Ron made it downstairs in record time feeling grumpier by the minute until he spotted Hermione looking incredibly – well – snoggable came to mind. Ron gave himself a mental shake.
" So you decided to join the world," she commented a smile playing on her lips as she turned and fussed with something behind her.
" And did you really have to send that message!" Ron scowled still feeling much put upon.
" And would you really be down here right now if I hadn't?" she countered turning back towards him , opening her brown eyes very wide and giving him her best smile.
Woah! Maybe he should just grab her now and they could talk later – much later.
" Probably not, " he admitted and because he was very close to her and beginning to blush, he did what he always did - changed the subject.
" What's that you're hiding? Hopefully not the Prefect duty schedule."
" No… although I could probably get it for you. It's your breakfast, you ungrateful prat." With that she handed him a scrumptious cinnamon bun and a goblet of pumpkin juice.
The girl was a goddess!
" You're a goddess – umm- I mean - thank you!" he said as he sank his teeth into the gooey pastry.
Sod it! Could he never control the temperature of his cheeks or what words rolled of his his tongue ?
To his surprise, Hermione's face turned suspiciously pink and she seemed to find the spot behind his back quite fascinating. She cleared her throat and said carefully, " I'm really sorry about the Burrow, Ron. And I'm so glad your Dad is safe. You –uh and your family are very important to me." Her words trailed off and she was now looking at her toes.
He hungrily swallowed the last piece of the delectable pastry, wiped his face with a handkerchief that had seen better days and took a careful step towards her, his heart thumping in his chest. Finally she turned her eyes to his face.
"You missed a little bit here," she murmured, eyes locked on his as she reached up to remove some icing from his cheek.
Her cool fingers made contact with his now burning cheek and sent an electrical current down his spine and further. This was it. He reached for her hand.
" Hermione, " he started, his voice low and husky," I need to.."
His head bent towards hers and …
" Ron! Hermione!" Ginny burst into the Common room." Professor McGonagall needs you now! The Prefects are being briefed on the new security measures."
Stunned, Ron and Hermione leapt away from each other. Hermione literally ran from the room calling back to Ron to hurry and she would make his excuses.
" Could.you.not.have.waited.one.more.minute!" Ron seethed with his unexpressed emotions and another ruined opportunity.
Ginny immediately flared up.
" No, I couldn't! There's a war on in case you've forgotten. If you hadn't been such an idiot, you would have settled something with Hermione months ago instead of always procrastinating and making pathetic excuses!"
Ron slumped. Of course, how could he be thinking of himself right now? What about his home? What about his family? Dumbledore? His broken-hearted sister?
Priorities, Weasley!
" Sorry, Gin," he apologized awkwardly giving her a one armed hug and finishing off the last of his pumpkin juice held in his opposite hand.
" 'S'alright," she said with a slight sniffle. Then she gave a low chuckle.
" I will say that's the closest encounter I've seen yet. Never mind, Ron. I've been thinking about your situation and I've decided to help," she concluded sweetly.
"What!" he said appalled by the thought. It was never good when any of his family decided he needed help.
" Not now, you moron! You'd better scoot or you'll have both Professor McGonagall and Hermione after your blood and there won't be enough left of you to help, big brother."
Ron left with more speed than grace and dashed through the portrait hole wondering if the day could get much worse.
He needn't have wondered. The day plummeted from his missed opportunity to no opportunity. After a mad scramble to get everyone assembled in Houses, Professor McGonagall and her assistants gave everyone a charm and an accompanying spell. This would enable students to contact a specific professor if they or their family were in need of help.
The students soon dubbed it the "charm alarm," a particular witticism coined by Seamus Finnigan. Although quiet chuckles greeted this humour, most students were noticeably subdued and made sure they secured the charm for later need. No one knew just when they or their families might be in peril. After all last night had brought an attack on the Weasley family – anyone could be next.
Harry bid Ron and Hermione a wistful farewell as they rushed about with last minute preparations.
" I would have liked one more trip on the Hogwarts Express," Harry stated sadly. " But everyone thinks it's too risky, so I get the Ministry escort to Privet Drive instead."
" Don't worry, mate. We'll get to Privet Drive as fast as we can and then we can start our planning." Ron assured him although he felt terrible for Harry. He also wondered how he would explain their future plans to his mother who he felt sure would not be in favour of anything that put yet another one of her sons in danger.
" I've already started research," Hermione said, gulping and giving Harry a big hug that Ron, for once did not envy.
Ron, Hermione and the other Prefects were kept extraordinarily busy doing constant patrols with Ministry assigned Aurors. Security was the tightest ever experienced on the Hogwarts Express. Normally the Prefects had a specific patrol schedule which included a brief Prefects meeting in their own compartment. After or between patrols they were free to use the Prefects compartment or join other friends, which, of course, is what Ron and Hermione normally did.
Not today. Hermione was paired with Tonks, who had insisted on traveling with the students on the train despite the fact that she was off duty. Professor McGonagall's extreme reluctance was overcome by the need for more Aurors, tired or not. Ron was with his brother Charlie who had thoughtfully observed Ron and Hermione before they separated for patrols and decided that Ron needed his help.
" So, little Ronnie," Charlie teased.
Ron groaned. This was a pet phrase of his mother's and one that Fred and George used constantly to torment him.
" Could you possibly not call me that round the Second Years?" he hissed at his brother as they passed a rather rowdy compartment of thirteen year olds.
Charlie grinned, " Sorry, mate. Truce, truce. The truth be told, I've been away so long working with my dragons that I didn't realize that you'd grown up on me. I can't really call you 'Little Ronnie', now that you're half a head taller than me, can I?"
Ron muttered, " Be good if you could persuade Mum and the Twins to drop it, too."
At this point he and Charlie reached midpoint in the train and intercepted Tonks and Hermione as they came from the opposite direction.
" Wotcher," greeted Tonks," all quiet up ahead. In fact, the Slytherin compartments are more than unnaturally dungeon-like."
" No wonder, " Hermione said in a distracted manner. " They have two Aurors and Professor Sinistra with them."
" And a bloody good job, too!" both Weasley brothers agreed at the same time.
" Charlie, a quick word," Tonks said quietly." Order business, you two. Could you keep an eye on these two carriages for a minute-won't be long."
Tonks and Charlie disappeared into a front carriage, although Ron was certain his brother had noticed Ron's reddened face as he left.
Merlin, how was he supposed to say anything to Hermione now - in the middle of Prefect duty in a carriage where anything might happen at any given moment?
"So," he said stupidly. Great opening line, Weasley. That will bring her running into your arms.
Then he noticed Hermione's flushed cheeks and suspiciously moist eyes. Fear clutched at his insides. He took her arm gently and guided her into any empty compartment.
"Ron," she whispered, " we can't. We're on duty."
" Just for a minute while you tell me what's upset you."
" It's just – well. Tonks told me," here Hermione gulped and tears escaped from her eyes raining down her cheeks.
" Hermione, tell me," Ron urged even more gently, desperately trying to find his handkerchief or something to help dry her tears. Finally he settled by pulling her towards him in an awkward one-armed hug.
She gulped again and said shakily, " That Muggle attack that your Dad had to investigate last night…it was really near to where my parents live."
Ron was getting a very bad feeling about this as Hermione gave a convulsive shake before continuing.
" Well, they think, the Order and the Ministry are both working on it – that the Death-Eaters made a mistake and went to the wrong place. They don't think it was a random attack, Ron. They think it was my family they were after." She swallowed hard and hid her face in his robe.
Ron's blood turned to ice and he felt dizzy with emotion as he now placed both arms around her and held her trembling body.
No, no! They will not get you -not while I have one breath in my body his mind was screaming.
" Listen, Hermione," he choked out," If it's the last thing I do, I'll be there for you – and your family. I promise."
" Ron," she breathed and turned her head from his shoulder to gaze up at him.
All time stopped. There was no reality but the two of them as they leaned towards each other …
Crash! A loud noise sounded from the corridor.
" You're slime, you stupid git! "
Once again Ron and Hermione jumped apart. Hermione tried to stand.
" Just – Bloody Hell! No, you stay here. I'll go. Listen Hermione, promise me not to leave the station before we can talk. Meet me outside the Cafe . Get Tonks to stay with you- she's a good sort."
He took hold of her hands and met her eyes shaken by the emotion contained there.
Crash! " Take that, you toad-face Slytherin!"
Ron ignored this and held Hermione's gaze.
" Promise me, " he said.
" I promise," she whispered.
" Good, now stay here for a minute and I'll go sort out those Second Year morons. It'll be alright."
He gave her a quick hard hug and strode out into a scrimmage that had erupted between some First and Second Year Slytherins and Gryffindors.
" And what do you think you lot are doing besides causing a major disturbance and making bloody fools of yourselves?" he demanded rising to his considerable height.
" Sorry, Ron," a very small Gryffindor squeaked.
" Get back to your compartments before I hex you from now until next Wednesday!"Ron concluded in disgust.
Behind him, he heard a small sound that might have been a muffled laugh.
" Ron Weasley! Prefects don't swear and we're not allowed to jinx younger students."
He turned to see Hermione, somewhat recovered. Her eyes were still moist but her lips were twitching. Before he could give a suitable retort, Charlie and Tonks appeared and all he could get out before they were once more separated was a quick " Promise, remember."
" I'll be there, " Hermione vowed. Her eyes bored into his for an everlasting and all too short moment before she turned and joined Tonks on the final patrol before King's Cross.