Harry and Ron headed up the stairs to their bedroom, followed closely by Hermione and Ginny. Once they reached the platform for Harry and Ron's room the girls climbed again to get to their rooms. "So what's going on with you and Hermione?" Harry asked, "Anything I should know about?"
"I really like her Harry, but I'm scared to tell her. What if she doesn't feel the same way?" Ron questioned.
"From the way things looked between the two of you in the car, I'd say you have nothing to worry about. I think she fancies you, mate," Harry answered.
"Well, you think I should ask her out sometime?"
"Definitely, but soon."
"Okay, I think I will. Now I just have to work up the guts to actually do it," Ron replied.
"You haven't stopped staring at Ron the entire way from Harry's aunt and uncle's house. Is there something between the two of you? Or are you all of a sudden interested in everything he says?" Ginny asked Hermione when they reached their room.
They collapsed on the bed, Hermione saying, "Well, I think I might like Ron. I know it probably sounds weird to you since he's your brother, but I really like him."
"Really? I always thought you liked Harry. I never would have guessed it would be Ron."
"Harry is only a friend, my best friend. Plus, I think he may be taken, although he doesn't know it yet," Hermione answered, winking at Ginny.
"What are you talking about? I don't like Harry if that's what you're trying to say. He's my brother's best friend, nothing more."
"I see the way you look at him, and he's always protecting you. He never lets any guys come by you. He's even worse than your own brothers."
"You think so? Okay, I'll admit it. I've been infatuated with Harry since I first saw him on the platform when I was ten. But I always thought it would go away. I never realized that he might actually like me too."
"So tell him. Let him know how you feel."
"Maybe I will. And why don't you take your own advice and tell Ron how you feel? It'd be better than wandering around trying to ignore the fact that you like him."
"Fine. Let's both let the guys we want know that we want them," Hermione stated confidently.
The girls walked downstairs to find the guys walking out of their bedroom. Hermione nudged Ginny, glancing between Ginny and Harry. "What?" Ginny asked.
"Well, are you going to do it? Talk to him," Hermione whispered in her ear.
"I don't know. I don't think I can," Ginny answered.
"Just do it!"
"Harry," Ginny said, directing her gaze towards Harry, "Would you come out back with me? I think Hermione wants to talk to Ron alone." Ginny emphasized the last word loudly, then smiling at Hermione, bounded down the stairs, Harry right behind her, giving Ron and Hermione a glance as he left.
"What was that all about?" Harry asked.
"Hermione had to talk to Ron about certain feelings she's been having."
"Did she tell you she liked him?"
"Yes, but she's afraid that he doesn't like her. I told her that he does because of the way he's been acting around her, but she doesn't believe me. Do you know anything?"
"This is great! He does like her. He's been telling me all day that he wants to ask her out, but he's too scared to too. Do you know what this means? I'm glad they finally figured out their feelings for each other."
"Me too. I've been telling Hermione to just tell him how she feels, but she won't."
"I know what you mean. I would be scared to tell someone that I liked them and then them not like me, but I would still want to tell them. Just so I know that I did what I could," Harry explained.
I wonder if he's hinting at anything, Ginny thought, He's pretty much telling me that he would want to know if someone liked him. Should I tell him how I feel? Ginny looked up at Harry, smiling.
"Harry, there's something I need…"
"No Ginny, me first," Harry interrupted, "I've liked you for so long. I always look forward to spending time with you more than anyone else."
"Harry…"
"No, let me finish. I have to say this. Ginny, would you like to have dinner with me tonight?"
"Are you asking me on a date?" Ginny asked, stunned.
Smiling, Harry answered, "Yes, the first of many."
"I'd love to go out to dinner with you. I like you so much, Harry. And now you've just made me so happy," Ginny replied, grinning widely.
Ron stared at Hermione as Ginny and Harry walked down the stairs. There's something going on here that I don't know about, Ron thought.
"What did Ginny mean by that?" Ron questioned.
"Nothing, she's just playing games. You have one crazy sister there," Hermione answered.
"Hermione," Ron started, "do you ever feel like there's something different between us?"
"What do you mean, different?"
"I don't know, just that something's changed."
"Ron, what are you getting at?" Hermione asked as Ron closed the distance between her and himself.
"This is what I'm getting at," Ron replied huskily, leaning into Hermione and kissing her briefly on the lips. "I've wanted to do that for so long, but I was never able to do it." Ron stood back waiting for Hermione to do something. I'm going to get slapped, Ron thought to himself.
"I-I don't know what to say. Except, when can we do that again?" Hermione said. "Ron, I like you. And I have for a long time now."
"Hermione, will you be my girlfriend?"
"Of course!" Hermione exclaimed excitedly. Ron embraced Hermione tightly, rubbing her back with his hands.
"What are we going to tell Harry? How is he going to feel now that we are together?" Ron asked.
"Something tells me we won't have to worry about that. I think he'll be pretty occupied himself."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Let's just say, there's someone who wants to occupy all his time, and she's just too scared to admit it."
"Who? Not Ginny!"
"Of course it's Ginny! Don't you see the way they act around each other? They're meant for each other.
