It was his third time. And he'd screwed up once more. The first time he had eaten weird fish Ernie Macmillian had given him and thrown up before he could utter a word. The second time he had forgotten to tie his shoe and tripped over his shoelace. And now Ron's mother had come up to ask if a pair of Chudley Cannons patterned pair of boxers were his or George's. Unfortunately, they were his. At this Hermione exploded with laughter and tears spilled out of her eyes.
Ron had attempted to ask Hermione on a date three times and each time he'd been embarrassed. It was just nerves he told himself. And besides, it was just Hermione. So, he had a crush on her, she was still his best friend. He turned to look at her. She was still the bushy haired, know-it-all girl from the Hogwarts Express seven years ago. Only he didn't feel the same way as that day.
When he was eleven, he'd thought she was annoying, mean, and, frankly, quite boring. She was still annoying occasionally but kind and not boring at all. She was a pretty, brown-eyed, smart girl with the most beautiful smile he'd ever seen.
"Ron? Ron? Are you listening?"
Ron shook his head and stopped thinking about her. "Sorry I didn't catch that?"
"I said I'm sorry I laughed. It's just that the fact that they were Chudley Cannons..." her voice trailed off as she burst in to giggles. He smiled at her and tried to muster up all the courage he had. Ron needed to ask her. Now.
"Her- Er - mione?" he said as her laughter quieted. She looked at him with wet, inquiring eyes. "Can I- Er- ask you s-something?" he stuttered. "Yeah, sure. Anything," she replied beaming at him. "Well- Er- I was- uh- well I was wondering."
"Oh honestly, Ronald. Just spit it out," Hermione urged.
He gulped. "D'youwannagooutwithme?" She blinked. "Pardon?"
He felt like he'd eaten Ernie's fish again. "Hermione, do you want to go out with me?" He knew she'd say no. It was a stupid way of asking. What shocked him was what she actually said.
"Well it took you long enough!" she exclaimed, "Gosh. I thought you'd be too afraid to ask me after the whole boxers incident." Ron gaped at her, "Wha- You knew? And you didn't even try to help me!"
Hermione nodded, "They don't call me the brightest witch of her age for nothing. I knew ever since you retched your heart out back when we were at Hogwarts. I didn't help you because, well it was sort of fun watching you try to ask me out." She stood up to leave his room.
"If you think I was unfair then I won't force you to take me out to dinner," she sighed. Ron's expression hadn't changed since she'd started talking. "Why would I cancel the date? I'm not mad but I guess you could've been a little more fair," he answered finally "You know? You're amazing, you are."