Hermione's world had flipped hundred and eighty degrees overnight. She felt like a new person, like no one could snatch her happiness from her again. She was in love, truly in love. She had not felt the same even when Viktor Krum had kissed her. When Ron's lips had touched hers, she had felt the sparks flying in her stomach and her eyes could see nothing but red. All the melancholy in her life which had been inflicted last year was drained away. She was seeing Ron Wealsey.

They had spent the rest of their duty talking to each other and catching up because they had hardly got a chance before. Every time she looked into his eyes, she could see the untold love that he nurtured for her. He looked so caring and protective. When seven years ago she had met this man on the Hogwarts Express and had mocked at some yellowing spell of his, had she known that she would be kissing the same man in her final year on the Astronomy Tower? But now, she was his, and that gave her a sense of security, that even Voldemort could not do anything to her. After the kiss (oh!) and after she told him her feelings for him, they started talking and it was the most unusual conversation a Hermione and Ron could have. Because when they had conversations, Ron enjoyed a distinct pleasure in teasing her about her studiousness and she loved proving that he was a boy with the brain of a troll. But this one…I might as well tell you.

"Well..," said Hermione a little uncertainly. "Ready to tell the world or a clandestine affair?"

"Anything you wish," said Ron with his dreamy look.

A pregnant pause followed where Ron was looking at his watch while Hermione readjusted her bangles.

Suddenly he blurted out, "You know Hermione, I've been thinking about you all summer but I was not sure if you felt the same way about me."

She bored her cinnamon eyes into his, "Well, now you know," and gave him one of her charming smiles which Viktor had described as "Very attractive".

Ron stood up and walked to the railing of the tower and looked around. She joined him. The scene was breathtakingly beautiful. The moon beamed on them, lighting the two lovers' face so that the happiness on their faces was almost obvious.

A long conversation and one and a half hour later, they finally broke away from their dream world, and walked back to the reality world. At the Gryffindor portrait hole the fat lady looked at them and remarked "Pretty late for you students to come back."

"We were on duty," Hermione said. She yawned. All this time she was sitting on the tower with Ron, she felt no sleep, but now standing in front of the fat lady her sleep came back to her.

"Thestral." Ron yawned too.

The last thing he said to her was "Goodnight, 'Mione" and he kissed her on her cheek.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

This morning she had taken extra care to dress herself up. She brushed her bushy hair until it looked not as bushy as before. She used the lip gloss her mother had bought for her from Best Buy and she sprayed the perfume which Ron had given her on a Christmas. Hermione felt confident today.

The Gryffindor common room was almost deserted, except for Luna who was sitting in front of the fire and was braiding her hair into a zillion braids with the Quibbler lying in front of her and a quill between her teeth.

"Hi, Hermione!" The quill fell from her mouth.

"Hi, Luna. Didn't see you on the train."

"My dad dropped me. He took me to Finland to look for Basutopaths."

Hermione raised an eyebrow.

"They are huge creatures who are immortal and whose spit produces the same effect as the Avada Kedavra spell,' Luna said knowledgeably.

Hermione knew about the weird animals that Luna and her dad went to visit. She suppressed a grin and asked, "So did you find them?"

"Not really. Their spit has exhausted so they have hibernated."

"Well, see you later Luna," Hermione said, feeling that another five minute conversation with Luna would turn her mad. Luna nodded and went back to her braiding.

Hermione was just going out of the portrait hole, when she heard Harry's deep voice from behind.

"Hey, 'Mione!"

"Oh hi, Harry," she replied, wondering if he knew.

"So congratulations. Heard about your and Ron's little date last night." Harry grinned mischievously.

"Hermione and Ron?" Luna's voice came from the background. Her quill was on the floor again, covered with Luna-bogey. Ew.

'Hi, Luna," said Harry, noticing her for the first time.

Luna ignored him and went on,"Hermione, you're dating that redhead?" she asked incredulously.

"Umm, yeah." What does she think of herself, calling Ron a redhead in that tone?

"Quite a put down after Krum, I must say."

She heard a discreet coughing from the boys' dorm steps and she turned to see her 'redhead'. He looked really scarlet and embarrassed. Luna might as well have said 'red-everything' Oops. Luna has a bad sense of timing.

"Hi Hermione. Hi Harry," he said, the color still remaining the same on his visage.

"Hey, Ron. Luna and I were having a chat about how lucky I am to get you," Hermione smiled.

"Don't lie, Hermione. You know I said he is a put down after Viktor."

Ron looked really depressed now. Hermione couldn't find any words to say. So instead she compensated with running up to him and kissing him on the forehead, which was really tough, because he was four inches taller than her.

"Let's go, Ron," she shot a nasty look at Luna. "Loony has no clue about what she's saying." Harry giggled and they walked outside the portrait hole, leaving Loony- I mean- Luna completely confused.

Halfway to the hall, they met Neville, who was animatedly talking to Ernie. As soon as the pair spotted Harry and Hermione, they ran up to them and both started speaking at once.

"Ask Mcgonagall-"

"-This is very wrong-"

"Do something-"

"Hang on, hang on guys," Harry raised his palm. "What are you talking about? Neville, you tell me."

"Harry, she cannot stop our trips to Hogsmeade. What sort of recreation do we have?"

"This is unfair. You-Know-Who can't pop up from behind a bush and attack us, can he? Hogsmeade is a top security village. Why can't you talk to her?" Ernie looked appealingly at Hermione.

"Well…we could. But you know McGonagall. She is not the one to flex rules," Harry warned.

The walked down to the great Hall discussing the chances of McGonagall changing the rules.

"Oh uh," Ron said, slapping his forehead. Harry and Hermione turned around.

"What happened?"

"Maria…"

Not again…

"Ron, she is coming today!" Harry remembered

She is?

Ron nodded mutely. Mom said she'd be dropped before breakfast. She might be here. Let's go!"

Harry and Ron ran at top speeds leaving a very frustrated Hermione behind.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Everyone, we have a new student with us from Beauxbatons. Please welcome Maria Delacour who will be joining the children of seventh year. Her sorting will take place during dinnertime."

Maria was a strikingly beautiful girl. In fact she didn't even look like a girl. She looked like a woman in the blossom of her youth. Her silver hair fell about her shoulders in a straight sheet and it seemed to match with her equally steely grey eyes. She was well toned and proportioned and even the Hogwarts uniform she wore made her look like some supermodel.

"…for the time being Maria can sit at the Gryffindor table with her cousin,"- all heads turned towards the Gryffindor table- "and I hope all of you will help her feel at home."

Maria walked, or rather glided gracefully between the tables and seated herself beside Ron. All the boys from the other tables were ogling at her and she seemed perfectly aware of it.

"'Allo Ron," she said, her French accent very obvious and prominent. "Comment ça va?"

"Err…" Ron knew nothing of French.

"How are you?" translated Hermione between gritted teeth. Maria laughed, her laugh comparable to the tinkling of silver bells.

"An' oo are you?" she asked.

"Hermione Granger."

"Ah, bonjour Hermione. Tu sais français?" Without waiting for the reply, she turned back to Ron, who was wolfing down his porridge, and said, "Ah, Ronnie, 'ope you 'ave not forgot your promise à moi? You are showing me 'round l'école?" She inquired. Hermione, being a woman could very well perceive the flirtatious tone in her voice.

"Et, the Eenglish leçons? 'Ave you forgot 'oze?"

"No, no, Maria. I have not forgotten,"-there was porridge smeared on his face-"Today, after the class?"

"Oui, après the class." Then she laughed and with a swish of her hand, flicked her cascade of hair in such a way that it brushed against Ron's cheek. For a moment he remained paralyzed, as if she had struck a spell on him, then he shook himself, looked at Hermione, gave a feeble grin and went back to his meal.

After breakfast they rose up and proceeded towards the dungeons for potions with Slughorn. Hermione felt so obviously left out. The three were discussing Fleur settling down with Bill and how their honeymoon went, and she felt ignored.

Suddenly Neville's voice shrieked from behind.

"Harry, Hermione, Ron wait up! She let us. She did not resist! Hogsmeade trips are on again. Twice a month on the first and third Saturdays!" He put his hand on his chest and caught up with his breath, while Ron and Harry high-fived and Hermione whooped.

"Hey, there's one this Saturday, on my birthday!" she exclaimed. Harry looked at Ron, and some male understanding was exchanged, then he said," Maria, let me show you about the castle a little bit."

"Oui, cher Harry."

And they were left alone as Neville went to spread the news to everyone. At first Hermione was inclined to be a little cold towards Ron, for his behavior around Maria at breakfast, but she got no chance, because as soon everyone had gone he kissed her on the mouth and all her anger melted as his hands reached around her waist.

"I love you, Hermione in case you didn't notice today," he said, as soon as they pulled away from the kiss.

"Me too, Ronald."

"Care to go to Hogsmeade with me?" Ron asked in an as-a-matter-of-fact tone.

"Oui, mon cher," she winked.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

A/N: Not bad huh? I'm so proud of my French! It's really getting on well. So this is my seventh chapter and it offers a little bit of twist to the happy relationship of Ron and Hermione. Maria…what is your opinion about her? Is she a boyfriend stealing woman, is she fantasizing with Ron, or she is just a friendly girl who means no harm and looks upon Ron and Harry as her brothersz? Well, you keep thinking about her character while I think up the plot of the next chapter. My pal wanted Gabrielle instead of me building up a new character, but I reasoned. Gabrielle was 9 when Harry, Hermione and Ron were in their fourth year, so she'll never be of age. For those who don't know French-

Bonjour: hello
Tu sais français: you know French
à moi: to me
l'école: the school
leçons: lessons
après: after
Oui: yes
Cher: dear
mon cher: my darling.

For the next chapters we'll have a lot of this language, as we'll have a lot of Maria (ah ha). So for the readers who do not know French, look up the dictionary in the author's note. Thanks sailorleia AGAIN! As usual, you're rocking my story. But other people, please review…pwetty pweeze…:D…I try so hard!