Sorry it took so long to update the story. I've been super busy with school and life and what not. I have more chapters written, but have hit a wall for later chapters. I'm working on it though!!! Please review!! I only got one review for the first chapter and that's not enough to motivate me to write more.

Disclaimer: Sadly, I own nothing

Chapter 2: Evading the Questions

Nobody in the compartment spoke while they were getting their things settled and sitting down. All Harry could do was think about Ginny. He missed her already and she was right there, five small feet away from him. That realization made him blush and he quickly pushed her out of his mind so that no one else would see him blushing. However, he had a horrible feeling Hermione already had.

The six of them sat down three to a seat in the most obvious combinations: Ron, Harry, and Hermione on one side and Neville, Ginny, and Luna on the other. The order in which Ron, Harry, and Hermione sat was peculiar to Neville, Ginny, and Luna. Usually, Hermione was the one in between Harry and Ron. Over the past six years, the three of them had come to love and care about each other so much (albeit Ron and Hermione a bit more so than Harry…..). Because of that, Harry and Ron had gotten very protective of Hermione. Even though she didn't need any protection, she let them protect her because she liked the thought and feeling of having two people care so much about her. Keeping Hermione in between them wherever they were was one of the ways Harry and Ron protected her. But now with Harry in the middle of Ron and Hermione it was almost as if they were protecting him. Ginny knew something was up. The fact that the three of them kept exchanging nervous glances and were clearly communicating through their eyes (it was really quite creepy when they did that) only confirmed her suspicions. She was the first one to break the increasingly uncomfortable silence.

"What's going on with you three? You haven't said a word in the past five minutes. Usually you can't shut your mouths." She was careful to note how they seemed to jump about a mile high when she spoke. It was as if they had just realized they weren't alone. She also took note of the way Harry looked at her. The chemistry and sexual tension between the two of them was unbelievably palpable. She quickly tore her eyes away from him so that things didn't get too uncomfortable.

"Uh, er, nothing.", responded an unconvincing Hermione. Ginny raised her eyebrows at her friend. It wasn't like Hermione to stumble over her words. It was even more unusual for her to lie through her teeth. "We were just…..um……."

"Trying the figure out a time to see each other around Harry's birthday. He turns 17 ya know.", Ron interjected. Harry and Hermione nodded in earnest agreement.

"Ok……anything else? I mean isn't Harry usually with us by the time his birthday rolls around? Hermione too?"

"This year's……different." Ron replied. Ha! She caught them! Unfortunately just as she was about to test them even more, Tonks knocked and slid the door open.

"Wotcher guys. Sorry to interrupt; just wanted to make sure you three got on the train alright,", she said to Harry, Ron, and Hermione, "I saw you walking around the lake. You looked like you could have easily lost track of time."

It was true. They almost had. Despite what they were going to face in the coming months, they were more relaxed waking around the lake than had been all year. At least now they knew the truth. Harry knew exactly what he had to do and he knew he could count on Ron and Hermione to help. The knowledge that they had made it through the year and were still friends amazed them. Walking around the lake, they had relished in that knowledge. They knew that no matter what happened from that moment on they would get through it together. Another thing was also true….."Yeah, well we had Hermione to keep us on track." , responded Harry with a smile.

I know it's kinda short, but I just needed to have something before they got to King's Cross. Is the whole friendship thing with Harry, Ron, and Hermione too sappy? I'm beginning to think it is. Let me know!