Disclaimer: Don't own and never will.

AN: Written for the Ron Love Competition by Black Rose Blue

"Umm, dad, can I ask you something?"

Ron raised his head from the paper he was reading and saw his son Hugo standing in the centre of the lounge fiddling nervously with his hands.

"Sure, go right ahead," he replied with a smile. "What is it? Do you want to hear some of your dad's old stories or perhaps some pranking tips for getting revenge on annoying big brothers?"

"Dad, I need to ask you about girls," Hugo said, before Ron could say anything else. Especially about…girls you really like." At this point, he turned red and stared at the floor. Ron sat up like a shot.

"Girls!? But you're only thirteen!?" he exclaimed, before sitting back down with a rueful smile. "Sorry, your mum's right, you're growing up and I'm not keeping up. What do you want to know?"

"How do you get a girl to notice you?" Hugo asked eagerly and Ron smiled as he remembered his own pitifully bad track record with wooing Hermione, even if he did eventually get it right.

"Well first things first. Does she know you?" he asked and Hugo nodded.

"Oh yes, she's on the house Quidditch team with me and we can practically read one another's mind when we're on the pitch and-" Hugo suddenly paused as he realised what he was doing.

"Well the first thing I can tell you is to NEVER ever date another girl to make her jealous," Ron paused for a moment and shuddered as he remembered the fiasco with Lavender. "Not only does it make you look like a prat, it hurts the girl you're after AND the other girl." He paused and shuddered a little. "And believe me, an angry witch is more scary than any dark wizard."

"Oh…okay," Hugo said with a thoughtful expression on his face that told Ron that he HAD been considering such a move.

"The next thing is to TALK to the girl. Actually spend some time with her in everyday situations. Like helping her with her homework or something."

"It's hard to see how I could help her with homework dad, she's a year older than me," Hugo pointed out with a frown and Ron sighed.

"That was just an example. Just…find something to do with her that doesn't involve Quidditch," Ron said exasperatedly. Hugo had inherited his mother's intelligence, but he could be very literal-minded.

"Pay her compliments, that's another good thing to do. Girls like it when you compliment them and it'll give her a positive association with you," Ron continued after a brief pause and Hugo nodded.

"Compliments…yeah I see," he said and Ron raised a finger.

"But not too many or they'll sound shallow," he added. "But the most important thing is this," he leaned forward and beckoned his son closer. Father and son sat leaning forward and Ron looked his son in the eye.

"What you REALLY need to remember, even if you manage to forget everything else is this. Ask her out first, before anyone else does."

"Really?" Hugo asked as his eyes widened in fear. "What if she says no? What if-"

"That's part of the risks you have to be prepared to take," Ron cut in abruptly. "But if you don't, you WILL regret it."

"Thanks dad," Hugo said as he got up and smiled. Ron smiled back. And after Hugo had left, he slipped into Hermione's office and gave her a hug.

"What's that for?" she asked in a pleasantly surprised tone and Ron smiled.

"Oh just for being you and accepting me even though I managed to do everything wrong," he said and Hermione smiled.

"You're you Ron, that's all you need to get right," she replied, giving him a kiss.