As the Hogwarts express came to a stop with a gentle sigh, the students onboard started to unload their luggage.
Hermione leaned over and woke up Harry and Ginny.
"Ok you two we're here so get moving."
Harry looked down at Ginny and then smiled a bit.
"You know it's a good thing Ron isn't here to see this."
"Right you are Mr. Potter. My older brother would take you to task for laying your hands on his innocent sister.
"So Ron has a sister I haven't met that's innocent? Besides I'm not afraid of your brothers spells." He laughed.
"You may be the Oh So Big Headed Boy Who Lived but I suspect my great git of a brother could teach you a thing or two about fisticuffs."
"Oh and why do you think that is Little Ms. Weasley?"
"Because he grew up the youngest of six brothers all of whom picked on him at some point or another." she smirked.
"Umm point taken." Harry conceded.
"If you two are finished flirting we need to get off the train and find a carriage."
"My dear Hermione I have not yet begun to flirt." Ginny grinned as she gathered her stuff and disembarked the train.
"Harry do you know what you have gotten yourself into?"
Harry just shook his head at Hermione and grinned.
By the time Harry and Hermione had gotten off the train Ginny was waving them to a carriage.
They got to the carriage and saw that Neville and Luna had also joined them.
After they had climbed in Harry turned to Neville and asked "hey Neville you look different or am I imagining things?"
At that Luna turned to Harry with that dreamy sounding voice "Neville has turned into quite a good looking young man Harry and I imagine he will be quite popular this year."
She then turned to stare back out of the window.
Neville blushed "I spent a lot of time working on my uncle's farm so I got to be outdoors a lot. I think it will help my flying. Hey do you know who is Quidditch captain?"
"No Neville I don't and I would have thought that it would have been decided by now. I'll ask McGonagall as soon as I can and let you know."
Neville looked serious then set his shoulders as if he was going to do something unpleasant. "Have you heard anything more about Ron?"
At this Hermione perked up "Sorry Neville we haven't but we do know he is safe and we should be seeing him soon."
When Hermione said he was safe Harry looked at her sharply but didn't say anything.
The carriages arrived at the castle and they got out very quickly.
"I'm starving, I hope the sorting doesn't take too long." Harry said as they head to the Great Hall.
"So with Ron absent you have decided to take on the mantle of Gryffindor pig." teased Ginny.
"Well I like to think of it as a tribute to my best mate. Who I wish would hurry up and get here."
Ginny's face got serious "We all do Harry we all do."
Then they both looked at Hermione who just nodded.
As soon as he sat down in the Hall Harry looked over at the teachers table hoping to see the new DADA professor. The only new face was a tall man with golden hair, a weather beaten face and eyes that seemed to take the measure of you in a glance. Harry had the oddest impression that the man was older than her appeared.
He turned to talk to Hermione about the new professor when the doors to the hall opened and Professor McGonagall led the first years in for the Sorting.
Harry and Ginny talked about what the new DADA professor might be like during the Sorting which frustrated Hermione.
The Professor Dumbledore stood up "Those of you who are new might expect a speech now but I expect you to Tuck In."
The plates began to fill with all manner of foods and soon all the students had loaded their plates.
There was a surprisingly small amount of talking and it seemed as if most of the students were very hungry.
At long last the student seemed to have gotten their fill. Harry thought he had eaten way too much cherry pie. In fact he was certain that at that moment he was more cherry pie than Harry Potter.
Just as the last of the food disappeared the doors to the Great hall opened. Harry turned to see what was going on along with everyone else in the Hall. As soon as the person stepped into the hall Harry's face split into a grin.
"It's Ron, you guys, it's Ron."
Ron walked into the Hall. It was just as he remembered it. Well he had never heard it that quiet before which was kind of creepy. Then he remembered he had a letter for Professor Dumbledore.
Ron walked towards the Teachers table and saw Hermione looking up at him concern etched on her face. Turning his head to the side he winked at her with his remaining eye and grinned.
When Ron had walked in Hermione had taken a good look at him. His hair was much longer it now rested several inches below his shoulders and he had grown a good deal more. His body had changed a bit too she noted. He hadn't bulked up or suddenly become a muscle bound strong man. His body had well, matured, yes that was the right word. It was very pleasing to her eyes and she suspected it might be pleasing to other eyes as well. Then she forced her self to look at his face. He had a leather eye patch over his missing eye and she found that neither it nor the slight scar that came out of both the top and bottom of the patch made him any less attractive.
Ron reached the teachers table.
"Excuse me Professor Dumbledore but I have two letters for you"
"Thank you Mr. Weasley, you may join your house now."
"Yes Sir."
"Oh and Mr. Weasley, it's very good indeed to have you back."
"Thank you Professor." He replied with a grin.
It was still very quiet as he started to walk back to the Gryffindor table when a couple of Hufflepuff's stood up and started clapping. That was all it took to ignite the Gryffindor table and they all started clapping, cheering and banging on the tables. Soon all of the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaws had joined in as well. Thoroughly embarrassed and not really sure what to do he started to sit down only to notice a great number of the Slytherins were clapping as well.
Well I never thought I would see that happen.
As soon as Professor Snape noticed them he told them to sit down in short order.
At least some things never change.
Professor Dumbledore stood up and after the noise died down started to speak.
"Mr. Filch,the caretaker, has asked me to tell you the forbidden list has been extended to include anything for sale in Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes which I believe is located in Diagon Ally." His eyes twinkling
"Also the Forbidden Forest is off limits to all students, even those students who keep going back to it."
"I would like to take this opportunity to introduce your new Defense against the Dark Art Professor Leonidas."
The tall golden haired man stood acknowledging the clapping.
"Now I believe it is time for you all to return to your common rooms to get prepared for tomorrow's classes."
As soon as everyone stood up the entire Gryffindor table surged towards Ron talking at once.
Ron held up his hands "Look I'll tell you anything you want to know but can it wait an hour or so? I need to take care of some things tonight."
Everybody said they would see him in just a bit in the common room. As they turned to go he reached out and caught Hermione's hand.
"Is there something you need Ron?" concern plain on her face.
"It's more like someone."
Very slowly he pulled her towards him wrapping his arms around her. Feeling her rubbing her nuzzling against his chest he took a moment to savor the scent of her hair.
Finally he lifted her head.
"Hermione if we don't go to the common room now we may never make it there." he smiled.
She just nodded a bit sadly but brightened when he reached for her hand interlacing his fingers with hers.
"I have to talk to you, Harry and Ginny about something important."