Thank you everybody for the fabulous reviews. I never expected so much enthusiasm for this story. You don't know how great it feels to know you like my story. And so, I couldn't keep you waiting for the next part any longer. Hope you enjoy!

But first...one quick note.

Miss Court-A-Doo: I can't thank you enough for the fabulous praise that you bestowed on my story, but I feel I should clarify that this is not my first ever fanfic. I have written fanfic for years based off a TV show I absolutely loved. This is just the first Harry Potter fic that I chose to post, while I have several other Harry Potter fics that I've been working on for several months now. I wish I wrote as well as I do now when I first started out, but I must admit that is not the case. Practice makes perfect!

Part 2: Breaking Routine

Just as normal, I'm the first one into the Great Hall for breakfast this morning. Ron and Harry have a fantastic habit of coming in about ten minutes before class, stuffing their face for five and then dashing off to class to get there just in time.

It's actually kind of funny…sometimes. Other times it's positively disgusting. I guess it all depends on what kind of mood I'm in.

While I ponder these thoughts, and what sort of mood I might be in today (whether it is a funny or disgusting sort of day) I fill my plate up with food. Great pieces of fruit and a muffin, maybe just one slice of bacon…

"Good morning, 'Mione," Ron says sitting down next to me. 'Mione? Where did that come from? He's never called me that before.

"You're up early," I comment, looking around the Great Hall. Confirming my suspicions that I'm not just off on the time, it is still rather empty; occupied only by the few early risers like me.

"I was hungry," he replies nonchalantly, piling his plate with the bacon, eggs and sausage that usually adorned it. At least something is normal. "Pass the salt, please."

Did he really just say what I think he just said? Since when did Ron learn manners! Normally he's a reach-and-grab kind of guy.

"Sure, no problem," I said, handing him the salt while still looking at him curiously.

"Thank you," he replied before putting a generous amount on his eggs and grabbing a piece of toast. He took a bite of the toast, chewing slowly as if actually taking the time to enjoy the flavor for once, before swallowing. He then proceeded to do the same with his eggs. All the while I sat staring at him, wondering where this newfound…composed Ron came from.

"Is there something wrong, 'Mione?" he asks, looking at me with a concerned expression. It wasn't really until this that I realize how much I've been staring.

"No. Sorry," I say quickly, trying to cover for my embarrassing staring session. "I'm just surprised to see you up so early, that's all."

He shrugs his shoulders but continues eating his food. I don't know what it is, but there something different about him this morning…I mean besides the whole getting up early thing.

His hair is neatly brushed and his clothes neat and tidy, not hastily put on as usual. He didn't have the normal sleep in his eyes, rather looked wide awake and refreshed. His eyes sparkled and he looked…excited? I don't know quite how to describe it. He just looked different, changed. Like he's in a better mood then he's been in since…forever.

"Are you sure there isn't anything wrong?" he asks again as I continue staring.

"I told you. I'm fine."

"Then could you stop staring at me? I feel like you're undressing me with your eyes or something."

I blush profusely and turn back to my plate. "Sorry," I mutter, trying to get the image of a naked Ron out of my head. Dammit! Why'd he have to go and start talking about undressing? But the idea did seem appealing…. NO! Stop it, Hermione.

"You should really eat something 'Mione. You know how grumpy you get when you don't get a good breakfast."

I look at him mouth agape, yet again, and am about to say something when Harry comes and sits down across from us.

"Good morning Ron, Hermione," Harry says, as he sits down beginning to pile his plate up with food. "You were up early this morning Ron."

"I got hungry," Ron repeats before tucking into his food once again, still eating it at the slow and savory pace.

The mail comes and I am surprised to see a letter come with my usual morning edition of the Daily Prophet. I pay the owl for my delivery and open the letter quickly. I love getting mail. I recognize the handwriting immediately. It's from Viktor.

Dear Hermione,

It was great receiving your last letter. Thank you for your well wishes on Eva and my upcoming wedding. She was particularly excited about the bracelet that you sent her, even if it was "just a little thing you whipped up." It was lovely and she enjoys it very much.

Before I get too wrapped up in telling you everything that has happened since your last letter, I wanted to ask if…

"What's that?" Ron asks, interrupting my reading.

"A letter," I reply being purposefully vague. I don't want to start another argument over this.

"Well I can see that," he says, rolling his eyes. "Who's it from?"

Sighing, I steady myself for the tirade that I know is coming and answer. "Viktor."

Ron nods his head and continues eating. I wait, thinking that maybe the idea hadn't sunken in yet, but nothing comes.

"Did you hear me?" I try repeating. "I said it's from Viktor Krum."

"Yeah, I heard you," he replies, looking at me for a prolonged moment before turning back to his food.

"And you're not going to fight me on this?" I ask, exasperated. What is going on here?

"No. There's no problem with you having a pen pal."

My mouth drops open for the countless time this morning. I look at Harry, and he just shrugs his shoulders and goes back to eating. I don't see how he can be so calm about this. This just isn't normal. Who is this, and what has he done with my Ron. Well, not my Ron…but you know what I mean.

"What's with the sudden change of heart? Two days ago, you would have been screaming at the top of your lungs by now."

"Well, 'Mione. I guess everything you've been saying finally sunk in." He smiles; a cute smug smile that holds promise of hidden motives. There is something going on that I don't know about.

"And what's with the 'Mione thing? You've never called me that before," I ask, after a short pause of contemplation.

"I don't know. Why? Don't you like it? I thought it suited you."

"No, it's fine. It's just different."

"So, you don't mind if I call you 'Mione?" he asks, this time looking at me intently, waiting for confirmation.

I sigh. "If you would like to call me 'Mione, Ron, that's fine."

"Do you want me to call you 'Mione?" he asks, that smug smile back again. I'm not sure what to make out of that question.

"Ron, just call me whatever you want," I say tiredly. I feel like I've been running in circles.

"Ok, 'Mione," he accentuates my newfound nickname as if making a point.

We continue with breakfast in companionable silence, until Ron gets up saying he needs to check something in the library before going to class. Ron…going to the library? Did hell freeze over and I wasn't informed?

Once he's gone, I turn to Harry. "What is with him today? He's just so…" I trail off, trying to come up with the right word do describe his mood.

"Happy?" Harry asks, finishing my thought.

"Yes, but more than that. Like overly and exuberantly happy."

Harry just looks at me…and laughs.

"What?" I ask. "What do you know?"

"Not much. Ron just told me that he had a particularly good dream last night. And I'm guessing by the mood he's in…it was a very, very good dream."

I look at Harry's evil smirk and role my eyes. "Gross Harry. I didn't need to know that."

"Hey, you asked what I knew. Don't blame the messenger."

"What about the whole library thing? What's up with that?" I say, as I start getting up from the table, ready to start heading for class. I stuffed my letter in my bag, deciding to read it later. For some reason, I wasn't so interested in it at the moment.

"That, admittedly, I do not know. Maybe Ron has finally realized the importance of his studies and is trying to catch up."

"In the ten minutes before class? I don't think so. It's just so weird."

"Hey, don't knock it," Harry says, falling in step beside me as we head towards transfiguration. "A calm, studying Ron is much better than an angry, jealous Ron any day."

I nod my head and let the subject drop. Obviously Harry doesn't think this new change is something to be worried about. And I guess he's right. It's better to have Ron finally accepting the innocence of my relationship with Viktor than yelling at me about it once again.

Yet I can't help but feel a little sad at his lack of interest in the matter; like he doesn't care anymore. I know it's ridiculous. I know it's irrational. But a part of me liked the jealous Ron. Then I could at least pretend that he might be interested in me.

The rest of the day went on as normal and I quite nearly forgot about this mornings incidents. That is, until Ron asks me to help him with his homework.

"Hey Hermione, can you help me with something really quick?"

"What is it Ron?" I ask, looking up from the extra credit transfiguration essay that I'd been working on. What can I say? I'm an over-achiever.

"I'm working on the Potions essay on firestone, and I'm having trouble understanding the significance of its use in this potion."

"Let me see it then," I say sighing, but we both know I'm happy to help him. As much as I hate to admit it, every one likes the chance to show off their brilliance.

Ron hands over the book with an impish grin, leaving it open to the page he was looking at. I give a curious glance at the look on his face, but he gives no answer. Glancing at the potion that Ron had indicated, I realize what that look came from.

"Lust potion?" I read out loud. That earns me a look from Harry from where he sits across the table from us, also working on his homework. He just shakes his head and returns to his work. I flip to the front cover to look at the title of the book, The Delicate Art of Love Potions.

"Ron, where did you get this book?"

"From the library," he says, rolling his eyes. "I read in our text that firestone was used often in the making of love potions and I wanted to give an example. I thought this potion looked interesting."

"Of course you would," I murmur under my breath, not expecting anyone to hear me.

"What was that, 'Mione?" Ron asks, but he has this look on his face that tells me he knows exactly what I said.

I can feel the blush rush up my cheeks despite myself, and I don't grace him with an answer. Burying my face deeper into the book, I read over the pages describing the potion in detail. Despite the…err…sensitive…subject of the potion, I find myself rather enthralled with all the…results that this potion offered. It was a rather complex potion, in more ways than one.

"So?" Ron asks after a minute.

"Huh?" I reply, momentarily forgetting the task at hand.

"Firestone…" he says, trailing off, waiting for me to pick up the topic.

"Right," I say, blushing once again as I look down at the book. If only he didn't look so cute with that smirk on his face, I wouldn't have to worry about blushing so much.

"Well," I begin after a few more minutes. "It says here that firestone is the ingredient that causes lust between the two individuals."

"So, it forges the physical attraction?"

"Well, yes and no," I say. Damn this stupid blush! I hate my cheeks right now. "It's what causes the recipient of the potion to be…well, lustful…for the potion maker."

"So, it makes them randy," he says, a smirk on his face.

I roll my eyes and pass the book back to him, somewhat forcefully. "Yes, but I'm not sure that's how you want to word it in your essay, Ronald."

He just laughs. "Yeah, I'd love to see what old Snape would say to that." After another moment of looking at the potion ingredients he asked again, "And the saliva? What's that for?"

"That's to make sure that the recipient lusts after the right person."

"Ok, thanks 'Mione," he says, going back to his work.

"You know, you could just read it yourself," I comment. "All that information is right in front of you."

"Yes, but then I'd miss the beautiful blush that's been coloring your face for the past five minutes."

I gape at him for a few minutes, before glaring; Harry laughs. How dare he humiliate me like that! But did he really just say my blushing was beautiful? Shut up stupid brain, he's just trying to make fun of you again!

Sigh. If only I didn't love the stupid prat.