A/N: I hope no one minds that I decided to change the plot slightly and not having Hermione go back to the Burrow. I just had this scene in mind and once I have an idea, I have to do it. Please feel free to review. Love always x

Once Harry had arrived, Ron's summer got significantly better. He loved his sister and all, but with the lack of brothers to do things with, such as make up a whole Quidditch team, he had never had such a boring summer. In fact, he had even begun counting down the days until he went back to school, crossing each day out on his Chudley Cannons calendar. He felt like a right Hermione. Hermione. He had missed her so much, more than he'd care to admit. It felt like it had been years since he last saw her, when in reality it had only been a matter of weeks. He wrote to her, of course. But he was a bit of a rubbish writer, always had been, much to her annoyance. But his final two weeks at the Burrow had been a lot brighter, Harry told him about his special lessons with just him and Dumbledore, told him about a new professor called 'Slughorn', etc. And as much as Ron felt a lot happier in the company of his best mate, he still felt like his life was missing something. Someone, perhaps.

However, he didn't have to miss anyone for long as it was finally September, the first. His mother woke him up bright and early, much to his dismay, and even though it took him a while to get up and actually properly wake up, he was very excited. Merlin, he had never been as excited to leave his childhood home and go back to school. But he knew perfectly why, and the reason made him smile foolishly as he piled into the back of the Ministry car that had been issued to his family.

Hermione triple-checked her bag and carefully hoisted it off her neatly made bed. She gave her room a knowing smile as she looked around it for the final time until next summer. Switching off the light, she closed the door and made her way downstairs.

"Ready to go?" Her father asked with a smile on his face as he jangled his car keys in his pockets. Hermione nodded, returning the smile.

Her mother appeared from the kitchen dressed in her dental uniform. "Not without a goodbye, you're not," she stated as she pulled her daughter in for a hug. Hermione giggled as she hugged her back.

"I'll miss you." Hermione smiled softly as her mother cleared the curls away from her face.

"I'll miss you more." Mrs Granger replied as she kissed her daughter on the forehead. Hermione smiled again before picking up her suitcase and Crookshank's crate. He meowed impatiently and her father rolled his eyes.

"Come on then, or his highness might attack you," her father joked, glaring at the ginger cat. His disdain for the fluffy creature made Hermione think of the other ginger in her life, and she smiled down at the floor with shy excitement. "Bye, Mum. Love you." She called as she stepped through the door.

"I love you too," her mother replied, as she waved them off from the doorframe.

Hermione stared out of the window as the bittersweet feeling encircled her. She was sad to be leaving her quaint townhouse, especially her parents. But she couldn't help to suppress the growing excitement of seeing her friends again, seeing him again. Hermione felt herself blush just at the very thought. She closed her eyes as she remembered the comforting scent of his hair that she inhaled as they hugged before departing from each other at the station before she went home. She couldn't help but wonder if he had enjoyed their significantly longer hug than either of them gave to Harry just as much as she had.

"Looking forward to going back?" Her dad asked, bringing her back to reality.

She nodded dazedly before abruptly realising he couldn't see the action. "Yeah, yes," she stuttered, forcing to compose herself.

"How did Harry and Ron do in their OLWs?" Mr Granger asked.

"OWLS, Dad." Hermione corrected light heartedly. "They did well," she answered.

"Really? Even Ron? I thought you said he never even revised?" Her dad enquired. Hermione smiled to herself at the fact her dad had remembered something so specific about him.

"Even Ron," she smiled, choosing to ignore the fact he did fail a subject, that didn't really matter to her. It was only Divination, something Hermione gave up the second she could.

Hermione wished her dad farewell as she assured him he didn't have to wait to wave her off, and made her way excitedly up the steps to Platform 9¾. She searched the space only for a second before she became instantly elated at the familiar sight of bright red hair. She couldn't stop herself from smiling as she practically ran to the Weasleys, hugging Harry and Ginny the second she arrived. However, her face seemed to fall as she realised her favourite redhead was nowhere to be seen. "Where's Ron?" She asked concernedly.

Harry shrugged. "Angelina's here waving off her sister, so she wanted to give Ron a few final tips before he boards the train", seemingly unfazed by Hermione's question. Ginny however, did nothing to hide the smirk on her face as she noted Hermione's disappointed expression. Hermione just shook her head playfully, however she could not hide the blush that she could even feel on her cheeks. Hermione turned to the Weasley parents to avoid Ginny saying something, which Hermione thought she undoubtedly would.

"Mr Weasley, Mrs Weasley. How are you?" She beamed.

"We're lovely, dear. How are you? We haven't seen you in ages, it feels!" Mrs Weasley exclaimed as she hugged Hermione warmly.

"I know, I know. I'm sorry, it's just my parents wanted to-"

"Oh there's no need to apologise, my dear. I can hardly blame them for wanting to spend more time with you before you all disappear again for another three months!" Mrs Weasley smiled. Hermione returned it before the bell rang from the train. "You better get going," Mrs Weasley gushed as she flustered around her, Ginny and Harry. "Oh, what on earth is taking Ron so long?" She sighed, exasperatedly.

Hermione couldn't help but shout the same question in her mind. She scanned the whole platform worriedly before she picked up her stuff, heading to the train to catch up with Harry and Ginny. "We can't leave without him!" Hermione exclaimed as she finally caught up with them.

"Don't worry. He'll be here. He'll be late, but he'll be here." Ginny assured, in a calm, even monotone voice. However, Hermione couldn't help but notice that Ginny was enjoying how much Hermione was panicking.

She rolled her eyes, "come on, you'd be just as annoyed if it were Harry" Hermione smirked, recalling their subtle closeness towards the end of last year.

Ginny gasped playfully. "I have a boyfriend, thank you very much!" She all but whispered as she headed down the carriageway, suddenly looking for her mentioned boyfriend, as if she had just remembered him. Hermione shook her head with a smile as she followed Harry to their own compartment.

"Oh, where is he?" Hermione huffed as she folded her arms, watching the people in anticipation as they passed by the compartment.

"Hmm?" Harry yawned, rubbing his eyes tiredly.

"Harry," Hermione gasped. "You look exhausted!"

"Thanks" Harry muttered sarcastically.

Hermione ignored the tone of his voice. "Are you okay?" She asked, anxiety already rising in her as she jumped to the conclusion that he had been having more dreams infiltrated by Voldemort.

"I'm fine. I just, just had a bad dream last night," Harry confessed.

Hermione gasped again. "A bad dream? Was it, was it him, Harry?" She began to panic.

Harry didn't reply but his ashamed silence was more than an answer. Hermione could feel her anxiety almost explode at this point. "Harry, you-you-" But she was interrupted by the doors to their compartment sliding open.

"Everything alright?" Hermione turned and immediately felt her mood lift and her nerves calm. There he was, even taller than she had remembered him. Even more gorgeous.

"Yep." Harry answered quickly and Hermione didn't bother to argue, especially not now as she was so distracted. Ron slumped himself clumsily down beside her and Hermione felt instantly more relaxed, as if a spell had been cast upon her just by his presence.

But the calm inside of her didn't last. "And where have you been?" She asked accusingly as she turned to Ron.

"Angelina wouldn't shut up about me 'maintaining my posture on the broom' or something," He shrugged nonchalantly.

"Well, I-We were worried. You can't just go getting lost, especially not after everything that's happening with, with You-Know-Who" she said, looking at Harry.

"Alright, alright. An 'I missed you' wouldn't have killed you, though." He grinned cheekily and opened his arms invitedly. Hermione tried hard not to allow her own grin to go too widely before wrapping her arms around his torso, her head on his chest. The sound of his heartbeat was soothing, and Hermione could've stayed there all day.

"I did miss you," she mumbled into his chest as he hugged her back.

"I missed you too," he said softly. Hermione felt her eyelids drop shut as she let the hug continue. She was suddenly pulled back into reality, however when Harry made a very audible clearing of his throat. She blushed instantly and retreated away from Ron, turning her gaze to the view awkwardly.

The awkwardness between the three defused quickly and they began talking about Draco Malfoy and Harry's suspicions upon him. Hermione rolled her eyes, convinced Harry was just choosing to villianise Draco. Yes, he was a heinous human being, but could he really be a Death Eater? Hermione wasn't so sure. As time passed, Neville and Luna Lovegood had joined them, Neville and Harry left at one point to attend a special lunch hosted by the new Professor, which Ron filled her in on as they were away. The boys soon returned and time went on again.

She knew this was a rather selfish feeling, but Hermione was starting to become annoyed at how crowded their compartment became. She loved Neville, and Luna had definitely grown on her since last year, but she couldn't help but want it to just be the three of them. It had been so long since it was just the three of them, especially since what happened at the Ministry. Hermione shuddered at the thought. She noticed that Ron snapped his head to look at her from the other side of Luna, who was now sitting between them. Hermione gave him a weak smile as she noted the concern in his face.

Eventually, and much to Hermione's relief, Luna left to sell copies of her father's magazine and Neville said something about going to find Seamus. It was just the three of them again and conversation quickly returned to what Draco was up to.

Hermione sighed. "Harry, I think you should be more focused on your lessons with Dumbledore and not with what Malfoy's up to." She expressed.

Harry didn't acknowledge this however and stated he was going out to get some 'air' but they didn't believe him. Neither did they try to stop him, he could be as stubborn as she was.

"He's been having those dreams again." Hermione confessed as she watched, but not really seeing the seat opposite her. Ron shifted closer and she cursed at herself internally. Finally, they had a moment when it was just the two of them, and here she was dwelling on something neither of them could control.

"I know," Ron admitted, looking down at the space between them. "Have to wake him up sometimes, give him some calming drought" He added.

The thought frightened Hermione. She looked back out the window and before she knew it tears were rising to her eyes. Ron shuffled closer.

"Hey, you okay?" He asked worriedly. Hermione looked at him and lost herself in his transcending eyes.

"I'm just a bit, a bit scared, I suppose. I know it's ridiculous, Harry has to actually live through it and here I-" She tried to explain herself, her voice quickening with anxiety but he interjected quickly.

"You're not being ridiculous, you're allowed to be scared." He said softly, taking her hand and lacing his fingers with hers. Hermione could feel her beating heart calm down at the sheer action. She turned her face to him and smiled weakly again.

"Thank you" She whispered, noting the closeness of their faces. He smiled back and rested his head on her shoulder.

"It is scary." He mused. "But you won't have to do it alone" He added and squeezed her hand gently. Hermione couldn't stop the smile and rested her own head on his.

She could've stayed there forever, truthfully. But alas, they were nearing the school and the familiar scenic views displayed around them. She reluctantly lifted her head and he did the same, stretching but didn't release his hand from hers.

She turned to face him and he did the same. Hermione felt her heart rate increase again, but not with fear and anxiety this time. Their faces were inches from each other. "Thank you," she whispered, that was all her voice could muster. Their foreheads were practically touching each other as their faces grew even closer, but her moment of bliss was soon punctuated by the sound of the bell that made her jump and retract from him.

Ron groaned and Hermione grinned at the prospect that he, too, was disappointed that whatever just happened, was rudely interrupted. They both stood and sadly, their hands came apart as they pulled their robes on. Hermione quickly realised that Harry hadn't returned. She left the compartment behind Ron and looked up and down the carriageway. "Where is he?" She found herself asking for about the umpteenth time that day, why both her friends were so careless she really didn't know.

"You know what his memory's like, he's probably already on the platform" Ron assured her, but Hermione still looked worried. He held his hand out again and she took it with a begrudging smile as they made their way to the platform.