Sorry for the length in this one. But I haven't had much time to make it longer, and was way overdue my original posting date. Besides, I felt it was appropriate the way it ended in a suspenseful matter.


Hermione was holding Crookshanks in a cage in one hand, and her Hogwarts trunk in the other. She was coughing really hard from all of the dust coming off the fireplace. She flooed herself to the Burrow right after receiving the "ASAP" letter from Ron the previous evening.

She stepped out of the fireplace and put down her things. Then began to brush herself off, still coughing slightly.

"Uhh...good to see you Hermione."
"Hi," cough "Ron. How are you?" cough
"Not too bad. You alright? Sorry 'bout the fireplace."
"Oh its alright. I think I'm alright now." she smiled at him.
"Good to finally have a new face around here."
"It's good to be here!" she giggled.
"Well I guess we should go put your things in Ginnys room."
"Yeah, sure. Why not."

Ron grabbed her trunk and Hermione carried Crookshanks in his cage. After a grueling 3 flights up, they got up to the highest floor which contained 3 rooms. Rons, Ginnys and the bathroom that they shared. Ron went to the left, to Ginnys room, opened it up and set Hermiones things down. Hermione walked over to her unmade bed, plopping down and opening Crookshanks' cage to let him rome around free.

"Should get started. I was supposed to make your bed before you came." Ron chuckled.
"Alright, but just gimme 5 minutes. I'm a bit tired."
"Yeah, no problem." Ron sat down next to Hermione.
"Whens Harry supposed to come?"
"I suppose today sometime. I'm really glad you two finally are gonna be here. I've been bored out of my mind!"
"Not to worry. I'm sure we can make these next couple of days worth while." answered Hermione with a small grin. After a short silence, Hermione got up and began to make her bed.
"Oh here, let me help you."

Ron shot off the bed and started to help Hermione. He grabbed one end of the covers and Hermione grabbed the other. Spreading out the silk covers, letting them fall gently over the second hand and slightly soft mattress. Breaking the awkward silence, Hermione asked Ron about his summer homework that was assigned.

"So, done any work at all?"
"Huh?" He had a confused look on his face, concentrating still on the fresh laundry that Hermione will occupy when night falls.
"The work for school. You know that we have to do over the summer. Snapes essay? McGonagalls presentation? Ring a bell?" she answered in her bossy tone.
"Oh..uh..no." Ron said nonchalantly.

Preparing for a verbal beating from his oh so predictable friend, he squinted as if a gust of wind was ready to blow him off from the very spot he stood on.

"Ron! You do realize we have school in 2 weeks? Do you have any clue how long it took me not to only finish but to find the information to do Snapes essay!?" Hermione went into a full out rant. Pacing the room back and forth, non stop. Waving her arms in the air, on occasion making hand gestures that fit her words.

"Why do you always do this!?" she continued. "You can never be responsible about this sort of thing, now can you? "

Ron, trying his best to interrupt, was only able to mutter simple one-worded phrases like "Hey!" or "Wait..." and on occasion "Hold on one minute!" But no matter how he tried to explain, Hermione just went on and on.

"You couldn't have just finished the first 2 weeks of summer? No! Ron has to wait 'till last minute. And will be so tired from it all, that I'm going to have to help. And then you won't learn anything. And then the teachers will obviously suspect of you copying from me, because the information will be all to well developed and..."

Hermione just wouldn't shut up. Ron couldn't think of any way of how to close her mouth. Make her quiet. Make those lips stop moving. He now stood still and silent, just watching Hermione stand before him, her arms crossed over one another. He focused his eyes on her lips. They were moving at the speed of light. He completely blocked out any sound, and just at that moment, something over came him. He wasn't thinking, he was only doing.

He stepped toward her, still looking at her lips. Grabbed her face and pushed himself into her. Hermione was in the middle of another sentence but was completely thrown off by the meeting of her and Ron's lips. Soon realizing what was going on, Hermione gently closed her eyes and tried to figure out exactly what was happening. After a few seconds, Ron broke away and slowly lowered his arms. Hermiones eyes were still closed, but soon she lifted them and before her stood Ron, possibly just as shocked at his own actions as she was. There was a moment of silence, after which Hermione attempted to speak in a tone much different and opposite form the one being used seconds ago.

"Wh...what was that for?"

Ron stared at her, trying to think of something to say. Until he realized that he has no excuses and just told her the truth. He shrugged and replied.

"To shut you up."