Chapter 3: Memories – A Kiss on the Hogwarts Express
In the weeks following the death of Voldemort, everything between Ron and Hermione changed. Ever since the moment when Hermione kissed Ron as Hogwarts prepared to fight Voldemort and his followers, they were inseparable; although their relationship was enormously fiery, and every moment was prone to a spontaneous argument which left the two close to hating – or killing - one another.
"Ronald Weasley!" shouted Hermione furiously one afternoon. The three were on the Hogwarts Express, bound for The Burrow. It felt sad to be leaving Hogwarts again; but classes had been cancelled for the rest of the year while the professors busied themselves with restoring the building, and the curriculum, back to its pre-war state.
Ron rolled his eyes in Harry's direction. "Girls. Why do we bother?"
"Don't you be like that. I'm not speaking to you now."
"What'd I do?"
"You know. You told Neville about – about-" Her voice trailed off as she realised that Harry's interest in their conversation had been raised.
"About what?" he asked.
"Nothing," said Hermione, her cheeks flushing. "And no," she added, glaring at the amused expression on Harry's face, "it's not that!"
The next minute, Ron had launched himself onto the seat next to Hermione, wrapped his arm around her neck, dipped her and kissed her hard. He surfaced a few minutes later, now just as red-cheeked as Hermione, with a silly grin on his face.
"There," he said to Harry, settling back into the seat opposite his girlfriend, "that'll shut her up for awhile."
Hermione stood and whacked Ron across the head with her book.