DISCLAIMER:  I still don't own Ron Weasley...at least not yet...I haven't sent back the adoption papers yet.  Hehehe

~*~Chapter Three: Mr. Romance~*~

As soon as Ron entered the Gryffindor common room, the first thing he noticed was Hermione curled up on the couch.  Her brown hair cascaded over her face, hiding her tear streaked cheeks.

'I did this to her...I made Hermione cry on the first day of school.  Bloody Hell!!'

Ron knelt by Hermione and gingerly brushed her hair away from her face.  Her eyes instantly scrounged up, a sign that she clearly wasn't sleeping well.  He gazed at her face, trying to memorize all the curves.  And in a voice quieter than a whisper, "I'm so sorry, 'Mione.  Whatever I said, whatever I did, I am sorry."  With that he gently picked Hermione up and headed toward her Head Girl dorm room.  When he finally reached the portrait of the waterfall scene, he saw the mermaid on the rock and gave her the password 'Hidden Emotions.'  He found his way to Hermione's bed and carefully laid her down, but when he tried to pull back he found that Hermione had a vice grip on his hand.  Not wanting to cause her discomfort, he sat back against the headboard...watching her sleep and waiting for his moment to slip away.  He had no intentions of falling asleep with Hermione in his arms...and he certainly didn't expect to come face to face with her almond eyes the next morning.

"Ron...what are you doing here?"

"Oh...umm...I just...well you see...Professor Dumbledore asked me to escort you to your Head Girl dorms...and then when I reached the Gryffindor common room you were asleep...so I kinda carriedyouhereandthenfellasleep."

"Thanks Ron" Hermione spoke hardly above a whisper.

"It was really no problem, 'Mione...you hardly weigh anything...and besides I wanted to apologize for my behavior last night."

"It's quite alright Ron...I think I may have been a bit harsh myself.  I realize that you want to have fun, with it being our last year and Voldemort is gone.  I'll even try to 'chill out' a little."

"Whoa!  Pinch me!  Did I just hear Miss Hermione Granger say the words 'chill out'?"

"Yes you did Mr. Weasley...now kindly remove yourself from my dorm so that I may shower and get ready for breakfast."

"Bu dear Miss Granger, how will you find your way to the Great Hall when you don't even know where you are now."

"Well...you present a great point...so why don't you take your arse into the common room and wait for me."

And with that she shoved Ron out of her bedroom and went in search of something to wear.  As Ron stumbled into the common room, he noticed the door that led to the Head Boy's room.  Come to think of it, Ron didn't know who had been named Head Boy this year.  Then, as if answering his question, the door opened and none other than Draco Malfoy stepped out.  And before he could blink an eye, Draco spoke.

"So Ron...you and Hermione finally hooked up?"

"Actually no..."

"Well then, what are you doing stumbling out of her bedroom at this time?"

"Oh...we kinda had an argument last night and...WAIT A MINUTE!!!  Why am I telling you this??  Why aren't you name calling or insulting me?!?!"

"Let's just say I'm no longer under the influence of my father...and leave it at that.  So tell me already...what's going on between you and Hermione??"

"There's nothing going on between me and Hermione...we're friends...that's all."

"So if I wanted to ask her out, you'd be okay with it?"

"How about I punch your lights out and then we'll talk about it?!?"

"I knew it!!  You DO fancy Hermione!!!"

"I do not...okay...maybe I do...but what can I do about it??  It's not like she feels the same way.  And besides, what if she doesn't feel the same way??"

"The only way to find out is to go for it man.  And word to the wise...be R-O-M-A-N-T-I-C."

"And since when did you start being Mr. Romantic?"

"Well...if you must know..."  But his words were cut off as Hermione's bedroom door opened and she stepped into the common room.  She was wearing a simple pair of blue jeans and a navy v-neck sweater.  Ron gulped as this vision of an angel approached him.

"Ready for breakfast, Ron?  Oh, good morning Draco.  You must be Head Boy...congratulations."

Ron could only nod his agreement and followed Hermione to breakfast...and along the way, getting in touch with his romantic side.

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Please remember to Read and Review...I'd like to know if anybody is enjoying this story or not.  ~surfngurl~