The Great Escape
Hermione chewed her quill, glancing up at the large, ornamented clock that was resting on the fireplace mantle. It was 8:00, and the study period should be ending at 8:15, though Professor McGonagall really didn't care if they started packing up and retiring to their dormitories 5 minutes before the class actually ended.
Harry was glancing at the clock too, trying to figure out when he could fit in his extra potions homework, or the charms essay he had forgotten to finish the other night. Oh bother, he was so bad at charms and potions that it was a wonder that he didn't just up and skip, or ask Hermione for help. But that would have been too unkind to Hermione. She had so much on her mind; Ron, the end of year exams… It wouldn't be nice to ask her to do his homework as well.
"Class, you are excused. Please pack up and go to your dormitories immediately." Minerva McGonagall smiled wholeheartedly at the class. It was true, she didn't like doing this whole 'study period' business, but Albus had conned her into it.
Books were dropped, quills and ink wells thrown hastily into bags as the entire class rushed to get away from the Transfiguration classroom and into their common rooms. They liked this study thing just as much as Professor Dumbledore liked earwax jellybeans.
"Hermione," Ron whispered, his bag slung over one shoulder, his other hand wrapped tight around her waist. He kissed her cheek affectionately and picked up her books with his free hand, having reluctantly let go of Hermione. Harry had already left, and there were only a few first years left, looking around for lost quills and bits of parchment.
"Oh stop it, Ronald. Not here!" She smiled though, and was glad for the fact that she wouldn't have to lug her books all the way up to the dorm.
The two walked up to the dormitory together every night, regardless if there was a study period or not. They would drop off their books in the common room, and then sneak out to the Room of Requirement the nights when Hermione wasn't helping Ron with missed schoolwork or long papers.
"LOOK AT THEM! GRANGER AND WEASLEY GETTING A BIT FRISKY, HUH?" Draco yelled from the opposite side of the corridor, embarrassing both Hermione and Ron, who were sharing a quick kiss before they had to confront the masses of people in the Gryffindor common room. They never introduced themselves as a couple, but it was known to everybody that the two were seeing each other.
"Oh, sod off Malfoy, or I'll get Harry to, to-" Ron searched for something harmful that Harry could do to Malfoy, something that was original, but he came up with nothing.
"To what, Weasel? Knock me off my broom?" Draco taunted Ron.
"To pull you apart, limb by limb!" Hermione yelled back, clearly agitated that Draco was ruining her night with Ron. It wasn't often she allowed the two of them to sneak off to the Room of Requirement, especially with the school year winding down.
"Oh really, Granger?" There was a hint of fear in Draco's voice, which was evident when he turned around and stalked off.
"You shouldn't have to do that, Hermione," Ron said quietly, unnerved by the fact that his girlfriend could come up with better comebacks than he could.
"He's just a lazy old fuck, Ron," Hermione replied.
"Ectoplasm."
The Fat Lady swung out, and Ron stepped aside so that Hermione could clamber into the common room ahead of him. She did so gracefully, with the kind of grace that had sent Ron crazy for months, until he had plucked up the courage to finally ask her out.
"Ready?" Hermione glanced at the pile of books on the table, then brushed her hands on her jeans and looked around the common room anxiously. It was practically empty, except for a few people who were quickly getting tired.
"Of course."
The two walked quietly to the Room of Requirement, fingers intertwined, and eyes locked on each other. They reached the Room of Requirement and Hermione stepped back, watching Ron pace eagerly, and sometimes with hesitant. Eventually a door appeared in the wall, and Ron grabbed the doorknob and wrenched up the door, then bowed with a touch of chivalry that made Hermione giggle.
That was the thing about Ron. He was always making her laugh about the stupidest things.
"I love you." The door clicked shut, and Ron snapped his fingers, smiling as the room suddenly became lit dimly. It was perfect, just like he had imagined. He moved closer to her, until their foreheads were touching, then their lips.
"You too, baby." Hermione let their lips part for a few seconds, then nuzzled her face into his shoulder, "And always."