A/N: This is my first fanfic. I own absolutely nothing. Surely you can't sue me after that! Please leave a review, even if it is to say you happened to read it. I appreciate any input!

By the way, I fixed the many mistakes in my last chapter, so it's now a little easier to read. I'm new to this whole business. Thank you SO MUCH to those who reviewed my story after the first chapter. I don't think you realize how much I was touched just to know that someone was reading this, and that they didn't hate it! Thanks especially to Mep1, who alerted me to the fact I wasn't accepting anonymous reviews. Thanks for continuing to read!

Chapter Two: Flying Lessons

     Ron and Harry had finished up their conversation and were on their way down to join in the holiday fun brewing downstairs. The tension Harry was feeling had slowly released as he and Ron started discussing much lighter topics. He was looking forward to playing Quidditch that night with all of the Weasley boys (and Ginny). It had become tradition to play the game anytime they were all together at The Burrow. He was just about to mention to Ron that they'd better start early or it would soon be to dark to play, but someone else beat him to it.

     "Ron! Harry! Get your stupid arses down here this instant! We can't very well play when my team's missing a keeper and one of its chasers!" Harry knew this to be George's voice, if only because he knew George was always Beater for their team. Otherwise, he could have easily thought it to be Fred's. Harry assumed the role of Chaser when playing with the Weasley's since, despite the huge family, there weren't enough players to have Seekers for both teams.

     "Let's hit the pitch then, shall we?" Ron answered. "Accio Broom!"

     As his broom came flying toward him, Harry shouted the same, and soon the boys were outside, marching up to the field that served as their makeshift Quidditch pitch. There, they could see that, waiting for them, were Bill, Charlie, Fred, George, Ginny and

     "Hermione?!" Ron exclaimed. "What are you doing with a broom in your hand? You really stink at flying!"

     Harry grimaced. He knew that this was not the best thing for Ron to say. He cautiously glanced up at his other best friend, waiting for smoke to start pouring out of her ears and for the onslaught of oncoming shouts to commence. Nothing happened, though. Harry saw a sly smile form on Hermione's lips.

     "That was before, Ronald Weasley. This is now. I've been here a week. I needed something to occupy my spare time. Ginny taught me how."

     "But when? I've been here for three days already!"

     "You had to go to sleep sometime, Ron."

     "Hey!" Everyone turned to the twins. They had simultaneously shouted. "What about us?! We helped!"

     Hermione glanced at them with a look that wasn't so pleasant. "Oh, and of course your lovely brothers taught me how to dodge bludgers like a pro." The twins high-fived and everyone laughed, including Hermione.

     Everyone mounted his (or her) broom and shot into the air. Ron at once decided to play as Chaser against Hermione. "I can't wait to see this," he'd murmured in Harry's ear as he passed. So, it was with Harry and Ron Chasing against Ginny and Hermione, Charlie Keeping for the guys and Bill for the girls, and the twins, of course, Beating, that they began their game.

     It started out innocently enough. Everyone was taking it easy on Hermione's team, assuming an obvious disadvantage. That wasn't the case for long, though. Soon, they realized that she wasn't nearly as bad as they thought. For half the game, Ron gaped open-mouthed at his fiancé, whom he saw easily dodge a bludger, barrel roll past Harry, and score past Charlie, who looked nearly as stunned as Ron.

     The game was over when the pitch got so dark no one could see the quaffle anymore. The boys had squeaked by, but Ron and Harry both knew that with their superior Quidditch skills, they should have pummeled the girls. Everyone was giving Hermione congratulatory pats on the back, complimenting her huge improvements in flying. Ginny beamed with pride.

     Ron, however, looked none to pleased that Hermione was getting this attention. He silently stalked back to the house, up the stairs, and forcefully shut the door.

**********

     Hermione watched, confused, as Ron steamed away from them. Her victorious mood had quickly dampened, and she had no idea why. She resigned to following Ron's footsteps, knocking on the door. When no one answered, she opened it and stuck her head inside the room.

     "Are you sick?" she asked him. With no reply, she continued into the room. "What's wrong with you?" No response. "Was it my playing that bothered you?" Grunt. "Bloody hell. So that's it, is it? You're jealous! I can finally fly on a broomstick, and you can't be happy for me because you're jealous!"

     Ron looked up at her sheepishly. "I'm sorry, Herm. I guess I just got a bit carried away. I mean, you're better than me at nearly everything. This was the one thing that I knew I could beat you at." Hermione looked horrified, and the look on her face showed that she was about to retaliate, when he jumped in again. "I didn't mean that. I'm just so competitive. You're so perfect, and I'm so…well…not. Why would you ever want to be with someone like me?"

     Hermione looked at him with an expression he couldn't quite comprehend. "Ronald Weasley, you have got to be the most stupid man in the entire world." Ron cringed, looking down at his hands. "I want to be with you because you are everything that I want to be. You're brave, impulsive, and incredibly funny." At this, Hermione could see a blush creep up his face. "Plus, I love you, you stupid git."

     Ron grinned impishly. "And how much is that? How much do you love me, Hermione Granger?"

     Hermione just winked, and as she began to walk out the door, she turned to him dramatically. Pausing for a moment, she added, "I really kicked your butt today."

     That was it, and she knew it. Ron jumped up from where he was sitting and tackled his one and only love to his bed. She fought back for a moment, until she realized it was no use. She was laughing far too hard, and Ron was far too strong. "Uncle?" she tried with a grin.

     "That will get you nowhere, Miss Granger. You have deeply offended me, and there is only one way to repay me."

     "And how's that?"

     "Kiss me."

     And, of course, she did. Even Ron would agree that her offense was repaid. That is, if he could remember anything before that moment.