Hermione woke in the morning alone but Ron's drawing of her was on the nearest table. She turned it over.

Dear 'Mione,

Hope we can still be friends.
Sorry I left early, thought it would be best if I had a shower and got dressed before the rest of my dorm mates woke up. See you at breakfast.

Love Ron x

Hermione smiled, of course she would be friends with Ron; she had never truly fallen out with him.

Ron had woken up at three, just to make sure he avoided his dorm "mates", he may have been annoyed with them but he tiptoed around the room, to evade making any noise which could wake them.
He had been one of the first in the Great Hall for breakfast; it was just him and Professor Dumbledore.
'Ah hello, Ron. I got your brothers' letter about your surname change; it had all been taken care of. So may I inquire as to why you are up so early?' Dumbledore asked gently.
Ron explained the full story from the fight with his parents about Percy's new job, the fight with Seamus and finally to making up with Hermione.
'Ah, it seems you have had a bad start to this school year, but it is nice to know that you do have some friends. But I ask you please try and keep the fights to a minimum, you are a prefect you should be setting a good example.' Dumbledore finished, the hall had started to fill up and Hermione had just come in.
Ron had forgotten about being a prefect and he knew that when his dorm "mates" found out, their attitude towards him wouldn't change.
'Ron!' Hermione called, when she had seen Professor Dumbledore walk up towards the professors' table, Ron span round and made his way to where she was sitting.

Conversation between the two teenagers flowed well. Lavender, Padma and Pavarti arrived, said hello but hadn't tried to get into Ron and Hermione's talk, they knew when to leave two people alone. Hermione and Ron knew they shouldn't ignore them so started to talk to the three girls, Ron had just told a joke, which had set the four girls into hysterics, when Harry, Seamus and Dean entered...

'I thought you were on our side Hermione.' Yelled Harry, when he saw Hermione and Ron sitting close to each other.
'Err..' She had started, but the words just didn't come to her. Luckily, Ron noticed this and spoke back at Harry, saving her the hassle.
'Hermione can talk to whoever she pleases.' Ron said back, he sounded calm.
'He wasn't talking to you! You, you, girlfriend stealer.' Shouted Seamus; in his mind Ron was the reason they had split, and was still furiously angry.
Everyone in the hall had stopped eating, all hoping that another fight would break out. But Ron wanted to keep his badge so would be extremely patient will those boys. It was Lavender's turn to turn on the three boys who had entered.
'Ron didn't "steal" me; I was going to get rid of you anyway. You are a selfish, dumb-ass twat and you can't kiss to save your life.' Spat back Lavender; Ron had become a very close friend of hers and was not going to have him insulted. Seamus went a fiery red colour, embarrassed that she had offended his kissing skills and quite annoyed that she had shouted it out in front of everyone; his pride had just taken a massive blow.
'Oh, a likely story! You're just trying to save Ron's skin, just 'coz he can't do it himself. He's a coward, who can only get a girlfriend by stealing someone else's.' Snapped back Seamus, he knew he would have to do a lot to get his pride back, and offending Ron made him feel a bit better.
'Ron is a very heroic muscular man. And at least he is man unlike you! You are just a scrawny pathetic diminutive boy.' Spat back Padma, like Lavender, she wasn't going to have him insulted and had decided it was her turn to defend him.
'Ron is the pathetic one here, and since when did he have muscles?' Snapped back Dean, he hadn't said anything yet and know wanted to support his side.
'FYI he has amazing muscles, he showed me, and unlike you three he isn't short, I would say he is about 6 and ½ ft and he probably isn't fully grown.' Pavarti had joined in now and she was very proud to make girls in the hall gasp; was Ron that muscular?
'Hah, like that's true.' Yelled Harry.
The three girls looked turned and looked at each other; they weren't sure if Ron actually had a six pack, so they could lose the fight, which was something they really didn't want to do.
'Go on Ron, show them.' Hermione spoke up; for she knew he had those muscles.
Ron took off the clothes on his top half.

'Happy now?'
'I am now.' Yelled a girl on another table. Ron chuckled and put his shirt back on.
'Now would everyone please sit back down and would you three...' Ron pointed towards Harry, Dean and Seamus. 'Either sit down quietly or leave.'

The rest of the day past untroubled for Ron, well except for the fact that where ever he walked a girl would wink at him or wolf-whistle towards him, but Ron being Ron didn't take it seriously and he didn't let it go straight to his head.

Dinner arrived nice and quickly. Ron had a nice conversation with Cho Chang about Quidditch, with annoyed Harry greatly; since he had a bit of a crush on her and the two of them were openly flirting together.
A loud hoot of a grey owl made pupils look up, since when did owl's come at dinner?
'Merlin?' Ron stood up and spoke to the owl circling the hall. When Merlin saw Ron, he dived towards him and dropped the letter in front of him before landing gracefully on one of Ron's broad shoulders.
It hooted happily at the sight of Ron and Ron stroked his head, he picked up the letter.
'Who's it from, Ronnie?' Asked Lavender nicely.
'No, no, no.' Ron's words were a whisper and first but turned to a shout. 'You must be joking!' Ron dropped the letter and ran his large hand through his fiery red hair, his eyes filled with sadness.
'May I read it?' Asked Hermione gently, Ron nodded his head.
'May we read it afterwards?' Lavender said.
'Read it aloud 'Mione.' Ron's voice was cheerless and there was a hint of rage in his words.

"Dear Ron,
I have some bad news and some good news. I shall start with the good news. Firstly, Charlie got a promotion and is now head of the Dragon reserve where he works. Also Bill has had a raise too, so we now have quite a lot of money coming in, so if you ever want anything new just ask and we shall get!
The next bit is very encouraging. Bill, Charlie and I are now Bill King, Charlie King and Percy King.
Now you would have noticed that I did not include your name in that list.
Now that is the bad news. As you are an underage wizard, it is against laws to have your surname changed without one of your biological parents' permission. We have asked both Molly and Arthur to sign, but the poor worthless twats will not sign. So you are still legally Ronald Weasley. I am so sorry Ron and do not panic, you will not wait another two years before you become Ronald King; all three of us are working feverishly to get your surname changed to King. Hang in there Ron, it won't be long; I have spoken to the minister and have explained your case and he says he is on our side and will try to get your surname changed personally. Therefore I believe it will not be that long before you will legally become Ronald King!

Love,
Percy, Bill and Charlie x x x
P.S. Sorry we never congratulated you, so Well done for being made Prefect. We are unbelievably proud, that means all of us have been made it. I found that information from none other than the minster himself! Next we will be congratulating you on being made Head Boy. Ron work hard this year, I had a peep at your previous exam results, which took us three hours to find! And all three of us were shocked and we know, for a fact, that you can do miles better

Hey Ron,
It's Bill and Charlie here. Percy insisted on writing the letter but he let us add a bit on. He hasn't read and I don't think he would let us send it if he did. We do agree with Percy, try you're hardest especially in Charms, Transfiguration and Care of Mythical Creatures.
A thing from Charlie: make sure you try out for the Quidditch team; I have never seen you miss a shot at the hoops, you've saved every quaffle Bill has ever thrown at you, you have beaten me to the Snitch every time and you are one of the strongest people I know.
From Bill: I know Percy certainly wouldn't approve of me writing this but Merlin who cares, but from me, Bill: go out there and flirt Ronald, get a girl; I know you can. You're 6 ½ ft tall, you have a six pack, you're loyal, brave, smart, a great friend and are the funniest guy I know.
So to round off our little letter; work hard at school, Charlie says join the Quidditch team and I say get a girlfriend.

Love,
Bill & Charlie x x"

Hermione turned to Ron; he looked as though a dragon had sat on him. Squashed and miserable.
Ron was still a Weasley.