A/N: I am so so so soo incredibly sorry for not updating sooner but I moved. Out of the blue my mother said that we're moving because she and my dad split up a while ago and she wanted to get out of the old house (she's crazy!). But anyways I have the computer at the new place and I am actually moving in on Friday so the updates will be more frequent. I have finished all 25 chapters and started on the sequel! YAY! Ok so onto the story and something might happen in this chapter! hint look at the chapter title hint

Chapter 10- Truth and Kisses

Hermione woke up to the familiar feeling of being near Ron and smiled. Ron felt her move and woke up. He looked down at her smiling face.

"Morning." He said smiling back down at her.

"Good morning!" Hermione heard something at the window. A barn owl was pecking at it. She wondered what it could be. She opened the window and the owl dropped four letters in her hand. She looked at them and noticed the purple ink and recognized the handwriting. Why was Lavender writing to them? She looked through; there was one for each of them. Ron's had hearts all over it. She actually had the initiative to throw them away.

"What are those? Isn't it a bit early for our school letters?"

"No, there from Lavender… I think." Hermione handed Ron his. He winced as he saw the hearts. They both opened theirs. It was an invitation to attend her 17th birthday party.

"Since when has Lavender invited us to birthday parties?"

"I don't know?"

"When is it?"

"At one today."

"Why did she send them today then?"

"I don't know?"

"Are we going?"

"I don't know. It's something to do I guess." Harry and Ginny started waking up.

"What are those?" Ginny asked. Hermione noticed she wasn't crabby. Probably because she fell asleep before anyone else and didn't wake up in the middle of the night.

"Invites to Lavender's party." Hermione said handing them their letters. After they read theirs Ginny and Harry exchanged looks.

"Are we going?" Ginny asked.

"Since when has Lavender had birthday parties and invited us to them?" Harry wondered.

"I don't know. Do you guys want to go?" Hermione said.

"I guess." Ginny said. Hermione looked at Ron he gave an uncomfortable shrug. Harry just looked at Ginny.

"I'll go write her back." Hermione stood up and went in the next room to write a response.

"Gin are you crazy?" Harry asked her.

"What? It's just a party." Ginny responded.

"Lavender was all over Ron the other day and she looked like she was about kill Hermione." Harry said. He looked at Ron who was still looking uncomfortable.

"What's wrong?" Ginny asked Ron.

"Who else do you think Lavender invited?" Ron wondered.

"I don't know, I'm guessing a lot of people from Gryffindor if I'm invited." Ginny responded. Ron's clenched his hands into fists. Harry knew that he was wondering if Seamus was invited. Hermione walked back in the room and that calmed Ron a little.

"We should get ready." Hermione walked out of the room and up the stairs. She wasn't sure how she felt about going to Lavender's party. What if Lavender tried something with Ron? Hermione went to take a shower and then went back into her room; Ginny was waiting for her to finish. Ginny left for the bathroom and Hermione got dressed. Since the invitation said to bring your bathing suit Hermione opened her top drawer and looked for a bathing suit. She chose her turquoise one. Hermione then decided on wearing a white jean skirt and a dark blue short sleeve shirt. She fixed her hair with her wand. Hermione decided on wearing her hair curly again. After sliding her feet in white flip-flops and doing her make-up, she went to the door. She heard Ron and Harry go down the stairs. When she was sure they were in the kitchen she walked out into the hallway and slipped into their room. She started over to Harry's trunk and made sure she didn't wake Hedwig or Pigwidgeon. Hermione opened the trunk and started searching. She then realized that Harry wasn't stupid and wouldn't hide it in an obvious place. Ron might have it though. She quietly crept over to Ron's trunk and opened it. It was the usual mess. She started searching and then realized that it would be on the bottom as her hand closed on something velvet. She quickly pulled it up. Finally she had the secret that everyone was hiding from her. She opened the box and saw the bracelet that she was looking at yesterday. Why did Harry keep this a secret? Figuring there was something more to this she picked up the bracelet and read the inscription on the heart.

I love you Mione,

-Ron

Hermione smiled. That's why they were keeping it a secret it was for her. Hermione wasn't as shocked as she thought she'd be. Deep down she knew the truth all along and felt the same way. She loved him. She quickly closed the box and stuffed it back down to the bottom. Why didn't Ron give it to her before? Well his parents were there the other day and yesterday they were stuck in the house. She gleefully walked out of the room and down the stairs thinking, Hmmm… Mione, I like it it's a cute nickname! Thinking that it would be best for Ron to make the first move she walked into the kitchen and poured herself a cup of coffee. Hermione took her usual seat next to Ron and across from Harry.

"Nice day!" She said excitedly. Ron and Harry glanced at her. Hermione looked at Ron she wanted to tell him that she loved him too, but held it in.

"How are we getting to Lavender's?" Harry asked.

"Drive. It said on the invitation that she lives like 20 minutes away. Her mum is a muggle." Hermione informed them. They finished their breakfast when Ginny came down.

"Don't we have to get her like a present?" Ginny asked.

"Oh…yeah. I guess we kind of have to." Hermione said dully.

"Do you think you could hex her birthday card so that when she opens it her face will get covered in that stuff like that girl Marietta Edgecomb from the D.A? It would be funny." Ron asked. Hermione laughed, she was about to say that it was mean but then she remembered they were talking about Lavender. They decided to go and get her a present and by the time they were done they would go to her party. Hermione did her normal routine of putting her sunglasses on and starting the car. Beverly Hills started playing. Ron and Hermione looked at each other and laughed. They went to find something for her at the boardwalk. Harry and Ron hung back and let Ginny and Hermione pick out something to give Lavender. Ginny got Lavender a necklace, Harry didn't want to give Lavender a present like that because he didn't want to pick it out so he got a card and put a Galleon in it, Hermione got Lavender a muggle book that she had read. She could care less what she got Lavender though. Ron got her a card but bewitched it (with Hermione's help of course) so that it said Happy Birthday Lavender and sparkled like fireworks on the page. Hermione started driving to Lavender's when they finished shopping. Harry was magically wrapping the gifts in the back when they reached Lavender's and they realized that they were a few minutes late; they all hurried out of the car and walked up to the front door. Ginny knocked on it and Lavender opened it. She was wearing a hot pink bikini that was barley there. Not that there's much to cover. Hermione thought evily to herself.

"Hi everyone! I'm sorry the party was short notice. I'm glad you all could come though!" Lavender looked at Ron when she said this. "Come in!" She opened the door further and they walked into Lavender's blue living room.

"Everyone else is out back at the pool. Oh thank you!" She took the gifts and placed them onto a table where the others were. Lavender led them through the living room to the back yard where a bunch of Gryffindors were swimming in a big pool. "You can put your stuff here and come in the pool." She pointed to four chairs and walked over to the side of the pool and jumped in. Lavender's backyard was really big. It had a big in ground pool (just a little bigger than Hermione's) and there were about two-dozen chairs with people's stuff on them. There were a few tables each with four chairs. When they were in their bathing suits they walked over to the side of the pool. Harry and Ginny got in at the ladder. Hermione stood off to the side looking in unsurely.

"Are you coming in?" Ron asked her. She looked at him and decided to.

"Yeah!" They both got in at the ladder too. Seamus swam over to them.

"Hi Hermione!" He said. Ron gathered his hand in a fist underneath the water.

"Hi Seamus." Hermione said.

"How have you been?" He asked her. Hermione noticed he was staring and crossed her arms over her chest and looked at him.

"Not much different from the last time I saw you." She replied sarcastically. Ron glared at him.

"Hermione, Harry and Ginny are over there let's go!" Ron said giving her a nudge. She nodded and started over to them. Ron however stayed behind glaring at Seamus.

"She's got a nic-" Seamus started but his words were cut off by Ron's fist colliding with his face. "Ouch! What the hell was that for?"

"If you ever look at her again like that or say something stupid like that I will curse you into oblivion!" Ron shouted. A few people looked and Hermione turned back. She saw Ron's red face, his fist held high in the air and Seamus holding his face. She smiled. Ron swam over to her.

"Thank you!" She said. His face was now red from embarrassment.

"You're welcome. I'll be damned if he's going to keep doing that to you." Ron snarled. Hermione hugged him. They went over to Harry and Ginny and joined in on their game of catch with some other Gryffindors. An hour later Lavender's mom brought out a few boxes of pizza. Everyone got out of the pool and got some pizza. Then everyone went to choose a table. Ron sat down at one and Hermione went to get them drinks. Lavender came and sat down where Hermione was supposed to. Harry and Ginny looked at her.

"Hermione was sitting there." Ginny informed her.

"Oh, I know I was just coming to ask Ron if he wanted to come sit over there with me." Lavender looked at him. Ron put his pizza down and looked at her.

"No thanks I'm fine over here." Ron said before picking the pizza again. Lavender's look stiffened while Ginny held in her laugh. Lavender got up and left them. Hermione came back just passing Lavender. She looked at all of them Ron was casually eating his pizza and Harry and Ginny were both laughing. She just shook her head and handed Ron a butterbeer. "Thanks!" Ron said with a full mouth. They ate and when they finished they saw Lavender brining her presents out.

"Oh this should be fun!" Ginny said sardonically. The other three laughed. Lavender opened all of the presents and then Ron's last. She marveled at the card and then rushed over to Ron.

"Aw, that was to sweet! Thank you!" She hugged him. Hermione wanted to hurt her. She regretted not hexing the card. When Lavender let go of Ron he was red.

"Your…uh welcome." Ron said. Lavender smiled at him.

"Ok now we're going to play truth or dare, so everyone bring your chairs in a circle." Lavender said. She tried to squeeze in a spot next to Ron but Harry and Hermione got there first.

"Isn't this a kids game?" Ginny whispered in Hermione's ear before moving to the open seat next to Harry. Hermione just shrugged.

"Who wants to go first?" Lavender asked. Ginny looked at Parvati who was looking from Ron to Lavender. Parvati opened her mouth to speak but Ginny cut her off.

"I'll go!" Ginny said. She got an angry look from Parvati and Lavender.

"Fine. The rules are that you can't pick the same thing twice. And you have to do the dare or else you have to jump in the pool naked." Lavender told them. Everyone nodded.

"Ok…hmmm…Hermione!" Hermione's face turned red. "Truth or Dare?" Hermione thought for a minute. If she picked truth, Ginny would probably have her confess her love for Ron in public. The dare couldn't be that bad.

"Dare!" Hermione said timidly. Ginny smiled mischievously and looked at Ron. Hey she promised she would help.

"I dare you to kiss Ron!" Hermione sat for a second thinking. Ginny never said how or where. She could just kiss him on the cheek and then go on. She sat up and looked at Ron whose face was red. She leaned in and pressed her lips against his. She was surprised to see that he kissed her back.

"Eh hem!" Lavender coughed but Ron and Hermione stayed in the same position. She coughed again and Hermione and Ron finally parted. Hermione was too nervous to look at Ron so she focused her attention to the ground. "Truth or Dare someone Hermione." Lavender said in an unpleasant tone. Hermione continued to stare at the ground.

"Neville truth or dare?" She could tell Neville was fidgeting without even looking up.

"Truth!" He squeaked.

"Is it true that you're dating Luna? And if so since when and how did it happen?" Hermione looked up this time and saw a beat red Neville. She felt bad but she had to do something to take the pressure away from her and Ron.

"Yes since the end of sixth year." He said quietly; Hermione smiled.

"How did it happen?" Parvati asked.

"We were in the same compartment on the train and we just kind of talked and stuff." Neville said his face redder than before. A few people laughed.

"Aw, that's so sweet." Parvati gushed. Neville's face became a little less red. Hermione looked at Lavender who was glaring at her and Ron. Hermione took a quick look at Ron who was watching her. She gave him a small smile and he retuned it.

"Harry truth or dare?" Neville asked. Harry thought for a minute. Both of them had gotten embarrassed in either truth or dare.

"Truth!" Harry said.

"Uh… is it true Ginny is a better kisser than Cho Chang?" Harry glared at Neville.

"Of course!" Harry said. Ginny smiled at him and kissed him. Harry didn't mention that he only kissed Cho once. Hermione could tell that Ron was grimacing. "Ok…uh Parvati truth or dare?" Ginny slapped him across the arm. "Ow! What was that for?"

"Dare!" Parvati said before Ginny could answer.

"Ok, I dare you to tell everyone what you did at the Yule Ball!" Harry said.

"No!" She screamed. Her face was red and so was someone else's.

"Then the pool then?" Harry asked. Parvati looked like she was considering.

"What did you do that was so bad?" Lavender asked. Parvati shook her head.

"Fine! I'll jump in the pool naked. I swear I will curse the living day lights out of if you tell anyone!" She pointed at Harry and stood up. It seemed like he was enjoying himself. Parvati stripped herself of her bathing suit behind a towel and them jumped in releasing the towel. A few of the boys were staring hoping to get a glimpse of her but most people stared at the ground (including Ron and Harry.) Parvati put her bathing suit back on again behind a towel that Lavender held up and was dripping. "Pointless! She muttered glaring at Harry.

"Wow you must have done something really bad to have done that." Her sister commented. Parvati said nothing though. She took a quick glance at the other red-faced person before continuing. Parvati looked at Lavender and smiled. Ginny banged her head against her hand.

"Ron truth or dare?" Parvati asked. Ron was about to answer but then looked at Ginny who was smashing her head.

"Gin are you ok?" Ron asked.

"Oh, I'm fine truthfully!" She said emphasizing on the word truthfully. Ron looked at her funny." I'm telling the truth!" Again Ron missed the hint. She mouthed, "pick truth" to him.

"Huh?" He didn't get it so he turned his attention to Parvati again and was oblivious to the plan, "Dare!" Parvati smiled. She acted like she was thinking about it for a minute.

"Ron, I dare you to kiss Lavender." His face went red and he looked at the pool considering.

"What?" Ron asked.

"You heard me." Parvati said smiling at Lavender.

"Fine." Hermione was heartbroken. Ron stood up and walked over to Lavender. She closed her eyes and puckered up her lips. Ron however ignored it and kissed her on the cheek. Hermione smiled when Ron returned to his seat. Lavender's face was about as red as Ron's from embarrassment but hers was anger. Hermione chuckled to herself.

"I said kiss." Parvati pointed out.

"And I did. You never said where." Ron smiled while Parvati scowled. Ron went next and then they played till everyone had a turn. Everyone had their turn being embarrassed nobody spoke of Ron and Hermione's kiss they were all to busy talking about Parvati's secret. Most people tried to get it out of her but she didn't even talk back to them. They then bugged Harry but he told them he was sworn to secrecy. Everyone got back in the pool after. Lavender swam over to where Ron, Harry, Hermione, Ginny, and Neville were playing catch with a Frisbee.

"Can I play?" She asked. Ron looked at her and then to Hermione.

"Yeah, go stand by Neville." Ron instructed her.

"But there is an open space on the other side of you." Lavender pointed to the small distance between him and Hermione. Hermione moved over closing the gap.

"Now there isn't!" She smiled. Lavender walked over to where Hermione was. She squeezed herself in between Ron and Hermione. Hermione glared at her.

"I guess there is now." She said nastily to Hermione. Hermione swam to the edge of the pool and lifted her self out.

"Where are you going Mione?" Ron asked.

"I'm just going to sit out for a little. She can take my place." Even though she was mad she couldn't help smile. He had called her by her nickname. She walked back to her seat.

"I'm going to go with her." Ron said.

"No, Ron I'll go." Ginny looked at Harry giving him a look that plainly said "keep an eye on her" Harry nodded to tell her he understood. She walked over to the edge and lifted herself out hearing Lavender talking to Ron.

"Yeah you stay and let her go." Ginny looked back at her and saw she had an arm on him.

"I forgot something!" Ginny said. Lavender looked back at her and she jumped in cannonball style. Lavender didn't have time to look away before she was soaked and her hair that she was trying to keep dry was completely soaked. Ginny smiled and swam over to Harry. She kissed him on the lips and swam back over to the edge. She pulled herself out and started toward Hermione. Ron had to give his sister props, that was good, disturbing, but good. He went back to his game. There was only him, Neville, and Harry left because Lavender went to fix her hair. Ginny sat down in the chair across from Hermione. "Hey!"

"Nice one!" Hermione said as Lavender walked past them in a huff with Parvati on her tail.

"Thank you! You were my inspiration. I owe it all to you."

"Well I owe you too for earlier."

"Did you two talk about it?"

"No but that might persuade him to tell me his true feelings."

"What do you mean?"

"I found the bracelet."

"You weren't supposed to."

"I couldn't help it. I wanted to see what you all were keeping from me." Ginny looked at her disappointed but then smiled.

"Did you like it?"

"Yeah did you help him pick it out?"

"No, he did. He asked Harry to get it and gave him the money." Hermione was speechless. Ron had picked that out for her without help. Hermione looked at her watch it was only 5, the party wouldn't be over for another 2 hours. She glanced at Ron in the pool. He was having fun. He caught her eye and smiled, Hermione retuned it. The Frisbee flew uncontrolably out of Harry's hand and through the air hitting Ron on the head. Hermione rushed over to where he was.

"Ron! Are you ok?" Hermione jumped in the pool and looked at his head.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Ron rubbed his head.

"Come on let's go sit down." She led him to the ladder.

"Honestly Mione I'm fine." Ron started up the ladder and then he lost his balance falling back in. Hermione helped him out and led him to the table. Ginny came out of the house with an ice pack in her hands. She handed it to Ron and he put it on his head. Lavender came out of her house a minute later with a cup in her hands. She handed it to Ron.

"Drink this. It will make you feel better." Lavender said.

"Thanks." Ron mumbled. He brought the cup to his lips.

"Wait Ron don't drink it!" Ginny exclaimed. Ron put the cup down and looked at her.

"Why not?" Ron asked.

"Yeah why can't he drink it?" Lavender wondered.

"Because you spiked it." Ginny said. Hermione glared at Lavender.

"I don't know what you are talking about?" Lavender lied.

"Oh come off it! I watched Parvati charm the Frisbee and then you were going to run over there and comfort Ron, but Hermione got there first. I went to get the ice pack and you two were mixing something into that cup. It was one of those love potion things from my brothers' shop huh?" Ginny unveiled the truth.

"No it's something to help him get better." Lavender lied again.

"Shove off Lavender!" Ginny exclaimed. She picked up all of their stuff and took the ice pack from Ron. Ginny chucked the ice pack to the ground. "C'mon!" She said. Hermione helped Ron up and they started toward the house. Harry got out of the pool and followed them. Hermione turned around and waved at Lavender sarcastically.

"Great party!" Harry called sardonically as they exited. Hermione helped Ron into the car and then went to the other side of the car. She started the car and realized that she was still in bathing suit, they all were. When they were a good 5 minutes away Harry started laughing.

"What?" Ron moaned.

"Everything. Think about it, this whole time she was trying to get close to Ron and then the Seamus thing-"

"I actually didn't find that funny!" Hermione pointed out.

"Well not that part but the fact that he got punched was funny as hell and then She tried to make Ron fall in love with her Ginny blew up at her. And to think this was all a nonsense party for Ron to like Lavender. She wouldn't have invited us last minute if there was another reason." Harry laughed. The others started laughing too.

"Did you see her face when Hermione waved back to her? That was the highlight of my day!" Ginny laughed.

"And when Ginny figured it out and told her off!" Hermione said.

"I personally enjoyed punching Seamus he deserved it. I would have cursed him the other day if he hadn't walked away so fast." Ron said through the pain. Hermione smiled, he had stood up for her. She was just about to ask what other time he was staring but Ginny interrupted.

"So Harry what did Parvati do at the Yule Ball?" Ginny asked. Harry's face was red from laughing and he laughed some more.

"I wouldn't be telling you if she hadn't hit Ron with the Frisbee. Well I walked in on her and someone in the boys bathroom." Harry laughed.

"Who?" Ginny asked.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Ron asked.

"Well I don't want Hermione to crash the car or anything and I didn't tell you because I was too shocked and disturbed. It took me a while to try and repress that memory." Hermione looked back at him quickly.

"Just tell us I promise not to crash."

"No you don't understand. I'm not saying anything till we stop." Hermione wanted to hear this so she pulled the car over.

"I want to hear this!" Hermione looked back again and all three of them were staring at him.

"I walked in on her and Neville snogging. She was a bit out of it." Harry laughed. The other three burst out laughing. Hermione was glad she pulled over because tears of laughter were obscuring her vision.

"No way!" She laughed.

"It's true and quite disturbing if you saw it." Harry said. When they finally got themselves together Hermione continued to drive. They stopped at the drive through again to get dinner and then returned to Hermione's. She rushed upstairs and came down with a big book.

"What's that?" Ron asked as Hermione neared him with the book.

"It's a spell book for minor injuries." Hermione informed him. She said the spell and his head cleared up.

"Thanks Mione." Ron smiled.

"Your welcome… Mione?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know it's a nickname if you don't like it I'll stop calling you it."

"No, no, I like it." She kissed him on the cheek. He blushed like crazy and she went upstairs to shower. Ron went back up to his room and Harry was there.

"So when are you going to give her the bracelet?" Harry asked.

"I don't know. I've been trying to think of a way to do it but I can't think of the perfect way." Ron sighed and sat down on his bed.

"Talk to Ginny, she might have a good idea." Ron shrugged. He wasn't sure he wanted to ask his little sister for advice on this kind of stuff. He laid back and closed his eyes remembering the kiss from earlier today wondering whether they would talk about it or if something would just happen.

A/N: Ok what did you think? I will try to have another chapter up by Friday at least. Next chapter is called I Love You! Mega hint hint hint! So please review and I will get back to ya soon with an update soon! I love all of you reveiwers! -Kylie