Chapter 1

Icebreaker

A gentle dawn summer breeze wafted through the bedroom window, rippling the stained bedsheets in its wake. A large moth, unaware of the dangers that lay within the quiet bedroom, fluttered in as well, performing a lazy circle around the cramped room.

"Impendimenta."

A soft white light lit the room for a moment, then faded out. There was a soft thump as the moth hit the floor, trembling feebly as a hand scooped it up and flung it out the window, releasing the harm as it did so. The moth caught a glimpse of a mop of red hair before it spread its wings and fluttered off into the night.

Ron Weasley sank back onto the edge of his bed and continued his vigil of the sunrise. For a while, he savored the peace and quiet that the summer brought him, and a faint smile flitted across his face as a robin began chirping its dawn serenade in a bush nearby.

"Ron?"

He almost fell off his bed in surprise. Whirling, he saw Hermione Granger standing in the doorway, her bushy brown hair tied back in a pathetic attempt at a ponytail.

"Who gave you the right to come in here, eh?" Ron snarled, the tips of his ears going scarlet.

Hermione looked hurt and retorted, "Well, I was just going to ask if you wanted any help with McGonagall's essay…but if you don't want it, that's fine."

She turned and was about to leave when Ron asked, "And if I wanted help with the essay?"

Hermione paused, her hand on the doorknob. "Maybe I would've helped you, think about it, Ron," she said, her voice exasperated.

Ron grinned knowingly behind her back. "Yeah, right. You're gonna help me no matter what- I know you, 'Mione."

He watched the back of her neck go red, then into her eyes as she turned around, her face even redder. He quickly lowered his eyes as she said matter-of-factly, "If you're going to rely on me to get all of your homework done, you're wrong, Ron!"

"Sure. You're not the brightest witch of your time for nothing, are you?"

Hermione went even redder. "Well, guess what, Ron? You're still wrong. I'm not helping!"

"Now you change your story, first you want to help, now you don't. Make up your mind!"

Another knock sounded on the doorway, and Ron and Hermione looked up to see Harry standing in the doorway, his green eyes somewhat blurred by tiredness.

"Is it six AM already?" he asked, yawning widely.

Ron looked strangely at Harry. "Whassat supposed to mean?"

Harry gave him a wicked, if not somewhat weary grin. "The first thing you two do in the morning is, some way or another, start a blazing row. You won't talk through breakfast, then you'll both make up by lunch. You're on good terms up until about eight PM, when you start another row. And the rest of the house is now able to set their clocks by you."

Hermione and Ron both threw Harry scathing looks. He got the point quickly, said "See you in a few," and was gone. Hermione looked back at Ron. "Now, where was I…?" she inquired.

Ron shrugged nonchalantly. "What the hell were we fighting about in the first place?" he inquired.

Hermione sighed and stared at the floor. "You know, Ron…" she began, sounding somewhat unsure of herself.

"What?" Ron asked dully.

He received a look from Hermione and shrugged again. "What'd I do?"

Hermione rolled her eyes and continued. "…I wanted you to know something." She lowered her eyes and shifted awkwardly from foot to foot, then continued.

"…I've known you for a full…six years…and…um…I was thinking about this last night…for a long, long time. And…I've decided to tell you. I…"

Ron looked faintly hopeful.

Hermione flushed. "…I wanted to give you this. Hold on…"

She got up and left the room. Ron, in her absence, looked somewhat crushed, but brightened up somewhat as she brought in a small age with a blanket draped over it. She gave him a small, shy smile, then lifted the blanket off the cage.

A good-sized female spotted owl blinked sleepily out at them, hooted softly, and proceeded to give Ron a wary peck on the finger.

"Ow! Oh…wow, Hermione…"

He hugged her gently, and she unconsciously gave him a hug back. Both of them froze as the thought of what they were doing hit them, and they quickly broke apart, forcing totally untrue looks of disgust onto their faces.

"Um… no problem, Ron…!" Hermione stammered, her face a bright pink.

Ron's ears looked like they were about to catch fire as he stuttered, "Um… th-thanks, Hermione… yeah…um. Um."

Hermione looked lost for a second, then sighed and asked, "You really want help on that essay, don't you?"

"It's two rolls of parchment, 'Mione. What did you expect?"

"You to do at least some of it on your own…"

"Nah."

"What would you do without me, Ron?"

"Fail?"

"That's what I thought."

An awkward silence fell, then, Hermione leaned in and gave Ron a kiss full on the lips.

Ron started, then, somewhat nervously, deepened the kiss. Hermione plunged recklessly into it, wrapping her arms around Ron, who responded by doing the same to her. Both Hermione and Ron slowly sank into their own world, consumed wholly with one another, ardently deepening the kiss.

A cough sounded from the doorway, and, shocked, Hermione and Ron broke apart to see Harry standing in the frame, a grin on his face as he said, "Breakfast, you two."

Ron watched him leave, then turned back to Hermione, who gave him another kiss, this time on the cheek, whispered, "Love you, Ron," and cleared her throat quietly.

"Now, what about that essay?"

A/N: Be back on the mainland June 25th- I'm heading to Santa Catalina Island for a summer camp tomorrow morning. R&R… Please! Whatcha think…?