So it's a short chapter, but I'm still getting warmed up. Not sure how regularly I'll be able to post since I'm doing work experience this summer, but I will try and finish it this time around! Thanks to those who have reviewed so far and I apologize for not having written in…well a year I think it's been. I hope you all review again and don't punish me for not having written! And to those who are reading this for the first time, I hope you enjoy and please R+R! xxxxx

Nott fumed to Crabbe and Goyle, the only ones who would listen to him. He was a pure-blood, a Slytherin; his father had been a supporter of Voldemort. How dare Zabini and Bulstrode treat him as if he didn't matter? This was not acceptable and Malfoy! Going around with that mudblood! As if she were a proper witch instead of scum. It seemed that his former Housemates needed to be reminded who they were. Nott suddenly stopped pacing and the other two looked up expectantly at him. He smiled maliciously.

"How devastated would Malfoy be if his precious little mudblood suddenly…disappeared?"

Crabbe and Goyle looked blankly at him. He tapped his foot impatiently. This was another unforgiveable insult from Zabini. He was most definitely not as dumb as Crabbe and Goyle. He said angrily,

"He would be really furious! And that would be the perfect time to turn his anger against the Ministry. And it's not as if he was without power. He is a Malfoy after all."

Nott turned from the other two, planning how to capture the mudblood.

GROWING UP

Hermione Flooed to Ginny's former apartment, wanting to help her best friend pack up. She knew that it would be difficult for the redhead, because this was the end of her dreams. True, her dreams might have changed by now, but Ginny had spent so much time wanting a happily ever after with Harry that for it to end like this was…depressing. But Hermione also had high hopes for Ginny and Blaise as a couple. She thought that they would complement each other nicely. Ginny was hot-tempered and impulsive whereas it took a lot to make Blaise angry and he always thought through what he was going to do.

As she stepped out of the fireplace, she nearly crashed into someone. That someone immediately locked their arms around her and she immediately knew who it was just from the feel of their body.

"Ron…what are you doing here??"

He moved back from her, releasing her from his arms. He looked down at her awkwardly.

"Well, I er live here now, Mione."

She bit her lip and looked down, tension filling the room. Finally she mustered the courage to ask him,

"So what have you been up to recently?"

He shrugged.

"Growing up. Listen, Hermione, I have been thinking a lot recently and I want to apologize for the way I treated you. I treated you awfully and you deserve better. You deserve a guy whose every thought is to make you happier, who treats you well, who matches you intellectually and in every way. I'm sorry that I couldn't be that guy for you."

Hermione felt the tears spring into her eyes, but she said quietly,

"Thank you, Ron. I don't want things to end with us to end badly…this means that I can still respect and one day we may be able to be the friends that we were before all of this started."

"I'd like that." Ron too was moved by the ending of their relationship because this really was the end. Before they had ended it, but neither of them had really had closure and now they did. It was sad, but they also both knew that it was the right thing to do.

Ginny suddenly walked in, frazzled and irritated.

"Ron, all your stuff is blocking the hallway!! Move it!! You're a wizard…shrink it or something but stop it blocking the hallway!!!"

She stopped ranting when she caught sight of Hermione and her expression immediately changed.

"Oh thank Merlin! You're here…Ron's trying to be helpful and he's just getting in the way!! You can help me…by distracting him…if that's not too awkward or anything."

Hermione laughed at her self-absorbedness. Ginny was selfish, but in the best way possible. If anyone had told her that she would have been horrified, but she was so sweet and kind when it didn't inconvenience herself that it was impossible to tell her that. Ron frowned at his sister however, but who listens to a brother anyway? Ginny, like a normal little sister, took no notice of him and flew out of the room. Hermione turned to Ron.

"It's alright. She's just…frazzled with all the packing."

He grimaced.

"I know…I can't wait for her to get out of here. She's driving me insane."

"She's your sister, Ronald. Have a little patience…remember that she and Harry only just broke up." Hermione chided him.

"That would be easier to do if she would extend the same courtesy to other people. I mean she allowed you to find out that she was engaged to Harry when she knew that you were worried about me," Ron pointed out.

"No, I just found out by accident…and anyway how did you know that?"

"Oh, er…Harry told me…we were just talking…and all…so what have you been up to recently? We haven't really talked at all or anything…"

She hesitated, not wanting to tell him about Draco. She had a feeling that he would go mental if he thought that she had replaced him with Draco.

"I've been around…work mostly and all. What about you?"

He nodded.

"Pretty much the same…and I've been seeing…Luna…if that's alright?"

She smiled.

"Of course it's alright, Ron. I'm glad that you've found someone…just treat her well, ok? You're a great guy so when you do something hurtful…it hurts even more because one doesn't expect it."

Hermione smiled, but her tone was serious. He nodded, thinking that she of all people would know.