Chapter 9

Ron had to pretty much run down the corridor to even catch up to Hermonie. When he finally did he placed his hand upon her shoulder and turned her around. Her eyes were red and puffy, but she tried to hide it. She looked up at him without emotion.

"What do you want Mr. Weasly?" She asked him simply without any type of inflection in his voice. His heart broke to hear her call him 'Mr. Weasly.' He had heard that nearly every day from the teachers, but never before from her.

"I want to talk to you," He said. She looked and saw that the compartment next to them was empty. She opened the door and they filed it. Ron closed it behind him and turned around to find her sitting with her hands folded upon her lap.

"Speak what is on your mind. I have prefect duties to attend to, Mr. Weasly." Ron sighed and sat across from her.

"I wanted to apologize for what I said. I should never have said them and I don't really understand why those things come out of my mouth. I don't think that you are a snob. You don't drive me insane. You're perfect. You're funny, loyal, brave, beautiful. . . " Ron trailed off, not entirely sure where those words had come from.

"Anyway, you're my best mate and I would hate it if you hated me," He finished. He took her hands, unsure of what else to do.

"You're words hurt, Ron."

"Well so do yours."

"Point taken. Apology accepted. I do not hate you. You just frustrate me."

"And you frustrate me as well, but that's kind of how our friendship works." She laughed as she gave him a hug, sending shivers up and down Ron's spine. She kissed his cheek before letting go.

"Come on we both have prefect duties to attend to," Hermonie said as she got up out of her seat. Ron followed suit and sighed.

"Do I have to?"

"Do you really think this will work, Gin?" Harry asked after she had told him the plan. She nodded.

"I know my brother and I know Hermonie. It most definately will work. But first we have to get them to admitt it to us. Otherwise this never will work." Neville nodded.

"She's right," Neville said. Harry sighed and sat back in his seat, unsure of what they were going to do to their friends.

"Alright. I'm in, but I don't think it's going to work."

"We have to believe it will work, Harry. Now all of us have to be committed to this. Christmas is not far away."

Ron and Hermonie walked into the compartment at that moment to find them all smiling guilitly. Hermonie looked at each of them in turn, an eyebrow raised.

"Do we want to know what you have been discussing in here?" Hermonie asked.

"We haven't been discussing anything important," Harry lied.

"Suuuure," Ron said as he flopped down in the seat that he had had before the fight. Hermoine sat back down in her seat.

"It says in the Quibbler that they are going to soon find the mystical Dragons of York," Luna blurted out, trying to save face.

"That's what you were talking about?" Hermonie asked skeptically.

"Yes that and about the Loch Ness Monster and her rise to against the Dark Lord." Hermonie snorted a laugh.

"Luna there is no such thing as the Loch Ness Monster." Luna smiled and buried her face in the Quibbler.

"Shows how much you know." Hermonie rolled her eyes.

The trip went faster then anyone had thought and soon they were at the Gryffindor table waiting for the Sorting Hat to be finished with the sorting of the new students.

"Hurry up, hurry up," Ron said softly, wiggling every so often in his chair.

"It's going as fast as it can, Ron," Hermonie said. Ron looked over at her.

"I know, but I'm hungry."

"When aren't you hungry?" She asked him with a knowing smile.

"Right after I eat." Harry snorted.

"Yeah that lasts about two seconds, huh Ron," Harry said as he jabbed his friend with his elbow. Ron gave him a sheepish look before turning his attention back over to the sorting hat. Finally Professor Dumbledore rose to his feet.

"I have a few announcements to make before we get on with this delicious feast that looms before us. First to first year students and those that need reminding the Forbidden Forest is off limits to all students. Second we have a new Defence Against the Dark Arts Teacher. I am pleased to present to you all tonight Professor McLintok. He comes here from Scotland on very short notice. Finally Mr. Filch would like students to know that there is a long list on his door of things that you are not allowed to use in the hallways. Also, no wand dueling in the hallways or any use of spells against each other. Those are the announcements. Now, Tuck In."

The food appeared and the surprised first years awed in amazement. Ron didn't take time to make a sound, just started to pile stuff upon his plate and into his mouth. Hermonie rolled her eyes and laughed.

"Are you taking time to even taste it, Ron?"

"Mianba hhansh anba," Ron replied. Hermonie grimaced.

"You're the one that had to ask him a question while he's eating," Harry told her. Ginny laughed as she took a tomato off of Harry's plate.

"Hey that was mine, Gin," Harry protested lightly.

"Yeah I know," She replied with a smile.

After the feast was done the entire school wandered up to their correct towers and into a deep, wonderful sleep.