Hi guys! Basically fan fiction is something I've only just really started writing so any reviews would be really appreciated! However, Ron and Hermione have always been a favourite couple ever since I was small, so I've had almost ten years of inspiration to work from. There's hopefully going to be five chapters per book, telling the story of a slightly different, secret relationship between Ron and Hermione. I hope you enjoy it :)

I do not own Harry Potter

Ron sat, idly playing with a loose thread of his jumper as the head boy and girl gave their sermon. The prefect's meeting aboard the Hogwarts Express was somewhere Ron Weasley had never expected to be, and now that he was here, he wished he could anywhere else. As Arnold and Bertha droned on and on, he was strongly reminded of one of Professor Binns' lessons.

Having nothing better to do, and being eager to escape the monotony of Arnold's rule-listing, Ron began to look about him. Unsurprisingly, he eventually caught the eye of the girl next to him. Hermione Granger looked back at him beneath a furrowed brow. She nodded her head in the direction of Arnold and Bertha sternly. Ron instantly forced his attention to the speech; Hermione could conjure the same severity as his mother, and he didn't dare disobey either one of them. But within seconds, his attention was straying once more.

The meeting was over not soon after, much to Ron's relief, but his joy was brought to a swift end as Arnold approached him and Hermione.

"You're the first to patrol the carriages." Arnold said, with the smug satisfaction of one who loved to give orders. "Come back here in an hour."

Hermione nodded and Ron mumbled his concord indistinctly.

Just as Ron was about to rise from his seat, a snide voice reached his ears. He turned in his chair to see Draco Malfoy standing over him.

"Dumbledore's letting mudbloods become prefects now! Whatever next! Soon they'll be letting the house elves become professors."

Ron almost leapt out of his chair. Malfoy was the last thing he needed right now. However, before he could even get to his feet, Hermione grabbed his arm, pulling him back.

"Don't rise to it." she said crossly, looking at Ron but speaking directly to Malfoy.

"Yes, Weasley, listen to your mudblood girlfriend."

Ron's jaw clenched. Malfoy's most beloved insult still cut straight to Ron's core.

Malfoy was gone before Ron could create a suitable retort, leaving the carriage with a swish of his Hogwarts robe, followed closely by a giggling Pansy Parkinson.

Ron turned to Hermione, meaning to offer some comfort, but he found her rather pink in the cheeks. It took Ron another few seconds before he realised why she was so embarrassed. He felt his cheeks burning red. Hermione Granger? His girlfriend?

"Come on!" Hermione snapped briskly, snatching up her bag. "Let's start patrolling."

Ron led the way to the door in silence, still utterly stunned by Malfoy's words. Malfoy was waiting, however, wearing a cruel smirk. As he passed through the door, he abruptly turned and slammed it backwards. Ron's reactions were not good enough. The door hit Ron in the face with tremendous power. He groaned and clutched his nose.

Hermione gasped next to him. "Are you alright?"

Ron cursed, seeing Malfoy hurrying away down the corridor, laughing as he went.

"You're bleeding." Hermione said worriedly. "Let's get you sorted out."

She grabbed Ron's arm and pulled him through the compartment doors and into the nearest toilet. The door slid shut behind them and locked of its own accord. Hermione began frantically pulling toilet paper and held it against Ron's nose, which was now spouting blood like a fountain.

"Pinch the bridge of your nose." Hermione commanded. Ron did so. She put her hand on the back of Ron's head and gently pushed him over the sink. "Keep your head down."

As Ron felt blood dribbling down his chin, he was acutely aware of the fact Hermione's hand remained at the back of his head.

When the nosebleed showed no signs of stopping, Hermione pulled away.

"I better do a quick patrol of the corridors. Stay here and I'll be back in a few minutes."

Before Ron could reply, she was gone. The door clicked shut behind her.

Now he was alone, he felt able to ponder Draco's words. Hermione was not his girlfriend, and, as well as he could remember, he had never given anyone reason to think so. Draco was deluded if he thought that anything would happen between Ron and Hermione. They were friends, nothing more.

It was fifteen minutes when Hermione returned, looking flustered. The nosebleed had stopped and Ron had just finished washing his face when she entered.

"Some first year Gryffindors were in tears." she said stormily. "They're not even at Hogwarts and Malfoy's already promised to take house points off them. I tried to calm them down, but they were convinced they were going to be expelled."

"Malfoy's a git. How'd he get to be prefect?"

"Snape probably put in a good word."

"Git."

Hermione sighed. She looked at Ron thoughtfully until her gaze dropped to his chest.

"You're covered in blood." she said disapprovingly. "Look at your badge!"

Ron did. The blood on his jumper was almost unnoticeable against the maroon, but his prefects badge, which had once been polished and gleaming, was now dull and stained. When he next looked at Hermione, she was in front of him, wetting a piece of toilet paper. She dabbed at his badge.

Ron couldn't help but laugh. He never imagined he would be locked in a bathroom with Hermione Granger cleaning his prefect's badge.

When she drew up, Ron realised just how close they were. He gulped. Their eyes were locked in an unbreakable stare. Perhaps Draco's words were influencing him, but Ron found himself compelled to lean in. He moved only an inch, awaiting some sort of response. To his surprise Hermione mirrored his movement almost simultaneously. Their lips were almost touching when there was a sudden knock on the door.

Ron jumped, instantly flushing crimson.

"Is anyone in there?" said a familiar but unrecognisable female voice from outside.

"Yeah," Ron said breathlessly. He racked his brain for some brilliant excuse. "We're prefects."

Hermione looked disbelievingly at him.

Ron realised his failure with a sickening feeling in his gut. "I-I mean I'm a prefect."

Hermione pushed Ron aside and opened the door. There was no one there.

They exited the toilet, looking up and down the corridor.

"Maybe it was some first year. They might have got scared." Ron suggested hopefully.

Hermione shook her head. "I don't think so. You really need to think before you speak. You know what people assume when they see two people going into a toilet together."

Ron's ears were burning. Malfoy would have a field day if he heard about this.

"I wasn't thinking straight." Ron mumbled as Hermione shut the door and they headed back to the bottom end of the train. "I was kind of preoccupied." He lowered his voice, leaning in, before he dared speak again. "I mean … we nearly kissed."

"Yes." Hermione said distantly, looking out the windows. "Yes, we did."

Ron quickly checked over his shoulder to ensure no one was following before continuing. "Where did that come from?" he asked.

"Malfoy must be getting to us." Hermione laughed dryly. Despite his best efforts Ron could not join in her laughter. Hermione turned to him with anxiety in her eyes. "Don't tell Harry."

"Okay." Ron was scared at how quiet his voice sounded. "It's our secret."

Hermione smiled, but it was clearly forced.

The rest of the journey was spent in awkward silence and troubled thought. Ron was not fully able to take his mind off his toilet encounter until he was safely back in a train compartment with Harry, Ginny, Neville and Luna Lovegood. It was not until he had a pumpkin pasty in his hands and the conversation was flowing did Ron finally let the incident slip from his mind.

Malfoy's words did not come to the forefront of Ron's mind until he was tucked up in bed, alone in the darkness. Needless to say, that night his dreams were of Hermione.

Let me know what you thought in a review. It would really help :