Chapter 4

"Hermione!" Ginny shouted running up to her and hugging. "How are you! How was your Christmas? Did you get much muggle stuff?"

"Ginny! Yes, of course I got muggle stuff!" Hermione laughed, "When have I not! Was your Christmas good?"

"Yeah," Ron said at once, "pretty eventful, Rufus Scrim-"

"I've got something for you Harry." Hermione said smiling completely ignoring Ron. "Oh hang on – password. Abstinence."

Walking into the common room Hermione gave Harry a roll of parchment.

"Dumbledore. Great, anyway I've got loads to tell you!"

At that moment a loud squeal of "Won-Won" and Ron was forced away from Harry and Hermione making several onlookers snigger. Even Hermione let out a high tinkling laugh. "You coming Ginny?"

"I can't sorry." Ginny moaned, "Meeting Dean…" Harry noted she really didn't look pleased, between them she would much rather share a room with Phlegm for another month.

"So how was your Christmas?" Harry asked sitting down at a free table.

"Oh fine." Hermione said. "Nothing special, "How was it at Won-Won's?"

"I'll tell you in a minuet. Look Hermione can't you-"

"No I can't, look Harry what did you want to tell me?"

Harry told her all about the meeting between Snape and Malfoy, but in more detail than last time.

"Yes Harry, I've been thinking about that… Are you sure he wasn't-"

"Pretending? I'm sure. Look no one can act like that, you know Snape. But it does prove Malfoy is up to something!"

"Well yes… But-"

"But!" Harry almost shouted, "but?" He added quietly.

"Well, did they mention Voldermort?"

"No but- Snape said 'your master'. Who else?"

Hermione pursed her lips, "How's Lupin?"

"Been better."

Days later Hermione and Ginny were trying to find a spare classroom to study in, opening the door they found Lavender and Ron in there.

"Oops." Hermione said blushing. She heard someone move and with that they ran around the corner laughing.

"Hermione?" Ron called, walking along he found her. "Hermione, hey!" He beamed at her. Seeing this Ginny slowly backed away, before Hermione grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

"Hello Ronald." She said politely.

"Listen, I know things between us… That we… Well…" Ron sighed. "Merry Christmas." He finished, handing Hermione a small box he walked off.

"Wow." Ginny said, "In Ron terms that was a love sonnet." With that Ginny began laughing, but Hermione did hear her. She held the box up and examined it.

"It must have cost him a lot." She murmured making Ginny shut up. Slowly opening it she gasped.

"What is it?" Ginny asked.

What it was, was a locket. As Hermione looked at it she saw her initials H.G. engraved on the face, judging by the quality it looked as if Ron had done it himself. She opened it and found the D.A galleon shrunken down in it.

"Wow." She breathed. Putting it around her neck she ran back into the class.

"Ron I – " She stopped. The room was deserted. Walking back to Ginny she sighed, "how was his Christmas?"

"I think you know he missed you. He looked out for an owl most days. Only don't tell you I told you, for some reason he thinks I'll tease him."

"Ginny. Did you forget about Harry? For a bit at least?"

On Ron's birthday Hermione and Ginny were in the library. When suddenly Professor McGonagall rushed in and sent them to the hospital wing. Almost running Ginny was looking frightened. Finally making it they saw a sea of red around a bed.

"Oh no… No, No no!" Ginny whispered. Running forwards she saw Ron lying unconscious. "What?"

"He drunk poison. I'm not sure how it got there, but suddenly he was shaking and chocking. I remembered the bezoar and managed to get it down his throat, and suddenly he was limp." Harry said.

"But… Is he going to be alright?" Ginny asked.

"Yes, in a week or so. But he's going to have to stay here until then."

"The poison was in the drink?" Fred said darkly.

"Did Slughorn slip anything in it?" George asked.

"No, I was there the entire time he couldn't have. I know Slughorn, why would he try and kill Ron?"

"Not Ron, you. The 'Chosen One' and all that, he might have mixed up the drinks." Fred said shrugging.

"I don't think Slughorn would, he was hiding for a year before coming here. Dumbledore thinks someone wants him dead. But Slughorn was going to give it as a gift…"

"Then the poisoner didn't know Slughorn very well." Hermione said, since talking to McGonagall she hadn't said a word. "Of course he would keep something tasty for himself."

"Er-my-nee." A voice between them groaned. They all looked at him confused. But suddenly he started to snore again.

"Ever the charmer." Fred joked.

"Won- Won." Lavender shouted rushing in. "Oh darling Won-Won, I'm here."

The others all stepped back, excluding Hermione who stayed looking at Ron.

"Here comes trouble." Ginny said turning to Harry, "Thank you. I mean it. All the times you've saved our family…" She smiled at him, wanting to say more but couldn't. Then suddenly she hugged him, making Fred and George wolf whistle. "Really thanks."

"What are you doing here?" Lavender snarled at Hermione.

"Ron's my friend. I came because I care." Hermione said calmly.

"Don't make me laugh. Friends? You haven't spoken in weeks!"

"Lav-en-" Mumbled Ron again silencing them both.

"Won?" Lavender said eagerly, "I'm here."

"Herm-ione. Lavender…" Rom was mumbling again. "Hermione." He then said a bit more firmly. Silence followed waiting for more, dreading what they would here. "Hermione." Ron repeated again. Lavender glared at Hermione before rushing out.

"It's about time." Ginny said to Harry, "It's funny how long some people wait."

"Yeah, funny." He said watching her go. Why did I feel like this last year? Harry asked himself angrily. Ginny looked at Hermione and Ron again, finally it looked as if they would get together, she thought. Maybe soon she could… All to soon Madam Pomfrey rushed in and kicked them out.

Authors Note - Please R&R!