What's going on? Ron wondered. He looked from Hermione to Seamus to Neville and back to Hermione. Hermione looked nervous and unsettled. Seamus looked like he had just won the jackpot, and Neville…well, Neville looked proud! Ron gave them all a curious look and sat down next to Hermione.
"Uh, I think I need to go use the facilities," Hermione said quickly and got up to find Dean.
"Is she alright?" Ron asked Seamus and Neville.
"Well, wouldn't you know if she was alright or not?" Seamus asked suggestively.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, aren't you two going out?" Seamus asked with his hand over his mouth. Ron thought that odd, but he also thought he saw the corners of Seamus' lips curving upward.
Oh Merlin, I hope he didn't ask Hermione the same thing! No wonder she got out of here as soon as I sat down!
"No we're not, Seamus. And if you know what's good for you, you won't ask Hermione about it, either!"
"Whoa, whoa! Hold up your broomstick there, Mate. I didn't mean anything by it. I just thought I'd ask, with how you two were acting tonight."
"What do you mean, 'how we were acting'?"
"I mean all the flirting," said Seamus.
"And tackling!" Neville piped in, yet again proud at his contribution.
"Hey, there's nothing going on between us! We're best friends! I'd tackle either of you any day," Ron retorted.
"Please don't tackle me," whined Neville. "There's a reason that I'm over here and not out there," he added, nodding his head toward the yard where Dean, Harry, and Ginny were still playing.
Seamus leaned forward in his chair and rested his elbows on his knees, clasping his hands together. "Ron, we know you like her. Bloody hell, everyone's known for years! Why don't you just admit it?"
"I don't bloody like her!" cried Ron. "I mean, I do, but as a friend. She's one of my best friends! If you two would get your minds out of the gutter you'd see that! There's no way we could ever be anything more." Ron said the last part quietly, almost as to convince himself.
"But you wish it," Seamus replied. "Don't deny it," he added when Ron started to open his mouth to do just that.
"Hey everyone, what's up?" asked a sweaty Dean. He turned to Seamus. "Did you ask him yet?"
Bloody hell, they're all out to get me! Ron groaned.
"Ha, I guess you did!" Dean exclaimed, sitting next to Ron in the chair Hermione had previously occupied. "So, what's the verdict?"
"They're not dating, but Ron likes Hermione and won't admit it," said Neville. "And I think Hermione feels the same way.
"I-do-not-like-Hermione!" Ron cried. He sat back in his chair, staring into the campfire. He was determined to ignore the others. He saw Harry and Ginny come back and sit down and nodded to them, but said nothing. He just wanted to sit there with his thoughts.
Do I like Hermione? Ron wondered. Is it possible? She is pretty. Beautiful, actually. But that's not even her best feature. She's brilliant, she cares about her friends, she's fun to be around…Bloody hell, I think I like my best friend!
"Ron, you alright Mate?" Harry asked from across the campfire.
Ron shook his head, waking up from his thoughts. He realized that his eyes were wide and that he was sitting on the edge of his chair as if there were something incredibly interesting in the campfire.
"Umm, yah, I'm fine. Dean, where's your bathroom?" Ron had just realized that Hermione was taking an awful long time in the restroom. He had to find her.
Dean gave Ron directions and Ron headed toward the house. Halfway there he stopped in his tracks. What was he doing to do when he found Hermione? Was he going to tell her his newly realized feelings for her? No, he couldn't do that. What if she didn't feel the same way? That would ruin their friendship forever! No, he just had to play it cool. When he found her, he'd just say that he had to use the restroom also.
Ron arrived at the bathroom to find it empty. Where did she go? Ron wondered. He looked around the first floor to find no sign of Hermione. Ron thought back to when Hermione had left the campfire, saying she was going to find Dean. She hadn't headed toward the house, which was reasonable, since Dean was in the open part of the yard. But Hermione hadn't headed toward where they were playing, either. She had headed toward the small grove of trees at the edge of the yard. Ron quickly headed toward the trees, hoping that Hermione was there.
Ron walked a little ways into the trees when he found Hermione sitting up against a tree, her legs straight out in front of her. Her eyes were closed and she was breathing deeply.
"Uh, Mione?"
Hermione looked up at Ron and smiled. Ron felt his heart skip a beat.
"Hey Ron."
Bloody hell, now what do I say? Do I tell her I like her? No…I'm still getting used to that fact. I've just got to pretend like nothing's different. Yeah! Nothing's different…
"Uh…what are you doing out here? Everyone's back sitting by the fire."
"Oh, I just thought I'd get away for awhile, clear my head," Hermione responded. She looked up at the sky through the trees. "I love how the trees look up against the sky at night, don't you?"
Ron tilted his head back to see the sky. He wasn't getting a good view and he tiled farther and farther back until he tipped over and nearly fell again. Hermione put her hand to her mouth to try to hide her laughing.
"Oh, stop that," Ron said.
"I'm sorry, but it's not my fault you have a tendency to fall," Hermione replied.
"Well, it's hard not to fall when someone keeps running into you!" Ron retorted, giving Hermione a lopsided smile so she knew he was joking.
"Hey, that wasn't me this last time!" Hermione protested.
"It was indirectly!" Ron said. "If you hadn't asked me about how the trees look against the night sky, I never would've stumbled!"
"Well if you'd sat down here next to me you wouldn't have stumbled, either!" Hermione finished, a triumphant smile on her face. Ron knew he was beaten, and wasn't about to pass up the invitation to sit next to Hermione. He plopped himself down as next to Hermione as he could be and still use the tree as a backrest.
They sat there quietly for a moment. Ron began to fidget. Usually their silences were comfortable, but since his revelation he wasn't comfortable being alone around Hermione anymore. What if I say something wrong? What if I let her know how I feel? What if she doesn't feel the same way? These questions went around and around in Ron's head until he finally made up his mind to say something. He didn't know what, but he had to say something. He turned his head toward Hermione and opened his mouth, then closed it right away. Hermione's eyes were closed and her head was tilted to one side. Ron could see her deep breaths in the rising and falling of her chest, and he couldn't bear to move her from that position. Merlin she's beautiful, Ron thought. He brushed a stray hair away from her face, being careful not to touch her so as not to wake her.
Ron noticed that Hermione's arms were crossed tightly to her chest and her legs were tucked underneath her. He could see the hairs on her arms sticking up. He sat closer to Hermione and put his arm gently around her shoulders. He saw that made a little difference, but not much, so he pulled out his wand and transformed a clump of moss into a soft, green blanket. He pulled the cover up over them and tipped his head back, promptly falling asleep.
A/N: Alright, so I´ve been able to use spellcheck on some of these chapters I typed in Spain! Enjoy!