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Hermione smiled as she woke, a small smile that just delicately lifted the corners of her mouth and lit up an otherwise unremarkable face. Perhaps it was the shaft of sunlight that crept through the window, illuminating the lazily drifting particles of dust in the warm room and the beginnings of a beautiful day? Or maybe it was the luxury of waking leisurely among crisp, white sheets and with no planned schedule ahead of her? Of course it did help that today happened to be Hermione's 18th birthday and she was currently staying at the Burrow, the home of the people she cared and respected -and in one particular case, loved- most of all┘
An embarrassed cough interrupted her thoughts and she turned to see (with a mixture of surprise and ill-disguised delight)-
'Ron!'
He grinned sheepishly as though caught in the act of doing something he shouldn't have and managed to look both awkward and endearing at the same time, an accomplishment indeed. He moved slightly on the spot as though not entirely sure what to do with his long limbs and a small frown creased his freckly forehead.
Now it is a truth universally acknowledged that Hermione Granger was an incessantly bossy know-it-all and she chose to display this particular side of her character by uttering an impatient and slightly supercilious, 'Well?'.
An uncomfortable silence ensued and Hermione immediately regretted speaking, she annoyed even herself sometimes. Ron, however, seemed too distracted to notice and seemed to be internally struggling with something. He opened his mouth to speak and then, thinking better of it, shut it again, mortified. Hermione noticed the tell-tale signs of his ears reddening and felt her own grow a little warm too. She awaited his next move with eager anticipation but when they came, in quick succession, it took her by surprise.
Ron hastened forwards, thrust something in Hermione's hands and then half-ran out of the room muttering something that sounded like 'bloody Harry and his stupid advice'.
Hermione looked down at the still dew damp flowers in her lap and gently lifted them to her face. Granted the rose resembled a drooping cabbage and the leaves had been half mutilated by slugs. Yes, the posy teemed with insect life and had not been presented in the most romantic fashion but they were from Ron and so to Hermione they were perfect. She smiled again, it was going to be a great day.
