Disclaimer: As usual, the characters aren't mine but J.K. Rowling's.
Chapter V
Later on that day Ron was still not talking to Hermione. Harry could see how hurt Hermione was because of this. During Herbology, Harry took Ron aside and said,
" Ron, lighten up on Hermione. Ok? She has had a tough couple of days. Just think about that horrible letter from Krum and being asked out by Neville. She is just embarrassed and it doesn't mean she doesn't trust us. We just shouldn't push her."
" Fine. But I just hope that I got my point across." Ron's face looked white and flushed.
" And what point would that be?" Harry asked hoping to affront him.
" Well umm, umm... that we both are trustworthy." Ron and Harry went back over by Hermione. She looked at Ron sadly. Harry smiled at her and she gave him a questionable look. A few awkward minutes later Ron didn't look up at her but said,
" I'm sorry Hermione. I don't know what came over me. I guess I was worried you liked some other undeserving guy like Krum again." Hermione smiled and looked happier than she had all day.
" Oh, Ron. Believe me he is totally deserving," she smiled again." Thanks for actually caring."
She gave Ron a quick hug and went back to working on the Venus flytraps they had been working on. Her face was red and now so was Ron's. Harry saw Ron blush and laughed to himself. " I bet ole Ron enjoyed that. And Hermione," Harry thought.
Now that everything was sort of back to normal between Ron and Hermione, ( if you call looking at one another from the corner of their eyes normal) Harry thought he ought to have a little chat with Ron to figure out what he really thought about Hermione. That night as Ron, Harry and Hermione were the last ones in the common room, Harry had an idea. His idea was to now go to bed and leave them alone. He laughed to himself.
" Ron, umm, I'll be right back. Err, I have to go upstairs for a moment. Just stay down here and I'll be back in a few minutes."
Harry looked at Hermione and she was going pale.
Hermiones eyes seemed to say," Don't leave me alone with Ron!" Harry then climbed up the stairs.
" So Hermione?" Ron said looking slightly nervous.
" Yeah, umm," Hermione then picked up her book to hide her scarlet face.
" Hermione? Your book is upside down," Ron said laughing nervously.
" Oh, right," she smiled uncertainly." I'm going up to bed now. You can tell Harry when he -ahh- comes down." She tripped over the rug as she got up and fell. Her book and a few spare pieces of parchment went flying. Ron went over and asked her as he helped her up,
" Are you alright? You've been acting kind of funny."
" I'm just a little -ahh- preoccupied."
" With what? You can talk to me." She looked like she was struggling to hold something in.
" Can I talk about the guy I like since you are so trustworthy?"
" Sure." Ron was feeling disappointed about talking to Hermione about a guy. His face looked sad, but she went on,
" However, I won't mention a name, ok?"
" Ok."
" Don't make me feel stupid or anything."
" I won't. Lets start at the beginning, what is he like?" Ron asked acting only slightly interested even though inside he was listening intently to every word she said.
" He's so nice. He's also very funny and he sticks up for me. I think I know him pretty well. But not well enough to know if he likes me or not. Sometimes he acts interested, but I can't be sure. He has sort of a bad temper sometimes but that just makes him... I don't know, different."
" He sounds decent. What house is he in?"
" Gryffindor." Hermione said.
" I wish I knew who he was!" Ron exclaimed.
" I told you this because I want you to know that I do trust you. You and Harry are the two people I trust most." Ron looked happy to receive this praise.
" I don't think Harry is coming back," Ron stated. Hermione nodded and they climbed the stairs together and when they got to the girls dormitories she said,
" Thanks for listening and everything." She gave him a hug and she did something she'd never done before. She gave him a kiss on the cheek. They both blushed and Hermione went in the dormitory. After the door closed Ron was still in awe.
