Title: 'A New Day Beginning'
Author: scribhneoir
Summary: In his final year at school, with the war over and Voldermort gone, Ron finally realises how he feels about Hermione.
Character: Ron.
Rating: K+
Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns the Harry Potter universe and everything and everyone in it, I am just a fan who is letting my imagination run a bit wild. I own nothing.

If you like this story and want to review that would be great…if you didn't like it review and let me know why as I am doing all this to try and improve my writing.

A/N:

Originally I had intended for this story to have been a one-shot, but after reading my very first review (thank you jeevesandwooster), I had some more ideas for this story so here's chapter two.

Ron found that although the moment that he had shared with Hermione only a few hours previously had been perfect, waking up after sleeping sitting on the sofa was less than perfect. As he raised his hand to rub the sore muscles in his neck, he heard a sleepy and slightly uncertain voice.

"Ron?"

"Morning 'Mione"

Any last vestiges of sleep vanished as Hermione jumped to her feet and looked quickly around the common room. Ron, whilst trying to move past the thought that Hermione's hand should still be in his, tried to figure out what was actually happening.

"Hermione, what's wrong? Calm down"

"Calm down?" she turned to him as he stood beside her, "Ron, I am Head Girl, what if someone had seen us?"

"Hermione, you fell asleep and then I fell asleep. Anyone who saw us would realise that we were studying and just fell asleep. Relax and take a deep breath before you pass out or some thing because Merlin knows how I would be able to explain that to anyone" Ron breathed a sigh of relief when he was rewarded with a small smile from Hermione, and she began to calm down a bit.

"I'm sorry Ron", she said as she sank into the nearest chair, "I'm just so stressed about the exams and everything, I haven't really been sleeping that well lately"

Ron dropped back down onto the sofa and looked to her with a small smile, "That might have something to do with sleeping on the sofa in the common room"

"True, you may have a point there".

"Besides, you know I've been thinking about something. I think we should all get an O in our Defence Against the Dark Arts exams, after this year", Ron smiled when his small attempt at a joke was rewarded with a smile from Hermione and her saying,

"Ronald Weasley" in an echo of many other times when they had sat in this common room.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, both of them just feeling comfortable in each other's company. Ron was also trying to summon up enough courage to keep the promise he had made to himself only a few hours ago. It had all seemed so straight forward then, but now the moment had arrived when he would have to put his feelings into words and suddenly he was speechless.

He glanced at his watch and realised that they had a bit of time before anyone else appeared, it was only 7.30am. If he didn't tell her now he would have to wait until this evening or even tomorrow to get a moment with her. He couldn't wait; he had to tell her now. If he thought too long about it, he may lose his nerve; he may say the wrong thing. "I have to tell her now", he thought to himself and looked towards her only to find her looking at him with a small smile on her face. Her hair had come loose completely over the past few hours and was hanging freely on her shoulders and her brown eyes were alight with curiosity and dare he hope…love? All of sudden, telling her became a whole lot easier.

"You were away in a world of you own there for a while, a penny for your thoughts?"

Ron smiled at her use of the muggle phrase,

"Actually I was thinking about something that I realised last night", he took a deep breath and continued, leaning forward to look into her eyes as told her the truth.

" 'Mione, you know you are one of my best friends, right?"

"Of course Ron, and you are one of mine. What's all this about?" she began to look a bit concerned about his serious tone of voice and manner, so he quickly continued.

"Hermione, I realised something last night that I guess I already knew in a way. I care about you very much. Your friendship, and Harry's of course, mean the world to me. I think that's how I managed to get through everything especially over the past year. I know that our friendship has kept the three of us strong…and I wouldn't want to do anything that would put that in danger…or anything."

As he paused for a breath Ron thought to himself "Great…now I'm starting to ramble, get to the point!"

The redhead reached for Hermione's hand and held it much as he had done up until a few minutes ago.

" 'Mione, I really like you and care for you, and was wondering if you would like to go to the next Hogsmeade weekend with me, on a date?" As he tried to decipher her reaction, she seemed to be momentarily stunned.

"You care for me?"

"Actually," he replied with a smile, "I…I love you". He couldn't believe how easy it was to say those three words. He had thought that those would be the words that would be the hardest to say. But it had seemed to him the most natural, and the most magical thing, in the world to say those words to Hermione. It was the truth. And now that he had actually said those three simple words everything seemed so much clearer. So much so, that he had to say it again,

"I love you Hermione, and I can't believe it has taken me so long to actually say it, I thought it would be difficult to say it but I …." his voice trailed off as he grew puzzled at Hermione's reactions. He knew he had seen some surprise in her eyes at his announcement, but he also saw happiness there as well. He knew he had seen a spark of joy in her eyes at the news, which was why he was now puzzled to see her look upset and sad.

His heart quickly shattered as she broke eye contact and removed her hand from his. He had not thought this through. He had been convinced that she had shared his feelings; that everything would be all right now, but the look on her face as she stood and moved towards the fireplace told a different story. She did not feel the same and now he had ruined their friendship too.

She didn't turn to face him, choosing instead to look at the remains of the once warm fire as she said,

"Ron, I'm sorry. I…I don't feel the same, I really am sorry, I…"

He couldn't let her finish what she was going to say, he couldn't listen to the rejection he had seen in her eyes made manifest into words, so he interrupted.

" No Hermione, it's okay…well…not really…but I understand", Ron quickly stood up "I'd better go and get changed and get ready for classes".

Ron quickly made his way towards the stairs that led to the dormitory, with his world falling to pieces around him. It was as if a dementor had removed everything that had any glimmer of joy or happiness from his life, and he was devastated. As he moved quickly away from the common room, he didn't see the tears that were running down Hermione's face; he didn't see the equally devastated look on her face as she raced towards the girl's dorm.

Neither one of them noticed Harry at the foot of the boys stairs or Ginny at the girls stairs. Neither one of them saw the shock on their friends faces, and neither one of them saw Harry and Ginny meet each other's eyes across the common room. And neither one of them heard the plans that were made regarding them by Harry Potter and Miss Ginny Weasley.

A/N There will be one more chapter in this story, when everything will become clear and I have to say that I kind of like happy endings.