Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, brilliantly created by J.K. Rowling. Most situations are based on those created by J.K. Rowling.

Chapter Thirty: The Morning After

The morning sun hit Hermione in the face. When she opened her eyes, she was forced to squint again. She turned on her side to avoid the light. Suddenly, she felt an arm wrap tightly around her. She had a moment of panic until she remembered the previous night's activities. She turned her head to look at Ron, sleeping peacefully with a small smile on his face. Hermione smiled, and turned around again so that she faced him. She watched him sleep for a moment, and then began tracing a finger on his face, down the bridge of his nose and across his lips before placing a small kiss on them. Ron responded by pulling her closer, and Hermione snuggled into him and fell asleep again.

A half hour later, it was Ron who woke up, also a little confused at the extra person in his bed. However, he too quickly remembered the night before and he smiled, content. He looked down at Hermione and kissed her forehead. Though the gesture was small, Hermione's eyes fluttered open and she and Ron looked at each other. "Hi," she said softly to him.

"Hi," was all he said back before he started to kiss her again.

Suddenly, they both sat upright when a loud knock sounded on the door. They both became acutely aware of the fact that they weren't wearing any clothes. "Who - who is it?" Ron asked.

"It's me, mate," came Harry's voice from the other side of the door. "I'm coming in!"

"No!" Ron exclaimed. "I mean wait! I'm not dressed yet."

Harry tried the door before Ron had finished his last two sentences, but found it locked. "Hey, why's the door locked! Ron, come on!"

"Just a second!" Ron exclaimed, and he struggled to pull on pants and a shirt. "What is this?" he asked when he had trouble with the shirt.

Hermione giggled, "That's mine!" she exclaimed. Ron laughed as well, and then pulled the shirt away from him and threw it to her.

"Put that on now!" Ron demanded, "Hide in the closet."

Hermione grabbed the sheet from Ron's bed and went quickly into the closet after grabbing the pants she had been wearing the night before. Ron went to the door and took a deep breath before unlocking it and letting Harry in.

Harry walked into the room, oblivious and plopped down on his temporary bed heavily. Ron looked at him. "Where were YOU last night?" he asked.

"Oh," said Harry. "I woke up on the couch. Fred and George were on the floor. I suppose we all just crashed down there at some point. Man, am I tired!" He yawned. "What happened to you?"

"Nothing. I just got tired," said Ron.

"Why's your shirt backwards?" Harry asked curiously, noticing that the tag from Ron's shirt was sticking out at the collar - but not in the back of the shirt.

"Well, you wanted to come in, I had to get dressed quickly."

Suddenly, comprehension dawned on Harry's face, and he surveyed the room. He noticed the messed up blankets on Ron's bed, as well as the missing sheet. He noticed, once more, Ron's messed up shirt. "Wait a minute!" he said. "You aren't alone in here, are you?"

Ron's face blushed a deep red, giving Harry the answer he needed. After a long moment, Ron shook his head, walked over to the closet, and opened the door, showing Hermione (who was now dressed). She walked out of the closet, her face nearly as red as Ron's. "Good morning, Harry," she said, deciding to act casual.

"Morning Hermione," Harry smirked. "Did you sleep well?"

Hermione's face blushed an even deeper shade of red, and she quickly rushed out of the room. When the door shut behind her, Harry began to laugh hysterically. Ron crossed his arms and stared at him.

"What's SO FUNNY?" he demanded, but Harry just continued to laugh. Ron got frustrated. "HARRY!" he exclaimed.

Harry attempted to calm himself down. "Sorry mate," he said between laughs. "But I can't believe what I just walked in on."

"You didn't walk in on anything," Ron said.

"Oh, come on, Ron," said Harry. "If I didn't walk in on anything, why was Hermione in the closet? You've been alone in a room plenty of times before when I came in. Obviously something happened before I got here. Unless I interrupted."

"No," Ron said. "We were.. done. You woke us up."

"So," Harry ventured. "You did it then?"

"Well, I suppose I can't pretend," said Ron. "Yeah, we did."

"And?"

"And nothing," said Ron. "I don't want to give you the details. It's kinda private."

"Okay," said Harry, respecting Ron's decision. "Then are congratulations in order?"

"Congratulations?"

"Yeah," said Harry. "You and Hermione took that next big step. So I'm congratulating you."

"Thanks, I guess," said Ron.

"Anyway, ate. I'm EXHAUSTED. I'm going to crash for a couple more hours."

"Be my guest," said Ron, and he picked up some different clothes so he could change in the bathroom.

* * *

"So?" Ginny asked after Hermione told her what happened.

"So what?" Hermione asked.

"So how was it?"

"It was..," Hermione began, "weird."

"What do you mean?" Ginny asked.

"I mean, it was nice," said Hermione, "being that close to him, and he-"

"No details please," Ginny interrupted. "This IS my BROTHER we're talking about."

"Okay," said Hermione, smiling. "What I meant was it WAS nice, but you know it was the first time for both of us so I just think we need.. more practice."

Ginny smiled. "I can't believe you didn't tell me you were going to do it!"

Hermione shrugged, "I didn't really know myself. Not until last night."

"Do you feel different?" Ginny asked.

"A little," said Hermione. "It feels like I have a secret."

"Well, you've told me your secret, so maybe that will go away."

"It's nice though," said Hermione. "It's like something only Ron and I know about." She looked longingly toward the door. Ginny noticed.

"What are you wasting time here for?" she asked. "Go find him. I think you need each other right now."

"Thanks Gin," said Hermione. "See you later."

* * *

Ron was in the backyard, watching the clouds from a makeshift log bench in the middle of the yard. It had snowed a few nights before, but even though the ground was covered in white, the sky was a clear, clear blue. Ron found himself entranced with the clouds until a shadow fell over him. He looked down from the sky and saw Hermione watching him. He smiled at her.

"Hey you," she said and she sat down next to him. "Aren't you cold out here?"

"Nah. I like snow," said Ron.

"What are you doing outside all by yourself anyway?"

"Too many people in the house," Ron explained. "It's so noisy. Too noisy to think."

"Yes," Hermione agreed. "What were you thinking about?"

"You. Always you. And about last night."

"What about it?"

"How it was the greatest night of my life," Ron said. "Besides the day you told me you loved me."

Hermione smiled, "Still do, y'know."

"How are you this morning?" Ron asked. "Regret it?"

"Never," said Hermione. "I followed my heart last night. It's always seemed to steer me the right way."

"You know," said Ron, looking at her. "If it's possible, I think I love you even more than I did before."

Hermione smiled. "Me too," she said, and they were about to kiss when they heard Mrs. Weasley's voice.

"BREAKFAST!" she called out.

"Hungry?" Hermione asked Ron.

"Always," he said, and he stood, brushed the snow off his legs and helped Hermione stand before they both headed inside for breakfast.