Everyone, I'm really sorry it took me so long to update! I have had so much going on! I have been working on research papers and studying for tests and finals, etc. etc. But I finally got a little time to relax and catch up on the story today. I hope to be updating more regularly now. Thanks for your reviews and your patience. Please r & r. Thanks!

--Summer : )

Chapter 4 The Moonlit Hour

Tick-tock-tick-tock.

The Weasleys' clock ticked away the minutes and then the hours. Hermione's eyes drooped. Staying up to wait for Ginny was harder than she thought it'd be. She had been waiting for at least two hours, alone in the living room. The flames in the fireplace were her only source of light. Straining to read her book in the dim light, Hermione scrunched up her forehead in deep concentration. She sighed and held her face in her hands. Her watch read nearly 1:00 and the Weasleys' clock said Ginny was still out. Admitting defeat, Hermione closed her book and quietly climbed the stairs, being careful not to wake anyone. As soon as she reached the second floor, something slammed into her, knocking the breath out of her. Her book fell down the stairs. Grasping the stair rail desperately, she whipped out her wand instinctively and muttered "Lumos". The something was Ron.

"What are you trying to do, kill me?" she demanded.

Defensively, he said, "I seem to be doing a good job of pissing you off today."

Hermione sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Ron, I'm sorry. I've just been having sort of a hard time lately."

"Is something wrong?" Ron asked, his eyebrows furrowed. Hermione was touched and a little surprised that he seemed genuinely concerned.

"No, it's--it's nothing…oh, damn. I forgot to put out the fire."

"I'll go with you." Ron said.

"It's quite alright; I doubt the boogeyman will get me."

"Seriously, I feel bad that you stayed up to talk to Ginny. I should have stayed up with you. That's why I was coming downstairs."

At the foot of the stairs, Hermione turned to Ron. "Well, I'm not quite so sleepy now that I have someone to talk to. Do you want to stay and wait a little longer?"

"Sure."

They settled on the woven multicolored rug in front of the fireplace. Tucking her legs beneath her, Hermione suddenly realized that she was wearing her short blue nightgown. It suddenly hit Ron too and Hermione could swear she saw him blush a little.

'Oh well,' she thought, 'I s'pose it's not that big a deal. He nearly saw me naked this morning.'

Ron pulled his robe a little tighter around his boxers and cleared his throat.

"So," he said, "What exactly are you going to say to Ginny when she gets in?"

"Well...I actually haven't thought about it that much."

"Well, well…Hermione Granger not planning something out! Today has been a strange day."

Hermione giggled, something she rarely did but found herself doing a lot lately.

"Yes, it has been." She agreed quietly. She licked her lips and pulled at her hair a little.

"Well…."she started.

"Well…"

"I don't know!" she exclaimed. "How come we've known each other for years but for some reason lately it seems as if we have nothing to say to one another."

"You mean you and me?" Ron asked. "Or all of us? You, me and Harry."

"What do you mean?" Hermione crossed her arms over her chest defensively.

"All you do lately is hang around Ginny." Ron said matter-of-factly. "It's like you were never friends with Harry and me." All of a sudden, Ron was getting really worked up. A flush came to his face and he was talking more loudly now. "It's like all those years never happened. Fighting the troll together, dealing with Snape, fighting Voldemort. It's like none of it's important to you!"

"That's not true!" Hermione was getting just as loud as Ron. Leaning close to him, she sputtered, "That's not true. I love you and Harry! It means everything to me…I've just been dealing with…a lot ever since we left Hogwarts."

Ron was momentarily dumbfounded. It took a few seconds to register that she had said "and Harry". He thought he had heard something else.

"Well, tell me, I mean tell us, what you've been dealing with. We're your friends."

"Oh, Ron, I don't—"

Ron cut her off with a kiss. His hands over her jaw line, he pressed his lips against hers, sweet and slow at first then much more demanding. He ran his fingers through her thick curly hair and kissed her for what seemed forever before her shock wore off and she kissed him back, her fingers through his short hair. His lips left hers and kissed her cheek, her jaw, her throat and Hermione shuddered as he nibbled gently at her earlobe.

Just then, the lock in the front door turned. Pulling away, Hermione stood quickly and tugged her nightgown down. Ginny came in through the door. She smiled in surprise as she saw Ron and Hermione.

"Oh, hey. What are you two doing up so late?"

"We were waiting for you." said Ron.

"Really? Why?"

"To see how your date went." Hermione said before Ron could explain their motives. She certainly didn't feel like getting into it with Ginny right now. Especially as she was out of breath and a little light headed. Ron looked at her strangely.

"Oh, it was wonderful!" Ginny exclaimed. "Neville is so sweet! We ate at this adorable little restaurant and then walked in the moonlight and just talked. It was terribly romantic." She sighed, a goofy smile on her face.

"That's great." offered Hermione. "Well, I'm terribly tired. I'm off to bed."

Ginny giggled. "I don't know if I'll be able to sleep! I'm awfully excited. We're going out again soon. Oh well, I suppose I better try to get some sleep."

The two girls headed upstairs, Ginny talking animatedly and Hermione nodding in the appropriate places. The fire slowly died and Ron made his way upstairs as well.