"Ron?"
Ron stopped dead and felt his face flush, making it unbearably hot. He silently thanked God that he was facing away from Hermione. He controlled what emotion he could and turned around. "Yeah?"
Hermione closed the distance between them, standing a foot away. "This is going to sound really stupid, I know, but--" Hermione looked at the ground. "I was probably dreaming or something, but...did you--uh--kiss me?"
Ron's face flushed again, and it flushed even more knowing that Hermione could see it now. "Kiss? I-- didn't--uh--no."
Hermione's face turned crimson as well. "Crazy dream, huh?" She laughed.
Ron laughed uncomfortably. "Yeah, crazy."
"Well, I guess I'll be off to bed. What time is it, anyway?" She yawned.
Ron looked at his watch. "Quarter to midnight," he replied calmly. "Pretty late."
Hermione nodded. "Yeah...well, I'll see you tomorrow, then. Good night."
" 'Night, Hermione."
Hermione brushed past Ron, heading towards the girls' dormitory staircase. Ron began to walk just as Hermione turned around, apparently needing to tell Ron one last thing. This left them in close proximity, their faces barely inches apart. Neither moved away.
"Oh," Hermione said quietly, looking up at Ron's face. "Sorry, I was just going to ask..." she trailed off as her eyes met his. They stared into each other's eyes for a few seconds until Hermione moved her head closer to Ron's, tilting her head slightly to the side. Their lips did not meet, however. Hermione opened her mouth slightly, and then closed it slightly, without actually closing it, as they stood in the Gryffindor common room, feeling one another's warm breath. Ron's hand touched Hermione's, his fingertips dancing along her own. His eyes were looking down, watching Hermione's eyes, which were almost closed.

Ron spoke. "Hermione," she could barely hear him. "I--I love you." Hermione's eyes widened. "I really do."

Then, meekly, and with hesitation, Ron put his lips on Hermione's with the utmost care.

"I love you too," she breathed.

Ron's hand crept upwards, until his hand was lost in her hair, and he kissed her again, more passionately this time, his tongue exploring Hermione's own. Hermione's left hand sneaked under Ron's gray tee shirt and glided, open palmed, up Ron's lean, muscular back to his broad shoulders. She felt Ron shiver once as his skin broke out into goose bumps. Her other hand came to a rest on the top of Ron's thigh. A small moan escaped his lips, and Hermione grinned. Suddenly Ron broke the kiss. His hand remained in her hair as the distance between their faces grew to a few inches.
"Hermione," he breathed, and Hermione closed her eyes.
"Yeah?" she said, barely audible.
Ron suddenly backed away. "Your book," he said formally, and cleared his throat. He covered the distance between the two of them and the couch in three large strides and returned with Hermione's maroon book clamped between his thumb and four fingers.
Hermione eyed her book. "Ah, yes. My book." She took it from him. "Thank you, Ron." She looked from the book to Ron, back to the book. "Well, see you tomorrow."
"Yes, see you tomorrow."

And with that Hermione turned to walk up the stairs to the girls' dormitory. Ron watched her until she disappeared around the curving wall, and then proceeded up his own staircase, thumping his forehead slightly with a balled fist.

"Stupid, stupid..." he murmured to himself.