48 Reviews! WOW! First off, I would like to thank the following SUPER reviewers who reviewed Chapter 11: Avantara, Cesca Marie, daniella, Kalliein, N.C. PsyChick, hot4scott68, milky way bar, antonia, LadySimone123, Tay'slilgal, ruperlvr, sam, MysteryALASKA, I AM EOWYN, fake-truth86, Yellowgurl, sakura668, chazberry, Fairy Princess, Shaznay, silktophat, Miss Court-A-Doo, Lara Potter, RainDateChick, SuckerForGrint, cathyrock, GaBbY, sweethobbit, kitotterkat, krissy, Loku, Bella, Once With A Constant Sugar High, amrawo, Lost.Somewhere.Out.There, summerxkiss2, aishteru, Eloise, Olrysreallove, suckr4romance81789, TheDaughterOfKings, Ronsreallove, redireas, Laury Weasley, dancerrdw, EponineWeasley, Pauly-85, Moonhawkpebbly, and last, but certain not least, the AWESOME email reviewer, Ellie (Sry if I forgot anyone!). I have a VERY important question to ask: Should I write a sequel? I have the first chapter of one written (and don't worry, it's not a bunch of mindless fluff and Ron and Hermione snogging every five minutes- there's a REAL, interesting plot). However, I want to know the opinion of all the readers of this fiction. Is it worth it? Would you be willing to read a sequel? Most importantly, do you WANT to? Or would you rather just another Ron/Hermione humor/romance fic (it wouldn't be to hard to "unsequelize" my new fiction)? Anyway, if I don't end up writing a sequel, I'll post the epilouge next weekend. If I don't, then Chapter 13 will be exactly what I have been desiring to do for SO long- to individually thank each and every reviewer, especially those VERY loyal ones who have been there with me since the beginning. Opinions would be GREATLY, GREATLY appreciated! Like always, please read and enjoy Chapter 12, mates, for this may be the last in at least this particular fiction!


"Tell him you love him." Harry's pleading words reverberated through my head. For a split-second, I had shamefully thought that it was just an act on his part- a ploy to make me admit my feelings. However, I quickly brushed that idea off and sternly chided myself. Rarely did Harry ever shed tears- in fact, I've only seen him cry one other time, and that was at the end of the fourth year.

"Ron?" Merlin, my voice sounded SO timid!

"Go away, Ginny," came the object of my affection's raspy, muffled voice.

"The last time I checked, I do not participate in a snog-fest with the Boy-Who-Lived 24/7," I said lightly, as Ron obviously fought a huge battle in his mind- to let Hermione in, or to not. That is the question. Whether it is nobler...(For a Muggle, Shakespeare is a bloody brilliant playwright!). I didn't give him the chance to decide. With shaking hands, I gently pushed the door open.

"I didn't say you come in," he sniffed.

"I would have been disinclined to acquiesce your request," I smirked. "So I reckon it really doesn't matter."

Ron rolled those deliciously blue eyes. A smile threatening to tug at the corner of his mouth, he said quietly, "English, please, Hermione." Then he resumed staring at a nasty-looking stain on the carpet, foot jiggling anxiously from side to side. Left. Right. Left. Right. Left...wait a minute! Personally, I could not fathom his bloody problem! Sure, he had heard one of his best mates moaning his name over and over again, punctuated by interjections such as, "You're a damn good kisser!" But honestly! He wasn't the unfortunate owner of that abnormally large and obnoxious mouth which couldn't be controlled even in times of slumber! He wasn't the one suffering the repercussions of having sultry daydreams at the breakfast table in front of an audience of no less than four close acquaintances, one of who was EXTREMELY SEXY! Well, two actually. Harry isn't hard on the eyes at all.

"Er- you're probably wondering why I'm here," I began, itching to just get the confession over with.

"No," Ron sat up straighter, "Please do enlighten me."

My heart literally swelled at those words. He sounded like...like...like me!

"I didn't know you knew such large words," I snorted untactfully, remembering a second to late that I was here to profess my undying love to him, not to insult any hints of intelligent life form that were finally, after six years, beginning to emerge.

His face visibly fell. "I only learn from the best. You." He reminded me grumpily.

"Well, thanks," I stammered. Though that was a bloody nice compliment, I truly wished that he would view me as not just the best intelligence-wise, but in all aspects of life! For example, a response such as, "I only learn from who I consider to be the absolute best, most beautiful, intelligent, and witty woman in the world. You." would have been much more appropriate. I sighed. Unfortunately, like all blokes, Ron would always be a little immature for his age. Once, in an interminable History of Magic class (which is rather boring, but since I do have a reputation to withhold, I always appear to actually be paying attention and enjoying the wealth of new knowledge Binns shares which us, such as why the Grima the Gross led a goblin rebellion in 1203. My personal response? "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn!") I had calculated that Ron only acts approximately three-quarters of his real age.

"You're in here...why?"

Hmmphh. That certainly startled me to attention.

"To see you," I giggled, sounded exactly like those ditzy girls in the romance movies.

"To see me?"

"To see you. We need to talk." My face grew serious, and that !#$&# fluttering started up in my stomach.

"We are talking," he pointed out moodily. Left. Right. Left. Right. That bloody foot was jiggling again.

I simply could not stand it any longer.

"What in Merlin is YOUR problem?" I finally exploded.

"There's nothing wrong," he muttered, a slight red tinge rising on his face.

"Well, no offense, but you seem like you're currently experiencing the male version of PMS," I snorted. "You know- PMS- what you and Harry are always whispering about whenever I am in an irate mood."

"I know what PMS is," the object of my affections snapped, his blush only deepening.

I let out a long breath. "Level with me, Ron. I am a woman..."

"Trust me, I have noticed that." I could've sworn I heard him whisper in the faintest voice under his breath.

"And I happen to be very sensitive to the feelings of others." Ron suddenly became sheepish as he was obviously remembering my nasty comment in the middle of the fifth year concerning his "emotional range of a teaspoon."

"Well, if you're so sensitive, then diagnose my problem, Doctor Granger."

Teehee. This was going to be FUN!

I walked confidently right up to him and began running my hand lightly over his light-blue-shirt-clad chest.

"What are you doing, Hermione?" he gasped loudly as though I had scorched his manly chest with white-hot pokers.

"I'm examining my patient," I said innocently, very much enjoying how his breathing was quickly becoming ragged.

"Hmm. You seem to be breathing quite irregularly and your heart is beating fast."

"Perhaps it's because you are currently touching MY chest!" Ron suggested weakly, realizing a second too late the implications of his words. I took a step closer.

"Do I really affect you that much?" I smiled angelically, planning on continuing my "examination." As I was reaching for his face, Ron reached up and grabbed my wrists with those two, strong, gentle hands of his.

"It's my turn," he said slyly.

"If you believe you are entitled to touching my upper torso, then you are quite mistaken," I reminded him as his eyes took in every inch of my body. I shivered as his gaze passed over my legs, my chest, my face, up to my eyes. Ocean-blue met honey brown as he gazed into my soul and then began his examination.

"Your skin is warm and silky to the touch," he ran a finger down my bare arm, leaving tingling skin in his wake. "Your cheeks are rosy and healthy," he cupped my cheek in his callused hand and inclined his red head towards mine in order to have a closer look.

"Your hair is shiny, silky, and gorgeous," I sighed, running my hands fervently through his locks of red as I had ached to do SO many times.

"Your have a cute nose."

"Your ears a currently a healthy shade of bright red."

"Your hands are nice and warm." Good Godric! Ron and I were now holding hands!

"Your lips are so soft-looking and delectable. I want to devour them," I babbled. DDDAAAAAAMMMMNNN! Luckily, Ron was a little bit too preoccupied to pay much attention to what I was saying.

"Your hair," he sighed, massaging my scalp with his heavenly touch. I simply melted against him. "Your hair is a beautiful mass of ringlets."

"Your lips are moving closer to my face."

"Each ringlet having a mind of its own but, blimey, I still love your hair!"

"Your lips are currently 3.84 centimeters from mine."

"Well, my diagnosis, Miss Granger, would HAVE to be..."

"Your lips are moving in for the kill," I barely got out before Ron's warm lips were suddenly covering mine. Tenderly he laid a kiss as sweet as rose petals on my mouth and pulled back. "Do I live up to your daydream?" he smirked.

"I don't think I have enough evidence quite yet," I squeaked before he flat-out passionately snogged me. I wrapped my arms around him as his wonderful mouth devoured mine. My whole body felt like it was on fire, as electricity seemed to crackle and spark between Ron and I. I was aware of everything concerning the object-of-my-affections-who-was-currently-snogging-the-hell-out-of-me. The heat emanating from his body, the delectable musky cologne he had applied earlier, the rebellious strand of hair that kept on insisting falling into his eyes, the way his body was pressing against mine, the softness of his lips, the amazing things his mouth was doing to wreak havoc on my senses.

"Yes Ron," I gasped ten minutes later, "You sure did live up..." his lips cut me off once again as he continued his assault of my mouth.

"In case you couldn't tell, Hermione," he said breathlessly thirty minutes later, "I've rather fancied you for quite some time."

"As have I," I murmured, bosom heaving, face flushed, and hair tousled. "We've been so foolish, Ron, trying to fight a battle of the hearts. Everyone except us could see the glaringly obvious truth- how we were too bloody stubborn and shy to admit our affections for each other.

Ron suddenly turned very shy as he fiddled with his wristwatch. "I've wanted to do that for quite some time, Hermione," he said softly. "You don't understand how hard it's been for the past four years, just being your best mate and knowing that nothing more could ever come out of it. That you didn't return the love."

I literally choked on my own saliva. "I didn't think I could've been more obvious. The way I totally blushed and clammed up whenever you were around...how jealous I got whenever you and Harry were checking out a hot witch...my constant staring at you...!"

"There's only one hot witch in my mind," Ron said seriously, wrapping his arms around my waist, "And she's standing right if front of me. Hermione, I have always loved you and always will."

Awwww! "I love you, Ronald Weasley, " I said in a small little voice, sudden timidness striking me.

"Now how's about we continue this little experiment?" he blue eyes sparkled mischievously.

"That's all you blokes ever think about," I mock-sighed. "Getting a good snog and shagging."

"And girls," Ron said defensively. "But don't tell me that I have never, ever occupied your thoughts recently! And as for the shagging, we'll have to do that some other time. I would really hate for Ginny and Harry to burst in unannounced during something like that."

Delicious tingles raced up and down my spine at those words. Then, it took me a full two and a half minutes to realize he was joking.

"Ha ha," I stuck out my tongue. "Very funny."

"You look cute with your tongue sticking out like that," the object of my snogs said teasingly, hovering his mouth over mine. "Shall we continue?"

I suddenly got very nervous, even though by my calculations I had been exchanging saliva with Ronald Weasley for over forty minutes "Could I take a raincheck?" I flashed him a weak grin.

"By all means." He leaned against the wall and watched me with mild interest.

Merlin, Merlin, Merlin. Did I have something to share with Ginny!


"Your brother is the absolute best kisser in the world!" I sighed with happiness.

"Funny, I never noticed," Ginny said wryly, scratching out a line on her Charms essay. "Perhaps because I don't believe in something called INCEST!"

"But seriously, Gin," I said ecstatically, "The thing Witch Weekly says about inexperienced blokes being terrible snoggers? It's codswallop, in my opinion!"

"Maybe this wasn't Ron's first kiss. You never know," she said distractedly.

"Hello, Hermione," the object of her distractions said in his signature deep, manly voice. Now, let me tell you, if I wasn't currently infatuated with Ron, I'd definitely consider his best mate. Hunky Harry was looking particularly spiffy in a tight green t-shirt that showed off those manly muscles to perfection and a pair of worn, comfy jean shorts. His raven hair was sticking up every which way, but, frankly he looked ADORABLE.

"I have heard rumors that you have spent the past forty minutes snogging Ron. Is that true?"

"Yes," I admitted cheerfully. "I do wonder, though, how talk seems to travel SO fast in this house."

"It's because we're Weasleys, dear," Mrs. Weasley peeked her head into the bedroom on her way up to the attic and gave me a ginormous sincere smile. "I'm very happy for you and Ron, Hermione. Take care of my boy, please."

"Oh, don't worry, Mrs. Weasley. I will. I will."


I simply could not keep my eyes off Ron during dinner that night. And to make matters worse, a certain set of twins decided to drop by to join their family in the evening repast.

"We've heard a sort of celebration should be in order," Fred said triumphantly as he sat down beside me. "Pay up, Percy," he smirked to the elder Weasley. Groaning and swearing under his breath, Percy forked over three galleons. "And you, Dad." Mr. Weasley sighed and reached into the pockets of his tattered robes. "We should be receiving at least ten more galleons from Bill and Charlie very shortly through the post," he continued, "And Godric knows how much from the Gryffindors."

"And the teachers," George reminded him. "I believe Dumbledore owes us four galleons."

"McGonagall two."

"And Snape, that old fuddy-duddy, four sickles."

It took a moment for my mind to fully register what they were discussing.

"You bet on Ron and I," I accused loudly, drawing the attention of the other occupants of the table.

"Of course." Fred shrugged his shoulders. "We bet that you and our dear brother would get together before August 31st. And we obviously won!"

"No one must have had very much confidence in us, eh?" I pointed out.

"Nah. They just believed that you two were too bloody stubborn to ever give in to your feelings before your sixth year," George snickered through a mouthful of mashed potatoes.

"Well, we are no longer," I looked deep into Ron's eyes and we shared a secret smile as he squeezed my hand under the table.


"Ron?" I questioned as he reluctantly broke off from our thrilling good-night kiss.

"Yes, Hermione?"

"You're a damn good kisser."


Remember! I desperately need your opinion! Should I:

a. Just write an epilouge and a chapter of thank-yous and call this story done

b. Write a chapter of thank-yous and then start posting the sequel?

OR

c. Change the first chapter of my sequel around a bit so it can stand as a new, Ron/Hermione romance/humor fic and end this one.

Thanks in advance, ya'll!