A/N:I'm so sorry guys for not updating sooner. I have lots of homework to do before school starts. So I had no time to write another chapter. :( But fear not I have more story 4 ya! I want to thanks all who reviewed. Much Luv Guys. I will keep it short this chappie is a lil long but it's sweet. LoL you'll get what I mean when you read. Ok On with the chappie!!! : D

Ch 19 Tower Titillation

"Well I'm going to watch some TV before bed." Said Harry getting up and pushing his chair in. He paused and motioned to Ginny.

"Oh yeah you know how much I like muggle TV. Later guys." Said Ginny following Harry.

"Hey aren't any of you going to help?" asked Ron.

"Hermione said you not us. Sorry mate, bye!" Said Harry.

"Well."

Ron, Hermione, and the cobbler were left alone in silence. Hermione glanced at Ron and decided to have a little fun. She picked up the fork and dived for the cobbler. Ron watched her longingly as a very small amount went for her mouth.

"Mmm... This is so good." She said pulling out the fork slowly.

"Yeah it-it's delicious." He replied swallowing hard.

"You know your mum's an excellent cook. I could learn something from her. What do you think?" She asked turning to him with a forced innocent smile that took him by surprise.

"Oh yeah she's a great cook. I'm sure you could probably learn a thing or two." He said. Hermione nodded in agreement, and then took another minuscule piece. He tried to sound cool and collected, but every inch of him wanted to dive for that plate. It was his absolute favorite, and he had a notorious appetite for sweets. The tension in him was growing insufferable.

"I'm thirsty. I'm gonna get some milk." She started to rise, but Ron spoke before she could stand upright.

"Um why don't I get some for you?"

"Oh Thanks Ron." She said as she sat back down. Ron was relieved to get up. He went over to the counter to get a glass and the pitcher, and used that time to collect himself. He poured it into the glass and returned to the table.

"Here you are."

"Thanks!" She said taking the glass and smiling. Ron watched her as she finished the glass gracefully. "That was refreshing and filling too." Then she turned to Ron. "You know, as much as I would like to finish this, I am full." She said pushing the plate away from her. "I'm going to finish cleaning up ok." She said as she got up and started to clear the rest of the table. Ron was left at the table with the abandoned dessert.

"Uh..." He cleared his throat. "What are you going to do with this?" Ron asked implyingly. Hermione smiled behind him very satisfied with herself.

"Uh... maybe I'll through it away. No one will miss it."

"Oh... ok." He said dispiritedly.

"Yeah." She said nonchalantly. There was silence between them. All that was audible was the clanging of the dishes in the sink.

"You know mum always said it's not good to waste food. Because there are many people that don't have any." Hermione stopped.

"That's very true Ron well said."

"Or was it because it's too expensive to waste."

"Oh Ron." She said chuckling. She came back and forth from the table. The dishes on the table were growing fewer with every visit until there was just the dessert left. Ron gawked at it uneasily.

"You know you don't have to throw it away. You could save it...for... anyone who might ... want it tomorrow or something." He offered trying to sound inconspicuous. Hermione enjoyed his attempts with silent chuckles until she couldn't bare it. She burst into laughter. At first Ron was confused, but then laughed at the mere fact that she was laughing. When that happened she laughed even more. Ron not as enthusiastic as she was grinned and waited to find out what was so funny.

"What's so funny?" He asked finally. She continued to laugh. "C'mon I love a joke as much as the next guy." Hermione was holding her stomach and tears welled up in her eyes.

"Ok...ok...I'll tell you. Just let me recuperate." She said panting. "You're so obvious you know that."

"Huh?" He said earnestly bemused. Hermione wiped her eyes.

"The cobbler!" He showed no sign of comprehension. "The cobbler Ron; you want it so bad." Ron blushed, and Hermione laughed at his expression.

"Well ... Yeah! Mum hasn't made it in a long time. In fact, I don't know why she made it now. But since I was a kid and before school I could never resist that stuff." He admitted growing red at the ears.

"It's ok; don't be embarrassed. I watched you, and I know how big of a sweet tooth you have, and part of the argument was my fault so here." She said pushing the dessert toward him. "I'm giving it to you."

"Really?" He said with the exuberance of a child.

"Yeah! That's why I agreed to do the cleanup with you so your mother wouldn't find out. I would have told you sooner, but I wanted to have a little fun with you first. " She finished with a smile and winked at him. He returned it.

"Thanks Herm." He turned around and dived into the rather large piece of cobbler savoring every bit he took. She continued to clean.

Ron was overjoyed to have his dessert. He looked back and forth at his compassionate basking beauty. Well he couldn't call her his yet, but it felt good to think about it. She reminded him of his mum at times. How busy and stern she is and still maintained that sweetness about her. He looked down at the plate and the piece seemed big, because he was full from eating seconds of the meal.

"Hermione?" He asked as she was wiping the table with a rag.

"Yes." She said looking up.

"Why don't you come help me with the rest of this cobbler?" She looked at him doubtfully with a raised eyebrow.

"Ron I doubt you need help how much you were ogling and drooling." She said smiling.

"Hey! I wasn't drooling... much. C'mon."

"I have dishes to do and clean up."

"Hermione you're doing things the muggle way. Mum bewitched the sink to wash dishes when you leave it alone remember? And I can use magic for whatever else needs cleaning."

"Oh yeah I forgot. I guess I can join you after all."

"Good then. Grab a fork and some whip cream if you please?"

"Oh certainly." She said sarcastically. She then grabbed the whip cream out of the pantry and sure enough the sink was washing the dishes. She took a clean fork and sat to the right of Ron.

"Do you mind if I take off my shoes. "I'd be more comfortable."

"Uh... sure." Ron said uneasily and with a hard gulp.

"Thanks." She kicked off her heals and crossed her legs. Her foot brushed against his leg and stayed there. He reached under the table and grabbed her soft foot thinking it was a bug or Crookshanks. He felt around wandering what it was.

"Oh! Ron, that's my foot." She said blushing and uncrossed her legs letting her feet rest upon the floor.

"Oh I'm sorry." He said turning a shade crimson.

"No it's ok, you kind of massaged it for me." She said smiling inwardly regretting what she said by the uneasy look on Ron's face. But she had to admit she liked his manly hands caressing her foot gently. As the awkwardness passed she chose to change the subject.

"So what's the whip cream for?" Hermione asked.

"Oh. Well before we were old enough for Hogworts, Gin and I used to put it on our cobbler. I already told you that she hasn't made it since then, so I was feeling a little nostalgic for it." He said with a side grin to Hermione, who listen intently. "We would even have competitions where we would make a tower and see who could eat theirs the fastest." The reminiscing brought a smile to his face. Then he laughed a little. "When mum could get some we put ice cream on. I still remember Gin's chubby face covered with whip cream, ice cream, chocolate sauce, and crushed peanuts." They laughed together. Then Ron used his fork to cut the cobbler in half and separated it. Then he sprayed his with whip cream and dug in. Hermione looked at him strangely.

"What?" He asked confused.

"I want some whip cream too." She said offended.

"Oh!" He said looking relieved. "I'm sorry I didn't think you'd- Never mind."

"Well why wouldn't I want some." She replied feigning anger.

"I-I-I ... just thought." He said frantically. She laughed. Ron raised his eyebrow at her.

"It's ok Ron. I'm not mad, but I do want some whip cream though. You need to relax." She said smiling. Ron's expression relaxed. "Here give it to me." Ron handed it to her. She took it pausing and her lips curved into a mischievous smile. Ron pondered what she could be thinking. Then she shot up and took another plate from the fresh pile. She came back to Ron and scooped her half onto her plate and disappeared into the pantry.

"Um Hermione...what are you doing?" He asked with a bewildered smile.

"You'll see Ron." She called to him making a racket. Ron just shrugged and went back to his dessert. Just as he was about to raise his fork to his mouth she called to him again.

"And don't eat anymore of that cobbler." She snapped. Ron stopped baffled by her clairvoyance and put his fork down. Soon Hermione came back with her hands full of condiments. Ron stood up to help when he saw her, but she shook her head. Ron noted the bottles she placed on the table one by one. She had another can of whip cream, 2 bottles of chocolate sauce, and sprinkles. Ron just stared at her apprehensively.

"There's no ice cream but we can manage. I couldn't find the peanuts, so we could substitute the sprinkles for it." She said with a big grin.

"Uh- what do you suggest we do with these?" He asked fearful of her response.

"Well... I want a tower." She said smiling. Ron's eyes grew wide.

"WHAT?" He said not believing what he was hearing.

"Yeah well the way you described how much fun you had, I thought we'd give it a go." Hermione said sincerely.

"Are you serious?" He asked.

"Very."

"I did this when I was nine probably younger. I don't think I remember how to-"

"C'mon. You described it just now when you told me."

"But...no it's childish."

"Oh C'mon. You're starting to sound like... well... me." She laughed.

"Hermione. Uh... no."

"Please." She begged.

"I don't know." Ron said looking torn.

"Please Ron. For me." She said coming closer to him with a puppy dogface. He tried not to look at her, but couldn't resist.

"Oh alright. But why you want to do this is beyond me." He finished. Hermione squealed and gave him a hug and drew back quickly.

"Thank you Ron." She said with a big smile that made him smile too. "Ok this is what we're going to do." She paused and pushed back the chairs. Luckily, Ron was already standing. "Ok now lets build our towers like you said." Ron was amazed by how quickly and efficiently she absorbed new information. "And just so you know. I plan on winning." She stated competitively. Ron laughed.

"Um excuse me. Who's the veteran player of this game?"

"Yeah well people bank on a rookie with potential."

"Oh really. No one has a bigger sweet tooth than me my dear."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah!"

"Well bring it on...Ronny."

"Fine." Ron paused searching for a nickname. "Hermy." She gave him a look. He grinned. Ron knew all to well that that was what Grawp called her, and she hated it. With that she grabbed a whipped cream can and started to spray her piece: Ron followed suite.

Ron glanced at Hermione. She was fast and piling it on thick. She was already done with the chocolate syrup and started on the sprinkles. They would glance at each other's tower and try and out do the other. When Hermione finished she slammed the bottle in her hand down, and waited for Ron to finish. Hermione stood back admiring her work.

"That is beautiful. I should get points for craftsmanship." She joked liking her fingers.

Ron looked at it. That, like everything else she did, was perfect. Ron was just throwing things on there, and it looked like a messy pile of stuff. Hermione had managed to get her tower into a cone shape, a swirling decoration with the chocolate syrup, and her sprinkles seemed to be dashed in the right place setting off the look of a delicious ice cream cone.

"Ok the rules are as followed: no hands or utensils, no cheating by knocking the stuff on the floor, and whoever finishes or has the least left wins. Ok?"

"Well don't ask me I'm not the one who started it." Ron said sarcastically. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Well sorry. But is there something you wanted to add or change?" Ron searched his head and remained quiet. "I thought so. Now are you ready? Ron gave her a look. "What?"

"Are you sure you've never played this before?"

"No. Now lets go." She said eagerly.

"Ok." Ron said reluctantly.

"Ready... Set... Go!" She yelled and they dived headfirst with their mouths and cheeks covered.

Ron glanced up at Hermione on occasion, and saw her scarfing down the tower. She definitely wasn't being her reserved and lady-like self, but more of an innocent playful child having fun. He had to admit he liked this side if her.

Still munching down and getting quite full, Hermione stared at Ron frequently anticipating his defeat. Not to her surprise, his relentless scarfing persisted. Forgetting the fact that she was full, she diligently tackled the tower again. Both not willing to eat more nor give in, they continued. Then their eyes met. Hermione stopped and stood upright. Ron continued until he saw her gaze still stood on him.

"What?" He said standing up. Hermione didn't reply. She stared at his face with a big grin concealed by all the whip cream. "What?" Ron asked more urgently and a chunk of whip cream fell from his face to the floor. Then Hermione burst into laughter. Ron continued to stare at her confused. He looked at her face and laughed too. Hermione was holding her stomach, and tears were running with the cream resembling melted ice cream. Ron grew tired of laughing but contained a big smile. Hermione finally spoke.

"Ron, ... y-you look re-dic-u-lous." She managed to say through bouts of laughter.

"Me? You should look in a mirror." They both laughed again. Hermione let out a content sigh and got some napkins to wipe their faces.

"I can't believe I just did that. I'm so full, but it was fun."

"You can't believe you? I can't believe you. I've never seen this side of you before. You were a disposal!" Ron exclaimed

"Oh shut up. You all act like I have no sense of humor." She said wiping her face.

"Well you are a bit stiff sometimes." Ron said impetuously while wiping his face. Hermione stopped and made a weird face that made Ron worried he said the wrong thing.

"You really think that?" She asked. Ron was going to say no, but he thought he should be able to tell her the truth no matter what was going on between them. He always has, and since they were just friends he didn't think now should be different.

"Well..."

"Be honest."

"Ok. Sometimes." He said reluctantly. She frowned slightly and turned her back to him and started picking up stuff from the tables. Ron frowned and thought he hurt her feelings. Then she suddenly turned to face him. Ron was getting ready to apologize, but Hermione spoke.

"Well we are just going to have to change that now won't we?" She said with a smile. Ron looked at her confused again.

"Huh?" He asked. Then Hermione shoved the plate in her hand in his face and started laughing. The impact of how she hit Ron made him slip on what was already on the floor. Hermione looked down on him laughing.

"Oh I'm so sorry Ron. Let me help you with that." She kneeled on the floor and brought all the ingredients of the tower with her, and she sprayed and squirted him all over as he squirmed. She sat there laughing as he tried to clear his completely covered head.

"Who's stiff now Ron?" She said licking her fingers. Ron laid propped up on his elbows.

"I can't believe you just did that. Was this retribution for what I said?"

"No. I wanted to show you that I'm not stiff."

"And this was the only way you thought of doing it."

"Yes." She said giggling.

"Well you've had better." He said still wiping whip cream and chocolate off of his clothes and face.

"Yeah well now you know I know how to have fun." She said finally. Ron sat up and looked at her clean face, and conspicuously put the spray can behind his back.

"Well then. You're up for some more fun, because that was nothing."

"What do you mean?"

"This." He said and unleashed a cloud of cream all over her. She screamed.

"Ok Ron it's on." She said wiping her face and picked up more condiments and threw them at him. Soon they were both consumed into a mini food fight. They slipped and slid all over as the floor got messier. They were oblivious to everything else even to the noise they were making. Until someone dropped in.

"Hey Hermione you said brushing would-" said George stooping nid sentence as he saw the scene. He was followed by Fred. Then Ginny, Harry, and Mrs. Weasley came in too.

"What are you guys doing?" Said Mrs. Weasley. Ron and Hermione quickly stopped and they both turned a nice shade of crimson. Although most of that was concealed by the mess. They looked around at the expression on everyone's faces. The twins were shocked but kind of giving them a thumbs up behind Mrs. Weasley. Through their smile you could see their black mouths still in tact. Harry and Ginny had the same open mouth wide eye expression. And Ron's mother was fuming. Ron stood up cautiously, and Hermione stood up so fast she nearly slipped but Ron caught her.

"What were you to doing? Look at yourselves and this mess. I thought you were suppose to be cleaning!" She yelled. Fred came over and looked at the table. He swept a finger across it and put it in his mouth.

"Hmm. Taste like chocolate and whip cream. Looks like they were having a little midnight snack." He said implyingly.

"CHOCOLATE AND WHIPCREAM!" She yelled. "ARE YOU KIDS? WHAT SORT OF GAME ARE YOU PLAYING THAT WOULD INVOLVE WASTING FOOD?"

"I can think of some games." Said Fred.

"SHUT IT FRED. I'M NOT TALKING TO YOU!" She said without taking her eyes off Hermione and Ron who had their head bowed in utter mortification. "Go on lets hear it then what on earth were you doing?" At first they didn't say anything. When Hermione saw that Ron was going to speak she spoke before he could.

"Mrs. Weasley it was all my fault. Ron told me about a game he used to play and...it got... out of hand." She said trailing off.

"You made towers and didn't call me." Said Ginny. Everyone glared at her and she immediately backed down.

"So that's what you were doing." Said Mrs. Weasley disappointed. "How could you be so irresponsible and childish Ron! You are of age now. You want to be treated like an adult and you do something like this. What do you have to say for yourself." She said scolding him. Ron's ears were bright with embarrassment. Hermione felt really bad about the whole thing and how it seemed like Ron was getting blamed for the whole thing.

"It wasn't Ron's fault." Hermione said suddenly stepping forward.

"Don't try to cover for him Hermione. Although your part in this is not pardon either."

"It's ok Hermione." Ron said dispirited.

"No. I shouldn't be pardon. I should be yelled at. Ron told me about it and I thought it would be fun. I know now, that it was a mistake, but I made him do it. He didn't want to at first. In fact, he told me it was childish. I'm really sorry for the mess, and I will clean it up immediately. But pleased don't put all the blame on him." She said remorsefully. Ron lifted his head and smiled.

"Well. I am very disappointed in you Hermione. I would have expected something like this from those two." She said pointing to Fred and George.

"Hey!" They said simultaneously. Everyone ignored him.

"Yes and I'm very sorry." Said Hermione.

"Fine. You two are to clean this mess without anyone's help and without magic. Ron give me your wand." Demanded Mrs. Weasley. He took it out of his jeans pocket and handed it to his mother. "You will get this in the morning. I will not tolerate any other kind of behavior like this. Understood?"

"Yes." Ron and Hermione said together. And with that she went upstairs. Ron and Hermione looked relieved.

"Naughty, naughty, naughty." Said Fred and George.

"If you were going to have a food fight you could have let us in on it." Said Fred.

"No Fred it wasn't a food fight. It was an exclusively them party." Said George. The twins started to laugh.

"Rolling around in dessert must've been fun." Fred said implyingly, and they both laughed again. Ron could see their comments were making Hermione uncomfortable.

"Why don't you just shut it and bugger off!" Yelled Ron.

"Well someone's in a right mood. Shouldn't be." Said Fred.

"I SAID SHUT IT!"

"Fine we're leaving. We've got work in the morning."

"Yeah. No time for childish games. Looks like the benefits are a go then. " Said George, as they ascend the stairs.

"Well I hope your work colleagues get a kick out of your mouths because it won't clear up for hours!" Ron yelled to them. He came back to the others. "You two got anything to add."

"Nope. I'll be in the other room." Said Harry unfazed.

"Next time you make towers I want in." Said Ginny.

"Well I doubt mum will make peach cobbler again."

"Yeah." Said Ginny dispirited. "Well see ya." And Ginny followed Harry. Ron came over to Hermione.

"You alright?"

"Yeah I'm fine, but I'm sorry for getting you in trouble again." She said in her same remorseful tone. Ron put an arm around her.

"What are you talking about? If it weren't for you I'd be in more trouble than I am. I'd say we got off good. Mum has a soft spot for you and Harry." He said smiling down at her. She only half smiled. Ron thought he should say something to lighten things up. "C'mon Herm. Cheer up. It's ok. You gotta admit it was fun." He said smiling more. She smiled just a little bit more. "Wanna give it another go?" He asked grinning.

"Ron!" She said moving away and laughing. "Are you kidding me?"

"Yeah I just wanted to make you laugh." Hermione smiled adoringly at him. "Let's get this cleaned up...then ourselves." He said as he put his hand through his sticky hair trying to get gobs of whip cream. In his attempt his hand got stuck.

"Here let me help." She said as he put his head down to let her help.

She reached in to his hair and immediately flashed back to the night they kissed. She was reliving the whole thing by just touching him. She remembered her mouth on his, his arms around her, and her fingers through his hair. But most important she remembered the feelings, and how she would never feel that way again because he was just her friend. She had to stop. Once his hand was free she moved away quickly. Ron noticed something was wrong, but thought it had to do with what happened. Hermione went to get the cleaning materials. When she returned she tossed Ron a rag and got on her knees and began cleaning in silence. Ron soon followed.

After being almost done with the floor Ron speaks.

"Hermione." He said looking up from the floor. Hermione was across from him and lifted her head to answer him.

"Yes?"

"I want to say thanks for before."

"It's ok. I wasn't going to let you take most of the blame again. I know you'd do the same for me."

"What are friends for?"

"Yeah... friends." She repeated distantly.

"Hey Hermione who won the match anyway?"

"I did."

"Uh no. Who stopped early?"

"I ate more than you."

"No you didn't." Ron protested.

"Yeah I did. Most of yours ended up on the floor."

"Hmm. Well obviously a rematch is in order." He said smiling.

"Ron."

"I'm game if you are." He said laughing, and Hermione laughed with him. When his head was down she looked at him and smiled before going back to cleaning.

A/N: Well that's that. I thought it was a sweet chapter and fun. I hope y'll liked it. PLZ R/R!!! Untill the next chappie. Lata Dayz N' Much Luv. : D