Chapter Sixteen: Back to School

The last four weeks on the south coast of France had been wonderful, but now Ron and the Grangers had returned home. Hermione was surprised that Ron had not been burned to a crisp by the sun like most redheads were. Ron merely raised an eyebrow and said, 'I'm a wizard, Hermione.'

So Ron had a rather nice suntan after an amazing holiday with his girlfriend and her parents. He and Hermione had gotten a rather large amount of alone time on the holiday. Her parents often went to places to be alone leaving Ron and Hermione to their own devices. Most of their time had been spent swimming in the pool at their hotel. Of course, they too, went to places around the resort to see the sights that Ron had not seen before. Being with Hermione away from everything and everyone was wonderful. The smile he saw on her face filled his heart with even more love for her, as they went everywhere holding hands. They shared kisses, they were in constant contact and they would make love back at the hotel when her parents were off somewhere together. Ron had fallen even more in love with Hermione and was happier than he ever thought he could be. He gave no thought to Voldemort, no thought for his former family or his former best friend, to him, all he needed was Hermione.

It was now the final week of August but there was still no sign of their Hogwarts letters. Hermione could not help being worried, but according to the Daily Prophet, everything was running normally. Hermione noticed that in some of the stories they were taking snide digs at Harry Potter, but neither of them could find it within themselves to care or feel sorry for their former friend. So, with the news that everything was all right, it was decided that the four of them would spend the last few days of the summer holidays at the Leaky Cauldron.

It was on the eve of their return to Hogwarts that their letters arrived. Hermione, in her excitement, tore open her letter to see the book lists. However, also inside the letter, was a Prefect's badge.

'Oh, my goodness!' she exclaimed, 'I'm a Prefect!'

'Well done, sweetheart,' said her mother, as her father smiled at her proudly.

'Well done, love,' said Ron, before giving her a kiss.

Ron let go of Hermione to open his own letter, and to his utter astonishment, he found a Prefect's badge inside.

'Bloody hell,' he breathed, 'I'm a Prefect as well …'

'Oh, Ron, that's wonderful!' squealed Hermione, joyfully.

Hermione gave him a kiss in congratulations.

'Well done, Ron,' said Richard, clapping him on the back.

'Congratulations, but you seem shocked,' said Helen.

'Well, yeah, I am, I never thought I'd get picked over Potter or Longbottom, so this is a real surprise,' Ron told them.

Richard and Helen shared a look before asking to look at the badges before holding a very small and personal celebration for Ron and Hermione, as tomorrow they needed to acquire the books required for school before taking the Hogwarts' Express from platform nine and three quarters.

After an early start, Richard and Helen went to Gringott's to exchange some money and bought two sets of required books before returning to the Leaky Cauldron. Once the trunks were packed, the four of them shared breakfast before going to King's Cross station. When they got to the barrier on platform nine and three quarters, they stopped to say their goodbyes.

'Have a good term, you two,' said Helen, kindly before giving Hermione and Ron a hug each before Richard hugged his daughter and shook hands with Ron.

'Look after each other, okay?' he said, 'and I expect one letter a week from both of you.'

Hermione rolled her eyes and said, 'We'll write, Dad, I promise.'

'Thank you both for everything, this has been the best summer of my life,' said Ron.

Helen gave him a smile before giving him a second hug. 'See you at Christmas?' she asked.

'Definitely,' replied Ron, as Hermione nodded fervently.

They all then said goodbye before Ron and Hermione went through the barrier together. Loading their trunks took no time and so they slipped on to the train unnoticed. They made their way to the Prefect compartments and went inside the first unoccupied one they found. Ron closed the door behind them as well as the blinds. He turned around to see that Hermione was taking her cloak and knee socks out of her carry-on bag.

'I've just got time to slip these on before the Prefect meeting,' she murmured.

Ron, however, walked up and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and began to kiss her neck.

'Fuck, you're so sexy, Hermione,' he said huskily into her ear, 'been waiting to get you alone for ages …'

'Oh, Ron,' she whimpered, as he kissed her neck.

He was also pressing his groin into her and she could feel just how much he wanted her, he then grabbed her right hand and placed it on his hard cock, and said, 'Do you feel that, Hermione, do you feel my rock hard cock against your palm?'

'Yesss …' she whispered.

'Tonight, I'm going to fuck you with it, I'm going to fuck you so hard and for so long you won't remember your name, but when I cum hard into your hot, dripping pussy, I'm going to scream it to the heavens so you'll be reminded, I love you so much, my sweet Hermione …'

'Yes, tonight, Ron, definitely … love you so much, want you so much …' she whispered.

Ron then spun Hermione around to kiss her on the lips for several moments.

When they stopped, they leaned their foreheads together and Hermione said, 'We need to go to the Prefect meeting.'

Ron sighed before they separated and then put on his cloak as Hermione did the same and then they left their compartment.

As Ron expected, they were the first to arrive, so they took a seat and waited, eventually the Head Boy and Girl arrived, followed by the rest of the Prefects. Another thing Ron expected was that Malfoy and Parkinson would be the chosen Prefects for Slytherin, and lo and behold, he was bang on the money. Neither Ron nor Hermione acknowledged the two fifth year Slytherins and just listened to the instructions the Head Girl was giving to them all. He and Hermione were each given a copy of their patrol schedule before being told that the meeting was over. They left for their compartment and once inside, Ron pounced upon her again, pulling her into another passionate kiss as his cupped her breasts through her shirt making her moan aloud, unfortunately, there was a knock on their door. Ron and Hermione stopped kissing to straighten themselves up and sat down next to each other very closely before Ron flicked his wand at the door to unlock it.

When the door opened they saw that the people wanting entry were Draco Malfoy, Pansy Parkinson, as well as Crabbe and Goyle.

Before Ron could take out his wand, Malfoy said, 'There's no need for wands, Weasley, we come in peace.'

Ron was not sure to make of this. He could not be certain that Malfoy was going to even talk to him and Hermione since their parting company with Harry Potter. 'Well, okay, but what do you want?' he replied.

It looked as though Malfoy was taking the time to choose his next words very carefully before finally speaking.

'Look, there's no beating around the bush, Weasley, but the two of you and us are not friends and we probably never will be, but I have heard about your falling out with Saint Potter, of course I have no idea what it was about and I don't care, however, as much as I don't like the two of you, I like Potter even less, so I am proposing a truce between us, and by us I mean the two of you and most of Slytherin House …'

Ron and Hermione shared a look before Ron turned back to Malfoy and said, 'We'll accept the truce on one condition, and that's that you don't call Hermione that derogatory word about her parentage anymore.'

'I think that's acceptable,' said Malfoy.

'Is there anything else?' Ron asked.

'There is one more thing, and that is we are wondering where you stand given the current climate,' Malfoy enquired.

Ron and Hermione shared another look before Ron said, 'We acknowledge that Voldemort is back, and there is a war coming, however, we are not on Potter's side, and yet we have no interest in joining Voldemort, either.'

'You are going to remain neutral?' asked Malfoy, curiously.

Ron shrugged and said, 'We are on our own side, so first and foremost we fight for ourselves.'

'I can understand that, if you are threatened then you will defend yourselves,' Malfoy said.

'Yes, so do you still want this truce?' replied Ron.

'Yes, I think a truce between us will be equally beneficial,' said Malfoy.

'I agree,' said Ron.

'As do I,' said Hermione.

'In that case we shall take our leave, Weasley, Granger, see you later,' said Malfoy, before leaving their compartment and taking the others with him.

'That was odd,' said Hermione, once the door was spelled again.

'Maybe, maybe not,' Ron replied.

'What do you mean?' asked Hermione.

'The enemy of my enemy is my friend,' Ron told her.

'Hmm, you might have something there …' she said thinking.

'Indeed, but I also have something right here …' Ron said as wrapped his arms around her again.

'Smooth, Ronald, very smooth,' she said with a flirty smirk.

Ron then said, 'How long until we have to patrol the train?'

Hermione looked at her watch and said, 'Twenty minutes.'

'Well, let's spend these twenty minutes doing something productive …' Ron said suggestively.

Hermione did not get to speak as Ron was kissing her again as she was pulled on to his lap.

After a full twenty minutes of their mouths being firmly attached, they straightened themselves up to look presentable before beginning their patrol. As they made their way through the train, they spotted their year mates, who gave them odd looks, before they moved on to the next carriage. The next carriage full of students barely paid them any attention, so they moved on again. As they entered the next carriage they spotted Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle standing outside a compartment. Ron and Hermione shared a look as they shared another conversation with their eyes, and came to the same conclusion; Malfoy had found Potter.

Ron and Hermione walked over to where Malfoy was standing.

'Hello again, Draco,' said Ron, pleasantly.

The look on the occupants of compartments faces were a contrast. Potter put on his neutral face, Ginny looked at him and Hermione with sheer contempt, while Longbottom looked scared. Fred and George just looked angry. There was also a girl with dirty blonde hair sitting with them who Ron was sure was a year younger than he and Hermione.

'Are these people bothering you, Draco?' asked Ron.

'Not really, I was just letting them know their place, Ron,' replied Draco.

'Am I right in assuming that you were informing them that you have been named a Prefect?' Ron asked.

'I thought it would be prudent,' Malfoy replied.

'I agree, Draco, would you mind leaving Hermione and I to do the same?' Ron requested.

'Not at all, Ron, Hermione, go right ahead, I am sure I will have plenty of time to put these people in their place throughout the year, see you both later on,' said Draco, before leaving with Crabbe and Goyle.

They turned back to look at Potter and his new friends, and were met with looks of shock and hatred, while the girl with dirty blonde just looked at them oddly.

Ron turned to look at her and said, 'Why are you staring at us?'

'You are Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger,' she said.

'The last time we looked, yeah, and you are?' he replied.

'Luna Lovegood, I'm a fourth year Ravenclaw,' she said.

'Nice to meet you, Luna,' said Ron as Hermione gave her a smile.

'That's nice of you to say,' said Luna.

Ron gave her a smile before turning to the others in the compartment.

'As I am sure you have gathered, Hermione and I have been appointed as Prefects, now how were your summers? Mine was excellent,' said Ron, smugly.

There was an eerie silence in the compartment before Fred broke it.

'So this is what you've been doing, Ron, making friends with a scumbag like Malfoy?'

'Become a junior Death Eater, too?' added George, facetiously.

'Aw, have you been worried about me?' said Ron, sarcastically. 'Now, as I was saying I had an amazing summer with Hermione and her parents, I went to the south of France where I had an amazing time getting plenty of sun and sand. No cleaning of a grotty old house for us, just fun in the sun, and believe me, there was plenty of fun.'

'How did you get chosen to be a Prefect, Ron, you're a useless git,' said Ginny.

'That's still preferable to what you are – a wand-happy little slag who cast aside her own flesh and blood in order to get closer to her pathetic schoolgirl crush, and make him notice her,' retorted Ron.

'OI!' yelled Fred and George simultaneously.

'What, I'm not allowed to retort when someone gives me shit, well, tough shit, arseholes,' said Ron.

'What is it you wanted?' asked Harry.

'From you, Potter?' began Ron, 'absolutely nothing, but you can give Snuffles a message, and the message is simple, coming to the platform in his disguise was foolish, particularly since Pettigrew has had plenty of time to tell Voldemort, who has more than likely told his other followers.'

Harry paled and realised that Ron was right.

Ron then said, 'There is one more thing you need to know, Potter, and you, my so-called family, and it's this: I don't need you. I don't need any of you, and I certainly don't need Bill, Charlie or Molly Weasley anymore. I am happier now than I've ever been in my life. I don't have to put up with all the crap that surrounds Harry Potter anymore and I sure as fuck don't have to do a fucking thing to help you survive. Neither Hermione nor I need you; we have each other so why the hell do we need you?

'After all Hermione is the most intelligent witch to ever set foot in Hogwarts and is smarter than the five of you combined. As for me, you'll soon find that I am full of surprises … and as long as I have Hermione, the rest of you can burn for all I care.'

'Right then, you can go now, can't you?' said Ginny, harshly.

'Yes, I think we can, see you around, Potter, Longbottom, twins and spanky,' said Ron, coolly.

Ginny went red with anger; she got to her feet, drew her wand and pointed it at Ron's face.

Hermione then drew her wand and pointed it in Ginny's face.

Ron was calm and cool as he said, 'You'd better be sure.'

Ginny thought for a moment before putting away her wand, while Hermione lowered her own but still remained ready just in case.

'Good choice, spanky, after all the hexing, jinxing or cursing of a Prefect is a serious offence; you don't want to have detention for a month, do you? See you around, Luna.'

Ginny, humiliated, sat down and said nothing while Fred and George glared at their younger brother until Ron and Hermione left the compartment.

'Could this year get any worse?' asked Harry.

Ron and Hermione got back to their compartment and spent the rest of the journey making out and patrolling the train until they arrived at Hogsmeade station.