~`*`~
Ron could not get to sleep. For one thing, it was a lot hotter in Hawaii than it was in England. Even with the air conditioner it didn't make much of a difference. For another, he had a girl, Hermione, sleeping (or so he thought) right next to him. He was suddenly very aware of how close he and Hermione were from each other.
He could hear her breathing, and felt her move a bit next him. His insides lurched, and he furiously tried to fight down the feeling, thinking all the while, It's just Hermione! You've known her for six years! She's your best friend! There's nothing wrong with this!
Yet he continued to have that uneasy feeling in his stomach, no matter how much he tried to squash it.
~
Hermione, on the other side of the double bed, felt no better. Honestly, she thought, it's only Ron. Really! She flipped over on her stomach to get into a better sleeping position, and was just trying to remember how to transfigure a rock into a book (to get her mind off the person sleeping next to her), when she heard that very person get up and walk quietly-well, as quiet as Ron could be, anyways-to the hotel room door, and open it with a creek, and quietly shut it again.
~
Ron couldn't stand it anymore. He got up and as quietly as he could (so he wouldn't wake up Harry and Hermione), and tiptoed to the door.
He stepped outside and breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn't really sure why he was relieved. He'd just been with his two best friends (as he furiously reminded himself). There was nothing to be afraid off with them. Slowly, he walked down the hall, and after frantically trying to remember how to work it, rode the elevator down to the lobby, and walked through the dimly lit hall to the door that led to the beach.
~
Hermione, intrigued by what Ron could be doing at this hour, got up and followed him through the door. She had just caught a glimpse of his fiery red hair disappearing through the doors of the elevator when she jogged to catch up, and reached the elevator just as the doors shut. She glanced around, knowing that she would lose Ron if she didn't hurry.
Glancing wildly around, she saw a door marked Stairs. She shoved it open, and hurried down the stairs, her feet echoing in little "pit-pats" through the empty stairwell. She jogged all the way down to the first floor, assuming that was where he was in the first place, where else could he have got to?
She pushed open the doors and paused to catch her breath. She would really have to tell him off for making her come out here and tell him to get back in bed so he wouldn't be complaining tomorrow. She frowned. He really did cause her a lot of trouble, he did.
She sighed and looked around the lobby, glared at the desk clerk, who, in turn, did the same. Seeing no sign of Ron, she was about to go back on the elevator when she thought, I might as well go dip my feet in the water. I can't get to sleep anyway. She yawned, and slowly tromped to the doors of the beach, and went outside, to find the tall redhead laying on the sand, staring up at the stars.
~
Ron walked out on the beach, and lied down on the sand, staring up at the stars. He was still furious with himself for getting so worried over spending the night with her, when he heard someone yell, "Ron!"
He quickly pulled himself to a sitting position, and called back, "Hermione? What're you doing here?"
Hermione blushed, though Ron couldn't see it in the darkness, "I-I couldn't sleep. Why are you here?" she said, her voice suddenly stern.
"Same as you." Ron's ears had turned pink, though he didn't understand why.
Hermione came over and sat down next to him and she too stared up at the stars. She sighed.
Ron glanced at her, but didn't speak. He didn't think he could, even if he'd wanted to.
They just sat there for about an hour, not saying anything, until Ron felt himself doze off.
~
Ron fell asleep and shlumped right down next to Hermione, who was quite terrified, but, after a while, she relaxed. She edged away from him a bit, and lied down to look up at the stars more comfortably. Without knowing it, each of the stars dimmed, and Hermione, too, fell asleep.
~`*`~
A/N: What's Harry gonna think when he finds they're not there? : )
