Disclaimer: Yes, I own Harry Potter. Bazinga!

Friendship

Ron was downing a glass of Butterbeer when the winners were announced: "Alright, people, the winners have been chosen! Third place goes to Ginny Weasley and Mitchell Abbott!"

His sister smiled and leant toward her boyfriend. Ron quickly averted his eyes from the pair, he did NOT need to see that.

"Second place goes to Blaise Zabini and Pansy Parkinson, and that means, Hermione Granger and Harry Potter are the winners!"

Hoots and claps sounded all over as Blaise and Pansy ambushed Hermione and clapped Harry on his back, the two of them almost the shade of Ron's hair. Rom sighed to himself.

Ever since the troll in the toilet fiasco, the three of them had stuck together, faced every trouble with each other at their side and stood by each other in testing times. If you didn't count Ron's momentary lapse of jealousy during the Triwizard Tournament, of course. He had chastised himself every waking moment after that when Harry had arrived traumatised from the Dragon Arena, and vowed never to doubt the boy again. They were the face of unity and team spirit. But despite their trio, Ron had always known that Harry and Hermione shared a special connect. A bond...unique from that of any other friendship. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that both of them had lived in the Muggle world for their lives before Hogwarts, or the fact that they had faced great perils together. Even Ron had, but Harry 'connecting' with Ron was just...Ron shuddered mentally.

He wasn't exactly the most eloquent speaker in town, but Ronald Weasley knew love when he saw it. He had seen it in Neville for Luna. He had seen it in himself for Lavender. He had seen it in Fleur Delacour, for the love of Merlin, toward his brother Bill. And he could see it every single day between Harry and Hermione ever since their second year at Hogwarts.

When he came to think of it, the two indeed were much closer to each other than they were with him. When the troll had barged in, it was Harry who first remembered that Hermione was missing. When Hermione had been Petrified by that hopeless excuse of a snake, Ron had chosen to stay away from the Hospital Wing for the fear of seeing the invincible girl lying helplessly in the bed would make him lose his mind. Harry had chosen to stay by her every frightening day after day. In third year, when they faced Sirius Black, Hermione had shielded Harry with her own body in front of the then-perceived-murderer with no fear. In fourth year, Hermione was the only person in the entirety of Hogwarts who believed in Harry. She had stayed awake with him night after night, trying to decipher the clues. He had spoilt her Ball by his spiteful words stemming from his insecurity of losing Hermione to Krum, but then his crush on her lasted only that year, after which he had looked upon her as his other sister. In the fifth year, Hermione lied to Umbridge just ao that she would stop torturing Harry. Even when they had faced...Voldemort those months before, Hermione had never wavered from Harry's side, waging a battle of her own against the Death Eaters at his side.

They were without a doubt, perfect for each other. Harry was impulsive and acted with his heart, while Hermione was rational and weighed the pros and cons calmly before acting. Harry was the offense of their duo while Hermione defended excellently. Despite these differences, they were both loyal, honest, brave and passionate. They were truly meant for each other.

Ron sighed to himself again as they stood to a side as people around them babbled excitedly, both of them having a respectable distance between them, but itching to get closer.
How could they possibly be so dense about each other's feelings?! All of the students and even most of the teachers could feel their undeniable attraction to each other. He growled frustratedly, assessing the situation mentally.

Just then, Lavender settled in a chair beside him, and said, "What's the matter?" He looked at his girlfriend, a vision of beauty tonight as she gazed at his scowling expression.

He cried, "Hermione and Harry! The two just do not admit their feelings out loud! Bloody hell, it took Harry enough time to even admit that he likes her!"

She nodded and added, "Hermione really likes him too, but she just doesn't want to rush into admitting her feelings."

He groaned and asked, "Should we do something about it?"

She shook her head and said wisely, "No, I think it'd be manipulative on our part, Ron. They want to take it slow, so be it. Maybe they'll say it out loud some time soon.."

Ron looked up suddenly and exclaimed, "They were about to kiss!"

Lavender jumped up in surprise, "They what?!"

He nodded vehemently and spoke excitedly, "After we got ousted, I walked over to them and they were very very close to each other, Lav! Their noses were all touching and she had craned her head up and he was leaning down and I walked in and-"

He earned a knock on the head from his girlfriend. "Why didn't you see before interrupting? Oh, that would have been so perfect...!"

She glared at him for a second before breaking into giggled and squealed, "I can almost imagine them kissing!"

Ron grimaced. That was one more image he did not want to see.

~o~

The Ball had lasted till over 2:00am, with the teachers finally shooing everybody out of the Great Hall and magically sealung the doors to prevent any backtrackers. There had been games and Rapid Fire Buzzes, a rapid fire round involving teachers and students, and many prizes had been given.

Harry and Hermione were walking down to the Gryffindor Common Room, subconsciously walking slower than the others as they talked and talked. Hermione had been pleasantly surprised to realise that even after practically spending the evening with Harry, they just didn't run out of things to talk of. They talked of books, movies, classes, Potions, whether Filch and Madam Pince were in love with each other or not, hopes, dreams, goals...everything.

Hermione entered the Common Room and people had trudged to their dormitories by now, bedraggled and exhausted. Harry closed the portrait behind him and settled on the couch. Hermione twirled around excitedly and collapsed giggling onto a chair.

Harry raised an eyebrow lazily at her. He had never seen her giggling in all these years.

She beamed at him and chirped, "Today was absolutely amazing!"

Harry nodded and grinned at her, "Thanks for making it the same for me, Mione."

She smiled in reply and he asked him a question, "Hermione, remember we were talking about love the other day?"

Her face imperceptibly clouded over and she nodded. "Well, do you think I should tell her? Like, for real?"

She took a deep breath and came to sit beside him on the couch and said slowly, "Look, Harry. If you are sure about your feelings, then I think you should go and tell her. Really."

He nodded in agreement and noticed her fingering something.

"What's that, Hermione?" he asked, as she looked up startled.

"Oh, it's that piece of paper I told you about in the beginning of the game! I carried it with me tonight, hoping to find the boy who wrote this, but he never showed himself up...could you try and recognise the handwriting for me, please?"

Harry took the paper and looked at the familiar handwriting for a while, trying to calm his nerves and shook his head apologetically.

"Harry.." began Hermione, fiddling with her mask in her hands.

"Hmm?" he asked her.

"You were saying something after the dance competition had ended...what were you talking about?" she asked slowly.

He immediately clammed up, swallowing nervously. "Uh, nothing!"

She looked at him slyly and said "No, you were saying you liked someone!"

Harry said, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Harry, come on!"

"Okay, I was just saying...I like...y...yogurt!"

Hermione looked at him astonishedly, "Yogurt? Really, Harry?"

He nodded emphatically, "Of course I do! Now, Hermione, I'm really tired and I feel sleepy..."

She suddenly stopped smiling and nodded sombrely, rising up and striding toward her dorm.

Harry watched her retreating figure, cursing himself for not being brave enough. Maybe the Sorting Hat should have put him into Slytherin. He obviously didn't have the courage characteristic of Gryffindors.

(A/N: Surprise, surprise! New chapter up before 2015! :D

Hope you guys enjoy Ron's musings! I PROMISE, next chapter, the Kiss!

Stay tuned for more, read and review!

Happy new year once more! Peace and love to all!)