A/N: Here's another chapter! Thanks for your reviews. I'll try to update every couple of days. Enjoy!

The Question

The next morning, Harry came down to breakfast. Ron was already at the table, inhaling his waffles. Harry sat down across from him and sipped at his pumpkin juice.

"Well?" Ron inquired.

"Well what?" Harry asked, confused.

"How'd it go?"

"What?"

"You know what. That thing you said you would do," Ron prodded.

Recognition dawned on Harry's features. "Oh, that. I'll tell you later. Hermione's coming this way."

Hermione sat down next to Harry. All breakfast long, she avoided looking at Ron. If this was how she was going to act until they got together, Harry would make sure that they were a couple soon. He didn't know how much of this he could stand.

Luckily, Hermione decided to spend lunch in the library. This presented a great opportunity for Harry and Ron to talk. They settled down in the common room.

"Did you talk to her?" Ron queried.

"Yes."

"And?"

"Well, you're a lucky bloke. Hermione fancies you."

"Yes!" Ron pulled out a piece of parchment, a quill, and an ink pot from his bag.

"Ron, what are you doing?"

"It's Hermione, mate. I've got to be prepared, or I don't stand a chance!"

"Er... Right. What do you have so far?"

"'Hermione, will you go out with me?'"

"Yes, and?"

"Well, that's it so far."

"Well, be sure to put in something about how beautiful she is."

"Okay, I'll write that down."

"Maybe some romantic metaphors..."

"Oh, I know loads of those from those books Ginny reads!"

"Don't call her a know-it-all, but compliment her intelligence."

So went their lunch period, until both boys were satisfied. Harry left while Ron practiced his speech over and over again. Outside the common room, Harry was attacked by Hermione.

"Oh, Harry, you must help me! What should I do if Ron asks me out?"

"Er… Say yes."

"But, how should I act around him? I don't know how to do any of this!"

"Just listen with your undivided attention, I guess. And smile at him. Accept his compliments. Wear something that he gave you, or something. I don't know."

Much to Harry's surprise, Hermione enveloped him into a huge hug. "Thank you so much! I know just what to wear! That perfume he gave me in fifth year. Thank you!"

"It was nothing," Harry said, puzzled.

After quidditch practice, Ron picked some flowers for Hermione at Harry's prompting. They bathed and changed, and then went to the head boy/head girl common room. Hermione was sitting on her favorite spot on the couch. She seemed to have done something with her hair, and was actually wearing a little make-up. When she saw Ron, she smiled and her eyes lit up.

"Hello, Harry. Hi, Ron."

Ron nervously swayed back and forth. Harry nodded discretely at him.

"Hermione, when we were eleven, I was an impulsive, rude boy. You were an intelligent, nice girl. Against all odds, we became best friends. Three years passed. We were teenagers. You had grown into the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen. I was too blind to see what was in front of me. When the Yule Ball came, I finally realized what I had been missing. However, by the time I realized it, you had a date. When I walked into the Yule Ball and saw you with Krum, I felt a huge pang of jealousy. I took out my anger on him, insulting him and degrading him just because he had what I so badly wanted. Now, three years after that, I've finally found the courage to tell you what I've been feeling for these past few years. I know I've taken you for granted when you helped me on my homework or forced me to study, but that isn't what's so wonderful about you. You care about me, and have helped me through hard times. Your smile lights up a room. When I'm with you, I feel happy. I fight with you only because I want to protect you so much. I know you are much too good for me, but, Hermione Jane Granger, will you go out with me?"

"Yes! Of course! I've liked you for so long," Hermione answered, tears running down her cheeks.

Ron looked shell-shocked. "You mean you'll be my girlfriend?"

"Of course, you silly git!"

Harry left the happy couple. As he put his pajamas on, he thought about the scene he had just witnessed. He felt mixed emotions. The ordeal went well, other than the fact that Ron sounded like he was proposing to her. He felt happy that he'd managed to do something right, for once. His friends were happy. He swallowed his guilt as the most prevalent thought could no longer be ignored. They were out of his hair. He could work on defeating Voldemort in peace.