Author's Note: Hey guys! Thanks for the reviews, they were really nice! Anyway, I hope you enjoy the third chapter. 

Summary: We learn how both Ron and Hermione deal with Hermione's little peck on the cheek. 

Secrets Kept

Chapter 3

(Ron's POV)

by happythoughts

            Ron didn't know how he had gotten back to his room that night.  If it wasn't for the thought of getting some sleep, Ron could have stumbled around the house still looking for his own room.  Sure, it was only a peck on the cheek. But then again, it was from the girl of his dreams. 

            He suddenly found himself standing in front of his door leading to his bedroom.  He looked at it like a whole new perspective.  He searched for the doorknob and turned it.  He stumbled into the room with a stupid grin on his face.  He barely noticed Harry, who had been lying on his bed reading a book.  He looked up at Ron and noticed the weird look he had on his face.

            "Everything okay, Ron?" he asked.

            Ron turned to him. "Uh, what?"

            "I said, is everything okay?" Harry repeated, "Ron, are you listening to me? Are you okay?"

            Ron had ignored Harry and had flopped onto his own bed, with a big grin on his face. 

            "RON!" yelled Harry.

            He was shook out of his wonderful recollection of what had just happened. "I'm sorry, Harry, what were you saying?"

            "I said, are. You. Okay?" repeated Harry like he was trying to teach a first grader.

            "Oh yes, everything's wonderful."

            "How was your walk with Hermione?" asked Harry, now getting some clues.

            "It was great."

            "Anything interesting happen?"

            This time, Ron didn't answer.  His grin said it all. 

            "Wait a minute … you guys didn't kiss or anything, did you?  Ron? Please tell me you didn't kiss her, Ron," asked Harry, getting both disgusted and worried at the same time.

Ron shook his head. "No, Harry. She kissed me."

Harry started.  "WHAT?"

"Okay, she didn't really kiss me," said Ron, now sitting up, "it was just a peck on the cheek. That's all."

Harry's face fell. "Oh. She's already done that to me," he said. He started to read his book again.

"Well, she hasn't done it to me, so stuff it," said Ron coldly.

Harry looked up. "Er, sorry, Ron. Didn't mean to make you mad or anything. I was just saying--,"

"You were just saying that you were better than me, as always, because Hermione kissed you first. THAT'S what you were saying," said Ron angrily.

            "Ron, what are you talking about?"

            "You're just trying to put me down, once again, aren't you?"

            "Ron! Stop being a prat--,"

            "I'm NOT being a prat."

            "Yes you are!"

            "No I'm not!"

            "Yes you are!"

            "No I'm--,"

            "Hello boys, what are you up to?" interrupted Fred, bounding into the room with George tagging along behind him.

            Ron and Harry looked up at the two twins.  Their faces said it all.

            "Ah, I see the two buddies are getting in a fight, Fred," said George, nudging him in the ribs.

            "I see that too. I say we should find out why, don't you?" asked Fred.

            "Yes, I do say that."

            "Okay then. Boys, what's going on here?" said Fred, crossing his arms.  His voice sounded almost exactly alike to Mrs. Weasley's when she was angry with them.

            "Nothing," answered both Ron and Harry.

            George plopped down on Harry's bed and Fred plopped down on Ron's.  "Let's make a game out of this, Fred. Whoever guesses what is wrong with them first gets to let the other degnome the garden for the next two weeks," compromised George.

            "You're on. I go first! It's about quidditch."

            Ron angrily shook his head.

            "I know! I know! It's about Ginny again, isn't it?" said George knowingly.

            This time, Harry shook his head angrily.

            Fred and George both looked at each other.  They seemed to think the same thing at the same time.  "Hermione," they said in unison.

            And this time, Harry and Ron kept their heads still. 

            "Who's going out with her and who's angry about it?" asked Fred.

            The two boys didn't answer.

            "Well boys, I guess we'll just have to ask Hermione about it, huh?" said George, knowing they would give in.

            "No!" they both said quickly.

            "Then tell us what's wrong."

            "Ron's being a prat because he told me that Hermione kissed him and then I merely told him that she already kissed me and he's jumping to conclusions, as always, and he thinks that I meant to tell him that just to make him feel worse than me!" burst out Harry angrily.

            Fred and George's mouths were dropped.  "Hermione kissed Ron?!"

            "Oops," said Harry quietly.

            "Good job, Harry!" said Ron angrily.

            "Shut up! It slipped!" argued Harry.

            "Both of you, shutup!" said George. "But the main problem here is … was it a REAL kiss, Ron?"

            "George, c'mon! Be serious!" said Ron.

            "I mean it! What was it like?"

            "It was just a stupid peck on the cheek," mumbled Ron, feeling dumber by the second.

            "It's still a kiss, Ron! Aw, our baby Ronniekins has finally gotten his first kiss!" said Fred, trying to hug Ron.

            "Not-ah! Fleur kissed me, remember, Harry?" asked Ron.  Then, remembering that they weren't speaking to each other, he looked down and said, "Nevermind."

            "Yeah, but you didn't like her, mate. That's different."

            "She was hot though," added Ron.

            "Yeah, I won't deny that. Boy if I could just--,"

            "George, shut up, now," said Harry.

            "Sorry. Kind of got off track there! Anyhoo, listen to us, Ron.  You have been kissed … okay, okay, pecked on the cheek by the girl of your dreams.  And get that ugly look on your face off, because you know it's true.  Ever since … well it's been a long time since, but we all know you like her. I mean, anyone who has seen you when you are around her know it.  And I hate to embarrass Hermione also, but I think we can all agree when I say, she probably feels the same way about you as you feel about her," said George smartly. 

            "Wow, George! Couldn't have said it better myself!" exclaimed Fred proudly, patting George on the back.

            Harry had grin on his face, glad with how George had handled the petty situation.  But Ron was a different story.  His mind kept going over George's last sentence.  She probably feels the same way about you as you feel about her. Was it possible?  Did she really feel the same way about him as he to her? That was pretty intense.  He got tingles just thinking about it. 

            "You really think so?" asked Ron, finally speaking.

            "Yes, we think so," answered Fred. 

            Ron fell quiet.  "Guys, I think it's time we get to bed, I mean, Ron needs to think about this stuff alone," said Harry, nodding knowingly at George and Fred, who nodded back.

            "Try not to think of Hermione too much, Ronniekins.  We'll do some of that for you--,"

            "Fred! That's our little secret about liking her!" argued George.  Of course, they were joking. They only teased Ron just to make him angry.  They walked out of the room mockingly arguing.

            Ron had taken no notice of Fred and George's little argument.  He was sitting on his bed with a shocked look on his face.  Harry wanted to laugh out loud at his expression.  "You okay there?" he asked Ron.

            "Am I really that obvious, Harry?" asked Ron.

            Harry was taken back.  It was true, once you found out that Ron liked Hermione, it was the most obvious thing in the world. 

            But before Harry could answer, Ron began talking again. "Nevermind, you didn't answer right away.  That's an obvious yes, that I am obvious around her.  God, what've I done?" asked Ron embarrassedly, placing his head in his hands.

            "Ron, cheer up.  Hermione's probably thinking the same exact thing this very instant," said Harry.

~*~*~

Dear Diary,    

            Oh. My. Gosh. WHAT HAVE I DONE? I am COMPLETELY foolish. I am a prat. I am a ditz. I am a … I am a Lavender and Pavarti! Oh my gosh you are NOT going to believe WHAT just happened.

            Okay, well right now I am in Ginny's room while she is sleeping.  I arrived here today sometime around 3 in the afternoon after the Weasley's, Harry, and me spent the day at Diagon Alley. (Oh, by the way, remember I promised myself that I would act differently? Like, more confident? It's actually working!) Anyway, we got back here at the Burrow, right? And I am in Ginny's room with her telling her about Kyle and everything, and then she shows me the letters that Harry had written her over the summer. Aw it was so cute! Harry is so adorable and caring … I wish Ron had written me letters like that, except telling him day by day stories of his life, not even asking me what was happening in mine.  But who cares? He did write me that ONE letter … but that's a different story. 

            Okay, so, Harry and Ron hear us and they're eavesdropping on our conversation very rudely, and then they "accidentally" fall in her room.  So, we start cleaning the letters up and are trying to act calm and everything, but then Ron JUMPS onto me, tackles me, and grabs the papers out of my hands! I was screaming! How rude of him! So, he reads them, and then Harry disgusts him and Harry starts blushing and muttering nonstop trying to explain.  Ginny apologizes to him about showing me his letters, and they're about to kiss, but then Ron interrupts them.

            So, SMART me motions for Ron to come with me on a walk outside.  And to tell you the truth, it was quite nice. He just talked about how he was so nervous trying out for Keeper on the Gryffindor Quidditch Team this year and everything.  He sounded so worried, but I know he'll do fine.  And then he asked me if I made prefect! I was SO surprised because I thought he completely forgot! I mean, I told him a long time ago that I had been nominated as one, like in June. I was really surprised that he remembered. But anyway, I tell him that yes, I was elected as a prefect, and he HUGS ME! He said, "That's wonderful! You deserve it, HERM."

            Notice the word "Herm." I was thinking, who in the world calls me Herm? And since when did he start calling me it? It was kind of nice though, because I've never had a nickname before and everything. But anyway, after that it got very awkward and we started walking back towards the house.

            But here's the REALLY BAD part! When I was in front of Gin's room, I HUGGED HIM AND PECKED HIM ON THE CHEEK! ON THE CHEEK! I KISSED HIM!

            Okay, well, it seemed better when it actually happened but still! I would have never have thought of kissing Ron. I mean, I've pecked Harry on the cheek before but … that's Harry. He's different.  Oh I don't know, do I regret it? Ha, I don't know. I'll see what happens tomorrow.

Until then,

Hermione.