Author's Note: As always, none of these characters belong to me...blah, blah, blah...this takes place in the trio's fifth year; I've decided that Ron and Hermione would be a cute couple so if you don't like them, DON't read this story! Thanks

Seven-and-a-Half

"Hermione,"Ron began, "We've been going out for several months now, right?" Hermione lifted her head up from the Potions book she had been reading and stared at him quizzically for a moment before slowly nodding her head in agreement.

"OK, so that means that we're really, really good friends too," Ron continued.

"Ron, where's this conversation going? The OWL's are coming up in five months and I've barely even started studying; either get to the point now or shut-up," Hermione said very rapidly with an edge in her voice.

"Fine then, I was going to try and have an actual conversation with you, but since you're so intent on studying, I'll just leave you alone. You're really missing out on a good conversation though," Ron said quickly. Then he picked up his Quidditch book and shoved it back into his face with a well placed 'humph' annoy Hermione even more. They sat like that, with Ron thumping his fingers on the table while reading his book and Hermione studying from a thick Potions book that look like it belonged in the "Restricted Section" of the library for ten minutes until Hermione finally snapped.

"OK, you have my attention now. What do you want?" she said, clearly annoyed.

"Well," Ron said mischievously," I just wanted to know what you thought of me. Say on a one-to-ten scale, what do you think about me?"

"Seven-and-a-half," Hermione said quickly before turning back to her books. Ron looked pleased with himself and started to gather up his things to go up to bed before he realized with a shout what she had just said.

"SEVEN-AND-A-HALF!" he exclaimed, "WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?"

Hermione merely looked up from her book and with a smile on her face, tapped him on the face and went up to bed without another word leaving an infuriated Ron Weasley down by himself in the common room.

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Author's Note: So what'd ya' think of the first chapter? Please review! Thanks a lot-- 3 Willow