A/N: Yes, this chapter's short, but it is really one of my favorites! I'm expecting people to either love it or hate it (not quite sure what the majority will be, though).

Quick shout-outs to: EVERYONE: I LOVE YOU!!! (Sorry, I typed a bunch of notes to people, but then my computer deleted them-WTF?!?!? Oh well, stupid technology...) PLEASE KEEP REVIEWING!

Chapter 15: Confessions and Emotions

The day passed quickly, and before you could say, "Expelliarmus", night fell. Ron sat, once again, in the common room, finishing that Transfiguration essay, though not very well (he was too worried about Bianca). A jolt of surprise woke him up when Hermione came and sat next to him.

"Hey," she said sweetly. "Need any help?"

"N-no," he stammered, examining a diagram of a chinchilla turning into a camera.

Oh, I have nothing to lose…"Yes," he corrected himself firmly.

"Okay, let me see," Hermione replied briskly, taking the roll of parchment and skimming through it. "Well, it looks like you're off to a good start, but-"

"No, that's not it," he said quietly, staring at his shoes.

She stopped short. "What is it?" she asked, her voice barely more than a whisper.

He swallowed hard. "Why'd you do it?"

She looked confused. "Do what?"

"Say yes to him. You told him you'd be his girlfriend."

Now she looked slightly guilty. "Because he's nice and I enjoy spending time with him. Is there anything wrong with that?"

He stood up and walked slowly to the window, gazing out at the stars. "But Hermione, what if there was someone else out there…someone who really, truly loved you? Would you just waste your time with a guy you could just be friends with?"

Hermione stared at Ron, dumbfounded. She rose from her seat and followed him to the window. "Ron…do you mean…" He couldn't possibly… She looked into his baby-blue eyes and knew at once exactly what he meant.

"You…you…" She couldn't absorb the meaning.

"Yes," he said firmly. "I have for who-knows how long, maybe ever since we met. And, Hermione, everyone knows it!" he added, even more sure of himself. "Everyone knows we're meant for each other: my whole family, Harry…everyone that matters. I've waited so long and I," he rubbed his eyes vigorously with the sleeve of his robes, "I just can't take it anymore! Merlin, every time I see you with-with Hunter (he spat the name as if it was a swearword), I get all mixed up-angry and sad and…" He trailed off, not knowing or caring if he even made sense anymore. He glanced at her and saw the tears beginning to fall, but he wasn't done yet.

"Did you know…about me?" he asked tentatively, not sure if he wanted to hear the answer.

She shook her head. "I was never sure enough to say anything…but I did…I did like you for a very long time…and I still do, I think…I'm so confused!" Ron opened his mouth, but she continued, a bit more sure of herself, "I have always cared so deeply for you, and I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I fancied you for the longest time, but we were always fighting, so I didn't think you liked me back, and then I met Hunter and…well, I'm ashamed to say it, but I…I just gave up on us every being together like that. It just seemed…hopeless, like you would never notice me."

"No one's hopeless," Ron said thickly, sounding very much like someone he hated. This time, though, the words were spoken from his heart, where he knew they were true, and not to spite someone else.

Exhausted from all the emotional wear of the past weeks, Ron sank to his knees. It was over.

He sensed another body sitting on the floor next to him. He looked up to see Hermione next to him, the tears now flowing freely.

"I'm sorry," she choked. "I'm so, so sorry."

She tentatively put her arms around him. He wrapped his own arms around her tightly and instantly felt at home.

"I love you," he whispered, and two tons lifted off his shoulders.

"I know," she whispered back, sending chills up his spine.

"I would die for you."

A pause, and then: "Hunter would never do that. Why have I wasted my time? It's not going to happen again."

Best words I've heard in my life, Ron thought as he laid his lips on top of Hermione's now sleek hair. They sat on the floor beneath the window like that for hours, not wanting to leave the moment behind.

A/N: Okay, love or loathe it? Please be truthful, although if you hated it, be nice, since I love this chapter soooo much!

For those of you who regularly read this story (and others that don't too, I guess), I'm going to try and finish by the end of next week before I go to camp (just 4 days, don't worry, kids), but if I don't, I'll finish soon after that. Also, I've got a couple of ideas bouncing around in my head for a new (chaptered) story, but I'd like to have some of your input. So, if there's anything you'd like to read or if you have any creative ideas, let me know and I'll consider them! Thanks guys! Love all of you reviewers! Pepstepper

Oh sorry, not done yet-haha it's shameless plug time! If you're bored, check out my one chapter fiction "From Summer to Spring". I'd like some more feedback on it, and I hope you all enjoy reading it! Ok, now I'm really done!