In Which Something Terrible Happens.

Dear Hermione,
I love you. Please meet me at the Oak tree by the lake. I really want to spend some time with you, and help you relax a little bit. Please, meet me at 7 o'clock tonight. Please.
I love you,
Love, your Ron.

As Hermione sat against the Oak tree, fifteen minutes early, she had the familiar feeling that she shouldn't be here. 'No!' she thought, 'I'm not going to let studying ruin my relationship with Ron.' From his letter she received at breakfast this morning, she knew it was important to him. She'd been meaning to take a break anyway. Thee was still two weeks before the start of the exams, she'd already revised everything and had started doing it again, but still the unsettling feeling remained.

At five minutes to seven, Ron came walking towards her. He sat next to her, took her hand in his, and gazed into her beautiful brown eyes. "Thanks for coming. I wasn't sure you would with all the study we have to do." He said 'we' instead of 'you', which is what he really meant. He wasn't sure how she would react. Lately, it had just felt a bit off between them, and he missed how it used to be.

Hermione smiled weakly. "I'm sorry, I know I've been a bit crazy. You know how I worry. I'm trying to be better. Being out here, in the fresh air helps. It clears my head."

Ron smiled. So being outside did work, as he hoped it would. "Nah, I'd say being crazy is one of the reasons I love you. Spices things up a bit."

Hermione giggled, and suddenly Ron felt everything fall back into place. He was happy, because she was. He slipped his fingers out of hers, and put his arms around her. He wanted to protect her, and keep her happy, but as long as he could hold her, he felt at peace.

"I love you," Hermione said, as she placed a soft kiss on his neck. "No matter what I say or do, don't ever forget how much I love you."

Ron kissed her on the lips, gently at first, than more urgently. Stroking her hair, he began to work his way down to her neck. Their breathing grew faster, but they didn't stop as they usually did.

"Are you sure?" Ron asked, and thought they both knew of his eagerness, Hermione saw the look of concern for her upon his face.

Just then they were interrupted by Harry's snowy owl, Hedwig. She soared down to them, and when Hermione quickly took the letter he was carrying from her beak, she promptly took flight towards the castle again.

Hermione put the letter on the ground beside them, and with another sensual kiss, and another surge of love from the depths of her soul, she knew. "I will love you forever. I'm sure, if you want to."

Ron smiled. "How could I not? After all, I feel the same way about you."

Completely in love and happy, they spent an amazing hour of passion together. They were each others first, of course, and their first time was gentle, and full of love.

They held each other for a long time afterwards. They simply lay there looking at the stars in silence, neither wanting to break the moment. Eventually Hermione turned her head and looked into Ron's eyes. He smiled and told her he loved her. Hermione said the same back.

As she turned her head away, she caught a glimpse of the letter, laying forgotten on the grass. She sat up and opened it, reading Harry's unmistakable handwriting.

Ron, Hermione,
He's got Ginny! I'm going after her, go tell Dumbledore or McGonnagal as fast as you can, Ginny doesn't have time to wait for me to do it. Hurry!

Feeling sick, Ron and Hermione bolted towards the castle as fast as their legs would carry them.