Thanks for the review, here is, as requested, a longer chapter.

I do not own anything to do with Harry Potter, its all J.K.Rowling's, please don't sue me.

The rest of the summer went quickly, the time filled with small games of Quidditch and just hanging around at the burrow, sometimes playing exploding snap or chess. As the new school year drew closer, there was a trip planned to Diagon alley, to get new books for school amongst other things.

Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Mrs Weasley arrived by floo powder, that morning and set off to Flourish And Blotts to buy the new books they would need for next term. Ginny of course, had Ron's old books and only needed to buy one brand new one.

After the school shopping had finished, Harry, Ron and Hermione sat outside eating ice creams and trying to guess who the new Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher would be. Hermione was proving extremely difficult to argue with.

" I still think It'll be Augustus Gagot, he's the only one in any position to take the post" Hermione said huffily.

"Why?" said Harry "Why not anyone else?" Harry had no idea who she was talking about, he had been kept informed on the developments of the wizarding world over the summer, but Hermione had taken a huge interest in Ministry politics and in Ron's opinion she knew a lot more than was healthy.

"Because he just retired and the ministry needs all the competent wizards, not just aurors, it can get." Hermione's voice held an air of superiority now.

"So?" Ron raised his eyebrows, still not quite understanding.

" Well, Dumbledore isn't going to employ someone who can help fight Voldermort"

Ron flinched at the name.

" So he'll employ someone who can't fight but can still teach" Hermione finished.

"Ah, now I get it!" Harry said.

***

So far Ron had been able to conceal his feelings for Ginny, acting as normal as he could manage around her, once or twice he found himself staring at her though. He could have sworn she caught him looking, but as she had not mentioned it he had stopped worrying about it.

All that changed on the train journey to Hogwarts.

***

Ron stared out the window, fighting sleep. He could hear Harry and Hermione talking about something, he picked up the words " Quidditch" and "Potions" but apart than that he was too sleepy to listen.

"Ron?"

"Ron?"

"RON!"

He jerked awake and looked up at the slightly angry face of Hermione looking down at him.

"Uh" He managed.

"Me and Harry are going for a walk. Stay here and look after our stuff will you?"

Ron nodded and lay his head on the window again. He heard the compartment door shut after the two had left.

'Stay here, guard stuff' his sleepy brain told him.

' What stuff?'

He opened his eyes and looked about, all their stuff was packed into a baggage compartment, none of it was here other than Hedwig and Pig in their cages. Hermione's cat was already off somewhere on the train.

'There is no stuff'

Ron woke up fully as he realised why Harry and Hermione had asked him to stay here, he laughed to himself and decided to show then he wasn't as easily tricked as they believed. He got up and went in search of them.

***

"What do you want Malfoy?" Ginny spat out the last word as if it left a bad taste in her mouth. Malfoy and his cronies, Crabbe and Goyle, were blocking up the train corridor, intent on not letting her pass.

"Nothing, weasel" Malfoy leaned casually against the wall as he spoke.

Ginny turned to go back the other way, knowing she couldn't possibly take on the threesome alone. She only took a couple of steps when a pair of strong arms slipped round her waist pulling her back. She could feel Malfoy's breath on her neck as he spoke.

" Now now weasel, I've changed my mind"

She tried to wriggle out of his grip, but Crabbe and Goyle grabbed her arms as Malfoy clamped his hand over her mouth to stop her from shouting out for help.

" Weasel, you stink of mudbloods, you spend far too long with them. Mabye we can sort that out"

Malfoy stepped in front of her and held her wrists above her head with one hand, gesturing with the other for Crabbe and Goyle to leave. At first they looked confused but then they left. Now that Ginny's mouth was uncovered she considered shouting out, but that would let Malfoy know she was afraid and she hated him too much to allow him that ego-boost. Malfoy held his face inches from hers and sneered as his hand caressed her neck and started to drop lower.

Unfortunately for Malfoy and luckily for Ginny, Ron chose that exact moment to walk round the corner.

Ron didn't even draw his wand, Malfoy on the other hand was on the floor. Ron kicked him in the stomach as he fell.

" If you EVER touch her again!!!" Ron was cut short by the feeling of Ginny's arms around him. He was so enthralled by her touch that Malfoy ran off before he had a chance to continue the beating. Ron turned to look at her.

" What did he do? You ok?. Oh Gin" He said, already hating himself for relishing the way she was embracing him.

She shook her head. "I'm ok. He didn't. you know"

Ron didn't know what to think right now. He knew his sister needed reassuring and he wanted nothing better than to make her feel safe again. But he couldn't help looking into her eyes and thinking things a brother shouldn't. He put his arms around her and pulled her closer.

She looked up at him and saw his eyes, she could always tell what Ron was feeling in moments like this, and what she saw made her heart do back flips.

"Ron" she whispered, biting her bottom lip.

It was now or never, she decided she reached up, running her hands through his hair and pulling his head down towards her. His eyes lit up as he realised what she was about to do.

Their lips touched.

***

Does this count as a cliffhanger? Methinks yes. U better R&R.