Disclaimer: Throws self at white padded walls and rips at straightjacket with teeth I DO own Harry Potter . . . I DO! GAH!!!

Last Chapter:

Now, no more golden rays peeked into the classroom, and Ron was left alone in the cold, silent dark staring out at the swirling leaves outside the window.

After a few minutes of gazing off into space thinking of a certain someone, a distant sound from somewhere out on the Hogwarts grounds brought him back to his senses. There were still mounds of delectable desserts piled up, and Harry was getting them all to himself! For a minute, as he imagined the tasty treats in store for them, Ron completely forgot about what had just happened between Hermione and himself. He bounced along the corridor cheerily until he felt something mushy in his pocket. He reached in quickly and came out with the lumpy remains of the treacle tart he had placed in there earlier for Hermione. Hermione! a voice shouted in his brain. The events of the past few minutes came rushing back – how upset Hermione had been; the bewildering information she had let slip; the awkward touch.

What does it mean? Nothing Malfoy ever said has really made her that upset before . . . It was about her . . . and . . . ME? I'll kill the bloody bastard! Could he have said something rude – well, he always says rude things, stupid, but something rude about . . . er . . . relations between Hermione and me? Not that anything like that has ever happened . . . I wish it would . . . I wish I could have grabbed her and held her tight against me when she was sad and told her everything would always be alright –

His endless flood of rambling thoughts stopped as a very large, very heavy stick dropped on his head.

"PEEEEEEEEEEEEVES!" he shouted. He rubbed the top of his head, which was throbbing painfully. "Peeves, you idiot! That hurt!" An evil cackling filled his ears, and the menace swooped down in front of him.

"Two ickle wittle lovebirds! I saw you going in that room, all alone with Ickle Girl Lovebird! Professors must know wee students were alone together in dark classrooms, doing naughty things!" And with a deafening belch, he zoomed away, leaving Ron standing still with his mouth open in horror.

"Peeves! No! Stop!" But all that was left of the poltergeist was the echo of "Two ickle lovebirds sitting in a tree" followed by several profanities that made Ron's face burn in anger and embarrassment.

Well, this is just GREAT, isn't it? I have to find Hermione . . .

Finally, Ron reached the Great Hall, where Harry was still stuffing his face. He glanced up briefly from his gluttony to see Ron gingerly poking at a red lump on his head, and snorted.

"Ha! Don't tell me Hermione gave you that! What could you have possibly done this time?"

"Oh, sod off, you prick," Ron mumbled. "I didn't do anything. Wait, where is Hermione?"

"Obviously not here. I thought she was with you," Harry said, spraying a mouthful of trifle all over the place.

Ron pulled a face. "Ugh, disgusting, Harry! She ran ahead me, I thought she was coming here."

Parvati, who was sitting near the boys, overheard their conversation and leaned over. "Oh, Ron! I was just in the bathroom, Hermione said that she was going back to the common room. She seemed sort of jittery, I dunno. Maybe she isn't feeling well."

"Not feeling well?" Harry looked up from his plate. "Did she look weird when you went to talk to her, Ron? I know she was upset about something, but - "

"I think I'm going to go find her," Ron said suddenly.

"Ok, I'll come with you!" Harry got up eagerly. Ron tried to mask his disappointment – he wanted so desperately to be near her again, alone, to study the golden flecks in her eyes and stroke her beautiful honey brown hair, stroke every part of her, really, except this time, he wouldn't flinch –

"Ron? Hullo in there? RON?" Harry was waving his hand up and down in front of Ron's glazed eyes.

"What? Whozat? Huh?" He jumped about a foot in the air, making Harry double over in laughter. "Hey! You prat! Let's go," Ron grumbled, kicking Harry in the shin.

"Owww! Not cool! What's your problem?" Harry glared at Ron angrily, hopping down up and down on one leg while rubbing his injured limb. Ron had already set off in a huff in the direction of Gryffindor Tower, however, without a glance back towards Harry. "Hey! Ron! Wait!"

When Harry caught up with him, he was about to continue harassing Ron, but changed his mind as he caught the sad glint in Ron's eyes. Even though he and Ron were both pretty clueless when it came to girls, Harry at least could see what Ron could not, in this situation. He sighed, "Ron, I wish you weren't such a bloody tree."

"Did you just call me . . . a tree?" Ron asked as he stopped in his tracks.

"Yes. That is what you are."

Throwing his hands up in the air in exasperation, he shouted, "Would you care to explain what the hell that's supposed to mean?"

"Well, you might as well just grow roots into the ground and invite some birds to nest in your hair, 'cause you just . . . stand there. Doing nothing. With Hermione, I mean. I'm assuming that's why you seem to be in such a foul mood, isn't she the reason for all your moods? Giddy, mad, stupid, sad - "

"Stop bloody rhyming already! She is not the reason that I am annoyed – you are, ya' great git. Well, Malfoy too. I think Hermione's upset because of another thing he said to her or something." He took off again down the corridor.

As he ran to keep up with Ron, Harry panted, "What? Malfoy did something again? Why didn't you tell me that in the first place? Whoah, whoah, slow down!" He flung out an arm and blocked Ron from continuing. A small smile slowly crept up onto Harry's face and he burst out laughing.

"What? What's so funny?" Ron demanded.

"Nothing," Harry mumbled, but with one more glance at Ron's indignant face, he was howling again. "It's – its just – well, Ron, admit it. This whole I'm-pissy-don't-bother-me thing you've got going on is about her!"

"No, it's not!" But Ron's face had flushed as red as the apple he had just eaten for dessert (a/n: hehe, that really sucked, I know, but everything's about food for Ronniekins). "Well . . . yes, it is . . .somewhat related . . .to Hermione, but – but I'm just worried about her. She is our best friend, Harry!"

Harry looked at Ron sympathetically, sighing, "No, Ron. You guys are my best friends. She is not your best friend. It's different for you, and it has been for a while. Tell the truth. This is seventh year, for god's sake. Have some bollocks!" Rolling his eyes, he continued, "Ron! If I, unromantic old me, have managed to figure it out finally, and I'm not poking my eyes out after unfortunately thinking about you two snogging, I think you can just come out with it already!"

Ron looked at Harry as if he had sprouted eight legs and numerous eyes. "I – I don't - can't – it's – well, I have thought of Herm – Herm - "

"Hermione?" Harry offered.

"Y-yes, her . . . Fine," Ron stammered, blinking furiously. "I have thought of her in . . . not quite a best friends w – way, and – and . . . Oh, bloody hell, I want to snog her senseless!" With a frightened squeak, he dashed off towards Gryffindor Tower again, leaving Harry half-astonished at his outburst, but shaking again with silent laughter.

"Oh, Ron. You silly idiot. Go get 'er," Harry chuckled to himself as he headed back to the Great Hall.

Yayyyyyyyy!!! Chapter 2, finally! I now know where this is heading, thank god. Thanks so much to everybody who reviewed, it really motivated me to write this chapter as fast as possible! If I get more reviews....say, 10, I'll get chapter 3 up super quick! And oh boy, chapter 3 will be fun. Ron has finally taken the first step towards Getting the Girl – well, no, the second step. The first step was denial. And more denial. And MORE denial. At least now, he's admitted it. Yay! Review, review, review!