Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or anything in relation to J.K. Rowling's books!

A/N: I don't have much to inform you lot, but, I will say that progress, as I suspected has gotten really slow since I've started school. I will apologize a thousand times if I don't update in a 4 to 5 day flow.

Chapter 13: The Row

Harry awoke from a chink of light that spread across his face through the opening in the curtains of his four poster. He noticed that someone had repaired his hangings and suspected Ron or the house elves. He succumbed to finally apologizing to Ron, but didn't know if he'd actually accept it from him. He dressed into his Gryffindor robes and gathered his bag to go down to the Great Hall for breakfast.

Hermione, along with many other Gryffindor girls, had converged in front of the Common Room Notice Board. Lavender and Parvati were giggling and Ginny, Harry had noticed, was also chortling with Hermione who looked rather apprehensive. Hermione noticed Harry's arrival and joined him at the stairs.

" 'Morning, Harry," she searched behind Harry as though he were hiding something, "Where's Ron?"

"I think he's at breakfast," Harry replied. Hermione eyed him suspiciously.

"Did you two get into another row?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah," Harry sighed as Ginny walked over to them, "Hullo, Ginny," he mumbled.

"What's with you?" Ginny asked raising a brow at him.

"He and Ron got into another row." Hermione said as if it was routine for him and Ron to fight. "Anyway, have you read the Notice Board?" she asked Harry.

"No," he said flatly, "I'm I supposed to?" He looked over at the Notice Board that was being read by Elle and Miranda. Miranda seemed to not be the least bit interested, but Elle was reading the board trailing the words with her fingers. They both left shortly after and Harry walked up to the Notice Board to read the new announcement that had been pinned up.

Dear Students,

As of recent new plans provided by your former Heads, a dance is to be held this year for all the students at Hogwarts. The Witch's Ball will take place the weekend before your leave for Christmas Holidays. More information will be Announced come December.

Harry looked up from the notice and frowned. He hadn't even thought about the dance at all since Hermione had mentioned it. Who would he take anyway? He had thought of Hermione several times, but he simply didn't think that she would accept. They were only friends. He liked their relationship as it stood, and if he did ask and she didn't accept, wouldn't that damage their friendship? He didn't want to risk that.

"What's the matter, Harry? Is it Ron?" Hermione asked over his shoulder, but he didn't answer. "He'll get over it..." she added and tugged on his sleeve to follow her out of the portrait hole. He shifted the position of his book bag on his shoulder and followed with Ginny taking the rear.

Harry found that Ron wasn't at the Gryffindor table that morning and proceeded on to his first class: Transfiguration.

During the whole day, Harry had tried to talk to Ron and apologize, but Ron would cough curtly or face the opposite direction to ignore Harry. Harry stabbed at his food savagely with his fork and knife at dinner.

"Just what exactly did you say to Ron?" Hermione asked while watching him. Harry risked a glance at Ron next to Neville, to see him eating solemnly. "What were you fighting about?" she pressed.

"Er-money, fame... you know..." Harry stuttered. He was a bit unnerved at the fact that the subject of their quarreling was sitting just next to him innocently; unaware of her "crime."

"Oh..." Hermione looked over at Ron and back at Harry sadly, "I know how it feels to be in the middle of a fight now... It's horrible." she added. He and Hermione finished dinner shortly afterward, skipping dessert and heading off toward Gryffindor Tower to study.

Come to find out, they did have Human- Transfigurations this term and Hermione was very excited to start learning that. Though Professor McGonagall didn't give them homework, Snape didn't have a problem in giving them a nasty essay to start their year.

Harry took out three rolls of parchment which he needed to complete the three page essay on the ingredients of healing potions. Snape had particularly stressed that to be able to stay in his N.E.W.T level class, they'd have to work harder. He demonstrated this by giving them a essay to write on the ingredients and their other uses in potion making. He opened The Art of Advanced Potion Making and began to read the section of page 5 on Healing Potions.

Hermione scribbled feverishly on her parchment and Harry found the scratching and turning of pages in her book to not be as distracting as it usually was. Harry finished in two hours time, and he flicked a glance at his hand that lay on the table to check the time on the watch that Ron had given him. He stared at it and pushed the silver button as Ron, Hermione, Fred, George and himself appeared translucent above the face of his watch. It was 11:30 p.m. and Ron seemed to be sitting on a chair that was not there. Words above Ron's head shown and read: Hogwarts; idle. He was so absorbed in his thoughts of his best friend, he hadn't noticed Hermione get up and stare at him worriedly.

"You could apologize to him..." she whispered. Harry didn't need to turn to confirm who was standing behind him.

"I know," he pushed the silver button again and the people shrank back into the rim of the watch's face, "but I won't until he's ready to accept it." He heard Hermione sigh slightly and sit down beside him at the desktop.

"Well that's all well and good... Are you finished?" he nodded as she took his essay and began to read. She scratched her chin with the end of her quill and made a few changes on the side margins for him to correct later. Once or twice, she referred back to the book and then read over it again before finally returning it to him at 12:10.

"Well? How'd I do?" he asked hesitantly.

"You did relatively well," she beamed, "except you forgot Phoenix tears and Flobberworm mucus." he raised a brow at her as if to say she were misleading him, "What? The Phoenix tears are the main ingredient, as they have very advanced healing properties; and the Flobberworm mucus is used to thicken potions." she said incredulously.

"I was only kidding with you, Hermione." Harry held back a laugh as she put her hands on her hips and glared at him.

"You should know these things. You can't just prattle around anymore because you are now in a important part of your education. If you don't do well now, you'll never be an Auror!" she breathed with as much passion as if it were a speech. Yet, she was right -if it is possible for her not to- he should know these things. He had to admit that he mind was far away... "Harry?" he focused back on Hermione who had placed her arms back by her sides and was looking at him with concern.

"Yeah?"

"Just go apologize..." she placed her hand on his arm and squeezed slightly and smiled at him.

"Yeah, alright... Thanks, Hermione." He got up and, without really thinking, placed a kiss on her cheek. He turned to collect his things into his bag and, as if just succumbing to what he had just did, felt his face warm and he suddenly became very shaky. He gave Hermione a half glance to find her standing as erect and wide-eyed as she had when she had met Gwarp, Hagrid's half brother. She, too, was a deep crimson and she chose to smile at him then stare down at her feet awkwardly.

"Erm..." was all she managed to squeak.

"Goodnight, Hermione." he said and hurriedly went up the stairs. He reached the boys' dormitories and felt as though he were in the Department of Mysteries again; running aimlessly for an escape and failing. This time, instead of looking for a door, he was looking for an explanation for what he had just done. He knew he liked Hermione, but he swore to himself that for Ron's sake, he wouldn't do anything. Now, he had done the one thing that had gotten he and Ron into a fight in the first place. He stiffened as he remembered that Ron was still awake, and sitting on the edge of his bed right now. He opened the door and, after releasing the air he had held, walked around the four poster that Ron lay sleeping in. He guessed he should have been grateful that he was asleep, but he again wasn't able to apologize.

Harry eventually decided to turn in and dressed into his pajamas. Before taking off his glasses, he placed his wand on the bed-side table soon accompanying it with his glasses. He thought for a moment about Ron, but it soon turned to complications that were soon to come with Hermione the next morning. What would she say? He soon fell asleep and waited for the dreams of the Ministry, but instead, he felt a swooping sensation in his lungs and his scar prickled annoyingly. He had felt like this before; in Flourish and Blotts.

A/N: Okay, I'm soooo sry I left you lot at a cliffhanger, but it's really late, and I have school tomorrow! I swear that I will update ASAP! Pls, don't be angry at me! -- R/r!

Gryffindor620: lol! right? I feel that way sometimes toward Ron as well... But, he's one main character, so... but thanks so much for reviewing!

ms dumplings: thanks for your review and I hope to hear from you more often!

GiGgLyGaL: I don't think I've heard from you... thanks for your review!

HHromancefreak: Yeah, that's what I was thinking when I wrote that... I sometimes think that

JKR doesn't make Harry more verbal about what he thinks or feels. But, I still think she's doing such a kick ass job! It's good to hear from each side. I don't really judge on others opinions so... but thanks for your review! I love hearing from you, and hope you'll keep returning.