It was the morning of March 1st and students were hurrying down from their common rooms to grab some breakfast before going to their classes. Ron, however had slept in and Harry was doing his best to wake Ron up, while getting dressed himself.

"Ron! It's nearly 8:30! You're going to miss breakfast if you don't wake up! Think about missing breakfast…oomph!" Harry had tripped over a stray sock lying in their dormitory as he rushed around getting ready.

Ron groaned and turned over, ignoring Harry completely. He had been up late last night fantasizing about the day ahead of him. He had pictured standing before a table piled high with food, with his friends all around him. They had eaten cake and pies and all of Ron's favourite food and then had come the turn of the presents. One by one, his friends had handed them his presents, but when he turned expectantly to Hermione, she was empty handed. He had looked surprised but she had flung herself onto him, exclaiming, "Ron, I love you, love you, love you! I want to make hot, wild love to you!"

Yeah, yeah, Hermione would probably never say that, but these were his fantasies ok? Harry gave a final sigh and left the room, unable to wake Ron up. He walked out of the common room, and down to the Great Hall, where Hermione and Ginny were already sitting.

"Hey Harry, you're finally down. Now we can finalize the plan about you-know-what!" Hermione told him eagerly. She motioned for Neville, Dean and Seamus to come closer and everyone leant in, listening to what she had to say.

"Parvati and Lavender are not down yet so I'm not sure if they managed to get their part organized, but we can ask them that at lunch," she said, "Dean, Seamus? Have you guys got the decorations? And are they like good ones, as in, not like weird mummy bandages to hang up or something?"

"Don't worry, Hermione. You'd approve of them!" Dean and Seamus grinned at each other.

"Ok fine. Neville? It's up to you to get the Room of Requirement ready. You've got to make sure everything is done quickly ok or Ron could come in anytime early and see everything!"

"Yeah, yeah, don't worry Hermione. Anyway, whoever's going to be with Ron can't let him out of their sight, ok?"

"Yeah definitely. Ginny, are you going to have time to go down to the kitchens today," asked Hermione, "because I have a free period today. Or even Harry can help you."

"Yeah actually I'm going to need help, because I'm planning to bring up a lot of food so I'm probably not going to be able to carry it all!" said Ginny, furtively kicking Hermione under the table and making urgent eyebrow movements with them.

Hermione laughed to herself. She knew how Ginny took every chance she got, to be with Harry alone.

"Ok then, Harry you go with Ginny to get the food ok?" she said, secretly winking at Ginny. "Then that leaves me to distract Ron from when you guys are setting up. So let's go over the list.

Food?"

"Check" came Harry and Ginny's voices.

"Decorations?"

"Check" came another two voices, this time Dean and Seamus's.

"Venue?"

"Check" said Neville.

"Wrapping the presents?"

"Um... that would be Parvati and Lavender," said Ginny, "Since the rest of us are completely rubbish!"

"And the distraction is me," finished Hermione, "Great, we're all set! But remember everyone, not a word to Ron, ok? Pretend like you don't know it's his birthday!"

Just then, the subject of their discussion came rushing in, his clothes haphazardly over his body, as though put on in a rush and without a second glance.

"Harry, why didn't you wake me up? I'm not going to have time to eat a thing!" complained Ron, sitting down and grabbing whatever was near and started stuffing it into his mouth.

"Well I'm very sorry Ron, for yelling myself hoarse at you to wake up," said Harry, with a grin, "but obviously I didn't care if you didn't get any breakfast right?"

Ron said something, but it was impossible to understand as his mouth was bulging with bacon, toast and other unidentifiable things. The others laughed and starting gathering their bags as classes were beginning in less than 5 minutes.

4 HOURS LATER

Parvati, Lavender, Seamus, Dean and Neville were sitting at the Gryffindor table having their lunch and eagerly discussing the "Operation Ron" birthday plan. Then Harry and Ron came in, and went over to sit with them. The others changed their topic of conversation immediately and started talking about the coming Quidditch match between Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Harry and Ron sat down and served themselves.

"Where's Hermione, you guys?" asked Lavender.

"I don't know. The last time we saw her was in Potions, which was nearly two hours ago. She had Ancient Runes right now, so maybe she's stayed back for something?" suggested Harry,

"Harry, what's the date today?" asked Ron suddenly, who had been staring at his food with a frown on his face, as though he had just realized something.

"Uh… March 1st I think," said Harry, careful to keep his face completely blank.

"Ah… hmm… ok… right… So, what are you guys doing afterwards?" he asked the rest of them.

"Oh nothing!" came some responses quickly.

"Just hang around you know," said Seamus, "I have to write a letter to me Mam!"

Hermione came in then and hurried up to them. She sat down quickly, and started helping herself to the food around her. This was the cue for the others to disappear one by one.

"Well I've got to go write that letter! Come on Dean, you can help me!" said Seamus standing up.

"Come on Lav, lets go finish your toenails!" giggled Parvati, and the two of them rushed away too.

Ginny and Harry waited for sometime before Ginny said, "Harry you promised to give me a ride on your Firebolt! Can we go now?"

"Yeah of course. See you later guys!" said Harry and led Ginny out of the Great Hall where they immediately headed down to the kitchens instead of out to the Quidditch Pitch.

Ron and Hermione were left on the lunch, both still eating. Then Ron tried the same thing on her that he had on Harry. He asked her what the date was.

"Hmm… I don't know Ron. My diary is somewhere at the bottom of my bag. Why?" she said, bending her face low, so he wouldn't see the grin on her face.

"Oh, no reason," he said glumly.

"Poor Ron," she thought, "never mind, the surprise will be even better this way."

Aloud she said, "Ron, do you want to come visit Hagrid with me? We have some free time, and we haven't gone to meet him for ages!"

"Yeah sure, whatever." said Ron, lost in his thoughts.

After they had finished, they started walking down the grounds towards Hagrid's cabin. Ron had jammed his hands into his pockets and he was looking down as he walked.

"Are you ok, Ron?" asked Hermione, feeling rather guilty now.

"Yeah I'm just great! I mean life is just wonderful right now! I have such great friends, and an even better love life, and I'm not getting any sleep cos' if I do then I have wet dreams!" glowered Ron, suddenly, "wait, did I just say that out loud?"

Hermione nodded slightly and turned to look at him, surprised after that sudden outburst. His face had gone flaming red and he was biting his lip. He looked at Hermione, and said, "Oh my god, Hermione, I swear I didn't mean to say any of that. Can you just forget it… especially the bit about the wet dreams…" he finished of the last part in a whisper.

"Don't worry Ron. I haven't heard that part, ok?" said Hermione laying her hand on his shoulder, "But why are you so upset with us all?

"Oh nothing, really, I'm just a bit stressed right now!" said Ron quickly. He didn't know why he was feeling so embarrassed about telling her that it was his birthday. He felt that he it would be childish and whiny to say, "Because they've all forgotten it's my birthday!"

Without another word, Hermione took his hand in hers and continued walking. Ron 's face, if possible, went even redder than when he let slip about the wet dreams, which incidentally happened to include the person walking next to him. He didn't say a word either, but started to become horribly aware of how sweaty his hand probably was. They walked hand in hand until they reached Hagrid's cabin. Once in there, they started talking to Hagrid about all the events at school, and about the quidditch match coming up. Before they knew it, a couple of hours had passed, and Hermione got up and suggested leaving. They bid goodbye to Hagrid, and started walking back to the castle.