I'm posting! 
~*~*~
Our footsteps echoed through the Hogwarts corridors the first night back at school as Ron and I patrolled. As the newly appointed Head Boy and Head Girl, it was our job to enforce the new security regulations. No one was to go anywhere alone—not even professors. I found my mind wandering back to earlier today. It had been weird, even eerie, not seeing Dumbledore’s smile behind those half-moon glasses. At the opening feast, Malfoy did not appear. I had heard from several others besides Harry that the Slytherin snob wasn’t coming back.
“Bit cold tonight, isn’t it?” Ron said, hands crammed inside his robe pockets; I had more than a reasonable estimate that he was clutching his wand.
Nodding absentmindedly, I scanned the hallways. No one was out, yet the dense silence seemed so loud. When we trod on certain places, our footsteps echoed in a million places. Patrolling at night was irksome indeed.
Glancing at me, Ron commented, “You look kind of cold.” A hand was inching out of his pocket.
“Well, uh, yes…you said it was cold yourself,” I stammered. Our footfalls slowed on the stone. He slipped an arm around my waist (very clumsily, but I couldn’t expect much smoothness from Ron— nevertheless, that was one thing I loved about him). Offering me a slight smile, he eyed me curiously in the faint light from the moon.
Suddenly I was very aware of how warm my cheeks felt and was thankful for the cover of darkness. “You know, we should be doing our duties,” I whispered, but let him turn me around so we were face to face.
He snorted. “You think too much about rules, ‘Mione.” Even with the minimal lighting, I could discern the redness of his hair. It seemed even brighter than before. “You know, I don’t think going off the duty for one minute will make a big difference,” he murmured with a hint of exasperation, though I knew he wasn’t angry.
Heart hammering in my chest, I responded (letting the reluctance in my voice show heavily), “Well, I suppose it wouldn’t hurt…” We had only shared one kiss before—this summer—and the old feeling was edging its way into me again.
Ron grinned. “I’m glad you don’t object too much.” He dipped his head down to mine, letting a hand run through my hair. I almost feel this mouth on mine when—
Tap. Tap. Tap. The sharp sound of footsteps reached our ears. I spun around, wand drawn. There was only one set of footsteps, which meant that this individual was either disobeying school regulations or not from Hogwarts altogether. My hands began to feel clammy. Beside me, Ron had unsheathed his wand as well.
“Who’s there?” I called, trying to control my voice in vain. There was no answer.
Then I saw it. The flash of platinum blonde hair. I’m sure Ron didn’t see anything, because when I let out a gasp, he asked, “What? What is it, ‘Mione?”
My eyes searched the darkness for Malfoy again. He’d vanished. “Nothing. Just a trick of the light.” I was aware of how high-pitched my voice had become.
Ron glanced at a clock nearby. “Our patrolling time is over. Let’s get back to the common room.” Wand still out, he grabbed my hand and we half-walked, half-trotted to Gryffindor Tower. The whole way back, I could not stop thinking about what—or who—I saw. Was it possible that he was here? My dream flashed before my eyes. Him being here did not bode well.