Disclaimer: Not mine, hers

Ron was feeling a little odd. Hermione was coming back from the Canaries today, and he didn't know what to think. He was, of course, happy that his friend was coming back, and of course, he loved her, but on the other hand, he loved her. That was bound to make things awkward. Yes he could imagine it now…

Ron: Oh Hermione! I'm so glad you're back! Oh, and by the way, I love you.

Hermione: Oh. Well. Ron…I don't love you. I'm very sorry, but I don't know if we can even be friends any longer. Oh, and have you met 'Jeff'? I met him on the Islands and we're very happy together…Good Bye."

Oh God, that would be really bad. Damn, what to do…?

"Ron!" Harry called. "Hermione's going to be here in ten minutes! You should probably come down now!"

"I'll be down in a second!" he called back, not really meaning it. He would probably just stay here until Hermione went up to her rooms for the night.

"Ron Weasley!" Ginny called up in an excellent imitation of their mother. "If you don't come down in ten seconds I am going to hex you into the middle of next week! Do you hear? Hermione's coming back and you are going to be the first to greet her! You hear?" Ron heard. He scrambled quickly down the stairs, muttering about how certain sisters should mind their own business.

When he got down to the Common Room, Ginny smiled, no trace of the explosion on her sweetly smiling face. Ron slumped into a chair by the portrait hole, nervous. As Harry and Ginny chattered on about how they loved each other and how they were happy that Hermione was going to be back, Ron realized that the fluttery feeling inside him was getting stronger. The small flock of butterflies had now turned into a whole herd of hippogriffs. The portrait door opened, and a small, browned face popped in…Colin's.

"Hi Harry!" he beamed. Ron let out a huge breath, for a moment he had thought it might be Hermione. As Harry tried to shake off Colin, Ron notice the portrait open again, this time more quietly. Hermione peeked in, face tanned and happy, with just a trace of nervousness. Ron's heart leapt, she was here, bushy hair and all. All uneasiness gone now, he ran to Hermione and gave her a big bear hug.

"Hi Ron! How are you? Er…Ron? Ron? Can you let go of me? I can't breathe." Ron let go of her, reluctantly. He never noticed before, but she smelled really good, like new books and blueberries. Harry, finally managing to get away from his one-person fan club, came over to greet Hermione too, Ginny not far behind. After many minutes of "Hello-ing" and asking how each other were, the four Gryfindor's on the floor by the fire. Hermione then pulled out the presents she had gotten for her friends. Harry loved the Canary flag shirt she had gotten for him, and Ginny immediately went into squeals of joy at the photos which Hermione had gotten her, leaving Harry very disgruntled.

"And lastly, Ron, I got you a T-Shirt that I think you'll like," Hermione grinned, taking out a plastic wrapped T-Shirt. Slowly he unwrapped it and shook it out, reading the words slowly, a grin spreading across his face. Laughing, he showed Harry what it said, causing his friend to break out into laughter.

"Thanks 'Mione!" he grinned, slipping the T-Shirt on over his uniform white shirt. Ginny, glancing up from her bundle of photographs, spluttered when she saw the words on her older brothers shirt. It was black, and a bit loose on his scrawny frame. In the middle were fuzzed out white words saying "Too Much Sex Makes Your Eyes Go Fuzzy" (thanks ezza!) Then, Ron did something that surprised both him and Hermione. He kissed her. On the lips. They weren't soft, they were all chapped from the plane flight. But it was still nice to be kissing them. After his mind came to, he realized that Hermione was kissing him back, not a lot, but softly. He pulled back, both surprised and elated that she didn't slap him or hex him.

"Um, Hermione?" he stuttered. "I know this is a bit late, but, I really like you, like, like like you. In fact I'm in love with you." Ron blushed heavily.

"Oh, um, Ron. I-I'm in love with you too." He looked up, Hermione was smiling, looking a little uncomfortable but he didn't care. Hermione loved him too! Life was good and he was young and in love. Leaning forward, he grabbed Hermione around the waist and planted a big kiss on her lips. He was vaguely aware of Harry and the other clapping and cheering, but all that mattered was that he and Hermione were together. As they finally stood up to go to dinner, Harry slapped him on the back.

"It took you long enough!" he exclaimed, and Ron smiled and took Hermione's hand in his, and the two walked off to dinner, young and in love.

And its finished! Aren't you proud of me? I'm sorry that this last chapter took so long, but a lot of stuff has happened, including the Troll of Writer's Block sitting on my brain for weeks on end. But, with the arrival of an "I Love Ron" T-Shirt, the lovely Fairy of Inspiration came and helped me finish the story. I hope that it has lived up to your expectations. Also, i know that in the past i might have seemed ungrateful for my many reviewers, so i will now thank all of you.

I love:

INeedAnOwl

Tabitha78

ezza

Pia O'Leary

Sehila

KClover319

Pengora

lttlmisschica5

Bhekie

gossiper

M.Anne

DecayingRachelSlaughter

isnani

Chrismukkah-hunnie

Ilovetheweasleys

annasmit

a

Adnama

Concealed

Original Mercedes Benz

thehalfbloodprincess

Piya

Lily

B.M.S.G

cherokeegirl47

Hermione Lovegood

Kalasin

hp-roxZ-mAjor-soxZ

also, "some dude" next time you leave a comment for someone, could you please leave some constructive critisicm. I would understand if you thougth that Ron was too out of character, or if you thought Harry was stupid, but calling it crap does nothing. Thank you. Anyway, all journeys must come to an end, and this journey has

ENDED