AN: I don't own Harry Potter, or 'Carmen'.

Thank you so much for reviewing, following or favoriting this story. I'm pleased so many of you out there like it.

I used a translator app on my phone for the French Hermione speaks. I can read it, and sing it, but I can't speak it in everyday use. If I got anything wrong, please PM me so I can correct it.

Enjoy!

Try as she might, and despite being tired, Hermione found she was unable to go to sleep. She lie in bed, tossing and turning, before she gave up any hopes of going to sleep. Getting up, she put on a pair of black tights, a tank top covered by an old T-shirt, and slipped her wand into her waistband on her tights. She didn't bother with shoes since she was only planning on going to the small loft above the garage. Before she had decided to come here, Hermione had promised Minerva that she would paint some new backgrounds for the portraits at Hogwarts that had been destroyed. There were more inhabitants than portrait space for now.

Walking through the house, she pulled her hair back into a ponytail. She found in the past that leaving her hair down wasn't a good idea, as she usually ended up with the ends of her hair stiff with paint. Stopping off in the kitchen, she opened the fridge and grabbed a couple cans of soda, as well as a bottle of water. Also grabbing a bag of crisps, she walked out the back door and headed for the garage.

'Oh, that's lovely.' Hermione thought, smiling as she stepped onto the cool grass. She had always enjoyed the feeling of grass below her bare feet. She walked to the side of the garage and up the wooden stairs to the red door at the top. She gave another soft smile as she opened the door and entered her sanctuary.

Ron Weasley couldn't sleep, either. Instead, he stood staring out his window. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shut his mind down. There was so much going on in there for once, besides quidditch and food.

For one, he was trying to deal with the fact that one of his best mates is now dating his only sister. He should be comforted by that, but he wasn't. Instead of dating some loser, or someone who wasn't very nice, Ginny was dating the nicest guy on the planet. Someone he knew would treat her right. Ron knew that Neville would do anything and give anything to make Ginny happy. That really should comfort him, but again, it didn't. Then again, Ginny could be dating the owner of the Canons and Ron would have a problem. Being the only girl in a family of boys, no one was going to be good enough for her. It also wasn't easy to watch his baby sister grow up, and it especially wasn't easy to watch your best mates notice that she had grown up.

Thumping his head against the window, he saw a figure moving across the yard. Alarmed, he grabbed his wand out of his waistband of his pajamas, and prepared to go after it until he noticed that the figure had curly hair. 'Hermione.' he thought as he exhaled in relief. He watched as she walked up the stairs and disappeared behind a door. A second later there was a light shining through the windows on the door.

Deciding she would be the best person to talk to, Ron slipped his shoes on and walked out of his room.

Hermione sat in front of a blank canvas, twirling her paintbrush. She needed to paint, she knew she did. But, sitting here, in her art studio with the spray painted walls, she had no inspiration. Any she may have had on the way up here had vanished. She looked all around her studio, hoping to be inspired by something she had painted before, and came up empty. She saw her old CD player, and noticed there was still a CD in it. Turning it on, Hermione pushed play, hoping whatever she was about to hear would inspire her.

L'amour est un oiseau rebelle

Que nul ne peut apprivoiser

Est c'est bien in vain qu'on l'appelle

S'il lui convient de refuser

Hermione smiled and giggled a bit upon hearing that. 'CARMEN' had been her mum's favorite opera, and as a result, Hermione knew it by heart.

Rien n'y fait, menace ou priére

L'un parle bien, l'autre se tait

Et c'est l'autre que je préfere

Il n'a rien dit mais il me plait

As if in a trance, Hermione began painting. She painted a stone paved courtyard with a fountain. She added in high stone walls with ivy growing down.

L'amour! L'amour! L'amour! L'amour!

L'amour est enfant de Bohême

Il n'a jamais, jamais connu de loi

Si tou ne m'aimes pas, je t'aime

Si je t'aime, prends garde à toi!

Next, she painted in some stone steps to the right of the fountain, along one wall, going up.

Si tou ne m'aimes pas, si tou ne m'aimes pas, je t'aime

Mais si je t'aime, si je t'aime, prends garde à toi!

Hermione painted a spot of green in one wall, which she saw as a field beyond the courtyard. Grabbing a bit of black, she added in an iron fence over the field, giving the wall a type of window.

Ron walked up the stairs, trying not to make any noise. Getting to the door, he peered in the window, and saw Hermione sitting in front of a blank canvas. 'Hmm. I never knew she painted.' he thought. He watched as she turned on her CD player, and heard a song start. He didn't understand the words, but it sounded like an upbeat song.

Ron opened the door and entered the studio. He stood behind Hermione, watching as she started to bring a courtyard to life. His eyes grew wide as she painted. Not only did he not know she had this particular talent, but he had never seen a backdrop be brought to life. He had seen plenty of paintings before, with people moving from one to another, but he had never had the opportunity to watch one being created.

Just as she created the fence and the field beyond, he muttered, ''Whoa.''

''Whoa.''

Hermione heard the voice behind her and screamed as she jumped off the stool and turned, pointing her wand. Her heart felt like it was going to jump out of her chest.

''RON!'' she yelled, placing one hand over her heart in hopes of calming it down.

''Sorry, sorry.'' Ron said, holding his hands up. ''I didn't mean to scare you. I thought you heard me open the door.''

''No, I didn't.'' Hermione said, putting her wand away. ''What are you doing up?''

''Couldn't sleep.'' he said, shrugging. ''I was looking out the window, and saw you coming out here, so..'' he trailed off.

''So you thought you'd come and give me a heart attack?'' she asked, still breathing hard but smiling at him.

''Sorry.'' he winced.

Hermione sat back down and waved his apology off. ''It's fine. I just wasn't expecting anyone to come up here.'' she said, picking up her paintbrush.

''I also wanted to talk to you.'' Ron said, dragging a stool over to sit beside her.

''Oh?'' she asked, turning her head to look at him.

''Yeah.'' he nodded. ''You helped Gin and Neville, right? I mean..you helped them get to a point where they went on a date?''

''Yes.'' Hermione said slowly. ''You were there when I did. That day by the pool?''

Ron flushed. ''Oh, right.'' he nodded. ''So..how did..did Neville..how..bloody hell.'' he stuttered, running his hand through his hair.

Hermione raised an eyebrow as she gazed at him. She had only seen Ron this flustered once before, and that had to do with Fleur. She knew Fleur wasn't the reason he was flustered now. He had, thankfully, gotten over his crush on her long ago. She smiled as she came to a conclusion on the reason he was asking her about Ginny and Neville.

''Luna, right?'' she asked, smiling brightly. She giggled as he turned even redder than he already was. ''You fancy Luna?''

''Well, yeah. So?'' he said defensively.

''No, that's great! Really, Ron.'' Hermione said, smiling.

''So, will you help me with Luna? Get me to a date with her?'' Ron asked.

Hermione nodded. ''Yeah, I will. And you wanna know how you're gonna get that date with her?'' Ron nodded. ''Vous allez marcher droit vers elle et demander. Puis, après que elle a dit oui, planter un gros bisou sur elle.'' she said in French.

''Huh?'' Ron asked.

''Ask her, then when she says yes, kiss her.'' Hermione said. ''That's the jist of what I just said.''

''Oh.'' Ron said.''Why didn't you just say that?''

Hermione shrugged. ''Sounded better in French.''

Ron just nodded. ''But what if she says no?'' he asked.

''Trust me.'' she said.

''Alright.'' Ron said, standing. ''I'm gonna do it.'' he said as he walked toward the door.

''Not now, Ron.'' Hermione said, rolling her eyes. ''It's after midnight. Wait until later today, alright?''

''Yeah, alright.'' Ron said. ''I think I'm gonna be able to sleep now. Thanks, Hermione.''

''Anytime, Ron. Goodnight.'' she smiled. After he left, she turned her CD player back on and resumed painting.

When she finally exited the studio at around two, the painting was finished. She had added in another type of window, a few spots of sunshine shining on the courtyard ground, a couple wooden tables in one corner, and some trees.

Review please.

If you don't know the song, it was 'HABANERA' from the opera 'CARMEN' by Bizet. If you check out my Facebook page,there's a video of it on there.

Til next time!

XOXO - Onyx Obsidian