Disclaimer: All Rights to J K Rowling.

Moaning Myrtle's bathroom door cracked open ajar...

A girl with flaming red hair walked in. To Ron's embarrassment, it was his sister, Ginny, "Whoa, I've been looking all over for you two, and something was telling you'd be in here," she sounded unfazed by the way Ron and Hermione were, "Harry wants you two." She turned to go out the door but she turned back around and added with a mischievous smile, "'Bout time don't you think?" Then she walked out the door.

"I agree - it's definitely about time." Ron said slowly, leaning in. Hermione stopped him.

"Harry waiting for us."

"Yeah..?"

"Ronald Weasley, later..." Hermione demanded playfully.

"Fine..." Ron took her hand and they walked to the Great Hall, with a spring in their step.

"There you are, where have you be—" Harry Potter cut off, he understood, "About time don't you think?" He grinned, as Ron and Hermione walked in together.

"Now your saying it." Hermione laughed. Ginny passed them, making eye contact with Harry, letting him in on the inside joke.

Ron changed the subject, "What do you want us to help with, mate?"

"Chairs," Harry paused at the puzzled faces, his best friends were giving him, "We're holding a funeral here tomorrow, so we were wondering if Hermione could help with putting them up quickly, and then we're having the wake later on at night." Then he added, "Please...?"

Hermione couldn't speak, the conversation she had with Ron earlier, washed over her. She looked at Ron. He recognized the hurt in her eyes, but he knew she also wanted to help. Ron nodded.

Hermione took a deep breath, as everybody moved out the way, "How many did you say we need?"

"Hundred and fifty – give or take a few."

Hermione could do this incantation in her sleep, she didn't need words. She just clicked her fingers and there were a hundred and fifty chairs waiting until tomorrow.

"You needed us just for that?" exclaimed Ron.

"Yeah, pretty much, unless you want more work to do and not do something more productive?" Harry pressed.

Ron grinned, and looked to Hermione, who just stood there, looking innocent. "Is it later, yet?" He murmured, in Hermione's ear.

"I suppose..." She could barely finish the sentence, had Ron grabbed her hand and practically sprinted to the Gryffindor Common Room.

Gryffindor students walked passed, a now burning fire place, and Hermione and Ron on the sofa.

"Isn't it sad that this really warm fire will have to end, sooner or later, like everything else does?" Hermione whispered.

"Hey, not everything does." Ron replied, "This night doesn't need to end." He put his arm behind her, so that Hermione could cuddle him, with her head on his chest.

Together they sat there watching the fire, and sure enough the flames did die away. That's when Ron put his fingers under her stunning face, making her look at him and he pressed his warm, tender lips to her forehead.

"Hey, is that the time? You need to go to bed, honey." Ron said.

"So do you. Anyway I don't want to move."

The embers glowed slightly in the dark while they fell sleep, together and for them, the night didn't end. Of course.

I know this chapter is really quite boring, but it sets the scene for the next chapter. The cliff hanger! It didn't really come to anything did it? In time you will realise I like cliff hangers, but the next cliff hanger is a key point in the story. This chapter I wanted Ron and Hermione's relationship like bond more, like them just being together, that's why I created the Common Room scene. Thank you for reading this, just doing so means a lot to me. If you'd like more... please review... :)