AN- I wrote this two years ago, it was my first fanfiction ever! I always wanted Ron and Hermione to get together, and here is what i thought it mightlook like. I re-tweaked it a bit, but i'm keeping itonline for sentimental reasons more than anything else. Happy reading!

Chapter One- Detention Is Worth It

Ron Weasley sat in the dungeons feeling thoroughly miserable. Detention with Professor Snape was one thing, but missing dinner made it far worse. The older he got, the more ridiculous it seemed that he had to put up with this diatribe. Snape strode over to where Ron labored, cleaning out vials of dried doxy droppings, the muggle way. "Is this helping you to learn, Weasley, not to assault your classmates?" Snape said silkily. Ron's ears burned and he longed to shout, 'It was your bloody precious ferret boy what started it!" but managed to contain himself to a slightly uneven "Yes sir." Snape folded his arms and walked away pointedly.

But it was Malfoy that started it in potions class earlier today. Snape was in his usual temperament of adjusted disgruntlement while he asked the class questions. "The healing powers of the Monteboar, a flower that only grows on the high plains of Tiffandune can only be used when gathered during what cycle of the moon?"

"Full moon," Malfoy said in his cocky drawl. "Anyone knows that." His voice was rich with arrogance. There was the smallest hint of a cringe on Snapes sallow face, but whether or not he was going to correct his house prefect in front of the class will never be answered because Hermione raised her hand and spoke clearly,

"Sorry. It's one quarter moon." Malfoy turned to glare at her. She ignored him and went on, "and it can only be collected the first week of the year."

Snape looked at her coldly through his black eyes. "That's correct, Miss Granger. However, five points will be taken from Gryffindor for speaking out of turn." This seemed to put everything in balance for him and he carried on with the class. Hermione frowned bitterly while the Slytherins were altogether amused. Harry and Ron stared malevolently at Snape...they never got used to the constant injustices that accompanied this class.

When the lesson was over, they all piled out into the hallway. "Oi, that old Snape sure had a crumpet up his robes today!" Ron said surely. Harry nodded in agreement and looked at Hermione.

He threw out these words not unlike how James might have; "He's just mad because the members of his house are such stupid prats." Hermione, at the indignity of being punished for having the right answer, was too angry to trust herself to speak. She acted a bit like she hadn't heard, but Malfoy did.

"Stupid prats, are we?" He sneered from behind them. "At least we've all got parents." Harry's eyes narrowed and he turned to face him, so did Ron.

"Harry had respectable parents. Your parents are Death Eaters," Hermione said unexpectedly.

The colour drained from Malfoy's face, then rapidly came back, his cheeks hot. "You filthy little mud blood. Your parents are dirt."

Malfoy and Ron raised their wands at the same time, Malfoy's at Hermione and Ron's at Malfoy. The Slytherin shouted a curse and Ron sent a spell to deflect it.

"RAZARO!"

"MIRRO!"

Malfoy yelped in pain and leaped backwards. He was caught by Goyle, who with Crabbe, were flanking him as always. His skin was covered in dozens of small cuts, oozing blood. Snape had been drawn out from his dungeon by all the commotion. He quickly assessed the situation and narrowed in on the guilty party. "Weasley!" He shouted, rage in his voice. "How DARE you savage one of my students!"

"Malfoy started it, sir," interjected Harry. "He sent the first spell." Snape looked at him and then looked back at Ron and began again as if he hadn't spoke. "Neither magic nor fighting is allowed in between classes. Two weeks detention, Weasley. And fifty points from Gryffindor. Crabbe, take him to the hospital wing." Malfoy had started to bleed quite badly. Hermione's eyes were wide open.

Snape reclused to the dungeon. "I can't believe he was going to use that spell on me."

"He did use that spell on you. If Ron hadn't acted so fast, it'd be you we'd be taking to the hospital wing," Harry said. "Good job, mate." Ron was still in a fury.

"Bloody bastard..." Through his anger he knew his choice would easily be the same if he had to face a thousand detentions. Better that than Hermione in hospital, covered in gashes... "Bastard..." he muttered again at the thought of it.

Hogwarts was different, in this, their sixth year. The war that was brewing because of the long awaited acknowledgement of Voldemort's return was sadly, not bound outside the castle walls. When Cornelius Fudge made the announcement of the return of the Dark Lord, it was as they feared.

Dumbledore had warned them at the end of their fourth year of he-who-must-not-be-named's gift for spreading discord. They now feel that was something of an understatement. Fights like this had become a common occurrence, and they had only been back a short time. Most fights were between a muggle born and a pure blood, or a Gryffindor versus a Slytherin. If Gryffindor and Slytherin had ever been rivals before, it was nothing compared to how it was now. Now, the two houses were no longer just childish rivals, competing for the Quidditch or house cup...they had become true enemies.

"You didn't need to do that, you know," said a bossy voice. "Now you've landed yourself in detention." They were back in the squashy comforts of the common room. Hermione seemed to be over what happen, surprised though she was at the time.

"Angelina's going to kill you...you'll miss the first two weeks of Quidditch practice."

Ron couldn't see how defending his friend had lead to such bad results. "He's not talking like that...saying 'mudblood' and all." He stared down at his transfiguration essay that he was supposed to be doing for Professor McGonagall, whose height he had finally come to equal this year. "I don't know how you can stand it."

"Honestly, Ron, you know he just insults me to get at you, and make you go and do something stupid," Hermione explained. Harry raised his eyebrows at this, but did not look up. He smiled lightly into his books. Ron looked at him and made the connection.

"I'm not doing it for you, Hermione!" He started incredulously, then recollected, "It's the principle...Malfoy's got to learn that he can't push anyone around." He had raised his voice to the point of attracting the attention of a few studiers. Dean Thomas, who was nearby, gave a "Hear, hear," crediting Ron. Ron then pointed fiercely at him and said, "See!" as if Dean had just closed his entire case for him. "You'd think that you'd be happy I stepped in and all you can do is tell me that it wasn't necessary... I was hoping for a thank-you, silly me!"

"He's right Hermione," Harry sided. "We can't let Malfoy bully people. If no one stands up to him, he wins."

Hermione thought for a moment. Malfoy' words had stung her. She remembered the first time he called her a mudblood, and Ron had tried to jinx him with a slug-vomiting spell. But something was different between then and what happened today. Today, blood was spilt. She a slight shiver coursed through her because she knew it could have just as easily been her own.

She sighed resignedly. "All right... Thank you, Ron..." suddenly it soundly like too nice a thing to say, so she finished, "for being a quick tempered, irrational male. If you'd have stayed out of it, Malfoy would have cursed me, and he could have gotten suspended."

"I didn't get suspended! I only got detention!

"That's because Snape knew you only deflected that spell."

They went on bickering like this for quite sometime until Hermione reminded him huffily that he had to get to detention. Harry, who has grown near immune to their fights said cheerily, almost as if the preceding conversation had been funny to him, "See you afterward, mate," as Ron packed up his books and set out toward the dungeon.

AN- Please review!