Gathering the Pride.
"Oy Hermione, I forgot about the first years." Ron said suddenly.
Ron turned around and waved at the Gryffindor first year students.
"Alright you lot, if you will please follow the lovely Miss Granger we will show you to our common room."
"The lovely Miss Granger?" Hermione questioned.
"Ahem Mr. Weasley I believe you know that public displays of affection are against school policy." Professor McGonagall prompted.
Ron looked down at Hermione's hand still clutched in his. She tried to let go of his hand but he just held on.
"But Professor I'm still having a bit of trouble seeing. Hermione was just showing me the way." he smiled.
"I can well believe that Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger has been showing you the way for years now."
Hermione covered up her snicker with her free hand.
"Also Mr. Weasley would you please come to my office tomorrow as soon as classes get out. Bring Mr. Potter with you, I need to discuss the subject of Quidditch Captain with both of you."
"Speaking of which Professor I don't think I should be involved in that. The last thing that Gryffindor needs is a keeper who can't see half of the field."
"Mr Weasley I have become used to seeing the Quidditch cup in my office and I would hate to hold your leaving the team responsible for it relocating to say Professor Snapes office."
Professor McGonagall step in closer to the two and looked down at their still joined hands.
"Besides Mr. Weasley it seems you are seeing more clearly than you ever have before, now both of you get these first years to your common room."
"Yes Professor McGonagall." Hermione answered.
"Good night Professor." Ron called after her.
It took Ron and Hermione a half an hour to get the first years through the common room and into their dorms. Ron came into the common room laughing.
"Sorry that took so long I had to read one of them a story so he would go to sleep."
Harry laughed. "I take it he was scared?"
"Nah more like home sick. He'll be ok in a few days"
"Hermione would you grab Ginny and then we can go up to our dorm and talk."
"You know I bet Ginny would like it better if Harry grabbed her." Hermione said jumping up to go get Ginny and grinning over her shoulder at Harry.
"There something you would like to tell me Harry?"
Harry just stammered for a second until Ron rescued him.
"I was kidding mate and if you ever did start to date my sister I couldn't think of a better man."
Ginny walked up laughing at the look on Harry's face.
"Ok you guys wanted me for something?"
Ron stood up "Ok guys lets go up to our dorm and talk for a second."
"Hey Seamus."
"Yeah Ron?"
"Do a mate a favor and keep anybody from coming up to the dorm. I need to tell these guys some stuff then I'll come back down and give you guys the scoop on what happened."
"Will do mate."
Harry, Hermione, Ginny and Ron headed up to the dorm. As soon as they got in Ron shut the door. Harry flopped on his bed and Ginny sat down next to him.
"Ok first let me tell you guys that boy did I miss you while I was gone. Now do me a favor tell me everything I missed before I tell you what happened."
"I think Harry should do the telling Ron." Hermione added looking around for a place to sit.
Ron grabbed Hermione "Bloody hell Hermione you can sit on my bed. You can lay on it if you want to."
"You can even spend the night there if you want to." he added with a small smile looking at Harry and Ginny.
Hermione looked stunned and Ginny started laughing so hard she had to cram her fist in her mouth not to scream.
"Relax Hermione I know you aren't going to stay the night here." Ron snickered.
"Really? I was just trying to figure out how to get my clothes for tomorrow up here." she said smiling at Harry and Ginny.
It was Ron's turn to look stunned and both Harry and Ginny did scream in laughter.
"Well if you two are done teasing each other I can tell Ron all the things he has missed."
Harry quickly went over the past two and a half months. How the order has still looking for Voldemort. How many people had been lost in the Death Eater attacks. Then in a small voice he told them all about what the prophecy had said.
"So I have to fight Voldemort alone."
Both Ginny and Hermione rushed over to Harry and wrapped him up in their arms.
"Harry mate I think your wrong. You don't have to fight Voldemort alone."
"Ron you heard what the prophecy said. I don't have a choice and there's more. Voldemort is coming for you. He doesn't want to kill you, he wants to break you and make an example of you to anyone who would fight back."
"Well really that's nothing new. I mean we have been hounded by that nut job since the Chamber of Secrets. Anyway Harry I want you to listen to me now and then again downstairs. I'm going to tell you things I won't tell the rest of the house but there is some stuff you might want to know that I'm going to tell them."
"Ok first you guys know I died for a little bit right?"
Harry Ginny and Hermione all nodded. Hermione looked like she was going to start crying.
Ron reached out and took her hand.
"Well when I died I went to this place. I guess you would call it the afterlife and Sirius was there waiting for me. He said he was supposed to help me transition into the next life and I have to say it seemed pretty pleasant. Well he soon discovered that I was going to make it and that I was only going to be there for a short time more. So he called your parents out and they asked me to give you a message."
Harry looked stunned and Ginny was holding both of his hands. Hermione was looking back and forth between Ron and Harry with a very concerned expression on her face.
"Your mum said she was very proud of you and that they both missed you terribly but that they would see you in many years when you had lived your life to the fullest. Your dad said that you were an even better Quidditch player than he was and that one day we would all get to play Quidditch together. Your dad also said to tell you they both loved you very much."
"They also said to tell Moony to get on with having some fun and that they would be waiting for him when he was ready. Oh and one more thing. Your mum asked me to give something to you."
Ron leaned over and kissed Harry on the cheek.
He sat back up and looked at both Ginny and Hermione as if daring them to make a joke but both of them seemed on the verge of tears for some reason.
"Did they say anything else to you Ron?" Harry said softly.
"Well they told me a couple of things that dealt with me personally."
"Would you mind telling me mate? I know it wasn't meant for me but I would like to hear what they said."
Ron took a deep breath "Well your parents said you have a power that Voldemort doesn't just like in the prophecy and that I know what the power is, which strangely enough I believe I do."
At that moment Ron's stomach rumbled so loudly in startled them all and then they broke up into laughter.
"I had to go and miss the feast and I'm starving. I didn't get a chance to eat today while I was traveling.
Hermione stood up "Well I'll run down to the common room and see if there is anything to eat down there. Be right back."
"Thanks Hermione you're the best." Ron called after her.
The Harry spoke up "You sounded like you had something else to say."
"Well yeah Sirius also told me that if I wanted Hermione to know I loved her I should show her I loved her."
Harry smiled "Well Sirius was a pretty smart guy and good with the ladies from what I had heard."
"He was pretty damn cute too." Ginny added.
Harry raised his eyebrows "So you fancied Sirius then did you."
"Harry every girl that saw him fancied him." Ginny shot back.
"Oh really and what was it about Sirius that all the girls loved?" Harry said just a little to loudly.
"Well it was that wild dark hair and those flashing eyes. Not to mention he had a great smile when he has really happy about something, kind of reminded me of you sometimes. Though Sirius didn't have nearly as big a head as you do."
Before Harry could respond Ginny turned and looked at her brother "So does this mean you are going to tell Hermione what you have been hiding for years?"
Ron cleared his throat "I promise you both before tonight is over Hermione will know exactly what I have been thinking."