Later that evening, in the common room, Ron and Harry were sitting at a round table going over their Divination homework. Though, truth be told, Ron really wasn't interested in his assignment.

"I really screwed up, Harry. . . " he sighed, throwing his quill down. Ron leaned back in his seat and folded his arms across his chest.

"What about, Ron?" Harry replied absently, still doing a calculation in his head.

"Hermione."

Harry looked over at his friend, deciding that Ron was more important than Professor Trelawny's ridiculous assignment.

"Listen, you know Hermione. She'll cool off in a day or so, and you two will be okay again. She's jealous, that's all. She doesn't want you to give any other girl attention but her."

"Oh, no. . . don't you remember when she stopped talking to us for, what was it, a month? Maybe longer? Over your Firebolt?? "

"That was different. . .we ganged up on her and didn't do anything to help, you know that. Besides, she loves you Ron." Harry smiled.

Just then, Hermione came into the common room and walked calmly over to Ron and Harry. "Can I talk to you?" she asked the red-head quietly.

He could only nod, then followed her to the other end of the common room. Ron leaned against the wall, prepared for the worst that could happen.

But all she did, was throw her arms around his neck and kiss him. Though taken by surprise, he quickly responded, his arms snaking around her waist and kissing her back.

"I thought you were mad at me." He pushed a strand of hair out of her face.

"I was. . .but after you tackled Malfoy, just to defend my honor. . .oh Ron!" she hugged him tightly. "I love you."

He smiled. "I love you, too"

********************

Meanwhile, in the Slytherin common room, Rio was sitting on an overstuffed leather chair in her pajamas, reading her favorite book, a Muggle story called "The Princess Bride".

"Evening, Rio." Draco sat on the small table in front of her.

"Draco." She answered lazily, not losing her place.

"Listen, I um, I wanted to apologize for my comment to you last night. It was rude, and unnecessary."

At this, she looked up, locking her blue eyes with his gray. "Draco Malfoy. . . apologizing?" "Yes, I am apologizing. And I hope you accept it."

She laughed lightly. "I don't believe it. Hell has frozen over."

His once sympathetic and sincere expression hardened into an angry one. "Well if you're going to be * that * way about it. . ." he stood up and went to leave.

Rio also stood and grabbed him by the arm. "Draco, I'm sorry. . .don't go."

He stopped and turned to face her. "I'm really not as big of an asshole as everyone assumes."

"I believe you. . .and I really am sorry. . .guess I'm still holding a grudge from when you would torture me as a kid."

"Tell me something. . .why did you transfer to Hogwarts? I mean, honestly, why?" he sat down again, as did she. His tone was soft and curious.

"I got into trouble. A lot of trouble. Father thinks that, though Dumbledore is a, and I quote, 'Muggle loving moron', he has more control of his students. The watchful eye is supposed to help me graduate." She answered easily.

"So. . .the stories, about all the men. . ."

"Oh, those are true. . .but only about half of them." She smiled.

"I see. . .well, goodnight. . .can I walk you to breakfast tomorrow?"

"Sure."

And with that, Draco retired to his room, his mind reeling. How could * he * fall for * her *? It just didn't happen that way. She * was * beautiful, he reasoned, and his father, as well as hers, would most likely be over-joyed at the idea of the union. But she wasn't like him. She was far too open-minded, and she seemed to fancy Potter. The thought made his stomach turn--Potter, with a beautiful Slytherin. Disgusting.

**************************************************************************** **

OHHHHHHHHH. . . . . .do I sense some jealousy? Hostility? Perhaps, could LOVE be in the air??? We'll see. . . all in good time. . .