Awaited Confessions

The term started as expected, with normal routines and schedules. The new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was a very handsome, fit-looking Austrian man who looked in his 20s. His name was Professor Giovanni Nathanael. All the female students admitted that they have a crush on this certain teacher. Even Hermione went all giggly whenever his name was mentioned.., to Ron's disgust.

It was 7 in the evening. All the Gryffindors were in their common room, some chatting, some writing, and some.., playing wizards' chess.

"Oh c'mon, Harry! What takes you so long to make a move? It's not that you will win anyways."

"Shut up, Weasley. Can't you see how determined I am to beat the ass out of you?!"

Ron snorted and looked over to his object of admiration, which was lying on a rug by the fireplace, scribbling frantically on a piece of parchment which looked like…

"Hermione, you're still in touch with your bloody 'pen-pal', Vicky, aren't you?" Ron asked with both his red eyebrows furrowed in accusation.

"Ron, don't swear! And honestly, I really know no person by the name of Vicky," Hermione ended her sentence coolly.

"You bloody well know who I'm talking about!" Ron snapped.

"Oh really? Who?" Hermione decided to play along, hoping that this fight might lead him to confess his feelings for her, as she usually does in all her fights.

Ron, who noticed that she was playing him, stated loudly, "Hermione, his name starts with the letter 'V'! That means he's as evil as Vol – You-Know-Who!"

All the Gryffindors who were there, including Harry, sniggered silently at this, while Hermione looked at Ron incredulously.

"Ron, do you know just how ridiculous you just sound? Are you saying that your sister, Virginia here, is as evil too?!" Hermione asked.

Harry blurted a chuckle. He knew Hermione is too quick for Ron. Ron looked defeated. He whispered lamely to himself, "Well, you might never know…"

"Ronald Weasley!! I heard that, you know!" his sister, Ginny shouted.

"I just don't understand why you keep writing to that git," Ron exclaimed, ignoring his sister.

"And I just don't understand what's your problem with it! It's not as if it's your business anyway," Hermione snapped back.

"Oh yeah?! For your information, young lady, you writing to that insufferable git IS my bloody business!!" As soon as Ron said this, he regretted it and kicked himself inwardly.

"And why's that?!" Hermione asked, with a glint of hope in her tone. All the other Gryffindors stared at Ron with bated breathe, as if the whole world depends on him to survive.

'Oh shit! What am I supposed to say now?! And that be, in front of so many people!' Ron thought.

"Well – well, I-I…I…I..," he stammered and then stopped. He looked at Hermione looking devastated.

"Yes, I got it so far. I..?" urged Hermione.

Ron opened and closed his mouth, with no words coming out, looking like a fish out of water. He was so tongue-tied, that made one of the Gryffindors gave up.

"Arrgghh!!! He's hopeless! I'm going to bed," a 4th year boy said and was already strolling up the boy's dormitory.

Hearing this made Ron angry and he decided to give up as well.

"I like you, alright!! Happy?! I hate to know that bloody Bulgarian git still in touch with you. He doesn't deserve you. So what if he's a damn Quidditch star? I've known and love you longer than he does!! I hate it when he touched you at the ball two years ago. I hate the way he looked at you. I feel like grabbing his eyeballs out of their sockets and smash his head on the wall!" Ron said all these without taking a breath.

Everyone in the room gaped at him.

"Finally!" the boy on the staircase, breathe out.

'You can say that again,' everyone thought.

"You… you love me?" Hermione asked looking astounded. Ron felt his ears heat rapidly. 'Damn pink ears!' He hung his head, looking down at his feet.

"Well… yeah," he replied.

Now, every Gryffindor heads, except Ron's, turned to look at Hermione, waiting for her response. They were touched to see tears welling up in her eyes.

"Oh, Ron!"

She ran across the room and embraced her newfound lover so tightly. Ron was shocked at first, but then he hugged her back.

"I love you too, you prat!"

"Now, this is when I would say 'FINALLY'!" said one of the Gryffindors aloud. The whole room muttered with agreement. Both the new lovebirds blushed at the comments.

"So.., does that mean we're boyfriend and girlfriend?" Ron whispered, tilting Hermione's chin with his index finger. Hermione blushed and nodded.

'Aww… I just love it when she blush. She looks so adorable!' Ron thought, beaming with the widest smile his face can ever manage.

They locked eyes and began to lean closer and closer, when they finally shared their first kiss with each other. The kiss soon turned into a passionate kiss, both totally oblivious to the cheering in the room.