Disclaimer: JKR is God. I am not.

I fear this may get rather smutty in later chapters… read at your own risk! Hermione tends to stay in character but Ron is a little tricky, especially Ron once he's in love and knows it, so just go with it! I'd like to think that Ron matures a little by the time they grow up, at least where Hermione is concerned. I've written all the chapters already, but won't post unless I have readers! I live off of reviews!

Chapter 1: Comfort and Privacy

"Ronald, will you go grab me a bucket out of the broom shed?"

"Make Ginny go get it."

"Ronald Bilius Weasley, you do what I say!" As Mrs. Weasley was brandishing the carving knife at him, Ron figured he'd better not argue anymore.

Ginny snickered as Ron threw down his comic and pushed himself off the couch. He whispered a few swear words at her, at which she rolled her eyes. Ron groaned when he pushed open the front door and realized it was raining violently. Pulling on the rubber boots sitting by the door, he trumped out into the rain. He arrived at the broom cupboard with his shirt pulled over his head and realized too late that the door was locked.

He fumbled in his pockets but, alas, his wand was on the armchair with his comic. Hoping this bucket was damn worth it, he kicked the door a few times, hoping sheer force and the age of the shed would work in his favor. No go.

"Need help?" Through the thick sheet of rain, he saw Hermione approaching from the house.

"Yeah," he replied, attempting to wipe the water out of his eyes. "Thanks."

"Alohomora!"

Ron was strongly reminded of a forbidden corridor and a large, three-headed dog. The pair slipped into the broom cupboard quickly and shut the door. "Fuck." It was pitch black.

Hermione lit her wand and handed it to Ron. "Thanks," he muttered again, beginning to look for the bucket. "Can't believe I left my ruddy wand inside."

"You didn't leave it inside," Hermione said, smiling despite herself. "Ginny took it after you told her to eat shit."

Ron straightened up and looked at her. "That settles it. I'm throttling her when I get back inside. Wand or no wand." Hermione laughed quietly and was silent for a moment. All that could be heard was the rain slashing the roof and Ron moving brooms and pruning shears aside to find the bucket.

"Are you scared? About tomorrow, I mean," Hermione asked suddenly. Ron straightened up again.

"What?"

Hermione looked at her feet. "About going to get Harry. I've wanted to talk to you for ages about it but we haven't been alone at all this summer. We're both turning into Harry and it's him You-Know-Who wants dead. It's a very risky plan, to all of us. What if—"

But Ron had closed the small distance between them and placed a hand on her shoulder. She was wet from the rain and he had to try very, very hard to keep from staring at the way her damp t-shirt clung to her. "Everything will be absolutely fine," he said softly, but loud enough to be heard over the rain. "We've got the best with us: Moody, Kingsley, Lupin, even Hagrid on that mad bike of Dad's." Hermione smiled, but he could tell she was still uneasy. "And any Death Eater to come after you is dead meat anyhow."

Through the dim light of her wand, he couldn't see Hermione turn scarlet.

"He is definitely not going to want us to do this. I have to act as though it doesn't bother me but… flying and dueling at the same time?"

Ron had turned back to searching and she was speaking mostly to his bum. "Flying isn't as hard as you think it is, 'Mione," he muttered, almost knocking over a pile of old Comet 260s. "Anyway, your guard will be flying; all you have to focus on is the wand-work. And you're brilliant, so that shouldn't be a problem. Ah, here it is!" He pulled an old blue bucket from behind a bag of Hippogriff Dung Fertilizer.

The bucket and wand dropped with a clatter. As Ron turned around, Hermione had placed both hands on either side of his face and pulled him down about a foot to press her mouth onto his. Bent over awkwardly, he dropped the bucket and stared at her closed eyes as she kissed him.

Just as he figured he ought to touch her or do something with his lips, she let go. He never noticed how bright her eyes were. They were just about the only thing he could see in the semi-darkness.

"I… um…" He wasn't sure what she wanted him to say. Kissing Lavender never involved much conversation afterwards.

"Yeah," she whispered, looking at her feet. "I just… thanks. For saying I'm brilliant," she added quickly. "Not for—"

"Yeah, I know." There was a very long pause. "You're welcome," he said, a little late.

The rain was letting up. Ron was absolutely aghast at the way he was handling this.

Hermione nodded. "Your mum is expecting you with the…" She pointed at the bucket.

"Oh!" He scooped up the bucket and lit wand. "Here."

She took the bucket he held out.

"I mean, no…"

He took back the bucket and gave her the wand.

"Right… Here."

Ron moved to open the door for her, but ended up getting in her way as he reached to push the handle. They danced back and forth for a moment before deciding who should stand where in order for Ron to push the door open for Hermione to proceed.

Realizing it was stupid of him to ask Hermione to go first into the rain, he flipped the bucket over and held it over her head. She laughed and moved closer to him as he shielded her. Ron sighed, figuring at least he fixed this somehow. And walking back, her shoulder pressed against his arm, he didn't so much mind that his mum had sent him out here or that Ginny had stolen his wand. If being wand-less would get Hermione to kiss him, perhaps he'd give up wizardry altogether.