Ron felt his face grow hot as Hermione stared at him. He knew she was mad. "I know," he said, apologizing again. "I completely ruined the party. I just—" he stopped midsentence. He didn't really know what had come over him. He just couldn't stand the sight of Cormac McLaggen sitting so close to Hermione. He tried to come up with a reason that could justify his behavior, but he couldn't think of any excuse that she would accept. He didn't know how he was going to fix this one. He had been looking forward to this party for weeks, hoping it would give him an opportunity to—

To what? Make a move? He scoffed at himself. Cormac was right. He really didn't have it in him. And to top it all off, Hermione would now probably be mad at him for days. Except…

His eyes fell on their still entwined hands, a curious expression on his face.

Hermione stopped walking, causing Ron to stop beside her. "You didn't ruin anything," she said quietly.

He drew his gaze from their hands to her face, searching it furtively as though looking for clues. "No?" he asked hesitatingly.

She shook her head, lips pressed together, eyes dark under her lashes as she looked up at him. He noticed a flush begin to color her cheeks but could not think why. Still, she didn't seem angry and he felt a sense of relief flood through him.

"Brilliant," he said, his face relaxing into a lopsided smile. She continued to gaze at him with that same unfathomable expression on her face and after a moment he cleared his throat. "So, erm," he said, "I reckon we should head back to the common room?"

He was sure he saw a flash of disappointment cross her features before her face cleared again and she smiled and nodded to him. He also noticed she slid her hand from his as they turned to continue their walk.

Maybe she really was mad? He sighed in frustration. Why were girls so bloody complicated? He wished she would just shout at him like she normally did when she was upset. He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. She was behaving so strangely tonight. He knew Hermione very well and he fully expected to have a row over the scene he had just caused. Or at the very least, to be lectured all the way back to the common room. But she wasn't acting at all like her usual self tonight. That's what was throwing him off.

By the time they climbed another staircase and turned a corner, he couldn't take it anymore. "Hermione," he stopped her with a hand on her arm.

"Yes?" She turned to him with a curious expression on her face.

"Are you angry with me?" he asked.

She looked surprised. "No…" she said, drawing out the word. "Why would I be angry with you?"

"Well, I just thought—" he paused and reconsidered. He didn't want to give her any ideas. "No reason," he said finally. "Was just wondering."

She quirked an eyebrow at him but didn't challenge him further.

They continued walking, but as they approached Gryffindor tower, it suddenly struck Ron as the last place he wanted to be. He imagined stepping through the portrait hole, everyone seeing how soon they had returned. They would know how badly this date had gone. His stomach twisted. He didn't want the night to end yet. He didn't think he would get another chance at this. Not with Hermione.

"Hermione," he stopped her again.

This time she looked more confused than curious, crossing her arms before her chest as she turned to him. "Yes, Ronald?"

"Erm," he said, stalling. "Do you…" his eyes roamed the hallway, as though the stone walls and high ceilings would give him some sudden inspiration. His gaze fell on a portrait of a dotty looking witch staring into a telescope. It gave him an idea. "Do you want to go for a walk?" he asked quickly.

She stared at him as if he'd grown three heads. "We have been walking," she said slowly.

"I mean, yes, but—well," he stammered, feeling like an idiot, "it's still early and I thought maybe—"

"Yes," she said suddenly, cutting him off.

"Really?" he asked, ears turning red. "Great. I mean—okay," he said, rubbing his neck as he tried and failed to keep the foolish grin off his face. Hermione seemed to be having a similar struggle, for though she had her head bent towards the ground, Ron could still see the smile lighting her features from behind the curtain of her hair. It gave him a fluttering feeling in his stomach.

They turned around and started walking back the way they had come.

A/N: Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think. There will probably be one more chapter to come...