A/N: It's nice to be back! Fellow HP fans, I hope I'll get more reviews because I've already decided how this fic will end. I'm so excited that I've written the chapter 10! Don't be sad because it won't end there. I'm trying to make up my mind if I'll continue this after Ron and Hermione got together or not. Your reviews were the only ones giving me courage to write more. So please review... c",)

Chapter 7:

THE PREFECT'S COMPARTMENT

Days passed but still Ron and Hermione didn't talk to each other. Harry had a hard time trying to engage in a conversation with them. The two barely nodded everytime Harry asked them. Weeks later and the first of September came. Mrs. Weasley took them to King's Cross Station to ride the Hogwarts Express. They bid farewell and got into the train.

"Don't mind me." Harry said, "Ron, Hermione, go into the prefect's compartment."

"How about you?" Hermione asked.

"I'll be with Ginny." Harry turned to Ginny, who blushed slightly.

"Yes!" Ron threw his hands in the air that made Harry, Hermione and Ginny raised their eyebrows. "Oops!"

"Ok." Hermione turned her heel and ignored Ron.

"Try to talk to her." Ginny whispered to Ron.

Ron hesitated, "Er – Hermione – "

Hermione looked back, "Compartment at the front train, Weasley."

She strode fastly waving to Lavender and Parvati. Ron stared at his feet and thought, 'Weasley... She didn't call me Ron at all..."

Ron followed afterwards. He opened the compartment door and saw three people inside.

"I can't believe you're sitting here with a Mudblood!" yelled Pansy.

"Don't call her Mudblood!" shouted Draco.

"So you're on her side?" Pansy curled her lips, "What did you do to him? Know-it-all Gryffindor Prefect, I know you're smart enough to do some charms!" she turned to Hermione.

"Go out if you can't say good to her." Ordered Draco.

Pansy bumped Ron and kicked the door open. Ron sat opposite of Hermione who was sitting beside Draco.

"Well," finally Hermione spoke,"thanks for that."

"I got on her nerves this time." Draco laughed.

Ron started thinking something to tell Hermione. Why does she keep talking to the Slytherin prefect? Why can't she talk to Ron now? Ron was about to bump his head on the window when something made his mind work. He remembered to apologize for the thing that had happened in Diagon Alley.

"Hermione! I can't take this anymore!" Ron blurted out. Draco watched him by running his eyes from Ron's head to toe. Hermione, on the other hand, smiled. "I really didn't mean to hurt you! Believe me, please. I'm really sorry. Hermione forgive me."

"Sorry, that's all you can say?" Draco asked, "Red-headed boy, pick words that will prove your apology."

Ron felt his temper rose higher, "I'm not talking to you Malfoy. What do you know, huh?" Ron turned to Hermione, "I'm sincere, Hermione."

"How do I know you're saying the truth?" Hermione asked confidently.

'What now? I got to do something!' Ron's mind told him. Then suddenly he lifted his head and smiled at Hermione. He snatched her hand and held it between his hands.

"What are you doing?" Hermione panicked, she can't pull her hand.

"Can you feel it?" Ron asked.

"Yeah."

"How was it?"

"Cold."

"See?" Ron exhaled and let go of Hermione's hand. "I'm that nervous to apologize to you. I'm not making fun, you know."

"Ron..." Hermione smiled sweetly. "I forgive you."

"Really?" Ron asked. "Thank you!"

There was a short moment of silence. Suddenly, Draco spoke.

"My father told me this morning about the party for Dumbledore." He paused; waiting for Ron and Hermione's reaction but no one spoke. Ron looked disappointed while Hermione looked excited. "It's cancelled."

"WHAT?" cried Hermione. Her smile turned into a frown. "No party? No visitors?"

"Exactly." answered Draco.

"No. This can't be!" Hermione protested, "It's not a good joke. It's not funny. There will be a party!"

"With or without a party, there's nothing different." Draco told her.

"There's a big difference!" Hermione yelled. There were small tears in her eyes.

"What's happening to you?" Draco frowned.

"I think I knew it." Ron said throwing Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans in the air and catching it by his mouth. "It's about Vicky."

"Vicky? Who is she?" Draco asked Ron.

"For the millionth time Ron, DON'T CALL HIM VICKY!" Hermione snapped.

"Fine!" Ron said, "You know him, Malfoy. The Durmstrang Champion for the Triwizard Tournament. Viktor Krum, he is."

"Krum? Bulgarian Seeker? Hermione's admirer?" Draco asked.

'He can call her Hermione now. Anyway, as long as he's on my side, not on Krum's.' Ron thought. "Yeah. Krum. Her admirer."

"That boy with thick eyebrows? Are you still in contact with him?" Draco laughed.

"Very filthy mind!" Hermione said, "Stop making fun of him. He's kind and humble. Can't you see the good side? I'm just trying to be friends with him."

"YOU wanted friendship but," Ron smiled, "he wanted MORE than friendship."

"So Rita Skeeter's article isn't a lie." Draco laughed again.

"Stop it." Hermione broke into tears, "I hate you two prefects!"

Oh wait! Hold back your tears." Ron said panickedly, "I'm sorry again."

"Me, too, I'm sorry." Draco smiled he pulled something in his pocket. He threw it to Ron and then to Hermione.

"Gee, thanks!" Ron unwrapped the Chocolate Frog, "Dumbledore again!"

"I forgive you two." Hermione stopped crying and smiled.

A/N: Signed readers or not in , please review...