The remaining days of summer passed with little incident. Harry continued studying with Hermione in hopes of testing into either Arithmancy or Ancient Runes. Every once in awhile Bill would help him out with certain theories that even Hermione couldn't help him with. He was even surprised that Ron had joined in some of the sessions. However, he did start to notice that Ron always took a seat in between him and Hermione. Soon it came for them to gather their supplies for the upcoming school year and before they knew it, they were on the Hogwarts Express to start a new year at Hogwarts.

Harry spent the bulk of his time on the train going over some last minute notes. McGonagall owled him a few days earlier to let him know that Madam Hooch would meet him at the train so that he could fly up to the castle and speak with the teachers prior to the feast. So he wanted to make sure he had reviewed everything before the train arrived at Hogsmeade.

Much sooner than he would have liked, the train had arrived and sure enough, Madam Hooch was waiting for him, broom in both hands. Hermione wished him luck before he and Madam Hooch set off towards the castle. After Harry had gone, Hermione, Ron, Neville and Ginny all piled into the carriage that would take them up to their beloved Hogwarts. Hermione noticed during the ride that Ron was a bit more talkative towards her now that Harry was no longer around. Ron had been rather quiet during the train ride in and Hermione suspected that it was because she had been helping Harry with his last minute review. Now that Harry wasn't around, he seemed to be in a much more talkative mood.

Soon the carriages arrived and the student body was ushered into the Great Hall. Hermione sat down at the Gryffindor table when she noticed something odd. Ron had chosen to sit next to her. This was odd as Ron always sat across from her and Harry sat next to her. She also found it odd that Ron more or less demanded that Ginny sit on Hermione's other side. This now left no room for Harry to sit next to her. She wondered if that is was Ron wanted but couldn't think of a reason why.

'Unless..." Hermione started to think about reasons why Ron would want Hermione to be cut off from Harry. It was true that she spent most of the summer with Harry but given what happened, she could be excused for that. 'Could he like me?' This was something Hermione immediately quashed. There was no way Ron could like her and even if he did, he showed it in the most horrid ways. She knew Harry liked her based on his actions. Ron, on the other hand, always found ways to make her feel small. From their first year when he made fun of her for not having friends, 'Something he never apologized for,' she thought darkly. To just this past summer when he called her a freak, Ron never did anything to indicate that what he felt for Hermione was anything more than friendship. 'Maybe he is jealous.' Now this was something Hermione thought made sense. Her and Harry had gotten a lot closer over the summer and maybe Ron felt he was being pushed to the side. 'This would explain why he would occasionally join me and Harry's study sessions and why he made sure Harry couldn't sit next to her.'

During her musings, Professor McGonagall led the first years into the Great Hall for the beginning of the sorting. Dumbledore rose as if to speak when Minerva cut him off to show him that several of the professors had yet to arrive. As they were waiting, Ron spoke to Hermione.

"So Hermione, what do you think the big thing is that is going to happen this year?"

Ron father and two eldest brothers had been hinting that something big was going to happen at Hogwarts this year and it would be a major surprise.

"I honestly don't know Ron but I would have to assume it's dangerous if a Gringotts employee and a dragon handler are aware of it."

Ron nodded his head at her response. Hermione had noticed that Ron was looking nervous about something and she was curious as to what it was.

"Ron, are you okay? You seem distracted about something."

"What? Oh nothing. I'm fine. Promise Hermione."

Hermione could tell that he was lying but she didn't feel like pursuing the issue.

'Why not?' a part her brain asked.

'Why not what?' Hermione said back, wondering why her brain was questioning itself.

'Why aren't you following up on what's wrong with Ron?'

'Why should I?' She was wondering why this conversation was happening when her brain gave her the answer.

'If he was Harry, would you be giving up so easily?'

Hermione stopped at thought. Why wasn't she as concerned about Ron than she was about Harry. Ron had been her friend for about as long as Harry had but she didn't feel as close to him as she did to Harry.

'Well Harry has done more for me then Ron ever has. As a matter of fact, all Ron has ever done is make fun of me until he needed help with his homework.'

'So then why did you ask him if something was wrong in the first place?'

'Because he is my friend.'

'Then why didn't you follow up and push him into answering you like you would with Harry?'

'Well, me and Harry trust each other. We have been through so much together that I know Harry would understand why I was asking.'

'So what you're saying is that you don't trust Ron?'

Hermione froze at that thought. She and Ron had been through alot together as well but it was always involved Harry as well. Hermione could think of plenty of things that her and Harry had been through that in no way involved Ron. The truth hit her in that moment.

'No. I don't trust Ron the way I do Harry.'

'So then is he even really our friend?'

Hermione was contemplating that thought. Whenever she and Ron would have a row, Harry would go to each of them to smooth things out. Harry hated when his two best friends fought and why try anything to get them to stop fighting. But if Harry and Ron ever had a fight, Hermione would side with Harry every time. There was no contest between them. Harry was important to her and Ron wasn't.

'No, I guess we aren't really friends.'

This was a harsh realization for Hermione. She wanted to believe they were friends but in reality, she tolerated all of Ron's antics for Harry's sake. If Harry told her tomorrow that he no longer wanted to be friends with Ron, she didn't think she would do anything to dissuade him from that thought. With Ron out of the picture, it would just be her and Harry.

That brought a whole new set of visions into Hermione's head. She could imagine it. The two them in front of the fireplace studying. She would be sitting on the couch while sat on the florr. While in one hand, Hermione Hermione would be reading a book, her other hand would be massaging Harry's scalp. Harry would be doing something very similar except his other hand would be gently stroking the inside of her thigh. The higher his hand went, the tighter her grip would be on his head would be. Higher and higher. Tighter and tighter.

"Hermione, are you okay?"

Hermione was broken out of her daydream by Ginny's question.

"Yeah I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

"You kind of spaced out there for a second."

Hermione was embarrassed that she had been caught fantasizing but was relieved that she hadn't done anything that revealed what it had been about.

"What is taking so long?" Ron asked, starting to become even hungrier.

"They're probably waiting on Professors Vector and Babbling to come down."

As if on cue, the two professors walked into the Great Hall followed by Harry Potter. The sight of the young wizard caused her Hermione to smile, which didn't go unnoticed by Ron. Hermione indicated to Harry that he would have to sit on the other side of the table if they wanted to talk. As soon as Harry sat down, Hermione started in on him.

"Well. How did it go?" Hermione asked impatiently.

"Well, you'll be happy to know that you'll be seeing me in your arithmancy class," Harry said, with only a half smile.

Hermione understood his statement. He had only done well enough to get into the one class but not the other. While she was happy that they would spend more time together, she was really hoping that he could have made it into both classes. Hermione also realized that Ron caught the meaning of Harry's statement and was curious as to why Ron had a slight smirk on his face. His reaction all but confirmed her earlier suspicions about Ron's jealousy towards Harry. While she was upset with Ron, she realized that she hadn't said anything to Harry yet.

"Well that's great Harry. I'm telling you, Arithmancy is wonderful."

"Thanks Hermione. I really appreciate that."

"No problem Harry. I just really wished you had gotten into Ancient Runes as well.."

"Do you mean that Hermione?"

Hermione was thrown off by Harry's question.

"Of course I meant it. Why are asking?"

"No reason."

"Harry?"

"Yes Dear?"

"Do you have something else you want to tell me?" Hermione was starting to get excited. She had a feeling Harry was holding something back and she had a feeling she knew what it was.

"Okay Hermione you got. I also got into Ancient Runes. You know, I wanted it to be a surprise but no wouldn't let me, would you."

Hermione let out a small squeal of happiness at the fact that she and Harry were going to spend even more time together. She didn't even notice the small scowl coming from Ron. Before she could ask any more questions, Dumbledore stood and started to speak.

The Gryffindor common was abuzz that night. The revelation that they were bringing back the TriWizard Tournament was something that every student was talking about. The twins were already trying to think of ways to enter into the tournament. Heck they even went to Harry and Ron to see if they wanted to enter themselves. While seemed to mull the idea over, Harry was quick to put an end to such thoughts.

"No thanks fellas. I'm good."

"Are you sure, little Harry?" Fred said.

"Think about it. 'Eternal glory.' Sounds kinda neat if you ask me," George followed.

Harry thought that a quick history lesson was in order so that he wouldn't be asked this anymore.

"Fred, who was the last person to win the TriWizard Tournament?"

Harry's question was met with silence.

"When was the last tournament held?"

Again silence.

"What school last held the tournament."

Harry looked around to find that no one could answer any of his questions. Harry then started on his next round of questions.

"Fred, on what date was Lord Voldemort defeated?"

Fred flinched at the name but answered regardless. "He was defeated on October 31st, 1981."

"George, where was Voldemort defeated?"

George replied, "Godric's Hollow."

"Hermione, the sole survivor of the attack was given a nickname. What is it?"

"Hermione gulped before answering the question. "The Boy-Who-Lived."

"And finally, what is that boy's real name?"

Hermione spoke again, "Harry Potter."

Harry looked around before speaking again.

"Eternal glory," Harry said, moving the hair that was in front of his forehead to the side, revealing his scar. "I've already got that. And trust me when I say it came at much to high a cost."

"What do you mean?"

The entire common room looked towards Ron. No one could believed he had just asked such a stupid question.

Harry just shrugged and got off the couch.

"I'm going to sleep."

The next few weeks passed by with students still talking about the tournament. Harr was actually doing well in his two new classes, thanks in large part to Hermione. He had found that he was spending less time with Ron nowadays but it seemed as if Ron really didn't care. Ron had been spending large amounts of time with his brothers trying to find a way into bypassing the 'Under 17' rule. When Harry questioned them about Ron's involvement, they revealed that Ron had a crush on a girl and was hoping that becoming TriWizard Champion would make him look better in the young girl's eyes. Harry now understood why Ron was so hell bent on finding a way into that tournament.

On a particularly warm September afternoon, HArry, Ron and Hermione were just finishing lunch and on their way to their last class of the day: Double Charms. While Hermione was urging Harry to hurry up and eat so that they wouldn't be late for class, Harry pulled a piece of paper from his bag and handed it to Hermione.

"Well go on and read it," Harry said, a smile playing on his face.

Hermione unfolded the piece of paper and read the note.

This is a pass for Harry Potter and Hermione Granger that excuses them from their Double Charms on this afternoon, September the 19th.

Signed,

Filius Flitwick

Hermione looked up at Harry and was curious as to how he had gotten them an excuse from class. Harry answered her question before she was able to ask.

"I wanted to show you something but I didn't want to do it where everyone could see. I went to Flitwick to ask for permission to get out of class today and when I showed him why, he was all for it."

"But why Harry?"

"What? Did you think I would forget my favorite girls birthday?"

Hermione beamed at Harry.

'He remembered and he thought up a gift well ahead of time.' Hermione couldn't believe how lucky she was. But now she was curious as to what Harry was going to be showing her.

"Meet me at the Entrance and we'll head down to the lake from there."

Hermione got up and practically sprinted to the entrance. She couldn't for Harry to show up and take her to the lake.

Harry smiled when he saw how excited Hermione was and he was happy that he was able to cause that kind of response. After she had left the Great Hall, he turned his attentions to Ron.

"You forgot, didn't you?"

"You could have reminded me Harry," Ron spat out. He was feeling bitter that Harry had planned something wonderful for Hermione and didn't even let him in on it. He was also angry because while he was to be stuck in Double Charms, Harry and Hermione would be all alone by the lake.

"It's not my job to remind you when your friends birthday is coming up."

"You still should have told me," Ron replied bitterness still in his voice.

Harry finished his juice and got up to leave. "On your bed is a book. It's one of Hermione's favorites. All you have to do is wrap it." And with that, Harry left.

Ron was glaring daggers at Harry's back. Not only had he failed to remind him of Hermione's birthday but he had the audacity to buy him a gift to give to her as if he was an idiot. But as much as he hated it, he had nothing else. He would swallow his pride and accept Harry's gift, hoping that Fred and George's plan would allow him to become champion and win over Hermione.