Disclaimer: Do I really have to keep writing this part? (Sigh.) Nothing here belongs to me, not even the plot, it is my sister's, end of disclaimer.

Hermione was in the library as usual, finishing her homework. As it was free period, there were other students there, too, mostly sixth and seventh years. She was looking over her Transfiguration homework when she saw Ron enter the library. 'Now is the moment, Hermione,' she thought to herself, 'you won't get another chance any time soon.' So she walked up to where he was sitting, but she suddenly pulled herself back onto the other side of the shelf. 'No, I can't!' she panicked. 'I can not do this…'

Suddenly, a book was taken from the shelf. Of all places, the book was right beside her head, and of all people, it was Ron who pulled it out, and (finally) of all things to happen, Hermione looked around in surprise. "Hi Ron," she said meekly.

"Hermione!" Ron said, smiling through the gap in the books on the shelf. It disappeared as quickly as it had come. "Where's Fred?" he finished grumpily. "Oh," Hermione began, "he's… um…"—she really didn't know—"…uh, somewhere." She jumped from her place to follow him to where he was sitting. "Okay," Ron replied, the smile coming back a bit. Only now did he appreciate Hermione following him.

Ron had to think. Striking up a conversation would be best to break the ice right now, considering he had started avoiding her, Harry, and everyone else since Halloween, and it was now nearing Christmas. He was so moody about it he even broke up with Lavender Brown (although he had been meaning to for quite a while). So he broke the awkward silence with, "Hey, Hermione… um—"

"Yes?" she said animatedly, as though someone had aimed a Cheering Charm at her.

"Well," started Ron again, putting his hand through his hair in slight surprise, "um, I kind of need help—in, ah…"

"N.E.W.T.s?"

"Er… yeah."

"But you've been doing so well on your own. Not that I won't help you, of course," she added hastily. "Okay, sure. Why not?"

"Thanks, Hermione."

Hermione looked over her notes, which were surprisingly accurate with Ron's. "So… what would you like to begin with?" she asked, feeling half-eager to start tutoring him, and half-awkward sitting there. Ron thought for a moment. Then he remembered something he'd always wanted to ask her. "Can we start with the Curse of the Bogies you promised to teach me in first year?" he piped up hopefully. Hermione laughed softly, so as not to upset Madam Pince. "Of course!" she whispered ecstatically.

Ron thought it was a very good lesson, indeed.

Later, Ron and Hermione made their way to dinner together, talking and occasionally laughing. When they reached the entrance, however, none other than Fred Weasley interrupted their random but enjoyable conversation. Ron didn't think it was so enjoyable anymore. "Hi Ron! Hermione, can you sit with me again?" asked Fred. The anger that Ron had let go of that afternoon had found its way back to its master. He could feel his ears get hot and red, but Fred pretended not to notice. Hermione, on the other hand, did, and looked a bit disturbed about it. "Um… Ron? I'll go with Fred, okay?" She was blushing with discomfort. "Sorry," she muttered so Fred couldn't hear. She walked into the Great Hall with him, his arm around her. Ron felt his blood rise and his heart pump with annoyance.

He stormed into the Great Hall and sat himself between Ginny and Harry (and George, who was next to Harry). "What's wrong?" asked Ginny, patting her brother on the back and then reaching over to offer him some turkey. "Nothing," he muttered calmly, sighing and looking up at the star-studded ceiling, the red in his face lessening. "It's Hermione and Fred, isn't it?" she said, a hint of amusement in her voice. "You mek ishoun lie err oo edder," was all that came out through all the bread and turkey in Ron's mouth. "What?" she asked, obviously not understanding him. "Never mind," he replied, trying to sound pleasant (but not succeeding). Ginny, at that point, dropped the subject and gave her full attention to her dinner.

Harry could see, as anyone would by now, Ron was very irritated with Fred and had every intention to hurt him. Analyzing the situation at hand, and considering Ron wasn't exactly the brightest fairy light you'd come across, Harry finished his dinner and made a mental note to talk to Ron tomorrow about Hermione.

A/N: I liked this chapter. Really, I liked it a lot. Please review!