Ch. 4 ~ True Confessions

(I do not own anything but the plot. If I did, I'd be rich. Thanks to all of you who have been reviewing. And the cereal is an actual cereal but I'm just saying that that's what they are gonna eat. Please don't sue.)

Hermione got up and began looking for him. But first, she'd make a stop off at the bathroom. She didn't hear any water running, and the door wasn't locked, so she went in.

"Oh. S-sorry Ron." she said. He was sitting in the tub, soaking.

"Hey! Morning, 'Mione.  What's up? You were still asleep. I didn't take my shower last night, got a little side tracked (he winked at Hermione), thought I'd get it in before you got up." he said, ever so nonchalantly.

"Okay. You already take your shower?"

"Yep. But it's been a while since I've just sat and soaked. Like I said earlier, you were sleeping, so…here I am."

"Oh. Okay. Enjoy." she turned to leave.

"'Mione?"

"Yeah?" she turned back to Ron.

"Can you hand me that towel? It's just there." he said pointing to the for mentioned towel, "Thanks."

Handing him his towel, she said, "You're welcome. Did you already eat breakfast?"

"Nope. Never heard of Toasty-O's or any of that stuff. Thought I'd wait 'til you got up."

"Okay. Well, I'll let you get dressed and I'll go get us some cereal."

"Cereal?"

"The Toasty-O's.

"O-oh." he said, as she turned and left.

~*~

Ron came into the kitchen in a pair of slightly baggy jeans and was drying his hair with his towel, which he draped over a chair.

"Here you go." Hermione said, handing Ron his bowl of cereal. She could hardly keep her eyes off of him and his abs of steel.

"These are good. We sometimes have oatmeal at home."

"We have that too, if you'd rather."

"No. This is great."

Apparently she'd already eaten because she went into her room and got dressed. For some reason, Ron got the faint idea that Hermione was trying to avoid him.

~*~ Later that night, Ron decided to confront Hermione with this little notion of his.

"Hermione?" said Ron, interrupting her reading, "We need to talk."

"Yeah, Ron?"

"What's wrong?"

"Ron, what are you talking about?"

"Yu know what. Why are you avoiding me? You've been doing it all day."

"I haven't the slightest idea what you're talking about." she said, and proceeded to go back to her book. Ron took the book out of her hands, closed it, and tossed it on the coffee table. "Ron!!!" she shrieked, "What the hell has gotten into you?"

"You've been avoiding me all day and you're trying to do it now! Now, we have got to talk!"

"So talk."

"Well, one minute you're all hot, the next you're…you're…."

"I'm what?" she said coldly, now frozen with anger.

"You're…"he said cowering away momentarily, then coming back to his senses, "You're Ice-woman!

Hermione sat glaring at him, shooting sharp icicles with her eyes. "Ice-woman?", she snarled, "Ice-woman? Why do you think that I'm 'Ice-woman'?"

"W-well," he stammered, "Like I said earlier, since last night, you've been avoiding me all day. And I don't know what I've done."

She shook her head, chuckled lightly, and got up to leave. She tried to pass him without looking at him, but Ron grabbed her wrist and spun her around, catching her in his strong arms.

"Hermione," he whispered, staring into her eyes so hard she nearly melted from his intense gaze. She just stared back, with the same intensity, not wanting him to let go. "Hermione, don't avoid me, please. I don't think I could handle not having you. Please Hermione? What's wrong?" he was looking at her with such concern and love that she broke down and collapsed into his chest and arms.

"Ron, it's nothing. Really. Its just…"she broke off, not knowing how to say what was on her mind…for once.

"Just what?" Ron asked patiently.

"It's just, I…I'm scared."

"Scared?"

"Yes, scared." And with that, it all came spilling out so fast that she couldn't stop it, "I'm scared that our love or our friendship won't last. I'm scared that when we go back to school, if we get made fun of, that maybe you'll get embarrassed and want to call everything off.", she was crying now. Ron tried hard to steady her trembling body.

"There, there. Calm down. Hermione, listen to me, that will never happen. Okay? I've loved you for three years and I will for the rest of my life." he paused for dramatic effect, which caused her to look up at him, then he smiled and added with a wicked grin, "Or at least until Snape washes his hair."

Hermione couldn't help it, with that last comment; all her fears and doubts were wiped away and replaced with furious laughing. They laughed together for a little while. Then Hermione popped in another movie, made some popcorn, and took her place next to Ron…on the couch. He held her close all through the movie, almost afraid to let go.

Before long, Hermione's head had rested upon Ron's shoulder and she was asleep. He kissed the tops of her eyes, and moved to carry her into bed. While he was tucking her in, he had a strong urge to change her into her pajamas while she was sleeping. Resisting the temptation, he turned to strip down to his boxers, which is what he sleeps in. Little did he know that he was being watched.

~*~

She had laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. She had been thinking about how lucky she was and about how much she loved him, when her thoughts were interrupted by tender kisses upon her eyes. She thought that maybe she'd just been dreaming, and this was a dream of which she didn't want to awake from, so she kept her eyes closed.

Seconds later, she felt him move and lift her off the couch. He was carrying her somewhere. She soon realized where when he laid her down and began to tuck her in. He had paused, like he was having some kind of inner battle. But appeared to have made a decision. She heard some rustling around, and she opened her eyes slightly to see what he was doing. She soon found out when he took off his shirt and pants. He began to turn, so she quickly closed her eyes again. She heard him walk over and lay down. She felt him put his arms around her and he began to say things. It was muffled at first but she could soon make out what he was saying. She quickly realized that he was talking to her, thinking she was sleeping. Boy, was he wrong.

"Hermione, you are so beautiful." she heard him say . He paused for a moment, then continued to talk to her. "Everything about you is perfect. You're brilliant, fun, easy to talk to, and well, perfect. Far too good for me. I love everything about you. In fact…" he stopped again, "I love you. I am IN love with you. And I have been for a while. Now, I know that you could never be in love with me, but at least for now, I know that you like me."

Hermione couldn't resist any longer, so…

"Ron, are you crazy?"

Ron jumped, "Holy shit! H-Hermione?! I – I thought that you were sleeping!"

"Obviously. Ron? Why wouldn't you say any of that to me while I was awake?"

"What are you talking about? You were awake, so apparently I did." Ron replied, somewhat upset. He was now so red he looked like he could explode from embarrassment.

"Ron, seriously, why not?" she said in a curious but loving tone.

"B-because. I-I don't think that you could ever love me as much or in the same way that I love you. So I figured I'd tell you while you were sleeping. That way, I could have the satisfaction of knowing that I told you, and at the same time, you still wouldn't know. Man, was I wrong." he grumbled.

"Ron, what made you think that I couldn't love you?"

"Because, you don't. I mean, I'm probably just a summer fling and besides, don't you love Harry?"

"No, because I love you."

"See, I told y- hold on, you love ME?"

"Yes, I love you," she said right before she kissed him. When they pulled apart, all Ron could say was, "I love you, too." Then they fell asleep in each other's arms, happier then they both had been in a while.

TBC***

I will try to update soon, but I'm having somewhat of a writer's block on this one. I also started a Sirius/Hermione last night if any of you are interested. It's called "A Lost Love". That's not a permanent title. Only until I can think of a better one. Anywho, I'd like to thank all of you for reviewing and would like to encourage you to keep doing so. So, Many Thanks To:

KittyKid943

Emma: I'm sorry if you don't agree with every aspect but I appreciate your comments and thank you for still reading.

Zidane

The Girl Who Loves To Read

Mugglebornwitch2

TheSweetestThing: Thanks. I would write it out on the computer instead of on paper but our Internet is down at home so I have to drive over to my Grandmother's to type.

Athene

Dracos-AngelGryl

Bruentte-Babe

RonandHerm4eva

Snow White: Hey, thanks Ice. I'll try to keep a better watch on what I'm typing. Waste is supposed to be waist. Do you see now, Blind Man? LOL ;). Laterz.

Cassgrl087                  

Phoenix Feather: Thanks for your loyalty.

Crazy4RonW: And you too, Thanks for your loyalty.

Again, thank you for all of your reviews. It helps me keep going.