(A/N: This is the first in my new series of stories inspired by the songs of Josh Groban. This song is "Awake." Please remember, these stories are only "inspired" by the lyrics and most of the time do not stick to the exact flow of the lyrics. Thanks as always to my wonderful Beta and fellow Grobanite Adreon.)

Awake

The floor creaked as Ron tiptoed down the hallway. As he reached the desired door it opened before he could knock. In the dim moonlight he saw a nervous smile grace Hermione's lips.

"Come in," she whispered.

"Sorry it took me so long," he said closing the door behind him, "I would have apparated, but Mum wakes up at the slightest hint of a 'pop'."

"Its fine," she said taking him by the hand and sitting down on the side of the bed.

"This room looks strange as a girl's room." Ron looked around the room that had formally been his older brother Bill's. With war looming Hermione's parents feared that they, as muggles, would be unable to protect her. The Weasley's gladly took her in, giving her the room left empty after their son's recent nuptials. When Bill had occupied it, it much resembled Ron's room, wall's covered in quidditch posters, robes tossed aimlessly about, books and parchment scattered about. With Hermione as its tenant the room was quite different. Her robes hung neatly in the wardrobe, dirty garments were tossed in a basket instead of on the floor, and the large stacks of books and parchment were organized on the desk and various bookcases Mr. Weasley had conjured for her. Much to Ron's delight one item had survived the renovation. A faded Chudley Cannons poster hung on the wall just over the bed.

"You can take that down you know," Ron said gesturing towards it.

"I know, but I like it."

"Why, you've never even seen them play?"

"No, but you like them so they must be good. Besides, it reminds me of you."

Ron blushed but tried his best to hide it. "I'll have to give you one of my Cannons shirts so you can think of me more often." He blushed harder amazed at his own boldness.

"I'd like that," she cooed, "I'd sleep in it every night."

Unable to restrain himself at this remark, Ron gently pressed his lips to hers. Letting the weight of the kiss lead them, they were soon laying on Hermione's bed. This both excited and frightened Ron. He and Hermione had stolen a few feverish kisses this summer, taking midnight walks by the lake, cuddling close in the sitting room after everyone had gone to bed. This, however, was quite different. When Hermione had passed him a slip of parchment as she kissed him goodnight earlier this evening, he was surprised to see the instructions to come to her room when everyone was asleep. They'd spoken briefly and nervously about taking their relationship to the next level, but Ron didn't think they'd come to a decision yet.

Ron broke this kiss, lifting himself up on his elbow. "Hermione, why did you ask me here?"

She blushed. He felt embarrassed having to ask, but he didn't want to have the wrong idea.

"Well," she said nervously, "I was thinking." Ron nodded, pressing her on. "I was thinking that tomorrow everything is going to change."

Ron knew what she meant. Tomorrow, after escorting Ginny to Hogwarts he and Hermione would be leaving with Harry to seek out the four remaining horcruxes.

"I mean, we don't really know what is going to happen. There are so many unknowns, so many uncertainties. Even if all goes as planned, nothing is ever going to be the same."

"That's true," Ron said still not understanding what was going on.

"My thought was that if this is to be the last night of our former lives, I'd like to spend it in happiness. I'd like to face this unknown dawn together."

"Together?"

"Stay the night with me. Whatever happens, I welcome it as long as it is with you."

"Staying a while I can do but what would my mother think if she came to wake me in the morning and I wasn't there or worse if she came to wake you and found me here."

"Then we will stay awake. We have a long journey tomorrow; we will sleep on the train."

"I'll stay here then. How could I say no to you?"

"You can't," she said her mood lifting a bit. "You've never been able to."

"I have so."

"Name one time you've ever told me no."

"There was, um," Ron laughed as he couldn't think of any, "well, I'm sure there have been times."

"Sure there have," she smiled as she kissed him.

The kiss carried her on top of him now. She tangled her legs around his and stroked his cheek with her finger tips. She looked at him, a nervousness dancing in her mind. It was exactly the sign Ron had been waiting for. As she leaned in for another kiss he stopped her.

"This is as far as I can let it go, Hermione."

"What do you mean," she seemed scared and confused.

"I mean this is as far as we need to go. Lying here all night, great; kissing you like this, wonderful, but we can't go any further."

"You mean you don't want to…"

"No no no," he said cutting her off. "I do want to. Just, not like this."

"What do you mean? Not like what?"

"Like this, both of us frightened of what's going to happen tomorrow. Doing this because we might not have another chance is not right." The more Ron talked the less he believed he was saying it. His body told him to shut up and keep going but his heart told him he had to speak. "I love you Hermione and I never want to hurt you. I'm afraid that in the long run, this will be wrong, and I want everything between us to be right."

Hermione sighed finally understanding Ron's reasoning. "You're right. Thank you, I wasn't thinking."

"I guess there's a first time for everything."

Hermione laughed and kissed him, rolling off of him and back on the bed beside him.

He stared at her face in silence, his eyes studying her for countless minutes.

"What are you doing," Hermione laughed.

"I'm memorizing you."

"Memorizing me? Why?"

"Because someday I may not have you with me." His voice was serious now. "We're facing something very dangerous here. Mum and Dad don't talk much about what it was like in the beginning but I can see the fear in Mum's eyes, Dad's too. Every time Dad comes in from work she looks like she was expecting to never see him again. I don't ever want to close my eyes and not remember your face. Besides," he said in a somewhat lighter voice, "the memory of you lying next to me like this would make one hell of a Patronus."

Ron's right, Hermione thought as she set about memorizing his face, this was a happy moment. This was quite possibly the happiest moment of her life. A part of her wished she still had the time-turner so that she could revisit this moment over and over or go back and confess her feelings to Ron, give them more time to be like this, to be happy.

"You parent's were married young right?"

"Yeah, Dad said there were a lot of couples getting married young. I guess it was the fear that if they didn't do it soon the whole world would come crashing down before they got another chance." A thought struck Ron and before he could think he spoke. "Would you marry me Hermione?"

"W-what?"

"I don't mean today or even tomorrow, but if there was time? If we weren't leaving for the hunt tomorrow, if we were just going back to Hogwarts, would you go back as my fiancée?"

"In a heartbeat."

Ron smiled as he kissed her, brushing her curls out of her face. They talked like that all night, discussing the future like there was fear that might not come. All fears subsided, both the fears of the danger they'd soon face and the fears they held in themselves when it came to each other.

They spoke openly about a desire for children in the future. They reminisced about their last few years at Hogwarts, finally able to confess the long harbored feelings they'd had for each other. Carefully skirting the names Victor and Lavender, it was probably the first night the two had spoken and not shown the slightest hint of a disagreement.

As the sun crept through the curtains Hermione groaned not wanting to leave the safety and security of Ron's arms.

"I know," he hushed, "but I have to go. Mum's always up with the sun, especially on days like today. She'll be waking us up soon to be sure we're packed and fed before it's time to leave."

"Have you finished packing," she asked walking him reluctantly to the door.

"You know me Hermione."

"I'll take that as a no then." She laughed. "Go," she kissed him, "finish packing, I'll see you at breakfast."

Ron quietly tiptoed back to his room trying not to wake Harry as he slid into bed.

"Long night," Harry asked in a groggy voice from the other bed.

"Yeah," Ron said. "It's not what you think though."

Harry raised his hand motioning for Ron to stop. "Say no more. It's between you and her, mate."

"Thanks, sorry to wake you."

"No worries."

Just then there was a knock at the door and Molly told the boys to finish packing, get ready and come down for breakfast.

In less than an hour Ron had showered, dressed, and thrown the rest of his necessities into his trunk and charmed it to shrink. Tucking it into his pocket he grabbed a few more things and went down stairs.

Harry and Ginny had already joined Molly in the kitchen so Ron caught Hermione as she came down the stairs after him.

"Here," he said tossing something worn and yellow at her.

"What's this?"

"My favorite Cannon's shirt," he smirked. "It might be a little big, but it should do for sleeping."

"Thank you," she said hugging it to her chest and breathing in the scent.

"It's clean I promise."

"I know," she laughed. "It smells like you. I love it."

Ron blushed as she kissed him and started to walk away.

"Oh," he said remembering. "There's one more thing." He dug in his pocket and produced a small round object. "I was wondering if you'd wear this," he slid it around the ring finger of her left hand, "just until we get back and there is time to ask you properly."

Hermione looked down and saw what she recognized as the sliver crown of the white queen from Ron's chess set fitting perfectly on her finger. "Ron I don't know what to say."

"Say you'll wear it."

"I'll never take it off."

"Good," he said kissing her. "Now we can always remember, no matter what happens, the love we have for each other."

(I hope you enjoyed this one. Again this is "Awake" by Josh Groban from his album…well, Awake. It is the bonus track only available on the CD/DVD edition. Please review…or visit my forum. Chapter 2 and 3 are complete but not edited…so they will be coming VERY soon. Give me some ideas if you're familiar with Josh's songs.)