Ron's POV

The morning after the night before, and what a night it was! Moldywart's dead and now the world is free from his evil. I was well chuffed when Hermione and I thought of the basilisk fangs. Hermione... Bloody hell, we kissed didn't we? Crap.

I unwillingly opened my eyes and sat up. I was in my bed in the Gryffindor tower looking directly at the wall above the next bed. My eyes wandered to the pillow and rested where Harry's head should have been. Unless he was invisible, he wasn't there. I swung my legs off of the side of the bed and made my way to the door.

No sooner had I opened the door, I very nearly choked from shock. Harry was leaning against someone and snogging her face off while her fingers knotted themselves in his hair. I imagined he was trying to distract himself from last night. He was devastated. Then again, so were the rest of us. I suppose it's worse for Harry, all of his loved ones dying to protect him, like Fred. Mum was so cut up about Fred, we all were, especially George. He said it was like half of him was gone. He didn't feel whole, he didn't feel like himself without his twin. I sighed, fighting back tears. As I walked past Harry, I patted him on the back and said a quick "Alright mate". I hadn't intended to disturb him but he turned around and the moment he did, I wished he hadn't. I wished I could disappear, because there stood my red-haired little sister, her cheeks turning pink and her head lowering slowly to the floor so as not to catch my eye. They were both breathing more normally than they had been a moment ago when Ginny had caught sight of me and quickly released my best friend's hair. We stood in silence for a moment, none of us knowing what to say. Eventually I decided to make an exit. "See ya' in the common room!" I shouted before speeding down the rest of the steps.

When I reached the common room, I found myself looking for Hermione and I realized I was disappointed when I couldn't see her. Well of course I would be. I loved her for God's sake! I just wished I could have the courage to tell her, but maybe after last night's kiss I wouldn't need to. I ended up slouching on the sofa only to leap up again when I heard someone call my name. I was certain it was Hermione's voice even before I turned around. I had memorized it. I spun towards the direction of the voice and stared in amazement. There she was, leaning against the wall next to the forbidden stairs; the stairs to the girls' dorm. I swear she was the most beautiful person I'd ever seen. Even in stillness she was graceful, and even though she looked like she'd just woken up – her brown hair was slightly tangled and she was wearing shorts and a t-shirt – she looked absolutely stunning. Her chocolate eyes twinkled when she motioned for me to come over. I couldn't contain my happiness and arrived in front of her with only a few eager bounds. She took my hand and proceeded to climb the staircase.

"Um, Hermione? I can't go up there. Remember the spell?" I did not want a repeat of last time.

"Don't worry. I doubt the spell still works after last night. Anyway, if it does… well, I suppose it would be fine since you're with a girl. We'll soon find out." She tugged on my hand and I carefully followed her upstairs to the land of taboo.

I was surprised to see that the girls' dorm was pretty much identical to our own except for the fact that the girls had decorated with posters and such. I was not so surprised to see that, aside from us, the room was empty. Everyone else would be having breakfast in the Great Hall by now. I closed the door behind me just as Hermione rounded on me. Before I knew what was going on, her arms were around my neck and she was kissing me. I hesitated, then decided that it was okay and kissed her back. It was slow at first but then I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her closer, incidentally deepening the kiss. It wasn't long before I ran my tongue along her bottom lip and she opened her mouth willingly. As our tongues danced around together, her hands moved up my neck and tangled into my hair. I ended up turning us around and pushing her gently against the wall, all the while being careful not to hurt her. One of her hands slid out of my hair and onto my chest, resting there for a second before she grabbed a fist full of my shirt and pulled me further into her. I didn't think we could get any closer but apparently I was wrong. I let one of my own hands wander down her back to her bum. I expected her to recoil or break the kiss but she didn't.

When we did separate, it was for air. We were both breathing deeply as Hermione hugged me around my waist and pressed the side of her face against my chest. I wrapped my arms around her and buried my face in her hair.

"I love you Hermione. You have no idea how long I've waited to tell you that. I know I was an idiot for not realizing how I felt, but I know now. I love you." It felt good to finally say it. She smiled into my chest.

"I love you Ron."

Just then I heard Ginny squeal and shout "Harry! Stop!" then burst into fits of giggles.

I tensed. Hermione obviously felt it because she said "Just as Harry loves your sister. He would never hurt her." She continued, but it did little to calm me. "Ronald," she whispered, "relax." Then she tip-toed and pecked me on the cheek. "Come on, let's go downstairs." My arms tightened around her.

"Do we have to?" I whined.

"Yes!" she laughed; it was a musical sound, like bells. "Tell you what. I'll trade you. You come downstairs in exchange for something."

"What?" I raised my eyebrows as she thought for a moment. All of a sudden she was kissing me again. It was a long, hard kiss that I rather enjoyed, but too soon she was looking at me, awaiting my response. I groaned. She must have taken that as acceptance because she unwrapped herself from my hold, opened the door, and dragged me through it.

When we got to the common room, we found Ginny writhing on the floor with a very smug looking Harry leaning over her, his hands nowhere to be seen.

"What the hell Harry?" I ran over and helped Ginny up as Harry stood up himself.

"Calm down Ron. I was only tickling her." He was holding his hands up above his head in surrender.

"Sorry mate, I thought-" But it was Ginny that answered this time.

"I know what you thought, and I can take care of myself, thank you very much. It's not like you're one to talk!"

"That's different! I'm older than you and so is Hermione! And... Hold on a second. How did you know?"

"Oh please Ron. Everyone at school knows! By the way, don't think Harry hasn't told me about you talking in your sleep!" She flashed a glance at Hermione. I felt my cheeks burn and I was sure my face must be radiating embarrassment. I didn't trust my voice so I settled for glaring at Harry. He looked apologetic.

"Sorry Ron. You know what it's like." I looked at Hermione. I did know what it was like. I'd tell her anything she wanted to know. I would die for the woman in front of me. She blushed a cute pink shade that made me smile.

"Okay, whatever," I said to Ginny as I kissed Hermione's hand (making her blush further) and went to the dorm to change.

I dressed in an improvised collection of other peoples' clothing and Harry quickly followed my lead. When we were back downstairs, we sat on the sofa and waited for the girls.

"He's really gone." I heard Harry whisper.

"Yeah." My answer was almost inaudible.

"I'm sorry about Fred." His voice was solemn.

"Thanks." I tried to smile. "Not your fault mate."

"You say that but-" I cut him off.

"No. Not your fault. He chose to stay. I'm not gonna' mope around either. It won't change anything, and Fred wouldn't have wanted us to." I was sure of it. Fred would hate for us to mope. He'd probably be cracking jokes about being dead.

"Are you gonna' say anything at the service?" he asked.

"No. But I know George will, and probably Dad. What about you? Gonna' say anything for the Lupins?"

"Yeah... They were very good to us. Like family, ya know?"

"Yeah I know. I'm gonna' miss everyone." That was the truth. I was going to miss everyone. Even Snape (well, him maybe not so much). Before Harry could reply, the girls came downstairs.

They looked better than us by far. Ginny must have let Hermione borrow a dress considering she was wearing a long indigo dress that reached her ankles. Ginny was wearing a black dress that wasn't quite as long as Hermione's. It reached her knees. Both girls had their hair tied back; Hermione's in a ponytail and Ginny's in a twisty sort of bun.

"You look pretty," was all I could manage to say. They laughed as we made our way to the great hall.