(A/N: When I went back and read I saw just how brief that last chapter was so I wanted to update as soon as possible, that however, didn't happen. I got caught up with work and reading and other stuff. Since my last update I finished the book. What did you guys think? I'll give nothing away because some of you might not have read it. Anyway…here we go. I also have a quick question for you loyal readers. What would you think if I fast forward a little…jump to the summer where I have a little leeway? Let me know in the reviews.)

Chapter 10: There Are More Important Things Than Quidditch

"You're joking." Ron gasped in shock the next morning at breakfast.

"I'm serious," Ginny replied taking a sip of him pumpkin juice. "Luna and I offered to stay behind and confront Padma with her, make it an even match you know, but Hermione didn't need our help at all."

"I can't believe she'd hex her like that," Harry chucked shaking his head, "not that she didn't have it coming, but it's just so unlike Hermione. What have you done to her mate?"

"I haven't done a thing to her," Ron said embarrassed by even the hint of an accusation of wrong doing with Hermione. "I never asked her to hex Padma. I didn't even know it was Padma behind the letter in the first place."

"Take it easy Ron," said Harry, "I didn't mean anything by it. Only that she's been, you know, different since she's been with you."

"Different how?"

"I don't know," Harry mused. "More laid back I guess, except when she's cursing your ex-girlfriends."

"Padma was never my girlfriend." Ron snapped. "I went to one sodding ball with her and only did that because Hermione was already going with Viktor. I wouldn't have even looked at her if I could have gone with Hermione."

"From what she said you never looked at her in the first place," Ginny laughed. "I think that was the problem."

Their laughter was interrupted as Hermione approached. "What's so funny," she queried.

"Oh nothing," she Ginny said stifling her giggles.

"Ginny was just filling us in on your," Harry gave Hermione a look, "study session last night."

Hermione turned pink and sunk into her seat next to Ron.

"Did you really hex her," he asked taking her hand.

Hermione lowered her head and nodded.

Ron didn't say anything; he just kissed her and turned back to his breakfast. Hermione appreciated his silence and turned to the plate of food that had just materialized in front of her.

"So, you two ready for the match against Hufflepuff," Harry asked trying to make conversation.

"I suppose," Ginny answered. "I hate playing for you though; you should be out there with us."

"Don't worry about it. It's nice to watch a match for once; I'll have just as much fun cheering you both from the stands." Ginny knew he was lying but there wasn't anything to be done about it. Umbridge had banned Harry, Fred and George from playing quidditch and her word, for now at least, was law.

"Well, I suppose it won't hurt our luck," Ron said trying to dodge the subject of Harry's suspension, "having you two cheering especially for the two of us."

"You won't need luck," Hermione assured him. "You're both fantastic quidditch players. You'll be great. Besides Ron, you've been studying that playbook like mad."

"Yeah, but studying something and doing it are two completely different things. I could memorize that playbook and still be rubbish."

"Honestly," Hermione sighed, "I'll never understand where this low opinion you have over yourself comes from."

"From the fact that I am complete and utter rubbish at everything I do."

Hermione threw her hands up in a huff. "Don't say things like that Ron, you're not rubbish. You're wonderful. You're going be brilliant, you'll see."

"It wasn't that bad," Hermione pleaded with the door when Ron refused to leave his room.

"Not that bad," a shout came back, "Hermione it was awful. Ginny caught the snitch and we still lost the match."

"It was just one match Ron."

"Against Hufflepuff," He said his voice so close that Hermione assumed he'd sunk down against the wall near the door. "I single handedly lost a match against Hufflepuff."

"The team lost, Ron, not you. Think about it you've got four first year players. A new keeper, new seeker, and both of the beaters are new as well. A rough start is to be expected when you've just replaced four of your seven players. Come on Ron, open the door. Let me in, please."

There was no answer, but a few moments later the door opened slowly to reveal Ron still in his quidditch robes.

Hermione reached to hug him but he pulled away.

"How can you look at me," he asked eyes to the floor.

"Why wouldn't I want to look at you?"

"I'm nothing," he said solemnly. "Quidditch is supposed to be something I'm at least fair at and now I've gone and messed that up. I tried. I really did. I looked to the stands and saw you there and though this was it, I was going to show you what I could do. I was going to really impress you. Then one quaffle zoomed by, and another, and another. Then before I knew it we were so far behind that even Ginny's catch couldn't save us. The whole way back to the castle all I could hear was the Slytherins singing that bloody song. How could I face you after that? How can you look at me?"

"Ronald Weasley when are you ever going to get it in your head," she grabbed his face forcing him to look her in the eyes, "you are not nothing. You are incredible. You lost one match, so what? Is that supposed to change the way I feel about you? Does losing somehow make you any less you? I love you, Ron Weasley, you. Not what you think you have to be to have people like you. I love the boy who fought a troll in the girls lavatory to save me, or spent an entire afternoon belching up slugs because Draco Malfoy called me a mudblood, or sacrificed himself to a giant chess queen so that Harry and I could get to the stone. You sell your self too short Ron. You've done remarkable things, things wizards twice your age would never dream of doing." She breathed, taking a moment to collect her next words. "And above all that," she sighed, "I love the man who was to shy to kiss me at first and is still concerned with impressing me even though he should know I'm already won. What does it matter if you lose a quidditch match? Lose them all, there are more important things than quidditch."

He kissed her. He could not believe what he was hearing. She didn't care. She didn't care that he'd lost. She didn't think he was a nobody. He knew he shouldn't have been surprised, she'd said things like this before. She was always lecturing him about his 'low opinion' of himself. He'd thought before that it was just Hermione being Hermione, taking another chance to point out something he was doing wrong. He saw now that it was nothing like that. She honestly loved him and if she thought that he was worth loving she must be right, since Hermione is right about everything.

A few moments later they were sitting on his bed talking. They hadn't had a chance to talk like this since Christmas. There was still so much that had been left unsaid that night and still so much that had developed since then. He sat with his back against the head of the bed and Hermione leaned against him, his arms wrapped tightly around her.

"How is it I can go my whole life feeling almost nothing and then one day I see you and suddenly I feel everything all at once? The only feeling I've ever known was want, wanting to be better, wanting to be richer, wanting to be smarter. When I finally my feeling for you, I realized that I'd never want anything as much as I wanted to be with you. When it actually happened I kept thinking that I had to make it stick. I had to constantly remind you that you hadn't made a mistake, but the harder I tired that more I messed things up. I mean lets face it," he laughed, "I made a right git of myself on Valentine's day."

"I'll admit we could have both handled Padma's little prank better, but holding our tempers has never been a strong point for either of us. Besides, you made up for it. My present was perfect."

"I'm glad you liked it. I wasn't sure if it was going to work."

"Oh it works," she laughed, "trust me."

"What else have you asked it?"

"Nothing," she said feigning innocence.

"You asked it who sent the letter didn't you."

"No, I asked if I was right about who sent the letter. Ginny and I'd figured out most of it by ourselves, we just wanted to be sure before we confronted them."

"I still can't believe you hexed her."

"Well," Hermione stopped herself. She didn't want to tell Ron any of the horrible things Padma had said about him. She'd just gotten him to stop saying such things about himself; she didn't need the set back.

"Harry's right," he laughed, "you have changed.

"Changed how?"

"I asked that to, but now I see you. You're much more, at ease lately. You haven't deducted nearly as many points as you did first term. You smile more often. You laugh. And you don't yell at me nearly as much as you use to." He snuggled her extra tight on that last comment as if to assure her that he was only teasing.

"What about you," she asked turning around to face him. "You've changed, too. Finishing your assignments days in advance, top marks on all of your exams, and no detentions, with the exception of the arbitrary punishments Umbridge enjoys handing out."

"Hmmm," Ron said musingly, "I suppose we just bring it out in each other. Balance each other out. You make me take things more seriously and I help you relax."

"The perfect match," Hermione cooed cuddling up closer to Ron. She knew that soon Ron's roommates would be coming to bed and she would have to leave. She longed for the freedom the holiday had brought. Were they at the burrow or even Grimmauld Place, they could stay up like this for hours with no worries about lessons the next day or suspicious roommates barging in. Hermione sat up as she heard footsteps and stifled voices coming up the staircase. "I guess I should be going."

"Yeah, wouldn't exactly set a good example to have a pair of prefects shut up in a dormitory alone together would it?"

"No it wouldn't," she laughed, "and we have to lead by example."

Ron got up and walked her to the door praying he'd have time for just one more kiss before the other's reached the top of the stairs.

"Well, goodnight." Hermione said as she opened the door.

"Goodnight," Ron replied kissing her as he saw that no one was yet approaching the room. "See you in the morning, Love."

When Hermione had descended the staircase Ron went back inside the room and shut the door. He was changing into his pajama when Seamus and Dean entered, and had crawled in bed and shut his curtains when Harry and Neville arrived. The other's assumed he was still upset about the match and left him to his thoughts. Satisfied with his solitude Ron collapsed onto his bed letting the days events wash over him. It had been draining feeling so many different emotions in such a short span of time. He felt like he'd been thrashed about by the womping willow then had a long soak in a soothing bubble bath. Overcome by pure exhaustion Ron gave into sleep and smiled at the though that tomorrow, was Sunday. He could have the whole day with Hermione.

(Sorry if this one was a bit slow…or mushy. I just can imagine this would be his reaction after losing his first game with her watching as his girlfriend. Anyway…that's my opinion at least. So what do you guys think? Again I apologize for grammar or spelling errors, I write really late at night and there is only so much spell/grammar check can do. Plus, have no beta…so if you'd like the job let me know.)