The next few weeks passed quickly to Hermione's great surprise. Sure, it had been uncomfortable around Ron for a few days after their heated row, but afterwards everything seemed to be back to normal. Thankfully, it was time to go back to Hogwarts to complete their sixth year of schooling.
"Ron," Molly began, looking fiercely at her son. "Don't you dare go sneaking around looking for trouble this year, understand?"
Hermione sniggered when Ron rolled his eyes and said, "Of course Mum. When have I ever gotten into trouble at Hogwarts?"
He swiftly kissed his mother on the cheek and pelted to the train, barely missing a painful cuff from Molly. "Love you Mum!" he shouted from the train, grinning ear to ear.
Hermione climbed into the train behind him followed by Harry. "Harry save us some seats ok?" Ron said.
"We'll be back in a few," Hermione said, looking worriedly at Harry.
"I'm ok Hermione," Harry said, noting the concern etched upon her face.
"You're not mad are you?" she asked. "Because, well… we don't really…"
"I know you don't have a choice. I'm fine really," he reassured his friends.
"See you soon mate," Ron said turning to go into the prefect compartment with Hermione.
"Hermione and Ron," Katie Bell began (She had been made Head Girl). "You will take first patrol got it?"
Both of the Gryffindor's nodded their heads and sidled out of the compartment. "What is the point of even going in there?" Ron asked aloud.
Hermione grinned, "To get our orders."
"Right…" Ron sighed.
"Lavender," Hermione hollered, breaking Ron off. She approached her fellow Gryffindor and said, "You know you aren't supposed to have any product's from the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes." Hermione eyed the bottle of instant daydreams, "I am going to have to confiscate it."
Lavender wasn't paying attention; she was looking at Ron with lustful eyes. "Lavender!" Hermione said angrily.
"Sorry, Hermione did you say something?" Lavender said sweetly, still not looking at her.
"I am going to have to confiscate…" Hermione started.
"Come on, Hermione," Ron said frustrated. "Just let her keep the bottle, Filch'll confiscate it up at the school." He tugged on her arm and led her to the compartment with Harry in it.
Hermione didn't resist to being dragged away from Lavender, but she didn't tear her eyes off of her. What did she want with Ron?
Hermione remained quiet while Ron told Harry that Malfoy was not carrying out his prefect duties. Lavender has never taken interest in Ron before. What is going on with her…?
Just then the compartment door slid open and a nervous looking girl stepped into the room. She quickly said her piece and gave Harry and Neville each a scroll of parchment. It was invitation to a lunch with Professor Slughorn
"I suppose we have to go then," Harry sighed, dreading the fact that he would have to speak with Slughorn again before classes started.
Harry and Neville strode reluctantly out of the compartment, leaving Ron, Hermione, and Luna in silence.
Ron eyed Luna, who didn't seem to notice. Her spectrespecs glinted as she scanned a page in the Quibbler. The spiraling lenses were making him extremely dizzy. He tore his eyes off of the odd Ravenclaw girl and looked at Hermione.
She was sitting opposite to him gazing out the window. I wonder if she still has feelings for me. God, why didn't I tell her…?
Luna suddenly shut the Quibbler, making Ron jump. "I am going to find Ginny," she announced.
Hermione, still looking out the window thinking intently on Lavender's strange behavior, took no notice of Luna floating out of the compartment to find Ginny.
Ron was transfixed on Hermione. Something was most definitely bothering her, he could tell by the hard look on her face. "What's up, Hermione?" he asked quietly.
She said nothing.
"Hermione?" he repeated a little louder.
She jumped and turned to face him, "What?"
"What's the matter?" Ron said.
Hermione faltered, "I… just… well… nothing."
Ron tried to penetrate her shield that she had forced against him, "Come on Hermione, I am your friend. You can tell me anything."
She looked at him, her brown eyes shining brightly, and said, "No Ron, I can't."
Ron's eyebrows furrowed, "Wha-?"
Luna opened the train compartment door waving her arms and batting something invisble in the air. "I knew there was a wrackspurt in here!" She said triumphantly as she sat next to Hermione. With a ruffle of pages and a deep sigh she continued to read the latest edition of the Quibbler.
Ron became flushed and quite agitated. Why is it that whenever she is about to tell me something important we are interrupted? Why?
Neville walked in and before he could sit down Hermione asked, "Where is Harry?"
"I dunno," Neville began slowly, but immediately sped up when he saw the reaction on both Ron and Hermione's faces. "He said he would meet me back here later and then he disappeared."
Hermione looked at Ron nervously, "Why does he always have to do this?"
"Because he's Harry," Ron answered. "He'll be ok Hermione. He's not stupid and he knows how to take care of himself."
Hermione leaned back on the seat and started to chew her nails anxiously. What if something happened to him? Voldemort could be anywhere so could his Death Eaters…
The train stopped. "Where is he?" Ron said edgily. People were starting to exit the compartments and file out of the train.
"Ron, what are we going to do?" Hermione said. She couldn't think clearly and nothing was registering.
"Let's get off the train and see if we can find him, ok?" Ron said trying to keep a cool head. It wasn't good when Hermione lost it.
As Ron and Hermione walked through the train they looked into all the compartments. "Do you see him?" Hermione asked Ron as they stepped off the train.
Ron shook his head. He stood on the tips of his toes to see over the sea of students exiting the scarlet train. "Do you really have to make yourself taller? You're making me feel shorter than I already am," Hermione giggled nervously. Her hands were shaking uncontrollably.
"Come on, we probably just missed him that's all. Harry is probably on his way up to the castle right now," Ron said. He firmly grabbed one of her hands and guided her to a carriage. Ron climbed inside and pulled her up into it.
A light rain pattered on the carriage roof as they began to advance slowly toward the castle. Ron looked at Hermione who was still tightly gripping his hand and staring blankly out of the window. "It's going to be ok Hermione," Ron said, trying to be as comforting as he knew how to be.
She turned to him with a tearstained face, "It's not only that," she shakily.
Ron couldn't help but look perplexed, "What is it then?"
"I just… I…" she couldn't bring herself to say it.
"Hermione, come on," Ron urged, looking at her intently. "You can tell me anything, you know that right?"
She nodded her head and took a deep breath, "What if I lose you or Harry? Or even my parents? Ron, I just don't know if I could go on living… why does this have to happen?"
Ron didn't answer for a few moments, still in taking the information he had just learned. "Hermione, we can't stop this from happening and if anyone can handle it, it's you, me and Harry."
"But Ron, I don't think I am strong enough to handle this," Hermione began. "I am getting worked up about this little mishap when Harry is probably fine! Who's to say that if and when we face Voldemort that I won't freeze up? What if I mess up?"
"Hermione, you need to stop this," he said sternly. She was still shaking and getting nervous and hysterical for something that she couldn't help. "You are underestimating yourself and you shouldn't. Hermione, you are one of the strongest people I know, if the time comes that we must defend ourselves against Voldemort or his Death Eaters, you'll keep a cool head, I know you will."
Hermione bit her lip to keep her from crying again, but managed to whisper, "Thanks Ron."
"No problem," Ron replied. He still felt her warm fingers around his and was about to pull away, but immediately thought better of it. Looking out the window he saw Hogwarts glimmering in the distance, they would arrive there soon and they would find Harry. He would be fine. Hermione leaned her head on Ron's shoulder and sighed contently. Everything is going to be fine…