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Wishful Thinking

"Ron?'

"What, Hermione?"

"Do you think Harry's mad?"

"Why would he be mad?"

"Because we're never around after classes? He seemed quite upset yesterday when I got back."

"He's fine, 'Mione."

"Ron, don't call me that."

Ron grinned. "Sorry, 'M-Hermione."

I smiled and put down my quill. "Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure. I said it, didn't I?"

"No, Harry."

Ron sighed. "I don't know what's going on with Harry. Ever since Sirius died, he hasn't been the same. Only when he plays Quidditch. But don't fret about him, Hermione. He'll get better, and you have other things to worry about."

I looked down at the floor, folding my hands in my lap. "I just feel, guilty-"

"Hermione, it's not your fault. If you're so worried, go up and tell him yourself."

"I-he's probably already asleep," I told him. I didn't want to leave, to tell you the unaltered truth.

"Okay," Ron said, turning back to his homework.

I wrote out the last few lines of my Arithmancy essay and blew gently on the parchment before putting the quill and inkbottle back in my bag. I lay back in my chair and sighed into the fire.

"Hermione?"

"Yes, Ron?"

"I-er-was wondering…"

"Do you need help?" I asked eagerly, turning around to face him.

"Yes. There's this, well…"

"Essay? Class?"

"No, um, girl."

I laughed, but at the sight of Ron's face, clapped a hand over my mouth. "Yes, Ron?"

"Well, I think I like this girl, but don't know if she likes me back," he confessed. It looked as if he'd gotten a lot off his chest.

"Okay, who is she?"

Ron blushed. "I-I can't tell you."

I frowned. "Well how am I supposed to know-"

"Can you just tell me how to find out?"

"Besides asking her?" I asked sarcastically.

"Yeah."

"Well, just look over at her a lot. If she's looking at you as much as you are at her, then she probably-probably, likes you too." The words were strangely hard to get out. I finally realized where this was leading, in my case at least.

"But I've done that, and she's too focused in class-"

"Ah ha! So, she's in our year. Which class?"

"Er, most of them-"

"So a Gryffindor?"

"Yes."

I cast about for the girls in our year and in Gryffindor. "Parvati? Lavender? Um, who else is there, really? So, it's one of them?"

"Nooo," Ron said slowly. He had this look in his eyes like he knew I wouldn't guess.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Who?"

"I can't tell you."

I stood up and began pacing. "Well, I guess if you wanted her to know you liked her you could tell her, or send her a note, or I guess you could drop hints, or flirt, I suppose…"

"What if I surprised her?"

"What is that suppose to mean?" I asked, turning around for the fourth time and walking briskly to the opposite side of the wall.

"I don't know, a surprise."

"Like what, Ron?"

"I don't know! Just, something quick. Very quick."

I rolled my eyes and turned again. "Something qu-Ronald Weasley do not embarress her because she will hate you for the rest of your life!"

Ron laughed. "I'll catch her alone."

"Don't leave without her knowing who it was."

"Okay."

"Don't say, 'guess who' or anything stupid like that." I turned and saw Ron stand up and stretch as he said, "Yep."

"Please don't hurt her because she won't like that."

"Check."

"You have to ask her out afterwards."

"Why?"

"Because otherwise, she'll think you're a mad man. Someone out to haunt her."

Ron laughed. "I'm not a mad man."

"I know that. But really, can't you tell me who it is?"

"No."

"Fine. Can you tell me what it is you're planning to do?"

"I don't know yet."

"Ron!"

Ron turned red and I sighed.

"Well, I was thinking about giving her a, kiss," he said quite mischieviously.

"What! Ron!"

"Well, I was!"

I grinned. "How are you going to make a kiss quick?"

"I dunno."

I turned away from him and began to pace again, certain that I'd be able to figure out who he was talking about.

"If it isn't Parvati, Padma? Ron, is it Padma?"

I felt his hands touch my shoulders and then he turned me around and kissed me quickly. Then he stepped away and said, "Like that."

I almost swore he scared me so bad. "Ronald Weasley! How dare you!" Though through my scolding, I was truly melting.

"That's what I'm going to do, when she least expects it," he said with a grin.

I sighed. "If I'm going to be your guniea pig, you've got to tell me who it is."

"You have to guess," he said.

"Ron!"

He shook his head.

"Fine. Padma Patil?"

"No."

"Lavender?"

"No."

I'd gone through nearly every girl in our year when I said, "Who Ron! There's no one left so you're lying!"

"There's one more girl," Ron said quietly looking me straight in the eye with a grin on his face.

I frowned, then it dawned on me. "You mean, m-"

Ron kissed me again, not as quickly.

I pulled away. "Why?"

"I don't know. She's beautiful, smart, amusing, perfect."

I blushed furiously. "Ron."

"But you are, Hermione," he whispered. "Who do you like, Hermione?"

I smiled and almost said, 'you, Ron' but stopped and said, "You have to guess."

"Is he good looking?" He grinned.

"Yes. And amusing."

"And charming?"

I nodded.

"Does he like you, Hermione?" Ron asked, putting his arms around my waist.

"I think so," I murmered.

"Ah, does he have red hair?"

I laughed and kissed Ron.

When I released him, he asked, "Will you do that again?"

"Only if you promise not to laugh."

"Why would I laugh while you're kissing me?"

I grinned. "I don't know."

I kissed him again and put my hands around his neck. Then I began to run my fingers across his shoulders, very lightly.

Ron began to laugh. While he was kissing me.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps descending the girls' staircase and a loud beeping noise.

"How do you shut this thing up!?!?!" Parvati yelled in my ear.

I sat up and rubbed my eyes, surprised to see myself in the girls' dormitory, in my own bed, not Ron's arms.