Chapter Thirteen: Back to School

When people awoke on New Year's Day, it was to hangovers for the adults; and lethargy for the kids. Once everyone had been given a potion that cured hangover instantly, breakfast made and served by house-elves at Potter Manor. Ron, Hermione and her parents stayed until late before being taken home again by James, Lily, Sirius and Remus. Harry had been sad to see Ron go again but it would only be for a few days before they would see each other on the Hogwarts' Express to go back to school.

Harry spent time with his younger siblings and tried whenever possible to talk to his father and Sirius. Luckily, he was able to on the eve on his return to Hogwarts.

'So, Harry, what do you want to talk about?' asked his father.

'Judging by the look on his face I'd say it's probably girls,' said Sirius.

Harry nodded.

'So, Prongslet, have you had your first kiss yet?' asked Sirius. 'By that I mean an actual snog.'

'Yeah, I have. It was after the Quidditch match with a girl called Parvati – she's in my year,' said Harry.

'Good one, Prongslet! Is she your girlfriend?' asked Sirius.

'No, we're just friends. It was just a friendly snog,' Harry told them.

'Okay, Harry, any others?' asked his father.

'No, that's it, Dad,' said Harry.

'Have any girls caught your eye?' asked James.

'Not really, but I'd still like to snog a girl every so often though,' said Harry.

Sirius chuckled but James cuffed him around the ear before turning to Harry and saying, 'I understand, but you'd better not be anything like Sirius, he was snogging a different girl every week, your mother would kill you.'

'I know, but I'm not like Ron, I haven't fallen for the first girl I met, so …'

Sirius chuckled again and said, 'Are there any red heads in your year or the year above?'

'Er … I think so, why?' said Harry.

'The Potter Curse, Harry, all of you are cursed with messy jet black hair, bad eyesight, and marrying red heads. Which is why I say that one day you're going to start fancying your best mate's sister, and marry her,' said Sirius smirking.

'Ginny, are you having a laugh, Padfoot? She's got six older brothers who would kill me! Not to mention she almost made Neville wet himself that time …' said Harry.

'Trust me, it'll be her, Harry,' said Sirius with another chuckle before leaving the room.

'Git, what a git, he thinks he's so bloody clever!' said Harry.

James chuckled and said, 'That's Sirius for you. Besides Ginny's a nice looking girl, Harry, and as she gets older she'll be fighting them off!'

'Dad, what part of six older brothers don't you understand?'

James chuckled and said, 'Your first kiss though, did you enjoy it?'

'Yeah, I did, but I don't fancy Parvati,' replied Harry.

'Fair enough, but if you have to snog different girls until the right one comes along you might regret it, and there's also the threat that your mother will kill you when she finds out, after all, you don't want a reputation as a player like Sirius, do you?' said James.

'No, I don't, but has he had any luck getting her to change her mind?' said Harry.

'Nope, it's been fourteen years and she still won't give him the time of day, but she does have an important job and she's in the public eye too, of course,' said James.

This time Harry chuckled and said, 'I guess we Potters aren't the only ones who are suckers for red heads?'

James chuckled and ruffled Harry's hair before they had supper and went to bed.

0o0

Ron and Hermione were packing their things for their return to Hogwarts the next day as it was their last night of the holidays as Richard and Helen Granger were in the kitchen talking.

'I think you should have a talk with Hermione,' said Richard.

'Yes, I think you're right. You'll have to distract Ron for a bit while I do,' replied Helen.

'How?' asked Richard.

'Challenge him to a game of chess?' Helen suggested.

'That wouldn't be enough time – he'd kick my arse in ten minutes flat.'

'Have two games then?'

Richard snorted before his wife spoke again.

'Talk to him about football or Quidditch?'

'Hmm, you know, that just might work!' he replied.

So, with that, Richard and Helen went upstairs to talk to Ron and Hermione. As Richard went into Ron's room, Helen walked into Hermione's room and closed the door behind her.

Hermione looked up at the sound of her door being closed to see her mother standing there.

'Is everything all right, Mum?' asked Hermione.

'I just wanted to talk to you for a moment, are you nearly done?'

'I'm just consulting my list of things I need,' replied Hermione.

She made one more final check of the contents of her trunk before closing it and turning back to her mother and saying, 'What do you want to talk about, Mum?'

'Ron,' she replied.

'Oh,' said Hermione.

'You like him – a lot,' her mother stated.

Hermione blushed and nodded.

'It's all right, Hermione, what you're feeling is perfectly normal. But you are only twelve, and to feel what you feel at your age is unusual. Then again, you've always been different, haven't you?'

'I suppose,' said Hermione.

'It must be the magic in you because I never felt at twelve what you feel for Ron right now for any boy. How does he make you feel?'

'I don't know, I mean I like it when he hugs me, I like it when he kisses me, I like it when he holds my hand,' said Hermione.

'We are talking about kisses on the cheek, aren't we?' asked Helen.

Hermione shook her head with a boiling scarlet face.

'He's kissed you on the lips?'

Hermione nodded and said, 'Just a peck on the lips a couple of times; once after the Quidditch match and again on New Year's Eve.'

'I can assume you liked it?'

'Yes, I liked it very much. Mum, I think I love him …' said Hermione in a small voice.

'Oh, Hermione …' her mother said and pulled her into a hug.

'What do I do, Mum?'

'What do you want to do?'

'Kiss him. Kiss him like they kiss in films.'

'I see.'

'What do I do?'

'Whatever your heart tells you, Hermione, but you are only twelve years old, and … look, your father thinks you're too young to have a boyfriend, but I want you to be happy. You have always shown a maturity beyond your years and I trust you, if you want to go out with Ron, you have my blessing, but why don't you wait a little while?'

'For how long should I wait?'

'Well, you could wait until you are both thirteen, when's his birthday?'

'But that's too far away, and it's on March the first.'

'I know, Hermione, you just have to be patient.'

'I don't want to be patient, Mum … do you know if he likes me too?'

'I can only guess,' her mother lied. She did not want to tell Hermione of her knowledge. This was because she liked Ron a lot, and it felt like breaking a confidence, even though there was no official confidence to break. She wanted Ron to be the one who made the first move.

'Mum, I trust your guesses over most people's facts.'

Helen sighed and said, 'I think so, but, I don't want you to be the one who makes the first move, it's the young man's place to do that, after all.'

'All I can do is wait I suppose?'

'Yes, Hermione,' said Helen, just about keeping the relief out of her voice.

'Then I shall. I shall wait for as long as it takes, which I hope won't be too long.'

Helen gave her daughter another hug before they both went back downstairs for supper and bed.

The next morning Hermione awoke and got dressed for the day, she then snuck into Ron's room and proceeded to jump on his bed and tickle him awake. After the initial shock had worn off, Ron turned the tables and had Hermione pinned down with her wrists caught in one of his big hands as the other hand tickled her mercilessly.

'Thought you'd get your own back, eh?' he said as he tickled her.

Hermione could only giggle out her response.

Then Ron stopped and let go of her wrists and pulled her into a hug. Hermione was a little surprised by this, she expected Ron to tickle her until she pleaded with him to stop. As he hugged her, Ron played with her hair and said, 'I've had the best time being here with you and your parents for Christmas and New Year's, thank you for inviting me, Hermione.'

Ron had spoken so softly into her ear it almost had her in tears as she said, 'It was no trouble, Ron, you're my best friend, and the best friend anyone could ask for, so thank you.'

'I should get dressed too, but I don't want to let go of you,' he said with a chuckle.

'You just want to tickle me again, don't you?' she asked.

'Hermione, you wound me, the thought never crossed my mind … but, if you insist,' he said before launching another tickle attack upon her making her giggle all over again.

Eventually Ron let her go so he could dress and have breakfast. Once breakfast was over, Ron helped Hermione carry her trunk downstairs and out to the car before putting it in the boot. Hermione then helped him with his trunk in return before Richard drove them to King's Cross station.

Once they had arrived Ron helped Richard to get the trunks out of the boot and on to a trolley each before they all went through the barrier to platform nine and three quarters. As expected the platform was packed and full of students and parents sharing last minute goodbyes.

Ron turned to Richard and Helen and said, 'Thank you for having me over to stay this last fortnight, I had a really great time.'

'It was no trouble, Ron, you are always welcome in our home,' replied Helen.

'It was a pleasure to meet you, Ron, please look out for Hermione for me, won't you?' said Richard.

Hermione huffed but Ron said, 'I will, but I know Hermione can look after herself. Thank you for the beautiful new chess set.'

'You're welcome, Ron. Hermione, we love you and we hope you write to us soon, okay?' said Helen as she gave Hermione a hug while Ron and Richard were shaking hands.

'I'm going to write to my dad about getting your house connected to the Floo Network so Hermione can visit me at my house or at Potter Manor, and so I can visit Hermione too,' said Ron.

'That thing where you can travel through the fireplace?' asked Richard.

'Yeah, don't worry it's safe, and it's easier than getting someone to Side-along Hermione or myself.'

'Okay, Ron, that sounds fine, after all it'll be good to have another bloke around the house,' said Richard.

Ron chuckled and said, 'That's funny, my sister would say the exact opposite being the youngest and only girl.'

Richard chuckled and helped Ron to put the trunks on the train. Ron watched as Richard and Helen took it in turns to hug Hermione goodbye before they got on the train. Then, as the train began to pull away, Ron and Hermione waved goodbye to Hermione's parents until they were out of sight.

Ron turned to Hermione and said, 'Shall we try to find Harry and the others?'

'Yes, I think that would be a good idea,' she replied before he took her hand and together they made their way down the train to find Harry.

Finding Harry, Neville, Percy and the twins took no time at all. The compartment was almost full but Ron had Hermione sit on his lap for the trip as Fred and George told an amusing story about how Fred's flatulence had everybody scrambling out of Potter Manor as if there had been a fire. The sweet trolley came and went as more stories were told and nothing could break their good mood as the train made its journey through the country, not even Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle could spoil their fun, though this was due to the fact they were outnumbered seven to three, not forgetting that Percy was also a Prefect.

Soon they were back at Hogwarts for the Welcoming Back Feast as more people were catching up after two weeks apart. Once the feast was over it was time for bed so the next day lessons could recommence.