In Which Contains a Surprise.
Ron was walking quickly back to Gryffindor Tower. It was the first day of the Christmas Holidays, and tonight him and Hermione were going to have some time together for the first time in what seemed like years. He was determined to make it special.
Upon entering the common room, Ron was glad to see the Hermione was still deep in conversation with Ginny. When she saw him walking towards them, she gave a noise of surprise, and he smiled. He'd been so quick that she hadn't even noticed he'd left until his return, and for that he was grateful.
"Oh, Ron!" Hermione said "Where have you been?"
"Nowhere, just got up to stretch my legs."
Hermione and Ginny gave him identical looks of mistrust, but even under their combined pressure he wasn't about to give up his secret. He smiled knowingly to himself and asked where Harry was.
"He's up at the owlery sending a letter to Remus," came Ginny's reply.
It was only the four of them left in Gryffindor Tower this Christmas. With Voldemort getting stronger every day, people wanted to spend as much time with their loved ones while they had the chance. Mrs Weasley was distraught over them staying at Hogwarts, but as her and Mr Weasley had important work to do for the order, she knew it was the safest place for them be.
Including the four Gryffindor's, there were only ten students left at the castle, and for Ron this was perfect.
Harry soon returned, and they relaxed by the fire chatting and playing wizards chess. Soon it was time for dinner, and Harry and Ginny left the common room, but Ron hung back, asking Hermione to do the same, under the guise of wanting a quick word with her.
When they were alone, Ron broke out into a broad smile, no longer being able to keep a straight face.
"Ronald Weasley, what are you up to?" said a bemused sounding Hermione.
"I've got a surprise!" he replied, almost bouncing with joy.
Hermione smiled, but when he didn't continue after a couple of seconds, she said "What?"
Ron reached into his pocket and pulled out a green and red blindfold. Seeing the startled look on Hermione's face, he pleaded "Please, love? It's Christmas eve and I wanted to give you a Christmas present, and celebrate the fact that it's our first night of alone time together."
Deflating at the puppy eyes he was giving her, Hermione agreed to be led out of the portrait hole, blindfolded, and led through the castle to Ron's surprise.
Knowing full well how smart his Hermione was, Ron took the long way. It was a good thing the castle was deserted, as this would have looked very strange indeed.
They finally reached the part of the castle Ron needed, and he was extremely careful how he walked past it, to not give anything away when he'd worked so hard to keep it a surprise.
Hermione heard him open a door, he led her through it, and shut it behind them. She had absolutely no idea where they were, and the suspense was killing her. "Ron, we'd better be here, because I've been walking around blind for about fifteen minutes now." she said playfully.
"We're here," Ron assured her. He kissed her lips long and lovingly, then gently removed the blindfold.
Hermione blinked as she took in her surroundings.
They were in a beautiful room, softly lit with divine smelling candles. In the middle was a table set for two and laid out with the most delicious looking food, water, juice and butterbeer. The table cloth was scattered with rose petals. There was the sound of soft violins playing, but Hermione couldn't see where it was coming from and guessed that Ron had charmed something to sound like it, perhaps the candles as they burned. The wall opposite to the door had a long window near the top, which showed the clear night sky and it's millions of stars.
"Ron, it's so beautiful!"
Hermione knew they were it the room of requirement, but she never thought it could look so different than it did when it was used for the DA meetings in their fifth year.
He smiled his gorgeous lop-sided smile and said "I hoped you'd like it." He led her over to one of the chairs at the table and pulled it out for her.
Hermione sat down and he walked around the other side of the table. As Ron took his seat opposite her, he saw a slight frown come over her face. "Ron, you didn't get the house elves to cook a different dinner especially for us, did you?"
Just then Dobby came out of the shadows. "No, miss," he squeaked. "Master Wheezy did Dobby a great favour, so in return Dobby is only too happy to cook for Wheezy and his girlfriend."
Ron's ears went pink, and he mumbled "It was nothing..."
Dobby, wearing three of Hermione's knitted hats, was opening the butterbeers for them. "The other house elves is saying Dobby is being a no good cleaner for Gryffindor Tower, but Wheezy is coming to Dobby's defence and is saying that it has never been cleaner, and now the others is respecting Dobby, and Dobby is most grateful." the house elf looked at Ron with wide, shining eyes, and Ron smiled.
Dobby put some of the delicious smelling food on their plates. "There is few people at Hogwarts now, so we is most trying to busy ourselves." then he squeaked his goodbye's and bowed out of the room.
Hermione looked at Ron, smiling. "that was very nice, sticking up for Dobby."
Ron stretched his arm across the table, and took Hermione's hand that was resting there. "I love you with all of my heart and soul. I wish I could give you everything you desire, but I will always give you what I can."
"I love you too, Ron," Hermione looked into his lovely eyes. "All I want is you, nothing else matters to me." She looked up at the window full of stars. "But I do love this. Thank you."
They took a mouthful out of their butterbeers, then talked and ate for hours, in the beautiful room, until they were too tired to walk back to Gryffindor Tower. Full of great food, happiness, and love, they climbed into the big, comfortable bed in the corner that none had noticed was there before. The candles were extinguished and the violins had stopped playing. Ron and Hermione fell asleep in each others arms.