"Ron. Ron wake up" someone was shaking him. "Ron. Come on wake up." He slowly opened his eyes. He stretched and ran his hands over his face and through his hair. "Mmm…is it morning already?"

"Yes. When did you two come down?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know. It was still dark out." He replied stretching again, and then he grabbed his neck. "OW" he started rubbing the spot that was hearting.

"Stiff neck?" she asked

"Yeah."

Hermione got up off sofa and walked over to were Ron was sitting. She moved and stood behind him. "Right there?" she asked placing her hands on his shoulders and massaging them.

"Oh yeah." He sighed "Right… there." He replied placing her hands at the right spot. He lowered his head forward relaxing letting his shoulders slump. "Mmm… that fells good."

She smiled as she massaged his neck and shoulders. The fill of him under her fingers mixed with him moaning every now and then was sending chills down her back. She was fighting the urge to just kiss him senseless right there.

"God Hermione where did you learn to do this? It fills bloody fantastic." He was filling more relaxed now than he had in weeks. The fill of her hands on him was filling more and more better by the minute.

"A book of course." She replied with a smile.

"I should have known." He said with a chuckle. He felt her hands slid from his shoulders down his back then back up again. That one movement sent pleaser down his back and strait to his groaning. Inwardly he thought, "Oh god woman are you trying to kill me?" Instead, he said "Um… Hermione w… what are you doing?"

"Giving you a massage. Why?" she tried to sound innocent but deep down, she knew exactly what she just did. She remembered what he and Harry had talked about last night. They thought she was sleeping. However, she had over heard everything they had said. She now knew how Ron felt about her. But she also knew that he would still be to scared to tell her. Therefore, she decided to give him just a little push in the right direction.

"Do you two need some privet time?"

They both turned in the direction the voice came from. Harry was sitting there with a big smile on his face.

"Shit Harry you scared me." Ron said

Harry looked over at Hermione who still had her hands on Ron's back. He smiled at her. Her face grew red and she moved away quickly.

"So what were you two doing down here last night?" she asked trying to change the subject. "Late night game of chess?"

"Yeah we played some. But mostly we talked." Harry answered, "Ron had another dream."

Hermione looked over to Ron. "Oh Ron you didn't tell me. I'm sorry."

"Oh that's ok. I did get a little in the journal thou."

"Really? That's great. What did you get?" she asked excitedly.

Ron looked over to Harry for support. He could not remember what it was that he had dreamed about.

Harry saw the desperate look in Ron's eyes and came to his rescue. "All he could get was a hallway, someone yelling, and spiders." Harry answered.

"Spiders? Oh Ron I'm sorry." Hermione said looking over to him. "That was not just a bad dream. That's a nightmare."

"Yeah. I guess it's a good thing I don't remember them," he said with a small smile.

Hermione and Harry started laughing and after a moment, Ron joined them.

The holidays were fast approaching. Hermione's parents wrote and told her they all were going to visit family in the states. As much as she begged them to let her stay there, they insisted she come with them. "I don't want to go." She said to Ron. "I want to stay here. With you having the nightmares and all. I am really worried about you. I'll just tell them I refuse to go." She said crossing her arms over her chest.

Ron was trying to hide his smile from her. But he could not help himself she looked so cute when she pouted like that. "Look I will be fine. Harry will be here and I'm going to see Madame Pomffery."

"You promise?" she asked, "You have promise me that you will see her."

"I promise." He replied

Her mined was not at ease she knew how stubborn Ron could be, and she was so vary worried about him. "Ok" she said against her better judgment.

"Fell better?" he asked

"Well to be honest NO. But I guess it will have to do."

"Mione. I will be ok." He said pulling her in for a quick hug.

Mione? She thought, he had never used a nickname for her before. And now he was hugging her. She thought quickly, wrapped her arms around him, and hugged him tightly.

Ron was caught by surprise by her hug. But he was not going to complain.

The day Hermione left was hard for Ron he did not want her to go. Nevertheless, her parents insisted that she go with them.

"Ok I'm all packed." She said as she struggled to get her trunk down the stairs. Ron went over and helped her with it. Ron and Harry went with her to the train to see her off. "You promise me that you will see Madame Pomfrey while I'm gone ok."

"I will I promise." He replied

"I'm going to owl as often as I can. We will be visiting muggle relatives so it may be a little hard. But I promise I will try as often as possible."

"How will you explain the owl to them?" Harry asked

"Oh... I never thought of that." She replied

"Just send it by muggle post." Ron said

"No. that's to slow. I will just tell them he is a pet that I refused to leave behind. It will be fine." The train whistle blew signaling it was time to leave.

Hermione gave both boys a hug and boarded the train. "You two take care of yourselves. I will miss you both. See you soon." She called out as the train pulled away.

Harry and Ron stayed in Hogsmead to do some Christmas shopping. Ron had saved his money to get Hermione a charm bracelet. Hermione was not the type to wear jewelry but he thought of her when he saw it. It had little book and quell charmes hanging off it and he knew how much she liked her books. Ron thought it would be perfect for her. "I miss her already." He said as he and Harry walked back to the castle.

"Yeah me to." Harry replied

When they got back to the common room, they found Ginny reading a book. She asked Harry to play a game of chess with her. Ron told them he was going to try to take a nap since he did not sleep well last night. "Could you wake me for dinner if I'm not up?" he asked. Harry nodded his answer as he watched Ginny set up the board. When Ron got to his room, he found a gift with a note attached. He opened the note and began to read.

Dear Ron

First, I want to say Marry Christmas. I hope you like your gift. I thought of you when I saw it. Now I would like to say just so you know. I asked Harry to keep an eye on you. Now I know that may make you mad and I know that right now you are thinking that I am treating you like a child. (and she was right) However, I just care about you that's all. I do not want anything to happen to you. So please for your sake and mine go see Madame Pomffery. Ok with that being said, I really do hope you like your gift. I'm going to owl you as soon as I get there. I miss you already and I haven't even left yet. I will see you soon.

Love Hermione

Love Hermione? Was what Harry told him that night in the common room right? Was she just waiting for him to take the first step? He folded the note up and put it in pocket. Sitting down on the bed, he picked up the gift and opened it. Inside the box was a framed picture of the whole Chadley Cannon's team and it was singed by everyone on the team. This must have cost her a fortune He put it on his bedside table and laid down on the bed. He was so tiered that sleep came quickly for him.