A/N I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read my fanfiction, and extra thanks to everyone who has taken the time to write reviews. I check my reviews everyday and I am so happy when I get a new one, whether it be good or bad. I really do value what you guys have to say, and I just want to thank you for taking the time to write. Gabrielle004

-October 15-

The more time the trio spent at Hogwarts, the more it felt like home again, and things were quickly falling back into its normal rhythm.

Of course there were some few changes, what with Ron and Hermione holding hands in the hallway, and Harry spending more time with Luna, but all in all the first month and a half of school had passed by with out much disruption.

They had also realized that this last year at Hogwarts was going to be the toughest year of all.

Firstly they had to sit their NEWTs, which was enough to make a person hyperventilate at the thought. Second they had to survive through the mounds of homework which was being dumped on them every day. And thirdly, their future outside of Hogwarts was right around the corner.

Ron woke up early on the morning of October 15 and he lay in bed staring up at the fabric above him, lost in happy thoughts and plans for Christmas…

The Saturday morning sun was quickly rising higher and higher in the sky, bringing with it a steady increase of sunlight into the dark dorm.

Ron heard a groan and looked over at Harry in the bed beside him. Harry had his glasses on but his eyes were squeezed shut. Ron heard him whisper, "Do we really have to practice today?"

Ron smirked, "Well you know, you are the captain. You could cancel today's practice …"

Harry turned and frowned at Ron. "No … we have to practice. Ginny has to get used to swerving the bludgers, and the Creevey brothers have to practice their aim."

Ron grimaced as he remembered their last quidditch practice, when Colin Creevey's poor aim sent a bludger flying at Harry's head.

Ron nodded, "Yup. I'm damn glad it's you who has to put up with them and not me. I would have quit months ago."

Harry smiled and then the two boys dressed quietly into their quidditch robes, grabbed their brooms and headed for the pitch.

Hermione sat in the stands with Luna, both of them sipping on hot chocolate. The hot cups warmed their cold hands as the liquid heated them up from the inside. They had been sitting there for more than an hour, watching the Gryffindor team practice for their upcoming match against Slytherin.

Luna's eyes kept circling around as she watched Harry instruct Ginny how to veer the bludgers that Colin and his brother Dennis were bouncing back and forth, while Hermione's gaze focused on the farthest end were Ron was blocking shots by teammates Lara and Samantha.

Hermione was very cold and was beginning to wonder if the practice would ever come to an end when she heard a whistle blow in the distance. Harry had stopped the training and was motioning for the team to join him in the middle of the pitch.

Luna leaned back against the bench behind her and turned to Hermione. "I guess it's coming to an end. About time too," Hermione nodded as Luna began to rub her own arms vigorously.

A few moments later, Ron had landed next to Hermione in the benches. He smiled and leaned in to kiss her cheek. Hermione's soft skin felt so warm against his cold lips, and he slowly felt the heat traveling through his body.

"Well, there's no point for you girls to stay here any longer," explained Ron as he pulled away from Hermione. "Harry still wants to go over some strategy aspects with us inside the changing rooms. It might take a while…"

Hermione frowned, "Okay, well I guess I'll see you later then." She got up and kissed Ron hard on the lips, the heat of it quickly warmed her up.

When she pulled away, Ron had a huge grin on his face. He then mounted his broom and flew over to the Gryffindor changing rooms.

Hermione and Luna walked back to the castle and separated in the entrance hall.

"Well, I guess I'll be getting up stairs. Tell Harry I'll see him in the Great Hall for lunch." Luna added as she nodded good-bye to Hermione and then headed up the stairs towards the Ravenclaw tower.

Hermione stood in the entrance hall, trying to think of something to do. She was still awfully cold and the idea of taking a hot bubble bath in the prefect's baths sounded marvelous, so she quickly made her way up the stairs and to the common room ...