Chapter 2

"Welcome, students, to another year of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!" Dumbledore announced as soon as the Sorting was over. He gave his usual speech and announced the start of dinner as food appeared across the table.

Dean looked across the Gryffindor Table at Ginny. She's so cute, he thought. Why haven't I noticed her before?

"Hey Seamus, what do ya think of Ginny this year?" he asked. "She's hot."

Seamus choked. "Are you kidding me?! Ron's little sister? He'll beat you up and cook you into a pie!"

Dean smirked. "I'd like to see Ron try and beat me up." He got up and walked over to Ginny. Across the table, Ron watched suspiciously.

"Hi, Ginny." Dean smiled. "I was wondering...well, we're both in Gryffindor, and we see each other all the time. I was wondering if you wanted to do something about it and go to Hogsmeade with me today?"

Ron stood up and threw his spoon down. "WHAT?! DEAN, LEAVE MY SISTER ALONE!"

Ginny looked at her brother and glared at him. She turned her back on her brother and said, "Sure, Dean. I'd love too." Then, she turned back in her seat and looked at Ron.

Ron stared at Dean menacingly, then turned to Ginny. "GINNY! I don't want you to go with Dean! Stay away from him! I mean it!"

Ginny said, "Don't tell me what to do, Ron."

"I know Dean! I know him a lot better than you do, and I'm telling you to stay away from him!" Ron ordered, stamping his foot.

Ginny wrinkled her brow and in a confident voice, said, "Ron. I am 16. I DON'T need you to tell me who to date and how to act! I'M 16, OK?! WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO GET THAT THROUGH YOUR HEAD?" She picked up her plate of food and went to sit next to Dean.

Shocked at his little sister's outburst, Ron sat down and stared at his peas.

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"Well, Dumbledore told me that since I'm 17, I don't need to stay with the Dursleys anymore," he explained to Ron.

"I've got that, Harry. But don't you think, ya know, you should stay with them anyway? I mean, they've got that whole protection thing, don't they?"

"You try living with the Dursleys, and let's see what you think then!" Harry replied.

Hermione looked over at Ron. He was sitting on the other side of Harry, so he didn't have to look at her.

"Ron, could you pass the turkey?" she asked. Quickly, Ron grabbed the turkey and pushed it across the table, not looking up from his plate of chicken. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Oh, for heaven's sake, Ron! I know you like me, and you know I like you! So just hurry up and ask me out!!"

Ron didn't look up. "Just leave me alone, 'Mione."

Hermione sighed quickly. "I've had enough!" In one swift motion, she leaned over Harry and pulled Ron toward her, planting a long, soft kiss on his lips. Ron's eyes popped open. When Hermione released him, Ron started to turn redder than a tomato. But still, he remained silent.

"Uh...am I in the way?" Harry asked, stifling a laugh.

Hermione stared at Ron. "Well?!"

Ron finally looked at her in the eyes and said, "Hermione, I don't want to talk about this. Just leave me alone!"

Harry interrupted, "Since when are you so shy about girls, Ron? You're usually climbing mountains to get to a girl you like."

Hermione bit her lip. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes. "Fine," she declared, her voice cracking. Blinking back tears, she got up, slung her book bag over her shoulder, and stormed out of the Great Hall.

Harry looked at Ron in disbelief. "Hello?! This was your chance! She kissed you, and you just let her get away?"

"Wha...how did you know I liked her?" Ron demanded.

Harry laughed. "Uh, hello? It's only the most obvious thing in the world! I'm surprised Hermione just figured it out last year, seeing as she's the smartest witch of our age!"

Ron's heart started to sink. "She knew??" he asked.

Harry stared at him. "Duh! And she liked you too! She talked to me about you almost constantly. It was sickening. Why else would she kiss you?!"

"I thought she was making fun of me!" Ron smacked his forehead. "Why didn't you tell me?!" he demanded.

Harry smiled and turned back to his potatoes. "Didn't want to get involved." he said simply.

Ron turned to look at the door of the Great Hall, guilt filling his heart.

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Upstairs in the girl's dormitory, Hermione sobbed into her pillow. She put a silencing charm around the bed and drew the curtains so no one could hear her cry.

"S-Stop it, Hermione," she urged herself. "He's just a stupid, ugly old wart. I don't even like him all that much." At this comment, she burst into tears. She couldn't say the words aloud, even to herself. She knew it wasn't true.

Why am I making such a huge deal out of this? she thought. Do I really like him this badly?

She heard people piling in the common room. Oh great, she thought. I can't stay up here. I'm a prefect. Sniffling, she took out a tissue and blew her nose. Then she wiped her eyes, hoping they didn't look as puffy as they felt. She drew back the curtains and got up.

Taking one deep breath to try and calm herself, she went downstairs to the Common Room.

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"Pass a couple of butterbeers over here!" Harry yelled. The Gryffindors were celebrating the first day of Hogwarts. Harry grabbed two bottles and sat down next to Ron, whose arms were resting on his knees and hands holding up his chin.

"Here, have a butterbeer. It'll make you feel better," Harry tried.

"No, thanks," Ron said, and pushed it away.

Harry sighed. "Ron, I know you feel like you ruined your life, but think about it. You like her. And she likes you back. Do you know the odds of that happening?! You're really lucky right now!"

"I made her cry, Harry," he replied sadly.

"Well, you can make it up to her! Talk to her! It's not completely over." Harry took a sip of his butterbeer and sat back in his chair.

"If you guys aren't going to do anything about this, then do I have to get you two together?" Harry asked. Ron shrugged. Harry looked around and saw Hermione coming down the stairs, her eyes red and cheeks stained.

"Look. There she is. I'm gonna get her over here, and then you do whatever you want." He cupped his hands around his mouth and called her. "Hermione!"

Hermione looked up and saw Harry motioning for her to go over. She sighed. "Well, if I don't have to talk to Ron..." She walked over and sat next to Harry.

"Hi Harry," she said.

"Hi. Listen, could you watch my butterbeer? I'm going to go unpack my things."

Hermione stuttered, "Well...actually-"

"Thanks." Harry winked to Ron, and got up to leave.

Hermione sighed and turned away from Ron. They sat there silently for a few minutes. Ron was trying to build up the courage to say something, even though he knew how mad she was. He looked at her. "Uh...Hermione? Are you ok..." Ron stopped as he realized that he wasn't going to get an answer from her.

"Hermione, I'm sorry about today, I just...I didn't know you..." When Hermione still didn't answer, he sat next to her and turned her face toward his.

"Hermione, what I'm trying to say, is...well..." Ron sighed again. "Look, this isn't easy for me, but, I...er...I want to be your boyfriend...if, uh, that's ok." Ron took a breath, glad to be able to get that off his chest. Hermione turned around and said coldly, "It's ok, Ron. If you don't want to, you don't have to just to make me feel better."

Ron stared at Hermione. Is that what she thinks? I'm doing this to make her feel better? Hermione started to get up, but Ron touched her arm. "Hermione!" Taking a huge breath, he took her chin in his hand and pulled it toward his own. Closing his eyes, he kissed her softly on the lips.

"Uh...that was for before...when you kissed me and I didn't kiss you back." Ron looked at his feet, not knowing exactly what to expect. When Hermione didn't smile, he thought he'd gone too far.

"Listen, Hermione, sorry about that, but—"

Hermione fell onto Ron and kissed him deeply, making him fall back on the couch. They kissed, and kissed, and kissed again, playing with each other's tongues. The area between Hermione's legs started to throb, and Ron's pants felt as if they were about to rip. Ron held Hermione with one arm and ran his fingers through her soft curls. Hermione held Ron's face and felt her heart lighten. She was so happy. She didn't care how or how long they kissed, and she didn't care that other Gryffindors were pointing and giggling. She just kept her lips on Ron's.

When they finally broke apart, they looked at each other. Ron smiled and said, "I'm not done yet!" He leaned in towards her, but Hermione stopped him. She said, "Ron...we've only been together less than ten minutes. Don't you think we should...you know...slow down?"

Ron sighed. "No, but I guess we ought to." Hermione laughed at the disappointment in his voice. "God, Ron, what happened to that shy and embarrassed boy?"

Ron raised his eyebrows and said, "That's before I knew you liked me back!" Giving her one last, long kiss, he went up to the dormitory.

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Ginny walked over to Dean and sat down. "Hey," she said coolly.

Dean grinned. "Ginny!" He leaned in to give her a kiss, but Ginny turned her head, and he got her ear instead.

"Dean, all I said was I'd go to Hogsmeade with you." Ginny said. She sighed. She didn't really like Dean. She only went out with him to show his brother she could make her own decisions.

"Ok, ok! I'll wait until you're ready, then." Dean sighed. "Come upstairs with me. I want to show you something." He got up and offered his hand to her.

Ginny reluctantly got up and took his hand. They started towards the dormitory, but Dean suddenly grabbed Ginny's arm and pulled her into another room.

"Dean! Dean, what are we doing in here?"

"Nothing," Dean replied.

"Well, I don't want to stay in here. I'm going out." Ginny said, and reached for the door. She tried to turn the handle, but it was locked. Furrowing her brows, she got out her wand.

"Alohamora." Still, the door wouldn't budge. She was starting to get scared. "Dean," she said seriously. "Dean, let me out."

"Oh, I will." Dean smirked, then grabbed her blouse in a handful and threw it to the ground. He covered her mouth so she couldn't yell out, and pulled her skirt off. Ginny screamed, but it was muffled in Dean's hand. He pulled off her underwear and bra. Then Dean tore off his own clothes and held Ginny down. Ginny kicked and yelled, but Dean was much stronger than her. Quickly, Dean thrust himself into her. Ginny yelled in pain, but he didn't stop. He was breathing heavily, and moved himself inside her.

"Dean," Ginny whimpered. "Dean. Dean, please! Please stop!" Dean ignored her and started it again, harder. Ginny started to cry.

"HELP ME! STOP, DEAN!" she yelled when Dean wasn't covering her mouth. Dean rolled his eyes and stood up. He put his clothes back on and walked out the door, leaving Ginny on the floor, crying.

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Upstairs in the boys' dormitory, Ron jumped on the bed and grinned.

Harry laughed. "Well, I'm guessing things went well with Hermione."

Ron smiled widely. "Harry, we kissed! We kissed and I've never felt so happy in my life!"

"You kissed already? Your not waiting for anything, are you?" Harry raised his eyebrows.

"Shut up, Harry." He sighed. "I thought she hated me. Then the next minute, we're lying on the couch, making out!"

Harry made a disgusted face. "I don't want details about my best friends' sexual relationships."

Ron laughed and flopped back onto his bed. He couldn't have been happier.