"KAMIKAZE!"
"Ron, just come over here and sit down. And be quiet."
It was a quiet night in the Gryffindor common room – quiet, that is, apart from Ron Weasley's feet thumping on the royal red-carpeted floor as he zoomed around with his school tie wrapped around his forehead.
"Oh, c'mon, Hermione," he panted breathlessly while leaning over the back of a huge leather chair, a delighted grin on his face. "Lighten up."
Hermione Granger peered out from behind her large textbook and expertly raised a shaped brown eyebrow in her typical exasperated manner. Hermione was an excellent student, an extremely clever young girl with no time for idiocy, and she had perfected this certain 'look' to use on people in just this kind of situation.
"I can lighten up as soon as the Defence Against The Dark Arts test we have tomorrow is finished and out of the way," Hermione explained gently, as if talking to a young child, "Because then-"
"Because then you can relax and have some fun?" Ron completed, swinging his arms from side to side and pretending to dance.
"Because then I can get started on my Potions essay," Hermione finished. Ron stopped dancing and sighed.
"I shoulda known,' he said. Hermione shook her head at him and was happy to return to her book. Ron slid into the leather chair opposite her.
"Heat up, please,' he requested. Hermione looked at him over the top of her book again.
"Do it yourself,' she replied. Ron picked up his wand, which had been resting on the table nearby along with some half-eaten sweets and crumpled up sheets of parchment. He gazed sadly at the wand for a few moments, considering something.
"But Hermione," he whined in protest, a pleading look on his face, "You know I'm rubbish at this."
Hermione's hazel eyes twinkled as her pretty mouth broke into a mischevious grin.
"I know,' she smiled. "But you're going to have to learn how to do it sooner or later, Ron."
Ron rolled up his shirt sleeves to his elbows and stood up, shaking out his hands and feet.
"Okay, here we go," he told himself, raising his wand and shaking that out too. He pointed it at the fire and gave it a swing. "Flamaro, risup!"
Nothing happened. Hermione giggled quietly. Ron raised his wand up again.
"Flamaro, risup!" he cried, and there was a massive cough from the fire, the flames bellowing up for just a second before black smoke began billowing out from the old fireplace. While Ron panicked, leaping back and throwing various spells at the mess, Hermione sat relaxed in her chair and held up her wand to the blazing fire.
"Wataro," she said calmly, and the flames and smoke instantly vanished under a gentle stream of water. When it had disappeared, she raised her wand again and said gently, "Flamaro, risup."
The flames grew only slighty, cracking at the firewood and making the temperature just a little higher, so it was now comfortably hot.
"Thank you," Ron, looking slightly singed around the edges, muttered before collapsing back into his chair and sighing. "Time for bed yet?"
"You can go up if you want," Hermione said distractedly as she returned to her work, "I'll stay down a bit longer."
"Nah, that's okay," Ron quickly answered. "I'll keep you company."
Hermione finally took a second to put down her book and look at Ron properly.
"You miss Harry, don't you?" she asked with concern, smiling sweetly. Ron shuffled about uncomfortably in his seat.
"O-Only as a friend," he stammered, just a tiny pinch of dishonesty to his voice. "I don't really care about that thing that happened before, y'know."
"The kiss?" Hermione checked. This made Ron blush furiously.
"Yes, yes, the – kiss," he blurted, almost looking ashamed. "Look, it's not a big deal. I don't like him in that way, it was a one off. I'm pretty sure I like girls."
"Oh? Anyone in mind?" Hermione asked casually, pressing her lips together as she did so. Ron tugged at his collar and loosened the top few buttons of his shirt, and pulled the tie from his head. He shifted along in his chair, perching on the edge of the seat, and his knee brushed against Hermione's.
"A few lucky girls," he joked, a grin splitting his freckly face in two. "I've whittled it down, wasn't too difficult…"
Hermione tried not to look too interested in this comment, as Ron began scratching at his neck. Then, he noticed Hermione was staring at him with her glistening eyes. Her hair was long, glossy, and beautifully curled, ending just above her chest. Her uniform was neat, with her shirt buttoned right up and her tie still perfectly in place, though it was well past midnight and lessons had been over for hours. Without thinking, Ron slowly reached forward and tugged at her tie, loosening it just slightly. Surprisingly, she didn't react, just watched as the red-haired boy then proceeded to undo half of her shirt buttons, starting at her neck and stopping when her breastbone became exposed. Ron was sure he caught a glimpse of a diamante bra decoration twinkle in the light as Hermione twisted her body a little, so he decided to leave it at that.
"Is this to help me … lighten up?" Hermione asked curiously. Her lips had become plump and full of blood, making them glow pink. Ron simply nodded.
"You're a very pretty girl, Hermione," he told her truthfully. "Just let your hair down every now and then. Then guys will really go for you."
"There's only one guy I want to go for me," Hermione whispered, now leaning in closely to Ron – but he didn't understand.
"Is there really?" he asked delightedly, rubbing his hands together and eager to hear some gossip. "Who is it?"
Before he knew it, Hermione had leapt up and thrown herself onto Ron's lap.
"It's you, Ron!" she hissed urgently in his ear while wrapping her arms around his shoulders and neck. "It's always been you! Now, please will you kiss me!"
Ron didn't argue; he gently placed each of his hands on the sides of Hermione's face before tugging her closer and planting a sweet kiss on her soft lips.
"Hermione," he smiled at her, brushing hair behind her ears. "You may now consider yourself officially lightened up."