A/N: I know what you guys are gonna say. Finally. Well, yeah, finally. So here it is. Okay, I really think I should raise the rating, for this chapter particularly. Anyways, I'm too lazy to do that right now, so just review and tell me what you think. By the way, a secret revealed here. Well, it's in the title. But what's the revelation all about? Hahah! Read to find out! R&R! And this is a long chapter, warning!

Chapter 17: Ron's Revelation

Rose and Sirius broke apart. Sirius laughed.

"And for a moment there, I thought you were going to cry at the sight of me," Sirius threw his head back as his bark-like laugh echoed around the classroom. "And wipe that confused look off your face, Harry."

"Am I not supposed to be confused?" Harry asked. He did not have inkling about what was going on. How come Rose and Sirius knew each other? But then, Snape was Rose's godfather. But would Snape introduce Rose to Sirius? Harry thought it was impossible.

"I've never told you about my love life, Harry. I'm sorry, I forgot," Sirius said in mock apology. Harry was more bewildered. Was Rose Sirius' girlfriend?

"How slow could you get, Potter?" Rose said. She seemed to be in a happier mood after seeing Sirius. She sat down on a desk in front of Harry and stared at him.

"No, no. I haven't told him anything about your parents, Rose. Don't get mad at him for that," said Sirius.

And he launched into explaining about the love story of the century.

"Harry, Rose's mother was with us when we were at Hogwarts," Sirius started. Harry opened his mouth to ask, but Sirius cut him off. "Yes, your father knew her. And your mother – "

"They're bes' friends," Rose said suddenly.

"Wha – Really?" Harry managed. Then, a memory lit up in his mind. His first meeting with Rose. "So that was why you asked me if I was the son of James Potter and Lily Evans way back when – "

"Yeah, an' ya didn' ev'n ask me why I ask'd," Rose reminded. Harry suddenly felt silly, as Rose always managed to make him feel that way.

"So – so – your mother was my mother's best friend?"

"An' your godfather's love interest," Rose smirked.

"What?" Harry asked again. Did this mean that Rose was Sirius' daughter? How come? She was not named Black. But then, she might have been adopted. But the story seemed far-fetched. He turned to Sirius for an explanation.

"Regina, Rose's mother, was the love of my life, if I must say," Sirius said dramatically. "But she did not become mine. She belonged to someone else – "

"Way b'fore she's born," Rose said. Sirius looked somberly at her. "Am only sayin' the truth," she shrugged.

"I courted her, and we became – us. But then, when we left Hogwarts, her parents sent her off to marry someone else. An arranged marriage, that is. So, that was when we got separated."

Harry and Rose finished their detention with secret help from Sirius. (He helped read the essays.) They left the classroom without notifying Hatori.

"Where will you sleep?" Harry thought aloud while he, Sirius, and Rose made their way back to the seventh years' common room. The corridors were already deserted, so no one saw Sirius.

"There're extra rooms't the top of the dormitory," said Rose. "You'll do good there." Sirius nodded.

When they entered the common room, Rose taught Sirius the directions to the extra rooms. Sirius thanked Harry and Rose, and dashed off upstairs. Harry turned to Rose.

"Rose – "

"Save your speech – "

"Rose, I'm sorry – "

"I said save your speech – "

"I'm trying to apologize!"

"I said save your speech 'coz it's not needed!"

Harry stared.

"What?"

"Wha', ya don' understan' English now?"

Rose grinned.

"Are you serious?"

"Do I look like a clown?"

"I mean, you've really forgiven me?"

"Listen, am the one wh'should apologize," Rose raised her hands as if to surrender. "Acted like a c'mplete idiot. I c'n be very touchy s'metimes, I know, an' I'm sorry for the things I said. It jus' gets to me tha' I've trusted Severus for, like, all mah life, an' now I lost'im to Voldemort an' – "

Rose would have broken down into tears again if Harry had not suddenly wrapped her in his arms and kissed her. He placed one arm around Rose's waist, and the other on her nape, pressing her face onto his as they continued the heated kiss. Harry also continuously felt the electricity shoot through him at every part of his body that made contact with Rose's.

He could not explain why he wanted to kiss Rose. He supposed it was just because he missed her too much after their fight. Cheesy as it may seem, Harry missed her too much that he wanted to touch her, just to feel that they were really back together.

"Harry…"

Harry felt Rose's quick hot breathing on his neck as they ceased kissing. He did not let go of Rose, however.

"Harry, I wanted to 'xplain somethin' else," Rose said.

Harry proceeded to kissing her neck. "Mm… What is it?"

Rose whimpered at Harry's kisses before speaking up again. "I – I love you," Rose said breathlessly.

"I know… I love you too…" Harry replied. He heard Rose's breathing hitch as his kisses went farther down.

"I know – too… That's not my point," Rose replied.

She suddenly pushed Harry off. Harry staggered and landed on a couch behind him. Rose stared at him for a moment, before pouncing on him like a cat. Harry laughed out loud.

"I didn't think a punk like you could act so – "

"Sexy?" Rose suggested as she settled on Harry's lap, facing him. She kissed him slowly, and placed her hands on Harry's shoulders, as Harry landed his hands on Rose's waist. She threw her head back as she laughed at her own comment.

"So what was your point again?" Harry asked.

"This," Rose replied as she leaned in for another kiss. She pulled back almost immediately. "My point is, I get the urge to touch ya… An' I dunno why."

"Same here, pretty, and I don't know why either," Harry replied and brushed his lips on Rose's neck again. Rose straightened up and frowned at Harry.

"It woulda sounded better'f ya didn' add the 'pretty' part, y'know. Made ya sound like a D.O.M. or somethin'," said Rose.

"You never hold back insults, do you?" Harry laughed again.

The night went with Harry and Rose just joking around and laughing out loud in Harry's room, as they moved there to avoid disturbing other people with their loud voices.

Harry woke up the next morning to be welcomed by a disheveled-looking Ron.

"Wha's'up? Look like you've been… deserted or somethin'," Harry said sleepily as he entered the common room. Ron was sitting all by himself on a couch.

He looked up at Harry as though confused. It took a moment before his expression turned into acknowledgement of Harry's presence, and he replied, "You know, Rose's language is rubbing off on you."

"What?"

"You're starting to talk like her."

"Is that a bad thing?" Harry laughed. "Are you trying to insult my girl?" Harry said in mock anger as he sat down and straightened up. When he looked at Ron, however, he thought he saw some other kind of emotion; despair. "Ron, really, what's up with you?"

Ron shrugged. "It's nothing. Just need more sleep, I guess."

"Ron, I don't intend to be cheesy or anything, but you can tell me what it is. I'm your friend."

"Yeah, the problem is," Ron paused and gulped. "She's your friend too."

"What? Who – Hermione?" Harry asked, confused.

"Did I say that?" Ron snapped his head up at Harry.

"Well, you said 'she' and a 'friend' of mine. Who else is it, then?"

"Forget it, Harry. Don't worry about me."

"What's up with Hermione? You two didn't fight again, did you?"

"We didn't fight."

"So what's with her?"

"We're not exactly – friends right now either."

"Why?"

Ron groaned.

"What? I don't get you, all right? Can't you just tell me?"

"No wonder Rose hates that aspect of you. You're so naïve."

"What? What aspect of me – "

"I dunno if you're mocking stupidity, Harry, or you're really just slow on the subject of love."

"What – How – Love?" Harry paused and stared incredulously at Ron. "Ron, you – you're not in love with Hermione, are you?"

"What? I didn't say that!" said Ron, going as red as his hair.

"You just did! I don't believe this! Are you serious! I mean, I'm happy about it! It's just that it was all of a sudden and I didn't think you'd – "

"She doesn't like me!" Ron cut Harry, who was bouncing up and down his chair.

"What?"

"Well, not exactly that, but she said she needed more time to think about – it," Ron heaved a sigh. "And I guess, with that time, she needed to think about Krum."

"You mean you actually told her?" Harry said, amazed once again by Ron. Ron grinned.

"Just needed you out of the way, mate."

"You're trying to say I was in your way?"

Ron laughed. "It's just that – we three are friends, and we're always together. It's either me with you or Hermione with you. Hermione and I never – get some time alone," he explained, blushing a deeper red that Harry feared he might give off heat at any second.

"Oh, right," Harry said, contemplating on what Ron said.

"So, when you went to detention last night, and Sirius went off looking for you not long after, I, uhmm, took the chance."

"How did you begin?" said Harry, leaning forward eagerly.

"She was reading a book then. I somewhat interrupted her. Oh, we were here in the common room too."

Ron launched off with the story.

-- Flashback --

"Hermione," Ron hesitated, turning to Hermione who was reading a book by the fire. She and Ron were sitting in the same couch.

"Mmm," Hermione responded, absorbed in the book.

"Can we – talk – for a minute?"

"Yes, of course. What is it?" Hermione replied, not taking her eyes off her book.

"Can you – uhm, put that down first?"

"Ron, I need this for an essay. Just tell me what it is," she replied somewhat irritatedly.

Ron took a deep breath and yelled in one blow, "I love you!"

Hermione snapped her book shut and turned angrily to Ron. "Whatever this is, I guess it's really important because you are trying pitifully drastic measures just to get my attention," Hermione said. "So, what do you need?"

Ron stared for a moment, unable to believe Hermione's reply.

"Ron? I have a book to read and an essay to write!"

Ron recovered from his shock and went to retort.

"What? I meant what I said! That's all! You can go back to your book!" Ron said shrilly, gaining pink patches on his cheeks.

It was Hermione's turn to stare.

"Ron, I don't understand – " Hermione began in a hushed voice.

"It's – fine," Ron exhaled heavily. "Better hand in that essay – "

"Ron, why?" Hermione said, going pink just as well.

"What do you mean, 'why?'"

"You know what I mean."

"Yeah, so why are you asking why?"

"Because I don't know what you mean!"

"I thought you said you knew what I meant?"

"I was the one who said that!"

"Yeah, you know what I mean! That's exactly what I said!"

"No! I said you know what I meant when I asked you why!"

"What?"

"Argh!" Hermione slumped back in the couch, exasperated. Ron smiled quietly. "What now? What are you smiling about?"

"You look cute when you get mad and confused, I never got around to telling you that," Ron said absent-mindedly. Hermione blushed again, and Ron noticed. "No – I mean – you look – "

Both of them fell silent.

"Look, it's all right if," Ron began, breaking the hush. "You can't answer right now… But – I love you, Hermione. I've loved you since – I dunno – we used to get into a lot of fights before – but – somehow I realized – I – I just do – so…"

Ron's voice trailed away.

"Ron, I – I don't know how to respond, actually," Hermione smiled uncertainly.

"It's fine if you – don't answer right now – I mean – who wants that?" Ron laughed nervously. "Just – tell me after – some time… That's right."

"I'm so sorry I can't say anything right now," said Hermione, avoiding Ron's eyes. "I – I'll tell you what I've thought about after a while, Ron," she said, getting up, clutching her book in one hand. "I just need some time. Good night."

-- End of Flashback –

"And then she went up to her dormitory."

"Nice," said a man's voice behind Ron and Harry. Both jumped at the sound and turned.

"Sirius! You're gonna give me a heart attack!" Ron said, releasing his breath.

"Have you been there long?" Harry asked, amused. Sirius, who was leaning against the wall near the stairs, nodded.

"You mean you heard everything?" Ron asked.

"Yes, Ron, everything," Sirius smiled mischievously.

"How come you always turn up everywhere?" Harry asked.

"You don't want me here, do you? Fine, I'll just go back to Nami's Kingdom, then," said Sirius, sitting down across Harry and Ron.

"Yeah, ya c'n do tha'," said Rose, emerging from the stairs to the girls' dormitories.

"You!" said Ron furiously, pointing at Rose.

"Me?"

"Don't tell me you heard it too!"

"Oh, yeah, I did."

Ron groaned.

"Fine, ya don' trus' me. I c'n deal wi'that. Wait 'til the whole school – "

"No!" Ron said in a strangled yell. He was obviously stressed out with his little problem.

"I c'n help ya, y'know," Rose said, sitting down beside Harry, who automatically placed an arm over her shoulders. Sirius grunted.

"Can you two at least don't do that when I'm around? I'm not used to seeing you two, who are almost my own children, all sweet and mushy."

"Whoever said we were sweet and mushy?" Harry yelled. Rose threw a pillow at Sirius.

"You have to get used to it, Sirius! You'll be their godfather in marriage as well!" Ron teased.

"Shut up an' go back to your Granger problem, Weasley!" Rose returned his comment.

A/N: Whew, quite long, ne? By the way, "ne" at the end of a sentence is kinda the Japanese equivalent of "right?" or "isn't it?" or that kind of stuff. Anyways, tell me what you think about this one. Reviews!