CHAPTER 16

The first night back at Hogwarts was almost the same as last year. The sorting hat sang another warning then sorted the first year into their houses. Dumbledore gave another quick "welcome back" speech, and then the feast appeared in front of them. Everyone noticed the vacant chair where the Dark Arts teacher usually sits. However, Dumbledore didn't even mention anything. Soon, everyone was too engrossed in the feast to further speculate about the missing Dark Arts teacher.

At the end of the meal, Ron and Hermione led the first year back to Gryffindor towers. They seem to get smaller and smaller every year. Once the first years were safely sent to the tower, their job wasn't done yet. Ron and Hermione still had prefect duty that night.

Things between them are still not the same, but at least they were talking. However, their mannerisms weren't of friends anymore. Instead, they were extremely polite to each other, as if they were stranger. Ron couldn't stand being like this with Hermione. He enjoyed the bickering him and Hermione would have because at least someone is willing to put the energy to fight with him. It took him a long time to see Hermione in a different light, but he wasn't ready to admit it then. But this year, he might be.

Ron sat in the common room, waiting for Hermione to come down. There were few people in the common room with Ron. Everyone was upstairs unpacking their things or catching up with other schoolmates. After about five minutes, Ron heard someone coming down the girls' staircase. He stood up, ready to greet Hermione, but it just turned out to be Ginny.

"Don't look too disappointed," Ginny said when she saw Ron at the foot of the staircase.

"Sorry, Ginny," Ron grumbled.

"That's okay. You're waiting for Hermione," Ginny said, now walking towards the boys' staircase. "She'll be down in a minute."

"You talked to her," Ron asked. "Did she say anything else?"

He was hoping maybe Ginny would give something away. Like why Hermione was acting weird on the train, or why she refused to talk to him near the end of the summer.

Ginny shook her head. "Ron, I know you're starting to become friends with Luna, but-"

So, they did talk about Luna.

"But what? Do you have a problem with it too?"

"No, she's my friend, too. But Hermione might have one."

"Why's that," Ron asked. Ron secretly knew the answer, but refused to see it. Luna and Ron did nothing for Hermione to even suspect something is going on between them.

"Are you serious, Ron," Ginny frown. "The same reason why you're not okay with Hermione and Krum being pen pals."

"I don't-" Ron started but Ginny quickly cut him off.

"Just think about it," Ginny said, turning to walk up the boys' staircase.

"Where do you think you're going," Ron asked sternly. Ron knew Ginny was about to go see Dean Thomas. He didn't need like the idea of what the two of them might do in the boys' room. But before Ginny could answer, Hermione came down the stairs. That was enough to draw Ron's attention away from Ginny. Ginny escaped and ran up the stairs before Ron could realize she was gone.

Ron and Hermione both shyly smiled at one another before they headed out through the portrait hole. They didn't talk much while they were patrolling the corridors. Instead, they walked the entire time in complete silence. Ron did once attempt to start a conversation, but then he figured mentioning an article Luna showed him on the train was a bad idea. Hermione tried to start a conversation, too. But she decided to change her mind at the last minute.

They were almost finished when they saw Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson walking towards them. Ron tensed up with anger because he knows the stupid smirk on Draco's face could only mean he's looking for trouble.

"Ah, Weasley, mudblood," Draco greeted them cheerfully as they got closer.

Ron leaned forward, wanting to punch Malfoy, but Hermione held onto his arm and held him back.

Pansy laughed, "Granger, what did you do to your hair. It gets bushier and bushier every time I see you. You know, there's a spell to fix that. But I guess when you're not a real witch, you can't even perform a simple straightening spell." She laughed even louder and Draco sniggered.

"Pansy," Hermione said calmly. "Did a spell backfire or is that your natural face?"

This time Ron sniggered, and both Pansy and Draco stopped smiling.

"Do you feel safe, mudblood," Draco said threatenly. "My father may be in Azkaban, but someone who hates muggles much more is still out there. It's only a matter of time before he gets you!"

Ron stepped in between Draco and Hermione. He grabbed Draco by the shirt and lifted him a bit off the ground. "You little sh-"

Ron heard Hermione crying and running away behind him. He let go of Draco and ran after Hermione.

He lost her at the end of the corridor. Draco and Pansy were still standing in the hall, laughing their heads off. There's nothing funny about this, Ron thought. He made a promise to himself to beat Draco into a pulp.

He peaked in each room until he found the empty classroom where Hermione was. She was sitting in the corner, crying softly into her hands. Ron walked over to Hermione.

"He's a git," Ron said. "If you let me, I could have beaten him up."

"You're still a prefect, Ron," Hermione said wiping away her tears.

"So, that doesn't mean I can't beat him," Ron said, sitting next to Hermione. "What if I turned him into a ferret again? I can say my wand went off accidentally. They'll believe me."

Hermione sniffed and smiled. Ron liked that. He liked that he was able to put a smile on Hermione's face again. He liked the feeling that comes with making Hermione happy. Seeing her smile was enough for Ron to smile.

"Ron," Hermione said softly. "I'm sorry about-"

"Don't worry about it," Ron said getting up. "I'm sure it was kind of my fault too."

Ron held his hand down to help Hermione up. She smiled at him and took his hand. He easily lifted her up. Things seem fine between them again. They never had to say a word, and just like that, they're back to normal again. It's funny how someone like Malfoy could bring Ron and Hermione close again. That's how their whole relationship works. They're so different and so opposite, but a lot of things bring them together.

Their friendship for Harry brought them together. The common enemy in Malfoy made them closer. Every year, after each encounter to death, they grew closer and closer together. And Ron hopes, maybe this year, they will get even closer. Hopefully, it won't be another life threatening event that brings them closer though. Hopefully, it would be for a happy reason.

They left the classroom to go back to the common room. Ron was glad him and Hermione were talking again. It couldn't be a more perfect timing because tomorrow is the first day of classes. He's going to need someone to help him do his homework and take notes for him.