Hermione Granger's feet began to burn as she rushed towards the hospital wing. Her arms curled her fifty pound books and it rubbed against her skin, turning it bright red. The black robes wrapped around her body like a snake's coil and her hair fought against the sharp wind of her movements. Hermione's face glowed because she simply hadn't been so excited in days; nothing and no one could take the straight teeth out of her smile.

Lavender said that Ron had finally awoken from the three days of unconsciousness. At first Hermione doubted the truth, but as she walked through the squeezed halls, the eyes of students told her something was going on. Harry ran towards her and he took her in his arms. He told her that Ron was indeed awake. She didn't even wait for Harry as she flew through the hallway and into another; hallways after hallway until she finally reached the hospital wing.

Hermione held onto the door frame as her smile widen when she saw Ron sitting up in his bed taking in some medicine that was probably the guts of an insect, but it didn't matter. She breathed in deeply, laughing lightly as Ron grinned at her. Nothing could stop her smile from fading, not even Apricot sitting in the chair beside his bed. In a split second Hermione found her arms thrown over Ron's shoulders and around his neck almost twice, but not quite. She could feel his awkward and confused grin, but she didn't care because somehow she could feel his arms around her numb body.

"Uh...Hermione? You think you could uh loosen your grip a bit?" Ron said still hugging her close.

"Oh...Sorry," Hermione said slowly releasing herself from his body.

Ginny smiled at Hermione as she and Apricot camouflaged against the hallway's walls.

"So how are you feeling?" Hermione never sat down and she continued to beam down at Ron with the sunlight glared off her perfect teeth.

"Better I guess," Ron answered running his hand through his ginger hair.

Ron stared at Hermione and she didn't notice the embarrassment of it all.

"Er...so...um...how are you?" Ron asked as he stared at the edge of the bed.

"I'm fine," Hermione still smiling, "What did Madam Pomfrey say?"

"She said that I should stay here for a little bit longer."

"Well that's obvious."

"Yeah," Ron's cheeks grew hot.

"I'm glad you're back," Hermione said.

At this point, she didn't feel self-conscious.

"Erm...uh...Thanks," Rom mumbled, "Ginny when are mum and dad something?"

He didn't realize that she had already left the room.

"She left a while ago. Are you alright Ron?"

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine."

"Are you sure? I could get Madam Pomfrey."

"I think I've seen enough of her to last me the rest of the year. Actually through seventh year, too. She really is a pain in the arse. I'm surprised Harry hasn't killed her yet...I mean..."

"Ron, am I making you uncomfortable?"

Neither of them spoke.

"Just a bit," Hermione frowned, "It's alright though. I want you to stay here."

"I should go. You need some more rest."

"No, no I'm fine. It's just my head sort of hurts, but I'm alright...really."

"I'll go get Madam Pomfrey."

"No. I'm fine Hermione."

"But you said your head hurts....what if it's serious."

"I'm fine. Dumbledore said that this was going to happen for a while because I got hit more than twice. And anyways, I wanted to ask you something."

Hermione shifted herself in the chair beside the bed that was once filled with Apricot.

"Well....uh...since Harry and Ginny can't go to Hogsmeade next week; well I know we weren't planning to go either because I had Qudditch practice and all. Madam Pomfrey told me not to play, that really makes me mad, too..."

"So you still want to go...together?"

"Well since we aren't doing anything. I mean it's ok if you got some studying to do, but I just wanted to ask."

Hermione's lip pressed together as her smile widened; if of course, possible.

"Sure. I'll just finish today's homework before we go."

"Oh and uh Hermione, I was talking to Apricot and I know you don't really like her or anything, but she's my friend and I was hoping that you could get to know her better, so you wouldn't be against her anymore. So is it alright if she comes with us?"

"Oh," Hermione paused, "that's fine."

Ron let out a high sigh of relief.

"I think I should go though. I didn't finish my homework for my next class last night so I better go work on it," Hermione grabbed her books that were stacked on the ground.

"But Hermione," Ron moaned.

"No really Ron I think I should go," Hermione hid her face with the books against her chest as she departed from the Hospital Wing, "See you later Ron."

Ron frowned as he watched Hermione run out of the Hospital Wing to get away from him. He slapped his own face and buried himself under the sheets.

"Hermione always does her homework," Ron moaned to himself, "Nice going Weasley."

Hermione's sobs wrestled the sheets of her bed. Her body was covered by the comforters and her pillow protected her tears from being exposed. She hates feeling abandoned by Ron especially by a girl like Apricot. It made her feel as if she were the same bossy, mean girl that Ron hated seven years ago.

What does he see in her anyways? She's so self-centered, rude, annoying other than her blond hair, ugly pure blue eyes and her slender body that every boy dreamed of. Hermione stared at the mirror in the corner and saw nothing, but brown bushy curly hair and a plain face with the same color eyes. She threw her pillow at the mirror causing it to fall and shatter all over the ground.

This would've been the first step to a non-platonic friendship between Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger, but it always seemed at taking that step was impossible or they simply never could get to it. Hogsmeade wasn't the most romantic place, but Ron and Hermione presence made it more intimate. When they were alone together, she couldn't stop laughing at his jokes or stop blushing when he looked at her; during third year, she wish she could thank Harry's Uncle Vernon for not signing the permission slip. They never fought when it was just the two of them because they simply had nothing to fight over and no one to prove that they were just only friends. Back to the old times, Hermione thought.

"What on earth is going on up here?" Harry asked staring at the broken glass.

Ginny glared at Harry and shoved him out of their room.

"Occulos Repairo," Ginny said in a soft high tone.

The bits of shattered glass flew into the air and put itself together as if it were a puzzle.

"Hermione, what's wrong?" Ginny asked sitting on her the edge of her bed.

"Nothing," Hermione managed to scuffle out.

Ginny rolled her eyes, "What happened with Ron?"

"Nothing happened. He's stupid and selfish jerk that I never liked."

"Hermione, you and I both know you don't mean that."

"Well I mean it this time!"

"What did he do?"

"He asked me to go to Hogsmeade with him...."

"Really?! Why is that a bad thing?"

"You didn't let me finish," Hermione sat up and uncovered her face, "Then he asked if Apricot could come with us."

"Stupid prat."

"I hate her, Ginny. She ruins everything and I wanted to go with him, just us two like third year when Harry wasn't with us, but now that that girl is coming with us to ruin my whole life."

"Hermione you don't know that it's going to be a disaster."

"Yes I do. I hate her and she hates me."

"She's really not that bad if you just give her a chance."

"Who's side are you on?" Hermione exclaimed.

"I've always been on your side and always will be."

"There's no way Ron is going to like me more than a friend with her around."

"Like I said before...Just let your relationship with Ron happen naturally."

"Then it's never going to happen."

"Well you two have gotten this far haven't you?" Ginny asked as she stood and head for the door.

"It's different."

"How so?" Ginny smiled and left Hermione alone once again.

"Why on earth would you invite Apricot along too?!" Harry screamed at the top of his lungs forcing the echo of his voice be a lot louder than this yell.

"I can't tell her 'no' now."

"Yes you can!"

"No I can't Harry!"

"It's your own fault that you and Hermione are going nowhere! It's your fault she doesn't even talk to either of us anymore and it's your fault that she feels left out! It's your entire fault Ron!"

"I think I know that Harry."

"If you ever want Hermione to like you as more than a friend then you better start making her your priority," Harry and Ron entered the Gryffindor Common Room.

"Thanks Harry," Ron rolled his eyes and headed up to the Head Boy's dorm, "It's bad enough to see Hermione cry because of me."

"You're so dense sometimes," Harry ruffled his hair, "Wake up and look at what's in front of you Ron."

Ron slammed the door at Harry's voice. Hermione was Ron's first priority; it was just difficult to share that with anyone even her. It would be awkward telling her how he felt and it made him nauseous thinking about Hermione laughing at his heart. What would he say? What would he do? Didn't anyone ever think that he was too afraid to move further with Hermione? What about the war? He was terrified of being left without Hermione or Harry. What would he do?

The problem was the war and it wasn't like the fear of spiders he had; it was deeper because he knew that it wasn't like waking up from a nightmare. Hermione had always been the intelligent one and of course she was needed in the famous Harry Potter trio, but there was more to her than just the books she hid behind. There would be no trio right now if it wasn't for her Gryffindor courage or her desire for knowledge and understanding. After all, both Harry and Ron would be dead if it weren't for her.

If Ron surrendered his love for Hermione, it wouldn't be like refilling a cup with water when you ran out. It'd be after running miles after miles and all of a sudden the whole world drained its water. There would be no refills, no other way to survive. Ron would be dying to breathe because there was always something in the way, something that would get through even through the smallest of space. Trying to resist would only mean dying without peace. There would be no hope, no light. He would lose himself for good and it would be impossible to ever find, but it would be in Hermione.

Ron let out a quick heavy breath before sliding running his hand through his hair. He dropped his books and rubbed the anger off his face roughly. Resting on his bed, Ron stared at the ceiling and decided he didn't want to be around anyone, but himself. Everyone would be at dinner by now and at the moment he didn't feel much like eating. Eventually, boredom got the best of him and he got up and opened his door to see if anyone was in the common room; he heard nothing. He walked to the Head Girl's room to see if Hermione was there, but why would she be? Ron peeked into the same sized room and looked around.

His eyes locked on a brown leather book of some sort. Pages sticking out from its side and the leather was wearing out from old age. Ron sat down on the floor and slid the book from under the dresser. He knew what it was.

Opening the album, Ron smiled at the picture of Harry, Ginny, Hermione, and him standing outside the burrow during the summer. He flipped to the next page and saw a number of different articles and photos from their first year at Hogwarts. They were young then and it was before Ron had developed feelings for one of his best friends; he wished life would be that easy again. Ron continued to flip through the pages of memories and the pages of their past as friends; Smiling every now and then when he spotted a picture of him and Hermione on the same page. It was something that Ron thought Hermione would never keep; it wasn't like her to have an unorganized book.

"Ron?" he turned his head to face Hermione who had a puzzled look on her face.

"Oh...uh...sorry I'll just be going now," Ron shut the book and stood.

"It's weird isn't it?"

"Huh?"

"How much we've changed and just what we've been through," Hermione picked the book up and opened it staring at the pictures.

"Er...yeah," Ron shifted uncomfortably as he left the room.

Hermione watched him leave and she hugged the scrap book tight against her chest.

Hogsmeade was as busy as most of the times Ron and Hermione had gone. Most of the students spent their time in Honeydukes or Zonko's Joke Shop. Ron, Hermione, and Apricot sat in the Three Broomsticks discussing their classes and the teachers. There were, of course, some awkward moments when Hermione and Apricot completely disagreed with each other, but Hermione would usually be the one to give in and shut her mouth. Ron and Apricot gulped on their butter beers while Hermione sipped on her coffee.

"Hey guys," Neville suddenly appeared.

"Hi Neville," Hermione said rather happily, "What are you up to?"

"Oh nothing..." Neville responded, "Apricot...do you want to come with me to Honeydukes? There's loads of sweets and cool stuff."

"Alright Neville," Apricot smiled at sheepish Neville, "Is it alright if I go?"

"Sure," Ron said blushing slightly towards Hermione who smiled for the first time since they arrived.

Hermione stared as Neville and Apricot walked out of the Three Broomsticks and suddenly she felt Ron's eyes on her.

"What?" Hermione asked sipping on her coffee again.

"You really don't like her do you?" Ron frowned.

"You don't understand."

"Well could you make me?"

"Have I ever been able to make you understand anything?" Hermione stood, "Let's go see the Shrieking Shack."

Ron and Hermione exited the magical saloon and headed towards the path of which no one really went. There was a peaceful silence that both Ron and Hermione didn't want to break. When they reached the wired gate at least fifty feet away from the Shrieking shack itself, Hermione stood staring at it with Ron beside her. The same butterflies from three years ago flew in their stomachs, but this time Hermione only smiled at the precious feeling.

"You know it's the most haunted building in Britain?"

"Hermione you tell me that every year."

"I didn't want to break the tradition," she said looking at Ron with a smile.

"It doesn't seem that scary when you're in it. You know when Sirius pulled me into it, I didn't even realize it."

"Would you go in there again?"

"No."

Ron smiled at Hermione whose eyes were still fixed on him. Silence fell upon them once again and they blushed furiously.

"Look Hermione...I'm sorry that I invited Apricot with us. I just wanted you two to become friends..."

"I know Ron, but I don't see that happening any time soon."

"Why not?"

She wanted to do it there...right then and there. Hermione wanted to pour out her feelings for Ron and show him for the first time that she cared about him...loved him.

"I just don't."

"Oh..."

"Ron..."

"It's fine Hermione."

"Ron it's not that I'm trying to make you angry with me on purpose. You just wouldn't understand why I don't like her."

"Well why don't you at least try to tell me why?"

"Because I can't Ron."

"Or you just don't want to."

"Ron please, if I knew you would understand than I would tell you right now..."

"How would you know if I understood or not?"

Hermione had tears in her eyes; she wanted to tell him.

"I don't want to risk it."

"Risk what?"

"Our friendship."

"I don't think that's possible Hermione. We've been friends for a really long time."

"Think about it Ron, we would've never been friends if it weren't for Harry."

Ron swallowed hard and stared at her with complete hurt. His stomach filled with air and he felt like he was sinking into the ground.

"Okay we better head back to find the others," Ron said as he turned around and headed back in the direction of busy Hogsmeade.

"Ron wait," Hermione said grabbing his wrist, "I didn't mean it that way."

"No Hermione it's fine," Ron said pulling his arm, "You're right we were never really friends."

"Ron please," Hermione's tears came rather suddenly.

"Is that really what I mean to you? I'm not even considered your friend anymore?"

"Ron I didn't mean it that way and you know it."

"Do you remember when I said that you hurt someone every day?"

"Ron don't even bring that up, it's irrelevant!"

"No it's not Hermione! There's something that you will never understand right there!"

"Like what Ron? I don't see how this has to do with us!"

"Think about it Hermione!"

"What do you want me to tell you Ronald? Just tell me, it would make it much easier!"

"Fine you want to know...I'll..."

"Yes I want to know."

"Me, Hermione..." Ron watched as the tears kept falling down her cheek, "The person that you hurt every day, every minute, every second is me, but no you don't bother to ever think about me! You're too busy studying too busy writing stupid love letters and romance novels to Vicky. Never once did you notice how...how bad it made me feel or how much it hurts me!"

"Ron..."

"No Hermione...let me finish since I've started. It's like we lie to each other every day. I never told you any of this for a reason, I knew I would make a fool out of myself and you would only laugh. You've made me see so much that I wouldn't have otherwise and you were the only one that has ever understood me, but now you tell me that I wasn't even your friend?"

"Stop...please," Hermione tried to swallow her tears.

"I wanted to go to the Yule Ball with you Hermione, but I was afraid that you'd say no and I didn't want to end up with no courage at all. You went with that...that bloke. You were supposed to go with me Hermione, not him!"

"You never came to me! You went to all the good looking girls first, Ron! How was I supposed to know you were going to get turned down by all of them?"

"Forget it Hermione. I'm sick of this. We were never friends in the first place right? So let's just stay as nothing."

"RON STOP!" Hermione yelled.

She grabbed his head and pulled him into her body. Hermione's lips locked onto Ron's and neither of them moved. The taste of his lips were of the butter beer he had drank while they were at the Three Broomsticks and suddenly she felt as if she were walking on water. Ron's insides did summersaults and he pressed his lips harder against Hermione's soft ones. Surprised at what she had just done, she pulled away and they stared at each other with only a few inches away from each other's faces. Ron, who was completely dumbstruck, swallowed hard while Hermione's eyes sucked in his soul.

A/N: Wow guys I'm really really really sorry for taking forever to write another chapter...the thing is I've been really busy with school, which I am completely failing! I try my best to write as much as I could and have another "really good" chapter... So I hope I am forgiven and thank you for being patient with me.

sclub8- You'll find out!

Miss Mione- Thank you for giving my Fan Fic a chance! I really do try my best...

fUnKy MaGiCk- Well I will give a little spoiler...The man wasn't voldemort...

Alicia-B- Cliff- hangers do suck don't they?

katy- Actually I didn't really like the name either! The thing was...I was trying to think of a name fast because I didn't want to lose my inspiration on the plot so I looked on something and the first thing I looked at was Apricot...but I think I'm growing to like it a lot better than before

Bhekie- I haven't actually decided if I would kill her off yet...lol...maybe if enough people tell me to kill her... I will

AmyChris- Action-packed...funny...I'm not that great with action, but I know there will be a whole lot more!

ilive4cake00- Thank you...I'm glad you enjoy it!

A/N: For anyone who is interested...I have a personal website that contains a lot of my creative writing...original and fan fic! If you have time...pay a visit!