Intuition

Then next morning, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Neville, and Luna headed to Kings Cross. This had been the first time Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were not with them before they headed off for school. Ginny, Luna and Neville walked ahead, as Ron and Hermione walked behind the trio.

Luna kept glancing back periodically, as if checking on her friends. She was actually trying to catch a glimpse of Ron. He looks fantastic, she thought trying to fight back a raging wave of heat that overtook her when Ron had caught her staring and smiled back at her in response. Ron was one of the most fanciable boys at Hogwarts, second only to Harry. He was incredibly tall and fit, his face had taken on certain maturity, and his lips were full. Ron's hair was another asset of his, as it was long and shaggy as it fell over his eyes. Luna just had an urge to run her fingers through it.

Luna couldn't even recognise herself. She was mesmerised by a person that she knew was in love with someone else. Someone, she suspected, far prettier than she. She couldn't rationalise this but she couldn't help herself. He was Ronald Weasley, and that was whom she wanted.

Hermione noticed the looks Ron was getting, not only from the other seventh years that had decided to return to Hogwarts, such as Lavender Brown who shot daggers in her direction, and her best friend Pavarti Patil, whom had returned without her sister Padma. Only one girl in particular bothered Hermione. Luna Lovegood; She had been looking at him as she remembered herself looking at Ron just the year before. Hermione unconsciously wrapped her arms around Ron, taking possession of him. She felt a pang of guilt for being so hypocritical. She was one half of one of the hottest couples at Hogwarts, and she really just wanted out. I have got to tell him soon, she thought just as Ron wrapped an arm around her, while they passed through the barrier at platform 9 ¾.

Harry hung way back; he walked alone, his mind alert, checking for any suspicious activities out side. Once on the platform he allowed himself to feel nervous for what he was about to undertake. He was so into his thoughts that he missed the entire social undercurrent that flowed around him. "Harry, Come on." His head snapped to attention as Hermione pulled on his arm so that he would follow her.

"Where are we going?" Harry said following her.

Hermione grinned and wiggled her eyebrows. This brought a grin to his features and suddenly he was glad he had thought to carry his robes draped over his arm. "I have to go meet with the Head boy and girl, but if you would find us a compartment for the ride, that would be fantastic," she continued.

"All right," Harry said as Hermione headed back towards Ron and pulled at him just as she had just done to him. Harry went down to where he knew most Gryffindor students would be, and found an empty compartment. He put his trunk over head and placed Hermione's Carryall down on the seat across from him. Before he could get settled there was a knock on the door.

"Excuse me professor," The voice said. He turned to find Ginny at the door. "May I speak with you for a moment."

Harry hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "Sure," he said sitting on a hard train bench draping his robes on his lap.

"I really wanted to talk to Harry. You know, friend to friend." Ginny said sitting in front of him.

"Are you still my friend?" Harry asked.

"Harry please," Ginny said, "We were never in it too deeply, I fancied you, you fancied me. We misunderstood that as love, we are teenagers, it happens." She shrugged it off, though Harry was not convinced. "I spent so long loving the thought of being in love with you, that once I had it, there was nothing more to it."

Harry nodded in agreement. "I'm glad we can be friends," he said, "what did you want to talk to me about?"

"Well, it's more of a question really," Ginny started leaning forward placing her elbows on her knees, "What is going on between you and Hermione?"

Harry paled, what had she seen? Just then, the train lurched forward. The two stared at each other until the train settled into a steady rhythm Harry chose his next words carefully, "How-, What do you mean?"

"The two of you are rather chummy, closer than ever before," Ginny said quirking a brow

"We have always been close Ginny," Harry said shifting uncomfortably in his seat. He turned head to face the window. He couldn't look at Ginny, and keep what he felt for Hermione out of his eyes. He knew that.

"Not like this," Ginny said as she reached out and turned his gaze back to her.

"How do you mean?" He asked as he looked down at his lap.

"You touch her," Ginny said softly, "you never used to run your fingers through her hair. You do that now." Harry looked up at Ginny, amazed at what she had seen. He remembered this very action. It had happened just that morning as they had been talking in the kitchen, and he reached out to fixe a wild strand of hair that was out of place. "You two smile at each other like you have a secret from the world. You communicate without words. I saw all of that just this morning."

"I- Okay I like her Ginny. But she's with Ron." He conceded this half-truth because she had watched him so closely. He supposed that it was obvious to her, having been someone who had been on the receiving end of the very same affection.

"So there is nothing between you?" Ginny asked suspiciously.

"Ginny, please. This is Ron we are talking about." Harry responded.

"All right." Ginny said satisfied.

"Why do you think she likes me?" He asked.

"She adores you Harry." Ginny said standing and heading for the door of the compartment. "She obviously doesn't know it yet."

"Miss Weasley, I need to speak with you." Hermione's voice called out to her as soon as she stepped out of the cabin.

"What?" Ginny said in true confusion.

"Sorry,I was practicing," Hermione said with a giggle, "Ginny, you are Gryffindor captain this year. We are trying to resume the school year as normally as possible, so we will need a team. Slytherin house is stripped bare, and will need to re structure their team, but mostly the other teams just need a few more players. How is our team looking?"

"I dunno." Ginny responded as they stepped into another empty compartment. They stood at the door, discussing the great team, mourning the loss of one of the best seekers ever, but then Ginny would now be the seeker. Before Hermione could step out again Ginny said, "Hermione, when are you going to tell Ron you're in love with his best friend?"

Hermione stopped dead in her tracks. "What do you mean?"

"Face it Hermione, I know what loving Harry Potter looks like. And you don't just fancy him you love him." Ginny said lowering her voice just slightly. "You do love Harry, don't you Hermione?"

On the other side of the door, Ron had stopped having heard the question. Please answer her Hermione. He thought waiting for her response, but it never came.

"That's what I thought," Ginny said, "I dunno, call it women's intuition. I swear I will curse you if you hurt my brother." Ginny said opening the door. When Ginny stepped out on to the hallway, it was completely deserted.

Ron had been looking for Hermione when he stood outside the door. But he couldn't face her, nor Harry right now. He had noticed the same things his sister had, but he had chosen to ignore the signs.

He went about trying to find a compartment when he wouldn't have to see either of them. "I love that girl." he muttered to himself, "Why doesn't she love me?"

"Are you sure that it is actually love?" Came a familiar voice from within the compartment. "Don't mind me, I was just sitting here alone, if you need to brood, be my guest."