Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Full summary: Ron finally grows up and admits to himself and Hermione that he loves her. Hermione, having loved him since fourth year, becomes jubilant by his profession. But as her and Ron begin going out, she realizes that she misunderstood her feelings; that her heart actually belongs to Harry. What's Hermione to do? For the first time in her life, the cleverest witch finds herself in a conflict she can't solve.
Ok, now on with the story!
It was a sunny yet cool September afternoon as the Hogwarts Express transported all the students back to Hogwarts. Harry, Ron and Hermione were to start their sixth year. Hermione had kind of noticed that Ron had changed over the summer. Not in appearance but in maturity. He was acting different around her, as if he liked her as more than just a friend.
Hermione hoped she wasn't imagining it. She had known that her feelings for Ron had changed from platonic to something more in fourth year, after the Yule Ball. And after that, those feelings had sprung into love. But Ron, although he showed an obvious display of jealousy, had been as dense as ever. But now...the look in his eyes when he would speak to her...it gave her butterflies in her stomach.
"I'm going to go to the bathroom." said Harry. He stood up. "If the lady comes with the trolley, would you get me a pumpkin pastry?"
"Sure." Hermione said.
Thanks." Harry told her as he opened the compartment door and left.
Now Ron and Hermione were alone. Ron moved from his seat and sat closer to Hermione, who found herself feeling a bit nervous.
"Did you have a good summer?" Ron asked.
"Yes. I did." She replied then took a deep breath.
"That's good." Ron looked at his hands. "Um, Hermione..." She secretly loved the way he says her name. "I was wandering if maybe, when we get to the castle, we could talk?"
Hermione looked at him. "Of course we can talk. We always do."
Ron looked up at her. His expression was quite serious. "I mean alone, someplace private."
Hermione's stomach did a flip, either from excitement or nervousness, she wasn't sure. She barely had time to say "Ok." Before the compartment door opened and Harry came back in.
When they got to the castle, Ron and Hermione started walking to the stone steps. Harry had gotten distracted and when he looked up he saw that they had left him behind. Well that was rude of them, Harry thought. Feeling a little sad, he ran to try to catch up with them.
Hermione had just been thinking, where's Harry, when all of a sudden he caught up behind them.
Hermione turned around. "Oh, there you are. Where were you?"
"You guys just left me back there." Harry had trouble hiding the bitterness in his voice.
Ron, having noticed it, said, "I'm sorry mate, we thought you were following."
"Yeah," said Hermione. "We never meant to leave you behind. Please don't be mad at us."
Harry looked at their faces. He saw that they looked earnest so he just decided to forget about it. "I'm not mad." He told them. "I know you didn't mean to do it."
They all went into the Great Hall and sat at the Gryffindor table. They chatted for a while until the first years arrived. After they were all sorted into their houses, Dumbledore stood up and made a few announcements, then, with his arms stretched wide, said enthusiastically, "Let the feast begin."
Once everyone was happily fed and watered, Dumbledore dismissed them and they all headed to their houses. As they walked, Hermione noticed that Ron kept looking at her. Oh yeah, she remembered, he wants to talk to me in private. She felt her stomach churning again and tried to calm down before she parted with her dinner.
Harry was looking at Hermione and Ron in turn. There's something going on between those two, he thought.
The Gryffindors reached the portrait of The Fat Lady and the Head Boy gave the password, "Lemon drops." The Fat Lady swung open and everyone entered the common room. Most of the students went to bed but a few stayed in the common room, sitting by the fire.
Harry, Ron and Hermione sat together by the window. Harry was so curious to know what Ron and Hermione were up to. He asked casually, "What did you guys talk about when I went to the bathroom?"
They both startled. Hermione looked at Ron who was looking at her. Hermione didn't know what to say to Harry. After all, it was sort of Ron's business since he was the one who asked to speak to her in private, so it was up to him if he wanted to tell Harry or not. Hermione just lowered her gaze and waited to see if Ron would speak. Luckily he did.
"Um, I just asked Hermione if I could speak to her in private. That's it." Ron said with a shrug.
"Oh," said Harry. He couldn't help but feel a little jealous. "What are you going to tell her?"
Ron looked at Hermione then back at Harry. "Well I kind of wanted her to find out first, if you don't mind."
"Oh, yes of course." Harry tried not to let these new feelings of jealousy get the better of him. "Well I guess I'll leave you two then, so you can talk about whatever it is that you want to talk about." Harry stood up and started heading toward the boy's dorm.
Hermione ran to catch up with him. "Harry, wait." She grabbed his arm to stop him from walking. When he was facing her, she asked. "You're not feeling left out, are you?"
Harry actually thought about it before he answered. What was he feeling? He was a little jealous, but he didn't really know why. What was so wrong with Hermione and Ron talking alone? Maybe it was because he sort of had a hunch of what Ron might want to tell her. Why did he have this strange feeling that if Ron and Hermione spoke alone he would lose her? That was impossible, he couldn't lose Hermione. She would still be here at Hogwarts and she would still be his friend. Friend? That word, for some reason, had a funny ring to it. And why did he suddenly like the feel of Hermione's hand grasping his arm?
Harry hastily pulled his arm out of Hermione's reach. "I'm not feeling left out. Don't worry, ok?" he said and then ran up the stairs to the boy's dorms, leaving Hermione unconvinced.
Harry entered the sixth grade dorm room and flopped onto his four-poster bed. Comprehension had finally dawned on him. He was jealous because he had noticed that Ron was showing an interest in Hermione. The thought of Ron and Hermione getting together made him feel weird, but he couldn't be quite sure why. He had thought that he only cared about Hermione as a sister. So was it some overprotective brotherly feeling that didn't want Ron to ask her out?
Harry turned over in bed, frustrated. He was no good with feelings; he'd proven it with Cho. He tried to get these thoughts out of his mind. He wasn't sure if Ron was going to ask Hermione out or not, but he decided that if Ron did, then he would be ok with it. After all, he had had plenty of time to ask Hermione out. It was his own fault that he might lose her now.
Harry threw his covers over his head with one last thought. She probably doesn't even feel that way about me anyway. I see the way she looks at Ron. Harry closed his eyes and was soon asleep.
Back in the common room...
Hermione went back and sat next to Ron. "Does Harry seem a little...well I don't really know what to call it, but he hasn't been himself lately."
"I'm sure he's fine. I think maybe he's just feeling a little left out. I know I would feel that way if you two would say you wanted to speak without me."
"Well, Harry tried to convince me that he wasn't feeling left out, but I guess he is." said Hermione sympathetically.
"Well as soon as I tell you what I want to tell you, then we can tell Harry and everything can go back to normal." Ron gave her a smile.
"You're right. I don't know why I'm making such a big deal about this. So what did you want to tell me?" Hermione said.
Ron reached out and took her hands in his. Oh my God, Hermione thought, he's going to ask what I thought he was going to ask. She felt those butterflies in her stomach again.
"Hermione..." Ron began. He looked down at her hands.
"Yes?" Hermione urged. She really wanted him to get on with it, the suspense was killing her.
Ron bit his bottom lip. Still looking at her hands, he began rubbing the backs of them with his thumbs, causing Hermione to get goose flesh all along her arms.
"Ron?" Hermione said.
Ron finally looked up. "I'm sorry," he said, "It's just that I have a nasty habit of messing things up and I'm really nervous so—"
Hermione cut him off. "Oh you do not have to be nervous. I'm nervous enough for the both of us, trust me." She laughed nervously.
Knowing that Hermione was just as nervous as he was, seemed to have helped his courage. Ron took a deep breath then said slowly, "You and I have known each other since we were eleven...we haven't always gotten along, that's true, but when we're not fighting we have a really great time together...and I am the dumbest boy in the world because I have liked you since forth year, when I realized that you were a girl, remember?" Hermione smiled in retrospect. "But I was just too stupid to understand. And I'm really sorry about all the trouble I gave you with Victor."
"Don't worry about that." Hermione waved a dismissive hand. "It's in the past." Ron didn't seem satisfied. "And I completely forgive you about it." Hermione added.
Now Ron seemed at ease. He continued, "What I'm trying to say is...will you..." His voice became a little hoarse. "...go out with me?"
Hermione felt a surge of ecstasy run through her. From the moment Ron had taken her hands in his, she had known what he was going to say. But actually hearing it come out of his mouth was incredible. She flung her arms around Ron and hugged him tightly. He returned by wrapping his arms around her waist. Hermione never felt this happy in her whole life.
A/N: Please review! Tell me what you think about my fic. I know you might not like the fact that Ron and Hermione got together in a H/Hr fic, but don't worry, I promise Hermione will soon realize that she actually loves Harry.