A/N: Hey all!! I'm updating! I know it's been a while but the thing is, I'm doing it, so hurray for me! I've written the fifth chapter too but I want to wait a bit before I post it…I know, you guys are all going to be, why? Why must you make us wait?? Well, I'm the author, and that's what I want so….so….so there! :-p lol Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter!

Disclaimer: If I owned Harry Potter, I would have written the fifth book by now!!!!!!!!!! so no…I don't own it.

Setting: The Prophet's Building.

Rating: Pg because frankly, if a five year old could read, and they read this, they'd be bored out of their minds…that's what G is…people who are six and younger need to have "parental guidance" when they're parents are choosing whether or not they should let them see the movie…ok, that's more than you needed to know….

Pairings: R/Hr

Characters: Ron, Viktor, and Hermione.

Summary: Ron's interview has come and now it's time to face Hermione again…probably not as dramatic as it should be *sigh*.

Chapter 4

A week had passed and the fact that Hermione was marrying Viktor had finally begun to sink in. I'd been sad enough before this, when we had first broken up. That's probably why the sorrow I'd previously felt was replaced by blind anger and hatred toward Viktor. He took her from me, or at least in my view, he did.

The interview would be in three days. I needed to control my emotions around Viktor. No matter now angry I was at that son of a bitch, I wasn't about to lose my job over him, no way in hell.

I went through two days in a blaze of emotions, going from worry all the way to anger and back to sorrow. Not only would I be really seeing Viktor for the first time in years (my attitude about him the same, if not worse from my last true meeting with him) but Hermione would be there, in all her beauty. Thinking about seeing her again made my knees weak. I had so much to tell her. I just wished that I had more time in which I could prove to her that I had changed, grown as a person, and that I loved her more than anything else in the world.

"Morning Ron." Toby called as I walked into my office.

"So what's the schedule today?"

"Well, there's been a change in plans about that interview with Krum and Hermione. He wanted to make it earlier because he has an interview with Quidditch Weekly tomorrow and one with some American magazine that day after that which couldn't be moved. They're coming in at noon today."

"They're what? Today?" I asked in shock. Toby nodded. "Well isn't this just damn dandy? All right. It's probably better that I'm getting it over with anyway." I said as I dropped my head onto my desk.

"I'm trying to see if I can take her on a friendly get together after the interview." I told toby, not bothering to lift my head.

"You mean the I'm-taking-her-for-a-friendly-drink-and-telling-her-I-love-her friendly reunion? Or the actual friendly reunion?" Toby asked. That damn boy knew me too well.

"I'd make it the first if I didn't know she hated me so much. Maybe she's forgiven me but she doesn't care about me anymore."

"I doubt that's the truth. It all depends on how forgiving she is."

"Yeah…well, there's no point in not trying right? As long as Viktor doesn't find out. He's shorter than I am but he's twice as strong from all that damn Quidditch."

"Don't get caught then. And if all else fails, act like you just met up with her unexpectedly."

With that in mind the hours passed slowly by. I was to meet them at an enclosed room in the building. It wasn't too far from where my office was so I didn't leave very early. I tried to remain positive while I walked down the hall. After all, Viktor may be a popular, rich, famous Quidditch star, and I may be a poor working class with no popularity or fame but Hermione and I had a history. We have a good history. We have known each other for almost seven years now. That had to count for something.

Taking a deep breath, I walked into the interviewing room and felt myself go weak all over. She was in the corner, reading a book. My lips curled into a smile. I missed seeing her read. It was such a simple little act, her reading a book, but it was so endearing to me that my heart melted and I had the biggest urge to run to her and wrap my arms around her small waist. I could hold her there forever and I'd be content for the rest of my life.

My happy little bubble was burst however when Viktor called to me from the other side of the room.

"Ah, Ronald Veasley! It pleases me to see you again. You have been vell?"

I tried to hide my cringe, and ignore Hermione's shocked gaze, as I heard that unforgettable (and frankly crappy) accent. "Hello Mr. Krum. I'm glad you and your fiancé" I almost choked on the word, "could make it today. I know how busy your schedules have been lately."

"Hermioninny (A/N: please tell me what the correct spelling is! I can't find my fourth book *gasp*) is it not good that Veasley is the interviever? Vas he not a good friend of you at Hogvqrts?"

Hermione had come to stand before me and she was eyeing me with a close gaze. I flushed crimson, feeling like a fifth year all over again, as she looked me over. I felt embarrassed and more ashamed of what I'd done than I ever had felt before. And I was suddenly very concerned about what her answer would be to Viktor's question. Did she still consider me a friend?

"Actually, yes, he was a good friend, my best friend. You remember fourth year of course. That's when you met him first. Do you remember him at all?"

"Yes. Your brother Mr. Veasley, Charlie, he vas a good man. Very good Quidditch player he vas."

"Yes, he was. All in all I'm glad he didn't go pro. He's much better at the dragon work…more passionate about that." I replied, wanting to spend as little time with Viktor as possible.

"Let's get this interview started shall we?" Hermione said in that voice she used on Harry and I when we got off topic.

"Sure. Let's go sit over here." I told them, showing them to a couch where the two sat down next to each other. If I hadn't known they were engaged, I would have thought they were mad at each other, the way they were sitting so far from each other. However, they were still engaged, even if they weren't sitting close, so I started the interview.

It's true, I was the interviewer, but Viktor hardly allowed me to ask a question. He was talking about himself so much that I had to rush to write down everything he was saying. Hermione still hadn't said much. She just sort of sat and watched as if she wasn't even part of the interview at all. I decided, as Viktor spoke of Quidditch, which wasn't part of the interview, to slip Hermione a note to invite her to the outing with me. Sure, if I did it did it this way, I wouldn't know her answer before I actually got to the bar, but I also wouldn't risk having to ask her to meet me there and have Viktor get angry at me. He might revoke the right for us to do the article.

I wrote the note on a scrap of paper. 'Meet me at Parado at five tonight,' (it's a muggle bar, for those of you who don't know) 'We need to talk –Ron.'

I smiled as a memory from months earlier returned. It was the day that I determined I'd tell Hermione how I felt about her. We were in History of Magic, sitting together, when I looked at her and knew that today was the day I'd tell her how much I cared about her. Of course, Being the person who is terribly wonderful at voicing what they want to say out loud (not) I felt it would be much easier if I wrote her a note (which is the thing that originally reminded me of this). It said simply 'Meet me in the third floor corridor after dinner'. She gave me a stern look when I pushed the note toward her but it changed to a look of confusion, even a bit of fear. To reassure her (and myself) that everything was all right, I took her hand and squeezed it lightly.

After eating (or rather, picking at) my dinner quickly, I left the table with Mcgonogal's permission, telling her I had a stomachache. I had ran up the stairs, conjured one of my strawberry sugar quills into a white rose, and pulled the comb through my hair again hastily, before rushing out, hoping that McGonagal would not try to check on my 'stomach ache'.

I made it to the corridor in no time and slipped into the unlocked door. (the protections had been removed in third year) The first room looked giant with out Fluffy in it to occupy the space. I waited a few minutes as my heartbeat grew faster. I'd known her for six years by then and I thought I knew her pretty well. I was almost sure that what I felt toward her, was the same she felt toward me. Of course, I wasn't sure, because she had never actually told me, but it was almost as if she didn't need to tell me for me to know.

A creek behind me made me jump. Hermione was there, looking slightly nervous at me.

"Hi Ron." She said, almost timidly. It was so endearing and I felt my heart melt just looking at her. "Why was it so important for me to come? I have some studying I need to do and-"

"It will only take a few Minutes 'Mione." The name slid off my tongue. I'd never called her that before, thought of her like that, but never said it out loud. She smiled brightly, something which I took to mean that she didn't mind the name. "You see, I have been trying to find out the right way to tell you this for at least a year and a half now. I guess today is just the best day for me." I looked down at my hands and saw the rose. "Oh, and this is for you."

"Oh Ron, it's beautiful. And I must say, this quill really got a good transfiguration on it." Leave it to Hermione to make the conversation turn toward work. "But I've interrupted you so go on."

I cleared my throat and prepared myself. This was it. I had to tell her now. "you see, the thing is Hermione…the thing is," I sighed, well that went well. I tried again, "We've been best friends for a very long time, and, well," I was beginning to look pale and Hermione was looking concerned. "What if I told you that I didn't want to be friends anymore?" Once it left my mouth I couldn't change it but the pain in her eyes told me I'd clearly not said that the right way.

"Ron, if you really don't want to talk to me then be an adult and tell me." She told me quietly.

"No, no! That's not what I meant." I said, pushing myself to go on. I stepped forward a little and found one of her hands. "I meant well, what would you do if I had said that I wanted to be more to you than just a best friend?"

Her hand went limp in mine and she was looking shocked if nothing else. "Are you saying that you actually felt like that or is it just supposed to be hypothetical?"

I almost laughed, almost. The tension had gotten had gotten up very far but I felt so much better after she said that. It was almost a reminder of why I was putting myself through this…because she was the I was doing it for. It was so like her to say something like that.

Using words would have made the whole conversation very removed, like a business deal. That was why instead of giving her a straight forward vocal answer, I kissed her. Nothing special. It wasn't Earth shattering or anything, but it felt right to me, as if that one act brought everything into focus and made everything click.

Looking back it was only a peck but if Hermione hadn't known what I'd meant by my roundabout explanation, she sure did now.

That first kiss was what lead me to dating her and what eventually lead me to sitting in the insufferably small interviewing room with a Quidditch star and the love of my life.

"Vell Mr. Veasley, I thank you for listening to us. I vill look forvard to reading it in this paper. I am sure Hermioninny is pleased doing this vid me. Ve are very happy vhen ve are together. Good day Mr. Veasley." Viktor said once again, shaking my hadn.

With the note ready in my hand I shook Hermione's small hand too. The paper slipped from my palm to hers. She gave me a single questioning glance, still unable to look me in the eyes, and stuck the note in her pocket. Now all I would have to do was go to Parado and hope that she would come to meet me there. My chances were slim but I still had a chance, and that one percent chance she might still care was what kept me going.

A/N: Yay! Good? Bad? Ugly? :-p Ok…bad western joke…anyway, was it ok? It felt kind of boring to me…but the next chapter will (hopefully) be better…Hope you liked it, leave me a message and tell me how I did!

~Addy

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