Chapter Two

As the group greeted Hagrid and asked him how his holiday was, Ron could not miss Hermione's beauty. She was walking ahead of him with her long wavy auburn hair and he couldn't stray from her gorgeous pair of brown eyes that match. He sped up just to be walking closer to her. She peaked over her shoulder and saw Ron gaining. Like a game of cat and mouse they played as they were approaching the entrance to Hogwarts. The doors opened as soon as they were 10 feet in front of them, and they could see the staircase that leads up to their classes and dormitories. As they went into the Dining Hall to have their welcome back dinner, Hermione who normally sits across from Ron and Harry decided to sit next to Ron instead. Ron noticed immediately, but tried not to show any emotion what so ever. Harry sat across from Ron and next to Ginny who was across from Hermione. As Harry looked at Ron, he could tell that Harry was trying to get him to make a move on Hermione.

As they sat there talking, the food appear out of nowhere and everyone started to eat. Ron, who always is the first to take a bite--doesn't. He looks around to see what Hermione is doing out of the corner of his eye. She was filling her plate with regular portions, and kinda curious as to why Ron wasn't.

"Ron, are you okay?" Hermione asked with her big brown eyes.

"Uh? Yeah...yeah I'm fine." said Ron while he was starting to put food on his plate slowly.

"It's just...you have been acting strange ever since we have gotten on the train." pried Hermione.

"No...no..I am just glad to be back at Hogwarts is all."

"What?! YOU are glad to be back at Hogwarts??" shouted Ginny interrupting rudely.

"Yes, Ginny I am. Now go sod off, will ya?" exclaimed Ron.

"You know if I didn't know any better I would say that you had a little crush on Hermione! Not to mention that you are too much of a coward to act upon it!" yelled Ginny standing up as if she was making an announcement.

Ron's face turned red, blood red, and soon matched his hair.

Silence.

"Oh..did I hit a nerve?" joked Ginny.

The whole time Hermione just looked at Ron deeply. He put his head down while Ginny finished torturing him in front of the other Gryfindors. Finally after she was done, he looked up at her gave her a blank stare, got up out of his seat and left the dining hall. This made everyone notice and most of all, Hermione.

Ron walked through the halls at a fast pace until he just came to the end of the castle. He saw a window in a room with the door open and decided that it would be a good place to go and think for awhile. He thought about what his sister said to him and how he was a coward. He felt like one at least. His brain was racing in so many different directions. 'How did he know if Hermione even liked him. She probably thought that he was just an idiot friend that just tags along. He isn't Harry Potter-the boy who lived. He is Ron Wesley-the boy who doesn't know anything!!!'

As he sat under the window he could he footsteps, thinking that is was probably Harry or Ginny he hid in the shadow, where the light did not shine. The steps getting closer and closer, he was hoping that no one would see him. Finally he got to see a face in to doorway--it was Hermione. He stayed where he was thinking that the chances of her just glancing in and not seeing someone would be greater. She peaked in and put her hand up against her eyes to block the sunset. She saw a figure in the darkness and knew it was Ron right away.

"Ron...I know you are in here." she said softly.

Silence.

"Ron, please speak to me." she whispered as she was walking closer to the shadow.

Finally, she became face to face with him, both standing in the dark. She could only see the outline of his face but she knew who it was. It was the boy she had loved for so long, but too scared to ruin their friendship to say anything about her feelings. How she wanted to tell him how she felt, and how he wanted to do the same.

"Hey.." Ron said willingly.

"Why are you hiding?" asked Hermione. "If it is because of what Ginny said'-"

"NO. It isn't. She is just stupid and she doesn't know what she is talking about." shouted Ron.

"Really? You think that Ginny doesn't see it? You think that I don't see it? You think that the whole school does not see it?!" Hermione said firmly.

"I don't know what you are talking about, Hermione." Ron tried to ignore what was so obvious.

"You like me...don't you?"

"I-I...I have always liked you as a friend, Hermione. I always will like you." Ron said now standing up straight.

"Really? Is that t'all?" asked Hermione.

"Y-yea. N-no...it isn't." realizing that he was lying to himself and her.

"Well? What do you have to say for yourself?" asked Hermione feeling like she should just give up hope.

"I do like you--more than a friend. I don't know what is happening to me. Every minute of everyday I think about you. I think of what it would be like to be with you. I find myself wanting to kiss you, hold you, just to be near you. If that isn't enough, everyone knows about it." Ron admitted, his face as flushed as in the dining hall.

Hermione started to explain her feelings but Ron had already said it all. He looked at her passionately and grabbed her arm to draw her in closer as he pressed his lips to hers while she was starting to speak. They were in lip lock for what seemed like several minutes. As Ron pulled up to look at Hermione's face, he let go of the kiss. He stared at her for a moment.

"Is that what you wanted?" asked Hermione.

"Yes...yes it was. Is that what you wanted?" replied Ron looking very surprised to know what he just did.

"I have wanted that since the third year I had known you." whispered Hermione.

"I don't know how you could like someone like me...I am stupid, I know nothing about books like you do, we are complete opposites." mumbled Ron.

"We are opposites," explained Hermione, "but if we were the same, it wouldn't be as exciting as it is."

Ron smiled as Hermione put her hands around his broad shoulders while he put he arms around her thin waist. She was now closer to him then the first time they kissed and realizing how much she liked it. He started to speak, but she put her finger to his lips. She did not want anything to mess up their time together. She gently kissed his mouth, and started kissing harder and harder. Ron opened his lips to let Hermione's tongue in. Ron put his hand on her neck to take grasp of the situation, Hermione moaned softly. Ron nor Hermione had ever kissed or been kissed like this before. They were on new turf and were enjoying exploring together.

As time went by Hermione thought that they should get to their dormitories since tomorrow was classes. She softly pulled away and told Ron that they should get back. She checked her watch and it was nearly mid night. They walked back to the common area together and parted their ways at the fireplace. The left-boy's beds, and to the right-girl's beds.

"Good night, Hermione."

"Good night, Ron." replied Hermione.

They both were still red from their make out session, and were still giggling at the thought of it. No one was in the common area so no one saw the two together yet. As Ron and Hermione walk up to their beds, everyone else is asleep. They got off the hook this time without any questions.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------