

Lines between houses will be crossed.

Yet every year I sit here telling each different

A house is a name

A house is a category

A house line never existed during friendship

A house line never existed and never does.

As the song ends, start the sorting.

Once the song was done the hall ruptured in claps for the hat. " Wonder what that was all about." Ron leaned over to Hermione and asked. Then the first years were called one at a time and were sorted into the four houses. Each house clapped loud for each new student that joined their house.

When everyone was seated Professor Dumbledore stood up " Welcome back to Hogwarts everyone and welcome to all the first years. Now the forbidden forest is off limits to any student. Second, I would give me great pleasure to announce the new head boy and head girl this year. Miss. Hermione Granger and Mr. Draco Malfoy please join me up in the front."

As Hermione stood up Ron gave her hand a small squeeze and Hermione gave him a reassuring kiss on the cheek. Then she walked up to where Malfoy and Dumbledore were waiting for her. This made the whole hall erupt in claps and shouts from the Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw tables it was 'HERMIONE! HERMIONE!' which over powered the Slytherins cheering for Malfoy.

"Alright. I will now leave you with 'anno mutationis, a year of change'. Now on to the feast!" Dumbledore concluded.

Once Hermione, Ron, Harry, and Ginny finished with the feast, Hermione spoke "Hey I'm really tired so I think I am going to go up to bed. See you all in the morning."

"I'll walk you up. " Ron said taking Hermione's hand in his own leading her out of the great hall. After getting half way up the grand stair case, Ron turned to Hermione, "Um, Mione. I don't know were your room is."

"That's alright I do." Hermione said giggling from the disappointed face of Ron that changed to success once she had said she knew where it was. Once they walked up to the portrait, Hermione told her the password that Dumbledore had given her earlier that night. "Ron you coming in?"

"Yeah" Ron answered. "Wow Mione this is impressive!"

"Yeah I didn't think it would be so big! Oh my gosh!!! Look I have my own library!!!!"

"Well that's because the house elves knew that you were going to live here." Ron said. Pulling Hermione down onto his lap while falling back on the couch in front of the roaring fire.

"Oh Ron this should be the best year!!!"

"It will because I have you." And with that Ron leaned down and started to kiss Hermione passionately. They were so lost in each other's kiss that they had forgotten that Draco lives in here also. Neither realized when the portrait was opened and Draco stepped in.

"Ahem." Draco said to make his presence heard.

"Oh god! Ron stop Malfoy! Ron STOP." Hermione said.

"Huh? Oh sorry Mione. Malfoy what the hell are you doing here?" Ron inquired.

Draco couldn't keep back from laughing about the scene he just walked in on. " Well weasel, since I live here and you don't I should be asking you what are you doing here?"

"Ron maybe you should leave. I'll see you tomorrow. Here this is a secret passage to the Gryffindor tower. Goodnight, I will talk to you tomorrow at breakfast." Hermione said.

"But mione, I don't want to leave. Why don't you make him leave. It's not like he is you boyfriend." Ron pleaded.

"No Ron he is not. But he has a point that he lives here too and you don't so goodnight Ron I will see you tomorrow." As she said this she pushed him through the door to the tower. "Sorry about that."

"I guess I should get used to seeing weasel around here." Draco stated.

"Yeah. Well I don't know about that. I'm tired and we have classes tomorrow so I'm going to bed. Goodnight Malfoy." And with that she left.