Disclaimer: Don't know why I bother to write a disclaimer – I'm not brilliant enough to own any of JKR's wonderful characters, and I don't make enough on my teacher's salary to be worth suing.

A/N: The end is here! ;) Hope you like it!

To my wonderful chapter 3 reviewers: Joji Sada, siriusrblack, Phoenix72389, OneDayFamous, magicteen, mysticalecho, shan, and of course, my AF girls – Ariana Malfoy-Lestrange and Hagrid. Thank you so much for your encouraging comments! I hope you like how this story ends!

She was sitting in the windowsill, her legs drawn up against her chest and her forehead resting on her knees. Ron hadn't expected anyone to still be awake at this time of the night – okay, morning – but there she was, all alone, making his heart ache. He desperately wanted to believe that she was waiting for him… Don't be stupid, Weasley. You blew it, remember?

His heart did not want to listen to his brain. Ron took a step towards her, half of him hoping she would notice him, the other half telling him to run before she did.

He didn't have a chance to decide which option he wanted more. As he took another step, his foot slammed into a table leg, and Hermione's head shot up.

Ron would have given anything at that moment to be able to go back in time and make the decision to run away, but now it was too late. She had seen him.

Her eyes registered surprise at the sight of him, and then fear, quickly followed by a profound sorrow that pierced his heart. He watched as her eyes filled with tears and her chin quivered. Before he could say a word, she jumped up from her seat and dashed across the room, throwing open the door to the girls' dormitory.

Fortunately, Ron was fast on his feet. He grabbed her by the wrist before she could escape to her room and gently tugged on her arm. "Please, Hermione, don't go."

She kept her face turned away from him, but he could still see the tears on her cheek. "Let me go, Ron," she whispered. "Please let me go."

He shook his head, although he knew she wouldn't see it. "I can't Hermione. I have to tell you something." When she didn't answer, he resorted to begging. "Please, just give me five minutes and then I promise I'll leave you alone." He swallowed hard. "I promise I'll never say another word to you if you don't want me to."

Time stretched on for an eternity before Hermione finally nodded, almost imperceptibly, and allowed Ron to lead her to a seat by the fireplace. Even after he sat down beside her, she wouldn't meet his eyes. Her posture remained stiff and cool.

Maybe it will be easier to get this out if I don't have to look at her, he thought before opening his mouth and plunging into the fearsome unknown.

She didn't know if she could survive the full five minutes she'd promised him. It was torture – the waiting, the not knowing. She wrapped her arms around her middle to shield herself against what would surely be complete and utter rejection. She couldn't bear to look at him. She didn't want to see the look on his face when he said the dreadful words that would shatter her soul.

She heard him take a deep breath before he spoke. "Hermione, I want to say, first off, that I'm sorry for what I said to you. You can't imagine how much I regret ever opening my mouth and hurting you like I did."

Hermione looked at him in surprise, but his gaze was on the floor. She shook her head in disagreement, but she couldn't make her voice cooperate. No, Ron, no. It's my fault! It's all my fault!

He was still talking, oblivious to the turmoil going on inside of her. "I know I've been an idiot, and I don't deserve your forgiveness, but I'm gonna ask for it anyway." He raised his eyes to hers. "Please, 'Mione? Will you forgive me for being a jerk?"

Her brain didn't seem to be connected to her mouth – or to the rest of her body for that matter. Say something! Anything! Yes, Ron, I forgive you! I'll always forgive you! I love you! But the words wouldn't come. Instead, she sat there and stared at him like a fool.

He looked away, but not before she saw the pain in his eyes. "Okay, well…" he swiped a hand across his face. "I, er… I just thought I'd ask." A forced smile. "Guess my five minutes are up." And with a last glance at her, she stood and walked away.

Hermione's heart felt empty, barren, hollow. Why? Why couldn't she tell him how she really felt? Why was she such a coward? It's too late now, she thought as she stared at the door he'd closed behind him. I missed my chance. It's too late.

She jumped as the door to the boys' dormitory suddenly swung open and Ron burst into the Common Room again, an odd look in his eyes. All her breath left her body as he stopped in front of her.

"I'm not done. I have to tell you one more thing, and then I'll leave you alone, for good this time." He jammed his hands into the pockets of his jeans and looked her straight in the eye. "I'm in love with you, Hermione Granger, and I'm dying inside. You're the reason I get up in the morning, the reason I take another breath. The past few weeks have been hell for me, and I can't bear another moment without telling you how I really feel." He nodded, as if assuring himself that he had successfully completed his mission. "That's all I have to say."

He turned to go, but this time Hermione found the courage inside of herself to say what had been in her heart for weeks. "I love you too, Ron."

She watched as he paused and then slowly turned back to her. "What?"

Hermione couldn't stop the laughter that bubbled up inside of her, bordering on the hysterical. "I said I love you too, Ron. I'm so sorry for everything I've said and done – I regret it so much! I need your forgiveness, not the other way around."

Ron was staring at her, his mouth open in shock. "What?" he asked again. "Are you serious, Hermione? You really love me too?"

She smiled, her first in weeks. "More than you'll ever know."

Ron gave a triumphant shout and pulled her into his arms, twirling her around the room. She laughed at his exuberance. "Ron! Hush! You'll wake the whole dormitory!"

He stopped twirling and grinned down at her. "I don't care if I wake the whole castle."

Hermione and Ron were too lost in their first kiss to notice the room filling with Gryffindor onlookers who were curious to discover the cause of the ruckus.

Ginny shook her head in disbelief. "What do you make of that, Harry?"

Harry grinned at the sight of his two best friends. "I think it's about time."

FIN

A/N: Did you like it? Hate it? Please review! ;)