A/n: I know I haven't updated recently, but I've been at my grandparents. Now that I've returned though I'll update more regularly. So enjoy.

Ron made a pretty good woman Hermione had to admit. They were lounging on her bed playing chess, which Hermione obviously sucked at since her only remaining pieces were a Bishop and the Queen. Ever since she was proclaimed Head Girl, at the beginning of the year, and transferred out of the Gryffindor Tower, she hadn't had many visitors so things got pretty lonely; but with Ron there it seemed just like old times, despite the decorative changes.

There were many changes too. Her four-poster bed lay alone in the center of the room, with beige covers and white pillows. The walls, a sandy brown, went well with the tan in the carpet. There was a wooden desk in the corner, invisible beneath the pile of books, and two chairs. She even had her own fireplace, and on the mantle a picture of Ron and Harry watched over her. Crookshanks usually rested beside the picture, tail swinging to and fro over the side, like she did now.

The whole color scheme was neutral so as not to nominate any House. The only decoration that reminded her of her Gryffindor background was a golden lions head mounted on the wall. The best part of her new living quarters was that the wall, lying to the East, made up a sliding glass door that lead out onto a balcony. That way wherever she was she could see the beautiful landscape that was the forbidden forest, and closer still the Whopping Willow.

Ron seeing Hermione scanning the room, in a daze, snapped his fingers in her face. "Mione, it's your turn."

Woken from her trance-like state, she smiled up at her friend and passed her hand over the board. As she grasped the smooth crystal, which made up the Queen, someone knocked on the door.

"Urgh… who could that be." Ron had jumped to his feet and seemed to be looking for a place to hide.

"Chill Ron, it's probably Draco." Hermione made for the door, "He is Head Boy you know, and he is only boarded across the way."

In a flash Ron grabbed her arm, his face full of panic, "Malfoy! Here! He can't see me like this."

The persistent knocking came again, only this time louder. Shoving Ron off she shook her head, "He won't even recognize you." Before he could respond Hermione threw open the door.

There was Draco his arm raised in mid-knock, a slightly agitated look on his face. Silently he put down his hand and was about to say something, but upon noticing that she had company he changed his mind. "Who are you?"

"This is Rowna, she is an exchange student." Hermione spit out in a rush, Draco seemed to buy it.

Ron put in, catching on, "Dah, I is Rowna, foreign exchange."

Casting this newcomer a steely glance Draco asked, "Where are you from Vulgaria?"

A crimson flag rose over Ron's features, as he said indignantly, "Vulgaria isn't even a place. Right Hermione?"

"Brains and beauty, you foreign girls sure have it made." Draco joked before Hermione could get a word in.

The tension between the boys was electrifying and Hermione had to break it up. "Malfoy, is that all?"

"Well," He seemed undecided, his blond brows knit and a frown splayed across his face. Looking again at Rowna he seemed to make up his mind. "I'll see you girls later." With that he exited.

Hermione sighed against the closed door before glancing at Ron, who was still furious.

"What nerve? Who does he think he is?" Ron sputtered, "Vulgaria! I'll show him…"

"You know he was checking you out." Hermione let the statement drop like a lead weight, and it was true. Maybe foreign girls were Draco's thing, because he was almost drooling over "Rowna". Ron however had only seen Draco's nonchalant cover-up.

"What!" Ron cringed, "Draco Malfoy checking me out. Ughhhhh gross." The way he stared at his hands was how someone would if the had been infected by a deadly disease.

Using this time to her advantage Hermione picked up her Queen and switched it with Ron's Rook. This enabled her to declare checkmate when she made her turn.

"You know this is all your fault. Your's and these bloody boobs." Pointing to his chest Ron stared at her defiantly.

"I thought you liked boobs." She laughed at his shocked face. "Chill out why don't you, and let's play. It is my turn right?"

Ron sat down and he was so absorbed in the thought of Draco being attracted to Rowna, himself, that he didn't notice the pieces had been switched. So Hermione moved her Queen three places on the diagonal and declared, "Check and Mate."

Ron was bickering to himself, 'I didn't ask to be attractive, I just am,' but when he heard this he jumped.

His eyes searched the board and when he caught his misplaced Rook he sat back astounded. "You cheated."

On a spur of the moment idea Hermione threw herself at him, dislodging the board, and tackled him. "So what are you going to do about it?"

"Why I ought to…" Ron wrestled free and knocked her aside, in their mock tussle.

The second Hermione regained her balance she was at him again. In one quick movement she pinned his arms down by his head. Then in order to restrain his legs she straddled him, linking her feet around his thighs. Using her hair she tickled beneath his chin, ending him laughing and howling.

"Okay, I give!" He finally screamed out hoping for an act of mercy.

Exhausted by her win Hermione slumped against him, burrowing her nose in the place between his neck and shoulder. They hadn't been there long when Hermione suddenly rose and found her lips to his. Startled Ron froze, but Hermione soon loosened him up with her tongue.

For a moment Hermione was afraid that she was suddenly kissing her friend because he looked like a girl; she feared that she was attracted to girls. That idea dissipated as quickly as it was formed, for as their tongues wrestled for dominance she knew she was kissing Ron; he was kissing her as well.

The kiss wasn't passionate or anything but it still stirred her blood, and when they broke away it was only to stare at each other in silence. His face was hued with embarrassment and his lips were slightly swollen; Hermione noted that her's probably were too. They seemed to lay like that for eternity before Ron finally said, "I should dress like a girl more often."

"Ron!" Hermione scrambled to her feet trying to put together some excuse. "I was caught up in the moment. I-"

"I know." Ron was on his feet now, and he simply shrugged. "I'll think nothing of it."

Hermione stumbled, subconsciously giving herself a kick; there was no need to act so childish about it. What was done is done, and they were both old enough to handle it maturely. She was glad Ron at least saw that.

"Well it's getting late, and curfew…" Ron made for the door. "I had fun." He gave her a friendly punch in the shoulder, avoiding a hug, and left. "Goodnight Hermione."

"Goodnight."

After he had been gone a good minute, or so, Hermione remembered he was in a dress and laughed silently to herself.

A/n; Please Review.