Hey, I think this is gonna be a short chappie. Sorry. KEEP UP WITH THE REVIEWS. I love them! :-D
It felt like he'd only just gotten to sleep when his mother was shaking him awake. "Ron? Ron, dear, it's time to wake up." Mrs. Weasley said before going over to Harry's bed.
Ron sat up and groaned. "How're we getting to the station?" He asked, groggily.
"Your father's managed to get us a Ministry car so we won't need anyone from the Order." She answered. "Now, you're sure you've both got everything packed?" She asked sternly looking from Ron to Harry and then back again.
The boys nodded, yawning and stretching. "Okay good, come down and have a spot of breakfast, I expect the girls are down there already.
After washing up and getting dressed Ron and Harry went downstairs, greeted by the smells of Mrs. Weasley's cooking. The four ate in silence, too tired from staying up half the night to say much to each other. Ron unhappily noticed that Hermione was indeed sporting her new look. This is going to be a great day. We probably won't even be able to sit with her in the compartment...all the boys will be crowding it like hounds.
A short while later Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny were all packed into a Ministry car and on their way to King's Cross Station to catch the Hogwarts Express.
Mrs. Weasley hugged and kissed all of them as Mr. Weasley brought their trunks onto the train. "You all have a good year now." He said, hugging Ginny.
"Yes, be safe. Don't forget to owl us. Look out for each other. Ron, take care of Ginny!" Mrs. Weasley said as they boarded the train.
Ginny stuck her head out of the window, obviously offended. "Mum! I can take care of myself!"
"Of course you can, dear." Mrs. Weasley answered distractedly. "Hermione, you will make sure they owl, won't you?"
"Of course, Mrs. Weasley." Hermione said dutifully.
Mrs. Weasley pulled out a handkerchief as Mr. Weasley put an arm around her. "Good-bye, dearies! We love you!" She waved, sobbing.
Ginny sighed and closed the window. "I wish she would stop worrying all the time." She said as they made their way to an empty compartment, earning lingering glances from assorted boys. Ron glared at each of them and glanced at Hermione to see how she was reacting. She had turned a deep shade of pink since they boarded the train. Ron watched with displeasure as she bit her bottom lip shyly and waved at Seamus. Ron reached the compartment first and slumped unhappily into the window seat, Ginny following suit across from him.
"What's with you?" He asked his younger sister.
"Nothingâ." She answered, staring out the window as the train began to move.
Harry hurriedly sat in the seat next to her as to avoid being knocked to the ground the quickly moving train. Ron saw here eyes close tightly in what looked like despair when he shoulder bumped hers. "Sorry." He heard Harry mumble, blushing slightly. Bloody hell is going on with those two?
Hermione sat down next to Ron and looked at her watch. "We can't stay long, Ron." She said, not looking at him.
"Why not?"
"Because we are prefects! We've got to go the meeting and then we're supposed to patrol the corridors. We did this last year you know."
"Well excuse me for not being a know-it-all like you." Ron said harshly, folding his arms like a sulky two year old.
"Ronald, that joke is getting really old. I suggest you get some new material as you'll find that it doesn't have the same effect on me as it used to." Hermione answered calmly. Almost too calmlyâ. Why do I always start these stupid little fights with her?! Ron screamed in his head. Why can't I just behave like a good best friend? If I keep this up it really won't matter to her at all. To the point where I won't matter to her anymore. I should apologize for being such a prat.
"'Mione, I'm sorry I called you a know-it-all. I didn't mean it." He said, looking over at her apologetically.
To his extreme pleasure he saw her cold exterior melt a little. "Its okay, Ron." She said, smiling slightly. "Come on, we'd better go. We don't want to be late for that meeting."
Harry watched in pure shock as Ron got up and followed Hermione out of the compartment without complaint. He and Ginny had being watching the two ever since they'd sat down and Harry was willing to bet that Ginny was just as surprised as he was as to how that all turned out. Ron and Hermione had never made up that quickly in all the years he'd known them. Hehâand I was preparing myself for a cold shoulder fest.... He thought to himself, leaning back in his seat and risking a look at Ginny. He was going to try and engage her in some kind of conversation about what had happened but she was looking out of the window with a glazed look in her eyes and he didn't want to disturb her. So instead he busied himself with Flying with the Cannons for the umpteenth time.
A few minutes are so later he felt a bump on his right shoulder. He turned and saw red. Ginny had fallen asleep while watching the scenery whiz past and her head was on his shoulder. He slowly and cautiously reached his arm around her back and pulled her closer to him, careful not to wake him. He smiled down at her sleeping form and kissed her gently on the head; taking a leaf out of her book and watching the world go by through the window.
Ron and Hermione left the prefect's compartment and made their way to the back of the train, Hermione talking about the meeting the whole way. They passed by an open door and Seamus stuck his head out. "Why hello, Hermione!" He said, grinning. "Ron."
Ron felt his hands tighten into fists at his side as Hermione turned a sweet smile at Seamus. "Hullo, Seamus. How are you doing?"
Ron drowned out their conversation and stared at the floor, sulking.
"Well anyway, I'll let you go, beautiful." Seamus said giving Hermione a kiss on the cheek. "Ron, I'll see you in the dorm." He continued, shortly, before closing the door.
Hermione, still a furious shade of pink began walking again. "What do you like him or something?" Ron asked, unable to contain himself.
If possible Hermione's complexion turned a deeper shade. "Tell me-is that any of your business?"
"Sure it is, Hermione! I'm your best friend, remember?" Ron said, willing the answer to be 'No, Ron, of course I don't. I love you, I've always loved you.' Although he knew it wasn't.
"Right. Friends." Hermione said with a look of, disappointment? Anger? Ron tried to figure it out but she turned on her heel and stalked off.
"Hermione!" Ron yelled. This is your chance mate. It can be like one of those romance novels Ginny's always reading. Take her up in your arms, tell her you love her and kiss her like mad. He thought, prepping himself as he walked towards her.
"Was there something you wanted to say to me, Ronald?" Ron looked into her brown eyes and then took in her beautiful face andâ.Lost all his nerve.
"Uhm, you've got some lint on your shoulder." He said, quietly, pointing at her robes.
Hermione pulled the fuzz off, let it drop to the floor and walked away without looking back.
Ron leaned against the wall and slid down slowly until he was sitting. "I just wanted to tell you that I love you, Hermione." He said softly.
AWWW poor Ronnie!!! I promise a new chapter as soon as I can. Please please please review and don't stop reading. It will make me sad if you do. The next one will be very Harry/Ginny. It'll still be quite a bit before there's any real Ron/Hermione stuffs. Sorry. :-D