DISCLAIMER: Guess what?!?!  I STILL don't own Harry Potter, Ron Weasley or Draco Malfoy.  How can this be, you ask?!?!  I'M NOT J.K. ROWLING!  Simple as that!

Author's Note: Okay, I'm going to kind of veer off of the well traveled path of Draco and Hermione and take a look at Ron and Becca a little bit in this chapter...so please don't get upset...there will still be plenty of Draco/Herm action to come!!

~*~Chapter Twenty-Three~*~

~*~Ron's POV~*~

I couldn't believe it when two of the most beautiful girls I'd seen came up to us outside the restaurant.  I recognized the one girl as Harry's friend; he had shown me pictures of her...but the other girl I didn't recognize.  The only words I could use to describe her with was to call her an angel.  She came up and introduced herself as Becca.  Apparently she and Hermione had been friends all through their school days.

I couldn't help but blush throughout most of the dinner.  Becca seemed to constantly be flirting with me; of course I couldn't help but flirt back.  I mean, how could I not??  A man would have to be a fool to not flirt with a girl like that!  Then, when she suggested an evening walk on the beach, I nearly lost it.  What the heck was I supposed to say or do once I got alone with her?!?!  I had never been very suave when it came to girls...so this evening should prove to be very interesting.

When we got to the beach, Draco and Hermione headed off in one direction, leaving Becca and I alone.  As we started walking along the beach, I couldn't think of anything to say.  So we walked along in silence, listening to the waves crash into the shoreline.  Somewhere along the way, Becca's hand grasped mine...and we walked along enjoying the quiet company of one another.

~*~Becca's POV~*~

OHMYGOD OHMYGOD OHMYGOD!!!!  Okay, so I am currently walking along the beach...but oh no...I am not alone in this walk.  So get this, I am currently walking hand in hand with a Mr. Ronald Weasley.  I just met him tonight at dinner, but I swear...he is the nicest guy I have ever met.  Plus the fact that he is a wizard...which I find so totally awesome!!

I couldn't help but flirt with him all throughout dinner...and I think he might have been flirting with me too.  But now that we're out here on the beach...alone together...he's so quiet.  I didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable, so I just joined him in his silence.  It wasn't one of those strange, awkward silences...it was just comfortable to walk along without saying anything and listening to the sounds of the ocean.  After a while of walking, I almost needed to have contact with him...just to let myself know that he was still here with me.  So I reached over and grasped his hand in mine.

~*~Hermione's POV~*~

I had noticed how Ron and Becca had seemed to have a certain attraction to one another.  So when we reached the beach, Draco and I headed off in one direction leaving Ron and Becca some private time together.  Of course, it's an added bonus that Draco and I will have some private time together too.

We walked along together chatting about various topics from homework to the latest movies.  Draco's arm was slung carelessly over my shoulder and his hand was absent-mindedly caressing my collarbone.  I don't think he realized the power he had over me with that simple touch...at least until I moaned out loud.  I felt him stop walking and take a sudden intake of breath.

"Hermione...are you...okay?"

"Mmmm...yeah...I'm great" I managed to speak.

"You're not in pain are you??"

"No...I promise...I'm fine.  But would you want to kiss me and make it all better just to be sure??"

"Only as a precaution, of course."

"Yes...strictly a precaution."

And with that he gently placed his hands on my waist, turning me to face him.  With one hand on my waist, the other trailed up my side to gently cup my face as he brought his lips down upon mine.  I couldn't believe how my entire world could explode with just one kiss, but it did.  His mouth moved gently over my own and I finally felt his tongue upon my lips, as if asking for permission...which of course I granted.

Our make-out session continued gradually until we were both lying in the sand...with myself on my back and Draco on his side looking down upon me.  He suddenly pulled back, gasping for air.  Taking the time to take in my appearance, his eyes traveled the length of my body.  I squirmed a bit under his surveillance...it made me nervous to have a guy look at me the way he was looking at me.  I never knew whether they actually liked what they saw in me...but Draco took all my apprehensions away with two words...

"You're beautiful."

"Thank you."

"I truly mean that, Hermione.  You are beautiful, don't ever think otherwise."

I quickly felt a blush rise to my cheeks and I turned my head.

"Hey there...it's nothing to be embarrassed about."  And he gently cupped my chin to turn me to face him once again.

"It's just...I'm not used to getting compliments from people...especially guys...like you."

"You mean, incredibly hott, sexy guys??"

"Oh shut up!  You know you're sexy!"

"Well, I wasn't all too sure...but you just confirmed things for me.  But back to you now...I guess you'll just have to get used to hearing such compliments, because I'm going to start giving them to you more often...like you deserve."

And with one last gentle kiss, we were up and heading back to the car.

~*~Becca's POV~*~

Okay, so I enjoyed my walk with Ron a lot, don't get me wrong.  But this boy is so shy...I think he's afraid to make any kind of move.  So on our way back to the car I suddenly stopped, turned Ron to face me, and planted a kiss on his lips right there.  He definitely wasn't expecting it, but he finally got into the groove of things.  When we pulled back, we spoke at the same time...

"WOW!"

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Author's Note:  Alright, there ya go guys...Chapter 23.  What did ya think??  Please remember to review...Thanks!  ~surfngurl~