Chapter 4: First Kiss

 They returned to the dormitory and did their homework by the fire, until Hermione decided to turn in to bed.

"Night Harry," she said smiling. "Night Ron," she said bending down and kissing him on the cheek.

Ron's eyes widened. Hermione walked away as though she had done nothing out of the usual. Ron looked at Harry his eyes still wide. Harry looked back at him raising his eyebrows. Ron blinked and shifted in his seat.

"Better get used to it," Harry said smiling. "She is your girlfriend."

"Yea," said Ron weakly.

Harry smirked and continued making up answers for Divination.

Ron, who seemed to have recovered, resumed his homework too. "Harry, who do you like?" he asked suddenly.

Harry's stomach jolted. Not this again.

"I don't know," he lied, concentrating on his Divination.

"Yes you do! Tell me who it is," Ron said putting his quill down and leaning back in his seat.

He wasn't going to tell anyone, least of all Ron!

"Cho was a disaster and girls are out of my mind right now," Harry said.

Ron laughed, "They are so not! Look you can tell me who you fancy. I won't laugh. Even if it's McGonagall."

Harry snorted, "Yea right she's 75!" he said suppressing a grin. "You must be mad if you fancy her!"

"Who?" Ginny asked as she sat down next to Harry.

"McGonagall!" Ron answered.

Ginny looked astonished, "Who fancies Professor McGonagall?"

"Harry," Ron replied grinning.

Ginny looked shocked.

"No I don't!" Harry assured her quickly. "I don't! Ron was asking me who I liked a few days back and I didn't answer and we were at the portrait hole so I said 'McGonagall' and he thought that was my reply but it was just the password."

Ginny giggled, "Well I'd hope you had better taste than that!"

"Oh I do," Harry answered before he could stop himself.

"Oh yea?" Ron raised his eyebrows. "So who's good enough for Harry?"

"I've told you! I'm not going to tell you!" Harry insisted. Especially not with the girl in question sitting right next to me!

As soon as Harry thought that he instantly shut his eyes feeling a bit queasy.  No way! He had to stop thinking of her like that! He had to stop.

"Yea, well I'm going to go to bed," Ginny announced, "Good luck with the homework," she said.

Ron and Harry both nodded. An hour later, being two of the few students left in the common room they too were retiring to their beds.

*

"This year we will be focusing on transfiguring with animals. We will study transfiguring inanimate objects such as desks into live creatures, transfiguring live creatures into inanimate objects (which we have already touched on lightly in your earlier years) and finally transfiguring live creatures into different live creatures. I want you all to pay attention. This is one of the hardest things to learn and perform in Transfiguration and it could possibly take all year to master it. So, as I said I will need all students' complete attention and that includes you Hermione Granger," Professor McGonagall glared at Hermione from behind her half moon glasses, her grey hair tied tightly in a bun as it was every day.

Blushing furiously at being caught talking during a lesson Hermione twisted in her seat to face the front.

McGonagall made a funny clicking noise and continued with her speech. Hermione chanced a fleeting look at Ron and mouthed 'after class'. Ron nodded and hid his grin by bending closer to his parchment pretending to write notes. Harry who was sitting the other of side of them smirked to himself, who would have thought!

As they had agreed, Ron and Hermione caught up outside class. Hesitant as to whether he was supposed to join in their conversation, Harry hung back walking with Neville.

"I'm really exited about doing this stuff with animals!" Neville said to him eagerly.

Harry nodded, "Yea sounds pretty cool!"

The change that had started to come over Neville the year before was even more pronounced than ever. Much to every Gryffindor's delight, last week he had successfully managed to brew his first correct potion.

"I know I've been kinda useless all these years," Neville said jokingly, "But I think this wand is really doing me justice don't you reckon?"

"Yea you're getting pretty good," Harry agreed, "And it's not just the wand."

"What do you mean?" Neville asked, although he knew perfectly well what Harry was saying.

Harry didn't answer as (since he'd been keeping an eye on his two best friends during this conversation) he now saw them turn off-course and go into an empty classroom on the left hand side of the corridor.

Hermione pointed her wand at the oil lamps around the room and one by one they lit up until the room glowed a soft orange. Ron closed the door quietly. He looked at Hermione and much to his horror, found he couldn't think of what to say,

"So um, you wanted to talk to me?" Hermione asked pleasantly.

"Er," Ron answered. He glanced around the room. "I – um – I just wondered when you actually wanted to go out?"

"There's a Hogsmeade weekend this one coming," Hermione answered.

"Cool, yea," nodded Ron, relieved that he'd got one thing off his chest. "So that's set then. Er good."

"Yep."

"And also ... uh … I just thought you'd like to hear," he forced a realistic looking grin, "That even if no-one else thinks so … I reckon you're the prettiest girl in our year."

Hermione smiled, "Aw Ron!" she said happily taking a few steps towards him and putting her arms around his shoulders. "You're so sweet," she told him giving him a hug. "Thank You!"

Ron smiled, this time it was genuine.

She released him and looked straight into his eyes. "And I want to tell you something too," she said softly.

"What?"

"It's a secret," she whispered.

Ron forced himself not to shiver. Was it just him or was there something seductive about the way she'd said that?

"Oh. Er … ok then I won't tell anybody."

Hermione smiled. "Ok," she leant forwards tilting her neck upwards and kissed Ron tenderly on the lips. Just a peck, and leant back again.

Ron's heart was racing. He opened his mouth, hoping to say something but instead a tiny croak came out. Thinking on impulse, he timidly put his arms around Hermione's waist and returned the kiss, this time a little longer.

Hermione linked her arms up around his neck and licked his lips softly, closing her eyes.

Ron, (adrenaline rushing through his body, his heart pumping so loud he was sure Hermione could feel it banging against his chest) used the tip of his tongue too. It brushed against Hermione's and he felt another thrill rush up his spine. He shut his eyes and the couple kissed a little longer, Hermione's arms cuddling Ron's shoulders.

*

Ron arrived at the Divination classroom 5 minutes late for class and knocked on the trapdoor. Professor Trelawney's tinkling voice said "Come in."

Ron did and as soon as he'd closed the trapdoor he immediately burst into apologies for being late.

"No need," said Trelawney. "Potter here explained your absence."

Ron looked mortified but at a reassuring glance from Harry, he realised Harry obviously wouldn't have told the truth.

"Thanks buddy," Ron whispered as he sat down.

Harry nodded, "Sure," he said moving his quill out of Ron's way. "But there's price."

Ron looked surprised, "What?" he asked, pulling his textbook out of his bag.

"You have to tell me what you two did in there," he said under his breath, smiling cheekily.

"Oh!" Ron said laughing quietly. "Right."

Professor Trelawney was drifting around the classroom, the jewels that had been woven into her clothes gently chinking against each other as she moved.

"Page 207," Harry whispered and Ron flipped through the pages.

"Well er. It was kinda cool. We're um, going to Hogsmeade together," he said. Only after he'd said 'together' did Ron realise that Harry would have no-one to go with. He felt a bit guilty.

"Yea? That's not all you did is it?" Harry asked, propping the book up to shield their faces from Trelawney.

"No," Ron whispered. "Um … well I told her she was pretty and she hugged me… and then … and then … she said she wanted to tell me something … and uh … I'm not sure really … but suddenly she kissed me."

Harry grinned. "You mean snogged right?"

Ron shook his head. "Nah she just kissed me normally. And … and then … I kissed her back. I mean, snogged her back."

Harry's mouth fell open, "Did you really?" he whispered eagerly.

Ron nodded, still looking sort of dazed.

"First kiss!" Harry teased.

Ron nudged him but didn't look in the least bit annoyed, in fact – he looked very happy.

"Boys," said Trelawney's flyaway voice. "Please concentrate on the text. Next lesson will be a practical and I want you all to be prepared."