Another very soppy one. This one has some OCs in it that I created a few years ago for a story I was writing about the Prefects in TOOTP, back when my pen-name was Sparkleygem and I couldn't write for toffee. :-P

Set in the final chapter of TOOTP.

Miss You Already - TOOTP

"Well," said Stan Macmillan, the Head Boy, "that's it. Meeting is adjourned. Have a nice summer everyone."

"Yep, and good luck with results and enjoy the rest of your time at school," added Daisy Zeller, the Head Girl. I noticed she was fighting back tears.

Ursula Bulstrode, the seventh-year prefect for Slytherin- probably the nicest Slytherin there is and not a thing like her horrid sister- stood up. "I just wanted to say, to Stan and Daisy, that you've both been great. Well done both of you."

Everyone applauded really loudly, and Daisy did start to cry. Stan, who looked pretty choked up himself, tried to comfort her, but his girlfriend Jennifer Helter was sobbing as well on his other side. I grinned as I watched him trying to decide what to do, but he was saved by Jennifer's brother Ken who- if the rumours were true- had just started going out with Daisy.

Judging by the way she was clinging to him as she cried, I thought that they probably were.

I dragged my gaze away from the boys and their girlfriends to the other leavers.

Ursula had sat back down again and was smiling in a sad way, tears running silently down her face. Rick Pederson, the other Slytherin seventh-year, didn't look at all sad but did put an arm round her. The last seventh-year, Matilda Cole from Ravenclaw, had been abandoned by Ken but was being hugged by four people at once, so I think she was okay.

It was heart wrenching to watch, and I felt my own eyes filling up with tears. These people had been at Hogwarts together for seven years, and after they got off the train they wouldn't be students anymore. They wouldn't be schoolmates.

They would be going separate ways.

Sure, I knew that in all likelihood they would never lose touch- the seventh-year prefects were an unusually close group and it sometimes seemed they were all in one house instead of four- but I also knew that being in the real world would change everything.

I just prayed they would be strong enough to stay together. That we were all strong enough.

Most of the prefects were still seated at the large round table, but some were getting up and leaving for other parts of the train. I watched as Malfoy looked at the crying students with a sneer before jumping up from his seat and practically sprinting out of the compartment. I narrowed my eyes, wondering what he was up to, but then decided I didn't care.

"Are you okay?"

I turned back to Ron and nodded. Ron. My best friend. Over the past few months- the worst of my life- Ron had proved himself my best friend in more ways than I could have ever imagined. I realised with a heavy heart that part of the reason it upset me so much to see the seventh-years being separated was the fact that one day soon it would happen to us as well.

"Actually no," I amended. Ron looked concerned, and I immediately felt guilty for worrying him. "I mean, I'm okay, but there's something I want to tell you."

Ron still looked concerned. "What?" He asked.

I took a deep breath, trying frantically to put my feelings in order. Perhaps it wasn't such a good idea to tell him any of this.

I had just made up my mind to change the subject, actually, when he gave me a worried smile, and I realised that he had earned the right to know what I was feeling.

"Well, I just wanted to say that the past- the past few months have been… hard," I began, feeling my cheeks growing warm and knowing I sounded like an idiot. "And I wanted you to know that I don't think I would have got through them without you, so thank you."

Ron looked confused. I could feel a tear falling down my cheek. "Thank you for being there for me."

Ron was looking embarrassed, as I knew he would, but I wasn't about to stop. I had to get it out. "Listen," I said, taking his hand- I didn't actually mean to, but I did it without thinking, and it gave me strength to say what was needed, "you're the best friend I could ever have, and I wanted you to know that when you're with me I don't feel so, so hopeless."

I was really crying now.

"You have to promise to write to me a lot this summer, Ron, because… because I'm really going to miss you."

I let go of his hand and stood up, wiping my eyes with my sleeve. Ron couldn't have stared at me harder if I'd grown another head. I could feel myself going a deep red, and was just about to leave quickly when Ron opened his mouth to say something.

"Hey Ron?" Stan was calling him. "Could you give something to Fred and George for me? They left a suitcase in my trunk and I'm scared to open it."

Ron looked round at Stan, who still had an arm around the slightly-more-composed Jennifer, and then back at me. I gave him a small smile and made my exit before he could say anything. It wasn't that I thought he'd say anything horrible, it was just that it had been difficult for me to tell him how I was feeling right at that moment, and I needed a minute to compose myself.

I hurried along the corridor of the train to where I knew Harry was, hoping for a bit of light-hearted conversation and maybe some Exploding Snap before we were all torn apart again for another few months. A bit dramatic, I know, but torn is exactly how I always felt during summers.

When I got to the compartment Ginny and Neville were just finishing off a game of chess. Ginny was clearly winning, as Neville's King and a lowly but brave Pawn were all that was left of his set.

They both smiled at me- Neville very briefly, before returning to the game- as I sat down next to him.

"How was the meeting?" Ginny asked, nudging her Queen forward to checkmate Neville's King.

I paused. "Emotional," I answered truthfully. Neville sighed as his terrified King gingerly offered his crown to Ginny's unmerciful and victorious Queen. "Where's Harry?" I asked.

"He's gone to the toilet," Neville answered, sitting back and rubbing his neck. "Where's Ron?"

"Oh, he just…"

"I'm here," Ron said, appearing in the doorway. He was carrying a small black briefcase, marked 'Top Secret'. He held it up for inspection. "Stan gave me this to give to Fred and George."

"What is-" Ginny started to ask, but was cut off by Ron, who took a step back into the corridor, looking down the carriage. "What was that?" He said.

"What?" I, Ginny and Neville asked together. Ron frowned. "I heard something in the next carriage. And there's loads of flashing light down there too," he said. "Looks like someone's done about ten hexes at once."

I stood up. "Harry's down there!" I said worriedly. Ron looked back at our compartment, obviously noticing for the first time that Harry wasn't there. "Oh, well I'm sure he's fine," he said, looking straight at me. I knew he was trying to make me feel better, but I was still worried.

"Anything off the trolley dears?"

Ron glanced at the food, then back at me, and then down the corridor again. He looked back at me. "The lights have gone. I'll go see where he is," he said. Ron glanced at the food one last time before putting down the briefcase and hurrying off down the corridor.

I sat down again as Neville and Ginny pooled their money for Chocolate Frogs, a stupid smile on my face in spite of Harry's possible danger. Ron, I knew, wanted nothing more than to get some food, but he'd gone to check on Harry because I was worried.

It was when he did things like that that I realised how much I value his friendship. Feeling that I should probably hide my grin I went into my trunk and got out my Daily Prophet.

Ginny had got out the latest edition of The Quibbler and a quill, and was starting a quiz. Neville was pouring water carefully onto the soil surrounding his Mimbulus mimbletonia.

Ron was back a minute later with a perfectly fine Harry in tow. Ron was grinning.

"What happened?" Ginny asked as Harry bought his usual supply of cauldron cakes and pumpkin pasties. Ron laughed. "Malfoy and the goons tried to attack Harry but half the DA jumped up and hexed them," he said, sitting next to Ginny, opposite me. "They've turned into giant slugs."

We all started laughing- except Harry of course, though he looked a little less depressed, I thought.

The rest of the train journey seemed to go by very quickly- typical, as I didn't want it to end. It was just so peaceful, with Ron and Harry playing chess, taking their minds off of the atrocities that could be awaiting us all; Ginny calmly making her way through The Quibbler, doing quiz after quiz; and Neville quietly looking after his plant, doing something he truly enjoyed and was really good at.

It was enough for me, to have my closest friends seemingly so at ease, and what with the Daily Prophet being readable again, I was also able to just relax.

The other four all stood up and started to get their things together when the train pulled into King's Cross but I stayed seated, staring at the table, suddenly feeling depressed. It was time to say goodbye already, and I knew that this year it was going to be harder than ever before. Harry was- well, I couldn't begin to understand what Harry was going through-, Ginny and I had grown closer than ever before over the past year, the same as with Neville, and Ron…

Ron had become a part of me that I couldn't have shaken if I wanted to- the simple fact was if he wasn't around, I didn't feel okay. That's what I'd wanted to tell him in the Prefect's carriage. Had he understood?

"Hey Hermione, are you okay?"

I looked up, startled, as Ron spoke to me. The others weren't paying attention, busily seeing to their things, but Ron was studying my face intently. I nodded, smiling ruefully. Trust Ron to notice I was down. I wouldn't have expected it, six months ago, but now I could safely say that Ron knew me better than anyone else in the world.

"I'm fine," I answered, standing up. "Just thinking."

Ron snorted. "Thinking? You? Never!" He said sarcastically.

I rolled my eyes and scooped Crookshanks into his cage, glad that what I had said earlier hadn't affected Ron too much- I mean, I wanted him to know how I felt, but I didn't want him to start acting weird.

He always had to be Ron.

The platform was packed as always, and we stayed with Neville until he found his Gran and said goodbye to him there. I gave him a hug and tried not to cry. I knew it was stupid but I was so worried about him, now that those… people… who had tortured his parents were out again, and I just felt terrible to be leaving him.

We joined the queue to leave the platform, and I couldn't help glancing at my three remaining friends- if I felt that bad about Neville, how was I going to say goodbye to them? They're my family.

It was the thought of family- seeing my Mum and my Dad again- that gave me the strength to go through the barrier. I think I probably would have got back on the Hogwarts Express and refuse to budge otherwise. They were the only things that made going home worthwhile- I no longer belonged in the Muggle world; I was a witch through and through.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't notice Ron drop back slightly to walk next to me. "Um, Hermione?"

I gave him a small smile. "Yes?"

"Listen-"

"Okay, you three, through you go."

Ron and I both looked at the ticket inspector watching us impatiently, and then back at each other. Ron sighed and pushed his trolley forward. I followed him, and Harry and we emerged on the other side together, leaving Ginny saying a quick goodbye to her friend Karen.

The three of us stopped in our tracks when we saw who had gathered to meet us. An odd group was there- Mr and Mrs Weasley, Fred and George (who were wearing smug grins and the most hideous jackets I've ever seen), Remus, Tonks, (whose hair was the same colour pink as Pansy Parkinson's dress robes) and Moody.

Mrs Weasley hurried forward to give Ron and Ginny a hug- at the same time- looking overjoyed. She then grabbed Harry and pulled him into a hug as well. I love watching Mrs Weasley hug Harry- she always looks like she'd never ever let anything hurt him.

Fred and George were proudly showing off their news jackets to Ron, but I could tell by the look on his face that he liked them about as much as I did. He handed them their briefcase before asking them to explain the jackets.

At that moment Mrs Weasley pulled me into a tight hug as well, which I gladly returned. "How are you my dear?" She asked me quietly as she let me go. I gave her what I hoped was a bright smile. "I'm fine, how are you?"

She smiled at me. "Very good, thank you dear," she said. She reached out and tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear in a very motherly way. I smiled genuinely this time.

"Hermione!"

I spun around when I heard my mother's voice and found myself turning straight into her arms as she gave me a huge hug. I hugged her back as tightly as I could, breathing in the scent of her. She always smelled the same- like vanilla, (her shampoo), mint toothpaste, (even for a dentist she brushes far too much) and disinfectant (another dentist by-product).

Letting her go I turned to my Dad- who had just finished shaking Mr Weasley's hand- and received another big hug. My Dad kissed me on the forehead as I pulled away. "I'm glad you're back honeybee."

I smiled at him, gladder than I could say to see my parents again but still unable to shake off the feelings of being torn apart from my friends. "Me too," I told him with an even bigger smile.

I glanced at Ron as my mum moved in to give me another big hug, but he wasn't looking at me. Mr Weasley and Moody had just started to walk purposefully away from Harry, and Ron was watching them. I watched them too, and saw they were walking up to the Dursleys; Tonks, Remus, Mrs Weasley, Fred, George, Ginny, Harry and Ron followed them.

I gently slid out of my Mum's arms. "I'll just be a minute," I told her, hurrying over to the group to stand in between Ron and Ginny. "We thought we'd just have a few words with you about Harry," Mr Weasley was saying to Harry's uncle- not that he deserved that title.

"Yeah, about how he's treated at your place." Moody added in a growly voice. I watched in fascination. They were threatening the Dursleys! Ron and I had been talking about what we'd say to them if we got the chance since the beginning of our second year.

I looked up at Ron and saw- to my surprise- that he was looking right at me. I gave him a small smile, which he returned with a grin, and I knew he was thinking about our conversations about we'd do to the Dursleys as well.

Harry's Uncle didn't look happy. "I am not aware that it is any of your business what goes on in my house," he said.

"I expect what you're not aware of would fill several books, Dursley," Moody replied.

I had to laugh. The look on Mr Dursley's face was priceless! I put my hand on my mouth to try and stop laughing, while Ron and Ginny did the same.

Tonks was speaking now. I made a mental note to tell her to change her hair colour, because it really looked like Parkinson's dress robes.

"The point is, if we find out you've been horrible to Harry-"

"- And make no mistake, we'll hear about it," added Remus. Just hearing him speak was enough to make any remaining humour I felt die. He sounded friendly and pleasant, but there was hollowness in him that couldn't be glossed over.

"Yes," Mr Weasley was saying now, "even if you won't let Harry use the felly-tone-"

I really couldn't help myself. "Telephone," I whispered.

Ron rolled his eyes at me, and I shrugged back. I was turning back to the conversation when Ron mouthed something, but I couldn't figure out what he was saying.

"What?" I mouthed back silently. Ron opened his mouth to say it again, but was cut off by a loud exclamation from Harry's Uncle.

"Are you threatening me, sir?"

"Yes, I am," Moody said. He sounded quite happy about it.

"And do I look like the kind of man who can be intimidated?"

I watched Moody lift up his bowler hat, so that Mr Dursley could see his magical eye. Harry's uncle almost fell over a baggage trolley.

Suddenly, Ron nudged me in the ribs with his elbow. I looked round at him again, and he bent down so his head was level with mine. "Look at Harry," he whispered very quietly.

Frowning, I shifted my attention to Harry, and then started to smile. Moody was speaking to him now, with Tonks and Remus either side of him. The look on his face was what got me smiling- he looked so… grateful for what they had just done, and actually interested in something for the first time in weeks. It was like looking at the old Harry again.

Mrs Weasley was hugging Harry again, saying something that I couldn't quite catch, and I knew that it was our- mine and Ron's- turn to say goodbye to him. But, now, I didn't feel so bad about it. I knew that out of fear the Dursleys were going to treat him at least civilly this summer, and that would mean that he would be treated a lot better than usual.

When Harry had finished being hugged by Mrs Weasley, I was able to face him without crying.

"We'll see you soon, mate," Ron said as he shook Harry's hand.

I smiled at him. "Really soon, Harry, we promise," I told him truthfully. Ron and I had already decided a month ago that we would somehow see Harry as often as possible this summer.

Harry nodded, and smiled. I hadn't seen him smile properly in so long, and I grinned back at him. He gave Ron and I a wave, and then turned and walked out of the station, his uncle, aunt and cousin following him.

I watched until he was out of sight and then turned to the rest of the group. Ron was trying to get Pig to calm down- a dog had barked at him and made him twitter even more madly than usual; Mrs Weasley was talking to my parents; Fred, George and Ginny were talking to Tonks; and Moody, Remus and Mr Weasley were conversing quietly.

I bent down to check that Crookshanks hadn't been disturbed by the dog, but he was fine- asleep, in fact.

"Well, we'll be off then," Tonks said, hugging Ginny. She grinned at the twins and Ron and then winked at me, because I was too far away to hug. "Have a nice summer all of you," she said. "See you soon!"

"Yes, we'll see you all soon, hopefully," Remus said, managing a tired smile. I smiled back at him, my heart aching in sympathy for what he must be going through.

Moody nodded to us all, and led the way out of the station, the three Order members talking quietly. I watched them go, worried about them all and the danger they were in, but glad that they were together at least, unlike Harry.

Unlike me.

I shook my head to clear the treacherous thought, but couldn't get rid of it. Sure I had my parents, but basically, until I saw my friends again, I was going to be cut off from my world for two months.

"We should be going too, Hermione," my Mum said gently. I smiled at her- she did know that I hated saying goodbye, and I loved her for that, guilty about my feelings.

Ginny ran up to me and gave me a huge hug. "Take care Hermione!"

I hugged her back tightly. "You too Ginny," I said. "Stay safe."

Ginny nodded and pulled away. I smiled at her. Ginny was one of my best friends- I was going to miss her so much! Fred and George came up behind her. "Here Hermione, we made these for you," Fred said, thrusting a small, bright orange plastic bag into my hands.

I stared at them suspiciously. "What is it?" I asked.

George grinned. "Have a look," he suggested. I hesitated and Fred grinned as well. "They won't hurt you, I swear," he said earnestly. Though I didn't like the stress he put on the word you, I reached into the bag and pulled out what was inside.

It was a foil sweet bag, lurid tones of orange and pink swirling magically around on the packet. I frowned in confusion and had a closer look. And stared.

'S.P.E.W.' The large letters at the top of the packet stated. Underneath, in smaller letters, the initials were explained. 'Sweets for the Promotion of Elvish Welfare.'

There was a small picture of a house-elf's face underneath.

I looked up at the twins, thoroughly confused. "What are they?" I asked.

"Our latest invention," Fred said, looking incredibly smug, "and it says on the packet."

"They're sweets to further your noble cause," George said, also looking very smug. "They're chocolate house-elves, but if you eat them without paying them they make you spew."

Ginny and Ron burst out laughing, but I stared staring at the twins. "But- but you don't believe in spe-, I mean, S.P.E.W., do you?"

Fred and George shrugged. "Well, we don't think you can force the house-elves into taking money if they don't want it," Fred said.

"But we're all for treating them well," George added.

"After all, you get better service, then,"

"But besides that, it makes a hell of a good product!"

They sniggered. I stared at them, and then at the sweets again, and started to grin. "Thank you!" I said happily. "It's a wonderful idea!"

Fred and George looked genuinely surprised. "You really like them?" They said simultaneously.

I nodded, and stepped forward to hug each of them in turn. "Yes! These will really raise awareness," I said. "People will really think about how they treat elves!"

Fred and George still looked surprised, but I could see the smugness starting to creep back into their expressions.

I put the S.P.E.W.s back into their bag and carefully placed them on top of my trunk.

"Hermione, the car's on the meter," my Dad said from behind me. I nodded at him. "Okay, sorry Dad."

I turned back to the Weasleys. Fred and George had hurried off to speak to Lee Jordan, Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet, Stan Macmillan, Jennifer and Ken Helter, Daisy Zeller and a few other seventh-years who had just emerged from the barrier, and were greeting them enthusiastically.

Ginny gave me another small smile. "Bye Hermione."

Mrs Weasley gave me a quick hug. "Take care Hermione," she said. Mr Weasley also gave me a hug- the first time he ever had, and told me to take care as well.

I took a deep breath as he let go of me. It was time to say goodbye to Ron.

"Bye Ron," I said quietly, giving him as big a smile as I could manage. I could feel tears coming back into my eyes, and felt suddenly angry with myself. I'd got this far without crying, I was going to say goodbye to Ron without as well.

Ron nodded. "Yeah, um, I'll see you soon."

He looked like he wanted to say something else, but nothing else was said. I gave him another smile. I really wanted to give him a hug, but I knew how embarrassed he'd get, so I decided I'd have to just give him a huge hug when I saw him next, to make up for it.

Ron was still looking at me intently, though, and really seemed as though he wanted to say something else.

Suddenly, before I knew what was happening he'd stepped forward and pulled me into a fierce hug, his long arms enveloping me, and making me feel incredibly small.

"I'll miss you, too," he whispered in my ear, and I could feel a tear escape from my eye as I threw my arms round his neck and hugged him back.

We must have only hugged for a few seconds, but it felt like it lasted for hours. Even so, it wasn't long enough, and when we pulled apart I wanted to hug him again. His ears were red, and he was avoiding looking at his parents, my parents and Ginny. Instead he gave me a small smile.

"Well, bye then," he said.

I nodded, smiling back. Knowing if I stayed another moment I would never leave, I grabbed the handle of my trolley and pushed it away from him, towards my parents, who were obviously trying to pretend they hadn't seen our hug.

Well, I didn't care who saw it, to tell the truth. Ron had hugged me, for the first time in five years, and he said he was going to miss me as well. He really was going to miss me.

Having him with me the past few months and knowing he was going through the same thing as me had made it bearable; now I knew that this summer, too, would be okay because somewhere, Ron was missing me too.