Chapter Seven: The Awkwardness with Harry

Note: Chapter complete.

The Weasley's had not yet returned that afternoon, allowing Ron and Hermione to cuddle together by the fire, and to also finish Ron's summer homework, which seemed to be a lot more then anyone else had gotten. Hermione was basically telling Ron what to write down, and Ron would reward her with a kiss. This led them to forget about the work as they got lost in the kiss. Hermione would eventually have to push Ron to keep going. The fight that had taken place the previous night seemed to affect them both internally, but neither wanted to discuss it out loud. It seemed best to just hide it…For now, anyway.

"So, about us," Hermione broke the silence.

"What about us?" Ron questioned cautiously. He had to be careful about what he said on this topic.

"We are going to have to tell people about us…You know, your family, our friends…Harry."

"Yeah, they'd end up finding out anyway, you know how we can't keep our hands off each other," Ron half-joked.

"You mean how you can't keep your hands off me," Hermione teased. Ron realized he had been running his hand along her arm over and over, loving the feel of her soft skin.

"Sorry then," Ron crossed his arms.

"Well, I didn't tell you to stop!" Hermione wrapped Ron's arms around her and leaned comfortably back into his chest.

"Have you ever…Felt this way about Harry?" The question slipped out of Ron's mouth before he could bite his tongue.

"Harry? No, I have never thought of him as anything more then a good friend," Hermione said, as the lump in Ron's throat left.

"That's reassuring."

"Why, have you?" Hermione joked.

"Haha," Ron laughed. "All the time, especially before I go to bed at night."

"I knew it!" Hermione declared, swatting Ron's arm.

"So, are you nervous about the O.W.L. results or curious about the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?"

"Ron? Is that really you talking about school before it evens starts?" Hermione asked, slightly shocked.

"It's almost time to go back," Ron tried to argue back.

"Then yes to both!" She kissed his hand.

"Although, if you consider all the complicated spells and charms, not to mention the potions Snape is going to come up with, and along with all our Prefect duties again, I'd say that these O.W.L. results-"

"Hermione! Now that is too much school for me to handle in one sitting," Ron interrupted.

"Snape just makes me lose the drive to do anything!" She giggled and Ron squeezed her tighter.

"Anything at all?"

"Okay, almost anything!"

"Back to work!" Hermione declared, sliding off his lap before his hand could touch her neck.

"Yes ma'am." They worked hard -well, Hermione worked hard- until there was just a little writing for Transfiguration left.

"I quit," Ron groaned.

"Come on, you are almost there," Hermione encouraged. "When we get done, I promise you'll get a reward…"

"Reward, aye?" Ron picked his quill back up and began to scribble furiously. Hermione kept grinning as Ron wrote at top speed. As she read through his work, she saw that certain parts of it didn't make sense, but it was decent enough to reward Ron with.

"That's not bad," she pushed it aside and quickly got back on Ron's lap.

"I think for my reward I would like a big glass of cold butterbeer with-" Ron got interrupted by Hermione's kiss.

"If you insist then," she started to climb off his lap, unable to hide a smile.

"On second thought, butterbeer isn't nearly as good as this," Ron kissed her again. Their frenzied kisses had them rolling along the floor, giggles in between each kiss. Neither heard the Weasley's return a little before dinner. Neither heard Ginny enter the house, while then other four Weasley's checked out the gnome population in the bushes.

"Can't you at least get a room?" Ginny appeared from behind them.

"What are you doing here?" Ron almost hit the ceiling in surprise.

"I live here."

"I mean, you're home! Where is everyone else?"

"Outside, but they are coming." Ginny folded her arms and looked proudly at them. Hermione quickly shoved her shirt back on as Ron searched for where his landed.

"At least you came in first," Hermione pulled Ron's shirt out from under her and handed it to him.

"What is this, the twentieth time today you two got at it?"

"We've actually only done it once, but we've had quite a few kissing-"

"She does not need to know about this, Hermione," Ron shot Ginny an annoyed look.

"Just curious," Ginny held her hands up innocently, and plopped in the chair, a smile playing along her face as she watched Ron slip his shirt on. Ron looked at Hermione's flushed face and couldn't help but chuckle. The schoolwork they had been working on was crumbled down the middle from when they had rolled over it.

"So how was Aunt Lisa?" Ron asked, trying to end the teasing stares Ginny was shooting to them.

"Aunt who? Last time I checked there is no Aunt Lisa in the Weasley family…"

"What?"

"I think you mean Aunt Lola," Ginny giggled at her brothers' puzzled expression. "And she's doing pretty well. She knitted each of us a hat for winter, but sorry, I seemed to 'forget' yours back at her house…"

"That's quite alright, I have plenty of Mum's knitted sweaters and gloves and socks to last me my life. And my children's lives also," Ron replied with a sigh. The door opened, and Mrs. Weasley came dashing into the room.

"Ginny, you forgot to grab Ron's hat! Good thing I found it after it fell among the seat cushions!" She said, her cheeks rosy and hand clutching a maroon hat. Ron held in a groan as she shoved it over his fiery head.

"I tried!" Ginny mouth to Ron.

"Why maroon? I like the colour blue. Green is nice too. Black…"

"I thought maroon was always your favourite?" Mrs. Weasley looked at him, a mixed look of surprise and hurt on her face.

"Oh yeah, it is," Ron coughed. "I just have so much maroon from the lovely things you make me, I thought a little variety would be nice…"

"Why change what you love?" Mrs. Weasley started to leave the room.

"Good point, Mrs. Weasley," Hermione piped up, giving Ron a look. Was that supposed to mean something in particular? The twins came bouncing into the room, interrupting Ron's thoughts on the comment. George had a green hat ('Of course he gets green,' Ron thought) pulled far down on his head, almost passed his eyes, and Fred had a brown one.

"Aha! Guilty!" George pointed a finger at Ron.

"Guilty of what?" Ron replied quickly, slightly alarmed.

"There has to be something," George pondered.

"I'll think of it."

"Dare I ask what you two have been up to while we were away?" Fred said in a low voice. Mrs. Weasley had left the room, and Mr. Weasley was still wandering around outside. The five of them all shared glances, until Fred, George, and Ginny settled their eyes on Ron and Hermione.

"What?" Ron asked uncomfortably.

"Our little Ronnie is growing up so quickly," Fred sighed in a teary voice, and George started to dab the fake tears in his eyes with his new hat.

"But I don't know if I approve of this!"

"Oh, give it a break! I know all about you and Angelina, all those times you snuck into her room after hours last year…I can only imagine! All that fuc-"

"Alright, alright! Shut up!" Fred hissed as Ron's voice grew louder with each word. He sped off before anyone could further comment on his relationship with Angelina. George followed trot, snickering, and they disappeared up the stairs.

"Well then…who's up for a snack?" Ginny clapped her hands once.

The days after that seemed to move quicker then the first half of summer did. Mrs. Weasley was able to completely heal Ron's injury the day before the Weasley family and Hermione left for Diagon Alley. The process had consisted of drinking some disgusting herbal tea's ("To keep your body healthy," Mrs. Weasley had told Ron) that almost made Ron pass out. He declared he was going to ask Professor Sprout, the Herbology teacher at Hogwarts, who in the world came up with the idea of putting leaves in water and drinking it. When Mrs. Weasley had to move the bones again, Ron had to keep a pillow in front of his face to keep from screaming bloody murder. The twins got a kick out of watching this, and enjoyed doing impressions of Ron's yells for the rest of the day. He came away with the whole thing having a better idea of how Harry felt when he had to re-grow a bone a few years ago. Ron enjoyed finally being able to run around for the free day, but at last, that inevitable day had come.

"Does everyone have everything?" Mrs. Weasley dashed around the fireplace.

"Ginny, your wand? Fred, George? Those stink bombs better not be in those trunks! Hermione, Ron, got your badges? Good, good."

"Calm down Molly," Mr. Weasley instructed.

"Ronnie dear, you go first," Mrs. Weasley paid no attention to her husband and shoved Ron into the fireplace. He got settled there, grasped some Floo powder, and prepared for the transfer.

"You can do it Ron!" Fred cheered.

"Just make sure you land properly and don't harm your ankle again! You gave us all a scare with that!" George cackled.

"And another scare when you sounded just like a bird being attacked yesterday! I thought we had lost our brother to the bird kingdom!"

"We already lost one brother to the asshole kingdom," George said.

"George!" Mr. Weasley scolded.

"Diagon Alley!" He yelled with a sneer to the twins. A few moments later, he opened his eyes back up and waited near the start of the alley. Hermione appeared next, and Ron pulled her to him for a kiss. The two of them had only had the opportunity to physically be together one other time since their first. The Weasley's all seemed to keep a close eye fixed on where the two of them were at every moment, especially the twins, who liked to randomly apparate into Ron's bedroom. This left Ron hungry for her. Ginny appeared and didn't even bother to comment on the two of them, she just hurried off. Ron and Hermione walked around with their hands tightly closed together, waving to their fellow schoolmates as they passed each other in the busy buildings. They saw Neville Longbottom chasing his toad near Ollivanders, where Ron proudly entered, finally going to get a new wand from his parents for making Prefect again this year. Hermione ended up choosing between the two Ron liked best. Then they got their 6th year books, some new quills, and a few other various things. They were seated together on the curb waiting for the others, too busy to notice the dark-haired boy coming their way…

"You guys!" Harry called from a few yards away, causing Ron and Hermione to jump up and leap away from each other quickly.

"Harry!" They declared in unison.

"What are you doing here?" Hermione asked dumbly.

"Getting things for Hogwarts," Harry replied as if it was the most obvious answer in the world (Which it probably was at the time). He wrapped his arms around her tightly, and Hermione patted his back slightly uncomfortably. She started to pull back after the generous hug time, but Harry was still latched onto her.

"Ummm," she sounded.

"I missed you a lot," Harry said as he took in her smell.

"I missed you too." He finally let her go and grabbed Ron's hand and shook it.

"Did you guys just meet up here?" He asked.

"Actually," Ron started.

"You won't believe some of the shit the Dursley's put me through this summer. I am fucking glad to be out of that hellhole!" Harry interrupted.

"Harry, watch what you are saying!" Hermione disciplined. Ron grinned inside, knowing that she hardly yelled at him to watch his mouth.

"What's your problem?" Harry demanded, folding his arms.

"I don't have a problem, I just think you should watch what-"

"Screw this!" Harry interrupted again. "You're as bad as Uncle Vernon! And Aunt Petunia, and Dudley. All of them combined!" He said before he stomped off and disappeared around the corner. Ron and Hermione just stared after him.

"What did I say? It's not like I haven't told him to watch his mouth before," Hermione wondered.

"I don't know," said Ron, still watching the corner Harry had stalked around, as if waiting for him to come running back, a smile on his face. He was ready to congratulate Harry for the believable joke he just played on them. But he didn't come.

"He didn't even take the time to write back to our letters, so he has no right to be angry with us for this," Hermione continued.

"We'll have to ask him on the train I guess."

"After we get back from the Prefect compartment," Hermione replied proudly.

"Do you think Harry should have been made one?"

"I'd think that he would be."

"Yeah, Dumbledore likes him, but you have to remember what he said about not wanting to burden him..." Ron said as they started walking. The Weasley's met up again near the brick wall that lead to Platform 9 ¾.

"Hermione! Stop now, you are not going this year!" Ron heard a familiar voice yelling across the Muggle train station.

"Bloody hell, it's your uncle!" Ron tapped Hermione's arm. He jogged closer as Hermione huddled into Ron. The station was clear of Muggles for the most part, except for a few busy passer-buyers. Mrs. And Dr. Granger were farther off in the distance, watching with worry. Mrs. Weasley, Mr. Weasley, Fred, and George had already passed into the platform. Ginny was about to head through when she heard Hermione's uncle shouting and stopped. He reached the three of them, and raised his hand up as if to strike Hermione, but Ron cleared his throat and stepped in front of her.

"I'd like a word with my niece," Mr. Granger grabbed Hermione's arm and dragged her foreword. "Alone!" He bellowed when Ron started to follow. They moved a few yards away and Mr. Granger started shouting at Hermione. He was shouting too fast for Ron to catch every word.

"What do you think you are doing?! Didn't your parents and I tell you that you weren't going back to that bloody school this year? And you sneak out? You just can listen, can you? Can you!" He repeated when Hermione didn't respond, shaking her fiercely. Her hair fell into her face and he raised his hand again, bringing it down with a SLAP to her face that Ron could hear and almost feel where he was standing, causing Hermione to fall backwards. He had started to kick her when Ron ran over and shoved him away. He stumbled back but caught his balance.

"Stay out of this, you good for nothing!" Mr. Granger punched Ron in the nose, expecting him to back off, but Ron punched him right back, causing Mr. Granger to lose his balance and fall to his arse. Ron helped Hermione up and the three of them quickly shoved their carts and themselves through the secret entrance without looking back at Hermione's parents, who had come running.

"Ginny, make sure our luggage gets on, please?" Ron said quickly to his sister.

"Sure thing," she replied, wide-eyed. Ron half carried Hermione onto the train and into an empty compartment, fumbling with his new wand to put a locking charm on all sides of the door. Hermione had collapsed to the floor, crying, and Ron went down with her.

"You see what I mean!" She sobbed, running her hand along her red cheek.

"Fucking arse," Ron said quietly, holding Hermione in an arm.

Let me see that." He pulled her hand from her cheek, and rubbed the mark. He took his wand and removed the redness and pain, then kissed away her tears. Her sobs became little hiccups after a minute, and then she was quiet.

"I can't believe you hit my uncle," she said, half amazed, half defensive.

"What was I to do? And besides, he hit me first!" Ron complained, touching his nose.

"It was very brave."

"Anything for you. Does my nose look crooked?"

"It's always crooked," Hermione teased.

"Don't tell me you are joining the dark forces of the twins 'Pick on Ron' bit?"

"Nah," Hermione smiled. The train gave a loud TOOT and started slowly moving.

"We better get to the meeting," Hermione straightened her badge.

"Are you sure everything is okay?" We could just skip it."

"No, we can't skip it," Hermione lectured. "And everything is…We'll just talk about it later," she stood. Ron followed her up and undid the charms on the door. Ron almost fell into Harry on the way into the tiny hall.

"There you guys are!" Harry shot his hands up in the air.

"I have been looking everywhere! Oh, you guys got us a compartment! Great!" His tone was considerably friendly, especially after the way he blew up earlier at Diagon Alley.

"Oh. Well, yeah, but we can't stay. Prefect meeting." Ron pointed to his badge. Harry stared at him, dumbfounded.

"You were made a Prefect again? No shit!" Harry slapped Ron's shoulder, laughing.

"I just don't believe it!"

"Thanks a lot, man," Ron felt a twinge of hurt.

"I'm just playing, congratulations! While you are at the meeting, Hermione and I will have some time to catch up then." He started to usher Hermione back through the doorway.

"Actually, I need to go with Ron. But we will be back before we get to Hogwarts," she said quickly.

"You too?" Harry huffed.

"I'm surprised you didn't get one, Harry."

"Why would I want to have that hassle," Harry tried to sound nonchalant about it, but there was an edge of disappointment in his voice. They all looked at the floor, until Hermione started to edge towards the end of the hall.

"We'll see you later then." Hermione quickly walked off, Ron on her tail before Harry could comment.

"Is it me, or does Harry seem different this year?" Ron whispered to Hermione.

"Something is definitely off," Hermione agreed. "But we can't forget about Harry's encounter with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. And Cedric, of course," she kept her voice low. "Sirius…All this stuff that has been happening to him."

"Maybe it's you know, affecting him deeper then he's letting show."

"Yes, or maybe something happened during the summer holiday," Hermione pointed out.

"He'll tell us about it when we get back," Ron opened the compartment door.

"Hopefully in a tone that won't damage my hearing.

"I can't believe we got all the same night shift areas for Gryffindor!" Hermione was in awe as they walked back to the compartment they were in earlier.

"This might not be so bad after all," Ron couldn't hide a smile.

"Of course, Malfoy got a few of the same."

"How did he make Prefect again," Hermione grumbled.

"He was lousy last year!"

"That's easy to answer. His father."

"Yeah."

THUMP

"What in bloody hell was that?" Ron wondered. The train jerked forward, then suddenly braked faster then trains were physically capable of. Ron tried to grab something to keep from losing his footing, but he was thrown forward by the fierce gravity taking over his body. He lost vision of Hermione as he tumbled along the thin hallway. When everything came to a standstill, Ron was pressed against the far window. The lights flickered a few times before settling off. Darkness enveloped the train like a huge black blanket. An eerie trilling noise drummed in Ron's ears as a chilling breeze brushed across his cheek. Ron's brain was still back at the other end of the hall with Hermione before anything had happened. He flopped down to the floor with a 'thump.' Who was that screaming? What was making that noise? Why was it suddenly so cold? Ron's brain snapped back to his body as realization took over.

"Who is that?" A voice demanded with a kick on Ron's leg.

"Neville, is that you?"

"Ron?"

"Yeah. What happened?"

"We just stopped. Trains aren't supposed to stop like that! Something must have physically stopped it!" Panic flooded out of Neville's words. Ron got himself to his feet, and put his noise against the cool glass. There was nothing out there, just the dark sky glittering with the light stars. Ron was about to look away, until a large red figured zoomed by the window.

"Potteeeeeeeeeeeeeeer," It hissed in a raspy voice as it zoomed by.

"What was that?!" Neville's cry was almost cut off by yells of alarm coming from all over the train. Neville grasped Ron's arm as another red figure silently sped by. It was hard to make out a shape; the red glow was too intense.

"It's almost like floating fire," Ron said in awe to himself.

"Are they looking for Harry?" Neville stuck his face against the window. "I heard Potter. Everything is always looking for Harry."

"Yeah," Ron agreed, trying to look out the window at an angle, but no red shapes were in sight.

"Hey Ron! Neville, I think that's you. I recognized you Ron, your hair can be seen even in the dark! Did you guys see that?" Another familiar voice came from Ron's other side. He could see the shinning eyes of Dean Thomas, another fellow 6th year Gryffindor.

"Dean, do you know what happened? What are those?"

"Why did the train stop? The lights? It's really cold in here!" Neville continued.

"I heard something about the engine just freezing over, causing the train to stop as it did. They are out looking at it now," Dean answered.

"That's all I really know."

"This sounds awfully familiar. It's not those dementor's again, like from when they were guarding Hogwarts in year 3?" Neville shuddered.

"It was always cold at Hogwarts when they were around."

"But these things look more like fire," Ron pointed out. "It is cold in here, though."

"Didn't Dumbledore ban those from coming anywhere near Hogwarts ever again? We can't be far off from the grounds," said Dean.

"We need to find Harry. I have a feeling these things are looking for him," Ron guided himself along the window.

"How do you know it's necessarily after Harry?" Dean asked. "Although I wouldn't exactly be surprised."

"Didn't you hear that thing say Potter?"

"I just heard a raspy noise, like the wind along fall leaves."

"Neville, you heard it too, right?"

"Yes," Neville told him.

"Interesting," Dean pondered. "I'm going to go see what else I can find out up front. You guys find Harry, we'll meet up later." He followed the wall the opposite way Ron started to head, Neville holding his robe sleeve.

"You can let go Neville, we are fine."

"Right, sorry." But he kept his hold. Much to everyone's relief, the lights flickered on. Neville still seemed content on holding Ron's sleeve. Various things were laying along the floor…paintings that had fallen, light fixtures, and even a door that had fallen over. Just about every compartment had some heads peeking out, looks of curiosity and confused panic on their faces. Where was Harry? Still back in that compartment? And where was Hermione? As if someone had read his thoughts, he spotted Hermione jogging along the along, dodging the messes on the floor.

"Ron!" She took him in a hug quickly, her face the colour of freshly fallen snow. Ron couldn't help but give her a relieved kiss even though Neville was standing right there.

"Are you okay?" Ron put his hands on her shoulders and looked into her face. She nodded.

"Yes, I'm fine. Are you?" Her voice was a bit shaky.

"What's happening?"

"I'm okay, I was just bouncing around the halls," Ron made a little joke. "Dean said something about the train engine freezing."

"Dementor's?" Was the first word out of her mouth.

"I don't think so. What Neville and I saw looked different."

"You guys saw something? I could just head the brakes squealing along the tracks," she shivered.

"It was calling for Harry, we need to find him."

"I think he's still back here," Hermione led the way without question. Along the wall and around the corner was the compartment Hermione and Ron had first run into. The lights were off in there, and Harry was resting along the seat, oblivious to everything that was happening. The curtain was drawn tightly around the window.

"Harry?" The three of them said in unison. Harry did not stir, and all three of their stomachs dropped.

"Harry?" Ron shook his shoulder lightly. Harry's foot twitched and his eyes opened slowly. He sat up and stared at the three of them like he had never seen any of them in his life.

"Ron, Hermione! When did you get here? I was waiting for you at Diagon Alley, but we must have missed each other!" His eyes moved among them.

"What? We talked to you at Diagon Alley…You got a little angry with us," Ron said, confused.

"No, I don't remember seeing you guys there," Harry scratched his dark hair. "But don't worry about it, you found me now!" He grinned.

"So how are you guys?"

"Harry?" Hermione looked stunned. Ron started wondering if Harry took a bump to the head. Either that or he just wanted to forget about the way he acted earlier. That must be it; he just wanted to start over.

"Can't complain," Ron took a seat next to Hermione. Should they bring their relationship up? Ron decided Harry's odd (and good) mood shouldn't be toyed with right now. They didn't need him exploding like both times earlier.

"I'm doing okay," Hermione said, still squinting at Harry, trying to see why he was acting different.

"How are you, Harry?"

"Just relieved to be away from the Dursley's," he sighed.

"It's pretty wicked what's going on out there," Ron brought up. Harry looked puzzled.

"What's happening?" Harry asked. Neville, Hermione, and Ron all started to talk at the same time.

"Train froze-"

"There was this huge jolt-"

"Fiery shapes were calling for you," Ron finished them up. Harry's expression was unreadable.

"A dementor appeared near the park that's near the Dursley's house a few weeks ago," Harry said quietly. "It was just like last year when it happened…"

"What?!" Hermione and Ron gasped together.

"I thought that was the safest place for you to be? How did a dementor get that far out again?" Hermione asked, alarmed.

"Dumbledore couldn't believe it," Harry said lightly, looking down at his hands.

"Well, where did you go?"

"To stay with Lupin and Tonks. They've been staying at headquarters." Another quick and short answer that led Ron to believe Harry didn't want to talk about this. (Neville's eyes widened a little when Harry said Sirius, but he did not say anything about it.)

"I'm sorry Harry, that must have been horrible," Neville sympathized.

"If you want to talk about it, we're here for you," Hermione said gently. This whole time Ron has been wondering about what happened earlier. Harry must have been angry about something that he was taking out on him and Hermione. But now, even though this was closer to his normal personality, he seemed a little more reserved that usual. Was it because Neville was with them?

"Not now, but thanks. And hey, sorry about your letters, if you sent any. Dumbledore had a protective force around the house. It's hard to describe, but if anything dealing with magic or Hogwarts, owls with letters for example, tried to get through, they wouldn't be allowed. A sort of electrical force stopped them.

"So that's what happened to Pig, he must have gotten electrocuted or something!" Ron exclaimed.

"Sorry about that," Harry apologized. "Is Pig okay?"

"It's not your fault, and yeah, he got better after mum spoiled him with treats." The train started to slowly trot along again. After Ron finished speaking, the compartment was quiet. In fact, they were quiet the rest of the way to Hogwarts, which has not been that far off after all. Harry continued to look down at his hands, while Hermione and Ron shared glances back and forth. Neville had moved closer to the window, watching out for the mysterious shapes from before.

"Go straight to the Great Hall," was the instruction being given for them as they stepped off the train.

"Well, let's go then," Ron lead the way.

Note: Is this getting too Soap Opera-ish? Lol.