LOVE NOT LUST- SUMMARY: Ron and Hermione are absolutely oblivious of their feelings for one another. Can one of them pull their act together and confess or are they doomed to live apart?

Chapter 1: Restlessness and Reveries

Hermione lay tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep. There was only one thing on her mind: Ron. He was in the next room; without a doubt snoring as he dreamt of, what she could only hope, was her. For years she had loved him, but learned to hide her feelings as he showed no sign of feeling the same way. Over time she gave up, but there was always that secret hope in her heart that one day they would be together.
Sure, she had laughed and joked around with other guys. Sure, she had a steady boyfriend in Oliver Wood but that still wish remained, buried deep inside of her. Sometimes on days like this one she thought about what it would be like to be with him. Indulging herself in fantasies and daydreams of her red-headed Ron.

After nearly an hour of restlessness and reveries, she got up only to find herself walking up the stairs towards the object of her desire. It was 2:00am, hardly the time at which to expect Ron to be awake. She knocked softly on the door, awaiting some kind of response. For her it was an agonizing minute, as she waited trembling for the green light to enter or leave.

"Come in," Ron finally called, sounding groggy. She opened the door and stepped around it lightly, once again closing it behind her. "'Mione!" he exclaimed. "What in Merlin's name are you doing here?"

"I can leave," she offered, praying desperately he would ask her to say.

"No, it's fine. Really." He added looking at her expression. "I can't sleep, too much going on, up here," he tapped his head causing her to giggle.

"Honestly?" she asked, perching herself on the end of his bed. "You can tell me if I woke you up, I don't bite."

"Mhmm," he murmured, propping himself up on his elbows. The blanket fell away from him leaving his bare torso exposed. Her breathing hitched slightly as her eyes raked him over shamelessly.

Hermione couldn't count how many times she had fantasized him shirtless, though of course that featured in much more naughty situations. His body had filled out very nicely from all his Quidditch training, muscled but not overly. His arms rippled with every move, Merlin she wished they were around her...As for his chest; Hermione mentally drooled at the sight. She was staring hard and he was staring back. But his gaze was filled with concern, not lust.

"Hermione?" he asked concerned. "Are you okay?"

"Fine," she mumbled, blushing at the fact she had been caught staring. She purposely avoided his eyes, ashamed.

"Like something you see," he cheeked, getting up all the way.

"No, all I see is my obnoxious best friend."

"Ah, 'Mione, when will you learn? No lady can resist this." He gestured to his body, chiselled to perfection.

"Especially not Lavender Brown," she rolled her eyes. Lavender was a particularly irksome girl who'd taken a fancy to Ron in sixth year. Her infatuation was so deep, even now, a whole year later she was still throwing herself at him with everything she had. Hermione knew that Lavender was an uncomfortable subject for Ron.

"Won won," she mocked. "Please, just one little kiss for your Lav Lav."

"A perfect resemblance," he muttered and she playfully swatted him.

"Oh really?"

"Yeah, I could really feel the passion and lust behind those words."

"Is that how you want to play it?" she asked, raising her eyebrows suggestively.

"Only if you're willing." Ron crawled forwards towards her, slowly, menacingly. She froze, all the words tumbling out of her head. It wasn't a particularly large bed, but it definitely seemed so just then.

"Like a coiled boomslang...HE STRIKES!" Ron launched himself at Hermione, playfully tackling her and pinning her down.

"Ouch Ron," she giggled. "Get off me." Her words said one thing but her body was reacting in an entirely different way, this was the closest she had ever been to him.

"Admit it, you want me."

She stared up into Ron's eyes, his chocolate brown eyes. Hermione was just about ready to melt with desire, she would give in to Ron, just an inch more and their lips would connect. The only thing that stopped her was Oliver.

"Are you going to admit it or not?" he whispered, his hot breath touching her face.

"I have a boyfriend," she stuttered.

"Yeah but can he do this?"

Ron grabbed her wrist, his weight sinking on to her. And before either of them realized what was happening his lips captured hers.

Hermione was momentarily frozen against him but the warmth radiating from him melted her defences. Soon she was kissing him back with all her force as his arms snaked around her waist. He pulled her closer; if that was even possible. She wrapped one arm around his neck, the other fisted in his fiery hair. It wasn't slow anymore it was rough and full of passion. In moments they were wildly gasping for breath.

It wasn't long before they reconnected, him tugging violently at her shirt. She wrapped her legs around his torso, feeling bolder. His arms released her only to find purchase on a different part of her body. He squeezed gently before letting his hands drift down her sides sending shivers up her spine. Their tongues danced in each other's mouths as she ground into him slightly feeling him grow harder. Finally he caught her tongue and sucked on it viciously, a small gasp escaping her.

As far as first kisses went, this was spectacular, both of them reeling from the shock while they groped for more. But something was wrong and all of a sudden it clicked into place.

"I have a boyfriend," Hermione yelled, pushing Ron off her.

"I know," he grinned. "But can he do that?"

"Why are you such a cocky bastard?" She shoved against him violently, mentally cursing herself for allowing things to go so far.

"You didn't like it?" he appeared dejected but she couldn't care less at that moment.

"I'm not saying that, I'm saying I have a bloody boyfriend. I can't be snogging other guys behind his back."

"Well you didn't seem to have a problem with me when you barged into my room for company."

"I didn't 'barge in.'" Hermione was losing her patience with him, he was acting infuriatingly. "And neither did I come for anything other than company."

"Oh really, and how did that go when you were batting your pretty little eyes at me, flirting like fucking Lavender Brown." The comment stung but Hermione still felt a guilty pleasure at having her eyes called pretty.

"You're absolutely disgusting," she huffed, trying to stop him seeing that guilt.

"You didn't seem to think so when you were kissing me."

"You started it." she screamed at him, not caring if she woke up the whole bloody burrow.

"How bloody immature are you: 'you started it?'" he stood up, using his full height to tower over her. "Well you continued it, so don't fucking blame me."

"Watch your language Ron," her tone was soft and dangerous but he didn't take the hint.

"Yes mother," his voice dripped with sarcasm. He didn't know it but he'd just crossed an invisible line into the Hermione Danger Zone. It took less than a second for her fist to connect with his jaw in a bone shattering punch.

"What the bloody hell was that for?" he yelled at her.

"For being an arsehole." She promptly turned on her heels and marched out of his room.

Hermione could hear the door slam behind her but she didn't turn around till she'd reached the safe haven of her own room. She shut the door behind her, locking it firmly before flopping on to the bed. Hermione Jean Granger had kissed her best friend. And she liked it. Though she wouldn't admit that fact to anyone else. Of course she was furious at Ron, the nerve of him to put some of the blame on her. He didn't even know how she felt. She was confused and excited and guilty all at the same time.

Eventually the anger died down leaving a bitter trace behind. She had a boyfriend and she'd betrayed him. She'd taken advantage of his trust and love; she felt horrid. Ronald Weasley, what business did he have kissing her when he knew she had a boyfriend? This was a terrible mess and the person who would get most hurt was Oliver.

Hermione let herself break down and not for the first time cried herself to sleep.

A/N Well first chapter down, to be honest with you take 2 of the first chapter. I actually rewrote this to make it more realistic and true to the characters that J.K. Rowling created. If you've read the first version of this you'd know that I made Hermione far too soft and emotional and this is in Third Person instead of first. I figured I'd need that kind of freedom later on. Another change is I'm not writing them as adults, instead these events are taking place over the summer holidays before the seventh year they never had.

Watch out because I'll be editing the second chapter real soon. Read it at your own risk for now, I'll be updating soon.

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