Hey readers! Sorry this chapter is late, but I've had a lot of distractions. The chapter is also a bit short, so please don't bite my head off about that! I REALLY love reviews, and would appreciate if more of my readers would do so. Thank you!

"Lavender? What did you and Ron do?" Hermione asked, petrified.

"We…you know…please don't be mad at me! It's not my fault! He slammed me against the wall and began kissing me! When I told him to stop, because I know you two are dating, he said…he said it didn't matter…that you didn't mean anything to him…" Lavender sniffled. "And when I told a group of my friends about what happened, they said it happened to them too! I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Hermione's hands balled into fists, and she began to cry. "Out…"

"What?"

"If you want to live get out."

"Hermione-"

Hermione grabbed her wand and pointed it at Lavender, eyes pouring with tears. "GET OUT!"

Lavender fled from the room and left Hermione alone.
"How…could he…"

For the rest of the afternoon, Hermione stayed in her bed, not even getting up to go to the bathroom or to get lunch. Ever time Ginny asked Hermione what was wrong, she didn't say anything. Hermione simply looked at her, and looked away. Seeing Ron's sister made it harder for Hermione to stop the buckets of tears.

When it was dinner time, Ginny finally got her out of bed and told the boys to go and eat before them so they could talk in privacy.

Hermione sat as far away from Harry and Ron as she could, and told Ginny what happened earlier with Lavender. "For being extremely smart, you are the most stupid person I have ever met." Ginny sighed, as she plopped a lamb chop on her plate.

"Lavender is jealous of you. She likes my brother, and would do anything to break you guys up. What happened back there might have actually been good. It gave us a clue of what Lavender is willing to do and say to win Ron." Ginny took a bite of her buttered bread, and chuckled. "Silly Lavender! She's trash compared to you." Ginny said elbowing Hermione's side.

"Yeah…Ron wouldn't do anything like that! What was I thinking…not trusting him…?" Hermione said with a nervous laugh.

"Well, since you officially know the truth, I would like to sit with my boyfriend on this spectacular Christmas night. Would you care to join me?" Ginny asked Hermione, holding her hand out.

"Yes. I would like that." Hermione said taking Ginny's outstretched hand.

Ginny and Hermione walked over and sat next to the boys. "Where've you been all day Hermione? I only got to see you in the morning. I even went into…" Ron shivered. "the library."

"Well, I had a bit of a talk with Lavender Brown." Ron's eyes widened. "She said you two had kissed, as well as you kissing many other girls. What a crazy, huh?" Hermione asked laughing.

"Yeah…a crazy." Ron said playing with his mashed potatoes.

"Is there something wrong, Ron?" Hermione asked putting her hand under his bangs to feel his forehead. "You don't have a fever…"

"I…I'll tell you later. Let's enjoy our dinner." Ron said, taking Hermione's hand off his forehead.

Hermione also began playing with the food on her plate. Did I say something to Ron?

After a speech from Headmaster Dumbledore, they were dismissed to their beds. Ron avoided looking Hermione in the eyes, and walked quickly, tugging Harry by his shirt to the common rooms.

When Hermione reached the common room with Ginny, it looked like Harry and Ron were about to head up the spiral staircase to their dorm room. "Wait!" Hermione shouted at Ron.

Ron stopped suddenly, and walked with his head down to Hermione. "Yes…"

"Merry Christmas, Ron." Hermione said, stood on her toes, and kissed his forehead. Ron didn't even look up into Hermione's eyes.

"Merry Christmas." Ron replied and turned abruptly to go to his room.

Hermione stood there, watching Ron disappear up the stairs. Hermione scanned through all the things she said during the dinner, to find out what might have made him angry with her. Then she realized when he became awkward. It was when she said something about kissing.

About kissing Lavender.

No, it was impossible. Utterly impossible. Ron would never do that to Hermione, not with Lavender of all people. He said he didn't like her. He said she was too clingy. But then again, he only said he didn't like Lavender.

Hermione walked up to her room, thinking of all the horrible things Ron had said about Lavender Brown, and all the wonderful things he said about Hermione. They couldn't possibly be lies, could they?

Sleep never fully reached Hermione that night, due to all the negative thoughts clouding up her mind. When mourning came, Hermione dressed and went to the ladies room to take a relaxing bath. When she was clean, she changed back into her clothes and went to breakfast.

When she reached the great hall, she sat in between Ron and Fred, and ate in a hurry. She wanted to get done with dinner as early as possible so she could have some time to privately talk t Ron.

When Hermione was finished, she dragged Ron out of the Great Hall and into the empty common room.

"Is there something wrong Ron? Did I say something to upset you?" Hermione asked holding Ron's face in her hands, so he had to look in her eyes.

"Look, Hermione…about that thing about Lavender, she wasn't completely lying…" Ron said, withdrawing Hermione's hands from his face.

"What? What do you mean Lavender wasn't completely lying?"

"It happened before we started going out…" Ron took a deep breath, "Lavender and I were both talking, and somehow we ended up talking about our first kisses. I told her I had never kissed anyone, and she laughed. She taunted me and said 'How will you ever make your girlfriend happy if you don't know how to kiss?', so she offered to teach me how, and I accepted…"

Hermione stared at him blankly. She couldn't believe how dense Ron was.

Seeing Hermione's expression, Ron continued his story. "The only reason I accepted was because…I was afraid, Hermione. You're the smartest witch of our year, so I knew you must have known how to kiss. I kept thinking, 'If I ever end up going out with Hermione, what will I do?'"

Hermione slapped Ron's face. "You fool!" Hermione hugged him. "I haven't even had my first kiss! Do you really think I care about how great of a kisser you are?" Hermione sobbed into Ron's warm sweater.

Ron wrapped his arms around Hermione and hugged her back. "You aren't mad at me?"

"Oh I'm mad at you… Lavender said you kissed more girls than just her."

"Well, Lavender mad me practice on replicas of each girl of the school…does that count?"

Feeling suddenly relieved, Hermione sighed and became hysterical. Ron, realizing how idiotic he had just sounded, also began to laugh.

"Ron…can I ask for one more Christmas present?" Hermione asked, looking into Ron's deep blue eyes.

"Hmm?"

"My first kiss?"

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