Chapter 10

Disclaimer: These characters are not mine.

A/N: Sorry for the late update. I didn't know how to continue and I've been pretty busy. My birthday was last Wednesday! Happy Belated Birthday to me! ( I'd like to thank Straycat for helping me with this chapter.

Ron sighed as he sat on his bed. Hermione was all he could think about. The past week flew by so fast. He took Hermione's last letter and read.

Dear Ron,

How are you? I met this really cute guy while I was at the library. He's really brilliant and everything. He has jet black hair, mysterious dark brown eyes, sparkling white teeth and he's tall. I think I'm in love. I can't help smiling when I see him and I feel shy whenever he talks to me. He's muggle though. His name is Oliver James. So what do you think?

Love Hermione

Tears filled his eyes.

"Be a man, Ron! You have to be strong!" he scolded himself.

He ran to his trunk and grabbed his emergency sweet bag. He keeps all sort of sweets in there just in case he feels depressed and needs sweets to cheer him up. He took a chocolate frog from the bag. He just sat there staring into space and eating chocolate frogs. After finishing the chocolate frogs, he started on Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans. Ron ate and ate and ate. He didn't even wince or cough when he ate a boogie flavoured bean. He sat in his room all day and only when out for meals. He shoveled his food into his mouth without bothering to look at what he was eating. Before anyone got to say anything, Ron already finished his meal and was halfway up the stairs. That was what Ron did for the next three days.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------- "Arthur," Mrs. Weasley said worriedly. "I'm worried about Ron. He's always locked up in his room and he only comes out for meals. It's been THREE days, Arthur. He insists that he's fine but I know our little boy. Something is bothering him. What do you think is wrong?"

Mr. Weasley looked up from the Daily Prophet and said, "Don't worry dear. I'm sure he's alright. I think we should let him solve his own problems."

"But it hurts me so much to see our little Ron upset. Are you sure this is the right thing?" Mrs. Weasley whispered.

Mr. Weasley reached across the table to hold her hand.

"Don't worry, Molly dear. He'll be alright," he said as he squeezed her hand.

"I do hope you right," Mrs. Weasley whispered.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- Ron still couldn't believe that Hermione had found somebody new. What hurt the most is that it was only days after he told her that he loved her. She even said that she liked him.

"So this is what it feels like when your heart is breaking," he whispered to himself.

He had to get out of the room. He finished his supply of sweets. He needed a restock. Sweets were the only thing that can keep him from thinking of Hermione. He sneaked into Bill's kitchen. One.Two.Three. Ron opened the third drawer and stared at the empty drawer. He was SURE that Bill kept all his sweets in the third drawer. Ron desperately opened the rest of the drawers. They all contained cooking utensils and cook books. He searched the larder and only found canned food.

*sigh*

Ron was getting desperate. He just HAD to eat something sweet. Then he suddenly remembered about the blueberry pie that his mother baked. If he remembered correctly, there were a few slices left. He opened the fridge and saw two slices of pie. He almost cried with happiness. He took a fork from the top drawer and carefully carried the blueberry pie into his room.

"Ah.. Safe again," Ron said to himself as he entered his room.

After eating, he drifted off to sleep.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------

"Hermione, wait!" Ron shouted as he tried to keep up with her.

Hermione didn't hear him. She was laughing at something the tall boy said.

"Hermione!" Ron shouted again.

This time she heard him. She turned around and haughtily said "Get lost creep! Can't you see that you're not wanted?"

"But Hermione-"

Hermione wasn't listening. She took the boy's arm and walked off. Leaving Ron standing alone in the middle of the street.

Ron woke up with a start. It was that dream again. The same dream that had been haunting him ever since he read about Oliver James. Hermione didn't need him anymore. He checked the time. It was only two in the morning. He tried going back to sleep but he couldn't. All he could think about is his misery. He finally decided to sit up. When he did, he saw a something at the corner of the room. Ron squinted. It was shaking and some muffled sounds were coming from it. He cautiously approached the thing.

"What if it's a gigantic spider?" his thought.

He shuddered. Although he knew it was impossible, he wasn't going to take any chances. He tip-toed to his window and opened the curtain. The 'thing' looked up and he gasped. It was Hermione! He rubbed his eyes. Hermione's normal neat bushy brown hair was in a tangled mess and her beautiful brown eyes were puffy from crying. Ron sat down beside her. He didn't know what to do. They sat there in silence for a little while. After awhile, Ron broke the silence.

"What's wrong?"

"R-Ron," She said as she hugged him. Then she whispered "I miss you SO much."

"Miss me?" Ron said, dumbfounded. Something was very wrong.

Ron put two fingers on both his temples and said, "I'm hallucinating. Mind, please stop playing tricks on me. I'm already miserable enough."

Hermione didn't say anything. She just hugged him as tight as she could. It took him a whole minute to finally realized that Hermione was really in his arms.

"What's wrong?" Ron asked again.

She sniffed.

"R-ron. I'm sorry!" She managed to choke.

"Sorry for what?" Ron asked. This was really weird.

She tried to say something but she was choking.

Ron didn't know what to do. He has NEVER dealt with this kind of situation before. Whenever Ginny cries, his mom was always there. There was no way he was going to call his mom up. Then an idea struck him. Chocolate! Chocolate always helps.

"Would you like some chocolate?" Ron asked.

Hermione sniffed and said, "No. I can't eat anything right now."

"You have to. Chocolate will back you feel better. Wait here," he said as he got up.

He walked to his bed and picked his ESB and put his hand in it. He felt around and suddenly remembered that he finished all the sweets in the bag.

"Sorry, Hermione. I finished all the sweets," he said sheepishly.

Hermione didn't answer. Ron watched Hermione as she fidgeted. They stared at each other.

"Erm. Why did you apologize to me?"

Hermione looked at him and said, "Do you love me?"

"Wha-?"

Hermione cut him off." Do you?"

"Of course not!" He said quickly. "I just fancy you a little. That's all!"

He didn't want her to know his true feelings but his ears betrayed him. He could feel them heating up. He hoped that Hermione couldn't see his ears by the dim moonlight.

She looked at him and said, "If I told you that I did something bad; you won't be mad at me right?"

"Of course not!" Ron answered truthfully.

She hugged her knees and said, "I'mreallyreallysorryforlyingtoyou-"

"What?"

She took a deep breath and repeated what she said, "I'm really really sorry for lying to you. I'm not in love with Oliver James. In fact, I don't even know anybody by that name and I did it because I wanted to forget you and I realize that I just couldn't and I really really like you and-"

Ron couldn't understand what she was saying next. She was talking really fast. Ron fought an urge to dance and scream around his room. Hermione actually loved him! Okay. Maybe not LOVE but she really really liked him.

"That's okay. I'm not mad. So now you can be my girlfriend!" he said happily.

Hermione didn't answer. She fidgeted awhile before saying," Ron. I can't do this. I thought you understood. I mean, the reason I came over here is to tell you the truth. It doesn't mean I'm ready to be your girlfriend. I'm not sure whether I can handle all the kissing and hugging and fights and stuff that normal couples do."

Ron wasn't paying attention. While Hermione was talking, he was concentrating hard on her lips and how to somehow kiss her. He looked at her in a way that he thought was romantic and leaned towards her. He didn't realize that he looked like a retarded pig.

"Ron! What are you doing?"

Ron looked at her. She had a puzzled look on her face and one eye brow was raised. He could she that she was trying very hard not to laugh.

"Erm. Nothing. You've got something on your cheek," he answered.

He brushed her cheek and smiled. When he did that, Hermione stared at him. Not in the what-are-you-doing kind of stare. More like a you-look-so-cute- and-I-can't-believe-I'm-with-you sort of stare. Their eyes locked and they were leaning in to kiss.

"RON! BREAKFAST!" came Mrs. Weasley's shrill voice.

Both of them jumped. They stared at each other before realizing what had just happened. Hermione blushed and quickly got up.

"I better go."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- | | | |

"Yeah. You should. Mrs. Weasley might send Ginny and she will find you here. She'll tease me for the rest of my life."

Hermione looked at him one last time before turning to the fireplace. She put her hand in her pouch and threw a fistful of Floo powder. The fire became brilliant green. She stepped into the fire.

"Goodbye, Ron."

"Bye."

Ron sighed and went downstairs for breakfast. Ginny ruined the moment. He was going to get back at Ginny. Despite the fact that he failed to kiss Hermione, Ron was in a good mood.

"Good morning!" he said cheerfully.

"Yeah good morning," George said grumpily.

This morning is one of the rare mornings. The twins are actually grumpy. In fact, everyone was grumpy except for Mrs. Weasley.

"Someone looks happy today," Mrs. Weasley said with a smile.

"Yeah. It's a beautiful morning!"

Ron sat down in between the twins.

Mrs. Weasley drew the curtains. It was dark outside and it was raining. It was one gloomy morning.

"What a BEAUTIFUL morning," George said sarcastically. "It's raining! You know what this means? We're all stuck at home with nothing to do but listen to Bill drone on and on about Egypt!"

Even Ginny was grumpy today. She was moving her bacon around her plate.

"I have very alarming news," Mr. Weasley said. "I don't know what went wrong with Harry. He blew up his aunt today. Give everyone in the ministry a bit of a shock! Cornelius is waiting for Harry at Leaky Cauldron right now. I'll bet you that that's the first place Harry will think of. Two members of the AMR department were sent to the Dursley's."

Everyone laughed except Mrs. Wesley who had a worried expression on her face.

"Is he alright?" She said with a frown.

Ron interrupted," Brilliant! I've GOT to ask him about it later. It's so cool!"

Everyone seemed to cheer up. The whole Weasley family chattered through breakfast.

A/N: You know the drill. Read and Review pls!!!! Critism is welcome!