Chapter 1: Then and Now.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter…yet.

The lyrics aren't mine either, just thought you should know. You get a cookie if you can name the band and song!

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Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills my mind
I somehow find
You and I collide

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Hermione tossed and turned in her baby blue room. Everything seemed right in the muggle world, yet in the wizarding world, all hell had broken loose. More random muggle deaths without a trace were occurring and baffling muggle police as the wizarding world lived in fear; hoping everything would soon come to an end. Hermione streaked these thoughts away and got up. Ever since the wedding, Hermione felt lonely, Ron was no longer around to comfort her as the fear of her parent's lives' was becoming more of a threat. Hermione would cry herself to sleep sometimes, waiting and hoping for Ron to just pop out of nowhere and snuggle with her and tell her everything would be ok. Even though she knew life as it was would never be the same, those few words coming from Ron made her rainy day sunny again. Hermione got out of bed and dragged her trunk and Crookshanks down the stairs, counting down the hours until she saw Ron again. She sat down to pancakes when her mom started to talk to her.

"Good morning pumpkin! We never got to talk last night, since you got in so late, so how was your summer?"

"Good."

"And Ron?" Hermione paled.

"Umm, good, why are you asking?"

"No reason besides the fact that you're wearing a bracelet with both of you're initials and romantic words carved in it and I found his Poe sweatshirt in your hamper." Damn, Hermione thought to herself.

"OK fine, Ron and I are dating. Swear not to tell dad?"

"Hermione, you wouldn't make it out the door if he knew. I'm s happy for you! How?"

"He sang my favorite song to me, he's a very good singer."

"Aw, Hermione dear, he's a keeper!" her mother gushed

"Yeah I know."

"So, is he a good kisser?"

"Mom!" she hissed.

"What?"

"That's gross. I have never asked if dad is!"

"Who cares? Were both girls! So is he?"

"Yeah…" Hermione replied sheepishly. At that moment her dad walked in, served himself, and sat down.

"So how was your summer Missy?"

"Good"

"So how is Harry? Are you two dating?" Hermione's orange juice came out of her nose as his wife laughed loudly.

"What?"

"Dad, Harry's like a brother to me. Now excuse me while I go get ready and put my luggage in the car, before I barf."

"OK meet you in the car!"

As they were on the road, Hermione couldn't help thinking that her parents had no clue what was going on in the wizarding world. They were like a pawn in a game of chess; so small and innocent but killed for no reason but to win; not caring about what hurt and suffering it caused. Then, Hermione remembered that she and Ron would meet up before boarding.

As Hermione's car pulled up to the station she saw a tall muscular boy with red hair. As the family went ahead of him, the boy stayed behind. The Grangers got out of the car when the elder woman spotted Ron, as she shooed her husband off with an excuse. When Mr. Granger had left, Mrs. Granger winked at her daughter as Hermione winked back. Ron smiled at Hermione with a familiar twinkle in his eye, holding his arms out. Hermione dropped her trunk and ran towards Ron. She jumped into his arms as he twirled her around. Hermione laughed as they stayed in each other's embrace. Ron put Hermione down slowly, and when he did she stood on her toes as he bent down and kissed her.

"Hey Mione, missed ya." Ron said as he and Hermione gave each other a quick hug.

'I missed you too Ron." She smiled as he kissed her on top of her now curly hair.

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When the couple got on the train, they looked for Harry and Ginny. When they found them, they also found Neville and Luna, holding hands. Hermione turned to Ron with raised eyebrows, as he returned the reaction. They slid the compartment door open and sat down next to Harry and Ginny. They soon got into a discussion of Head Boy and Girl positions. Everyone automatically agreed that Hermione would be Head Girl, as she flashed her badge, so they moved onto Head Boy.

"If McGonigall chose Malfoy as Head Boy, than we'll know she's gone nutters." Professor McGonigall believed that Dumbledore would forgive Malfoy, while his dad was caught red handed and sent to Azkaban.

"Is that right Weasel bee?" The drawling voice of Draco Malfoy said.

'No answer, well I wouldn't expect you to, being so dumb and all."

"Ron is not dumb, you foul loathsome--" Hermione started to say

"Why I--"

"What are you gonna do Malfoy? Cry to your daddy in Azkaban?" Harry said with a smirk on his face. With that, Malfoy left the compartment, with his loyal baboons following him. Hermione glanced at her watch,

"I've got to go, Ron?"

"Sure, I'll come." He said as they shut the compartment door. Harry and Ginny turned to each other and said,

"Head Boy." To which Ginny already knew. The food trolley came by as everyone started to talk about Ron and Hermione.

"They look so happy, don't they?" Ginny asked her boyfriend. Harry way lying against the wall of the compartment while Ginny sat in between his legs, as Harry stroked her hair.

"Yeah, they do, and its about bloody time!" hay said with a smile as Ginny giggled. She leaned her head back to look at Harry in the eye. She also saw the once familiar twinkle in his eye back again. Harry looked down at his girlfriend with admiration. Harry kissed her on top of her forehead and then on the lips, when Hermione and Ron returned they were in a huff.

"You'll never guess the prefects."

"Who?" Ginny said and sat up

" Malfoy, Pansy, Ernie, Michael, Luna (who had left straight after Malfoy), Romildia…"

"And?" Harry asked.

"McLaggen and Hannah."

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When they got to the Great Hall, McGonigall made the regular announcements, but she had left the best for last;

"Since Professor Snape left, we have been looking for a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and we have finally found one. Please, give a warm welcome to Nymphadora Tonks!" Tonks rose out of her seat, waved and winked at Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione. After the applause, the entire hall dug into their meals, chatting away. "This is great, we finally have a real teacher since Professor Lupin left!" Harry said, "and now I wont get picked on in font of the entire class!" Everyone broke out into its of laughter when Seamus asked a question,

"Harry, is she good, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?"

"The best!" Ginny answered. Ginny noticed that Lavender was looking at Hermione with a fire of jealousy in her eyes, which made Ginny burst into peals of laughter. Harry looked at her questioningly as Ginny whispered in Harry's ear. Harry started to laugh and also noticed that Lavender and Seamus were holding hands. As the last opening feast for the 'Golden Trio' came to a close, Hermione and Ron called the first years their way, as Harry and Ginny became apart of the crowd.

"They're probably off to find a broom closet on the seventh floor." Ron mumbled loud enough for Hermione to hear. She laughed at the thought, but didn't find it doubtful. As the remaining Gryffindor first years made their way to Ron and Hermione with frightened faces, Ron mumbled something about them shrinking by the year. Hermione sent him a stern look counting up only about ten new students. The new first years formed a single file line. As the group was walking out of the now empty Great Hall, Hermione commentated the tour as the first years looked bored. Ron then interrupted.

"Hey! I'm Ron and this chatterbox here's name is Hermione!"

"Shut-up Ron!"

"I haven't said a word except for these last two sentences, and these-these little people look bored!"

"Well, yes true. Fine, you win."

"Do I get anything?" Ron replied smugly while wagging his eyebrows subjectively.

"RON!" she hissed. The fist years broke out into fits of laughter.

"Anyway, I'm Ron, and I am the keeper of the Gryffindor quiditch team and I am the master of chess!" He said as he pumped his fist in the air.

"And I'm Hermione, and I am the top student in Gryffindor."

"Actually, no, she's the top student in the school!" Ron said which made Hermione smile. When they reached the fat lady, Hermione turned to them.

"Ok, the password is love." The boys, minus Ron, looked disgusted with the new password.

"Oh stop looking so disgusted for Pete's sake! You wont be so disgusted when you meet you soul mate in this castle now will you?" Ron said as he glanced at Hermione, while she looked down at the floor and blushed.

"Ewww!" The boys chorused as the girls chorused, "Awww!" The Head Boy and Girl lead the munchkins into the common room. Ron directed the buys to the left and told them that if they needed anything, to go wake Harry.

"The Harry Potter?" a boy exclaimed as three girls squealed.

"Yes the Harry Potter and he's taken." The boys headed up to the dormitories as the three girls looked depressed. Hermione led the girls to their dormitories up the stairs and told them to contact Ginny if they needed anything. All the girls entered and started unpacking except for one.

"Excuse me?"

"Yes?"

"Bri Slimmer."

"Bri, what is your question?"

"I don't mean to be rude, but that tall strong, cute red haired guy, is he your friend?"

"Well," Hermione chuckled to herself, "you could call him that. He's actually my boyfriend." Bri waved to Hermione and entered the dorm and screamed,

"He's taken too!"

"Awww." Hermione heard them reply. Hermione laughed herself all the way down the stairs and met up with Ron in the middle.

"Whew, glad that's over!' Ron said.

"You, Mr. Weasley have your own fan club."

"Oh really? Who is the president?"

"Me!" Hermione said as she leaned in the kiss him.

"G'night." Ron said as he hugged Hermione while placing a kiss on the top of her head.

"Goodnight Ron." She said as they both let go and departed their separate ways.

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Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the stars refuse to shine
Out of the back you fall in time
I somehow find
You and I collide

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A/N: Hey all! I know I told you I would post this in two weeks, but I was so excited so I decided too now!

Please leave a review on your way out and in your review, tell me your favorite song and what band it's by!

But I would like to leave on this note:

This day 95 years ago, the Titanic hit the iceberg, and sunk

This day 95 years ago, 1,500 people lost their lives on the 'unsinkable' ship

This day 95 years ago, 6 people were rescued from the icy waters of the North Atlantic; everyone else froze to death.

This day 95 years ago 705 people survived this tragedy.

Please once you're done reviewing, pray for the lost and the survived families and friends, and pop Titanic (1997) into your DVD/Video player, and realize how great of a loss this tragedy really was.

-Cassie