Hey everyone! Thanks for reviewing! And a special thanks to those who e-mailed me worrying when my next chapter would be up and running. I apologize for taking so long, but with school starting up and band and I just got my learner's permit August 21 (my birthday!) and I've been driving. So I haven't had much time to sit down and write. Anyways, I hope you like this chapter, and please r/r!

Ch.12 Confessions

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Rons P.O.V:

The next day, Ron's mood had gone from happy go lucky to anxious. Last night he had felt so sure that he was going to be able to confess his feelings to Hermione, but today he felt just sick. What if she rejected him? Would she be shocked, or maybe, he gulped, maybe she would laugh in his face. He couldn't risk loosing her friendship. He valued it too much.

He walked downstairs with a sickening feeling in his stomach. Maybe this wasn't a good idea after all. He reached the bottom of the stairs to meet Harry sitting on the couch talking to Ginny in hushed tones. Damn you Potter. When I actually need your advice, and you're off trying to snog my sister.

He walked over to them and coughed lightly, causing both heads to turn in his direction.

" Oh hey Ron!" Harry said, "whats up??"

He swallowed lightly. " I don't think I'm ready for this. I mean, what if she says no? or laugh at me? What if I were wrong the entire time, and she doesn't feel anything for me?" He looked down dejectedly, tears forming in his eyes.

" RONALD WEASLEY!" Ginny shouted, her anger radiating from her face. " You know Hermione would NEVER laugh at you, no matter what the circumstances! And you can bet your life that Hermione loves you! The entire school knows you have a thing for each other! Only blind people wouldn't see it! So you are GOING to go tell your feelings today, and you are GOING to be happy, even if I have to carry you there myself, b/c I am sick and tired of having you two passing googly eyes to each other!" Ginny was standing on her feet now, and steam was practically bellowing out of her ears. Harry, however, was concerned.

"Uh, Gin, hun, it's ok. Don't freak out" He stood up and placed his arms on her shoulders, carefully massaging them for her so as to calm her down.

She looked up at him and smiled. " Better?" he asked.

" You bet" she turned and smiled up at him before he reached down and captured his lips in hers. Obviously, Ron had just been forgotten like yesterday's newspaper.

" Ahem" Ron said, making his attention noticed once again. Both turned and gave him death glares that could kill. " Sorry" Ron began, " it's just, next time you want to snog my sister, get a room…PLEASE!"

Ginny blushed crimson and instantly changed the subject. "come on guys, its nearly 10 o clock, I bet the infirmary is open by now."

That sinking feeling in Ron's stomach returned instantly. He had almost forgotten about it during Harry and Ginny's little move moment.

" Erm..Ok, just let me get her gift."

Ginny looked surprised. "oh! You got her a gift?! How sweet! Let me see!"

Ron looked up. " No, you can't." And then realizing that what he said could be taken the wrong way, he added " its just that, I've already wrapped it, and I don't want it to be messed up. You'll have to wait until she opens it."

"Oh, ok"

Ron quickly ran up, grabbed the neatly wrapped box with a purple bow, and came back downstairs.

"Ok, I'm ready to go. Just, give me a second."

" Oh Ron," Ginny said gently, forgetting her previous anger " it'll be fine! I know she likes you! I'm a girl, I know these things."

"Oh really?" Harry interjected, " and what kind of things do you know that I don't?"

" a aha!" Ginny sweatdropped as she grabbed his hand. "Let's just go."

They were silent through the entire journey to the infirmary. Ron's butterflies seemed to have transformed from little butterflies to giant bats. He seriously considered turned back, but he knew Ginny and Harry would object to it.

10 minutes later, they reached the familiar door with the red cross on it.

"This is it." Ron gulped, "it's now or never"

He walked up and opened the door. As he peered in, he noticed Hermione sitting up in her bed, catching up on some Arithmancy homework.

He walked up to her and placed his hands around her eyes.

" You know, too much schoolwork can be bad for you!" he whispered in her ear.

Hermione smiled " well then, you must be in perfect health!"

She grabbed his hands and looked up into his eyes.

" Hey! I was wondering when you would come and visit me!" her eyes sparkled in the light. God she really was beautiful.

"Yeah well, sorry about that. Um, Hermione, you see, theres something I need to tell you." He looked down at his hands, and began squirming in his seat.

" Yeah, what is it?" Hermione looked up and noticed that Ron was looking very uncomfortable indeed. 'Oh no!' she thought, ' please don't let it be something about his relationship with Parvati!!! No! oh please no no no!'

" Well, we've been friends now for 5 years, right?"

" eh, yeah, I guess, why?" Curiosity was getting the best of her. Obviously she was wrong. Why would he mention their friendship if it involved his feelings for Parvati? Or..she gasped, maybe its more than his feelings for Parvati…

"Hermione, ever since the first time I saw you, the first time I heard your sweet voice, and the first time I ever argued with you and made you cry, I've been head over heels in love with you!" He quickly looked up into her eyes to see what she was thinking, and his stomach dropped. She had an absolute shocked expression on her face, and she looked like she were going to cry.

" Erm, Hermi-" he began, but was cut off as Hermione threw her arms around him and dropped her head into his chest.

" Oh Ron!!! I've been waiting forever to hear you say that! I've loved you too since third year, and if I'm completely honest with myself, even sooner than that!" She was now crying freely, tears splashing down his shirt, but he didn't care. He couldn't believe what had just happened. It was a dream come true. Never in a million years did he ever expect Hermione to actually have feelings as strong for him as he had for held for her.

Suddenly, Ron remembered the gift he had in his pocket, and he gently pulled Hermione back.

"Erm, 'Mione?"

Hermione smiled. She loved that name. "Yes?"

" Um, the reason we haven't been to visit is that we went to Hogsmeade yesterday, and got you a get well gift!" he beamed as he pulled out the small box.

" Oh Ron! You didn't have to! I was fine, really!" Her tears threatened to fall again. She never expected anything like this from Ron, maybe Harry, but definitely not Ron. It was really quite sweet of him.

She reached up and took the box from his hands and slowly unwrapped the paper.

What she found inside caused her to catch her breath. It was a diamond necklace that followed all the way down to the jewel, which was a sapphire in the shape of a heart embrioded with small pearls along the outside.

"Oh my God.." Her eyes sparkled against the soft glow of the diamond. She jumped into Ron's arms once again, and Ron smiled to himself.

" I knew you would like it. After all, I had Harry to help, and we all know he's the girl magnet."

Hermione chuckled to herself. How could this day possibly get any better? Her question was answered, however, when Ron pulled back captured his lips in hers for her first real kiss. Fireworks went off in her head, and she instantly wondered how she ever lived for 16 years without Ron's love, or his kisses.

Ginny and Harry, meanwhile, where standing outside the door smiling to each other before Harry took Ginny's hand.

" This is all too perfect" Ginny said, resting her head on Harry's chest.

" Yeah.." he managed right before Ginny did a Ron and reached up, kissing Harry fully on the lips.

When Ron and Hermione finally broke off, it had been at least 10 minutes.

" Ron, I love you" Hermione whispered, lying herself into Ron.

" I love you too 'Mione" he whispered into her hair.

This was the best day of their lives.

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Well, that's it! I felt so lovely dovy. I hope you like the H/G I put in there! Now, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE R/R!! You know I luv ya!