See chap 1 for disclaimer

The three walked back to the Common Room, where they were attacked by Ron.

"Hermione where were you? I was just about to go looking for you!" Ron said rather loudly as he picked Hermione up and carried her to a chair.

"Ron its ok. I decided to go for a walk to stretch my legs and I ran into Harry and Ginny. Ginny couldn't find her book so I helped them look for it. It's been almost a month; I can walk now.

"I know, but I still worry. If something happened to you, I don't know what I'd do."

"Come on, my protector. Let's go to bed. Good night everybody."

"But it's only 9:00 why.....Oooooooooooh. Good night everybody." Ron said as that lopsided grin appeared on his face.

By now, the two had a routine. Hermione would come to his room with a pitcher of milk and two glasses. Ron would supply a plate of cookies. Hermione would do a silencing charm on the bed and draw the curtains. Ron would turn down the blankets and fluff the pillows. Then both would eat and talk about what had happened that day. Finally came kissing, cuddling and the sleep.

Nothing changed today. They did the same jobs as normally and during the talking section of the evening, Hermione put her plan into action.

"Ron, what do you think of Harry and Ginny?"

"Harry's my mate; Ginny's my sister. What's to think?"

"Not in relation to you; in relation to each other."

"Hermione, what are you getting at?"

"I think they'd make a cute couple."

'I suppose so."

"What, no explosion, no outrage?"

"'Mione, I'm not completely oblivious. I see the way they look at each other. The way I figure it, Harry would be the last person to try to hurt her and Ginny won't be upset when he gets in a mood – they balance."

"Well, what are you going to do about it?"

"Do? Nothing. The two idiots can figure things out themselves. We did."

They already did, Hermione thought. But Ron can't know that. He'll get mad that they didn't tell him. Time for desperate measures.

"Do you want Ginny doing what I did before we got together?" Hermione whispered.

"Shit...I hadn't thought about that. What do I do?"

"There's a Hogmeade weekend coming up." Hermione prompted.

"I know!" Ron yelled. "I'll tell Harry to ask Ginny to go with him. I'll tell him what I said to you before – how they balance each other" He suddenly smirked. "This way I don't have to feel guilty about leaving Harry out."

"You're brilliant!!!Go tell him now."

(A/–- That scene inspired by the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Those who have seen it understand. The necks turn the heads!!!!)

Ron promptly rose from the bed and walked into the Common Room. He called Harry over.

"Oi! Harry! Listen. Go ask my sister to Hogmeade. You two are perfect for each other. Go now!"

Harry feigned shock and the went to obey Ron. Pleased that the plan had worked, Harry ran over to Ginny, who had been about to go upstairs. He quietly told her what Ron had said and she squealed and jumped on him in response. Ron took that as a yes and returned to his bed.

"That went rather well." Ron said.

"He did it? And she accepted?"

"Yup. Now we can be alone for an entire day."

"Hmm. Good night protector."

"Good night angel."

After what seemed like an eternity, Saturday arrived. Ron and Hermione, along with Harry, Ginny, Neville, and Luna, rose early and left for the wizarding village. The six friends had butterbeers at the Three Broomsticks and went their separate ways. Harry and Ginny went to the Quidditch supplies store and Neville and Luna to an herbal remedy store.

Ron and Hermione wandered happily through the streets, pleased to be alone. Both silently blessed the fact that Harry had gotten together with Ginny because that left them more time to simply stare into each other's eyes.

After approximately half and hour, they were surprised to find that they had absentmindedly walked toward the Shrieking Shack. Ignoring the warning signs, the couple climbed the fence and entered the dilapidated old house. As soon as the door shut, they both began passionately kissing.

Things quickly became very heated an without thinking, Ron found himself trying to undo her belt buckle. The noise brought Hermione back into reality and she quietly but firmly said "Stop."

"We need to talk." Hermione sighed.

"Oh no, you're not breaking up with me are you?" panicked Ron. " 'cause I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking. I......"

"Sush...Of course I'm not breaking up with you. I just have to tell you something. Once I start talking, don't say anything until I finish. Ok?"

"Okaaaay." Ron said hesitantly, looking confused.

"Ok. If two months ago you had wanted to have sex with me, I would have immediately said yes, even if it was clear I was a one night fling. That was how much I wanted you. But, I'm out of my depression now, thanks to several potions and Dr. Manning. Remember her? She's my psychiatrist. She's helped me through some things. Thanks to her, I made a vow. One I don't have any intention of breaking, even if in the moment I may wish to. I swore I would wait for marriage to have sex. I know this isn't fair to you. You didn't make the vow after all. And if you don't want to wait let's end it now. I won't lie and say it doesn't matter to me, but you don't have to worry about me going suicidal again. I don't want you to be with me simply because you think I'll kill myself. Don't worry. I know I'm not worth waiting for." she paused, tears silently rolling down her cheeks. "Say something."

Ron stood in shock and with a little bit of anger. Not at the vow. Though it wasn't what every teenage boy wanted to hear, he was fine with it. No. What angered him was her assumption that he wouldn't wait. Did she really think he was that shallow? Didn't she know how much he loved her?

"Hermione. Look at me." He lifted her chin and made her meet his eyes. "I'll wait. I'll wait as long as you want to. If you decided to take a life long vow of chastity, so would I. Not that I don't want to...you know...I won't lie to you. But if you want to wait, I'll wait."

"Why Ron? Why? When there are so many gorgeous girls who would do anything for you? Why?"

"If you took the most aesthetically pleasing woman in the world and placed her naked before me and then put next to her you in the most hideous outfit ever designed with all your hair shaved off, I would choose you. I don't love you because your beautiful. You're beautiful because I love you. I love the way you chew on a pencil eraser when you're thinking. I love how you loose tract of things in the middle of speaking because your brain is several steps ahead of your mouth. I love the fact that you use big words I don't understand and then go back to explain what you said to me. I love that freckle that marks your tickle-ish spot. I love that you always look out for others and try to help them. I love that you've been there for Harry and me since the beginning even when something required rule- breaking. I love how you act like you don't care what people think of you, but you really do. I love that you only show your vulnerability to me. In short Hermione Rose Granger, I love you."

During his speech, Hermione had wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in his chest. He now took a step back and looked at her expectantly. She looked down at her feet for a moment that felt like a lifetime. Finally, she looked into Ron's eyes and said softly, "I love you too." Tears fell down both lovers cheeks. But Ron had a nagging doubt in his mind he need to pacify.

He leaned down ( there was a substantial height difference between the two) and whispered in her ear "Can I ask you a question?"

Hermione bit back the common reply of 'You just did.' and simply nodded. Too much noise seemed disrespectful somehow.

"Why?" Ron whispered. "Why do you love me?"

Hermione pondered the question for a moment, and then gave a speech to rival Ron's for fluffiness.

"I love you because I had no choice. I always loved you. It was never a question. My heart picked you. I love the way your hair flops in your face when you're doing homework. I love that lopsided grin you give when you're being cheeky. I love that sly smile you have when you're staring at me and think I can't see you. I love how you're always complaining about Crookshanks, but I catch you petting him or slipping him treats. I love how you love your family and how you would do anything for them. I love how you've been there for Harry since the beginning, even when you were scared out of your mind. I love how you're always trying to protect me, even though you know I can take care of myself. I love how your eyes are a sparkling blue when you're excited, grayer when you're said and greener when you look at me. I love how you make me feel like the most gorgeous woman in the world, even though I'm not. I love how you know all my moods, all my annoying habits, all my quirks, and yet you still love me. In short Ronald Christopher Weasley, I love you."

Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him closer for a kiss. A short, chaste, innocent kiss. Because this wasn't about teenage passion and desire. This was about love: pure, genuine, gentle love.

The couple joined hands and went to look for Harry and Ginny.

And that night.....

"Good night my protector."

"Good night angel."

A/N – No its not over yet, there's one more chapter.

That line is inspired by a song from Roger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella

Ok, I know a lot of people are a little shocked by the vow a put in. Waiting until marriage isn't done very often nowadays and this is a "R" story. Some of you were probably expecting sex. I rated this "R" for the suicide and the discussion. I personally believe it should be "PG 13". This isn't a diss toward those who don't wait. I based Hermione on myself – my quirks, my thoughts, my problems, and my choices. To wait until marriage is my choice. I believe that if a guy truly loves you he will wait, and if he doesn't, then I don't want to have sex with him anyways.

The epilogue's next and I don't have anywhere near 50 comments!!!! So read and review. I'll try to update next weekend. Bye!