Author's Note: So this is the official start of my Dramione fic. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. I apologize for the beginning chapters are short, they will get longer as the plot progresses I assure you. Also, thank you guys so much for all the subscriptions and the two reviews. All of this is just so encouraging. I really appreciate that you guys are actually showing an interest in it. So, this chapter might be slow for some but there are details that come into play later in the fic so trust me, every part is important. As always reviews are always welcome. :)

Chapter One: Two Years Later

Not the Same

Hermione grinned at the sight of her best friend through the windows of Flourish & Blotts. His expression was tired and worn from what seemed like another sleepless night once she noticed the dark circles under his eyes. Without hesitation she pushed past the crowd in Diagon Alley and reached for the door. The sound of the bell caused Harry Potter head to jerk in her direction where he spotted her instantly. A smile formed on his lips as he walked around the counter from which he was standing to greet his friend.

"Hermione! I didn't expect to see you until later at the Burrow!" he exclaimed as happiness immediately replaced his surprise.

"Well I didn't expect to get out of work early but if you'd like I could always see you later if that's what you want," she stated with mock seriousness.

Harry let out an amused chuckle and threw his arms around her. She smiled and wrapped her arms around him in a hug. "So…" Harry started as he began releasing himself from the hug, "...how was your date with Ron?" He asked as a huge grin formed on his face.

Hermione rolled her eyes, "It was fine for the thousandth time. Honestly, Harry did you not get enough last night? I'm sure he told you all about it," she raised her eyebrows accusingly however her smile said otherwise.

"Of course he told me, he's my best mate. But come on, it's different to hear the details from the girl. Spit it out, Hermione. How was the date?" He asked yet again, the grin still intact.

She sighed and couldn't help but feel a smile tugging at her lips, "It was actually... quite wonderful." Although she failed to convince herself, she had no problem convincing Harry who had suddenly thrown his arms up in the air and began cheering.

"I knew it! I told you I knew it! You both are just too perfect for each other. I had my doubts before but there is no doubt now that you two won't be together."

Too perfect for each other. A phrase she had heard much too often in regards to her relationship with Ron, if you could even call it a relationship. They hadn't even confirmed any of the allegations that they were in a relationship for that matter but without a doubt the news of their date spread almost instantaneously. I'll have to remember to thank Ginny for that. She thought sarcastically.

"Uh, Hermione? Her-mii-one," Harry said as he waved his hands in her face to snap her out of her reverie.

She responded quickly, "Oh yeah, sorry. Anyway, how are you and Ginny, Harry? I'm sure things are going swimmingly," she added, raising her eyebrows exaggeratingly.

Harry let out an amused chuckle and ran his fingers through his hair, "We er- we're great.." He looked down and smiled softly, "I think I love her, Mione."

Hermione's eyes grew and let out an excited squeal, "Oh Godric! That's wonderful! Have you told her yet?"

He shook his head in response, "I'm worried about what she'll say. I'm not worried about being rejected, it's just.. I'm scared to tell her."

"Harry y-" her statement abruptly cutting off as she noticed a much too familiar head of blond hair standing across the alley, looking at her through the shop's windows. Squinting her eyes a name instantly popped into her mind. Draco? But no, she must have been going crazy because when she moved away from Harry and sped to the window in an attempt to get a better look at the figure, he was gone. No, it couldn't have been Draco. I-I must be imagining things. It wouldn't be the first time. She shamefully admitted to herself.

Oblivious to the change in her own breathing and the clearly pained expression on her face, a worried Harry expeditiously ran to the aid of his best friend, "Hermione? What is it? What's wrong?" His voice both confused and worried.

She shook her head and paused for a moment to regain her composure, "No, it's nothing. I-I just thought...," she trailed off as she looked back at the spot where the figure had stood, "...I just thought I saw someone I used to know. That's all."

He sighed somewhat relieved yet not entirely convinced. It took several minutes to reassure Harry that she was fine and after a request that she keep what she and Harry spoke of between the two of them, he finally let her leave. With one last hug, she promised not to say a word and was on her way.

Despite her somewhat panicked state earlier, she felt happy to be going to the Burrow that night. Before leaving, she took one last time to examine her outfit. She felt confident in her blue cardigan, black pants, and silver flats. Quickly after, she picked a bag and tucked her wand safely away before disapparating only to immediately apparate in the fields in front of the Burrow.

The Burrow was loud and vibrant just as it had always been on her previous visits. Hermione smiled as she approached the wooden front door feeling the familiarity of her surroundings instantly set her at ease. But before she could knock or take a deep breath for that matter, a beaming Ronald Weasley opened the door and pulled her into his arms. She hadn't expected such a display of affection before arriving but then again it was not out of the ordinary either. The happy feeling quickly faded as guilt took it's place. She knew that if given the opportunity she would have avoided the hug. She shook the thought away and reminded herself, He is still your best friend, Hermione. Relax. It's not like you two are actually together… yet.

Despite their date the other night, she knew how he felt about her and attempted to return the sentiments in full but her attempts were nothing more than half-hearted. After the day Ron had very clearly made his sentiments known to Hermione last year before leaving Hogwarts nothing had been the same between them. She could recall the vivid memory instantly.

"Oi, Hermione. Mind taking a walk with me to the lake?" Ron asked her as they were leaving the Great Hall one last time. She nodded her head and felt a smile tug at her lips when he took her bag and casually swung it over his right shoulder. The wild-haired brunette followed curiously. The two barely said a word the entire way there but their silence was not awkward. Once they had reached the lake, he gently rested her bag on the ground and turned to face her, he took small steps until their bodies were in close proximity of one another and though she did not dare let it show, she was beginning to feel uncomfortable. But she knew by the dark look in his eyes that there was something important he needed to say and despite her suspicions she tried not to lead to assumptions of what it may be.

Instead she smiled to ease the tension their eyes were currently sharing and asked, "What did you want to talk about, Ron?"

With no response, she began to ask again wondering if he was too lost in thought to hear her but before she could finish the question, his lips were on hers. His lips were soft and dangerously alluring. She could not break herself away from the kiss, which she ultimately wanted to do, but something inside told her not to. To kiss him back. That this was the right thing to do. That she belonged there, in his arms, on his lips. So instead of releasing herself from the kiss, she wrapped her arms around his neck loosely just as he began to snake his arms around her waist, almost protectively.

To her surprise, he was the one to break the kiss. He rested his forehead against hers gently, although his breathing was harsh he began speaking as steadily as he could, "You don't know... how long I've wanted to do that." Again to her surprise she found herself blushing and pressing her lips against his once again. She would be lying if she denied the fact that she had always been curious about what it would feel like to kiss Ron. They differed greatly with the kisses she had shared with Draco the previous year. Their kisses had always been urgent, passionate, and sensual as though they were fighting against the clock and in a way they were. But Ron's kisses were soft and sweet, almost too precious to deny.

They headed back to the Gryffindor common room, hand in hand.

"Can I be the godfather?" Fred asked innocently, his eyes as bright as ever.

"Godfather? To whom may I ask?" Hermione asked as she scrunched her eyebrows in confusion.

"To you and Ron's children of course!" He laughed as he finished the statement, slapping his knee to add more effect.

Before Hermione could respond, Ron made his way back into the living room with two cups of water taking his seat by Hermione. "If anybody's going to be the Godfather of my children, it'll be Harry," he replied casting Fred a look of mock seriousness.

Fred let out a defeated sigh and quickly thought of something else to say, "Well what about Godmother? Surely Potter couldn't be both. What do you say?"

Hermione let out a wholehearted laugh and shortly added, "If Harry's the Godfather, it would only be right to make Ginny the Godmother. Don't you think, Fred?"

Fred considered the idea and eventually nodded in agreement, but not before whistling over at Harry and Ginny who both looked up immediately and turned a deep shade of crimson.

"You're having an awful good time, aren't you Fred?" Ginny asked as she approached the the couches where the three were seated, Harry not far behind.

"Aww, it's all in good fun, I assure you Gin...," his comment now directed at his younger brother," Besides Mum and dad probably won't expect any grandchildren for another year or two. I'm sure Hermione and Ron will have come to their sense by then."

Ron felt his cheeks heating up at the thought, gulping, he began to retort the comment but was cut off by the eruption of green flames blazing in the fireplace. Once the flames died down, George Weasley appeared with a beaming Angelina Johnson on his arm. The attention soon turned to them as Mrs. Weasley squealed with joy.

"Oh my boy! And Angelina! How are you darling?," She exclaimed with pure glee. She continued before they could find the time to respond, "I'm sure you're hungry, look at the both of you, so thin!" She stated and continued with one last comment, "Come now, everyone! Dinner's ready!"

As they stood up to walk to the dinner table, Hermione reached for Ginny's elbow and pulled her back.

"So a little bird tells me that everybody thinks Ron and I are a couple," Hermione stared accusingly at Ginny who was now beginning to turn a shade darker.

"I might've said one or two things..." the red head confessed.

Hermione laughed in response and wrapped her arm around Ginny's shoulders and muttered, "I'm am so going to kill you."

Ginny's smile only grew larger as she skipped away and joined Harry on the other of the room.

The Weasley clan, with the exception of Charlie, sat down to eat dinner along with their three house guests Harry, Hermione, and Angelina.

Shortly after everyone finished their dinner and commenced to the living room for tea, Ron and Hermione bid their farewells and were off. Once outside in the cold October night, Ron spoke directly to Hermione for the first time that evening, "I'm sorry about Fred, Mione. Honestly, he can be a real git sometimes." His tone was soft now that they were alone. Hermione hadn't taken Fred seriously all night so his apology was not necessary.

She shook her head, "No, it's perfectly alright. It was all in good fun, I'm sure."

Ron shrugged his shoulders in response. He was growing tired of Fred's persistent teasing about Hermione. When are you two getting married? Have you kissed already? You've kissed already, haven't you? Any tongue? Fred's voice began to fill the space in Ron's head. He shook his brother's voice away. None of your damn business is what it is. He added. All the while, Hermione lifted her head to look at the dark sky, the stars were barely visible. She let a soft sigh escape her lips. She only recalled one other night where the stars were barely shinning through a heavy blanket of fog. She began to speak but Ron spoke first, "Would you like to go to a movie?" He asked.

Hermione felt a smile tug at her lips, "Yes, I would."

With that, Ron took her hand gently in his and the two disapparated to the alley behind the movie theatre in the center of muggle London. Ron had been there enough times that he no longer required Hermione's assistance. This was one of the many movie dates they had ever since she introduced him to muggle cinema, something he quite enjoyed. His hand still gently yet tightly wrapped around hers, he guided her through the alley and took a left at the opening. Ron asked for two tickets to the foreign film of the week and lead Hermione through the huge black doors. They quickly found seats in the center of the auditorium and smiled as the auditorium lights dimmed and the trailers began.

Ron shyly placed his arm over her shoulders. She turned to look at him, a smile drawn on her face due to the amusement of his timid behavior. He felt his cheeks heat up and was immediately thankful that there was barely any light in the room. But much to his dismay, Hermione raised a hand softly to his cheek and felt the warmth of his cheek tingling beneath her fingertips. This is the way it's supposed to be. Hermione thought to herself. As much as she tried to convince herself of that fact, she would always have that bit of doubt telling her otherwise regardless of how hard she tried to silence the objection. She couldn't help but question if it was the way it was supposed be why did it not feel entirely right? She had no reason to feel guilty about being with Ron. There was nothing holding her back from being from him and she was tired of making excuses for herself. She deserved to be happy, did she not? And then, almost as to silence her thoughts, she leaned over the arm rest that separated them and pressed her lips against his softly. He returned the gesture by gently placing a hand on her now warm cheek. The kiss was successful in silencing her thoughts... all but one.

She released herself from the kiss and took a look at the young man in front of her. As she looked into his deep blue eyes she regrettably began to wonder what it would have felt like to look into a pair of stormy grey eyes just one more time.