Disclaimer: I don't own things. Anything. At all. Really. The characters and all are J K Rowling's, of course, and she gets to keep them because she's so awesome. The songs aren't mine. The first one is called "We come crashing down" and is by a band called Sugarcult. They are good, look them up if you like music. The second one is "We Laugh Indoors" by, you guessed it, Death Cab for Cutie. I just can't get enough of them!!

Warnings: Laaauuunnngage! My dirty mouth is starting to bleed into the story. Heh. Didn't drop any f bombs in this chapter, but there's still time. Just language, though. That's it.

Author' Notes: Dear Lord! Alright. I wasn't good at schedule thing. So, no more deadlines. Not until November, at least. That's when life stops being crazy. Belive it or not, I've looked at my life, and I don't think I have a free Saturday until November 6th. Geez! Anyway, here's the chapter. It's here. It's not as long as the last one, but that's okay. Read. Review. You know the drill.

Sincerely,

Me

Chapter Six:

The Little Things

Much to Ron's chagrin, time marched on as usual. Monday rolled around and with it, classes. He thought he should use this as a release. As a way to distract himself from all the mental anguish he was going through. It was hard, though, with her working there beside him

Charms class was louder than usual, just due to the nature of what they were learning. The Sonorus Charm. If done correctly, it would amplify one's voice tenfold. Professor Flitwick had guarded against this by putting a sort of sound-proof field around his class. They wondered if he always did this, as they never really heard the noises of Charms outside the classroom, but knew it was noisy. They didn't have time to dwell on this, though, as the Sonorus Charm was rather difficult. The hardest thing, it seemed, was aiming their spells at the frogs and mice they were working with. Every once in a while, a spell would shoot across the room and hit some unsuspecting student. As awful as this was for the students who had parts of their lives put on show, everyone else found it rather amusing. Hermione was even laughing about it.

She seemed in a better mood, he noticed. He noticed a lot of things about her lately. Little things, things that he would not have cared about just two days before. Now he was noticing them. Like the little smile on her face when she successfully amplified her frog. She tossed her hair gently over her shoulder and looked around the room. Just a glance, just to see if anyone had seen her.

Shit. He had seen her. He realized this just before her eyes fell on him and looked luckily away. Deciding it was high time he focused on his work, Ron turned to the mouse he was working with. The mouse glared at him, knowing what he was thinking. He glared right back. Stupid mouse. Ron sent a halfhearted attempt at the stupid mouse, missing it by a long shot. He did not miss Seamus, who was pegged in the back, causing a rather unfortunate bit of his conversation to be amplified. "-IN ME MOTHER'S ROOM," he shouted accidentally, then turned an awkward shade of red. Ron's ears blushed in sympathy. He heard a small laugh beside him and turned to face this intrusion.

God, she was looking at him and smiling. Why did she have to smile like that? "What?" he asked dumbly. She raised her eyebrows at him.

"I saw that," she informed him cheekily. His ears turned even more red, but he grinned at her.

"No you didn't," he denied. "You saw nothing. Nothing at all. It was just a trick of the light." She narrowed her eyes in mock anger.

"It isn't good to lie to ourselves, Ron" she chided. Then a silence fell over them. Ron sent another spell at his mouse, this time hitting it. It roared for a moment before Flitwick sent a silencing charm at it. "Good job," Hermione said. Ron shrugged.

"Dumb luck," he contradicted. There was that damn silence again. He couldn't take it. When they were talking he could forget about what had happened. But here in this silence it was all he could think about. Finally, he came up with the perfect question. He knew how to break the silence and solve a lot of his problems.

"About the other day," he started, but she seemed to be expecting this and cut him off.

"Look," she said, turning to him, "maybe we should just forget about it. I'm not.. It was wrong of me to call it meaningless, because a kiss like that always means something. I just didn't want you to... get the wrong meaning."

Ron stared at her incredulously. "What... meaning... was I supposed to get, then?" he asked, his voice broken and unnatural. He suddenly regretted bringing it up.

"Well... I don't," she started, fidgeting with her wand. "I don't really know what it meant. I just know-"

"What it didn't mean?" Ron finished, suddenly unable to look at her. "And it certainly didn't mean anything a kiss usually means." He could fell her eyes, boring holes into his back.

"We should just forget it, then," she responded. Her voice sounded strange; small and strained. He tried not to think about it. He couldn't even remember what she had said.

"Don't you think it was KIND OF MISSLEADING?" he accidentally shouted. His face flushed as he realized too late how poor Neville's aim really was. Eyes wide in shock, he tried to shake off the stares of his classmates. He looked at her after a moment. She was smiling again.

"Perhaps we should save this conversation for another time" she said, her voice shaking with laughter. He couldn't help but grin back.

"Yeah," he agreed, getting the feeling that this conversation would never come to pass. Just then, Harry came over from where he had been helping Neville (rather unsuccessfully) and asked what was going on. He knew it, then. The chance had just flown by, and he had missed it.

-----

Heaven help him if he didn't stop noticing her. For the rest of the day it seemed that was all he could do; notice her. Little things about her. The concentrated look on her face as Flitwick asked her to try the silencing charm opposite of the Sonorus charm. The beaming look on her face when she got it after one try. The smile she gave him when he congratulated her. It wasn't her usual smile, he noticed as well. It was somehow different. Special. He found himself wondering if that smile was just for him. Shaking the thought off, he followed the students out of the classroom.

Next, he noticed her in the hall. He wondered how he had never before seen this; she walked with the minutest sway. It caused her hair to move hypnotically back and forth. He noticed her hair for the first time since Diagon Alley. It was no longer straight but now had a gentle, controlled curl to it. He wondered how she made it do that, some spell or potion? He might ask her... no, he wouldn't. All he could do for now was stare. He found it enchanting and couldn't tear his eyes away.

Then there was the queue to Transfiguration. Ron noticed the way she tapped her foot. It wasn't an impatient toe tap but rather a bored fidgeting. She bent down to look into her book bag and her hair spilled over her eyes. She pushed it boredly behind her ear. And he noticed this all; watching her with some kind of awe. He had never before realized the hypnotic grace she moved with.

He kicked himself mentally, remembering their earlier conversation. He needed to stop this insane noticing. It would only lead him into unwelcome heartache. He pushed the thoughts down, avoiding her all through Transfiguration. Through the course of the class he was almost able to forget about her. By the end he was able to muster up some cheer. Then, there she was. At once he noticed something, of course. This time it was the way her head tilted to the side when she smiled. Finally, Ron gave in and noticed whatever he would.

Lunch was uneventful. Parvati and Lavender pouted at them. Seamus explained his outburst in charms (which wasn't as dirty as it had sounded). Harry entertained some second years, which he had taken to doing. In this final year of school, he really seemed to have loosened up, accepting his fame and gaining even more. Hermione and Ron were engaged in a friendly conversation. He continued to notice her little nuances. The more he noticed, the less problem he had with noticing anything at all.

Finally, it was time for the last class of the day: Defense Against the Dark Arts. As soon as she walked into the class, Ron noticed a new smile on her face. Coy and playful directed at... wait. What?

Ron paused in mid step, rewinding his mental tape and replaying the scene. She walked by the desk of Professor Ross and sent him the smile. "Afternoon, Professor," she had said. He smiled back in the same fashion. "Good afternoon, Miss Granger!" he said cheerfully. "I hope you had a good weekend." She smiled secretly. "You bet1!" she responded. You bet? When had she ever said that? Ron took his seat next to her, sending a skeptical look her way. She turned to him with a friendly smile, causing him to frown at her.

"What was that about?" he asked, sounding more angry then he had intended. She gave him a look of confused innocence.

"What was what?" she responded. He never got a chance to explain exactly what he had witnessed, though. Harry chose that moment to walk up to them. After his disappearance midway through lunch, they weren't at all surprised to see his face shadowed and brooding. He sat by the window, looking out over the chill grounds. Ron and Hermione exchanged a glance, knowing that they'd be in for a rough night. She put her hand on his shoulder gently. "Harry?" she asked. He raised his eyebrows for a moment, just to show that he had heard.

"Talk about it later?" Ron asked in hushed tones. Harry nodded. A commanding voice from the front of the classroom caused Ron to take his seat as class began.

Today's class was a lecture but it hardly felt like it. Professor Ross had a way of delivering the information they would need in an interesting way. This was the way this class was; lecture on Monday, practice when they came back on Wednesday, and discussion on Thursday. It was a very interesting structure and they covered quite a lot of material. Mondays always started like this, learning about whatever spell or dark creature they would be covering that week and the defenses against it or its uses. Wednesday they would apply what they had learned: that day was always fun and interesting. And loud, just like Charms or Transfiguration. Thursday was the favorite day of a few people, namely Harry and Hermione because they got to give their ideas on what other ways whatever they were studying could be defended against or used. Then, they would try out the theories in the second half of the class. Needless to say, Professor Ross was well liked at the school.

This particular class was over a shield spell that most students had learned in DA. Some took notes over the things they never knew but most sat with rapt attention. Halfway through the class, Ron glimpsed her out of the corner of his eye. The sun in the window was filtering in from behind her, haloing her in a half silhouette. His breath caught in his throat when he saw her seraphic elegance. She turned to him, probably having heard this, and sent him a smile. "What?" she mouthed to him. He shook his head. "Nothing," he mouthed back. She rolled her eyes and he turned back to his notes, the tips of his ears glowing red at being caught staring. He attempted to ignore this, paraphrasing the funny story about the origin of this spell. It seemed all spells had a funny origin. This one seemed to involve a mob of angry villagers, some rotten tomatoes and a very creative wizard. Ron was just writing the part about the threats of fire and brimstone when a piece of parchment was dropped onto his desk. He looked up at Hermione, knowing she was the one who had put it there. She was just staring at the front of the class with a small smile writ across her face. Ron picked up the paper and unfolded it.

"You've been staring at me all day."

So she'd noticed, eh? Hopefully she didn't care. Then, why did she feel the need to inform him of this? He looked at the parchment for a moment, deciding on the best course of action. He scribbled a response "I know" and tossed it back onto her desk. He waited another moment, hearing her open it and scribble something back. He tried to write a few words on his notes, but then the parchment was back on his desk.

"I figured. Why?"

She was persistent, wasn't she? He sighed, carefully wrote the words "It doesn't matter," then tossed the note back to her. He watched out of the corner of his eye as she opened it and read. Watched as her face fell slightly before she decided their correspondence was done and tucked the note into her book bag.

Why had he been staring at her? That thought was now plaguing him. It hadn't mattered before, just that he was staring, but now that she had brought it up, he could help but wonder. Why? Because she had kissed him? Because she was now suddenly untouchable. Because so was so damned bea-... whatever the reason really was, it escaped him at that moment. He just simply had to get her off his mind. He threw himself into his notes and managed to ignore her for the rest of the class.

After the bell rang, Ron realized what Hermione had been putting up with the remainder of the class. At once, Parvati and Lavender shot up out of their seats, running to the door. Ron figured they just had some hot date to prepare for until the stopped abruptly. There they stood, arms crossed in some attempt to be intimidating, blocking the doorway. He heard Hermione mutter something that sounded like "Oh for goodness sake!" under her breath before Lavender spoke.

"We're not moving until she agrees," she said with fortitude. Hermione mumbled "This is ridiculous" as she moved towards the front of the room. Before she reached the gossip twins, Draco Malfoy made an attempt to exit. They held fast.

"We meant it," Parvati explained. "No one." Malfoy glared at them, but gave in. At this point, Hermione had reached them. She stood in before the pair with a resolute expression.

"You're not going to win," she stated firmly. They were having a sort of stare down- a battle of wills.

"Really?" Lavender asked "Because it seems to us that you are about to make a class full of hungry seventh years late for their dinner. And thusly, a very angry bunch. Now, who will they blame?"

"How about the two idiots blocking the door?" Hermione quipped.

"Or how about the girl how could have just cooperated when she was asked on Saturday!" Parvati snapped back. "They will be angry with you, and you know it."

"Don't speak for the crowd," Malfoy sneered. "Personally, I blame you two. Now let me out." He was ignored by the three girls, though, and they continued their argument as though he had not said a word.

"Fine!" Hermione nearly shouted. "Fine, you win, I'll do it. Tonight in the common room." She made a move to leave, but found her path still blocked by the strangely wall-like girls.

"We don't trust you," Lavender stated.

"Do it here," Parviti continued. Hermione stared at them incredulously.

"I don't carry a guitar with me, you nincompoops!" she declared with venom. The faces of the gossip girls dropped for a moment, almost admitting defeat, before a voice came from the side.

"I do," it stated. Everybody turned to see Professor Ross, leaning nonchalantly against his desk. People stared at him with varying degrees of shock. Ron saw that Hermione looked offended, almost hurt by this statement. "I mean, that's what this is all about, right?" he continued. "I heard something about this deal. You want to hear some of Miss Granger's music, right? Well, why don't you play for them?" he asked, now talking just to Hermione.

"Because! I don't want to!" she sputtered. He raised an eyebrow.

"And why not?" he asked. She didn't respond, just turned to Ron weakly.

"Tell them to stop bothering me!" she pleaded. But Ron really just wanted to hear her sing some more. Why did she have such a problem with it anyway?

"I think you should do it," he said, trying not to see the sad, hurt, shocked look he received. "That song you sang for me was really good. And now they'll stop bothering you," he added quietly. That wasn't what she wanted to hear, either. She looked around the room helplessly for someone who didn't want to hear her sing. But even Malfoy was waiting for this song with anticipation, if only just to mock her. Finally, she admitted defeat.

"Alright," she said, all the vigor gone for her voice. "Bring it over here. I'll sing."

The professor disappeared into his office for a moment, then brought out an interesting instrument. It was an acoustic guitar, much like Hermione's, only it was rather decorated. Several photographs were taped with colorful, what was that stuff called.. Duct tape. Each picture seemed to be of a girl. Also, writing in the same duct tape, were the words "Your Name." A slight murmur passed through the crowed, but Hermione did not seem shocked by the guitar. She took it from her teacher without a second glance and strummed a chord. It sounded awful. She sent an accusatory glance at the instrument's owner.

"Why are you tuned in drop D?" she asked. No one else knew what that was, so just observed the exchange. The teacher shrugged. Hermione shook her head and twisted a knob on the neck of the guitar, playing that string until she was satisfied. "What should I play, then?" she asked.

"That's up to you," the Professor responded. She looked thoughtful for a moment, then a spark flew over her eye.

"I'll do this under one condition," she said. "When I'm done, it's your turn." Some people looked around for an explanation, so she continued. "You can't have a guitar like this and not write your own songs. So, when I do this, when I'm done, you will play a song for us, Professor." She had nearly hissed out the last word. Some people even flinched when she said it. But Professor Ross, if he noticed, didn't care. He nodded at her nicely.

"Alright, it's a deal," he stated. Then they watched as she went back to thinking. After a few more moments, she strummed out a chord, then another, then finally began singing.

"I've got something up my sleeve that I don't want to show you
Cause everytime I bleed I make a fool of me
I've got shaky little fingers, that hold on to your grip
You've got wrapped around my world
So tight that I can't breathe
I'm suffocating

We come crashing down
Everytime we go this far again
We come tumbling down
Everytime we go this far again
Everytime we go

I've got nothing that I hide except for what's inside
I keep it all locked up, in this prison we call love
I'm suffocating

We come crashing down
Everytime we go this far again
We come tumbling down
Everytime we go this far again
Everytime we go"

The response was the same as before, only on a much larger scale. Everyone stared at her like she had just grown an extra head. How did she ever become such a wordsmith? And where had she learned to play like that? Who knew that Hermione Granger could sing? And more importantly, in the minds of Parvati and Lavender, who was this song about?

The only one who didn't seem shocked was the Professor. He just watched her with a slight smile as she tried to throw off the stares of her classmates.

"Well," she said at last. "You have your song. I'm done now." She hopped from the desk she had been sitting on and handed the guitar to Professor Ross. "Your turn," she whispered. Parvati jumped up.

"Wait!" she said "We have to talk about your song, first!" Hermione sighed and crossed her arms, but waited for the other girl to continue. "It was really incredible. I had no idea you could do that. And you wrote it, too? Really, Hermione, I don't get why you are so modest and unproud of these works. I would kill to be able to write like that or sing like that or play something like that. And you can do all three!" And the end of this speech, Hermione had a healthy blush creeping up her neck.

"Yes... well..." she stuttered at first, then broke into a smile. "Thank you, Parvati!" The two shared a moment and then turned to their teacher. "Well?" He smiled at the two and Parvati giggled while Hermione rolled her eyes.

"I've got a song picked out," he said and played an interesting riff. The second time through, he began singing.

"When we laugh indoors, the blissful tones bounce off the walls and fall to the ground. Peel the hardwood back to let them loose from decades trapped and listen so still.

This city is my home, construction noise all day long and gutter punks are bumming change. So I breed thicker skin and let me lustrous coat fill in and I'll never admit that I loved you Guenivere. I loved you Guenivere. I loved you" he repeated this line at least ten times, each one gaining more feeling, before he reached the climax of the song.

"I've always fallen fast with too much trust in the promise that 'No one's ever been here, so you can quell those wet fears.' I want purity, I must have it here right now. But don't you get me started now. No don't you get me started now. Don't you get me. Don't you get me...

The summer's chill comes late, the days get darker and we wait for this direness to pass. There are piles on the floor of artifacts from dresser drawers, and I'll help you pack. I loved you Guenivere"

Again, the line was repeated, only this time, midway through he switched the line to I love you, Guenivere. The girls in the room all blushed at this, his intensity almost being too much to handle. Ron looked over at Hermione, expecting her to be rolling her eyes as usual, but she simply wasn't.

She was staring at him with a matched intensity, their eyes locking occasionally as he sang the last line. This made Ron frown for whatever reason he couldn't think of. Finally the song ended, met by scattered applause and cheers.

As hungry as they all had been at the end of class, no one moved to leave when he was finished. Even the three Slytherin in the class (Malfoy, Pansy and Blaise) sat, waiting for some explanation. Malfoy spoke for that crew: "You must really like that one line. You certainly said it enough." He was ignored for the most part. Parvati spoke first of the rest of them.

"So, then, did you have a girlfriend named Guenivere?" she asked with a dreamy look in her eyes. The Professor shook his head.

"No, see it was an allusion," he explained. "A reference to something else. It this case, it was the story of King Arthur. His wife, named Guenivere, was known for her purity. So, when I say Guenivere in this song, I'm just calling the subject of the song pure." Some people 'ooh'ed in understanding.

"What was her name?" Lavender asked. Professor Ross grinned.

"Now, that's a secret," he said. Strangely, he looked at the front of his guitar. He picked one of the pictures, of a girl in a white room, wrapped in a white sheet with white light filtering in from behind her through a picture window. "That's her, though." A few people went up to look at the photo, Ron included. Hannah Abbot made an observation.

"These are all Muggle photographs!" she said.

"Yeah," their professor agreed. "I find it to be more of an art form than anything else." Ron looked at the other photos as some girls giggled and flirted with the youngest teacher at Hogwarts. He noticed that the pictures were all of women, all very artsy and none of their faces could be seen. There were four in all. As he looked back at the "Guenivere" photo, he felt some pang of familiarity that was gone as soon as it had appeared.

"Who are all these pictures of?" Ron asked, surprising himself.

"These are all the women I have ever loved," Professor Ross stated, running his fingers over the picture of a woman in the middle of a field in a park, doing a backbend. A tiny smile tugged up the corners of his mouth before he stood. "Now, I'm hungry. Everybody, class is fifteen minutes over. Get down to dinner."

-----

The seventh year N.E.W.T level Defense students were all abuzz at dinner. New information about a teacher was always welcome, especially the teacher who all the girls at the school had dubbed as "hott stuff". The stories flew quickly, about what an artist their teacher was. His amazing photography; his incredible way with words; his sultry voice. The only ones, it seemed, not engaged in this gossip were Harry, Hermione and Ron. The sat together, smiling in silence at the first dinner they had been able to eat together all year. They chatted idly at first until something dawned on Ron and he turned to Hermione.

"You did it on purpose, didn't you?" he accused. She smiled at him, knowing exactly what she was talking about.

"Did what?" she asked with a grin.

"Made Professor Ross play his song. You knew that if he did, everybody would be talking about him-"

"And no one would be talking about me," she finished for him. "Pretty genius, right?" Ron rolled his eyes at her, turning back to the melancholy Harry.

"So, what happened at lunch?" Ron asked. "Snape didn't seem too happy about having to talk to you."

"We went to a meeting in Dumbledore's office," he said with a nod. "They found out something. Lupin and Tonks, they found out some information." He paused, taking a bite of his shepherd's pie while Ron and Hermione waited with baited breath. "It wasn't much, but it seems Voldemort has made a discovery. We don't yet know what he discovered. All we really know is that if he gets what he's after, it will be detrimental." He paused again, taking another bite as his friends took in the information. "Also, we know what he'll do after he gets what he wants. If he gets it." Another bite. Ron couldn't stand this pausing anymore and he was sure that Harry was chewing longer than necessary.

"Well,?" he shot impatiently. Harry sent him a slight glare.

"He wants to reveal everything to the Muggles," he stated without any ado. "And he'll probably enslave the whole lot of them, if he has his way." His dark mood deepened and he didn't speak for the rest of the meal. Hermione looked worried, obviously thinking of her family. Ron put his hand on his shoulder.

"Hey, it'll be okay," he said quietly. "Do you really think we'll let him get what he wants?" A small smile tugged at her lips. "Your family will be safe. Your mum and dad don't even need to know that something's wrong. And your little sister- what was her name?"

"Rosalind," she said with a smile.

"Right," he grinned back winningly, "Rosalind will be just fine, too. You know," he said, thinking "You know all about my family and all my siblings. But I only learned your sister's name a few moments ago. What is she like? How old is she? What was it like growing up with her? Tell me about her." Hermione sent him a questioning glance, before letting out a small laugh.

"Well, she's two years younger them I, making her sixteen right now. She's a Muggle, of course, but she's not like Harry's aunt at all. She's really happy for me and was so excited this summer when I could finally do magic at home. She's really great. Before I came here, we were something like best friends. Her and Madi and I. Madi and I were kind of misfits, both know it alls and what have you, but Rosalind just liked being with us. She was one of the most popular girls in her year. Even after I left, her and Madi stayed good friends. Anyway, Rosa is pretty short, but she has to be. She's a gymnast."

"Like, she does flips and stuff?" Ron asked, perplexed by this new addition to the Granger family. Hermione grinned.

"Yeah, like flips and stuff," she confirmed, rolling her eyes as if to say 'it's much more than just flips and stuff, dummy.' "And I've been told she looks a lot like me. Only, she never got the horrid big teeth and her hair is naturally smaller then mine. Or maybe she just learned how to take care of it earlier than I did. I don't really know. She's really great. One of the nicest people I know. That's why it killed me what happened to her last year. Not just because she's my sister, but because she is such a good person!" Ron watched her, dazzled by the emotion she was displaying. After a moment, she regained her composure and coughed slightly. "Look at me going on like this," she muttered, blushing slightly. Ron rolled his eyes.

"I'm going to have to meet her some day," he stated. "And I think it's entirely unfair that I've been your best friend for this long and haven't yet met her. It's like your holding out on me! Like there's little parts of you life I don't know a thing about." He stopped there, hoping she would catch what he was hinting. That he had seen what had passed between her and Professor Ross. The little glances, the secret smiles. It wasn't a secret from him. Looking at her giving him a sort of hurt look, he knew that she knew.

-----

The common room had the warm murmur of an October Monday that night, a well appreciated atmosphere. The trio was going over the essays they had gotten back that day, taking notes for future essays and tests. It was a habit they had gotten into the year before at Hermione's request. Of course, it had taken getting back the first few N.E.W.T level essays and tests for Ron and Harry to realize the importance of this act. So, they sat in a circle, reviewing and writing by the fire in the chairs they had used since first year.

When they came to their latest Defense essays, Hermione smiled. "He didn't really write anything noteworthy on my paper. What about you guys?" she said quickly. Harry brought out his scroll of parchment and began listing the improvements Professor Ross had suggested. While Hermione told him what things he should be writing down, Ron glanced over at her essay. There was quite a bit written in the red ink Professor Ross used to grade. If only he could make it out.... He shifted in his chair, trying to get a better look... he could read a bit of it upside down now "Hermione-" he called her by her first name? "A very well written essay, once again! Might want to elaborate on the defenses against this spell instead of flirting with your professor. It lacks tact.... I'm just messing with you, flirt all you want!-" Hermione shuffled her papers, sending him a look, so he dropped the issue.

They stayed in their little circle by the fire well after most of the other students left. All who remained was one second year girl who read too much and reminded Ron of someone very familiar. He looked at her for a few more moments before realizing that she was asleep at her little table. Ron smiled, remembering the times he had found Hermione in that position. He nudged Hermione with his toe, gesturing to the girl.

"Someone should get her to bed," he said. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Someone means me, right?" she said, standing. "Of course, who else would do it. Actually, I think I might go to bed after this. I'm a bit tired." Harry nodded.

"Me too," he said quietly. "I've had a bit of a day." His friends nodded sympathetically, not being able to do anything more. Ron walked over to the little girl with Hermione, helping her gather the child- who was really, dead asleep- in her arms and steadied her as she started up the stairs to the girls' dorms. With her and Harry gone, Ron quickly realized that he was now alone. He smiled slightly, pulling a book out of his little corner. It was the tome Hermione had given him the prior Saturday. He hadn't had a proper chance to look at it yet and was welcoming of this chance. He opened to a random page, finding the Transparency Charm. The charmed object would enable a person to see through walls. Ron figured that this was one of the charms on Mad Eye's eye. It would be a hard one to do, he'd have to come back to it later. Flipping to a page earlier in the book, he found and interesting charm, it would make the pages of a book turn in accordance to when the reader finished the page. This one he might be able to do. He set his book down and took out his wand.

But he couldn't concentrate on it. It wasn't fifteen minutes later that he threw his wand into the book and leaned back against the chair. His thoughts drifted to her, just remembering her. Remembering every little detail he had ever noticed about her. He couldn't work on this little project right then.

He walked back over to his things, this time picking up a little blue Muggle notebook that he couldn't seem to part from. He only had one letter left to read. Only one. For some reason, he hadn't been able to bring himself to do it. It just seemed wrong. He didn't want to be done learning about her summer. He didn't want it to be over. He didn't want this little space where she shared all her thoughts with him to be filled. But he needed it right then.

"Ron-

I don't think I'll every really be able to explain to you how I'm feeling right now. Hurt, that's for sure. Betrayed, that's another one. Stupid? Why not. Everything, I never thought I could experience such a range of emotions all at once. And all negative, too!

But I need to get some of this off my chest. I need to come clean with you- maybe then I'll be able to come clean with myself. I can only hope.

I've written about Jamie before. I know I have but I don't think I've ever explained him. He's twenty five, born and raised in New York. He used to be a Presule, that's like an American Auror. And, well, I guess he's been my boyfriend for most of the summer. If that's what you can call what we had. I thought I loved him. Thought. I really doubt that now. I don't know why. He's leaving now. Actually, he already left. For some strange reason, I thought that I might be able to change him. To make him see his worth. But, he's left now. Won't tell me where he's going. Just says that this is an opportunity he can't pass up and it's what he thinks he should be doing. It's probably some stupid band! That's all he can ever think about, music! When I first met him, it was so appealing, but now... it's just annoying! Like you and Quidditch, at first, you know, I could listen to you talk about it, but it got old after a while. And now I just feel like such a complete idiot for thinking all these things about him and... and... well... we were... fairly close. Intimate. Oh, you're not going to get that.... We... For goodness sake! I slept with him. Was that so hard to write?... actually it was. I'm sorry if I gave you a shock there, Ron. I just needed you to know for some reason. I'd like to say that I just needed someone to know, but that's not true. I needed you to know. And for some reason I feel the need to apologize to you about it. That's weird, right?

I can't believe I'm about to write this next part. You see, there's something else I need to tell you. Something I should have told you a long time ago. Back in.. God.. Third year maybe? It's been a long time coming, and it's very late. And I don't even think I can't tell you now... not like this. I'd need to tell you face to face. I'll do that! This next year, I'll tell you finally, and then everything will be right again! Right for the first time! I don't really know which. Maybe I never will.

But I don't ever want you to doubt the way I feel for you. That came out of the blue, didn't it? How is it I feel for you, you may ask? Well... you are the best friend I've ever had. I mean that with all of my heart. And yet, so much more than that, too! You are... you are... I don't even know how to say it! But, just know... I'll always be there for you. Any way you need me.

Do you remember all those times we kissed? I do. I think about it a lot, actually... I've never admitted that before. Every year it happened! And, yes, I remember second year. Very vividly, as it was the first conscious memory I had after the whole ordeal. Thank you for that. And.. Last year... thank you. Just thank you, Ron! For all those times you've been there for me! For all the times we fought, but then made up! For teaching me the importance of not being so serious all the time! Hell, for teaching me how to misbehave! I'll always be grateful to you. But not in a debt kind of way, just in... an appreciative way, I guess.

I just got my owl for school, and sent you that horridly short letter. I'm head girl! You're head boy, right? I just know you are. Who else would it be? Or maybe I just hope you are....

Ron.... If you every want something different between you and me.... If you ever start to feel a different way... please just tell me... because I have the feeling I'm too much of a coward to come out and tell you.... Anyway... I'll see you soon.

Love,

Hermione"

He stared at the pages for an age. What was she saying? Did she fancy him?... No it sounded like much more than just a fancy. It sounded.... In all her recent letters, she had closed with "Luv ya!". Even the letter she had sent him had that closing. But this letter was different. It seemed more like her old self, when she'd write "Love from". But this still was different. It was simple. "Love" Love? Did she mean that? Did she... love him? Could her feelings extend that far? Could his? Moreover, why had he never thought of this before?

Of course, that wasn't true. He had thought about it. Or, he had almost thought it. But, he would always get scared and push the thoughts away. Now he was kicking himself once again for being so blind. She did. And...

He thought back on that day. All the little things he had noticed. He thought back on their entire friendship. It was so obvious. He was so blind. Maybe he had known it all along. Maybe that's why her words had hurt him so deeply. Maybe, maybe, maybe....

No, there was no maybe anymore. He was done with being indecisive. It was time to admit the way he felt.

He loved Hermione.

As soon as he thought the words, a smile broke out over his face. He tried the words out, seeing how they sounded on his tongue. "I love Hermione" he whispered. His heart leapt out of his chest and bounded around the room. He had finally realized it, after all this time!

And now he needed to tell her. He needed her to know as soon as was physically possible. She was asleep right now, up in her dorm. He couldn't get up there. Damn! He cursed and looked around the room, hoping for some answer to his problems. Then he heard the noise on the stairs. Someone was coming down from the girl's dorm. Please let it be her he thought. For once, his prayers were answered.

There she was, suddenly looking very different from the way he remembered. She was a beautiful woman. Sure, he had noticed it before, but with resentment. This time, there was only reverence.

"Hermione," he said dumbly. She looked over at him with shock written over her face. She obviously hadn't been expecting to see anyone in the common room this late.

"Ron?" she asked with shock. "What are you doing here so late?"

"I was looking over that book you gave me," he answered honestly. He had been looking at the book at first. "I didn't realize it was so late. What about you?" his question seemed to catch her off guard, but a moment later she regained her composure.

"Patrolling," she said, then made a move for the door. No! His chance was passing! He crossed the room to where she was and caught her arm.

"I finished reading your letters," he said. She looked at him, obviously not understanding what he was on about. "And... I've realized something. I.. Hermione..." he leaned over her, whispering in her ear with what little voice he had left. "Hermione, I think... I mean, I know.... Well, I... I love you." He kissed her earlobe then pulled away. He was discouraged by what he saw. She was staring at him with wide, shocked eyes. Eyes that were... full of tears? Why would she be crying? Those didn't look like tears of joy....

"Ron?" her voice was a broken whisper. "Ron... oh.. God... I.. I don't..." she pushed away from him. "I can't do this right now," she mumbled. Then walked out. And he couldn't help but think of how beautiful she looked, stumbling out the portrait hole.

-----

As soon as she entered the hallway, she collapsed against the wall, sliding down. What had she done? This might be the only chance she had!

"He loves me," she said, a smile breaking over her face. "He loves me, and he admitted to it, and he told me, and he loves me." Her smile fell. "And I just ran out. What have I done?! I need to go back there, tell him that I love him too.... I need to..." she stood, looked at the portrait of the fat lady, dread filling her chest.

"But, it might not work. We might drift apart. We might not even be friends if things don't work now. I can't loose him. Not even as a friend. I need him." She held two hands in front of her, looking at them. She held one out further. "I have him forever, guaranteed, but only as a friend" She held out the other. "I have him as more than a friend, but I could loose him." She weighed the dilemma in her hands like a scale, eventually choosing between them. She looked mournfully back at the portrait.

"Looks like I take the cowards way again. Who's idea of a joke was it to sort me into Gryffindor?"

So, there it is. Sorry about the delay in author's notes. I was going on a trip this last weekend and wanted to get the chapter up so you could have some reading materials over Labor day weekend. Unfortunately, I can't judge the passing of time, so I had to post before proofreading. Or adding author's notes. As you may have noticed. Sorry about the previous spelling errors, I've corrected all that I can. And this whole story is getting a makeover when Caroline gets off her butt and proofreads like she said she would. But enough about me.

I really liked this chapter. And I realized that Hermione has been acting like a bit of a dumb butt, so I decided to explain how she was thinking a bit. Yeah. But, really, they have to go through some anguish before they get to be happy couple. Yeah. Be expecting eeeeven more. Things have just begun to start to get interesting.

Thank you reviewers, again!

Commodore Norrington: Yay for consistent reviewers! And Hermione's got a lot on her mind, so it's alright. Or it will be later, at least. And I love Draco, so I couldn't just have him as a villain!

Maken-Wood: Yay band geeks! And thank you ever so much for the praise! I haven't blushed so much since Madam Pomfrey told me she liked my earmuffs!... Sorry... rereading book 1... Can't help myself.

Chatterboxgirl: Like I said, the emotional stuff goes on for a while longer. I tried to keep this chapter lighter.... think I might have failed. Not to worry, next chapter is shaping up to be angst free and even contains a bit of fluff! Hoorah!

KelseyRadcliff: Thanks! And keep your mind open, I might just change things up on you. Though, you probably do know a bit of what's going on. Like I've said from the beginning, I was never trying to be that subtle!

Behkie: Thanks! Interesting idea, by the way.

Momo: Your enthusiasm always brightens my day! Yahoo!

Somebody here noticed something nobody else did. And they get a cookie.

Okay, these are by far the longest ANs that I have ever written or will ever write. Sorry for the lack of constancy in updates. I hate to say that it'll probably just get worse for a while. But I will try to have a chapter up at every two weeks. Hopefully sooner than that.

Cheers!