They sat for another hour or so, and Harry and Ginny went to bed. It was just Ron and Hermione left. They were sitting in front of the fire, fingers laced. "I'm really worried about Harry. He has so much to deal with, and now this. And it's Lavender's necklace he's after, not Harry's." Hermione said as the two were sitting on the couch. "I know." Ron said. "I don't know how to say this.but it's kind of.well, kind of scary." Ron said. Hermione felt so bad. She was scared, and now she knew that she was not alone. She let a tear fall down her cheek. "What's wrong, luv?" Ron asked, pulling her close to him. She sat on his lap and looked him in the eyes. "I'm scared too. I haven't told you, but I haven't slept since Harry was petrified. I've been worried about Harry so much, and I really don't want to sound selfish, but I was worried about you, too. What if Voldemort finds you, Ron? I can't let him do that. I'll probably just. just kill myself and get it over with, for heaven's sake. And same with Harry. And Ginny. Everything is just so scary. I don't know how to fight this." Ron's heart sank from his chest. "It breaks my heart to see you scared. Hermione, we can get through this, and we WILL. You really aren't alone. We're all scared. And I wish you would've told me you weren't sleeping. You've looked awful lately. You look so sick, Hermione. And that scares me the most. What happens will happen. Please don't do anything to yourself, Hermione. Please. I can't believe you would ever think about that. You just ripped my heart out. I need you, Hermione. I need you to be yourself. Don't let anyone do anything to you, or get you down. You're you. That's what makes you Hermione. That's what makes you MY Hermione. You're. You. That's what I need right now. That's what gives me strength and courage. Don't you DARE do anything to yourself. NEVER. And don't you EVER say that again. EVER. I don't want to ever hear that again from you." "Oh, Ron." Hermione rested her head on his shoulder and cried. "You've grown up so much. I'm so happy. I'm sorry. I just feel so sick with all that's happening. Physically, mentally, and emotionally. Ron, PLEASE. PLEASE look after yourself. Not just for me, but for Harry AND you." "Hermione, it's okay, luv. I promise.I'll look after myself. if you PROMISE to do the same for you. Always remember..I need you." Ron said. "Hermione?" Hermione looked up. "Mmm?" Ron gathered up his courage and spoke the words that were on his mind for years. "Hermione.luv.I've been trying to say this for seven years, but I could never get it out. I didn't know how to say it then, but now I do.and it's stronger now than it ever was. Hermione.I Love You." Ron said looking into her eyes. Hermione's eyes welled up with tears. She blinked, and they fell freely. "Oh Ron, I Love You too. I've been wanting to say that for seven years as well. I love you, Ron. I always have. I always will." Ron smiled, and he too let a tear fall. Hermione wiped it, and Ron kissed her. "Here, you sleep on this couch, and I'll sleep on the other. You'll be protected. Nothing will harm us. Accio Blanket!" His blanket flew from the boy's dorms to the couch where Hermione was. "Goodnight, Hermione. Remember, I love you. Always." He kissed her softly. "I love you too, Ron. Thank You." Ron smiled and went to bed. He felt so warm inside. The same fimiliar warmth he felt when he first saw her, except it was stronger than ever. "Love at First Sight." They both read each other's minds, and said it at the same time. The two couches were back-to-back. They both sat up at the same time. Hermione took Ron's face in her hands, and kissed him. Ron kissed her back. As they sat, or kneeled, like that, Harry walked down from the boys dorms and got a glass of water. He saw them and smiled, but didn't say anything. They didn't notice him. He walked back upstairs. "Goodnight, Harry." Hermione said as she pulled away quickly, and not turning her head. Ron moved his eyes toward Harry. Harry winked at Ron, and Ron smiled. Hermione felt him smile, and it melted her insides. Harry went back upstairs, but didn't go to the boy's dorms, he went to the girl's. He bent down at Ginny's bed side. She opened her eyes and jumped. "Oh, phew! It's just you! What's wrong?" Ginny asked, though still laying down. "Nothing's wrong, Gin. Don't worry." Harry said smiling, and removing a stray strand of her hair out of her eyes. "Um..ooook.then.what are you doing here at this time of night?" "Did I ever tell you that you're beautiful?" Harry asked, staring at her. Ginny smiled and sat up. "What's this about?" Ginny asked playfully, taking his hand. "Nothing.just that I love you." "Oh, Harry.I love you too. And I enjoy the beautiful wake up call!" Ginny added playfully. "Oh, sorry. I just didn't want to be without you for another minute." Ginny smiled, hugged Harry quickly, and kissed him. "Now goodnight! I need sleep! Oh, and where's Hermione?" Ginny asked, eyeing the empty bed next to her. "Her and Ron are snogging big time downstairs." Harry said, rolling his eyes and laughing. Ginny started laughing, then. "Woah, woah, woah.He's not.SHE's not.they're not." "Huh?.OHHH.NO!" Harry said disgusted. "You think Hermione would let him go NEAR her like that? Ron probably wouldn't even live to see tomorrow!" "Phew.because I really can't picture them.her...HIM.uch! Never mind! Hey, should we sneak up on them just for fun?" Ginny asked wide eyed with a huge smile. Harry's eyes went wide. He instantly grabbed Ginny's hand and the quietly crept down to the common room. "They're still at it." Ginny whispered, shaking her head. At this point, Hermione had gone over the couch, and was sitting on the other with Ron. "Come on," Harry whispered. Ginny grabbed his hand, and they quietly crept up to them. "I'm ashamed of you two.and Gryffindor Head Boy and Girl! Not to mention my two best friends!" Harry said and winked. Ginny chortled with laughter. Hermione jumped and stood up quickly. There was Ginny with Harry, both of them with their arms crossed. "We.uh-we were just-." Hermione said quickly. "We know what you were doing.and PLEASE.no details!" Harry said. "What are two prefects doing up at two o'clock in the morning, and SNOGGING?! I'm ashamed! And my own brother!" Ginny said, giggling. "Oh be quiet, Ginny. Like you and Harry haven't snogged before?!" Ron said. "Well, we have, but never like THIS, and never in the MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT!" Harry said, laughing. "Now I am going back to bed.and like I said earlier.don't do anything I wouldn't do!" Harry added, and he ran away with Ginny's hand in his, because he knew that Ron would go after him if he didn't. "God.that Harry gets me so pissed sometimes!" Ron said. "Ron.don't swear." Hermione added. "And why not?" "Because you're a prefect, and we've already broken tons of rules in one night, and you're too cute to swear. And besides, If McGonagall ever saw us snogging in the middle of the night.she might get some. ideas." Hermione said, looking disgusted. "What is it with girls and sick minds?" Ron teased. "Shove it, Ron!" Hermione said, throwing her pillow at him. "What? Did I just hear Miss Head Girl tell Mr. Head Boy to shove it? And to her own boyfriend.we'll just wait till McGonagall hears this.unless of course, you make it up to me!" Ron said . "Name your price." Hermione added. She had to admit, she was definitely enjoying this game. "Do you love me?" Ron asked playfully. "Yes I do love you, now name your price." Hermione repeated. "If you REALLY love me.then." With that, Ron pulled Hermione to him and kissed her. ".Ron.." She paused, and pulled in again, ".we really." pull in, ".shouldn't be doing." pull in, ".this." pull in. But she just sighed, gave in, and pulled in closer and kissed him once again. Ginny and Harry were still on the stair way, staring and laughing. Ron took the pillow from under Hermione, and threw it toward them. Harry threw it back. Hermione smiled, shook her head, and took his face in her hands to pulled Ron closer. "Back up, please, Miss Granger! We don't want anything to happen between you two! Hem Hem! Miss Granger.the tilting of the head is NOT acceptable!" Harry added, smiling as Ginny snorted with laughter. Hermione did something that made Ron pull away wide eyed, and Harry burst with laughter. Ginny let out a huge snort of laughter. It was so funny that Ginny had to take Harry's hand and cover her mouth, and Harry had to bite his other fist, or they would wake up the whole Gryffindor house. She stuck her middle finger up. "I am SO proud of you, Hermione! That's my girl!" Ron said amazed. He kissed her. Hermione blushed. "Well, they were getting me pi- ticked off! And. oh, I don't care!" Ron turned red from laughing so hard, and BURST with laughter, but Hermione quickly pushed him back, and kissed him to stop make him stop. Ron sighed. "We really should get to bed Mr. I'm Head Boy, wait till McGonagall hears!" Hermione added. Ron groaned. "Whatever you say." Ginny and Harry kissed quickly and went back upstairs to their separate dorms. They were still laughing hard. Hermione went on her own couch. "I love you, Ron. Now get to sleep." "Urgh.Love you too." Ron said disappointed. He layed back down. "But Hermione." "Shh.go to sleep." "One more kiss?" "ONE." Hermione got over the couch, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him slowly. "There. Go to sleep." Hermione said. She quickly kissed his cheek, and playfully shoved him on his couch. "Thank you. That's better. Now I can sleep, and now I feel protected. I also feel a bruise coming on.anyway.Goodnight, luv bug." Ron said playfully. "Yeah, yeah, yeah wise guy. But you're MY wise guy, and that's why I love you!" Hermione added. "You think so? Well I was thinking more along the lines of." ".Goodnight." "Wait.the kiss wore off.I need another one." "Ron." "One more." "No." "Please?" "No.Ron.It's almost one. I NEED SLEEP. So do you." "Hermione.I thought you loved me." Ron added, and looked over the couch and gave her a puppy dog pout. She was still laying down. "Gods do I hate that when you do that to me. You're too cute, you know that?" "Well, I try!" he said proudly. "After all, I AM Head Boy!" "If I give you ONE more kiss, will you be quiet?" "What if the kiss wears off?" "Suffer." "You hurt me deeply." He added in fake sadness. "If you don't get to sleep soon, I WILL hurt you deeply! And besides.what more do you want from me?" Hermione asked playfully. "I want YOU from you." "But Ron, you HAVE me.remember?" "That's not enough." "Well, what IS enough?" "I don't know." "Well, then.goodnight." There was a long pause, then Ron spoke up. "The world is not enough" "What a poet you are." Hermione snorted. "Thank you! I was read that in a muggle poem book ALL by myself!" "I'm very proud of you.now get to sleep, Ron!" "What about my kiss?" "If I give you one, you'll want another." "So what?" "I need sleep, that's what." "But you have me!" "Yes.and you have me.now sleep." "Yeah, but I want MORE than you." "Well, sorry, luv, but I don't know how to help you. You're a loner on this one. Now.SLEEP." "I can't." "And why not?" "My back itches." "Scratch it." "You." "No." "PLEEEEEEASE?" "Urgh.Come here.Big baby." Hermione said. Ron smiled, and got up. He turned over the top of his couch to hers. He landed on her. "You're.crushing.me, Ron!" Hermione added. She was laughing too much. "So? Don't you like me crushing you? Because if you don't.I can always go get Seamus the Shamrock.maybe he'd like to crush you! I hear that irish men have some sort of charm to them.eh? And call me 'luv'.I love the way you say that.it's very pretty.just like you." Ron finished sweetly. "You're so mean, you know that? But yet you can be the sweetest thing. You know, I used to think you were pretty hot!" Hermione added, still laughing. "But what about now? Aren't I STILL hot?" "You'll always be hot." "I know! And you'll always be pretty. I love you." Ron added sweetly. "I love you too, luv." "Good." "Good that I love you, or good that I called you 'luv'?" "Both." "Now do you want me to scratch your back or what?" "Yes." Ron said, still not bothering to get off of Hermione. "Then get off you big baby!" she added and pushed him off the couch. "Ooh.I'm SO sorry, luv bug. Here." She pulled a laughing Ron back onto the couch and scratched his back. "Up." Ron added. Hermione went up. "Down." Hermione went down. "Up more." "Do you want me to scratch your back?" "Yes." "Then shut up." "It's fun to get you annoyed." "Maybe for you." Ron laughed and let Hermione scratch his back. "Since I'm already here.will you kiss me?" "Aargh! Fine. You're so lucky you're kissable, or this wouldn't be happening. And how can you be so good at kissing?" "I've practiced." Ron said, turning to face her and wink. "Oooh, Ronald Arthur Weasley you get me SO worked up sometimes, you know that?" "Well, it's not easy.but I try!" Ron turned around, his lips pursed like alittle boy kissing his mom. Hermione laughed, and kissed him the same way. "Now you have to do something for ME!" Hermione said. "Really, and what would that be?" Ron asked, kissing her forehead. He sounded very sleepy. "You have to call me 'My Mione' because I feel safe." "Well if it makes you feel safe, I'll do it for eternity.Just for MY MIONE." Ron said. "You're so cute when you grin." "Oh stop, you're making me blush." Ron teased. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. But I wouldn't mind if I made you blush." "Oh yeah, and why is that?" "Because it's very sexy.it fits you. It must be the Weasley charm." "Oh I'm sexy, am I?" Ron asked, raising his eyebrows. "Mmm-hmm..." Hermione yawned. "How's this for sexy?" he asked, making a very stupid model pose. "That's just pathetic." "Oh, so now I'm pathetic?" Ron teased. "Yep." "Argh, cummere, you. It IS the Weasley charm, and I'm the leader!" He said. Ron turned to her, and she kissed him. "You can never make up your mind, can you?" Ron said. "Nope. Hey.Wait a minute.you're back doesn't really itch, does it?" Hermione pulled away and asked. "Nope." Ron said quickly and kissed her again so she wouldn't yell at him. "You little shit!" Hermione said, not following her own rules, but all the same, just gave up and kissed him. Ron laughed as she kissed him. He tried to pull away, but she just pulled him closer, and slapped his shoulder. "Ugh, why can't this last forever?" Ron asked her playfully. "I wish it could." Hermione said. She turned to face the opposite was. He put his arm around her waist. "Oh, and Hermione?" "Yes, Ron, luv?" "You have the Granger Charm!" Ron teased. Hermione kissed him and smiled. "I felt you smile.I love that.now if you would never stop smiling, that would be even better." Ron turned to faced her. "Why is it that you make me want to kiss you twenty-four seven?" Hermione asked. "Because like I said, I've practiced, and like you said, I've got the Weasley charm. We Weasleys have always had a way with kissing!" "Hahaha, quite the comedian tonight, are we?" she asked him. "Tonight? Aren't I always funny?" Ron asked, tickling her. Hermione giggled. "Stop.Yes you are.and Ron.have you REALLY had practice? Meaning that you've dated other girls?" "Of course not, I've had a lot of people ask me out, but I've always turned them down because I knew who my one and only love is." "I love you, luv. I can see why all of the other girls wanted to ask you out. It's their loss, you know." "Yep.I like to think of it that way.I guess you're just the lucky one." Ron smirked. "And you know what? It feels great to be the lucky one." "Hermione? Do you mind me asking.Not to start an argument, but.why didn't you go with Viktor to Bulgaria?" "Well, Ron.I guess it's just because I knew the one that I really loved, and I didn't want to hurt my chances." Hermione answered, not getting mad, to Ron's great relief. "So you've loved me for that long too?" "Oh yes!" Hermione answered. "You know what? I think I'm the luckiest guy in the world." Hermione turned around. She entwined all of her fingers with Ron's, and kissed him. "I'm glad you think so." Hermione said. He kissed her once more. I'm the luckiest girl in the world. I can't believe how lucky I am.He's the best.he's.he's. Within a few minutes, they were fast asleep, though STILL lip locked.