SECOND YEAR

Ron sat beside Hermione in the Hospital Wing. She lay in the bed, sleeping peacefully. He smiled, glad she was okay now. The Mandrake potion had been distributed only yesterday so the victims were still resting, but they allowed visitors. Harry and himself spent all their lunch chatting to Hermione, who was amazed with what had happened down there. She was glad they found her note, and was pleased that Ginny was okay and the diary was defeated. But the thing that made her the happiest was when the boys told her they'd been taking notes for her. That earned them both a big hug.

Ron looked at the table beside her. Fred and George were able to get him some sweets for Hermione from Honeydukes - sugar free of course - but not without plenty of teasing.

"So romantic!" "When's the wedding?" "Wonniekins got a crush!"

Ron had only shrugged them off, but even he had to admit she was pretty. Behind all that frizzy hair and that know-it-all attitude, she was really sweet. She seemed to appreciate the sweets as well, but the presence of her book Pavarti sneaked out of her room was a cherry on the top. She was well-tailoured to.

Ron had just been visiting Ginny, but she's too busy talking to Harry. Even though it was funny at first to see her stutter and blush, he eventually felt like a third wheel and left. And now here he was, full after a delicious dinner, humming to himself quietly as Hermione slept. She shifted as her hand moved from the pillow to the edge, right where his hand lay. His ears grew red and moved her hand back to where it was as she shifted again. He stood in fear of her waking up to find him...holding her hand. He quickly let go and stood up. He felt bad leaving her, so he went to get Harry.

"Harry?" he said, moving aside the curtain to see Harry and Ginny talking animatedly. "Um, I need to go, could you stay with Hermione? I think she's waking up."

"Uh, sure. That's fine. Bye, Ginny." He said, touching her arm before leaving. Her face flamed red as he left. Ron smirked at her. "Are you hot? You look a bit flushed."

"Oh shut it. Your ears are looking as red as our hair...who knew Hermione had that effect on you?" she countered, grinning as Ron's face went red. He spluttered, trying to come with a reply. He turned on his heel and quickly left, trying desperately to try and stop his blush.

And that's why Ron didn't hug Hermione in the Great Hall ;)