I made my way down to breakfast the next morning, excited for the first class of day. I found myself a seat beside Ron who was chomping happily away on toast while talking to Harry. I set my books beside me.

"Here, Hermione," Harry said, reaching over toward me. "Your schedule."

I took it from him. "Thanks." I looked at it. Herbology was first on the list, then Transfigurations, and then it was lunch, then History of Magic and lastly double Potions. I grinned.

"Excited, are you, Hermione?" Ron asked.

I looked at him. "I just want to get the day started. By the way, Harry, how's your scar?"

"It's fine, thank you."

Just then, owls flew in, dropping letters and forgotten things onto the tables. An owl dropped Ron a note. He looked at both me and Harry, hoping that his mother wasn't there to yell at him for something that he wasn't sure he even did. He tore open the letter and read it quickly.

"WHAT?!" he practically yelled so heads began to turn in his direction.

"Whatcha got there?" Seamus asked.

Ron looked up and tore the letter apart.

"Ron," Harry said, "what? You could have at least let Hermione and I read the letter."

"There's no need 'cause I'll tell you what's going on."

I raised an eyebrow. "Well?"

"Bill's coming to teach here!"

"Your brother?" Neville asked.

Ron nodded. "I can't believe he didn't tell me."

It was then when Ginny came strolling into the Great Hall. She took a seat next to me, setting her books beside her. Ron jumped up and leaned over toward Ginny.

"Did you know that Bill was coming to teach here?" he questioned.

Ginny shrugged her shoulders. "Sorta."

"Sort of?What do you mean?"

"I overheard mom, dad, and Bill talking… He wasn't sure if he got the job but I guess he did now."

"You're not being funny, Ginny."

Ginny turned to him. "I'm not trying to be, Ron! I'm telling the truth. C'mon, it can't be that bad to have him teaching here. I have him after lunch so I'll tell you how 'bad' he is when supper rolls around." She took a piece of toast as she gathered her things and walked out of the Great Hall.

"Don't get on her back about it, Ron," I told him. "I'm sure, Bill's not that bad."

"This is my brother we're talking about. I bet he'll embarrass the crap of out me."

I giggled.

"It's not funny, Hermione."

I tried to keep a straight face. "Of course…it's not…"

"Forget it, Ron," Harry said.

Ron looked over at Harry and shook his head. I finished my breakfast and picked up my books. "Where're you going?" Ron asked.

"To the library."

"What for?!"

"Hermione, class hasn't even started yet and you're going to the library!" Harry said.

I shook my head. "You guys wouldn't understand." I hurried off out of the Great Hall and walked out of the entrance hall and up to the Grand Staircase and into the library. I smiled. Yeah, so what if it's only the first day? I can't help it… I carried my books over to an empty table and sat down. I scanned quickly through them but then my thoughts drifted onto something else…or shall I say someone else. I wonder if maybe my brains were keeping Ron from liking me in the way that I wanted him too. I mean sure he and Harry appreciated me as a very good friend but was there something that Ron was looking for in a girl? I shook my head.

"Oh, my gosh, I can't believe I'm even thinking about this," I mumbled to myself. "Ron? Like me? One of those dreams I can't reach…"

"Hermione?"

I quickly turned around to find Ginny with Luna. I blushed furiously, hoping they hadn't heard what I had said and then opened a book. "Hi, Ginny… Hello, Luna."

Luna simply nodded but Ginny smirked. She pulled up a chair next to me but I stared harder at my book.

"Hermione," she said again.

I ignored her.

"If I heard correctly…you mumbling to yourself, may I assume that you like my brother?"

I heard Luna giggle in that odd way that she does. I looked at her and then at Ginny.  "No… I didn't say anything. You were imagining it."

Ginny laughed and hit me playfully on the shoulder. "Oh, stop it, Hermione. There's no need to be afraid of it."

"Who said that I was afraid?" I asked.

Ginny shook her head. "No one, I'm just saying that it's okay to like him."

"Why? Are you saying that he likes me too?"

"Ah," Ginny said, "so you do like him? C'mon, Hermione, you can tell me."

I shook my head. "Forget it." I gathered my books and standing up but Luna held me back. "Wha—?"

"Just sit," she said.

The first day… What am I getting myself into? I thought, sitting back down. I don't take big risks like this…

"It's all right, Hermione, we won't tell Ron that you like him," Ginny said, looking at Luna.

I looked at the both of them. "You better not. I can't have this happen. I can't have a relationship with someone while at Hogwarts…" I mumbled.

"Well, you did with Viktor," Ginny stated.

"Oh, um, well that was something else…"

"You know, Ron was particularly upset when he found out that you and Viktor were becoming an item…" Ginny said.

"What? Why would he be? That was years ago… Listen, sorry to cut this short, but class is starting soon and I have to head out," I said, gathering my books again and standing up. "'Bye." I rushed out of the library, shaking my head and I felt a blush rise in my cheeks.

"Hermione!" voices called. It was Harry and Ron with their books in hand.

"C'mon, Hermione, we can't be late for class," Harry said, urging me on.

I nodded. "Right…sorry… I ran into Ginny and Luna and we talked—"

"What did you talk about?" Ron asked quickly.

I shrugged my shoulders. "Nothing…really… School related stuff," I lied. "Well, c'mon then, we better get to class." I walked ahead of both Harry and Ron and climbed down the staircase, rushed out of the entrance hall and out of Hogwarts. I hope that Ginny keeps that a secret… I thought, making my way into the Herbology greenhouse.