"Ronald!" Hermione screamed as they arrived at the empty Burrow, "Why have you been avoiding me!"
Ron stared, "I haven't been avoiding you, Mione…" he mumbled.
"Oh yes, you have!" she screamed, "You've been giving me all these lame excuses, saying you've been 'busy', and when I arrived at the Burrow for your big birthday surprise, all you did was ask why I was here, and completely ignored me!"
Ron looked at her with a contemplating expression.
"Are you cheating on me with Lavender?" Hermione demanded, "Are you fooling around? Because if you want to break-up with me-"
"I BLOODY HELL DO NOT WANT TO BREAK UP WITH YOU!" he snapped, "I AM NOT CHEATING ON YOU WITH LAVENDER. THAT IS THE LAST THING I WOULD DO TO YOU!"
"Then why have you been avoiding me?" she whined.
"I can't tell you!" he croaked.
"WHY NOT?" she demanded, "WHY CAN'T YOU TELL ME?"
"Because… I don't know how to say it!" he bit his lip, as if trying to hold it back.
"WHAT CAN'T YOU SAY, RONALD?" she exploded. "That I'm not good enough for you? That your family hates me?"
"NO!"
"THEN WHAT?" she demanded.
"I LOVE YOU, HERMIONE!" he yelled, "I AM SO BLOODY INLOVE WITH YOU!"
He leaned forward and kissed her full on the mouth. This was a different kiss. It was desperate- it was passionate. He pulled her closer- bringing his hands around her waist.
Hermione pulled away, to catch her breath, then crashed her mouth down to his again. She needed him- he's been avoiding her since who knows when , all because of those 3 words… 8 letters…
She knew that he loved her. The way he treated her made her feel like a princess. But, to hear him say it, with such passion and anger- that made her feel relieved. It made her feel like something that she thought of and worried about was fading way… and once again, she was his queen.
After a few minutes, they both pulled away.
"Ron..." Hermione whispered, "Is that what's wrong? Is that why you've been avoiding me?"
"I only said it once…" Ron mumbled, "In sixth year, and I didn't even know that I meant it yet…"
"You could have said it anytime…" she said, "I was planning on saying it to you this night."
"Well, I wanted it to be special…" He moved closer, trapping her between him and the kitchen table, "After all, I wanted to reach your expectations." He kissed her on the forehead, then on the nose, then on the mouth again.
"Did I?" he asked Hermione teasingly.
Her hands moved their way up to his hair, and she whispered, "Oh yes, Ron Weasley, I think you deserve an O for Outstanding."
"I love you, Hermione Granger…" he whispered in her ear.
"I love you too, Ron Weasley," she whispered back.
And they wouldn't have it any way.