"Thank Gods" Harry said as the trio and Ginny made it onto Platform 9 3/4. They quickly placed their belongings on the train and made their way to the Prefects compartment.
Along with the usual Hogwarts letter they all received memos from headmistress McGonagall advising them that many students were choosing not to return to Hogwarts. Due to the lack of attendance she had made Harry and Ginny prefects. But to the biggest news was Ron and Hermione had been made Head Boy and Head Girl.
"I know the feeling." Ron told Harry as they walked along the train. "It feels good to be here again, it feels like..."
"Like going home" Hermione finished for him.
"Yeah" Ron said. "Exactly"
They continued on in a contented silence breathing in the moment, savoring the feeling of peace that they haven't been able to have in years.
Once in the prefect's compartment Hermione took control immediately. Ron stood in the background watching her with admiration.
"Hello everyone" Hermione said in her bossiest voice. "My name is Hermione Granger, I am head Girl and this is Ronald Weasley he is Head Boy. Welcome back to Hogwarts. I know everyone must be as excited to be back as I am."
Harry and Ginny put their hands over their mouth and stifled a smile. Ron rolled his eyes
Hermione continued not noticing this. "I am passing out the schedule for corridor patrols" Hermione told the group pulling a stack of papers out of her bag and passing them around. "Today just walk the train corridors every now and then, just to check on things."
She looked around not sure what else to say. She saw Harry lift his hand to his mouth pretending to yawn and Ginny with her head on Harry's shoulder pretending to sleep. She turned to look at Ron, trying to catch him making fun of her but he was just leaning against the doorway staring into space. Hermione just glared at Harry and Ginny.
"You are all dismissed now," she told the group. The rest of the prefects walked out the door leaving Hermione alone with Harry, Ginny and Ron.
"I appreciate your support guys" Hermione snapped sarcastically.
"Hey" Ron cried out defensively sitting down by the window. "I didn't do anything"
"Yeah" Harry agreed. "It was us" Harry motioned to himself and Ginny with a wicked smile on their faces.
"Well" Hermione huffed sitting throwing herself into the seat beside Ron. "I hate you both"
Harry sat down across from them and pulled giggling Ginny into his lap. Hermione smiled at there two friends kissing and laughing. She knew the sight made Ron a little uncomfortable because Ginny was his little sister but Hermione was thrilled.
Since Harry defeated Voldemort all he wanted was normal life, hanging out with his friends, being in love with Ginny and finishing his education were things important to Harry Potter and Hermione knew that. She also knew that no matter what he would always be famous.
She looked over at Ron whose head was leaning against the window. She noticed he was staring at her. Hermione had no idea what was going on between Ron and herself but ever since he broke up with lavender Brown last year she could sense a change in their dynamic. Ron noticed her looking at him and smiled at her shyly. She smiled back at him trying to control the color that was rising to her face.
Ron turned away quickly and looked out the window. Hermione sat there trying to figure out what to say. This really horrible, Hermione thought, we used to be able to talk about everything and now she can't think of anything to say to him.
"Hermione" Ginny said, drawing her attention away from Ron.
"Yes?" Hermione replied looking at Ginny.
"Join me outside; I have a question for you" Ginny told her standing up and walking toward the compartment door.
Hermione followed her out in the hall and shut the door tightly behind her. Ginny grabbed her hand and pulled out of earshot of the boys.
"Are you in love with my brother?" Ginny demanded.
"What?" Hermione squeaked looking around making sure no one heard.
"I asked if you were in love with my brother?" Ginny repeated her question lowering her voice.
"I, uh, I" Hermione stammered, trying to find the words. "I care about him, a lot"
"That's not what I asked you." Ginny hissed. "I asked you if you were in love with him."
"I think I might be" Hermione finally admitted a moment later. "I guess I am"
Ginny smiled and threw her arms around Hermione.
"I knew it" Ginny cried throwing her arms around Hermione jumping up and down.
"Stop" Hermione told Ginny, roughly pushing her away. Stop, I don't want the whole world to know, thanks."
"Why?" Ginny asked
"I don't really know how he feels, I know theirs something there but I don't know what" Hermione told her quietly.
"I think he likes you" Ginny told her sarcastically. "Either that or he is crazy in love with you."
"Think so?" Hermione asked in a dreamy voice.
"Yeah" Ginny answered.
"How do you know?" Hermione asked hopefully.
"He told Charlie" Ginny told her. "Charlie told the twins and me. Charlie bet the twins that Ron would hook up with you this year but they think he's too much of a coward. I hate to say he might be."
"I can't believe they are betting on their brothers love life" Hermione said indignantly.
"It's what my brothers do "Ginny replied. "But Ron probably won't tell you how he feels, may be you should tell him how you feel."
"I can't" Hermione whispered looking away. "I don't know why, I just can't"
Hermione and Ginny walked back towards the door.
"What do I do?" Hermione asked Ginny.
Ginny winked and said. , "If all else fails you two will be sharing a dorm, you know Head Boy and Head Girl."
Hermione stopped suddenly feeling sick. She had forgotten that head boy and girl share a dormitory, at least that what she heard. With the feelings she has been having, sharing a dorm with Ron would be horrible. But Hermione was sure that was just rumor. What kind of adults would put a hormonal teenage boy in a room with a hormonal teen-age girl? The boys aren't even allowed girls dormitories. She felt much better when she thought about it rationally.
