Chapter Ten: Back in the Library…

Ron looked over at Hermione, who seemed very absorbed in her book. He sighed and went back to his astronomy homework. She looked up and over at Ron, now intently studying his astronomy chart. She sighed softly and went back to her book. This ensued for the better part of an hour, until finally they happened to look up at the same time. Ron's eyes went wide and he blushed as red as his hair, while Hermione's breath caught in her throat and they both quickly looked away.

"Ron," began Hermione after a while, "what are you thinking?"

He seemed to consider this for a moment. He flushed slightly. "I…I was sortof wondering…" he trailed off, his faced flushing deeper, unable to finish his sentence.

A sly smile spread across Hermione's face. "See! I knew you thought about it too! You wonder about kissing just as much as I do!" She smiled triumphantly as he blushed even deeper. "Shh! Don't let people hear you talking like that!"

"Why? Kissing is a perfectly natural practice," she said, "people do it all the time." She grinned a little, "I bet I know of two people who are probably doing it right now…" He glared at her. "Don't remind me."

"Jealous Ron?"

He ignored her and looked at his watch. "Quidditch practice started already anyway," he mussed, as if that made any difference.

Hermione shrugged and turned back to her book. "You can ignore me all you want…" she said in a sweet sing-song voice, "but it wont change a thing…"

Ron murmured an incoherent response. Hermione giggled a little. "You'll never solve your problems if you don't face them, you know."

Ron had had enough of this torture. He looked up, glaring at her. "Look Hermione, I know you might not be bothered by all this, but I am, ok? I don't like the idea of either of them kissing anybody, least of all eachother! And maybe I am jealous, but who wouldn't be? He's my best friend and now he's spending more time with my little sister than with me!"

Hermione softened. "I'm sorry, Ron…it'll get better…" she said hopefully. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, whatever."

"No, really, it will."

"When? How? What could possibly happen to make this better?"

Hermione's eyes shifted uncomfortably. "…Well. Maybe if you got up the nerve, you could have a girlfriend too."

Ron stared at her for a moment. How could she know…?

"…Hermione…?" He wasn't sure he had understood what she meant.

But she only shrugged. "If you don't know what I'm talking about it's your own fault. Now come on, if you don't finish this chart by tomorrow you'll be in trouble."

Ron sighed and let her help him finish the chart.