Disclaimer: These characters and other things Potter are property of JK Rowling and publishers. No money is being made, and no copyright infringement or disrespect is intended.

I woke up several times during the night after dreaming that Hermione stormed in yelling "What did you do to Ron?" and hexing me into oblivion. When it was finally morning, I had a pounding headache. I knew I had to somehow fix this mess that Draco had gotten us into, but I had no idea how to go about it. I left Draco still sleeping and headed to breakfast, hoping to find out that things really weren't that bad. Hermione was eating a muffin with one hand and stirring a pot of soup with the other.

"Ron's asleep in Lupin's room," she said. "He was sick last night. He said he was fine, but he looked like he was going to pass out. He argued when I told him he was staying, but you know how I can be."

"Why isn't Mrs. Weasley rampaging around about how her youngest son didn't come home?"

"I sent her an owl. I think she's hoping he'll spend more time here."

"Why?"

"Apparently Ron and Ginny have been having some problems."

"Really? I thought they had bonded when he wasn't speaking to me."

"Actually, I think that just made things worse. With as angry as Ron was, he was mad about you and Draco. And pardon my French, but Ginny was just full of shit. Ron couldn't tell her why he was mad at you, but he also couldn't bring himself to agree with her."

Hermione put down the second half of her muffin and ladled soup into a bowl. I got a spoon from the silverware drawer.

"I'll take it to him. You finish your muffin."

Hermione thanked me before sitting down with her breakfast. I thought about how useless the soup was. Soup couldn't fix Ron's problem. That's up to me. Crap. I knocked softly on his door before walking in. There was an obnoxious amount of sunlight streaming in. Ron was sitting up in bed with his eyes closed, muttering to himself.

"Hi," I said. I set the bowl on the dresser.

"Get out."

"Hermione made soup for you," I told him lamely.

"Get out."

"I didn't know Draco was going to do that."

"It doesn't matter if you knew. He did it. And you saw it. So just get out."

"You know if you send me out, Hermione's going to come in."

"Fine. Because she doesn't know. Did you and Draco have fun making fun of me last night?"

"We didn't talk about you."

"Yeah, right," Ron snapped.

"There's nothing wrong with you," I said, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"You're right. Except for the part where there is. Were you not listening last night?"

"Don't you think I know a little bit about spontaneous self discovery?"

"But you're happy with the way things turned out. I don't want to like…that stuff Malfoy said. I love Hermione. I want Hermione. I don't want that to change."

"It doesn't have to change. Have you ever thought about a girl that's not Hermione? Even for a few minutes? Not one that you seriously want, but one you're attracted to?"

"Hypothetically," Ron answered guiltily.

"It's like that. A fleeting thought. And for all you know, maybe you're just curious. Maybe if you went out and kissed a guy you'd find that you don't really like it."

"So you're saying that I can make this go away by kissing a guy?" Ron asked, chewing his lip. He leaned forward and looked at me for two seconds before blushing.

"I didn't mean me," I exclaimed.

"Of course you didn't. I didn't think that you did. Never crossed my mind."

"…"

We sat there awkwardly. I knew that's what he'd been thinking, and he knew that I knew. But we were both pretending that I believed his lie. My leaving without his saying anything would be like silently admitting the truth. I cleared my throat.

"Do you want Hermione's soup?"

"I don't really feel like eat— do you hear that?"

"—want him to what?" we heard Draco say.

"… heard me."

"You want…them…kiss…"

"Yes."

"You're…with that?"

"Please tell me we did NOT just hear that," Ron said with a horrified expression.

"We did not just hear that."

"Can you say it like you mean it?"

"Not really, no."

"Can you go look?"

"You want me to look? I don't think so. You do it."

"No way."

It didn't matter anymore which of us did it because Hermione came walking right through the door with Draco trailing behind her.

"I didn't do it," Draco said with his hands up.

"Go ahead, Ron. You can kiss Harry," Hermione said.

"What? How? Who said?" Ron spluttered.

"Honestly, Ronald, you don't speak as quietly as you think you do."

"Hello? Anyone want to consult me on this?" I asked.

"I, for one, think it's crazy."

"This might be the first time I agree with Malfoy."

"I third."

"Boys," Hermione said with a shake of her head. "Harry, just kiss him and put us all out of our misery. Draco and I agreed that it's okay with us."

"Hermione agreed for me."

"That's how she is," Ron pointed out.

"And I'm about to agree for the two of you."

I really didn't want to do it. Hermione looked determined. Draco looked resigned. Ron looked absolutely defeated. And Hermione looked really determined. Hurricane Hermione is at it again.

"Fine," I whispered.

Ron nodded. Neither of us moved. Draco was smirking at us. Hermione crossed her arms impatiently. Everyone was silent. The next two minutes were counted out by Hermione's impatient foot tapping.

"Oh for fuck's sake," Draco huffed. He strode right across the room and planted one right on Ron's lips. Then he walked right out of the room.

"Well?" Hermione asked.

"Oh, thank Merlin," Ron sighed.

"Good. Now we can act like grown ups, yes?"

"Yes, Hermione," I said. "We can all act like grown ups."

I rolled my eyes and went looking for Draco. I expected to see him out in the hall, but he wasn't anywhere downstairs. I heard water running as I ascended the stairs. Draco was brushing his teeth.

"Don't you think that's a bit dramatic? I mean, you were only touching him for half a second."

Draco spit before answering, "Better safe than sorry."

"Why did you and Hermione think this stupid kissing experiment was a good idea? I didn't mean me."

"I know you didn't," Draco told me. He took my hand and led me into the bedroom. "Hermione figured that a kiss between the two of you would be so awkward that Ron wouldn't think about it anymore."

"Why didn't you ask me?"

"We figured you'd balk and then eventually agree. I didn't want you to have to think about it any more than necessary."

"Why did you do it?" I asked.

"Do what?"

"Kiss him," I said softly. "No, don't answer. This is stupid."

"You're not jealous, are you?"

"NO. Yes. I mean…Of course not."

"Harry, come sit with me." I joined him on the bed.

"I know this is stupid, Draco. I know you don't want Ron. I know it didn't mean anything. But I have this feeling in the pit of my stomach."

"You are the only one I want to kiss."

"I know that."

"Then why the feeling?"

"Don't push me, Draco."

"Why?"

"Because you won't like it."

"Why? Because you think it did mean something?"

"Don't."

"Because you don't trust me?"

"Damnit, Draco, don't fucking push me." I could see my panicked look reflected in his eyes and his sudden expression of realization.

"Okay. Okay. I'll just go make some breakfast." Draco walked out, leaving me sitting alone.

A/N: I'm sorry this update took so long. I've got some serious real-life stuff going on. The next one will probably be a while as well. Thanks for sticking around.