Love Letters

In Which Harry Plays Cupid.

My Darling,
Please, listen to me. I love you.

'Too desperate!'

To The Boy Who Holds My Heart,

'Yuk!' thought Hermione, as she threw the second piece of parchment into the fireplace. 'What I really need is something, less mushy, maybe to find out if he likes me...' Hermione sat in the common room, absent minded ley sucking on the end of her quill. It was well past midnight, but she was determined to stay up as long as it took to write Ron the perfect letter.

It was the second day into year 6 for the trio, and Hermione wasn't the only one picking up on the much stronger vibes from Ron to herself. Much earlier that day at breakfast, as she and Harry found themselves gaping after Ron as he made yet another stuttering exit, Harry made a statement.

"Ron is head over heals for you."

"What?" Hermione exclaimed, as half a mouthful of orange juice flew out of her mouth. "He is not! What makes you think that? Are you sure? Oh, does he like me?"

"Yes, he does. It's obvious, especially after the way he acted over the summer at the burrow," Harry replied, oh so calmly. "He could barely speak when you entered a room, he stared at you as you walked out of a room, and not to mention the sleepless nights I had up in his room, listening to him muttering 'Hermione, 'Mione, mine...' in his sleep, and when confronted by this information, his ears would turn so scarlet, I thought they'd catch fire!"

At these words, Harry could see a slight smile play across Hermione's lips. "Oh, Harry, I really like Ron, but it's just so hard to tell him!"

"I'm glad you've finally admitted it," Harry, said with a smirk. "and don't worry, I won't say anything. Partly because he wouldn't believe me anyway, and partly because he needs to hear it from you."

"Yes," said Hermione, a touch of desperation creeping into her voice. "but how should I? I'm too embarrassed!"

Harry thought for a minute, then, with a look of sudden inspiration, he said, "Why don't you write him a letter? That way you would be able to put all your feelings into it without him being there to make you nervous or to interrupt you."

So here she was, trying as hard as she might to write a letter that wouldn't make her sound completely desperate, but to also express the feelings she has had for Ronald Weasley, since their first year at Hogwarts.

Finally, she was happy with the finished product. She, with Harry's prior permission, carefully tied the letter to Hedwig's leg, and gave the owl instructions to deliver it to Ron at breakfast in the Great Hall. Hedwig blinked slowly to show she understood, then flew out the window.

Ron sat at the Gryffindor table at breakfast the next day, dully staring at his cereal. He felt someone sit down next to him and jumped.

"Expecting someone?" said Harry.

"I just thought you w-were - ah - someone else..." He stammered.

"Hermione?"

"No!"

"Mate, just tell her you like her," Harry said, but was cut off before he could say anymore but the sudden beating of wings, signifying that the owl post had arrived.

"Here comes Hedwig for you, Harry," said Ron as he looked up and saw the beautiful snowy owl soaring towards them. Though instead of flying to Harry, she landed in front of Ron.

Harry, who was not surprised by this, said "I think she got something for you mate, but you might want to wait for some privacy to read it," and at the confused look on Ron's face, he added "It's not from me, but if you use your brain you should be able to work out who it is from."

Ron looked around the table for further clues, and Harry just stood up and left for his first lesson, shaking his head.

Ron followed Harry's advice, and although he was burning to know what the letter contained, he waited until lunch before he raced up the stairs to the common room to read it. After all, it could contain information from the Order of the Phoenix. As he opened it, and read the first couple of lines, he discovered that this was far better.

Dear Ron,
I'm so sorry that I cannot speak to you in person right now, but I fear that I'm not that strong, and if I tried I would have run from telling you what I need to say. I really like you Ron, as more than a friend, and I can only dream that you feel the same way. I will understand if you don't feel this way for me, as I do for you, but I need to ask.
I am still, and always will be your friend, don't forget that, and please don't let the fear of ruining our friendship alter your decision in any way.
From Hermione.

"Bloody hell!" said Ron to the deserted common room. 'I had no idea she felt this way,' he thought to himself. He felt so happy he thought he could burst, and spill happiness all over the place. This girl, this gorgeous, intelligent girl, who had been one of his best friends for the past 5 years, liked him as much as he liked her. He couldn't believe it.
Ever since the Yule ball in year 4, he had thought of her as a girl, not just his friend, but a girl he liked, and ever since last year, he thought about her all the time. He couldn't help himself. Over the summer, it had just gotten worse. When she wasn't there, he missed her like crazy, but where she was, he found he couldn't talk, couldn't eat, he needed all his energy just to stop himself continually staring at her.
'It's no wonder she was acting so strange in class today,' Ron thought, 'I just assumed she was ignoring me because she'd gone off me, or something.'

He hurried to his next lesson, defence against the dark arts, and took his seat next to Harry, smiling broadly. "Harry, the letter, did you know?" he whispered while they were supposed to be copying down notes from the board.

"Of course I knew, you stupid git. I was the one who suggested she write a letter, as she was scared of what you'd say," he whispered back.

"What do I do now?"

"Talk to her after class, or this afternoon in the common room, if you want more time," Harry hurriedly replied.

Ron looked over at Hermione, who briefly looked up at him, then quickly bent her head back down to her notes in embarrassment. Ron's smile faded a little. "What if she said it was a big mistake, of that she was sleep-writing or something?" he asked, his smile now completely gone.

The look Harry gave him was one of deep disgust. "We're supposed to be writing this down, and you'd better pay more attention if you want to become an Auror. Furthermore, if you can't even see what's right in front of your face, I don't like your chances."

"Oh, come on mate, please help me, you know how much I like her. I really don't want to screw this up."

"Borrow Hedwig and reply to her letter," Harry hissed back. "Now just concentrate on this, because you know Snape is dying to fail me at defence against the dark arts since professor Dumbledore gave in and gave him the job."