A/N: Aaaah, another fight. Life is loud and angry when you are a friend of Ron or Hermione's. This is when some of the major plot starts to pick up. So pay attention. (Then you can get back to a couple chapters of fluffy stuff!)



Chapter. 2





~Hermione~



"Alright class, today I have a special treat for all of you." Professor Giddeon, our Enchantments II professor said, hovering inches above the ground for a moment before, lowering to sit on her desk.

"You have all probably heard at some point during your last six years at Hogwarts, that Enchantments II is the best class in all seven years," then she paused, her thin eyebrow raising up in an arch almost the shape of an upturned V. Then she smiled at the obvious curiosity of the class and said, "doesn't it just *kill* you that none of them, not a *one*, would ever tell you why!?"

After her last statement the class erupted into boos and groans as if, by prolonging the secret a few more seconds she really *had* killed them.

"Come now Giddeon! Tell us what it's about!" a boy yelled from the back of the room.

There was a chorus of yeses and pleases that passed through the crowed. I simply loved it when my fellow classmates yearned to learn things. It built up a knot of excitement in my chest as the whole class leaned forward, perfectly silent, waiting for the suspense to finally be over.

"All right ladies and lads, I'll tell you." Professor Giddeon jumped up from her desk and whisked her wand around with a deep bow as the class applauded and cheered her decision.

"There is a spell that will be taught in this class that has, over the years, caused much debate. Some say that it is not a spell to be taught outside the confines of a Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, others prefer that it not be taught in school at all. It is the most dangerous and difficult spell that you will ever be taught at Hogwarts: Transference." As the name floated off of her lips a new kind of silence set in. It was the silence of millions upon millions of young wizard brain cells trying to figure out what exactly could make this feeble sounding spell so terribly dangerous.

"I have owled all of your parents and guardians and gotten consent from each of them to include you all in this lesson. Now, I must ask you, before we begin, is there anyone in this room who is allergic to secrecy?" Professor Giddeon smiled, crouching like a cat ready to strike behind her desk, looking down on all of us. There was a small rippling laughter sent through the room as everyone took a sly look around, making sure that no one really *was* allergic to secrecy, even as absurd as the notion was, everyone had to know for sure.

"If you are allergic, please leave my classroom this instant! No one? Alright. Transference is the only spell known to the wizarding world that allows it's user to transfer any amount of their magical power, talent or know-how to another witch or wizard." Gasps passed over the class.

Just then, Ron who sits next to me in Enchantments, leaned over and whispered, "Wicked. Think of that, did you even ever imagine?"

I turned to him and smiled, his face was very close to mine and he was grinning with a sparkle in his eyes that so obviously revealed the eleven-year-old first-year that still lived inside of him. Making my thoughts too obvious, Ron squirmed under my stare.

"What you looking at? Do I have boggies on my face or something?" he asked, his brow wrinkling as he touched his face.

"No, I just tuned out there for a second, wasn't even looking at you. Even though your face is something to laugh at!" What a giant liar I am. But then again, what would you have me do, tell him the truth? In the middle of Enchantments? I don't think so.

Mrs. Giddeon had begun to write notes on the board and I could safely tear my eyes away and begin to write.

****

~Ron~

Walking out of Enchantments with Hermione I was nearly bouncing off the walls with excitement. Transference was by far the most marvelous thing I'd ever heard of. I could see why it was so dangerous though. With two little words: *Soulious Transferine*, one wizard could transfer all of their magical power to another wizard, making that wizard extremely powerful, too powerful, some would say. I thought it was just great. There was one thing that was a tiny bit frightening to me. The risk. Professor Giddeon had written those words large and red on the board and then she said the one thing I will always remember about this spell, "The risk of this spell is greater than you could ever imagine. When one wizard gives another any power whether it be willingly or forced, the one who gives it gives their entire soul over to the other. After the transference, that person will be rendered completely unconscious and helpless. Therefor, if, by any chance the receiver of the magic is killed, the giver's magic will die along with them leaving the giver to lead the life of a common muggle."

The mere thought of giving my magic up to anyone was unfathomable, but to lose it and have to live on in it's absence? The idea gave me the cold shivers.

"What do you think of it Ron?" Hermione asked, dragging me out of my daydreams.

"Oh I think it's really terrifying. But great all the same. The only thing that I don't quite understand is how one would get their powers back." I asked, scratching my head.

"Oh Ron, you will never change. Will you ever learn to listen when the Professors are teaching?" Hermione asked letting the face she uses to scold me stain her features. My temper flared.

"I DO listen! How dare you speak to me as if I was still a first year Hermione Granger! Just because you have this...bizarre obsession with being so much better than all of us doesn't mea-"

"I Despise you Ronald Weasley!" Hermione screamed at me, her voice cracking and her eyes looked hollowed and close to tears, "You are still an awful, mean, spiteful little boy! You don't even realize that every terrible word that passes across your lips actually hurts me! I have real feelings weather you choose to believe it or not and I will not be treated like an enemy to you! I admit that I sometimes let my achievements get the best of me, but I will be condemned before I let someone like you treat me the way that you just did." I tried to speak then, but she was on a tirade that would not stop for anything.

"And furthermore, here this, I, Hermione Granger solemnly vow not to utter one word to you until you have shown me that you have grown up!" and with that she stalked off leaving me, a beaten, bruised, puddle of a young man formerly known to the world as Ron Weasley.



****



Hermione

After stomping away as defiantly as I could, I turned the corner and broke out into a run. What corridors I ran through I couldn't tell you, but I didn't stop running until I ran face-first into someone and fell back, all of my books flying into the air, papers scattered everywhere.

"Hermione! What are you running from?" I looked up and there stood Harry as confused as I've seen him.

Looking into his caring face I couldn't make my face look angry any longer, so I let out my rage in the only other way I could think to do it, I sat on the commons room floor, empty at meal time, and I began to cry, great, heaving sobs of salt water poured from my eyes and my voice quivered as I uttered the only word I could think to say.

"*RON!*"

"You're running from Ron?" Harry asked, surprise and curiosity clouding his voice as he gathered my things and stacked them neatly next to me. It made me feel slightly better, I hate disarray.

"Yes...I (snif)....we....(whimper).....he(voice crack).....oh Harry, the things he said about me were so awful! He doesn't know......(sob)...he...doesn't....(gasp)..even....know....," I muttered, through my sobs.

"Hermione, you are not making any sense. He doesn't know what?" Harry asked, frustrated.

My sobs slowed then, to a calm hiccup, and I stared into the wall as I wiped my tears away with a clammy hand.

"He doesn't know anything. He doesn't know how much it hurts when he calls me obsessed, overbearing, snooty, know-it-all, or all of the other terrible names that he can think of. Isn't it obvious to everyone how I feel?" I asked, bearing more of my emotions to Harry than I had ever wanted to before.

"I didn't know," Harry said, sitting down next to me, "I don't think you are as obvious as you think. And, I definitely think that Ron hasn't one subtle bone in his body. He is as straight forward a person as I know and a joker to a fault. I don't think he knows that those things he says hurt you. In fact, my guess is that he is a little smitten with you and doesn't really know how to show it." Harry said, smiling at me.

"Do you really think so?" I asked him, looking much too pitifully hopeful.

"It's a definite possibility. Don't worry about it, whatever will be, will be and you can do very little to change that." he said, standing up and extending his hand to help me to my feet.

"You know, Ron could learn something about manners from you Harry Potter." I said, smiling and stooping to pick up my things.

"I do what I can, but you really should give him a break-," Harry said, shoving his hands in his pockets.

Just then the picture flew open and the flame-haired boy in question stepped through the opening. Keeping my vow of silence, I set my face in an unhappy frown and started marching up the steps to the girls dormitory.

"Wait Hermione!" I heard Ron call and hiding my smile with a frown, I turned around on my step and looked at him.

"I wanted to apologize," he said, and then brought his hand from behind his back, revealing a tiny white flower. He began to walk up the steps to meet me, "this a friendship flower. It has seven petals, one for every year that we have known each other. I hope that this proves that I'm sorry and I want you to think highly of me. I'd rather be a friendly young man than a mean, spiteful......little boy." Ron said, smiling at the memory made such a short time ago.

I allowed myself a smile, "Did I really say that?"

Ron held the flower in his hand and nodded, "Oh yes. In fact, if my bruised pride will let me remember, It was "*awful*, mean and spiteful."

"Oh Ron, thank you, but a flower will NOT get you out of this." I said.

"But...Hermione....?"

"I meant what I said. Friendship flowers, however nice a sentiment, don't show me that you have grown up, "I leaned in, inches from his face, he gulped, "Show me Ron."

His crystal eyes clouded over with a bit of....disappointment? How odd.

"Alright Hermione. Some how...some way... I will," he turned to walk back down the steps, but thought better of it and turned back with a smug smirk, "And it will be something you'll never forget."

Then, turning on his heel, he walked out of the commons, leaving me wishing I had just accepted that damned flower.