In Which Contains Love and Hate.
"Hermione," Ron said. "I, uh, I... think you look really pretty today..." 'Ron, you prat,' he thought. 'Don't be an idiot, just tell her!'
Hermione looked puzzled as she looked down at her old jeans and baggy blue sweater. "Thanks."
"Oh, but you look pretty all the time," he added quickly.
Hermione looked at him sceptically.
"Ok, though it's true, that's not really what I wanted to say," said Ron. "For a while now I've been trying to tell you something, but haven't had the guts, but I can't wait anymore."
Hermione looked at him, still slightly puzzled, but a little worried as well. 'What if he's trying to break up with me?' she thought. For such a smart witch, she wasn't really good at the love thing.
"I, uh, Hermione, I love you." 'There,' thought Ron, 'I finally said it. Oh God, she's not saying anything!'
Hermione looked at him, stunned, as her heart melted. "Ron! I love you too! Wow, it's so simple, of course that's what it is! Love!"
Ron couldn't believe she'd actually said it back to him! He was so happy. "I love you so much." He lent in towards her lips and they kissed, slow and long and full of passion and love.
By the time Ron and Hermione eventually got to the Three Broomsticks, they were half an hour late. Harry and Ginny didn't mind though, as they'd only just started going out, after all, and it meant more of a chance for them to talk to each other. Ron and Hermione struggled through the thick crowd of students, teachers and locals to the table where Harry and Ginny sat drinking their butterbeers. Even after they had ordered their drinks, the two were still grinning broadly, and refused to let go of each others hands from under the table.
Ginny thought that this was so sweet. While they were waiting for them, Harry had told her why Ron desperately wanted some alone time with Hermione, and they exchanged knowing looks when they first saw them walking towards their table. It was plain from the looks on their faces that Ron had said exactly what he wanted to, and got the answer he was looking for.
After a couple of hours of drinking butterbeer, laughing and joking, the two couples decided it was time to be getting back to Hogwarts. They were almost to the front gates when the four saw the three people they'd been least wanting to see that day. They gave a collective sigh as Malfoy and his goons, Crabbe and Goyle, spotted them too.
"So," sneered the pale white haired Slytherin, fondly referred to by Gryffindors as Ferret boy. "Looks like the weasels have finally conned some people into going out with them. Pity it's a freak and a mudblood." Crabbe and Goyle gave their usual stupid laughs.
Harry had had enough, and he no longer cared what the consequences were. He went to draw his wand, but he'd been beaten to it. He heard the familiar cry of Expeliarmas, and as Malfoy's wand went soaring through the air, he heard a wave of spells in the same voice, first turning Malfoy's legs to jelly, then giving him an extra pair of arms, then making a great green horn grow out of his forehead, and lastly turning his skin pink, all before Harry had the chance to do anything, or even turn around and see who was doing it all. He was in such shock that he didn't even realise he knew who the voice belonged to.
Crabbe and Goyle exchanged a fearful look and scurried off, leaving Malfoy lying on the ground in shock.
Harry, wide eyed, turned around and saw a pink faced, shaking with anger, Ron, who still had his wand pointing at what was barely recognisable as Malfoy, apparently unsure of what to do next.
Hermione and Ginny had their mouths hanging open, not knowing what to say. Ron didn't care, Malfoy had insulted his family, his best mate, and the girl he was head over heels in love with. He deserved it. Still slightly shaking with rage, he started walking again, determined not to think about the consequences. He'd done what he'd wanted to do for so long, and he was just going to enjoy the feeling of power for a little while at least.
Still in shock, the other three followed him. The girls hung back a little bit in order to think about what they'd just witnessed, and Harry went to walk beside Ron.
"That," said Harry, "Was wicked!"
Ron allowed himself to smile. "Thanks. I was just so angry!"
"That's an understatement. I was angry. I was just about to hex him myself, just one hex, but you got all that out before I even had my wand. Mate, you were furious. Now all we need is for Voldemort to insult everyone you love, and he won't stand a chance!"
They all went into the Great Hall for an early dinner. Ron had worked up an appetite. Soon all the Gryffindors knew what had happened, and Ron was being treated like a hero.
Hermione, while still a little worried about Ron being expelled, was also incredibly flattered the he'd went to such an extent to defend her honour.
Ginny kept saying that now she had no doubts about him becoming an Auror, he'd just have to get all the Death Eaters and various other bad guys to get him really mad.
They all finished their dinner, and were going to head up to the Gryffindor common room, but when the went out into the Entrance Hall, they came face to face with a livid looking Snape.