Disclaimer: Nope.

Author's Note: Oh my goodness, thank you so, so much for the amazing reviews! That was a very difficult chapter to write, but I'm glad I got it out there.

No, I don't think it was a douche move at all. I completely understand what you're saying. To be completely honest, I never learned how to do italics or write in another font. I'm honestly not sure how it's done at all. I'm really sorry about that, and I'm really glad you could follow the letter anyway.

As for the letter itself, I'm glad that you liked my addition of it, and that it went over well. That's what I wanted to show - the deterioration of Sirius's mental health at the time.

I'm glad you liked the other little details in the chapter too, like what happened to Dorcas and Fabian. That's been my headcanon for a very long time.

I'm glad that you liked the reason for Sirius's deranged laughter as well. I've always wondered why he laughed - and that made sense to me. And he lost absolutely everything that night.

Yes, Sirius is definitely healing, but his scars will always remain. I'm definitely going to have him heal further - I always wanted that for him. I was always so livid about what happened to him in canon - he never got a chance to truly recover from his time in Azkaban, and then he died. It was so unbelievably cruel.

I understand why you hate Dumbledore. I didn't feel very kindly towards him, either, when I wrote the chapter. If not for Hagrid telling Sirius that Harry had to go to the Dursleys, there may have been a chance of salvation for Sirius. And yes, it's come at last - but it took over a decade, and Sirius's stint in Azkaban was so terribly traumatic.

I've written Halloween 1981 from Sirius's perspective before, as a one-shot. But that was years ago, and I wanted this version to have way more detail, like what happened during the day. I'm really glad it all went over as well as it did.

Okay, here's the next chapter. We head to Hogwarts to join Ron and Hermione for ... guess what? The Halloween feast. The song that is alluded to in this chapter is one entitled "Hocus Pocus", and it is by a band called Focus. I think it's an amazing song! I laughed so hard when my mother first introduced it to me, and I think it's perfect for this chapter.

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The doors to the Great Hall opened, and Hogwarts students began to pour in. Delicious smells had wafted from the room as all of Hogwarts had lined up outside, waiting for the clock to strike six.

Ron and Hermione, along with their other Gryffindor classmates, entered the great room for the Halloween feast. The hall was decorated lavishly for the occasion. Bats flew from the ceiling, pumpkins were on the House tables, and the atmosphere was one of frivolity as the students sat down.

It had been a day of wistfulness and nostalgia for Ron and Hermione. There hadn't been a single Halloween at Hogwarts when something out of the ordinary hadn't happened.

In first year, the trio's strange but extremely strong friendship was formed, due to the appearance of a mountain troll. Harry, reckless but so good-hearted, had told Ron that they were going to rescue her. The end result was a defeated mountain troll, hit with its own club. Hermione would never forget how Ron's Levitation Charm had saved her. It was more of an apology than she could ever expect, she thought with humor. It no longer mattered that he had made fun of her that day.

In second year, they had attended Nearly Headless Nick's deathday party, and then they had come upon the horrific scene of a petrified Mrs. Norris, and the writing on the wall proclaiming that the Chamber of Secrets was open again. The chain of events that followed had been terrifying, and Hermione had missed months of school because of them. That period would always disconcert her, but when she had finally awoken and saw the relief on Harry and Ron's faces, she couldn't have been more relieved to be back with her friends. Still, the experience gave her the jitters every time she recalled it. It was then that she realized even more that the wizarding world was a much scarier place than her naive, eleven-year-old self had ever thought.

In third year, she and her two best friends had come back from the delicious feast, only to find that Sirius Black had torn up the Fat Lady's portrait, and they'd had to return to the Great Hall for the night. A surge of anger and fierce protectiveness had surged up in her; she was not going to let that mad lunatic come anywhere near her best friend. Little was she to know how the end of the year would turn out - she had learned that Sirius wanted nothing more than to take vengeance on the man who had betrayed him and his parents to Voldemort.

And ... last year, Harry's name had come out of the Goblet of Fire. Hermione had known immediately that something was wrong. She'd seen the look on Harry's face, and had known instantly that her best friend had not put his own name into the Goblet. The year had progressed in a swirl of fear and confusion, and that day in June ... she still shuddered when she remembered Harry's heartbroken sobs, Cedric's glassy, lifeless gray eyes, and the fear that invaded her bloodstream at the realization that Voldemort had returned, and the world she loved so much was about to go to war.

Now, this year, after everything that had transpired over the last few months, this Halloween was exceedingly different. It was Ron and Hermione's first Halloween without Harry beside them, and it still felt wrong.

Their classmates sat around them, all chatting as they began to heap their plates. Hermione looked around the hall, seeing what seemed to be an infinite number of decorations. The staff and the house-elves had truly outdone themselves this year.

Maybe it was because the war was continuing to bleed into classrooms, common rooms, and dormitories. How could it not? Students were focusing on classes, being shielded as best as they could. But the fact that they could not communicate by owl at the moment, the way Professor Giddens was completely focused on duelling, and the fact that Dumbledore had announced that all Hogsmeade trips had been cancelled were huge indications that it was affecting Hogwarts, too.

Worst of all, there was the constant sadness that seemed to linger around certain students, and for good reason. A few seats away from Ron and Hermione, Katie Bell sat with her faithful friends, Alicia Spinnet and Angelina Johnson. Katie's older sister and her husband had been killed in the series of attacks that had been carried out the night before school started. She had heaped her plate with food, and was eating and chatting with the two girls. But Hermione would never forget how she would catch her at unguarded moments while she sat in the common room - she was listless, and her heart wasn't in the animated Quidditch conversations that so many others were partaking in.

Hermione glanced over at Cho, who was sitting with her friend Marietta at the Ravenclaw table. Her sadness was obvious. Hermione, of course, recalled that on this day last year, Cedric had been picked as the Hogwarts champion, moments before chaos and confusion broke out at what happened next.

Cho had been attempting to pick herself up, and it was obvious how much she appreciated Hermione's friendship. If she wasn't spending time with Ron or Ginny, Hermione was studying with Cho. It seemed to be a great distraction for both of them. Hermione had always used her books and her studies as ways to take her mind off of unpleasant things, and Cho was much the same.

Hermione watched with heartache as Cho picked at her food. Marietta was engaging her in conversation, but Cho's eyes were far away. Sadness washed over Hermione - things weren't supposed to be this way.

"Are you all right?" Ron murmured to her as he ate one of his chips.

Hermione had always noticed that Ron devoted a lot of his attention to her, even when they had rowed in the past. Now, with them having grown even closer together, she always found Ron's eyes on her. A burst of affection swelled in her as she saw those gentle blue eyes gazing at her with obvious concern.

"I'm okay, Ron," Hermione said quietly. "Just ... thinking about everything."

Ron nodded as he ate another chip. The food was absolutely magnificent this year, Hermione had to admit as she sipped on some pumpkin juice before taking a bite of roast pork. There were so many selections this year - fish, chips, mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, pork, pizza, chicken, beef, Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, shepherds' pie, and so much more. The tables almost groaned under the weight of it all. "Me too," Ron said as he looked around the hall as well.

"I can't believe that my mum and stepdad will be coming to Hogwarts on Thursday," Dean said from across the table. "I can't wait for them to see it."

Although the parent-teacher conferences started tomorrow, the fifth-year parents would be coming to meetings on Thursday. The entire school was buzzing with talk of the five-day affair, with students speculating on how parents would react to being here, especially the Muggle ones.

Hermione felt the knot of dread in her stomach tighten at these words. She had kept so much from her parents. The war that was ravaging their world was something they had never found out about - at least not to her knowledge. She had never told them, always keeping them at arms' length these days.

Their relationship had become strained, and the downward spiral had started as early as the Christmas holidays of first year. She couldn't possibly tell them that she had been attacked by a troll in a girls' bathroom, could she? They'd take her away from Hogwarts, from her friends, before she could blink if they knew the danger she had been in.

And it had almost happened, too. She'd never forget their reactions when they saw the fight between Arthur Weasley and Lucius Malfoy. They'd been constantly interrogating her all summer - they had realized something wasn't quite right when she disembarked from the Hogwarts Express. She knew she was a terrible liar - she couldn't hide the fact that she had been horrified by the events that had almost taken Harry's life. She shuddered every time she remembered seeing him unconscious in the hospital wing.

Her relationship with her parents had continued to deteriorate, and now, she could barely stand to be around them. And in two days, they were coming to Hogwarts. They were going to ask questions, and Hermione knew, without a doubt, that they wouldn't stop until all of them were answered.

"You must be excited too, Hermione," Dean continued. "Your parents are coming too, aren't they?"

Hermione was positive that they were, even though she hadn't heard from them. It had been announced that all Muggle-born parents had been visited by Ministry officials and had been informed of what was to come. There was absolutely no doubt in Hermione's mind that they would be there. "Yes," she replied simply.

"You don't sound all that excited about it," Dean persisted. "What's wrong?"

"I've kept a lot from them, Dean. That's all," Hermione said briskly, a note of finality in her voice that said in no uncertain terms that she didn't want to discuss this topic any further.

Dean seemed to understand, and left the subject alone. Ron squeezed her shoulder in support, and Hermione smiled at him. These days, she could always count on him to give her reassurance.

She continued to eat as she watched Fred and George's banter from further down the table. She had been less than impressed when the Terrible Twins insisted on testing their joke products on first-years. But the first-years seemed more than happy to try them out, and, thankfully, none of them had been hurt in the process. Of course, she knew that doing so wasn't Fred and George's intent, but they could be careless, not thinking about the consequences of their actions. Still, as she watched them tonight, their banter was causing laughter from the people closest to them. Even Katie Bell, who was sitting a few seats away from them, started smiling. Hermione could only be grateful.

The desserts, if possible, were even more delicious than the dinner itself. Huge platters of chocolate cake, apple pie, pumpkin pie, doughnuts, chocolate brownies, vanilla ice cream, treacle tart, and shortbread biscuits appeared on the tables, making everyone's mouth water in delight. Hermione, feeling rebellious, grabbed a brownie, some apple pie, and some ice cream. She heard her father lecturing her about healthy eating, but she didn't care.

Ron grinned goofily at her as he grabbed his own dessert. Hermione's heart suddenly ached - it was rare to see that particular expression on Ron's face these days. This was the old Ron grin, the one that used to infuriate her but the one that she would give anything to see more often now.

Ron mumbled something that Hermione couldn't decipher, and she looked at him in exasperation, trying really, really hard not to smile. "How many times have I told you not to talk with your mouth full, Ronald Weasley?"

Ron's grin only grew wider. "At least once a day," he replied once he had swallowed his food.

"Well, in that case, why don't you ever listen?" Hermione asked, still attempting to sound annoyed. But she wasn't succeeding, if Ron's smirk was any indication.

They smiled at each other as they finished their desserts, and Hermione wondered what was in store for them. After all, there had been an announcement at breakfast that there would be entertainment after the feast. There had been much speculation about it during the day.

After several more minutes, Dumbledore got up to speak. "Good evening, everyone. I do hope you enjoyed a truly wondrous Halloween feast," he said jovially, his blue eyes, for the first time that Hermione had seen since his return, truly twinkling. Honestly, this feast always seemed to bring out the best in everyone.

The entire Great Hall cheered, and Hermione joined in. The entire feast had indeed been wonderful.

"Well," Dumbledore continued, "it's certainly not over yet! The night is still young, after all, and we have a treat for you! I would like to introduce you to some great musicians, a band which has made itself very popular over the last few months. Here at Hogwarts, to perform for you tonight - I present to you, the Flaming Dragons!"

The doors of the Great Hall opened, and in walked four people. They were carrying shrunken instruments, and Hermione saw that they were each dressed like a different breed of dragon. Their costumes were exceedingly dramatic and unique, and they enlarged and set up their instruments in the middle of the hall, only taking minutes to do so. Obviously, spells and charms made it go a lot faster.

A young man named Robert, who seemed to have boundless energy, spoke to everyone while the band was setting up. Out of the four band members, his costume was the most dramatic, and both Ron and Hermione instantly recognized the kind of dragon he was dressed as. "Blimey, he's the perfect Hungarian Horntail," Ron murmured.

Many of the girls in the Great Hall were gazing at the band members admiringly, especially Robert. His demeanor and his charm was breathing new life into everyone as he shouted joyfully, "Hello, and how is everyone doing tonight?"

The students responded with wild cheers, and the smile on Robert's face was contagious. "Good! Me too!" he exclaimed. "I am Robert Dezario, the lead singer of this new sensation, the Flaming Dragons! These are my bandmates - on guitar, Blake Hadley! On drums, Samuel Nelson! And on bass, Edward Fairbanks!"

There was another round of cheers and applause, and Hermione was honestly curious about this band. People around her were still exclaiming at the ingenuity of the costumes.

"Now, we're about to charm all of you with our great selection of both wizarding and Muggle tunes!" Robert continued, still beaming at everyone. "We hope you enjoy what we're about to show you! Feel free to get up and dance if the mood strikes you!"

It was undoubtedly the best time Hermione had ever had at a Halloween feast. The Flaming Dragons were wonderful, and the majority of the school seemed to agree. Many people were on their feet, clapping and dancing and smiling.

Hermione felt her own smile stretch across her face as Ron turned to her. "Want to dance?" he asked, holding out his hand.

Hermione thought of how different this evening was, compared to the Yule Ball. She'd certainly enjoyed herself with Viktor Krum, but she couldn't help but notice that Ron had been gazing at her all evening with an unmistakably adoring expression on his face, and when his eyes had landed on Krum, he'd looked incredibly hostile when only the day before, he'd been going on and on about the other boy's Quidditch talent and how amazing he was on a broom.

Hermione had felt strange feelings blossom within her. If this meant what she thought it did, she just didn't understand. Only days before, she'd been thoroughly annoyed when Ron said, "You're a girl," as though just realizing it for the first time. They'd been discussing dates for the ball, and Ron was being particularly blockheaded.

"Well spotted," Hermione had snapped as she had felt strangely overemotional. Ron had succeeded in riling her up very badly, and she just couldn't understand why.

And, as they'd bellowed themselves hoarse at each other in the common room after the ball and Harry had stumbled upon the scene with his eyes wide and his mouth gaping open, Hermione had never been so hurt. Strangely, it had felt worse than both the Firebolt and the Crookshanks-Scabbers war the year before. It had felt worse than any row they'd ever gotten into, and that night, Hermione had cried herself to sleep.

How far they'd come since that day. Now, there was no one that Hermione felt closer to, and Ron had matured immensely since then. To think that the Yule Ball was less than a year ago ... honestly, it felt like an entire lifetime. Had she really been the silly girl who had allowed Ron to completely take control of all her emotions?

But, yet ... Ron was still doing so, and Hermione could freely admit it. Only, this time, she felt immensely comforted and reassured when around him. She only wished it hadn't taken such tragic and horrific situations to bring them closer together. They had clung tightly to each other through these dark and uncertain times.

Now, however, she let her inhibitions go, and completely stopped thinking about the darkness that was ravaging their world as she allowed Ron to lead her to the dance floor, the smile on his face and the sparkle in his blue eyes making her heart somersault in her chest. She saw the look in his eyes, and her stomach swooped.

She was Hermione Granger. She was sensible, logical, and rational. She wasn't supposed to shriek in delight as Ronald Weasley spun her around on the dance floor. She was the one who, in the past, had rolled her eyes as Lavender and Parvati had long, animated conversations about which boy in their year was the most handsome. Boys her own age were stupid. They weren't supposed to exhilarate her.

But who was she kidding? She had always been affected deeply by Ronald Weasley, even when he'd upset and frustrated her more than any other human being on the planet. And now, as she danced with him, she was so incredibly happy. She hadn't thought such a thing was possible.

The lead singer was wowing everyone with a Muggle song that was incredibly complicated. He had introduced it by saying that Muggles loved it because the title was magical. Many of the students were intrigued by the fact that the band name rhymed with the name of the song - it was very clever.

"Merlin!" Ron breathed as Robert started yodelling, and then, his voice rose exceedingly high as the song reached its crescendo.

Many students' eyes grew wide at how high Robert was singing. "He surely won't be able to talk tomorrow!" Dean yelled. "How can any voice handle that?"

"I imagine he had loads of training," Hermione replied, but even she was astounded at the vocal range Robert had. The intensity of the music washed over her as she and Ron continued to dance.

After the song concluded, the band said they were taking a break. More refreshments and drinks sat on the tables now, having been provided for the occasion. Ron looked flushed and happy as he offered Hermione some fruit punch.

Fred and George's loud, raucous voices could be heard from a mile away, but Hermione couldn't bring herself to tell them that they were being too loud. She was too caught up in the contagious joy and laughter that seemed to radiate from every pore of the Great Hall. Somehow, the rousing performance by the Flaming Dragons had allowed everyone to forget, at least for a little while, about what was happening outside these doors.

"Look," Ron said as he stared around the room. "Have you noticed that Malfoy and his cronies aren't anywhere in sight?"

"Left in disgust, I reckon," Dean offered as an explanation. "The Muggle music must have chapped their hide. Good riddance."

"Well, they don't know what they're missing. Too bad, so sad," Ginny said with a laugh as she grinned at Ron and Hermione. "Having fun, you two?" she asked with an annoyingly knowing expression on her face.

Ron's cheeks turned red, and Hermione could feel herself blushing. "Yeah," they both said at the exact same time, which only made Hermione blush harder.

Ginny smirked. Hermione couldn't begrudge Ginny's teasing, even if it was at her and Ron's expense. It had been a very long time since anyone's moods had been this good.

The band began to mingle with the Hogwarts students as they also drank and ate refreshments from the tables. Robert, especially, made it a point to converse with as many people as possible. Hermione found herself in a knot of blushing, smitten girls who kept interrupting one another, trying to be the one who would ask him yet another question. He took it in stride, smiling and laughing and answering questions about how the Flaming Dragons were founded and how long they had been performing. Hermione rolled her eyes at the silly girls, but then saw Ron beside her and realized again just how hypocritical she was being. She finally admitted to herself what had taken her so unbelievably long to figure out, which was something very unusual for her - she was normally the one to solve mysteries, but this involved the human heart rather than anything written down on paper.

Hermione Granger was smitten with Ronald Weasley.

It was liberating, to finally confess such a thing to herself. It also, strangely enough, seemed completely normal. She and Ron had been through so much together, and they'd helped each other through this past horrific summer and the months they had spent without Harry.

Harry. Suddenly, a huge wave of guilt flooded over Hermione. Harry. She and Ron had been goofing off and laughing and enjoying themselves so immensely, yet Harry wasn't here beside them. Had she really forgotten that their best friend wasn't sharing this event with them? How had she been so incredibly selfish as to not think of him the entire time they'd been dancing, especially tonight of all nights, the night that had cemented the trio's friendship four years ago?

Ron was looking at her intently, and saw her suddenly darkening expression. "Want to go out to the courtyard for a minute?" His voice was low and concerned, and Hermione felt her heart melt.

She nodded without a word, and Ron led her past all the milling students, and the members of the Flaming Dragons who were still engaging in animated conversation with them.

The night was spectacularly beautiful as they entered the courtyard. Ron's hand remained in Hermione's as they walked towards a bench. Once they were seated, he put an arm around her. "What's wrong?" he whispered. "We ... we were having such a good time. Did I do something wrong?"

Hermione felt her heart twisting in her chest. "No, Ron," she reassured him softly. "You didn't do anything wrong. I'm ... I'm having a wonderful time. It's just that ..." She gazed out at the night sky. "I'm so selfish," she finally burst out. "Harry ... Harry isn't here, and he ... he should be."

Ron's expression grew unbearably sad, and he sighed wearily. "You're not selfish, Hermione," he said instantly. "I ..." He was trying to find the words. "Four years," he said quietly, his tone awed. "I can't believe that we all became friends four years ago. Nothing like fighting a mountain troll together, eh?"

His eyes were intense as he gazed at Hermione, his expression very gentle. "Harry wouldn't want us to be miserable, and spend all our time missing him," he said, although Hermione could tell by his voice that he was finding it very difficult to believe his own words. "I've been thinking about that all day. But tonight ... tonight made it a lot easier to believe, you know? Everyone's so happy tonight. That band is bloody amazing, you know?"

Hermione rolled her eyes at Ron's predictable swearing, but she was smiling as she thought over what he had said. It was true - Harry would want them to be happy.

"He's a part of us," Ron continued, and he seemed to grow taller, somehow, as he spoke words that soothed her soul. She recalled the silly, immature prat with dirt on his nose their first year, and wished fervently that neither of them had had to grow up so quickly. Yet, here they were, and Hermione drew strength from the look Ron was giving her.

"And," Ron went on quietly, "it makes me happy to see you so ... uh ..." His ears turned red again, and Hermione couldn't help but smile. "What?" he asked, sounding embarrassed.

"You've really grown up, Ron." Hermione spoke honestly, and there was sadness in her voice.

"You say that like it's a bad thing." Ron offered her a sad smile. "Everyone grows up."

Hermione thought of mountain trolls, basilisks, Dementors, resurrected demons, false accusations, and best friends who had been to Hell and back. "Yeah," she murmured. "I just wish it hadn't happened like this."

She looked into Ron's face, at that red hair, those blue eyes, and those freckles, and her heart suddenly felt enormous. "I know," he murmured softly.

The two of them stayed like that for several minutes, as they continued to hear the buzz of conversation coming from the Great Hall. "I think this is the best Halloween feast we've been to, as far as the entertainment goes," Ron eventually said. "I love Muggle music."

"Wizarding music isn't so bad either," Hermione said. "And their costumes are amazing."

"Don't tell me you're mad about that bloke Robert as well," Ron said, but there was no real heat in his voice and she knew he was teasing. "He's not as handsome as Lockhart, you know."

"Stop it, Ronald," Hermione huffed. "I'm never going to live that down, am I?"

"Nope," Ron said immediately. "Never." Hermione attempted a scowl, but Ron only laughed. "You have to admit, it was pretty ridiculous of you," he grinned.

"Fine. You win. I was really, really stupid," Hermione admitted. And yes, she had been. She'd been just as stupid as she'd accused Lavender and Parvati of being when they'd gone on and on about boys their age.

"Never thought you'd actually say it. Hermione Granger, admitting to being really, really stupid," Ron snickered. Though Hermione still tried to look cross, his infectious laughter completely ruined any chance of success.

There was about another minute of silence before Ron said softly, "Hermione, I ... I have a feeling about tomorrow. I've been thinking ... I don't want to get my hopes up, but I think ... I think Harry will be here."

Hermione had wondered which one of them would say it. It had been in the back of her mind all day as well. Harry lived with Sirius, and Sirius was part of the Order. Harry hadn't said it explicitly in his letters, but since security was going to be exceedingly tight at Hogwarts, Hermione had honestly wondered if the Order was going to be a part of it. She could only nod at Ron's statement, trying to clamp down on the sudden feeling of anticipation that held her within its grasp.

She was terrified of what her parents would do if they finally found out the answers to all of their questions. They were going to be here in two days. But tomorrow ... maybe tomorrow, she'd have something to look forward to.

"Yeah," Ron responded to Hermione's nod. "What ... what if we really see him again?" he murmured. "It's ... it's been so long."

Hermione nodded again. "I know," she said quietly. They had only been away from Harry for two months, but it honestly felt like so much longer. Hogwarts had been eerie without his presence next to them.

"We'll have loads to tell him," said Ron. "I'll be able to beat him at chess again."

"Do you ... do you really think the governors will agree for him to come?" asked Hermione, biting her lip. Hope was burgeoning inside of her, and she fiercely told herself that things might not work out the way she wanted.

"They're letting him come back in January," Ron reasoned. "And with the security the way it's going to be this week ..." He trailed off, but it was obvious what he was thinking.

Hermione smiled. Ron's logic was sound. There really was a chance that they might see their best friend tomorrow. "I hope he'll be back, too," she said quietly.

Hermione looked up at the sky, unable to help it anymore as her imagination began to run away with her. She imagined Harry in the Great Hall, eating at the Gryffindor table with them again. She imagined him in the common room, on the Quidditch pitch, in the entrance hall, at the lake.

She had missed him so much - the sensation had actually been physical. When she'd gotten on the Hogwarts Express on September 1, she honestly wasn't sure how she was going to make it through the first day.

But there had been a silver lining, something that she hadn't truly foreseen when she and Ron embarked on their journey without their best friend, the one person who had led them to each other in the first place.

There was something about this moment - it held the same kind of power as the moment they'd shared on the Astronomy Tower a month ago. There had been quite a few other moments in between that one and now, moments when they had been on Prefect duty and it was just the two of them, times when they'd wandered into empty classrooms to talk once their responsibilities had been completed.

Those moments had exhilarated yet scared Hermione, and she hadn't wanted to fully acknowledge what was happening. She and Ron were friends. Best friends. They were Harry's support, Harry's protectors. They cared so much about him and would literally give their lives for him. It was something they understood without having to say it - they would jump into battle for him in a heartbeat.

But on this night, a night that for the fifth year in a row had always held something different, she looked into Ron's blue eyes and stopped being scared. Stopped being afraid of being vulnerable or getting too close, because Ron had shown her that it was okay for their dynamic to change. She thought of Harry's emerald eyes, his reckless but endearing bravery, and his smile, and felt her heart swell. Harry didn't fully know it yet, but he'd inadvertently given Ron and Hermione an incredible gift. He had allowed his best friends to really, really come to care for one another as well as him.

She and Ron were sitting awfully close together now. She hadn't realized it before, but he had moved even closer to her, and she didn't mind in the least. The intensity of the moment seemed even more profound as Ron murmured, "What do you reckon he'll say when he realizes that we ... er ... get along so much better now?"

"I think," Hermione murmured back, "that like you said just now, he'd want us to be happy."

Their faces were very close now, and Hermione didn't know how they'd become that way. But it didn't really matter, did it?

Harry Potter's two best friends had stuck together through adversity, and found their own bond that had strengthened them and given them sustenance through a very difficult period. And maybe it was incredibly right that this change in their relationship happened on Halloween. Hadn't there always been some major event that had happened on this day for the past five years?

It was Halloween 1995 when Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger's lips met for the very first time, and maybe, just maybe, growing up wasn't such a bad thing after all.