ßHermione woke up not knowing where she was. She looked down and saw an unfamiliar blanket over her. She felt somewhat stiff so she shuffled to become more comfortable. When she did she felt something constricting her shoulders. She reached her up and felt a hand on one shoulder. Hermione looked to the other side of her and saw Ron; his head back against the tree. His mouth was hanging open and some drool was sitting on the corner of his mouth.

Hermione chuckled. He's so cute, she thought. She pondered getting up to find the others, since she didn't know what time it was other than it was dark. She didn't, though. Hermione was too comfortable. A couple more minutes won't hurt. Hermione smiled to herself and leaned back into Ron's arm.

As she sat there she thought about what she was doing. Why did she want to sit there with Ron so badly? After the comments around the campfire, one would think that she would be uncomfortable around Ron. Hermione felt Ron's fingers adjust against her shoulder and her heart did a flip-flop. I wonder if he realises what he's doing, Hermione thought. Of course, he could've fallen asleep and unconsciously have put his arm around her. But wouldn't that mean the same thing? But what does it mean? Hermione wondered. Her thoughts wouldn't stay at the task at hand, though. She looked at Ron and felt a strong urge to kiss him on the cheek. She wanted to kiss him on the cheek, and then she wanted him to wake up, smile at her, and kiss her gently on the lips. It was then that Hermione had her revelation. She knew exactly why she wanted to sit there with him. Bloody hell, I fancy my best friend!

Hermione was still mulling over what this could mean for her and Ron's friendship when she heard some leaves rustle. She got up quickly, making Ron fall over. He woke up with a start.

"Wasgoingon?" he mumbled.

"Someone's coming," Hermione whispered fiercely.

"So?" Ron moaned. He was clearly not awake yet.

"So-"Hermione started, then she stopped. What could she tell him? That she didn't want their friends to find them together like this? He didn't know about the remarks they had been making around the campfire, and what about her newly realized feelings for him? It was all so confusing!

Ron was looking at her with weary eyes, waiting for her explanation.

"So…so, think of how much fun they could have at our expense if they found us sleeping and your arm was around me," Hermione said. Good. This will work. This is general. It has nothing to do with the comments before, for all he knows.

Ron looked startled. "My…my arm was around you?"

"You didn't know?" Hermione asked, worried. What if he didn't meant to? What if he was dreaming about some other girl? Hermione shook these thoughts from her head.

"Uh, I guess not," Ron replied. Hermione watched first his ears, then his f ace turn a deep red.

"Uh, I'm sorry," Ron added bashfully, looking at the ground.

"No!" Hermione exclaimed quickly. I don't want him to be sorry!

"It's really alright, don't worry about it," she added.

Just then the others arrived.

"Where have you been!" Ginny cried, giving Hermione a quick hug. "You've been gone for two hours!"

"Yeah, we thought we should come and find you," Harry added. Ginny cleared her throat and gave Harry a glare reminiscent of Mrs. Weasley.

"Okay, okay. So Ginny thought we should find you. The rest of us are insensitive gits." Hermione saw Dean make a small motion as if he were cracking a whip.

"There was no way I thought we should come and get you guys," Seamus clarified. " I figured you were gone for a reason. Am I right?" Seamus asked, winking.

"Now you hear this, Seamus. I was sitting here, Ron came and found me, and we fell asleep. NOTHING HAPPENED."

"Why would something happen?" Ron asked nervously.

Oh no! Why did I say that? Now Ron will think – no, know – that I like him because I jumped to the conclusion that something could have happened, and all the others are going to think I was thinking of something happening and…oh this is a mess!

Ginny eyed Hermione suspiciously. "Well, we should be going anyway. If we're not home soon Mum´ll worry."

Ginny, Hermione, Ron and Harry said thanks and goodbye to Dean, Seamus and Neville and flooed back to the Burrow and went to bed. Only two actually slept, though.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

Ron lay on his bed thinking. It had been about a week since they had been to Dean's, and ever since then Hermione had seemed really distant. Of course, she wasn't being distant with Ginny or Harry. Just him. He had done something wrong? He hoped not. Then again, eh was being very careful around Hermione, not wanting her to figure out his feelings for her. Wait a minute, Ron thought, If I'm being cautious around Mione because I fancy her, could she be distant around me because she fancies me? Ron answered his own question. Nah. That could never happen! Ronald Weasley wasn't good enough for Hermione Granger. She was intelligent, beautiful, and overall wonderful. Ron sighed and turned on his side. It was then that he heard the knock on his door.

"Come in," he called from his bed.

"Hey Ron, your mom sent me to –" Hermione stopped when she saw Ron lying on his bed.

"Are you alright?" she asked, walking over to the side of Ron's bed.

Ron sat up quickly, very aware that Hermione was standing next to his bed.

"Oh, yah, I'm find," he said, running his fingers through his hair. "Why do you ask?"

"Well, you looked so depressed lying there in the middle of the day," Hermione replied.

Ron decided to be brave and take a chance. He was a Gryffindor, right?

"Well, one best friend is off snogging my sister half the time, and my other best friend hasn't really seemed interested in spending time with me lately." Ron waited nervously for Hermione's response.

Hermione looked down, seemingly very interested in her fingers. Oh no, I blew it! Ron thought. Then Hermione spoke.

"I'm sorry, Ron. It's just that the boys said some things to me at Dean's, and it's made me cautious about being around you."

Ron understood the feeling, but was confused. They wouldn't dare say the same things to Mione as they did to me, would they?

"Um, what did they say?" Ron asked. His heart was beating rapidly.

"It was just something about you and me, that's all," Hermione explained. "Nothing really bad, of course. They were just making some jokes and such."

"Oh," Ron said, desperately wanting to know more but not wanting to prey too far and end up in a row.

"Well, anyway, I'm sorry Ron. Do you want to do something after lunch?"

"Sounds good," Ron replied. Then he heard a low rumbling coming from his stomach. Hermione tried to cover her giggle with her hand, but failed.

"But that doesn't sound good. When is lunch, anyway?"

"Oh!" Hermione cried. That's why your mum sent me up here. Lunch is ready!"

"Perfect!" Ron exclaimed, jumping off his bed.

"...and that is now the Room of Requirement was made," Hermione finished.

"Wow," Ron commented. For lack of anything better to do after lunch, Ron and Hermione had gone for a walk. Ron couldn't think of anything to talk about, and he was worried about saying something wrong. He figured that he'd get Hermione on a topic that she couldn't resist talking about. Hogwarts: A History.

"That's why I've been trying tot ell you and Harry for years! Hogwarts: A History is full of interesting, and many times useful, information. Arg! Boys just never listen!"

"Hey! That's not fair! We listen when you talk, sometimes we just choose to not put your words into action," Ron replied. He casually draped an arm around Hermione's shoulders and continued talking. "Besides, why read the book when we have you around to tell us everything that's in it?" Ron smiled at Hermione. When she met his eyes he blushed fiercely. Ron suddenly became aware of where his arm was and quickly drew it away. He saw Hermione quickly turn to the ground. Oh no, did I do something wrong again? Should I not have put my arm around her? Is she actually upset that I took it away? Merlin, that would be bloody fantastic!

Hermione looked back up at Ron. "I like this," she said.

Ron was confused. What's there to like? We're not doing anything.

"You like what?" Ron asked.

"Just...this," Hermione replied, waving her hand around in the air. "Walking, talking, not fighting with my best friend...it's nice."

"Yeah, it is," Ron replied quietly. Was she trying to get to a point, or was she just making a comment?

"I mean, I don't think we've ever been like this before. We're always rowing, or with Harry. I don´t think we've ever really done things with just us," Hermione continued. " We should do this more often."

Ron's heart leapt with joy. Hermione actually wanted to be with him – and just him – more often!

"That's a great idea, Mione!" Ron exclaimed. Ron's heart skipped a beat when he saw Hermione's wide smile.

"Well, now that that is settled, should we do something tomorrow?"

"Yes!" Ron said loudly. At first he thought he might have been too excited and given Hermione an idea of his feelings, but she didn't seem to notice.

"What should we do then?" Hermione asked.

"Hmm..., I don't know. Why don't we go swimming?" Ron suggested, trying to convince himself that he actually liked swimming and he didn't just want to see Hermione in a swimming suit.

"Nah, I hate swimming," Hermione replied. She looked apologetically at Ron. "Sorry."

"Hey, it's fine. It wouldn't be fun if we both didn't have fun, right?" he replied.

"Yeah, hey, why don't we just get ice cream?" Hermione suggested.

Ron swore that if his stomach had a mouth, it would be beaming.

"Food's always great with me!" Ron exclaimed.

A/N: This one has also finally been spellchecked on an American computer!