A/N- OK, here's the next chapter! I know I have to get better at writing faster, but I am such a bookworm, I forget to type, and not just read! Our class went on a 5 day trip to Washington DC (We live in NJ) and that also took up a bit of time preparing and what notany way here we go!

Chapter 6

The rest of the afternoon was spent rather peaceably. Ron made a few floo calls to the ministry leaving messages for various people, including Dean, and then went into his room. Sitting at his small desk, writing yet more letters, and shuffling through new advertising campaigns the company had accepted.

He was looking at some picture others in the group working on the Bertie Bott's advertising had taken, when he heard a small tap on his door jamb.

Hermione stood there in the open door way, the faint light from the living room fire silhouetting her figure like some kind of deity. She looked at him before speaking, "Ron, it's nearly 7:30, and I was wondering if you wanted me to scrounge up something for diner?"

Ron looked at his watch. "Oh, that late already?" His gaze shift to a couple more stacks of mail that had to be looked through before he returned to the office tomorrow. "Have you heard anything from Dean?"

"Not yet. His secretary said that he hasn't been back yet, and that she would tell him as soon as he got inor as soon as she knew where he is." She looked a bit worried.

"Herm," Ron said getting up from his chair, and stretching his long body that was stiff from hours of sitting hunched over in a hard, wooden chair. "He will get the message before morning, I know he will, he always checks with his secretary for any late mail around 8:30. The Dean will get a letter by morning." Ron smiled at his own bad pun.

"Ha, ha, ha," Hermione looked at him, the familiar sarcasm back in her voice. "About dinner"

Ron reached up to rub the back of his neck in a kind of thoughtful gesture. "I don't know what I have here. Should be enough for the two of us. Although I don't usually keep enough of everything around for twocan you cook pasta?"

Hermione rolled her eyes, "Ron, I grew up as a Muggle! If I can't do pasta no one can!" She turned and a few moments later he heard the crashing of cupboards and the clanking of pans.

Felling guilty for leaving Hermione to cook, as he knew very well what she thought of men sticking women with all the "house chore" type jobs, he walked into the small kitchen. The tiny room had all it's lamps magically lit, Ron saved on electricity bills, since his father had figured out how to produce the same effect with a spell, giving the room a very homey feel.

"I thought you were working," she didn't even turn around, she knew he was in the room by the presence of a new shadow.

"Yeah, well, my sexist, chauvinistic pig' side," he smiled slightly as he saw she noticed the phrase she had used to describe him earlier in the day, "wanted to leave you to do the cooking. My sensitive, caring, woman's rights side said that I should be in here helping you. Be glad I am 51% of side B and only 49% of A." He smirked, and Hermione rolled her eyes.

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They had eaten dinner, which comprised of pasta with butter and a glass of water, then went into the living room. Sitting down on the sofa, Hermione leaning against one arm, Ron against the other, they began talking.

They talked about the past and the future. The weather, Muggle history, clothing styles, food. And their past love lives also came up

"How's life?" Ron asked as they sat down on the couch.

"Alright from this side of tomorrow, you?" Hermione was not sure where this conversation would end up, but she figured she should keep it light.

"Good enough, although some things could change for the better, including my relationship with certain people" he stared at her with a steamy look in his eyes that made Hermione shift a bit in her seat.

She decided now would be a good time to try and turn the tables. "So, Ron, How many women have gone out with since I've been gone, hmm"

She gave an evil smirk as a confused look spread across Ron's face, "Hermione, I haven't seen you for 5 years—"

"So?"

"Why do you want to know?" He narrowed his eyes at her.

"I like to know something about a man before I date him, that is if I decide to at all." She was trying to intimidate him, and she knew he could tell, but she continued on the same train of thought. "We'll see if you stand a chance."

"He smiled slightly at the hidden challenge. "A rough number?" Hermione nodded. "Maybe about 20 or so, that I can think of right now anyway, you?"

"Why do you need to know?"

"I like to know something about a woman before I date them." Now she knew he was trying to get on her nerves as he had confessed his loved to her just the night before, but she decided to humour him just the same.

"Oh6 or 7." She looked at him, and his mouth was slightly open.

"Only 6 or 7?" He looked completely flabbergasted. "In 5 years?"

"Yep," she smiled, "school work and what not gets in the way a bit." He was still staring at her as if she was completely un-human. "Next question, how many of them have you slept with?"

Now Ron was really surprised, "What is this, 20 questions?"

"Yes, in a way, now answer truthfully." She smirked evilly.

Well, Ron thought, two can play at this game. "Do you mean slept with, or had sex with?"

"What's the difference?"

"Quite a bit actually. I could have slept with one, meaning falling asleep on the couch in front of the fire, or I could have slept with one, meaning going into the bedroom and getting it on." It was now his turn to smirk as her face showed disbelief that he was crude enough to use a phrase like "getting it on."

"You have such an eloquent vocabulary, Ron," Hermione said with a huff. She smiled at that. "I meant who have youmade love toand you know it. And you have to answer truthfully."

"Four," Ron answered with all honesty. Hermione looked a bit rattled that he had actually said so with out any dodgey comments. "You?"

Hermione blush at having her own embarrassing question turned around on her, although, she thought , she should have known she would so that to her. "One." Her answer was rather quiet and shy. "And it was only because I was not in a good mood, and we went out one night. I got completely plastered, and he took advantage of me. I can't even say that I remember it all too well."

"Hermione" his tone held mock disappointment. "You get plastered and lose you virginity all in the same night?"

"Yes, it was the only time I had gotten drunk as well."

He could see that her face, even though she was looking down at her hands, was getting redder. "Hey, I've been completely wasted about six of seven times, so consider your self lucky you've only been through the hang-over once!" He volunteered the information in an effort to make her feel better.

"Yes, well, I am glad about that fact as well." The clock chimed 9:30, and Hermione jumped. "Oh my! I didn't realize how late it was. I need to get to bed!" She started to get up, but then Ron spoke again.

"Hermione, it's only 9:30! You don't have to go to bed!"

"I should have been in bed a half hour ago, but I stayed up!" She looked down at him, watching his face.

"This early? Hermione,—"

"I'm tired, Ron, I am going to go to sleep." Ron, it seemed had decided to stop arguing the point, and let her walk off.

He got up and headed into his own room, to do some more paper work while he lay in bed. Ron walked into the bathroom to brush his teeth. Staring into the mirror, he looked at his reflection carefully, trying to find out if there was something wrong with him, something that may make himundesirable to Hermione. As soon as their conversation had gotten so that she would have to reveal some type of information about herself, she had fled. Straightening up as he realized, maybe the problem wasn't him at all, he got changed into him maroon pajama pants, still pondering Hermione and women in general.

As he walked out of the bathroom, heading towards the bedroom, he heard a high shrill scream, coming from Hermione's room. It stopped abruptly, accompanied by a soft thunk. Ron ran as fast as he could into the other room, just in time to see a very tall figure with a dark forest green hood obscuring his face, disaperate, with an unconscious Hermione slung over his shoulder.

A/N- Sorry that this another short one, but the next one should be longer. I want to wrap this story up because I am not going to be here all summer, I will actually only be in my home state for about 1 week in August after July 5, and then not again until school starts back up in September!!! This story is moving a bit faster than I originally planned, but I hope it turns out nearly was well as it would have otherwise. The plot for this chapter was also pretty dumb, and I apologize for that as it only had one purpose to forward the plot, and that was to get Hermione caught, and I needed a reason for her to go to bed, as well as something to fill this hellishly dumb chapter! Put up with me until the next one, I beg of you!

One more thing, I am still looking for some brave, gallant, noble person to go and read my other fic The Song of Reincarnation, and tell me what to do with it, because it has been up for a while and I still don't have any reviews. Maybe my summary sucksdunno, someone let me know on that, anybody who is willing. Thank You Very Much!!