Chapter 8 A New School Year Begins

Once the Hogwarts Express arrived at the Hogsmeade station, Ron made sure that he was no where near Harry or Hermione. He refused to be anywhere near them. In his heart, he felt that they had betrayed him. Harry knew that he was sort of in love with Hermione. That she was the one that he was going to marry, eventually. But nooo, the bloody savior of the wizarding world had to become a half creature and bond with his woman. It should be Ginny bonded to Harry, not Hermione. But even Ginny was proving to be a disappointment. She went and found that she was a mate to Harry's cousin, a vampire, and she agreed to the bond with it. And their parents agreed with it. It was so wrong.

Ron made his way into the Great Hall and sat down at the Gryffindor house table. As the rest of the school filtered in, most noticed the Golden trio were fighting. Rumors had been flying. Many heard about Ron's display of temper, in blowing the door off on the train. The true reason for the fight was unknown, but that didn't stop the rumors or the gossip. The strongest rumor was that Ron was in love, with one or the other member of their little group, and that his advances had been rejected. This was closely followed by the rumor that Harry and Hermione had finally gotten together and that Ron objected. This, of course, was the closest to the truth, without anyone actually knowing it. Those that knew the truth weren't saying anything. This only fueled the rumors more. Many gave Ron a wide berth as they came in and sat down.

The first years were sorted, the usual announcements made, and the feast started. Harry answered general questions but ignored the personal ones, especially the ones about himself and Hermione. Those questions were asked by the Gryffindor's gossip queens, Lavender and Pavarti. They didn't want to take 'no' or silence for an answer and didn't stop until Hermione threatened to hex them into silence.

As soon as the feast was done, Ron stormed off to the Gryffindor tower. Harry whispered to Hermione to go ahead to their room, while he helped those that needed help and did a quick sweep of the castle, using the map. As he watched Ron leave, Hermione squeezed his hand as she too left. Harry helped steer a few first years, who some how had gotten separated from the house mates, in the right direction of their individual common rooms, most of them looking at him in awe. Then doing a quick sweep of the castle, he caught a few fifth years trying to sneak into the kitchens. It was close towards eleven before Harry made his way to his and Hermione's rooms. He was preoccupied as he took of his robes and placed them on the back of the chair in their small common room.

"Harry, is that you" asked Hermione, from the bedroom.

"Who else would it be?"

"Very funny. Everything alright?"

"Yeah, the castle is down for the night."

Hermione stood in the doorway wearing something red and left little to the imagination. "Good" she said, and found herself thrown over Harry's shoulder and carried into the bedroom, squealing.

Early the next morning found Ginny owling Nicholas and her mother letters. The one for Nicholas was to let him know that she had arrived safely. It was so out of character for her to do this, but she couldn't help herself. It was as if she needed to reassure him that she was fine. The one to her mother, however, was different. In that one she told her mother about Ron's temper tantrum, for that was what it was. A child's tantrum. Her brother needed to learn that everything shouldn't have to be handed to him on a silver platter. She had never really known how truly selfish, let alone jealous, Ron was towards Harry. It was a wonder that their friendship had lasted as long as it had.

With her letters sent, Ginny made her way to the Great Hall for breakfast. As she sat down, Lavender and Pavarti joined her, sitting on either side of her. They wanted details of the argument and were not going to let up until they got them. Too many had heard Ron complaining about how everything was unfair in his life. This only made the two gossip queens more determined to find out what had happened.

But Ginny was aware of their little plan. "I'm not saying a word."

"Come on, Ginny. You know that your dying to tell someone, so why not us. We wouldn't tell a soul" said Lavender.

Ginny snorted. "Right and I'm Merlin in drag."

In an effort to throw Ginny off, Lavender said "That's a beautiful necklace. Was it a gift?"

Ginny blushed slightly. "Yes it was and I'm not talking about it either." The other two were starting to warm up in their quest for information when Harry and Hermione arrived, holding hands. They both looked tired, but only Ginny knew the probable reason why. She grinned at the two of them as they sat down across from her.

"Have trouble sleeping", she asked cheekily. Harry smirked and Hermione blushed. No they hadn't had any trouble sleeping, just very little of it. Their actions were not lost on the girls across from them. Ginny was grinning like an idiot and Lavender and Pavarti looking at a possible juicy bit of gossip.

"No we slept just fine, thank you very much", answered Harry. Ginny just laughed as Hermione blushed more. She felt free, for the first time, in a long time. She didn't know if it was because Harry was no longer available or because her future was secure with Nicholas, or both.

Seeing Professor McGonagall heading down the table with their schedules, reminded her that she want to talk with her. Since she had agreed to bond with Nicholas, it had been in the back of her mind to see if she could perhaps take her NEWTS early. She would have no true career when she did graduate, since she assumed that Nicholas would want her nearby, and as a member of Harry's family she wouldn't have to. She also wanted to ask if she could take a special class with Madam Pomphrey. After all a mother needed to know how to take care of a child.

Professor McGonagall handed the Golden couple their schedules, noting how tired but happy they looked. She smiled inward at them. Rarely had she seen a couple more in love than these two, the exception being Harry's own parents and Arthur and Molly Weasley. Anyone who truly looked at the couple could see the love that they had for each other, but people rarely saw what was in front of them. She, herself had been shocked speechless when she had received the missive from Harry turning down the Quidditch badge, along with the suggestion that Ron should have it and that he would not be playing that year. That was when she saw the seal. Harry had come into his inheritance. But the truly shocking thing had been the other letter enclosed from Hermione, telling her that she and Harry were mates and that they had already bonded. The letter had also asked if she could, perhaps, have a special set of lessons with Madam Pomphrey, without Harry's knowledge. Poppy had been just as surprised but agreed to teach Lady Potter the basics of healing and child care.

Ron stomped into the Great Hall, still mad about Harry and Hermione and how his former friend had stolen the girl he had wanted right out from under his nose. What had made Ron even more furious, was the fact the Ginny had known about them and hadn't told him about it. She had told him last night that he was acting like a child and to get over it. He said a few things that most people would never say, especially to one's sister, but he refused to back down, feeling that he was in the right. However most of Gryffindor house, now united behind the couple, didn't feel that way. For the most part they ignored Ron and his rantings, refusing to acknowledge them. They thought he was being selfish and stupid and silently told him so, even the first years. Which is why this morning, none of his roommates bothered to wake him, so he was running late. Now seeing the betrayers eating with his 'sister', made all the feelings return.

As he sat down next to Neville, he was shocked when everyone around him, including Neville, all got up and moved, leaving him alone. That was the last straw. Ron got up, forgetting about breakfast, snatched his schedule out of Professor McGonagall's hand and stormed out of the Hall.