A/N: thanx to everyone who reviewed the last two chapters. i hope you all like this chapter just as much. please RR!

disclaimer: i do not own HP, JK Rowling, or any characters

Hermione made her way slowly down the narrow aisle way of the rumbling train, only stopping once to make sure all the tears were gone from her eyes. When she got outside of the compartment door, she brushed her freshly straightened locks of caramel colored hair off her shoulders and confidently opened the door, ready to answer anything her two friends had to throw at her. Hearing the door open, Harry and Ron broke their death glare they were sharing and looked simultaneously at the enterer.

"Hello Hermione," Ron greeted her with a fake smile.

"Hello Ron," Hermione replied, also with a fake smile. Neither knew the other's smile was fake. But Harry did. He could feel the anger boiling inside of him. The blood pounding inside his veins. His heart beating in his chest, echoing in his ear. Hermione turned her deep brown eyes to him and smiled.

"Hello Harry," she smiled. "What's wrong? You look like you're in some sort of a trance."

"Oh, no, I'm fine," Harry quickly lied. "What's wrong?" Harry had just noticed Hermione's puffy red eyes.

"Oh, uh, well you see," Hermione stuttered for a moment, trying to think of an answer. "Sand. Some sand got in my eyes while I was dangling from that cliff."

"Why weren't they red before you left then?" Harry pressured. He had an extremely strong feeling that Hermione was keeping something from him and Ron . . . well, him at least.

"Well, maybe you weren't looking directly at my eyes, or maybe it takes time to develop redness," Hermione blurted out. Harry looked at her disbelievingly, but decided to let it go for now.

"Sit down," Ron offered his girlfriend with a look of pure hatred toward Harry. Hermione walked into the small compartment occupied by the two boys and took a seat next to Ron, across from Harry.

"So, what do you want to talk about?" Hermione asked, trying to steer away from what had happened earlier.

"I don't care," Ron replied, placing his left hand on Hermione's bare right knee. His hand was so warm compared to Hermione's cold flesh from hanging outside.

"Well," Hermione started as she pulled at the hem of her skirt so it came half way down the top half of her leg, "someone had better pick a topic so we don't become bored out of our minds for the remaining duration of the trip."

"Well, Hermione, I . . ." Ron was saying when Harry stopped listening. He could hear voices, but he wasn't listening to their words.

He was sitting on the other side of the compartment, leaning against the back of the wall, in silence. What was he supposed to say? It was all too confusing. If he said anything he would get a defensive look of hatred from Ron who thought every time Harry said a word, it was to plan to steal Hermione from him. Then Hermione would look at him with those deep soulful brown eyes and Ron would fill with jealousy, only causing him to act more possessive of Hermione, all the while filling Harry with jealousy in return. It always happened that way. When Harry realized his feelings for Hermione, he never wonce thought it would cost him his friendship with Ron. But it has. And he knew that things would only get worse from here on out.

"Harry? Harry?" Hermione's voice penetrated through Harry's mind and he focused his gaze upon her.

"What?" Harry asked.

"I said look out your window," she smiled, pointing out the foggy piece of glass. Harry wiped away the fog and looked out into the darkness. He saw the blackness of the forest and he saw tall goal posts standing sturdily throughout all the wind and rain. But the sight that caught his eye mostly was the sight of the black pointed towers glowing under the night moon. The blaring yellow squares that were the windows. Harry saw Hogwarts and knew that at last, he was home.

A/N: i know, kind of a slow chapter. but what did you all think of it? i'm hoping to finish this story soon as i already have it planned out completely. so, please RR!