Ch 7- Persuading and More

The first two months of school were exhilarating as always- getting back into the swing of things and reviewing a lot. Soon, before they even knew it, the warm days and cool nights of the September-October air, turned into cool days, and cold nights of November. The colorful leaves of the trees surrounding the castle had dropped revealing their brown, skinny, bare branches.

Ginny, Harry, and Ron were outside practicing Quidditch with their new team as Hermione watched and cheered from the stands. Although they tried not to make it obvious, Harry and Ginny noticed that only when a certain fan in the stands shouted, "Go Ron!" or "You can do it Ron!" and most of all "Weasley is my King! Go Ron...And Harry!" did Ron save a goal. As the sun began to set, Harry called it a night. The teammates landed down on the ground and headed into the changing rooms. Hermione waited for them outside the door.

"You guys did great! I don't know what you've done to them Harry, but they are a LOT better since the first practice I watched!" Hermione said.

"Thanks!"

"Let's go to the Great Hall, I'm starved!" Ron said.

"When are you not?" Hermione laughed.

"Right after I've eaten of course!" Ron exclaimed.

"Yeah, but that only lasts about five minutes! Then you're hungry all over again!" Hermione told him.

"Hey I'm a growing boy! And I'm on the Quidditch team!"

"Yes, I see it's done you some good!" Hermione said as she playfully punched him in the arm.

"You think?" Ron asked mockingly flexing his muscles. Only one who was paying close attention to this conversation (like Harry and Ginny of course) would notice that slight note of pompous in Ron's voice or that when he did this, one might see a quick flicker of pink ears beneath his shockingly-red hair.

"Oh, Ron!" Hermione said playfully again

Determined to take Ginny's advice and not look at her and keep a straight face, Harry smiled at his shoelaces.

They went entered the great hall and sat down at their usual spots, and began piling food onto their plate (Ron's pile was much higher of course).

"Yeah, I fink this is gomma be a goowd season 'arry." Ron said, his mouth full of food.

"Pig." Hermione said under her breath, thinking no one had heard her until she got a particular hard kick from the other side of the table. She looked up to see Ginny giving her a "Hermione!" glare.

"What?" she whispered loudly, though no one else heard her. Ginny just ignored her and began to eat again. Hermione stared at her, determined to catch her eye again. Once she did, she gave her a "you-better-tell-me-later-or-I'll-force-it-out-of-you, look". Ginny simply nodded.

After everyone had eaten as much as they possibly could, they headed back to the common room. It was around 10 o' clock at night and every one flopped into their favourite chair or sofa. Just then, Hermione remembered the incident she had had with Ginny during dinner.

"Um, Ginny, didn't you want to er, tell me something?" she asked accusingly.

"Er, yes, but um, first I wanted to uh, show this new outfit I got!" and she dragged Hermione up into the girls dormitories. Harry heard Ron mutter something that sounded very much like, "Girls."

Up in the girls dormitory, Hermione was trying to get answers from Ginny.

"What in the name of Merlin-"

"I know you fancy my brother." Ginny said calmly.

"W-What, w-where did you come up with that rubbish?" Hermione stuttered.

"Hermione! I've been trying to drop you hints all month! It's obvious! Why won't you just tell him?" Ginny said raising her voice slightly.

"Because he- because I-I don't fancy him Gin! I don't!"

"Oh! For the love of Merlin Hermione!"

"Ginny!"

"Hermione I know you like him, and I know that he's hopelessly in love with you!" Ginny said, getting irritated now.

"He-he loves me?"

"Yes Hermione! Isn't it obvious? The whole school knows you fancy each other!"

"Ginerva Weasley, that is not true! I have no feelings what-so-ever for your brother but platonic!" she then grabbed her bag and stormed out the door, heading for where else, but the library, leaving Ginny standing there, dumb-struck. "Arguh, why does she have to be so stubborn!" Ginny thought.

Hermione came stomping down the girls dormitory stair-well, and headed straight for the portrait hole.

"Where're you going?" Harry asked.

"Library." Hermione answered acidly. She then stormed out of the portrait hole.

"Who does she think she is, accusing me of having feelings for Ron? That is complete rubbish. I can not believe she said that to me right up-front. How does the whole school know that I like him anyways? Oh. My. Goodness. I did not just think that." Again, that mysterious voice came into her head again. She knew it was her sub-conscious. "Yes, you did just say that and you know it, and you know it's true!" he sub-conscious told her. "No… no, you know what, fine! I admit it! To myself that is. I admit it. I am hopelessly head-over-heals for my best friend Ronald Weasley! It doesn't mean I'm going to admit it to anyone else! Not yet that is…"

Hermione returned from the library at 9 o' clock. Ron, Harry and Ginny, along with about five other people, were left in the common room. Hermione spotted Ginny and walked over to her.

"Listen, I'm sorry for blowing up at you like that, but it doesn't mean that I didn't mean what I said." She said to her. Ginny shrugged and nodded. "Harry just might be 5 galleons richer on Christmas." Ginny thought. "But I'm not giving up just yet."

At that moment, Ron jumped up from his chair.

"Oh no! I left my potions book in the library and I can't go get it now because it's after hours!" Ron said

"Well maybe," Hermione started "if you did your homework earlier, that wouldn't have happened Ronald"

"Oh yeah? Well..." but Ron stopped himself. He promised himself he'd try to not have rows with Hermione about stupid things anymore. Hermione stared at him bracing herself for an outburst, as did the few remaining Gryffindors who even though were well used to Ron and Hermione bickering, looked up to see what he was going to say. But, to all their surprise, especially Hermione's, Ron didn't have an outburst of rage.

"Well…yeah…maybe your right." said Ron. The whole common room was silent in shock.

"WELL-" Hermione shouted before realizing what he just said. She looked at him and stared deep into his blue eyes. He was telling the truth. Hermione was utterly bewildered and kept mouthing soundlessly. Ron was the one who broke the silence.

"But, now what do I do? I have to read 5 chapters on Mercury stones and I don't have a book!"

"Mercury stones?" Hermione asked. "I thought we were supposed to read 5 chapters on Mars stones!" Ron shook his head.

"No, it was defiantly Mercury. I even wrote it down in my homework planner you gave me. If only I listened to its "Do it all today or later you'll pay!"

"Here, Hermione said moving over on the couch, you can use my book and we can read it together." Ron hesitated and looked at Harry who gave him a "Do it!" look and he got up and walked to Hermione and sat next to her on the couch. Hermione opened her book to page 687 and spread the book across both their laps, and began to read. Ron followed suit as the remaining Gryffindors stretched and went up to their dormitories with a little ushering from Harry and Ginny, who also went to their dorms.

"You done with this page?" Hermione asked Ron, he nodded even though he was only halfway through it. He couldn't seem to concentrate with being sitting so close to Hermione that their knees touched. So close he could smell the sweet smell of her hair. So close he could hear her breathing.

Hermione found herself re-reading the same line 5 times and not taking in one word of it. "Ok, focus Hermione focus! Mercury stones are…I'm sitting here alone in the common room sharing a book with Ron…Stop it, stop it, stop it! Ok, Mercury stones are…he's so cute! I can't do this. I don't want to leave though. Ok, just TRY to focus Hermione!" Ron noticed Hermione's breathing had slowed. He looked over to find her sleeping. "She's so beautiful." he thought. His eyes ran over and over her face. He'd never been this close to her to pay attention. Her golden skin smooth, as the firelight danced across it. Each and every curl of her hair perfectly placed in the right spot. "Nose, perfectly centered." Ron thought. And beautiful pink lips. Ron noticed a single, small, lone freckle below her right eye on her cheek that he had never noticed before. Hermione stirred in her sleep a bit and Ron held his breath, hoping she wouldn't wake. He had finally admitted to himself that he was in love with her. He couldn't deny it anymore. At least not to himself. Hermione, still asleep, rested her head on Ron's shoulder. He let go of his breath. He could feel her warm breath tickle his neck. He decided not to wake her, and tried again to focus on his reading. He soon found himself drifting into darkness…

Ginny woke early the next morning and looked over to see Hermione's bed untouched as it was left the night before. Curious, Ginny tip-toed out of her dorm and crept downstairs to the common room. As Ginny looked up she gasped in awe. "Oh, how sweet!" she thought. Hermione's head was still on Ron's shoulder with the book sprawled out over both their laps. Ron, was also fast asleep with is head resting on top of Hermione's. "I've got to go show Harry!" Ginny thought. She then tip-toed across the common room to the staircase that led to the boys dormitories. She pulled back Harry's bed hanging's and poked him on the shoulder. "Harry" she whispered. Harry didn't stir. "Harry!" she whispered a little louder gently shaking his shoulder. "Hmm, wha?" Harry mumbled as he opened his eyes. He saw a blurry figure of someone with red-hair. "Ron it's still early what are you doing?" Ginny handed Harry his glasses. He put them on. "Ginny? What are you doing here?" and looking over he saw Ron's bed empty. "Where's Ron?"

"That's what I want to show you, come here, follow me!" Harry groaned but obeyed and climbed out of bed and followed Ginny down the stairs.

"What are you showing me anyways?"

"You'll see!" She then led him around the staircase entering the common room. Both Ron and Hermione were still fast asleep in the same position Ginny had found them. She pointed.

"Look!" she whispered. Harry looked over to where she was pointing and grinned at the sight.

"Maybe at they at least admitted it to themselves that they like each other now." Harry whispered.

"Yeah." Ginny said. They stared at their two friends for another moment or two before Ginny broke the silence.

"Harry?" Ginny asked

"Yeah?"

"Love your boxers." she giggled. Harry turned scarlet as he looked down at his green snitch patterned boxers.

"Er…thanks…" said Harry still starring at his boxers blushing furiously. Ginny covered her mouth trying to quiet her giggles.

"Er…I think I'll go put some clothes on now…" he said turning and walking quickly towards the boy's staircase, Ginny now clamping her mouth shut with both hands suppressing giggles.

A/N: Ok, this chapter was quite the fluff. But, I am telling you now in advance, the next chapter is quite long, but is well worth your while! I hope you liked this chapter! Review please!