Ron didn't return to the hospital wing all day. Now that he and Harry weren't fighting anymore, they sat in the common room talking. Ron had told Harry what Hermione had told him. Now he and Harry were trying to think of ways to get her to trust him again.

"Well, that makes no sense. Why wouldn't she trust you if you told her that you love her?" Harry asked confused.

"I'm pretty sure that I'm not the only one she doesn't trust right now. She probably doesn't trust anyone. I just have to find a way to get her to trust me again."

"Do you have any ideas of what you're going to do?"

"No, but I'm not going to do anything too extravagant. I think that if I do small things first she might trust me. If I do something too big she might get scared again. I'm just going to help her and comfort her for a while and hopefully it will help. I mean it'd be a start." Ron said with a sigh. Just then Ginny walked in.

"Hey, Ginny." Harry said flatly.

"Where've you been?" Ron asked curiously.

"I was at the hospital wing visiting Hermione. Madam Pomfrey said that she'll be able to leave in a couple of days. I can't believe that she almost drowned."

"I…What are you talking about?"

"What? I asked Hermione why she was there and she told me that she went outside last night and fell in the water. She said that someone got her out and brought her to the hospital wing, but she doesn't remember who it was." Ginny explained. Ron thought about it for a second before realizing why Hermione had lied. Of course Hermione wouldn't want everyone to know what had really happened. She'd be too embarrassed.

Ron went to bed thinking of ways to earn Hermione's trust again.

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

For the next couple of days Ron spent most of his time with Hermione, even though she was usually asleep. He would just sit and watch her while she slept and he wouldn't leave until he thought that she was going to wake up. The only times he saw her when she was awake was when he brought her the homework she'd missed. He's spent one afternoon going to all of her teachers and getting the homework. Snape was reluctant, but he eventually gave Ron the homework with his usual snide comment. He usually would bring it up when he brought her lunch up to her. The only thing that she ever said to him was thank you, but even that was enough for Ron, because that was the only time he ever heard her voice. He thought about bringing her some books from the library, but he didn't know what ones she liked to read.

Ron didn't want to overcrowd her or put too much pressure on her. Every night he would go to the hospital wing to see Hermione. He usually fell asleep after watching her for a while. Madam Pomfrey would end up waking him up in the morning and telling him to leave, because he wasn't supposed to be there. Hermione didn't even know that he came any other time then when he brought her lunch and her homework.

Hermione was starting to get scared that she was pushing him away and that was why he wasn't coming more often. They didn't even talk when he did come. She was afraid that when she was finally ready for Ron, that he wouldn't be there anymore. The only thing that comforted her was the conversation that she and Ginny had earlier that day.

(Flashback)

"Hi, Hermione." Ginny said as she walked over to Hermione's bed.

"Hi, Ginny." Hermione replied in a sad voice.

"What's wrong?"

"Just a little lonely."

"How can you be lonely? Ron's comes in and out all day."

"No he doesn't. He only comes in the afternoon to bring me my lunch and my homework."

"No he doesn't. He comes in here every night and sleeps next to your bed in a chair. You two must talk then."

"He sleeps here every night?"

"Yes. You didn't know that?"

"No. I must have already asleep when he came. But, why would he do such a thing?"

"I don't know. You haven't talked to him all week?"

"No. Every time he comes, he just leaves after giving me my things."

"Oh." Ginny said. They were both lost in their own thoughts. Ginny was wondering why Ron never talked to Hermione or why he always slept there if she was already asleep.

Hermione was thinking about Ron and why he would sleep there. The only reason she could think of was that he was probably watching her sleep. If he was she wouldn't have felt so nervous, but she doubted that that was what he was doing. But, if he was, why wouldn't he tell her? She was determined to stay awake that night. She would catch Ron coming in and then she would ask him why he was doing it.

(End of Flashback)