Chapter Sixteen

After exiting the flame ridden door, Hermione found herself once again covering her nose from the disgusting stench of the troll. At least she could be thankful the beast was still knocked out. Running around the troll, Hermione dashed through the door and into the room with the chess board and Ron. Spotting him laying in the same spot they left him, Hermione rushed over to the prone body.

"Ron!" Hermione breathed out as she collapsed onto her knees next to him. "Ron you have to get up."

A low groan emanated from his throat as he tried to stir awake. "Oh, Ron, are you listening? You have to get up, Harry's in trouble." Hermione tried jostling him lightly, but she didn't want to move him too much in case he was severely hurt.

"Harry?" Ron croaked out, his eye lids attempting to flutter open. "'ermione that you?"

"Of course it is Ron," Hermione groaned in annoyance. "We really don't have time for this. I truly am sorry Ron." She wound back her hand and slapped him once across his face.

"Whazza?" Ron groaned in pain as his eyes flickered open. "Why'd you hit me? Why does my head feel like it's splitting open?"

"There's no time," Hermione pleaded with the boy as she stood up, his hands in her hands. "You need to get up and find Dumbledore. Harry needs us."

"Harry," Ron nodded slowly. "All right, help me up."

Hermione dug her feet into the ground as she struggled to help lift Ron to his feet. Since he was heavier than her, he had to keep himself from pulling Hermione down with him. With concerted effort, Hermione and Ron managed to get him standing up but rather unsteadily.

"Don't feel so good 'ermione." Ron moaned as he swung dizzily towards her.

"I know you don't Ron," Hermione patted his back softly. "But we need to move quickly. Harry is probably battling Snape right this moment."

"Right, ok," Ron commented as he leaned against Hermione. "Let's go."

Hermione put an arm around her friend's waist and he put his arm around her shoulders. "You are doing so well right now Ron. We just need to get through this door and then we can fly our way out."

"Fly, I like to fly," Ron mumbled incoherently. "I don't like Chess anymore. Stupid bloody Queen!"

"I know, Queens are bad," Hermione nodded her head. It may be too late already, but she wanted to make sure he stayed awake for fear of a concussion. It already took too much time to wake him the first go around. She didn't even want to think about what would happen if there were to be a next time. So she encouraged his delusional ramblings as long as he kept awake.

Getting through the first door was harder than Hermione thought it would be. All of Ron's weight was practically being held up by her, and she didn't think she was going to be able to hold him up for much longer. Thankfully they made it into the flying key room and she was able to rest Ron up against one of the walls.

Taking a deep breath and a chance to rest her aching muscles, Hermione eyed the brooms suspiciously and then at Ron.

"You probably wouldn't be able to stay up by yourself on one of these brooms would you?" Hermione asked Ron hesitantly.

"My head was cracked open Hermione, I can barely stand on my feet," Ron muttered in a brief period of lucidity. "Ooo, look at all the pretty birds. Here birdy birdy birdy!"

"And there it goes," Hermione rolled her eyes wearily. "Okay Ron, let's get on the broom."

She managed to get Ron to sit on one of the floating brooms and once she was satisfied he wasn't going to fall over, she sat in front of him and wrapped his arms around her waist. Hermione thought it would be the best way to fly, since she wouldn't be able to see from behind Ron to guide the broom in the right direction.

"Okay, I hope this works," Hermione prayed. "Ron, please don't let go." Kicking off the ground Hermione made sure Ron was holding on tight and flew through the door she had already opened. The passage beyond the door led them into the room with the Devil's Snare. Hermione looked up at the open trap door and worried about how she was going to keep Ron hanging on and manage to open the door of the third floor corridor without getting eaten by Fluffy.

"Don't worry Hermione," Ron gently squeezed her waist. "I got you, I'll be fine. We'll be fine."

Breathing in quickly, Hermione readied herself to fly the best she had ever flown. If only Madame Hooch could see me now. Hermione rose high into the air, she felt Ron's arms around her tighten as he struggled to remain seated while her own hands were clutched tightly around the broomstick until her knuckles were white. Quickly she passed through the trapdoor and without looking back she headed straight towards the closed door. With speed that she wasn't even aware she had, Hermione hurriedly opened the door and whirled the broomstick around so she could close it once more. The last thing Hermione needed was to have an unsuspecting student come across Fluffy, even though the third floor corridor was forbidden, with her luck it would be the night in which a student would be out for a late night stroll and run right into a three-headed dog.

"Dumbledore," Ron muttered blurrily behind her and Hermione focused her mind on what needed to be done at the moment.

"Right, we need to head for the owelry to send Dumbledore a message." Hermione put on a burst of speed and flew through the corridors, doors and statues blurred as she raced through the castle, intent on her purpose.

"Miss Granger!" an authoritative voice cried out. Hermione quickly stopped and found herself staring into the bright blue eyes of the wise Professor Dumbledore. She looked around her surroundings and realized she was in the Great Hall and the object of her mission was standing right before her.

"Mr. Weasley are you all right?" Dumbledore asked with concern in his voice.

"Blkvkur" Ron grumbled into Hermione's cloak. Pulling away once she felt a wet spot on her back, with grim realization, she figured he had probably been drooling all over her robes.

"He's fine Professor, its Harry," Hermione breathed out quickly.

Professor Dumbledore's face seemed to leak color right before her eyes until he was nearly bleach white. "Harry's gone after him hasn't he?"

Hermione simply nodded her head and before she could say anything, Professor Dumbledore raced off in the direction of the third corridor. She didn't even have time to offer him their broom. She breathed in a sigh of relief after knowing Dumbledore was on the way to save Harry, she only hoped he would be fast enough.

"Hermione…the tea is on…I like tea…fetch me the dung beetle…Spiders!" Ron muttered incoherently behind her.

"All right, all right," Hermione nodded as she turned the broom in a new direction. "We need to see Madam Pomfrey."

Going a little slower this time, Hermione made their way through the darkened halls to the infirmary. Sliding to a halt Hermione gratefully stepped off the broom onto the cobbled hallway and instantly hoped her legs would sustain her as she stood. They felt like Jello as she attempted to stand up straight and willed her legs to stop trembling.

"You better be grateful Ron Weasley when you come around. This is the last time I ever get onto a broom for you or anyone else." Hermione grumbled angrily as she helped Ron off and to the infirmary door.

The door was closed and the lights off inside. Given that it was late at night, or really early in the morning (however one would like to look at it), she expected the infirmary would be closed. Hermione began to knock quietly on the door and when that brought no results she started to bang rather raucously.

"What is it? What is it?" Hermione heard a voice grumble from the other side of the door as she saw a lone light grow closer through the small window in the door. "Middle of the night….children and their highjinks."

"May I help you?" An older woman with her blonde hair in curlers and dark eyes stared down at them with annoyance. "Yes what is it?"

"It's my friend Ron Weasley, he's been hurt. I think he may have a concussion."

"Oh, dear, oh dear," Madam Pomfrey raised her wand that held a small light closer to Ron. It was then that Hermione finally saw the trickle of blood drip down his temple from the rather large lump on his head.

"Come in dears, come on in," Madam Pomfrey tightened her robe first before gesturing them into the room. "Lay him in the first bed please." The medi-witch sent a spell to illuminate the room so she could properly see her new patient.

"What happened here Miss…"

"Granger, Hermione Granger," she managed to stutter as she collapsed into a chair beside Ron's bed. The adrenaline that helped her get through such an outstanding ordeal was finally fading and Hermione felt as if her body was about to fall apart.

"Ron got hurt, then we had to leave him. Harry went on to face You-Know-Who and I had to go back to find Dumbledore and save Ron. Ron is here and Dumbledore is hopefully getting Harry and I don't know what to do anymore and I…"

"Shush there little one," Madam Pomfrey cooed as she helped Hermione get to her feet. "I think you need to rest. We'll figure this all out in the morning." The older woman led Hermione to a bed next to Ron's and gently prodded her to lie down.

"Oh, I couldn't go to sleep not now," Hermione urged trying to sit back up but being pushing right back down. "I need to see how Ron is and what happens to Harry."

"Let me handle that, you've done a great job of getting Mr. Weasley here. Now let me do my work while you take care of yourself. Take this, it will make you feel better." Madam Pomfrey handed her a small vial that she promptly pushed towards her mouth.

"I really don't…" Hermione had to stop talking before she gagged on the liquid that was running down her throat. Once the whole thing was gone, Madam Pomfrey took it away and gestured for Hermione to take off her black robes.

With fumbling hands and sluggish movements, Hermione managed to get off her cloak and hand it to the waiting medi-witch. "There now, rest your head dearie. You'll feel better in the morning."

"But I want to…" Hermione's eyes promptly closed and she fell back against the pillow. The last thing she remembered was turning her head and getting a last look at Ron who lay with his bloodied head turned towards her.

xoxoxo

"Hermione," a voice called out to her. It seemed far away and somewhat muffled. "Hermione, oi, time to wake up."

The voice kept calling out and quite frankly it was beginning to annoy her. Didn't it know that she was sleeping peacefully? She didn't want to get up, she was perfectly comfy where she was.

"You asked for it," the suspiciously amused voice said. A moment later, Hermione felt a small slap on her cheek and unconsciously her eyes lit open. Ron sat next to her staring down with a grin on his face. "That's pay back."

"You slapped me?" Hermione asked dazedly as she lifted a hand to her red cheek.

"Not as hard as you slapped me," Ron frowned at her. "That bloody well hurt."

"Watch your language Mr. Weasley," Madam Pomfrey called from her office.

"Sorry," Ron called out rather unapologetically. "Now where was I?" he asked as he returned his attention to Hermione.

"You slapped me," she reminded him with a scowl.

"Oh right, well I needed to get you up. You were sleeping for a long time."

"Sleeping…wait…what time is it? Harry?" Hermione sat up too quickly as she felt a rush of dizziness and decidedly fell back onto the pillow.

"Hold on there," Ron eased. "Harry's all right. He's in the next bed over." Ron pointed next to her and sure enough, the body of their dear friend Harry Potter was lying next to them.

"What's wrong with him?" Hermione gasped.

"Dunno," Ron frowned in uncertainty. "Madam Pomfrey thinks it's just his body waiting to recuperate."

"How are you?" Hermione asked after a moment. She looked at his head and saw there was a white bandage around his head.

"Oh, I'll be all right," Ron nodded as he touched the bandage lightly. "Just a bump on the head." Ron looked uncomfortably at hands that twitched lightly in his lap. "Uhmm, Madam Pomfrey says that you brought me here, so I thought I'd say thanks."

"Of course Ron," Hermione smiled softly. "I couldn't have done anything else. I most certainly wasn't about to leave you down there."

"Right, well, she also said that I was being a little difficult, so I just wanted to make sure…you know…that I thanked you."

"Anytime Ron," Hermione nodded in understanding. "And when I mean anytime, I mean never again because I am not getting on a broom again."

Ron laughed softly as the moment of awkwardness seemed to pass the two students by. "Do you know what happened?" he asked as he looked over to Harry.

"The last thing I know was us having to drink two different potions, one to keep going forward, and one to go back. Harry went forward and that was the last I heard from him. We met Dumbledore in the Great Hall and he went after him, so seeing Harry here, I assume that everything went according to plan?"

"I guess we'll just have to wait for him to wake up."

Hermione and Ron were let out of the infirmary a couple hours later and were promptly accosted by their Gryffindor housemates. They didn't know quite what to say so they explained, in a shortened format, how they were trying to protect the Sorcerer's Stone and for their heroic efforts, seemed to end up in the infirmary.

Hermione apologized to Neville for putting him in a Full Body Bind Curse. He seemed forgiving, but not himself. She hoped that she hadn't ruined all chances of continuing their friendship.

Ron and Hermione, as well as other Gryffindor friends, visited Harry daily. They brought by sweets and gifts hoping that Harry would awaken soon. Hermione's job was to keep Ron from eating all of Harry's Chocolate Covered Frogs.

On their second day of "Operation Waking Harry" as Ron liked to call it, the last Quidditch game of the season was being played that afternoon. Ron was desperate to attend which meant Hermione would be forced to follow along.

"I don't see how you can watch Quidditch when Harry is lying in the hospital." Hermione frowned from her position on her favorite armchair.

"Harry would want us to go," Ron prodded as he knelt next to her chair. "He would want to know what the final score was. Besides Hermione, you need to have more team spirit. Gryffindor is matched against Ravenclaw and even though…" Ron looked around the room to see if anyone was listening. He turned back to her and continued in a quieter voice. "…and even though we are about to be pummeled because Harry isn't playing, we need to cheer our team on anyways."

"Ronald Weasley," Hermione hissed as she closed her book with a sharp snap. "How dare you insinuate that I have no team spirit. Is it not enough that I risked my schooling, my reputation, my life to help protect the Sorcerer's Stone? Does that not imply team spirit? Hmmm?"

Ron placed his hands up in mock surrender. "You're right Hermione, absolutely right." Ron stood up solemnly and placed his hands in his pockets. "I understand that you probably want to get a jump start on next year's work. So most likely you will be down in the library all day today with your nose in books for fear of not being able to pass our second year because you aren't smar…OOOF!" Ron's sentence was immediately cut off as he was hit in the head with Hermione's book.

"I'll go to your stupid Quidditch game Ronald." Hermione stood up from her chair and walked towards Ron who was looking at her with suspicion. She bent to pick up the book she had thrown and promptly straightened to continue glaring at her red-headed friend. "But don't expect me to like it."

"I wouldn't make that mistake Hermione," Ron joked. After seeing Hermione's nonplussed expression, Ron looked around the room for help. "Oi, Dean, going down to the Quidditch pitch? We'll walk with you." Ron raced off after Dean, surely not wanting to wait around and hear her scathing reply. Reluctantly Hermione walked slowly after him, feeling as if there were much better ways she could be spending her day off.

Finally, on the third day, Hermione and Ron received word Harry was awake. They promptly left the Gryffindor Common Room and raced to the Infirmary where Madam Pomfrey stopped them.

"Mr. Potter isn't receiving any visitors at this moment," Madam Pomfrey spoke in an authoritative manner.

"But we've been waiting for days to see him," Ron complained.

"And one more day won't hurt you," she nodded sagely.

"Madam Pomfrey," Harry's voice called from farther inside the room.

"One moment," she arched her eyebrows at the students; urging them with her eyes to stay put.

After a minute of silence and wondering what was going on, Madam Pomfrey returned with a scowl on her face. "Very well, you have five minutes and then you're gone."

Hermione and Ron thanked the medi-witch and walked inside to see Harry propped up on one of the beds with a couple pillows behind him.

"Harry!" Hermione cried out as she raced towards him. She saw Harry flinch and thought it better not to hug him at the moment. Hermione checked herself and instead chose to sit gently on his bed while Ron took the other side.

"Oh, Harry, we were sure you were going to…Dumbledore was so worried…"

"The whole school's talking about it," said Ron. "What really happened?"

Hermione frowned as she recalled all the rumors going around the school as to what rightly happened to Harry that would end him up in the infirmary. However, it was one of those rare moments when the truth was crazier than the rumors.

"Well, for starters it was Quirell and not Snape who was after the Stone. Apparently, Hermione, when you had set fire to Snape's robes, you accidentally knocked over Quirrell who was really putting the spell on my broom."

"But I saw Snape, he was…" Hermione spoke in confusion.

"He was trying to save me. I guess my Dad saved his life when they were in school so in turn Snape was trying to help me."

"He has an odd way of showing it," Ron scoffed.

"Anyways, Quirrell was trying to use the Mirror of Erised to find the stone and he used me to find it. When I looked in the mirror, I saw myself putting it in my pocket and then suddenly it was there. Dumbledore says it's because the only way someone would find it was if they didn't intend to use it. I tried to pretend I didn't have it but he knew I was lying…well Voldemort did."

"You-Know-Who was there?" Ron's face whitened in horror.

"Well, sorta," Harry shrugged. "He was part of Quirrell. Underneath Quirrell's turban, behind his head…was the face of Voldemort."

"What!" Hermione screeched as she clamped a hand over mouth. "How is that possible?"

"Voldemort found him when Quirrell was traveling. Somehow, they seemed to be sharing the same body. It was very creepy. Anyways, Quirrell tried to grab the stone for himself but every time he touched me, his skin would blister. He couldn't touch me."

"Why?" Ron asked.

"Dumbledore says it's because my mother…" Harry took on a sad look upon his face at the mention of his mother. "She loved me so much that when she died to save me, it was something Voldemort could never understand and so now he can't seem to touch me without hurting himself."

"Wow, so what happened after that?" Ron asked leaning forward in excitement.

"I blacked out, because the more I touched him, the more my scar hurt. I think it was Dumbledore that pulled Quirrell off me. Dumbledore then destroyed the Stone so now no one can fight over it."

"So the Stone's gone?" Ron said finally. "Flamel's just going to die?"

"That's what I said, but Dumbledore thinks that – what was it? – 'to the well organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.'"

"I always said he was off his rocker," Ron nodded, though he seemed awfully impressed with the story Harry just told.

"Oh…I almost forgot, Dumbledore also said the Invisibility Cloak was from him, my father gave it to him for safe keeping and then he decided it was time for me to have it."

"Wow," Ron replied in awe.

"I can't believe Dumbledore would give you the cloak," Hermione frowned in puzzlement.

"Yeah…hmm…so what happened to you two?" Harry asked. Hermione frowned at his obvious attempt to change the subject.

"Well…I got back all right," Hermione spoke after a moment. "I brought Ron around – that took a while," she smiled at her red headed friend. She noticed he touched his cheek ruefully in memory of the slap she gave him.

"We were dashing up to the owlery to contact Dumbledore when we met him in the entrance hall – he already knew – he just said 'Harry's gone after him hasn't he?' and hurtled off to the third floor."

"D'you think he meant you to do it? Sending you your father's cloak and everything?" Ron asked.

"Well," Hermione turned sharply to Ron. "If he did…I mean to say…that's terrible. You could have been killed."

"No it isn't," Harry replied thoughtfully. "He's a funny man Dumbledore. I think he sort of wanted to give me a chance. I think he knows more or less everything that goes on here, you know. I reckon he had a pretty good idea we were going to try and instead of stopping us, he just taught us enough to help. I don't think it was an accident he let me find out how the mirror worked. It's almost like he thought I had the right to face Voldemort if I could…"

"Yeah, Dumbledore's off his rocker, all right," Ron replied proudly. "Listen you've got to be up for the end-of-year feast tomorrow. The points are all in and Slytherin won, of course – you missed the last Quidditch match, we were steamrolled by Ravenclaw without you – but the food'll be good."

"What a great match," Hermione muttered sarcastically.

Madam Pomfrey chose that moment to stomp over to the trio and hurl a finger towards the door. "You've had nearly fifteen minutes, now OUT."

After Hermione and Ron were unceremoniously kicked out of the infirmary, they ran back to the common room to let all the other Gryffindors know that Harry was up and feeling rather well. Later in the evening, Hermione and Ron sat in opposite chairs near the warm fire.

"Ron?"

"Hmm?" he grunted as he read a book on the Chudley Canons. Hermione surmised he was more likely to be watching the games that were in the book rather than actually reading.

"Do you suppose we'll see more of…You-Know-Who?" she asked Ron hesitantly.

"What do you mean?" Ron responded gravely as he looked at her over the book.

"Well, I don't think he would simply try for the Stone, fail, and then give up. Don't you think he'll be back? Do something else to get to Harry or…take over the wizarding world."

Ron thought for a moment, his face drawn in concentration. "I suppose I never thought much on it."

"How could you not?" Hermione gasped. "We almost died down there. Is this what we have to look forward to in the years to come?"

"So what if it is?" Ron asked with a shrug. "What are we going to do, stop being friends with Harry? 'Oh, sorry Harry, we'd really rather not get killed by You-Know-Who so we think it's best to go our separate ways.' Is that what you want to do Hermione?" his voice grew progressively louder.

"Shh, don't wake the others," Hermione admonished. "And no, of course that's not what I want."

Hermione sunk farther into the chair and pulled her robe that covered her pajamas, tighter around her body. "I just…well…weren't you scared…aren't you scared?"

"Of course I was Hermione," Ron said with a sigh. He placed his book down before him and looked her straight in the eye. "But I don't think on it like you do. I let it go and instead of worrying about what danger we'll face I like to think about what adventures we'll be having. You're in the wizarding world Hermione, it's nothing like where you came from."

"Wow Ron," Hermione responded with a small smile. "That was a highly intelligent answer."

"Why the tone of surprise?" Ron puffed up his chest. "I do have my moments."

"Yes, unfortunately few and far between," Hermione teased with a giggle.

"Oi!" Ron reached for a pillow next to him and threw it at Hermione.

"All right, all right, I concede." Hermione lifted her hands in surrender. "I know that I would not last long in a pillow fight with you. Instead, I think it is time for bed."

"Quite the poet you are Hermione," Ron joked. "You're probably right though. I am a bit tired. See you in the morning?"

"See you in the morning. Goodnight Ron," Hermione spoke as she began to climb the girl's staircase to her dorm room.

"Goodnight Hermione."

xoxoxo

The following day, Hermione found herself in quite a daze. She didn't quite know what to do with herself. There was no class to study for, nothing to research, and there was no life-altering situation she had to worry about. She felt…normal…or as normal as she could be given she was a witch.

Later that night, Ron, Hermione and the other Gryffindors walked down to the Great Hall together. "Do you suppose Madam Pomfrey will let Harry out?" Ron asked as they sat down at the Gryffindor table.

"I should certainly hope so," Hermione nodded. "I see no reason why he wouldn't. He's perfectly healthy…at least physically so. Do you think he's okay…?" Hermione pointed to her head.

"Of course he is," Ron scoffed. "We're not girls Hermione. We live and let go, you should try it some time."

"Well if I did, I wouldn't be a girl according to you," Hermione scowled at her friend. "That is the most ridiculous thing you've said all day."

"Pay attention, I'm sure you'll hear more to come," Ron responded dryly.

"Oh, look there's Harry. Scoot over so he can sit between us." Hermione waved at Harry as he stood awkwardly in the doorway. The moment he stepped over the threshold, the room grew deathly silent as all heads turned towards him. Hermione grew embarrassed for him, but she strived to ignore it and continued to wave him over. Harry gave her a small smile of thanks and gratefully sat down. Ron stared at the surrounding Gryffindors and quickly they began to talk animatedly to each other instead of staring pointedly at Harry. Soon the rest of the table and surrounding tables followed suit, momentarily forgetting the Boy Who Lived and his 'grand' entrance.

"I see the Slytherin's are rather happy," Harry pointed forlornly at the silver and green banners that decorated the large room. Looking at the normally surly bunch, Hermione saw they were actually pretty smug about winning the House cup for the seventh year in a row. She glared at Draco Malfoy and his friends, desperately wishing they could have won and wiped those superior looks right off their faces. Before Hermione could voice her opinions to Harry, Dumbledore stood up and addressed the students.

"Another year gone!" Dumbledore cried out cheerfully. "And I must trouble you with an old man's wheezing waffle before we sink our teeth into our delicious feast. What a year it has been! Hopefully your heads are all a little fuller than they were…you have the whole summer ahead to get them nice and empty before next year starts…

"Now as I understand it, the house cup here needs awarding, and the points stands thus: In fourth place, Gryffindor, with three hundred and twelve points; in third, Hufflepuff, with three hundred and fifty-two; Ravenclaw has four hundred and twenty-six and Slytherin; four hundred and seventy-two."

A raucous roaring overcame the Slytherin table as they cheered themselves, stomped their feet, and clinked their goblets together.

"Yes, yes, well done, Slytherin," Dumbledore smiled in congratulations. "However, recent events must be taken into account."

The room went very still at the Headmaster's comment and the Slytherin table grew concerned as they whispered furiously to each other. Hermione looked to Ron and Harry and they both shrugged in bewilderment. Surely he wouldn't take points from us for disobeying the rules in search of the Sorcerer's Stone?

"Ahem, I have a few last-minute points to dish out. Let me see. Yes…

"First, to Mr. Ronald Weasley…"

At the mention of his name, Ron's face grew beet red as everyone turned their heads to look at him in shock.

"…for the best-played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."

Ron's mouth dropped open as the surrounding Gryffindors roared their approval. Hermione clapped loudly and smiled at Ron who stared down at his hands sheepishly. Percy could be heard farther down the table talking to the other prefects, "My brother, you know! My youngest brother! Got past McGonagall's giant chess set!"

After a minute of loud cheering, the room finally quieted down and looked to Dumbledore eagerly to hear what he had to say next. Hermione had a sick feeling in her stomach because she was sure he would be talking about her next.

"Second – to Miss Hermione Granger…for the use of cool logic in the face of fire, I award Gryffindor house fifty points." The combination of Dumbledore's warm understanding eyes, McGonagall's proud smile, and the cheers of her Gryffindor friends, it was too much for Hermione. She buried her head into her arms and sobbed. She couldn't believe that a muggle-born girl like her would be subject of such celebration.

"Third – to Mr. Harry Potter…" the room quieted instantly and Hermione swiped the tears away, lifting her head to watch Harry's reaction.

"…for pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor house sixty points." The entire hall erupted, nearly deafening as Hermione gave Harry a one armed hug. He had a goofy smile on his face as everyone clapped for him. Hermione added the points in her head and realized they were now tied for the House cup. If only Dumbledore gave Harry one more point. He deserved one hundred points for what he did.

Dumbledore raised his hand for silence and once again the power their Headmaster had over the sea of students was outstanding.

"There are all kinds of courage," Dumbledore nodded with a smile. "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends. I therefore award ten points to Mr. Neville Longbottom."

Hermione, Ron, and Harry leapt to their feet and clapped for Neville whom they could barely see after being piled with hugs and congratulations. The great hall sounded as if an explosion went off, so loud was it inside. They had won the house cup!

"Which means," Dumbledore called out as soon as the applause died down. "We need a little change of decorations."

The banners and wall hangings that were once green and silver were instantly changed to red and gold, the Slytherin emblem exchanged for the Gryffindor lion. Hermione smiled as she saw Snape shake McGonagall's hand with a forced smile on his face. There was a moment where Harry and Snape locked eyes and Hermione could feel the loathing between the two, but taking Ron's advice, she wasn't going to worry about it at the moment. She was going to enjoy herself and stuff her face with all the varying foods before her…if Ron didn't beat her to it.

xoxoxo

Hermione sat on the train, across from Harry and Ron, and looked down at the piece of parchment that contained her exam results.

"Hermione, put it away," Ron cried out as he made a mad grab for the parchment.

"I'm just looking Ron, no harm came from looking." Hermione was so busy yelling at Ron that she didn't notice Harry sneak his arm past her and grab the paper out of her hand.

"Harry!" Hermione cried out as he folded the paper neatly and put it in his pocket.

"It's for the best Hermione," he nodded wisely. "I will return it once we step off the train. Then you can brag to your parents how you're the smartest witch in our year and you received nearly perfect marks in all your classes."

"The key word there is nearly," Hermione pointed out glumly.

"Seriously Hermione?" Ron asked her in bewilderment. "You're brilliant…that is to say…the teachers think you're brilliant." He ended his statement quickly while his face grew slightly red.

"It's just…" Hermione started and then confessed her feelings to her two friends. "I'm muggle-born. I have more to prove than either of you. I have to show everyone else I belong at Hogwarts. If I don't…maybe they'll kick you out."

"Don't be stupid," Harry rolled his eyes. "I understand Hermione, I'm the Boy-Who-Lived!"

"Yeah…and I have five older brothers who all went to Hogwarts. Try living up to those expectations," Ron moaned.

"Right…but we can't worry about what everyone else is thinking. You are smart Hermione, and no one's going to kick you out. If they did Ron and I would surely fail with you tutoring us all the time."

"Right, enough talk about school," Ron switched subjects as he greedily smashed his hands together. "Harry don't you have some candy left?"

They spent the rest of the train eating through Harry's mound of candy he had received as well as reminiscing and telling hilarious stories. Too soon Hermione found the train had stopped and she had to return to the muggle world. She realized she would deeply miss her new found friends as well as the school that brought her so much knowledge.

Harry and Ron helped Hermione grab her bags and hop off the train. The ticket guard monitored the exit of the platform so everyone didn't pop through the barrier all at once scaring the muggle boarders. Harry, Hermione, and Ron exited together and immediately set their eyes on their parents, or in Harry's instance Aunt and Uncle.

"You must come and stay this summer," Ron turned and said to Harry and Hermione, "both of you, I'll send you an owl."

"Bye, Harry!"

"See you Potter!"

Near strangers called out to Harry as Hermione pushed through the crowd.

"Still famous," Ron grinned at Harry.

"Not where I'm going, I promise you," Harry replied dryly.

"There he is Mom, there he is look!" A small red-headed girl bounced up and down joyfully pointing at Harry. She assumed it was Ron's sister, but was interested as to why the girl had such a fixation on Harry.

"Harry Potter!" The girl squealed, "look, Mom! I can see…"

"Be quiet Ginny, and it's rude to point."

Mrs. Weasley smiled warmly down at them as she hugged Ginny closer to her side.

"Busy year?"

"Very," Harry nodded. "Thanks for the fudge and the sweater, Mrs. Weasley."

"Oh, it was nothing dear."

"Ready, are you?"

A hefty man with ruddy face and large mustache glared down at Harry. A willowy blonde woman stood behind the man with a rather overweight boy hanging onto her arm. She suspected that was Harry's Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and his cousin Dudley.

"You must be Harry's family!" Mrs. Weasley clapped her hands excitedly.

"In a manner of speaking," Uncle Vernon replied gruffly. "Hurry up boy, we haven't got all day." Without saying another word, the man turned away, apparently not requiring a response in return.

"See you over the summer then," Harry looked at Hermione and Ron, using the time to say farewell.

"Hope you have – er – a good holiday," Hermione spoke as she looked uncertainly after Harry's family.

"Oh, I will," Harry smiled slyly at them. "They don't know we're not allowed to use magic at home. I'm going to have a lot of fun with Dudley this summer…"

Hermione forced herself to swallow her reactive response after seeing who Harry was living with she really didn't blame him for trying to have some fun. Saying her goodbyes, Hermione pushed through the crowd in search of her own family. Her dad and mom were standing against the wall, away from the crowd. Upon seeing them, Hermione dropped her luggage and flung herself into their awaiting arms.

"Oh I missed you so much," Hermione cried out into their shoulders.

"We missed you too darling," her mother spoke softly as she caressed her daughter's hair. "Are you ready to come home?"

"I am," Hermione nodded resolutely as she went to pick up her luggage while her dad helped.

"Was it as bad as you thought it would be Sugar Plum?" her dad asked as he placed a warm comforting arm around her shoulder.

"Not at all, Dad," she replied with a large smile.

"So you'll go back?" Mrs. Granger asked slyly. "I saw you made some new friends." She stared pointedly at the red-haired family who waved at Hermione and her parents.

"Mom, Dad, I missed you and I'm glad to be home," Hermione spoke after a moment of contemplation. "But I can't wait until next school year."

I can't believe it's actually done! I feel as if I have been working on this forever. This last chapter had a lot of Ron/Hermione interaction and I really enjoyed writing for them. We never really get to see what kind of attachment they form with each other. You get to see a lot of the Harry/Ron friendship, some Harry/Hermione friendship, but none of Hermione/Ron. They both seem to bring a good balance to each other. Ron helps Hermione relax and Hermione helps Ron show some responsibility.

There of course won't be romance for a while after all, they're just kids…well as much as a kid they can be after fighting for their lives. But we will see their relationship grow which I am excited to write and read.

Thank you to those who followed this story. I appreciate all of your wonderful comments they're what helped me keep going. I'm working on the next book and hope to have it out in a couple months, if not sooner. Keep a weather eye open.

Thanks again and please review.