Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. I don't think I really own anything... not even my car. Geez...

Warnings: Language? I think. Probably. Oh, and sexual innuendo. Because no story is complete without a little innuendo.

Author's Notes: Holy moly I am late with this! My apologies, my friends, life's been crazy. And by life I mean band. Like there's a difference. Luckily, band season is basically over. And I've got quite a bit of chapter eight written, so that'll hopefully be out within the next week. Hopefully. Well.... Hope you like this chapter. It's not my favorite, to be honest. But, it makes up for the angst I've been putting everybody through lately, I hope. Because I went fluff crazy. W00t. So without further ado... Read, and review....

Sincerely,

Me

Chapter Seven:

October Air

His time with her was a paradox. Of course, since the night of the awful confession, the horrible rejection, it had been hell spending time around her. There was always this little voice tugging at the back of his mind. 'She doesn't want to be with you,' it would remind him. But being around her had always been able to put him at ease. So, the more time he spent with her, the duller the pain in his heart became. In fact, whenever he was with her, he tended to fill with a glowing warmth.

But nothing came of it. October marched proudly on, the days getting cooler and the crisp air of autumn settled in the grounds. Things settled down, fell back into place. They kept to old traditions, started new ones, spent more time as their unbreakable triad. Soon, it was as though nothing had happened at all.

Though, since that fateful Monday, some things had changed. Hermione was more open about singing. From time to time she would sit in the common room with her guitar and play. Not always her songs, in fact she usually played tunes that people could sing along to. Things that people knew.

Every Monday after that, as well, the seventh year Defense students stayed in their last class after dismissal to talk to their teacher. The girls were infatuated with him and the boys were mostly fascinated by the attention he drew. He had become a mentor to many and a friend to more.

Halloween would fall on a Saturday that year and it would be a Hogsmead day to honor it. Upon the request of nearly every girl she knew, Hermione had petitioned for a change from the traditional Halloween feast. A festival for the younger students who didn't get to go to Hogsmead or the older students who had grown bored of it. And the responsibility of organizing it, of course, fell with the Head Boy and Girl. Ron didn't mind. Any excuse to spend time with Hermione was very welcome.

Mid-October found the pair of them by the roaring Gryffindor fire, planning the fair. It was late- well past midnight- and they had butterbeer and hot cocoa from the kitchens keeping them awake. This combination also managed to put them into strange moods. Hermione had her guitar out and had been singing her half of the conversation for the past hour.

"Perhaps," she sang, "We could have a sort of costume contest." Ron rolled his eyes. He had long ago gotten used to the singing. His response was to lay upside-down in his chair. He said it would help him think, but so far all it had managed to do was change his face the same color as his hair.

"No one in the wizarding world dresses up for Halloween," he informed her. She glared playfully.

"Shut up," she sang, "I know that. I'm working on lack of sleep and stupid Muggle traditions. You idiot."

"Stop singing!" he nearly shouted, the annoyance finally grating on his nerves. She laughed cherubically.

"Make me," she sang teasingly. She stuck her tongue out in a very childish gesture, causing him to laugh back at her.

"I could if I wanted," Ron teased back. "I just don't think you want me to."

"Liar," she sang, "Liar liar pants on fire!"

"I'm not lying!" he exclaimed, rolling out of his chair clumsily. He sat back on his heels and looked up at her.

"You are bluffing," she sang, the teasing tone in her voice becoming more and more evident.

"I," he started, crawling towards her on the floor, adding to the silliness of the evening. "am" He pulled the guitar away from her, placing it on the floor next to her chair. "not" He sat up on his knees, his eyes now level with hers. He playfully tapped her nose and brushed some hair out of her eyes. "Bluffing" the last word was a whisper, spoken into her lips as he kissed her. He pulled away after a single sweet moment, looking into her shocked eyes. Almost immediately, her face broke out into a surprised, big smile.

"You're really good at that, you know," she murmured breathily.

"I suppose," he replied, twirling some of her hair around his finger. "More importantly, I got you to stop singing." He flicked her nose to emphasize his point. She looked surprised for a moment, then attempted to glare at him. She only managed to wrinkle her nose a little. It was so comical, that whole night was such a joke that he had to laugh. After a moment he heard her join in. They laughed like that for a few minutes until they decided the goofy night should be brought to a close and headed up to bed.

He swore to himself the that would be the only time he really let his feelings for her show. He had taken her quick retreat as a pretty sure sign of what she felt. Or rather, didn't feel. He didn't push it after that. He didn't want their friendship plagued with some uncertainty.

But still. There was a vague outline of a plan starting to form on his mind.

Saturday the common room was full of laughter and music. As it turned out, Hermione wasn't the only Gryffindor hiding musical talent. Seamus had a fiddle and usually played some lively Irish jig that made them all want to jump up and dance around the room. Colin Creevy had a saxophone and a talent for jazz. Parvati had a piano (which she kept with her by using a shrinking charm) and played some pop music songs. They took turns entertaining their housemates. Occasionally, one would play a song people would recognize and they'd sing along. Whenever Hermione's turn came up, they would of course ask her to play on of her songs. She would smile and start on a tune they all knew and would most likely sing with.

Presently Lavender was pouting at Hermione, begging once again for a song written by the girl. Once again, Hermione smiled and rolled her eyes. But this time, her response differed a bit.

"I won't play one of mine," she said to the groans of the crowd. "But, I'm warming up to you. So I'll sing a song by a friend of mine, Jeremiah. I met him this summer in New York."

Ron nodded at this, she had spoken about this Jeremiah in her letters. He was in that band of hers. Presently, she was beginning the sad sounding sound with a few chords then began singing. The lyrics were interesting, about the life and death of the writer's dead-beat father. The lyrics were well written but different from Hermione's style. He was surprised that he knew she had a style, let alone what it was, but shook his head and enjoyed her voice. The end of the song didn't bring about any particular discussion, but Lavender and Parvati giggled into their hands, obviously thinking about the "warming up to you" comment.

It was strange for her to be singing like this right now. There was work that could be done. Ron himself was working on a Potions essay. He reminded himself that she had probably already finished it. But still. She was the one wasting time while he was working. It was unheard of!

Not that he was getting that much work done. She was just too distracting. Even when she wasn't the one in the spotlight she fascinated him. When music was being played she was enraptured by it, as he was by her. A silly smile would be plastered across her face and she'd sway or sing if she knew the song (and she tended to know every song that had words. Even a few played by Seamus or Colin that didn't seem to have words would be familiar to her. Ron found this very entertaining.) From time to time she'd play a guitar part to the others' songs. Looking down at his essay, he blew it off as a lost cause, rolling up the scroll. He got up from his seat and crossed to the sofa she was sitting on, blithely humming along to some jazz tune Colin was playing. He plopped down beside her, making a big show of putting his arm around her. This was another sign of how things had changed. He would do this quite often now, play up some affection towards her. Trying to play off his announcement as a joke. He wasn't sure if she bought it. But, she went along and it was fun. He got to show how he felt for her without having to worry about how she felt. Of course, sometimes it hurt like hell, but there was nothing to be done about that.

She was rolling her eyes at him now. He grinned at her. For a single moment, their eyes locked and he knew he couldn't hide the truth. It was written there in his gaze, but for that one fleeting moment he thought he saw something in hers. Maybe, just maybe she really did feel the same way. He could almost feel the distance between them closing when a noise interrupted them. Looking up they saw Dean and Seamus making kissy faces at them while Parvati and Lavender giggled into their hands. The ridiculed pair was almost synchronized in their eye roll, though Ron hoped no one noticed the pink tinge at the tips of his ears.

Hermione stood and looked at him. "We've got to work on the plans for Halloween," she stated. Ron nodded at her, standing as well. Lavender had jumped up, too for some reason.

"About that!" she nearly shouted, causing not only Ron and Hermione but half the common room to look at her. "I was talking to Dean and he said that there was a Muggle tradition on Halloween, that they all dress up in costume. We should do that! We could have a contest for the best one. It would be like a masquerade ball!" That suggestion sounded oddly familiar. He tried to ignore the 'told you so' look he was getting from his friend.

"That sounds like a great idea, Lavender!" Hermione said cheerfully. She turned back to Ron with an insufferable smile. "It's too noisy in here. Shall we go to the library?" He nodded back at her, then turned to the table in the corner.

"Hey Harry!" he called, "We're going to the library. Care to join us?"

Harry, however, didn't answer. He seemed a bit preoccupied talking to a fifth year girl. She was listing with rapt attention as he dramatically spun her some tale of adventure. Ron and Hermione exchanged a look and a grin before heading out to the library.

------

The two heads of school, it seemed, were far too loud for Madam Pince, who had thrown them out of the library twenty minutes prior. As such, they were presently sprawled in the shade under a big oak tree by the lake. They liked this place better anyway.

"We need to have a part of the fair that's a dance," Hermione said, scribbling a note on a piece of parchment she had brought with her. "Not anything formal like the Yule Ball, just some music and a dance floor."

"We need to?" Ron repeated. "Says who?" Dancing? That couldn't lead to anything good. Hermione raised her eyes slightly, looking seriously at him.

"Says every girl I know at this school," she explained shortly before looking back at her notes.

"Where will we get music?" Ron asked desperately, wanting this idea to be shelved and fast. She looked up again, not at him this time, just thinking. She was seriously pondering what he had just said. Victory!

"At the Ball somehow Dumbledore got the Weird Sisters," Hermione recalled. "But that was a big occasion. I doubt we could get them again." Yes! She'd have to give in! "Of course we could try and find a smaller band," Bollocks. "But I honestly don't think we could find a band in Hogsmead" Hoorah! "Why am I even thinking live music? A DJ would be much more practical in this situation." Shi- what?

"What's a geeday?" Ron asked, looking at Hermione like she had grown an extra head.

"Honestly, Ron, you're the one who should have taken Muggle studies!" she exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air with a laugh. "Alright, a DJ. I explained CDs to you once, right? Little Muggle disks with music recorded on them. Well, people use these disks to play music at events like this or on radio stations or whatever. And the people who play music handle these disks and are called disk jockeys, or DJs. Get it?"

"Yes. But, that's Muggle technology. It won't work on Hogwarts grounds," Ron remembered, mentally high fiving himself. Hermione smiled too and sat up to better debate him.

"You finally remembered something I told you about this school! Good for you!" she said sarcastically. "And as to the technology, surely you've heard of Chameleon charms. Making an object that looks and acts like a Muggle object but runs completely off of magic. The Hogwarts Express is one. The Knight Bus is another. Well, recently, someone came up with a CD player with a Chameleon Charm! So, we can play both Muggle CDs and wizard music, as a lot of wizard bands have started recording CDs. Problem solved."

"Where are we going to find a ceejay-"

"DJ"

"-in Hogsmead?" Ron asked, thinking he had surly won. He was about to smirk victoriously, but she beat him to it.

"I don't expect to," she said. "Not in Hogsmead" Ron did smirk at this. "Luckily, I already had someone in mind. My friend Jeremiah told me about her- she's supposed to be one of the best DJs in London. Plus she's a Hogwarts alumna so I bet she'd be glad to come help us out." Ron's smile had long about faded into a defeated frown. Hermione nudged his shoulder. "Come on, why are you so against this?" she coaxed. "It'll be fun! Everyone'll have a ball! Oh, wait," she stopped, thinking of something. She grinned once more, mischievously. "You don't know how do dance, do you?" she asked. Ron looked up sharply at this, shock and disbelief written over his face.

"Of course I can dance!" he defended hotly causing Hermione to laugh.

"Are you sure?" she asked. "Because I never saw you dance at the Yule Ball. I think you just didn't want to embarrass yourself."

"I can dance," he proclaimed again. "I didn't dance at the Yule Ball because I was too preoccupied wanting to punch Viktor 'dumb-as-a-monkey' Krum in his ugly nose" Hermione blushed as she remembered this then sent a look that screamed 'prove-it'. "Stand up," he demanded, doing so himself.

"What?" she asked. He extended a hand to her.

"Stand up," he repeated. She took his hand and pulled herself to her feet. Immediately, he pulled her against him, trying to ignore the heat brought by the nearness. He placed a hand on her waist and she brought hers to his shoulder. "What shall we start with? A waltz?" He didn't wait for her response, but began the easy movements of that dance, leading her around the big oak tree. After a minute of that he interrupted their dance. "How about a tango?" he suggested, again starting that more sultry dance without waiting for a response. Hermione laughed and blushed (especially during low dips when his hand found its way to her leg) but she had no problem following him. After a few minutes of tango, Hermione got a mischievous look in her eye.

"How about swing?" she suggested with a sly smirk. Ron smiled at her, responding by changing the dance again into the easy moves of a basic swing. After a few moments of getting comfortable, Ron spun her easily and she followed gracefully. They danced to the music in their heads and with each move they tested each other, trying to find the limit to their skill. At last, Ron decided to try an easy toss. That was when their dance fell apart. Literally. Hermione didn't get up enough momentum and toppled to the ground, bringing Ron with her. They lay together, laughing in the cool October grass. Her head was resting on his chest with her body a perpendicular angle from his. Ron was glad about that, or else he just might have to kiss her again, and that was what had started this whole mess. As their laughter died, she looked up at him.

"Okay, so you can dance," she ceded. "Why don't you want there to be a dance?"

This is why, he thought. I don't think I could stand this closeness if it isn't real. But, as he lay there, basking in their nearness, Ron forgot why. Being with her erased the fear of being with her. He smiled warmly.

"I just thought it was kinda dumb," he lied. "But, I suppose, if all the girls in the school really want it... we can do it."

"Like you could have stopped me!" Hermione shot back at his 'allowance.' They laughed again, and before he could stop himself, he brushed her hair behind her ear. Then he saw it.

At first he thought it was just a shadow. But shadows weren't usually red like that. He brushed the spot lightly, the skin of her neck soft beneath his fingers.

"What's that?" he asked softly. Her hand went to the spot his hand had just been, her eyes wide for a moment. She sat up, brushing her hair over her shoulder to hide the spot.

"It's nothing," she muttered then quickly stood. "I just remembered I have somewhere to be. I'll take care of getting the DJ and arranging the dance. You start asking around for volunteers to help with the booths. Remember, only seventh year students can help. Otherwise, ask teachers or people who live in Hogsmead." She said that all very fast while gathering her things. She finished that and, with a small wave, hurried back to the castle.

It wasn't nothing. That spot was definitely something. He had seen it before on almost all of his brothers. They called it a 'hicky' and it was usually accompanied by some story of conquest. Ron stared mournfully at the retreating form of his friend, a sinking suspicion settling in his stomach.

-----

As Halloween quickly approached, life got a lot more hectic for the Head Boy and Girl. One of the only times they had to relax came with their Monday 'Hang with Prof Ross' time. It was always great to be able to hang out with not only their teacher, but the students of their year from other houses. A lot of the time they sat around telling funny stories and reminiscing about their time at Hogwarts. Ron wished an occasion like this had come up earlier: most of these kids were really interesting. It was mostly the Ravenclaws that Ron didn't know. There were four new to him in this class, two (Terry Boot and Su Li) who seemed kind of uptight, and two (Kevin Entwhistle and Lisa Turpin) who reminded him of the twins. Along with them were Padma Patil and Ginny's ex-beau Michael Corner. Three Hufflepuffs, Ernie, Justin and Hannah, he had already been friends with, but there were two others who seemed really nice. Sally-Anne Parks and Rebecca Moon were the Hufflepuff equivalent of Parvait and Lavender; pretty and always ready to gossip. The Slytherins Ron already knew on a rival basis but not as anything else. Pansy and Blaise were as void of personality as he had originally thought, but were good at listening to people they thought were cool. Malfoy had, indeed, gotten more clever over the summer and was actually funny from time to time. And, true to their first observation, he had didn't make a single 'Mudblood' comment. They had stopped finding it strange.

What they did find strange was his actions on one of these Monday sessions. Professor Ross had out his guitar and was busy being admired. Ron was looking longingly at the instrument and teacher.

"I wish I could play the guitar," he admitted. It was true, he felt like the only tone deaf one in the school. "I wish I had a guitar."

Malfoy snorted. "I seriously doubt, Weasley," he drawled in that silky voice he reserved for the lowest insults "that you could affor-" he cut off abruptly at that, a strange look crossing his face. A look of guilt, almost. Ron and Hermione exchanged a look of their own.

"What, Malfoy?" Ron asked. He seemed to return from wherever he had gone and sneered at them.

"I was just thinking," he said in a somewhat strained tone. "I've been tiring out that old insult for almost seven years, if not more. I think it's high time I found a new one, right? How about this for now, Hermione's ugly cat, who I have had the misfortune of seeing (really, woman, that is a ugly cat!), could play better that you. Not to mention that the ugly cat would look better on stage. Though I'm not sure people could tell the difference, what with the similarities in hair color and ugly noses." Malfoy put on a mocking look of thought for a moment, trying to decide if the insult was to his liking. "I suppose that will do for now. I'll think of something better later." he had said all of this somewhat faster than his usual pace and Ron swore there was a pink tinge in his cheeks.

Ron and Hermione stared with utter disbelief as Malfoy turned to talk to that Slytherin witch Blaise. "My cat isn't ugly," Hermione muttered weakly under her breath. Ron was trying to make sense of what he had just heard when Ross began playing a rather familiar sounding sad song. "This was written by a friend of mine back in New York," he heard him say and Hermione gasped. She spun around and said loudly, "Actually, Professor, I had another idea."

"Oh?" Ross said, stopping the song. "What's that?"

"Do you know the band Death Cab for Cutie?"

"Do I know Death Cab," he repeated in an almost mocking tone. "Of course I know Death Cab!"

"Do you know the song A Lack of Color?"

"What do you mean by know?"

"How to play it."

"Yes"

Hermione smiled. "Then wait right here. I'll be back in a moment," she said excitedly, hurrying out of the classroom. She stuck her head back in a second later. "And don't play anything until I get back!"

There was a few moments silence in her wake, then the chatter resumed. Ron walked over to Harry (who had been talking with the Ravenclaws) and began to explain about Malfoy's odd behavior. Just as he finished Hermione bustled back in, this time with her guitar.

Whispers filled the room as she crossed to Ross's desk and plopped onto it, right next to the professor himself. She pulled out her guitar and began to play. He let out a tiny laugh as she did this, shaking his head. She glanced up at him, a playful and almost challenging look in her eye. Ross shook his head again and started playing an accompanying part. Hermione smiled again and began singing.

"And when I see you, I really see you upside down. But my brain knows better, it picks you up and turns you around. Turns you around, turns you around. If you feel discouraged; that there's a lack of color here. Please don't worry lover. It's really bursting at the seams from absorbing everything. The spectrum's a to z."

Up until now, Ross only played, being silent through her singing. It was almost a shock to some when the two of them sang together in a perfect harmony. No words, just "Oh", very pretty sounding. They smiled at each other, then Ross started to sing.

"This fact, not fiction, for the first time in years. And the girls in every girlie magazine can't make me feel any less alone. I'm reaching for the phone." On the last line Hermione had joined again in harmony, then they continued on in such. "To call at 7:03 and on your machine I'd slur a plea for you to come home. But I know it's too late. I should have given you a reason to stay. Given you a reason to stay. Given you a reason to stay. Given you a reason to stay...."

They both stopped singing for a moment, the guitar parts changing to indicate the approach of the end of the song. Hermione looked around the room with a grin. She caught Ron's eye and smiled the smile she saved just for him. Then she sang the final line of the song, looking straight into his eyes they whole time.

"This is fact, not fiction, for the first time in years..."

It was crazy, but for a moment it seem like she was singing it just to him.

The song ended soon after, but Ron didn't notice. Her gaze hadn't wavered from his and it was having a strange effect on him. His chest felt tight and he was having trouble breathing. They were interrupted a moment later when everyone started out of the classroom. Professor Ross must have dismissed them. Hermione looked away with a blush and picked up her bag, hurrying out the door to put away her guitar before heading o the Great Hall. Ron was left to gather his things in a stupor and walk in a daze to dinner.

-----

"So, what's the dirt for today?" Ginny asked at dinner. It was the way she always unwound. She'd ask Parvati and Lavender about the gossip that they uncovered that day. The gossip twins would graciously oblige. Ron, Hermione and Harry (along with a few other Gryffindors) would listen and occasionally add something.

"Today's been kind of slow," Parvati said. "Justin asked Sally-Anne to Hogsmead-"

"Even though he knew she was going with Michael Corner-" Lavender continued.

"Who is supposed to be one of Justin's best friends," Parvati finished.

"But, other than that, it's been pretty slow," Lavender said. Parvati looked thoughtful for a moment, then added, "Hannah said she had a story to tell me, one that had traumatized her, but I'm not sure if that's a worthy lead. Hannah can exaggerate sometimes." Ginny leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table and her chin on her hands thoughtfully.

"Any developments on the teacher/student affair?" she asked. Hermione looked at her.

"What's that?" she asked.

"P and L think that there's a student and a teacher in the school who are 'romantically involved'," Ginny explained. "Haven't you heard?"

Hermione's eyebrows were raised. "No, I haven't," she admitted. "Do you know who it is?"

"Nope, not yet," Lavender said. "All we know is what Ernie and Hannah and a few other Prefects have overheard."

"But we're working on it," Parvati said. "This could be the biggest bit of gossip to hit Hogwarts since.... Sharon Crippe got pregnant in 1990!" Lavender gasped, this obviously meaning something to her, though no one else knew who Sharon Crippe was, nor did they care.

After recovering from her shock at the mention of the be-famed Sharon Crippe, Lavender continued. "We've got the teacher narrowed down. It's not based on anything solid, just a processes of elimination, so best not to mention this. Don't want to spread a lie that could cost a person their job. But..." she lowered her voice and those listening leaned in to hear her. "The most likely candidate (and it's obvious when you think about it) is none other than our favorite new faculty member; Professor Ross." There were a few gasps and giggles and everyone began chatting about this among themselves, returning to their food.

Ron was about to bite into his turkey when he remembered something that was bothering him. He put down the food with a grin. "I've got an interesting story, let's see what you make of this!" With that he conveyed Malfoy's odd actions of that day. "So, what do you think he's up to?"

"Just more of the same," Hermione concluded.

"How do you figure that?" Ron asked. "He was obviously just about to rib me for being poor. He's never had a problem in doing that before. The only change he made this year was that he stopped calling you a Mudblood."

"Yes but you must have noticed he's been a bit more agreeable this year," Hermione continued. "His character has slowly been improving."

"She's right, you know," said Sarah Petters, one of the Quiditch reserves for Gryffindor. "I actually had an intelligent conversation with him in the library the other day. He was actually funny. Really funny. I-nearly-wet-myself funny." A few people at the table chuckled and Hermione grinned at her.

"But, what does that mean?" Ron asked. "Why would he decide that he doesn't want to insult my family anymore?"

"Well, it could be for a number of reasons," Hermione continued. "A, perhaps he finally realized that is a dumb thing to tease a person about. B, he might have remembered that now that he is out of Daddy's good graces he doesn't have any money to speak of, so it's inviting trouble to tease someone else about it. Or.. C." She trailed off after C, not meeting anyone's eyes.

"What's C?" Harry asked.

"Well...." she looked around. "The reason he no longer insults people who have Muggle parents, we've been able to gather, is that he dated a girl with a Muggle parent." She paused, looking around to see if anyone understood. She got a few blank stares. "So, C says that perhaps the reason he doesn't want to insult someone doesn't have much money is that he's dating someone who doesn't." Ginny let out a laugh, causing a few people to stare at her. She shook her head.

"Parvati, Lavender, is Draco Malfoy currently dating anyone?" she asked. The pair shook their heads.

"Not that we know of," Parvati said.

"And we know of a lot," Lavender finished. Ginny looked smugly triumphant.

"So there," she stated with finality. Hermione raised an eyebrow.

"I was just stating a possibility," she said coolly. "One of three if you recall."

"Well, Ginny said, blushing slightly. "Now there's only two."

"Not necessarily," Hermione contradicted, probing Ginny with a thoughtful eye. "Perhaps it isn't someone he's currently dating. Maybe it's a girl he has a crush on. Maybe it's that girl he was dating this summer and he's just made the connection. Maybe he's seeing someone in secret." She sent Ginny a questioning look, causing the girl to blush more.

"That's unlikely," Lavender said. "We make sure it's our business to know everything that goes on at this school. And I can assure you, right now, Malfoy's love life is nonexistent." Hermione turned a sharp eye to her.

"You know everything that goes on at this school," she repeated. "Well, then who is this student you claim is screwing Professor Ross?" Lavender's smile fell. "There's a lot that goes on at this school that you don't know of."

They were quiet for a moment, no one wanting to be the one to break the uncomfortable silence left by those strange exchanges. Luckily no one had to as Sally-Anne Parks came to talk to Hermione. She wanted, like many others to come, to talk about the performance in Defense class. While she went on about how cool the song was, Hermione sent a smile to Ron. Once again, he felt like she was singing just for him.

-----

The final week of October passed in a blur. Somehow everything fell into place and the fair was shaping up to be something students would talk about for a long time. On the evening of the 30th, the night before everything would happen, the Head Boy and Girl were up late in their Common Room, checking and double checking and finalizing everything.

"And you're sure that Mr. Zonko's display won't be too dangerous?" Hermione asked, frantically scanning her notes.

"Positive," Ron told her. "He gave me a preview when I went down there the other day. It'll be great and it'll be safe."

"And Mr. Honeyduke?" she asked, picking up another page of parchment, her brows knitting together even further then they were. "He's still set to have a booth, right? A large one? He didn't change anything at the last minute?" She'd been this way for a while now, very frantic and worried and reviewing all her notes. Ron had seen her get this way around exam time before. He found it wildly entertaining.

"Oh, yes, him" he said seriously, looking over some notes of his own. "Mr. Honeyduke said.... 'I don't want to do this. Stop bothering me. Get out of my shop, you ninny'." Hermione looked up with wide eyes.

"What?!" she exclaimed, looking a little pale. Ron laughed.

"Relax, I'm joking!" he said. "Mr. and Mrs. H are still in all the way and are very excited about judging the costume contest. Loosen up a bit, everything will work out wonderfully!" Hermione blushed slightly, but physically did loosen. She relaxed her shoulders and her brows un-knitted.

"That was a cruel and spiteful joke to play, "she said.

"Ah, yes, perhaps," Ron admitted. "But it got you to relax, so mission accomplished, I say" Hermione rolled her eyes and smiled weakly. "Really, don't worry. I talked to everybody running booths today and they're all still in, and very excited I might add. What about you?" Hermione shuffled her notes, but obviously didn't need them to know her exact status at the moment.

"Everything is set," she said with a smile. "The booths are here and set up for the most part. Cosette is coming up form London as we speak. She'll arrive in Hogsmead tonight. The only thing that isn't completed- and this is why the booths are only up for the most part- is the decorations. My committee for that is in the Room of Requirement right now, working on that. I should go check on them," she said, starting to get up.

"Hermione!" Ron said quickly, grabbing her hand to keep her from standing. "You left Susan in charge of that. She can handle this. Just relax!" As he said this he rubbed her hand slightly with his thumb. She smiled at him and sat back down. Their eyes locked and a familiar feeling came over him. now or never he thought. "Hermione?"

"Yeah?" her voice seemed smaller than usual and her eyes were probing his in a strange new fashion.

"I... ummm," he started. His throat was suddenly tight and his mouth was dry. "It's just.... I.." he stared out the window to escape her gaze. It was pitch night out there. "It's late," he said. Hermione looked to the window too, nodding. "We should probably get to bed. We've got a busy day tomorrow." 'Coward!' his mind shouted at him as they headed for the stairs. 'Coward, coward, coward!' "About tomorrow!" he blurted out quickly and without thinking.

"What about it?" Hermione asked, turning to him, looking a little worried. Did she think it was more about the plans? She couldn't....

"I was... wondering..." he began, his tongue suddenly made of lead. "if you... would maybe... want to go with me." Hermione raised an eyebrow.

"I thought we were going together," she stated. "you, me and Harry, like always." Ron stared at her for a moment. She didn't get what he was asking. He had to laugh, at least smile at that, and took her hand again.

"No, I mean go with me," he elaborated, waving his arm to emphasize the word go. "To Hogsmead, to the fair, dancing, whatever."

"You mean... like a ... a date?" she asked timidly. She was taken aback, he noticed, and immediately took it as another rejection. His face fell with disappointment and he tried to hide the blush creeping across it.

"Yes.. But, of course if you don't want to go, I understand," he said quickly.

"No, no, it's not like that-"

"Oh, I know!" he said, shaking his head, angry that he hadn't thought of this before. "I've done it again, like at the Yule Ball. I've waited to long and you've already got another date-"

"No, Ron, it isn't-"

"Just forget I-"

He was cut off again as she stood on tiptoe and brushed her lips against his cheek. He stopped dead, staring at her.

"Ron, will you shut up for a minute," she asked and he nodded dumbly. "I would love to go into Hogsmead with you tomorrow on a date." It took a moment for the words to sink in, but when they did, he smiled broadly.

"Really?" he asked, a bit louder and more excited than he had meant to. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Yes, really, you dummy," she said, giving him another smile. "Now, I am a bit tired. I think I'm going to bed." She reached up once again and kissed his cheek. "Goodnight, Ron."

"Goodnight," he said softly. As she walked up the stairs, logic set back in and he was suddenly worried. "Hermione?" She turned back to him and he had to wait for his heart to start back up before he could continue. "Um... what exactly does going to Hogsmead together entail?" She laughed lightly and walked back to him.

"Well, we'll walk around together," she explained. "Maybe you'll hold my hand. But it'll just be the two of us. I guess Harry will have to find someone else to hang out with."

"I really don't think he'll mind," Ron observed. "He's become rather popular lately."

"You've noticed that too, eh?" Hermione agreed. "I wonder what that's about."

"Who knows."

"I'd like to think it's just Harry finally coming out of his shell or something."

"But it's Harry, so it'll never be that simple."

"Nope. He'll have some deep psychological reason behind it."

"Of course."

They shared a smile and Hermione returned to her explanation. "When we go to the fair, we'll dance. I'm looking forward to that, you've proven to be a pretty good dancer. And maybe," she stepped closer as she said this. She was very, very close to him now. "Just maybe." She stood on tiptoe, "I'll let you kiss me again." Her lips were tantalizingly close to his- so close he could feel her breath mingling with his. He smiled slightly.

"What makes you think you can stop me?" he slurred, snaking a hand around her waist, and closed the distance between them.

Then, in a moment that lasted forever, they stood kissing at the bottom of the stairs and everything was right.

-----

Somehow, Ron made it up to his dorm. He had expected everyone to be asleep already, but there was Harry at the window, a piece of parchment in his hands.

"Hey Harry," he greeted, a stupid grin still plastered to his face. "You're up late." Harry nodded solemnly in response. Ron crossed the room and sat on the window next to him. "What's that?" he asked, motioning to the parchment.

"Letter," Harry said. His voice seemed soft and shaken.

"Who from?" Ron asked with concern.

"A girl," Harry explained, looking sadly at the parchment. Ron raised and eyebrow and Harry looked back up, shaking his head. "Not like that, not a girl. A girl, an actual little girl, a child. She's about eight years old." Ron raised the other eyebrow now.

"Why are you getting letters from eight year olds?" he asked skeptically. Harry was quiet for a moment, as if trying to gather the right words.

"Because I saved her," he finally said, in that soft voice. He looked once again at the paper. "And because I'm still saving her." He sighed. "She was one of those missions we went on this summer. Her parents were marked by Voldemort, and one night we heard that they were going to follow through with their plans. By the time we got there her parents... were gone. It was too late, there was nothing we could do for them. But they had saved her for last. I hate to think why, what they might have wanted to do to her. Some of those guys are real sickos- worst than the rest. Well, me and Lupin and Tonks burst in and they take on the two biggest guys- there were three Death Eaters there- and they tell me to take care of the girl. So I Stun the guy- he wouldn't be down for long, I knew- and I grabbed her. Carried her into another room and hid her in the closet there. Barely a minute later the guy comes in and we fight and I somehow manage to knock him out. I went to check on Lupin and Tonks and one of the guys they were fighting is dead. That in itself would be okay except for one thing. Voldemort blames the loss of this guy- a favorite of his, I guess- on Tory. Now he's marked her to be killed and damnitall, she's just eight years old!" He paused to regain his train of thought. "So, she was sent into hiding. She had no other family, so we found a place and Tonks and a few others take turns looking after her. And it's safe there, we can be sure, because Dumbledore used the Fidelus Charm.... That's how I'm still saving her life. I'm her Secret Keeper." He trailed off there, his story seeming to be over.

"What's the letter say?" Ron asked.

"That's she's lonely," Harry said. "That she misses me. That.. I'm her hero, true and real. That's how she said it, too." He pointed at a line of the childish scrawl.

"I no evryone liks yoo and sais yoor a hero, but they dont reely no yoo. But I no yoo, and I can reely say it. Yoor my hero, Hary, tru and reel!"

Ron smiled down at the page. "Why's that got you looking like your cat just died?" he asked, looking at a doodle of Harry dressed at the Muggle hero Superman, holding a little girl's hand.

"I was just thinking-"

"Oh no! Did it hurt?" Ron joked, covering his moth in mock fear. Harry rolled his eyes.

"Ha ha," he replied. "I was thinking: What is she going to do when this is all over? Right now it's all well and good, with people watching over her. But what about when I kill Voldemort-" Harry had, of late, been quite optimistic in his thinking. It was no longer and if to him- "What'll she have then? She's got no family. What does she have to count on?"

Ron laughed slightly. Being only a few moments from the center of the universe- from her lips and from a place where everything was right- had given him incredible insight. "I thought that much would be obvious," he stated. "She'll have you. You'll be her foster-uncle or something. But you'll be her family. And since she'll be your family, you can bet she'll be our family. The extended Weasley clan! You don't need red hair and freckles to join. And, with our help, you both will be fine."

Harry smiled gratefully at him. "Thanks," he said. "When did you get so smart?"

"Don't ask me!" Ron rebutted, throwing up his hands. "I think I've been spending too much time with Hermione. Now, stop pining, we've got to get to bed." As they prepared to sleep, Ron remembered the big news he had. "Oh, Harry?"

"Hm?"

"Well, you wouldn't feel abandoned if Hermione and I wanted to hang out just the two of us in Hogsmead tomorrow, would you?" he asked. Harry sent him a curious look from his bed.

"Why would you do that?" he asked.

"Because we find you an insufferable bore," Ron responded, perfectly deadpan. Harry raised an eyebrow. "Well, that or we're going on a date." Ron could hear his friend smiling from across the room.

"Finally?" Harry said. Ron smiled. It had been a long time coming, hadn't it? Ron laid back and stared up, painting pictures on the red curtains of his four poster, all involving the girl who had enraptured his mind.

"Wait," Harry said, interrupting Ron's daydream. He opened his curtains and looked out. "Is this just one date or are you officially dating?"

"It's just one date," Ron said skeptically. "But, what does it matter."

"It doesn't" Harry said with a smile. "Night!" With that, he closed his curtains. Ron returned to staring at the pictures on his curtains.

Tomorrow really was shaping up to be a good day.

-------------

There it is, my friends. Fluffs galore! So now, to thank the reviewers. First.. thanks to everyone who reviewed( because I can't respond to every single one)... but special thanks to:

Behkie: I think that was the greatest review I have ever gotten... One of those two will happen, so don't worry!

Yeah... Well, I'm going to be a good little authoress and get to typing chapter eight.

Cheers!