Ron's Problem

By Dresa

***Authors Note: I am an American, so forgive me for not knowing much of the British lingo. I will do my very best to keep Ron and Hermione in character, but I must warn you that they could unintentionally become slightly Americanized. ( ***

************ It was happening again. Ron could feel the increased beating of his heart, as well as the increasing heat of the flush on his face. The biggest sign, however, was the tell-tale rush of his blood. Directly south. And it was all her fault.

He couldn't figure it out. For five years, she had been one of his two best friends. Always there, for better or for worse. She kept him on an even keel, making sure his temper didn't get the best of him too often.

Alongside Harry, the three of them were the perfect complement to each other. Harry, the long-suffering hero, needed them to bring a bit of laughter and light to his life. Ron and Harry both benefited from Hermione's logical, calm, and practical personality. And her smarts had saved them more than once. Ron, on the other hand, could never really figure out just what it was that he himself contributed to their trio.

He knew he was pretty loyal, and, thanks to a recent summer growth spurt, easily the largest male in their year. That made for a bit of an intimidating look. But that was nothing, really. Mostly, when he thought of himself, a lot of bad traits came to mind. He had a whopping temper, easily kindled. He tended to be a bit, well, oblivious, and he was pretty much the total opposite of scholarly. Which brought him back to his current dilemma.

He was currently in Potions with Snape, which meant he was in his most hated class with his most hated Professor. But that wasn't the problem. The problem, of course, was her. Hermione. Sitting next to him. Damn close to him. He could smell her hair, its fresh, flowery scent. Her right thigh, shaking around a bit as she studiously copied down notes, was sending shivers through his body every time it brushed against him.

It was like a bloody switch had been thrown. One second, she's a very platonic, very asexual friend. And suddenly, out of nowhere, Ron finds himself unable to look away from her beautiful face, he can't help noticing the sway in her hips as she walked to class, and starts having crazy recurring dreams where Hermione does things to him that no best friend has any business doing.

Presently, Ron was fixated on one particular attribute of Hermione's. Every time she paused in her writing, she unconsciously nibbled on her quill. Which made him think about other things her mouth could..

No! Bad thoughts. Very bad. Especially in their current environment. Ron decided, with renewed vigor, to concentrate on every single word Snape muttered, and ignore Hermione, and her chaotic effect on his body.

On the other side of Ron, Harry shook his head slightly. Ron was so obvious. He'd spent half the period staring at Hermione. Good thing she was such a fierce concentrator, or else she would surely have noticed.

Harry had been the observer to this sort of behavior for weeks now. Ever since Hermione had come to the Burrow for the last week of summer vacation, Ron had stared. At first, it had been quite amusing, both to Harry and the rest of the Weasley's, Fred and George in particular. And this point, thought Harry in exasperation, it was getting to be a bit pathetic. Hermione had certainly.matured a lot over the summer break, and her Muggle bikini showed that quite prominently.

Harry had been worried that Ron would have a heart attack on the spot. Hermione had definitely filled up and out in all the right places, and Harry couldn't help but notice. Neither, for that matter, could Fred, George, or even Percy. Fred and George had complimented Hermione on her looks so much that she had actually blushed and giggled, and Ron had looked like he was about to hex them both. And Percy, upon seeing Hermione at dinner that night after a long day at the Ministry, had actually spit out the pumpkin juice he had been in the middle of drinking.

Harry, however, happened to think that Ginny was the one who had made the most radical transformation. Gone were the blushes, squeaks and nervous giggles he had been accustomed to. Ginny had turned into.well, into a woman, and Harry wasn't sure what to make of his reaction to seeing her in the Muggle swimsuit Hermione had brought for Ginny as a souvenir from her vacation travels (which did not, as Ron was happy to learn, include Bulgaria).

While Hermione's suit was a bright, vivid red, Ginny's bikini was a deep, rich green that was quite close to the color of Harry's eyes. Upon receiving her gift, Ginny had exclaimed, "Oh Hermione. Thanks so much! And in my favorite color too!" Harry had glanced toward her, startled at her admission. And Ginny had met his eyes, and stared right back. Harry didn't know what to make of that, so he had quickly looked away. He had made it a point to not meet Ginny's eyes for the rest of his Burrow stay.

Harry certainly wished that Ron would just get on with it and ask Hermione to go out with him, but he knew better than any one else how hard that could be. He reckoned it must be doubly hard for Ron, because Hermione was one of his best friends. Cho had been someone Harry fancied, true, but he had hardly known her at all. Not that he ever would now..
Harry still carried a tremendous amount of guilt over the whole Tri-Wizard Tournament and the death of Cedric Diggory. Added to that, his fear and sense of helplessness over the return of Voldemort had made him pretty sullen and quiet of late. Perhaps helping Ron with his dilemma would bring him out of his moodiness.

Snape dismissed class, for once without taking off any points from Gryffindor. As they gathered their things, both Harry and Hermione noticed Ron hadn't moved.

"Ron, class is over," Hermione exclaimed, nudging him in the shoulder.

Ron blinked twice, then seemed to notice his surroundings and the suddenly empty classroom. Harry, meanwhile, looked down at Ron and noticed something else incredibly embarrassing that often happens to teenage boys. Thinking quickly, Harry purposely dropped his inkwell on the floor, where it smashed into small pieces.

"Oh, Harry! Honestly!" Hermione, momentarily distracted from Ron, pulled out her wand and muttered a quick repairing charm. By the time Harry had picked up his inkwell and gathered his books, Ron had regained his composure.

As they moved into the hallway, Hermione began lecturing Ron his short attention span. Ron shrugged good naturedly, allowing Hermione to admonish him.

With a wave to Hermione, Harry and Ron went one way toward Divination, while Hermione took off in the other direction for Arithmancy. Ignoring Trelawney's drivel, Harry whispered, "Ron, you'd better be more careful in the future. That was a close one."

Ron's ears turned pink, and he whispered back, "I know. Thanks for the help mate. I just..I can't help it, you know?"

Harry smirked. "Yeah, believe me, I know." The two boys shared a sheepish look, then settled in for another bout with tea leaves.