Mrs. Weasley had come back from Diagon Alley and was the in the kitchen, busy with the preparations of lunch while Harry and Ginny were sitting on the mouv coloured couch placed at the corner of the hall still holding each other's hand and talking in an inaudible pitch of theirs which always kind of irritated the hell out of him.

He made his way through the hall still pondering over what Harry had said.

" MEIOOOOOOOOOOOOWW"

He had hit something soft and hairy. Crookshanks roared in pain.

"Oh Shite! sorry!" slipped out of Ron's tongue. Surprisingly he was not looking at the cat. His eyes actually roamed around in the hall, obviously looking for Hermione... but he could see Hermione nowhere. He some what missed her reaction.

"Don't hit that poor little creature just to grab her attention" said Ginny mischieviously. Harry grinned.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN HUH? YOU ARE MY LIL SIS SO BE LIKE ONE" yelled Ron. His ears scarlet.

"ONLY ONE YEAR YOUNGER... AND YEAH! YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!" shouted Ginny.

"OH YOU TWO PLEASE STOP IT" came Mrs. Weasley's voice from kitchen.

"Please mum tell her to mind her own bussiness" Ron snapped.

"Oh dear Gin...please mind you own bussiness" once again came Mrs. Weasley's voice.

Ginny stuck her tongue out to Ron in reply and turned to Harry.

"Hermione is still in her room..Reading a book.." said Mrs. Weasley.

"I didn't ask anything about her...!" said Ron in shock.

"Yeah.. just in case.. You wanted to know..." replied Mrs. Weasley calmly.

"HOW CAN THEY READ MY MIND.. " shouted Ron to himself silently. Then picked up crookshanks.

"I am taking him to Hermione" said Ron though not actually meaning it. From his deep inside he wanted to take a glance of her.. Crookshanks was just an excuse and then without waiting for any other sarcastic reply he went upstairs.

He knocked the door three times but didnt get any reply. He then pushed the door open and scanned the room with worried eyes.

"Who is it?" Hermione voiced from the bathroom.

"Its me... I am here with Crookshanks.. sorry i accidentlly.. actually i was walking and it.. i mean he suddenly came in front of me.. i didn't notice.." said Ron.

"OH RON!... cried Hermione and the bathroom door flung open.

Ron couldn't believe his eyes...Hermione rushed out... with wet, soapy hair , just a white towel wrapped around her.

"OH MY POOR BABY.. DID HE HURT YOU?" yelled Hermione and snatched Crookshanks from his hold.

"OH RON, HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU TO PLEASE WATCH AS YOU WALK? WHAT IF HE WAS HURT BADLY" shouted Hermione still examining Crookshanks.

"I m sorry .. Hermione... it wasn't such a big accident.. you see... there was no need of you to come outside..." his ears turned crimson... "like this."

Hermione suddenly realised what was he talking about. Her cheeks turned pink. She shifted her glance from Ron's blue eyes to her feet.

"I think .. i must get inside.. you see... catch you later." said Hermione tensely. And handed Crookshanks back to him.

"Yeah!.. cool!... great idea!.. buh.. byee!..." Ron's voice trembled.

Hermione went inside the bathroom quickly.

"Bloody hell" sighed Ron.

He placed crookshanks in his basket. It was the time he glanced at the room with rapt attention. The room was small but bigger than his and Harry's. The walls were painted in pale green colour. There was a window, a bed, two cupboards, two study tables and a mirror in the tiny room.

Hermione's table was messed up with all sort of books and parchments. He recognised it at once due its over flowing contents. He reached near it and stood there, gazing at her stuffs lying frantically all over the small wooden table. 'STEPS TO MAKE A HAIR STRAIGHTENING POTION' was lying on the top, followed by a muggle dictionary and daily prophet. His eyes caught sight of a small piece of paper lying innocently at one corner of the table. It was neatly folded. Ron's curiousity pinched him. He did hesitate for a second but after a few seconds of struggle with his own mind he swiftly opened it keeping an eye on the bathroom door. It was a letter, an official one. He grinned as it read

"Ms. Hermione Jane Granger,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been chosen Gryffindor prefect. This decision has been taken in reference with you past academic records and consent of teachers. We wish you luck. Further informations and venue for the first prefect's meeting will be send to you. Till then stay safe.

Hogwart's Headmaster :Dumbledore"

He was holding the letter right in front of his eyes but his thoughts were travelling, roaming around in flashback. He could remember each and every thing so clearly. He remembered those roasy days at Hogwarts. Lots of fights , still staying by each other's side. The golden trio. He missed those days vaguely. So much fun, new thrills and adventures to look forward to.. "It ended so quickly..." He signed. "Why did the things change so much?" He asked this question to himself. He knew the reason was Hermione, he used to think about her more than anyone else these days... earlier he never used to blush around like this..."I am a man now! I should not behave like an immature" He straightened his back and determined with firm expressions " I won't make things worse... I will be a true friend... what if i like her more than just as a best friend... She is Hermione! My bossy Gramger".. " She is Hermione! Bossy Granger!" he corrected his thoughts.

Crookshanks rubbing his body against his right leg distracted him (thankfully).

He folded the letter to its previous state and kept it exacly at the same place where it rested before ( he knew Hermione never really liked the idea of her stuffs touched by anyone else without her permission) and slipped out of her room closing it behind him only to hear another roar of crookshanks. "Sorry" he gasped nervously and ran downstairs.