Author's note: Thank you guys so very much for the reviews! I have over 20 reviews! Yay! Well, hope you enjoy this chapter, it's shorter than the others, but the last chapter was unusually long. I'm a little stuck right now again, but I feel the story is nearing a close.

I realized from my wonderful reviewers that I didn't follow up as to what happened between Ginny and Harry. So sorry that was left ambiguous! I just got so wrapped up in the Ron/Hermione story. Anyway, it's briefly explained here, I didn't write a whole chapter on Harry/Ginny because it just isn't the focus of my story, hope you understand. Ok, enjoy and please review!

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Ron looked at Hermione, his best friend, the love of his sixteen-year-life, the girl who survived He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, in complete awe. She was so strong, no, beyond strong. He reached over and hugged her, drawing her close to his body. She sighed, apparently she had been holding her breath while looking at Ron and waiting for a response. She tucked her head in the crook of Ron's neck on his dry side and inhaled deeply. He smelled...safe.

"Damn Voldemort," Ron whispered fiercely.

Hermione chuckled a little then gasped, realizing the severity of what Ron just said. "Ron, you just said 'Voldemort'!"

"Huh? Yeah, I guess I did..." Ron said, pride in his voice. He was just as surprised as Hermione. He leaned back to the arm of the couch, still holding Hermione; his back was hurting again. He wasn't sure if Hermione would let herself be on top of him, lying prone on the couch in the common room, but tonight was full of surprises and Ron felt daring.

Hermione was caught off guard by Ron's actions, but snuggled deeper into his neck and shoulder. Ron smiled and stroked her back. Hermione wasn't sure if Ron was being nice or if he was showing affection, but she really didn't want to ask questions right now, it was way too comfortable, wonderful, amazing, fantastic...she thought.

"Hermione?"

"Yes, Ron?"

"I wish it had been me instead of you with Voldemort."

"I don't," she replied softly. She yawned.

"Hey, you need to sleep," Ron said quietly.

"Yes, I'll go back up to my room in a second," Hermione replied.

A few seconds and then a few minutes went by. Ron didn't mind, he was enjoying this contact with Hermione a lot, but if someone caught them there... "Hermione?" Ron whispered.

But all that replied was even breathing. Ron smiled and covered both of them with the blanket he had brought down from his room. Hopefully she won't have anymore nightmares.

Her hair was all over Ron's chest and her face, and Ron played with it happily. He must have watched her sleep for an hour, this time it was wonderful rather than painful like the first time at the Hospital Wing. He kissed her forehead and then fell asleep himself.

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It must have been the light that woke Hermione up. She shifted her position on her bed to try and avoid the light. Her bed grunted and she gasped. Looking up, she saw Ron opening one eye to look down at her on his chest.

"Morning," he grumbled.

"Oh! Did we stay here the whole night?" she asked fretfully, wondering if anyone saw them. It looked like it was early in the morning, but still. She carefully got off Ron and Ron moaned. Hermione thought she had hurt him, but Ron moaned because her warm body was off his and now he felt cold.

"Yeah, you fell asleep and I didn't want to wake you up. And I wasn't about to go up to the girl's dormitory carrying you and find Lavender and Parvati gossiping about it later on." His hair was sticking up all over and he tried to flatten in to no avail.

Hermione laughed. "Thank you, I really needed the rest."

"I could tell," Ron said.

An awkward, but not terribly uncomfortable silence followed until Hermione said, "Well, we should go up to our rooms before everyone else wakes up."

"Right. I'll see you down here in a bit for breakfast?"

"Of course."

They got off from the couch and walked towards the stairs. "Ron," Hermione said, facing him. She wanted to tell him how much she appreciated all he did and all he meant to her, but was it an appropriate time? She bit her lip and simply said, "Thank you, for everything." She scolded herself for her inarticulateness.

"Your welcome, Hermione."

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There was no possible way Ron could sleep anymore that day. He must have gotten only three hours of sleep between watching Hermoine sleep and worrying if someone was going to see them, but luckily it was Saturday and everyone slept in late. He tried to remember every second of earlier that morning. Hermione trusted him, a huge step forward in their relationship. And she seemed to enjoy the contact they shared as much as he did as well. Ron smiled while remembering her 's bed. He moved his curtains aside and saw Harry quietly trying to go out of the room.

"Harry?" Ron asked. Where could Harry be going so early in the morning and without Hermione and himself?

"Oh! Ron! Er...hi?" Harry whispered.

"What are you doing?" Ron asked.

"Well, er..." Harry blushed and Ron was so confused.

"Harry..."

"Ron, please don't be mad."

"Well, tell me what's going on," Ron said impatiently. It wasn't like Harry to be so completely flustered, that was more Ron's style.

"I...I was going to see Ginny," Harry said, looking at the floor.

"At this hour? Harry, it's Saturday, she doesn't need any homework help or anything like that."

"I know that Ron," Harry replied cautiously. Sometimes Ron was so thick.

"Then why on earth would you...oh." Ron finally understood and his facial expression went from confusion to shock. "Harry?!?! You like my sister!!" Ron yelled, forgetting that the other boys were sleeping still.

"Shhh! Ron! Yes, yes I do."

"Well, well, what about Cho??" Ron was now confused once again.

"I stopped liking her a while ago. I realized I liked the idea of her rather than her; I don't really know what kind of a person she is."

"And you know Ginny?" Ron asked incredulously.

"Yes. She helped me out a lot after Hermione was hurt. I started remembering all these things about Voldemort and my parents, and Cedric, and well, a lot of bad stuff. She listened to me talked about it and then I listened to her talk about her problems. We helped each other out," Harry explained.

"And what? I couldn't listen to you?" Ron asked, now hurt that Harry confided in his sister rather than him.

"It's not that, Ron. I didn't want to have you worry about Hermione and me. I see all the stress you're under by trying to pretend everything is normal to help Hermione out. I didn't wanna make it worse. And then I started liking Ginny, and Ginny told me that she liked me and well, here we are."

"Oh, I see." Ron was now embarrassed for his reaction. "But you didn't have to go sneaking around, you know."

"I didn't know how you'd react," Harry replied.

"Fair enough, but she's my little sister, Harry. I deserve to know what goes on."

Harry was surprised that Ron wasn't yelling his head off at him. Something must have happened, maybe with Hermione? Harry thought. "Sorry for not tell you, Ron."

"Okay, I'm over it. But understand Harry, that if you hurt her...it will be so much worse than if Draco Malfoy hurt her because I trust you. Take that as a serious threat," Ron looked straight at Harry.

"Understood."

"Now, don't you have somewhere to be?" Ron asked, smiling.

"Thanks, Ron. I'll see you at breakfast later." Harry smiled and left.

Ron fell back in bed. Ron wasn't happy with the situation, but at least it was Harry and not Malfoy. He trusted Harry and that was comforting, even though the mental image of Harry and Ginny kissing completely grossed him out.

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Author's Note: Please review! Thanks bunches!