A/N: This takes place in the chapter The Quidditch Final. This chapter contains an extract from said chapter.
Chapter Three: The Right Time
The next morning Ron was woken up by Harry telling him if he didn't move he would miss breakfast, so with a few well-chosen swear words he ran to the bathroom to dress for the day. He and Harry found Hermione waiting for them by the portrait hole, tapping her foot impatiently.
'Come on, you two, did you oversleep again, honestly!'
Ron walked over to her and took her bag for her and together they made their way to the Great Hall for breakfast. Just as they arrived, Hermione grabbed Ron's arm.
'Everything okay, Hermione?' asked Harry.
'Oh, I'm fine; I just need to talk to Ron for a moment,' she replied.
Harry left leaving Ron and Hermione alone.
'Thank you for last night, Ron,' she said softly.
'It was no trouble, Hermione, besides, you already thanked me,' he replied.
'I know I thanked you for the massage, but I need to thank you for putting me on the settee,' she whispered.
'Oh, um, sorry if I woke you,' he said quietly.
'You didn't wake me.'
'How did you know it was me?'
'Who else would?'
'Harry,' he suggested.
'Yes, but he's too scrawny to carry me.'
Ron chuckled and said, 'Yeah, you have a point there, and, it was no trouble, come on, let's eat.'
The safety measures imposed on the students since Black's second break-in made it impossible for Harry, Ron and Hermione to go and visit Hagrid in the evenings. Their only chance of talking to him was during Care of Magical Creatures lessons.
He seemed numb with shock at the verdict.
''S all my fault. Got all tongue-tied. They was all sittin' there in black robes an' I kep' droppin' me notes and forgettin' all them dates yeh looked up fer me, Hermione. An' then Lucius Malfoy stood up an' said his bit, and the Committee jus' did exac'ly what he told 'em …'
'There's still the appeal!' said Ron fiercely. 'Don't give up yet, we're still working on it!'
They were walking back up to the castle with the rest of the class. Ahead they could see Malfoy, who was walking with Crabbe and Goyle, and kept looking back, laughing derisively.
''S no good, Ron,' said Hagrid sadly as they reached the castle steps. 'That Committee's in Lucius Malfoy's pocket. I'm jus' gonna make sure the rest o' Beaky's time is the happiest he's ever had. I owe him that …'
Hagrid turned round and hurried back towards his cabin, his face buried in his handkerchief.
'Look at him blubber!'
Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle had been standing just inside the castle doors, listening.
'Have you ever seen anything quite as pathetic?' said Malfoy. 'And he's supposed to be our teacher!'
Harry and Ron both made furious moves towards Malfoy, but Hermione got there first – SMACK!
She had slapped Malfoy around the face with all the strength she could muster. Malfoy staggered. Harry, Ron, Crabbe and Goyle stood flabbergasted as Hermione raised her hand again.
'Don't you dare call Hagrid pathetic, you foul – you evil –'
'Hermione!' said Ron weakly, and he tried to grab her hand as she swung it back.
'Get off, Ron!'
Hermione pulled out her wand. Malfoy stepped backwards. Crabbe and Goyle looked at him for instructions, thoroughly bewildered.
'C'mon,' Malfoy muttered and next moment, all three of them had disappeared into the passageway to the dungeons.
'Hermione!' Ron said again, sounding both stunned and impressed.
'Harry, you'd better beat him in the Quidditch final!' Hermione said shrilly. 'You just better had, because I can't stand it if Slytherin win!'
Ron stood there looking at her and before he could stop himself he said, 'Hermione, will you be my girlfriend?'
'W-what?' she said shocked.
'I like you – a lot, and I was hoping that you like me, too,' Ron said looking at her.
'Yes, Ron, I do like you, and I would love to be your girlfriend,' she said beaming at him.
'Really?' he said faintly.
'Yes!' she said before Ron pulled her to him and hugged her, then began to spin them around, laughing. He then set her down on her feet and said, 'C-can I kiss you?' Hermione nodded and their lips met with a soft kiss.
Harry just watched the scene before him and said 'Come on, we're due in Charms.'
Ron and Hermione seemed to forget that he was there. They blushed deeply and said 'Sorry, Harry.'
Then, together, as Ron took Hermione's hand, they made their way to Charms.
The rest of their day passed by with no real excitement, unless you count Hermione walking out of Divination closely followed by Ron, both of them dropping the subject for good.
