A/N: Order of the Phoenix moment, set during In the Hog's Head.

Hermione is feeling down and Ron lends a helping hand and a chocolate frog.

Chapter Twenty-One: Chocolate, Showers and Baths

Hermione sat in her usual spot in Gryffindor common room. It was a cold and miserable Thursday evening, and most of her fellow classmates were finishing off homework or chatting about their plans for the Hogsmeade visit this weekend. Hermione, however, sat alone. Ron and Harry were currently at their Quidditch practice and she didn't have the patience to talk to anyone else.

She checked her watch and noted that her Prefect duty would be starting soon. Ron was probably going to be late again and she would have to start without him. Sighing grumpily, Hermione pulled her legs up onto her chair and rested her head on her knees.

She was feeling down. The first few weeks of school had been awful. Umbridge was the worst teacher she had ever had, Harry kept shouting, Ron wasn't being as close and lovely to her as he was at Grimmauld place, and to top it all off she now had period pain. Not just general period pain, but the type that made her want to scream, and cry, and generally feel sorry for herself. It was all getting too much.

The common room door opened and she heard the Quidditch team enter. Hermione didn't bother to look up, or move from her current pitiful position. Instead she sank her head deep into her knees and pulled her arms around her legs. She really wasn't in the mood to talk about a stupid game.

Ron and Harry sank into chairs opposite her and began chatting about the practice. She instantly smelt grass and sweat. Wrinkling her nose, Hermione tried to be revolted but actually found she liked the smell. She couldn't identify why but it made her tingle.

'What's up with you?' Harry asked, after he had noticed her current position.

'Nothing,' Hermione mumbled, not moving.

'Hermione it's our Prefect duty tonight, why haven't you started patrolling?' Ron said, sounding shocked.

Hermione shrugged, 'don't know.'

'Well we better get going. You usually start without me!'

Hermione slowly untangled herself and got up. She really wasn't in the mood to be traipsing around a cold castle tonight. All she really wanted to do was curl up in her bed.

'Aren't you going to have a shower and change first?' Harry asked Ron, eyeing his sweaty Keeper kit.

'Nah, we haven't got enough time,' Ron said, pulling himself out of his chair and beginning to walk towards the portrait door. 'Come on Hermione, let's get this over with.'

Hermione followed, giving Harry a weak smile.

They began their usual route around the castle in silence. Ron placed his hands in his pockets and Hermione walked slightly behind him.

'I don't smell that bad, do I?' Ron smirked as they got to the first set of empty classrooms.

'No.'

'Then why are you behaving like I do?' He prompted, looking in each classroom for any wrong-doers. They never found any and Ron usually moaned about patrols being a waste of time. For once, Hermione would agree with him.

'I'm just not in the mood tonight,' Hermione muttered, moving into a classroom and leaning on a desk. The pain was becoming more unbearable.

'Why, what's wrong?' Ron said, moving towards her.

'You wouldn't understand,' Hermione said, spinning round to face him and wishing she hadn't said anything.

'Try me,' he replied, jumping up onto the table, and waiting patiently for her to explain.

Hermione rolled her eyes at him and sat down on a chair, hugging herself.

'Is it 'cos I was late coming back from training?' He asked. 'You normally don't mind.'

'No, it's nothing to do with that,' she replied.

'Well what is it then?'

Hermione eyed him carefully. He sat swinging his legs back and forth, in his Quidditch gear, looking expectantly at her. She highly doubted he would have any experience of period pain, growing up with so many brothers and only one sister. He probably won't have a clue.

'I've got period pain,' she said bluntly. 'I've got period pain and I'm in agony.'

Whatever Ron had been expecting, it certainly wasn't that. He opened his mouth shocked.

'Oh.'

'Yes, oh,' Hermione muttered, feeling her anger begin to build. 'I've got period pain, I'm in agony and I'm fed up. Harry's shouting at us every five minutes, Umbridge is making school hell, you're not talking to me as much – '

'I am!'

'– and I'm tired. It's only our first month and I'm tired,' she finished, deflated and looking everywhere but him.

'Well it's been a difficult month,' Ron said softly. 'We're all going through a lot. It's understandable that we'd be tired.'

Hermione nodded, 'it would be easier if Harry stopped shouting at us though.'

Ron got off the table and pulled a chair up next to her.

'True, but he's having to deal with the most stuff,' he said, placing his hand on her back and slowly rubbing it.

Hermione sat rigid with shock for a few seconds, before her treacherous body relaxed and she leaned into him.

'I know,' she mumbled, 'I'm just feeling down.'

'Well I'm sure period pain doesn't help,' Ron said, his ears glowing.

Hermione gave him a weak smile.

'You should have a bath,' he said.

'I think you need one more than me,' Hermione replied, breathing in his sweaty, earthy smell again and thoroughly enjoying it.

Ron chuckled, 'I'm more a shower kind of person.'

Hermione had a sudden mental image of a very naked redhead, in a steaming hot shower.

'I meant that you should have a bath to help with the pain. My Dad always ran baths for my Mum when she was having a grumpy week.'

Hermione was pulled from her glorious daydream.

'A grumpy week?' She said laughing.

'Yeah, it's what my Dad calls 'em,' Ron said smiling and continuing to rub her back in slow circles.

'Well thanks, I'll try that when I get back to my room,' Hermione said, feeling slightly better.

'You can also try this,' Ron said, moving his hand away from her back and pulling a chocolate frog from his pocket. 'It might have melted a bit but it'll do the job.'

Hermione looked down at the frog, wishing Ron hadn't moved his hand from her back.

'Err... no thanks, you keep it.'

'Don't be stupid, eat it,' Ron said as Hermione raised her eyebrows at him. 'I promise it'll make you feel better.'

'I'm not supposed to eat too much sugar,' Hermione said tentatively taking the chocolate from Ron's outstretched hand.

'One, little frog is not too much sugar,' Ron chuckled. 'Besides, your Mum and Dad will never know.'

Hermione sighed and unwrapped the frog. She took a small bite, and then handed the rest back to Ron. He shook his head and pushed the chocolate back to her.

'Nope, you eat it all,' he said, watching intently.

Hermione rolled her eyes and took another bite, and then another, until the chocolate was gone. She had to admit, as she swallowed the last of it, that chocolate did taste good.

Ron chuckled and moved closer to her. Hermione watched in shock, as he brought his hand up to her face and lightly traced her lips with his finger. Her body irrupted at his touch and she felt the desperate hunger, which she hadn't experienced since leaving Grimmauld Place, ignite.

'You've got chocolate...' he whispered in a husky voice, applying gentle pressure on her lips.

Without thought or reason, Hermione nipped his finger. Ron froze and held her gaze. Feeling empowered she did it again, this time lingering and turning the nip into a kiss. He didn't pull away so she did it again, and again, and again, taking each of his fingers and caressing them with her lips.

Ron remained completely still, watching her with a glazed expression. His breathing was becoming fast and erratic, and she noted hers was no different.

'Hermione,' he uttered, in a voice she had never heard before. It broke the spell and she stopped, letting his hand fall away.

'Hermione,' he said again, in the same voice.

It was a voice that could be her downfall, she realised. It was the type of voice that could bring her to her knees for him. A voice that she imagined would be used near pillows and mattresses, in the dead of the night. A voice that could make her a woman.

The thought scared her and she quickly stood up and turned away from him. He quietly got up and moved to stand behind her.

'I'm sorry,' she whispered, 'I didn't mean ... I don't know what came over me... I just...'

'It's okay,' Ron replied softly, 'I didn't mind.'

Hermione turned to face him. 'I don't think you should give me chocolate again.'

His face split into a grin. 'I think I should give you more chocolate!'

Hermione felt her face heat up and she nudged him, embarrassed.

'I think we should continue our patrol,' she said quickly, trying to move passed what had just happened.

Ron nodded and they both moved back out into the corridor.

'So are you feeling any better?' he asked as they continued their walk around the castle.

'Yes,' she replied honestly.

The only problem she now had was the burning desire he had created inside her. She had thought that what she had been feeling at Grimmauld Place had been a result of being trapped in an old house, all summer. She hadn't felt any strong urges or feelings towards him since they had got back to Hogwarts. In fact, things seemed to have gone back to normal completely.

Until now.

Now all she could think about was kissing him in other places. In places that would earn her that voice again. But how on earth was she supposed to kiss her best friend and not let it cause a problem? Best friends didn't kiss each other, except for the cheeks. She wanted more than cheeks. She wanted his lips.

'Everything's going to be okay,' Ron said, pulling her out of her daydream, as they neared the Gryffindor tower.

'You always say that,' Hermione replied, glancing up at him.

'Yeah, but I believe it,' he said simply. 'You're feel better come the weekend.'

'I'll still be confused,' she mumbled. 'I don't have a clue what's going on at the moment.'

'Well your always have me, if things get too much,' Ron said sincerely.

'You confuse me as much as anything Ron,' she replied, as the rounded a corner.

'I don't know how that's possible, I tell you everything.'

Hermione laughed. 'I think it's more to do with you being a boy and me being a girl.'

'Like the period pain and stuff?' He asked, blushing faintly.

'And stuff, yes.'

They came to a stop next to the portrait of The Fat Lady.

'I'm sure I'll work it all out eventually,' Hermione said, as Ron gave the password.

'You always do,' he said as the entered the common room. 'Now I reckon you deserve a long, hot bath.'

'And you deserve a long, hot shower,' Hermione shot back, smiling.

They gazed at each other for a few seconds before Ron cleared his throat.

'See you in the morning then.'

'Yes, bye.'

Hermione watched as he made his way to the staircase of the boy's dormitory, he gave one final glance and smile before disappearing. She stood for a second before making her own way up to the girl's dormitory.

Taking his advice, Hermione ran a hot, bubble bath and sank into the tub. Her body seemed to instantly relax and she felt amazing. She heard pipes and the sound of running water to her right, and noted that it was most likely Ron taking his shower. The thought excited her and she shut her eyes, listening to the water gushing quickly to his naked body. There was no doubt in her mind that he would look good naked and wet. She groaned in frustration as images quickly took over her brain.

Hermione let her body sink further into the bath, and placed her head under the water. How was she going to cope with a best friend who was driving her insane?

She needed to come up with a plan to stop this infatuation, and fast.