Hermione's POV

Hermione walked through the school yard.

It isn't even a yard. She thought with amusement. More like a school 'acre'. She laughed slightly at her own joke, then sighed. She walked past Hagrid's, and past some of the forest, to the lake. A very large, lonely acre. And she was right.

Being the brainiac she was, all her homework was done. However, everyone else was inside, doing some unfinished something or another.

She sat and stared with her head slightly down as the water glistened and shimmered a beautiful blue. Apart from the giant squid, it was quite beautiful and peaceful. But she wished she had some company.

"Huh?" Hermione's head lifted. Footsteps. Who the heck is out here? She turned...Ron.

Ronald Weasly? Out here? Didn't he have homework? Usually he was in the common room the latest. Scrabbling to get it done in time until she finally took pity on him and helped him. They usually finished at about 1 or 2 in the morning.

"Hey Hermione." he said.

"Hey Ron." she then noticed the broom. She cocked an eyebrow. "Were you playing Quidditch? Don't you have homework?"

"Got it done early." he said proudly. "And actually I was just going to practice."

"Oh." Hermione said, a little disapointed. Company would have been nice. Especially if it was Ron's. Get those thoughts out of your head girl. He doesn't like you. "Alright. Go ahead."

"Well..." he paused. "If your just gonna sit here, I'll join you." He sat down beside her.

"Oh no." she said waving her hands a little embarassed. "You don't have to if you don't want to..."

He smiled at her and she almost fainted. He was so... (using a word of Lavender's) hott. "I want to." he told her in a voice barely above a whisper. He stared out at the lake with a thoughful, and maybe even peaceful, look. Night had started to fall and the moon shone brightly on his face and the lake. Her breath caught. He looked beautiful. His blue eyes sparkled. His fire-red/orange hair fell slightly into his eyes. She reached up and brushed it away. Then froze.

Oh my god, what did I just do? He turned his head and stared at her for a while, an eternity it seemed, then he turned to stare at the lake again, but a wide smile was on his face.

Is he smiling? Does he like me? Does he? Sigh. This is so confusing. Ah well. Enjoy this while it lasts. A slight smile graced her lips, and she too turned to the lake.

Ron's POV

He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. She was beautiful. Her brown eyes were admiring the view, and her hair was waving slightly in the small, almost unnoticeable wind. She had brushed his hair back. Did she like him? Unlikely, but still... He'd take what he could get. He only had until the end of this year and the next to tell her. This would be perfect. If he could get up the courage.

C'mon Ron, just open your mouth and let the words come out. But that didn't like working. Then force 'em out. That didn't like working either. Procrastinator. Yup. That was him. This was perfect though. He just had to tell her.

Hermione's POV

"Hermione?" she heard. She turned to Ron.

"Yeah?" she asked.

He paused. "Why do you come out here?"

That was a good question. Why did she come out here? "I...I'm not quite sure." Ron looked surprised at this. She couldn't blame him, she was surprised. She stared at the sand. "I guess it's 'cause it's...beautiful."

"Yeah...Beautiful." she heard him say. She looked at him but he wasn't looking at the scenery, he was looking at her.

"Ron..." she said. She saw him lean closer to her, and realized she was doing the same. They were so close. There noses almost touched. Closer.

"Hey Ron! Where are you? We gonna go or what?" called a voice.

Hermione gasped and pulled away. Ron whipped his head around.

Hermione got up quickly. "Umm...W..well I'd better go." She ran off.

Ron's POV

Damn it! Damn it, damn it, DAMN IT!

He heard footsteps crunch closer. Then suddenly, there was Harry.

"Hey Ron. We gonna go practice?" he asked.

Ron sighed. Damn it. "Alright." He grabbed his broom and they went to the pitch.


Now will I continue? Or will I leave you here to suffer? Your choice. Review!