disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Regretful

Ron walked in silence through the empty halls of Hogwarts. He had just been to the kitchens for an afternoon snack. His stomach was like a

"bottomless pit", as Hermione so often called it. Just the thought of Hermione brought a smile to his face. She was amazing. She was perfect; smart,

funny, caring, nice, and beautiful. It was as if she could do no wrong. He loved her. Yes, he finally addmitted it to himself. He, Ron Weasley, loved Hermione Granger.

He suddenly came to a hault before the fat lady. He muttered the password and walked through portrait hole, and into the common room. He scanned

the room for any familiar faces and stopped when he spotted one. Hermione was sitting on the couch looking at something in her hands.

Probably a book, thought Ron.

But as he silently walked closer to her, he saw the horrified look on her face and realized that he was, most likely, wrong. She was muttering to

herself, just loud enough for Ron to hear.

"Oh, no. He's going to kill me. He's going to go mad. I just know he will."

"Who's going to kill you?" Ron asked. Whoever it was, wasn't going to lay a hand on her. Ron would make sure of that.

Hermione suddenly realized that she wasn't alone. She looked up and saw the one person she was dreading to see.

"Oh! Um..." she stuttered , " I just...I-I...please don't be mad at me!"

Ron was totally caught off gaurd. Why would he be mad at her? He noticed that she wasn't finished talking.

"I-I was just borrowing it to see how it-it felt to be up there like that. I didn't...I didn't know how-how to stop though, and...and I just kind of...kind

of...crashed.

"Hermione, what are you on about?" Ron asked curiously.

"Please don't be mad at me! I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry!" she wailed.

"Hermione," he interrupted, but to no avail.

"I promise I'll never touch anything of yours again. Just don't be mad!"

"Hermione!" he tried again, but no, she just went on, and on, and on.

Finally, he got an idea.

"You hate me don't you? Oh, I know you do. I'm so stupid. Stupid! Stupid! Stu-

He kissed her.

Ron felt her tighten as he put his arms around around her, and let go. She looked shocked to say the least. Ron broke the long silence.

"Hermione, what happend?"

"Um...I-I kind of crashed your broom into a tree."

She winced as he reached past her to pick up the shattered pieces of the broom.

He look at the handle and saw, in golden writing, the word FIREBOLT. A look of relief passed over his face. He put the broom down and looked pack at Hermione. She was about to open her mouth to speak again, until he cut her off.

"Oh. Is that all? It's alright, I can just ask Fred and George if they can get me a new one."

"Really? You're not mad?" she asked.

"No, I'm not."

"Oh, good." she said, relieved that he wasn't mad.

Ron looked into her beautiful brown eyes and decided that, this was it. This was his chance to tell her how he felt. He just hoped that she wouldn't let him down.

"I-I love...I love you, Hermione. I...always have." he stated quickly.

"You...you do?"

"Yes, Hermione. I do."

As he said that, he pulled Hermione to him. Then he gently placed his lips to hers. It was wonderful, everything he'd imagined it to be.

Hermione pulled away and looked him in the eyes.

"I love you too, Ron." she whispered and pulled him in for another kiss.

The only thing Ron regretted, was having to Harry that someone crashed his broom.