Authors Note: Everyone liked the first part so much I thought I'd follow it up. Hope you like it!

RON'S RETALIATION

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

Ron's mind was an odd jumble of mismatched words that didn't make any sense. He couldn't focus his eyes on anything and he was having trouble figuring out where he was.

"Ron? Are you okay?" Hermione's voice sounded distant and muffled. "Can you hear me, Ron?"

"Mr Weasley?" That sounded like Madam Pomfrey, only she too seemed to be speaking from a very far distance. "Mr Weasley, sit up and drink this please." Ron felt something warm and wet roll down his throat. His eyes began coming back into focus.

"Where am I?" He managed to utter as his eyes cleared enough that he could see Hermione leaning over him.

"You're in the hospital wing." Hermione explained. She looked worried. Ron wondered why she was so worried.

"Did something happen to Harry?" He asked, that was usually why he ended up in the hospital wing. Hermione looked a little confused.

"No, Ron. It was you. You collapsed."

"Collapsed?" Ron repeated. He was beginning to feel a lot less disorientated. Hermione had kissed him. She had kissed him, but then what happened? He couldn't remember. "You kissed me." He heard himself say. Hermione shifted uncomfortably and her eyes flew nervously to Madam Pomfrey.

"Yeah." She replied quietly.

"Oh." Ron lifted his hand to rub his head. Hermione had kissed him and then he'd collapsed. Could he be anymore of a loser? He rubbed his head angrily, but only managed to make it hurt more. He was furious at himself. The proper response when someone kisses you is to kiss them back, but not Ron Weasley, oh no he had to be a complete moron and pass out. Suddenly he felt Hermione wrap a hand around his wrist. She pulled his arm away so he couldn't do anymore damage to the now throbbing lump on the side of his head.

"Take this, Mr Weasley." Madam Pomfrey ordered, handing him a glass of thick grey liquid. He drained the glass, which smelt awful, but tasted almost like pumpkin juice. "Off you go then, straight to your dormitory and rest please." She took back the empty glass and ushered them both out. The pair walked wordlessly to Gryffindor tower. As soon as they were through the portrait hole Hermione mumbled something about changing her robes and disappeared up the girls staircase. Ron dropped into an armchair near the fire and sat feeling sorry for himself until Harry walked through the portrait hole ten minutes later.

"Hey Ron." He said throwing himself down onto the seat opposite. Ron stared at his hands and didn't answer. "Is there something wrong?" Ron grunted in response and didn't look up. "Is Hermione still in the hospital wing?" Harry continued, attempting to make conversation. "You know, we lost a ton of house points because of that stunt of yours, and the mess took forever to clean up." Ron grunted again. "Have you turned into a troll or something?"

"I wish." He replied, sighing sadly.

"What's going on?" Harry asked, sitting up and staring intently at Ron.

"Nothing. Nevermind." Ron sighed again. He looked up in time to see Hermione come back down the stairs. She had a pile of books in her arms and without so much as a glance in their direction she pulled up a chair at the furthermost table. "I blew it." He muttered quietly, immediately hoping Harry hadn't heard.

"Blew what?" No such luck.

"My chance." Ron had a sudden urge to tell Harry everything. "I didn't even know I had a chance, but somehow I still managed to blow it." Harry was completely confused.

"Ron, what on earth are you talking about?" Ron jammed his mouth shut. If he did tell Harry he'd only be embarrassing himself and Hermione. He glanced at Hermione. She was staring off into space, absentmindedly twirling a wisp of hair. "Fine you don't have to tell me," Harry said, cutting into Ron's thoughts, "but if you ask me, it ain't over till the fat lady sings!"

"What?" Ron's attention flicked to Harry and then back to Hermione. She slammed her book shut, grabbed some parchment and strode towards the portrait hole.

"Oh, have you never heard of that? I guess it's a muggle saying." Harry replied. "It means it isn't over till its over."

"Harry, that doesn't make any sense."

"Look at it this way, maybe you haven't completely blown it, maybe if you hurry you can fix it." Harry explained, then added to himself. "Whatever *it* is." Ron glanced over his shoulder at the closed portrait hole.

"You know Harry, I think you're right. Thanks mate." Ron leapt from his seat and raced out of the common room. He was a few paces down the corridor when he stopped and turned. He strode quickly back to the portrait, which had just swung shut. "And as for you," he said, pointing his index finger at the fat lady, "NO singing!" The fat lady huffed indignantly and Ron set off at a run towards the library. He shot quickly down each of the aisles looking for her. He'd never noticed how big the library was, and all the shelves looked exactly identical. He almost felt like he'd walked down the same row ten times when he finally found her. He resisted the urge to run straight to her, instead favouring to shove his hands into his pockets and walk as calmly and casually as he could manage. Once he was within a few paces of her table he cleared his throat. Hermione looked up. Ron suddenly noticed that she had the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. It took him a moment to realise he was staring and immediately shook himself out of it.

"Hi." He managed to say.

"Hi." Hermione replied. She seemed to be blinking a whole lot, or perhaps that was him.

"I... uh... what are you working on?" Ron asked, pointing to her parchment.

"Homework." She replied simply.

"Oh, good. You should really get it all done before the weekend." Ron suggested. His heart was pounding so forcefully in his chest he was sure Madam Pince would have him kicked out for being too loud.

"Before the weekend? Why?" Hermione asked looking confused.

"Well, that way you'll have time to do other things." Ron explained. Was it his imagination or was his voice getting higher and higher? "Like, take a walk round the lake with a dope who can't seem to stay on his feet." Hermione's expression brightened, but she immediately tried to hide it and casually dipped her quill in her ink bottle.

"This *dope* wouldn't happen to have bright red hair and cheeks to match, would he?" She asked, a small hint of a smile playing on her lips, which Ron now found himself infatuated with.

"Yeah. Yeah he would actually." He replied. He held his breath, waiting for her response.

"You know Ron, I think there's hope for you yet." She declared, pulling herself to her feet and stepping around the table. Ron met her halfway and as he pulled her into a kiss he made sure to keep his feet firmly planted on the ground.

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