CHAPTER 15
Mrs. Weasley just came home with all of the school supplies the children needed for the following school year. School starts in about a week, and Ron and Hermione are still not talking. This has been the longest they haven't talked to each other all summer.
Hermione spent the following two weeks avoiding Ron as much as possible. It was so obvious, that Harry, who has been busy taking lessons, even noticed. He asked Hermione about the situation, but Hermione nearly bit his head off. Harry didn't dare to ask again. She would be either in her room or in the study room, reading or writing to Viktor Krum.
She was going to write a last letter to Viktor, but unfortunately, that was before her row with Ron. Now, she's writing letters, and secretly sending them out at night. She never liked Viktor in that way. In fact, her first impression of him was a spoiled, big, dumb, famous quidditch player. However, as she got to know him, she realized he was a complete opposite.
At the Yule ball, he was sweet, considerate, and quite smart. He also told her he didn't like the fame because he is always be surrounded by fake people. He would also receive special treatment because of who he is. He would always feel embarrassed by that. Hermione thinks Harry and Viktor have a lot in common. It could be possible that they can become good friends. But the same can't be said about Viktor and Ron.
Ron has always had it out for Viktor since he found out he was going to the Yule ball with Hermione. She wanted to go with Ron to the Yule ball, but he didn't even notice her. When Viktor approached her at the library, she couldn't say no. How could she? If she said 'no' to Viktor, she might not have even gotten a date. So, she took the safe road and just said 'yes.'
Hermione was now in her room, writing her letter to Viktor, who has just told her about his latest quidditch game in America.
Ginny came storming in, slamming the door behind her. She threw her books on the bed and let out a frustrated yell. Hermione knew it could mean only one thing. When they received their Hogwarts letters last week, Ginny didn't receive a prefect badge. Mrs. Weasley was upset and blamed Fred and George for their influence over Ginny. Since then, she has been slipping it to Ginny how everyone became prefect in the family.
"When will she get it," Ginny hollered to Hermione. "I don't care about being a prefect. I'll have enough to worry about with O.W.L.s coming up, am I right? Besides, Fred and George may not have become prefects, but look how they're doing. They didn't even finish their last year at Hogwarts and they're still successful."
"You don't have a joke shop though," Hermione tried to reason with her.
"Who's side are you on," Ginny snapped. "The point is, not being a prefect isn't the end of the world."
Hermione nodded her head. She wasn't talking to Ron, she didn't need another Weasley not talking to her.
Hermione left the room to allow Ginny to fully vent out her frustration. She entered the kitchen and found Fred and George sitting at the table with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Tonks, and Moody talking excitedly. Hermione poured herself a cup of pumpkin juice and sat at the table, next to Fred.
"Did you hear the news," Fred asked Hermione, cheerfully. "Fudge has finally resigned."
"Who's the new Prime Minister then," Hermione asked. She has been so busy trying to avoid Ron; she hasn't been downstairs today to read the paper.
"Amelia Bones," Tonks said. "She was Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."
"She's willing to work with us too," Mr. Weasley said. "She went to Dumbledore as soon as she was sworn in. However, only she supposed to know about it. No one else at the Ministry, except for us of course, is allowed to know."
"Well, if you ask me," Mrs. Weasley said. "It's about time we had a leader that's competent."
The mood in the kitchen was a happy one, and Hermione was happy she left her room to come here. However, that mood for Hermione was quickly killed when Ron and Harry walked in the kitchen.
Harry has been opening up and starting to go back to normal. His lessons with Lupin were getting better, but this week, there will be no lessons because of the full moon. Hermione quickly finished her juice and made an excuse to everyone about packing for school. She left the kitchen, avoiding Ron and Harry all together.
She was walking up the stairs when Ron called after her. She ignored his plea to stop and continued walking. However, she wasn't fast enough because Ron was able to catch up and stop her from going any further.
"Are you really going to avoid me for the rest of the summer," Ron asked. "There's only a couple days left before we go back to school, you can't avoid me there, too."
Against her own will, Hermione looked at Ron. His face was a mix of hurt and sadness. She knew she couldn't be mad at Ron anymore. She spent two weeks avoiding him because she knew if she looked into his eyes, her mind blurs. Everything she was certain became uncertain. Everything she was mad about became nothing. That was the power Ronald Weasley had over Hermione.
"Hermione," Ron started, "I don't know why we're not talking. But I want to know."
"It's nothing," Hermione said.
"It can't be nothing if you haven't talked to me in two weeks."
"Ron, this whole thing with Viktor, I thought we agreed at your house that we wouldn't fight about him anymore."
"We're not. I'm sorry."
Hermione was starting to forget why she was even mad at Ron in the first place. She started to walk towards Ron, when Ginny came out with a hawk sitting on her shoulder.
"You got a letter from-" Ginny stopped halfway when she saw Hermione and Ron talking in the hallway. "Oh, Ron. You two are talking again?"
"Yes," Hermione said, wishing Ginny would disappear.
Ginny must have understood the tone in Hermione's voice and turned to walk back into the bedroom. However, Ron stopped her. "Hang on. Who's the letter from?"
Hermione slowly looked at Ron wishing she didn't have to answer that. But Hermione didn't need to say anything; Ron knew immediately whom the hawk belonged to.
"I see," Ron said tensely. "Well, I got to get back to the kitchen with Harry."
Hermione closed her eyes and sagged her shoulders when Ron left. She was so close in making up with Ron, but Viktor had once again interrupted. Why does it seem that this summer is nothing more but bad timing? Hermione went up and stayed, for the rest of the night, in her room.
On the morning of September 1, the foursome left Grimmauld, early for once. Heavily guarded, like last year, they arrived King's Cross by taxi. Slowly and nonchalantly, they slipped through platform 9 ¾. The look of the big red engine train and all Hogwarts students running around brought back a homely feeling. At last, Hermione would finally be back home. Back where she always felt comfortable.
Things were still a bit weird between Ron and Hermione, but they were still prefects. They quickly dropped their things off with Harry and Ginny and left to their prefect meeting.
There, they were told the exact same thing as last year.
"Also, Professor Dumbledore would like us to remind all of you, we are in a dangerous time," said Eddie Carmichael, a 7th year Ravenclaw student. "We must report anything suspicious to the head of your house or Dumbledore himself."
"You will also notice that some students may not have returned," said Natalie Everard, a blonde 7th year Hufflepuff student. "Especially the older students. However, I want everyone to be reassured that Hogwarts is the safest place you can be right now."
The meeting lasted all the way until they reached Scotland. After being reminded of some new rules, they were finally allowed to go.
"Well, that meeting made me hungry," Ron said rubbing his stomach as they left the cabin. "Let's hope Harry got us something from the food trolley."
They were walking back to the compartment with Harry and Ginny, when Hermione saw Luna Lovegood walking their way.
"Hi, Ron," Luna said breathlessly. "Are you coming to join us?"
"Uh, yeah," Ron said with an odd expression on his face. He opened the door and allowed Hermione to go in first. On one side was Dean and Ginny. On the other side, Neville and Harry were sitting together. Luna followed Ron in. Hermione sat next to Ginny, but realized there wasn't enough room for everyone.
Ron saw Dean and Ginny sitting next to each other and narrowed his eyes at Dean.
"Right," Dean said standing up. Ginny stood up with him. "Well, obviously, there isn't enough room for me. I'll go back with Seamus then. I'll see you when we get there, Ginny. 'Bye everyone."
Dean left the compartment quickly without another glanced back. Ginny looked disappointed but didn't say anything. She sat next to Neville so Hermione was sitting on one side by herself. Ron sat next to her. Then, Luna sat right next to Ron, putting Ron between the two girls.
Luna pulled out the latest issue of the Quibbler and pointed out certain articles to Ron. All of his attention was drawn to Luna. Hermione was absolutely fuming. She stood up and deliberately placed herself between Ron and Luna.
"Sorry, I don't like sitting next to the window," Hermione tried to explain to Luna.
Luna had a surprise look, but that didn't stop her from talking to Ron. She leans forward and continued talking to Ron over Hermione.
"Um, excuse me," Hermione said waving her arms in front of her. "Sorry, could you not do that. It's a bit distracting."
Luna sat back and continued reading The Quibbler by herself. Ron started opening the Chocolate Frogs and Pumpkin Pastries Harry had bought. Hermione sat there, glad that she stopped the two of them from conversing any further. Her and Ron may not be speaking to each other a lot, but that doesn't mean someone else can start talking to him all the time.
Harry and Neville raised an eyebrow at Hermione's behavior. Ginny was sitting on the other side of Neville, trying her best to suppress her laughter.