See chap 1 for disclaimer

"Ron, I'm going back to the Tower. I'll see you later everybody."

"No, your not. Madame Pompfrey said you shouldn't walk. So, I'll carry you back to the dorms."

"I feel horrible, having you carry me everywhere. You're poor arms!"

"Hermione dearest, stop insulting my strength. I am perfectly capable of carrying my angel as long is necessary."

"Are you sure?"

'Come on," and with that he swept her off her feet ( literally) and carried her away. On their way to the tower, Ron brought Hermione into an empty classroom."

"What was with that note?" he inquired.

"Dumbledore wants me to see a psychiatrist."

"A what?"

"A muggle doctor. She deal with people who have mental problems; like depression. Apparently, there's a student here whose muggle parents are psychiatrists. Dumbledore already talked to them and the mother offered to come talk to me once a week free of charge. My parents won't have to know. It's completely confidential."

"And she'll help you?"

"I hope so."

"I hope so too." and they went to the common room.

They met up with Harry and Ginny who were playing exploding snap. Neville and Luna joined after a while and the six spent a relaxing evening talking. Later, Ron could tell Hermione was getting tired, but he also noticed she wasn't eager to go to bed. Several times he saw her glance at the girl's stairs and then at Lavender and wince. He had a sudden brainstorm.

Very calmly and quietly, he said to Hermione, "Will you sleep with me?" This brought a very loud "What?!" from Hermione and Ron realized he hadn't said his intentions very tactfully. He corrected himself. "That didn't come out right. I mean like we did before. Sleeping....Together...I don't want you alone. Plus that was the best nap I had in a long time."

Hermione looked about to say no when Lavender started laughing at her own joke. She sighed, looked at Ron gratefully, and said "Thank you." She went and changed into pjs while he did the same in his room.

As she entered the dorm, Ron's stomach did a little flip-flop. He knew he must have it real bad if a bleary-eyed, sweat-pant wearing Hermione did this to him. But then, he really didn't care. He liked the flip-flop, now that the cause was "his".

Not that Hermione was completely calm either. When she entered the room, she couldn't help thinking "DAMN!" Ron's hair was mussed after running his fingers through it several times. He had baggy pants on with blue checkers and no shirt. He was pale, but not ghostly, and freckles dusted his built frame. His gorgeous blue eyes were gazing at her. Hermione had tried to dress nice, but sleep– able. For the first time in her life, she had wanted one of those pink lace nighties she had so often scoffed at in Lavender's magazines. Since that was not an option, she chose her light blue sweat pants with Tinkerbell and a matching top that said "cute but feisty." The top was rather old and a little tight around her chest, the one part of her body she had no complaints about. She had thought a top accenting her "bountiful bosom" would be compensation for the lack of nightie.

After staring at each other for several moments, both ran toward the object of their affection and began kissing. Gone was the gentle, soft kisses of earlier that day. This was six years of longing rushing to be satisfied. They continued this way for quite a while when they finally needed to stop and breathe. Hermione yawned and rubbed her eyes and Ron carried her to his bed.

They laid facing the window. Hermione had her back toward Ron. Their legs were entwined and Ron kept her close by wrapping one arm around her stomach and one arm under her neck. For a second time he marveled at the fact that they fit so perfectly together.

Hermione fell asleep almost immediately. Ron stayed awake a few minutes listening to her ----snore? Hermione snored? Never in his vivid fantasies did she imagine Hermione snoring. But, he had to admit, he liked this better. Because this was real. He would take noisy reality over silent dreams any day. So he dragged Hermione even closer to him, put his face in her hair, and fell asleep. His last thought was to wonder what shampoo Hermione used.

Soon things returned to normal. Or at least as normal as things ever were at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Hermione and Ron returned to class the next day. Hermione quickly caught up and helped Ron do the same. Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione remained close friends and were together 75 of the time. Malfoy was still an insolent prat. Ron returned to Quidditch practice, Hermione returned to her books. No one mentioned their week long absence.

Some things were noticeably different however. Ron tried harder in class. He did his own homework and he did it correctly. He even took notes in Professor Binns class. Hermione went in the other direction. She didn't nag as much about schoolwork. She relaxed more and didn't take everything so seriously. She went to Ron's every Quidditch practice to cheer him on. She even attempted to learn the ins and outs of the game. They still fought, but they always stopped before it went to far and now they had fun making up.

Ron kept an eye on her. He made sure she didn't stress herself. When he wanted to have "boy" time with Harry he made sure his sister included Hermione in whatever she was doing. When Hermione wanted quiet, they would sit in comfortable silence. He still carried her everywhere. They slept together every night.

Then there were more subtle changes that it seemed only Hermione noticed. When the four friends sat together, Hermione usually on Ron's lap, Hermione sometimes saw Harry look at the couple and then at Ginny and sigh longingly. More than once, they would get separated and Hermione would find them in a secluded corner playing chess. Often the chess pieces would lay forgotten and the two would simply be talking and staring at each other. Several times one would forget something and the other would immediately offer to go with them to retrieve it.

At first, Hermione thought it was just her own happiness that made her see love everywhere, but soon she suspected that something really was going on. Determined to let her friends experience what she had, she decided to spy.

The opportunity arose several days later. The four friends, joined by Neville and Luna, were in the Gryffindor common room talking. Ron was in a spirited conversation with Neville about the Chuddley Cannons. Ginny suddenly "realized" she had left her book in the library. A s usual, Harry left with her to get it. Hermione waited a few moments and then told Ron she was going to the bathroom, the one place she went by herself. Ron gave her a kiss on the cheek and resumed his conversation. Hermione sneaked out of the common room and followed them. She had no need for a cloak – she had plenty of practice at being invisible.

For a while she gave up hope that anything interesting would happen. All they did was talk. And not the mushy-romantic talk either; normal, friendly talk. The only reason Hermione hadn't given up is that they had NOT gone in the direction of the library.

They turned a corner and Hermione waited a few seconds before following them. When she proceeded, she was surprised to not see them. They were gone! Moments later, Hermione heard a bang, like someone being thrown into a wall. She looked to her left and sure enough, there was Ginny pressed against the window, apparently chocking because Harry was giving her – ahem – "mouth to mouth".

Really not wishing to intrude, she sat down in a corner of the hall, where she could see and not be seen. She closed her eyes and tried to remember the placement, shape, and size of each of Ron's freckles. When she had completed his face, neck and half of his back, she heard mumbling. Taking out the extendable ears Forge and Gred and given her, she overheard this conversation.

"I'm sick of hiding Harry. I want to be able to hold your hand in public. I want to be able to tell Cho to stop trying to get you back. I want to be able to steal quick kisses before class."

"You think I don't want that? I look at Hermione sitting on Ron's lap and snuggling and I wish I could do the same with you. But your brother would murder me and I'm too young to die!"

"He won't pummel you. He didn't pummel Michael or Dean, why would he attack his best friend?"

"Because he didn't find out about those guys until after you had broken up with them. Plus I know how he feels about you. He'll expect me to know better."

"Look I know for a fact he wants you to be just as happy with someone as he is with Hermione."

"But Hermione's not my sister." Harry pointed out.

"Hermione!!" they both whispered, having sudden brainstorms.

"She could introduce the idea to him, let him think about it, say what a cute couple we would make, etc. Then Ron could present the idea to you and we all could act like he thought of it." Ginny said.

"Hermione's already suspicious, and I think she wants to get us together. Sometimes she looks from you to me and smirks with that glint she gets in her eye when she's scheming.

"She'd have to be very subtle."

Both fell silent, lost in thought. Hermione stood up and leaned against the doorway.

""I can be subtle." she said. Harry and Ginny jumped.

"How long have you been standing there? Did you um, see, um ..." Ginny rambled, turning red.

"Don't worry. I didn't want to see it any more than you wanted me to see it. I closed my eyes. Anyways, Harry's right. I knew something was going on between the two of you. And I just proved I can be sneaky. I followed you here undetected after all. Your plan will work."

"Are you sure? After all, you will basically be lying to Ron."

"I don't see it as lying so much as pointing him in the right direction. Merlin knows I love him, but he can be pig-headed about certain things."

"So, you admit you love him."

"Of course I'll admit it; just not to him."

"Why not?"

"He had to say it himself. I don't want to get hurt again. Not like Victor and the others, always complimenting me, asking me over, getting my hopes up, and then asking for advice on their girlfriends. Un-huh, not again. But never mind that. Listen to my ideas for your problem....."

A/N – I got several reviews asking for longer chaps, I hope this is better. Thanks everyone for reviewing. But I hope you realize longer chaps means less chaps...so i want reviews voting on what you guys want – short but many or long and few?

Sorry for not updating in a while, but I started school and we were working in my house so it was crazy. Since I'm insane, I'm taking all honors and I may not be able to update as often as I used to. It will probably be weekly instead of every other day. Thanks for your patience

Now go review –I want 50 by the end of the story!