5th Year Love

Part 6

Midnight Meetings

Hermione gasped. She had been expecting Harry. Instead, a tall read-headed figure was waiting for her. Clutching her heart, Hermione said, "Ron, you scared me. Where's Harry?" She stopped, turned looking for Harry. Ron stepped forward. His face was solemn; it was evident he had something on his mind and wanted to voice it. Hermione saw this, a look of realization dawning on her face. "Oh, I get it. So now you're trying to "catch us" are you? First you jump to conclusions because of a stupid rumor and now you come down here to get us. You think you're so-"

"Hermione-" He tried to interrupting. But she was on a rampage.

"-smart, don't you? Ron, why do you always have to be so jealous? Why are you jealous in the first place?"

"Hermione-"

"Why must you accuse me of things before you let me explain?"

"Hermione!" he shouted, finally catching her attention. She stopped, wide- eyed and looked at him. He walked closer to her.

"Please Hermione, let me explain."

She laughed derisively. "Oh really? *You* want to explain? Why couldn't *I* explain?" she headed towards the stairs. " I'm tired. I'm going upstairs."

He pulled her arm. "Tired?"

She sighed and looked at him, into his brown eyes. "Yes, Ron, tired. Its midnight and I am exhausted. And I am tired of you jumping to conclusions. Tired of you getting angry and jealous over trivial matters. I'm tired of fighting with my best friend over stupid stuff that won't matter a year from now. Why can we never just talk about things, work them out reasonably?" She looked at him, her face weary and waiting for an answer.

He spoke softly. "That's what I want to do Mione." He was still holding onto her arm, and pulled her gently as he sat down on the couch. Her expression softened when she saw that he was serious. She gave in and sat down next to him.

They both stared at the floor. The time dragged on. The silence cut into their nerves. Finally Ron broke the silence.

"Um…Hermione…I-I'm sorry." He said it so softly she wasn't sure if she heard him right. She looked at him, surprised. His ears were quickly becoming a nice shade of pink and he was staring at his feet.

"You are?" She brushed her hair out of her face nervously. Even though it was dark in the common room, she could tell Ron's face was red and that he was very embarrassed.

"Yeah. I've been a real git. Always have been. And these past few days, especially…" He hesitated, not really knowing how to say what had been on his mind for so long.

Hermione too had something big on her mind and wanted to say it but wanted to wait till Ron was finished. She wasn't even sure if she was ready to say it.

He sighed and continued. "I mean, this year we've been getting along so well, and then I had to-to go and blow it. I should never have believed that- rumor, I should've known it wasn't true. But I was just being -"

"You?" She added smiling.

He laughed shortly. "Yeah. Me. So I'm sorry. But - but I'm also sorry for, um, for last year." He spoke slowly and hesitantly. "Last year, with the whole, well you know, the Viktor Krum incident." He coughed uncomfortably. It had always been hard for him to apologize; for some reason this time was more difficult no matter how much he wanted or needed to do it. He took her hand in both his hands and started to say something but quickly stopped. He had to say this just right. He wanted her to understand, and if he said it wrong, it could mess everything up. He didn't want to risk their friendship just because-

"Ron? Ron I know you're sorry. I'm sorry too. I can be a bit…hard to handle. Stubborn. Tempestuous. I -" but she stopped. She had to say this right. And she had to do it now. Harry was right, she just had to get it over with. But Ron spoke before she had a chance to pluck up her courage.

"And you were right…I am jealous. I - I got jealous of Harry and of…Victor." He hung his head with shame. Hermione shifted uneasily in her seat and said softly, "Ron, I don't understand, why could you ever be jealous of Harry?"

"Isn't it obvious? Don't give me that look, I know fame isn't all its cracked up to be and his life isn't all hunky-dory but still….ya know, forget it, he and I already had this discussion. I'd rather not get into it again. But-" she cut him off.

"But why were you jealous of Victor?"

"Hermione," he looked up at her; she was looking at him with slight curiosity but there was something else in her eyes. Something softer, sweeter. Ron had never seen her as the drop dead gorgeous type, but something about the way her hair was falling and the look in her eyes made him go weak. The way she was looking at him would work almost as well as a Veritaserum potion. He would tell her the truth no matter what the consequences.

She was waiting.

He smiled and looked at her, feeling his face flush. "Because…because you spent all your time with him, he liked you and you liked him back, because he asked you to the Yule Ball, and you wanted to go with him-" he stopped. She was shaking her head and smiling.

"Ron Weasley, I only went to the ball with Victor because he asked me to, and I was afraid no one else would. It wasn't he who I wanted to go with…"she paused and looked into his eyes. This was it. "It was you." Hermione could feel her face flush tomato-red knowing what it felt like to be a Weasley. Ron's mouth fell open. He didn't know what to say. Was he imagining it or was the girl he'd had a crush on for over a year admitting that she liked him to?

"It's always been you. Still is." She smiled coyly and bit her lip. She couldn't believe she just said that. Admitted her feelings for her best friend, just like that. A huge boulder of anxiety and pressure had just been lifted off her shoulders. Ron felt as if he could leap for joy; a grin jumped onto his face. He couldn't stop smiling.

Hermione saw his grin and smiled. She loved his smile. It was so cute, so real, so full of emotion. Ron loved her smile too. When she had slightly buck-teeth, it was adorable, but now that they were straight and perfect, her smile was beautiful. It lit up her face. He loved that.

"Wow. I've waited so long to hear that. I've…I feel the same way, Hermione."

"So, what you're saying is-" but she didn't get to finish.

"What I'm saying…is this." He leaned in slowly, his lips still smiling and gently placed them on Hermione's. Their smiles met, kissed and slowly entwined. His hands went up to her face as hers found their way to his hair. The kiss was brief but sweet and just want they'd wanted. They pulled apart, eyes closed, still smiling.

They opened their eyes and blushed. They'd known each other for nearly five years; they knew each other's likes and dislikes, fears and dreams. They knew how to upset the other. But they'd never known each other like this. Hermione leaned back towards Ron, and placed her hand on the side of his face, touching his ear tenderly.

"I'm not sure I understand what you saying," she whispered playfully, smiling. She could feel heat rush to his face; she gently pressed her mouth to his, and let her tongue explore his lips. Whatever nervousness or embarrassment either of them were feeling was completely left behind in their first kisses. Kisses full of tender love and a passionate wanting that had circulated through them for over a year.

Ron couldn't believe what was happening. This was Hermione. Know-it-all, lets-study-all-the-time, best friend Hermione. But now…now she was more. Just like he'd wanted.

Hermione was ecstatic. Harry was right; he did like her back. That much was obvious. She'd been so foolish not to tell him earlier. It had turned out all right. Much more than all right. It was perfect.

They pulled apart and Hermione curled up in Ron's strong arms. It was well past midnight, and they were both tired. But before long, Hermione asked, "Where's Harry?"

Ron answered with his eyes closed. "Oh, I think he said he was going to the courtyard."

The courtyard? Why does that remind me of something- Hermione's eyes shot open. She remembered now. Ginny had said she was going to meet someone in the courtyard. Maybe Ginny would be as lucky as she had been tonight. But she didn't say anything to Ron. She didn't want to spoil a perfectly enjoyable evening.

"Hermione?" she grunted to let him know she was still awake.

"We should probably go upstairs. If we fall asleep here, and people see us tomorrow-"

"-rumors would start and we would have to deal with Lavender and Parvati…again." She smiled thinking of the chaos that would exist. They slowly stood up and looked at one another. So much has revealed itself tonight. So much had happened. So much more would happen. They could only smile. Ron bent down and kissed Hermione once more before hugging her and heading upstairs.

Hermione stood there for a moment, absorbing everything that she had experienced that night. I guess dreams *do* come true. She gathered her things and headed upstairs.

Looking in the mirror after she had changed into her pajamas, Hermione regarded herself with interest. She's never thought of herself as pretty, but her appearance had definitely improved and changed a lot in the few years she'd been at Hogwarts. Her once bushy brown dull hair had developed into sleek curls of different browns. Her teeth, once resembling those of a rabbit, were straight and white. Her eyes, which she'd never really paid much attention to, were actually a deep chocolate color that was enhanced by the little makeup she wore. And her lips. Until recently the only "makeup" she ever used was chap stick, but now her lips were shiny and pink. She smiled. I guess I'm not that unattractive. Even Ron noticed. She couldn't help but smile at the thought of him. The mirror seemed to take notice.

"Whatever is making you smile, dear, don't lose it."

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Harry was smiling and he didn't know why. He just knew he didn't want to lose it. His whole face was aglow. He was so happy. But he couldn't figure out why. Maybe it was because in the last two hours he'd laughed more than he had in his whole lifetime at the Dursley's. Maybe it was because it was nearly one AM and people are always giddy when lacking sleep. Or maybe, just maybe, it was because he'd spent the last two hours with the greatest girl he'd ever met. She'd made him laugh, she'd made him blush, she had interesting things to say, she's daring, she's smart, she's Ron's little sister.

Oh god, what would Ron do to me if he knew I *liked* his little sister… Harry knew very well what Ron would do to him (kick him in the arse and force Bubotuber pus down his throat…that is the worst case scenario…of course…), but he didn't want to think about that. He was having too much fun.

"All right all right, let me think of another one." Ginny had been telling the corniest jokes she could think of, but it didn't matter, they were rolling on the grass laughing. "I can't. I think I've emptied my supply of dumb jokes."

"They may be dumb, but they were really funny." Harry was wiping tears from his eyes.

Ginny sat up and leaned over Harry and started to tickle him lightly. "They were only funny because you haven't had any sleep! We should probably go back in."

Harry pretended to be hurt. "What? Never! Why should we? Tomorrow's Saturday."

Ginny rolled onto her back next to Harry. "That's true."

Now it was his turn to tickle her. She shrieked with laughter. "Besides, I'm having much too much fun tickling you to go inside." She continued to laugh, until her sides hurt and tears were streaming down her face. She was out of breath. "I…I give up." Harry stopped tickling her. He looked down at her and smiled. She grinned back.

"Do ya wanna take a walk?" She stood up and offered her hand to Harry. He looked at it skeptically.

"Shouldn't I be the one doing that?" He took her hand and hoisted himself up.

"Maybe. But this is the modern world. Women can be gentlemanly as well." They caught each other's eye and started laughing again. "That's not what I meant, and you know it!"

"I know I know, its just…you're so funny, Ginny. I've had so much fun spending time with you." He squeezed her hand affectionately. She nodded. They walked in silence until they reached the lake.

They sat on a rock by the lake and watched the giant squid swim lazily on the surface. The night air was crisp, but huddled up next to each other, neither one was chilly. They talked for a while longer until Harry discovered it was nearly two. They ran, or rather raced, back to the castle and snuck quietly back to Gryffindor tower. Once inside the warm common room, they stood in front of the fire, laughing. They didn't know why they were laughing, they just were.

"Thank you for such a wonderful night, Ginny. I can't remember when I last had that much fun."

"No, Harry, thank you!" And with that she got up on her toes and kissed him on the cheek, pulling him into a hug. "We must do this again." Smiling, she spun around and skipped up to her dorm.

Harry put a hand up to the spot where she kissed him. He could feel heat swirling around in his face. Grinning, he sat down on the couch. She's amazing. Wow… Harry couldn't stop thinking about how much fun he'd had with her. They'd talked so much and goofed around for so long, he'd completely lost track of time. But he didn't care. He had fun. He'd never realized how smart she really was. She was like Hermione, in that she loved reading so much and made top marks, but she was like Fred and George, in that she was hilarious and knew how to have fun. She understood Harry, or at least, he felt that she did. He was completely comfortable around her and felt he could let his guard down and be himself. Whatever was worrying or bothering him was drowned by her happy-go-lucky attitude. He felt carefree around her. She made him happy.

And yet, he discovered all this in about three hours' time.

Weird…yet true. She does make me happy. Ron won't like this. He'd rather me be dead than fancy his sister. Wonder how Ron will kill me? Will he curse me or draw and quarter me…? Oh it doesn't matter. I had fun… A silly grin danced upon Harry's face as he drifted into a world where nothing mattered; where there was no homework or Voldemort to worry about. Only fun times with Ginny, who was currently his favorite person in the whole world…

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A/N: Okay okay, hope y'all liked it. But what will happen? What will George do when he discovers its *Ron* and Hermione not Harry? What will Ron do to Harry when he finds out he's putting the moves on his little sister? Will we ever get to find out what Fred is doing (or do we even want to know)?? Will there ever be a serious (i.e Voldemort-related) plot going on? Or just pointless fluff? Keep a watch for the next chapter of FIFTH YEAR LOVE.

A/N part 2: I apologize for keeping so long but my life has been absolute hell these last few months and I never have time to write and when I do I cant concentrate (the computer is in the dining room in the middle of the freaking house). And with all my school work I never have time for it. So I promise I will work really hard to update this ASAP! Please bear with me!