Ron Weasley glanced around the Gryffindor Common Room for the ninth time that night. For the ninth time, it contained only him and Hermione, and for the ninth time, he found that strange. He had been friends with Hermione Granger, along with his other best friend, Harry Potter, since their first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He wasn't sure when his more-than-friendly feelings for her had developed, but now, in their sixth year, they were most certainly there.
Ron and Hermione had been sitting in silence for at least an hour, working on their homework. Hermione was writing an essay for Potions while Ron was struggling with Transfiguration. ("What led to the discovery of the Contentious Spell, and, in your opinion, was it fairly banned?") Ron cleared his throat and started to ask Hermione if she wanted to take a walk with him.
"Hermione, d…" he began, but quickly lost his nerve. "Er, do you know when Harry will be back from his meeting with Dumbledore?"
Hermione looked puzzled. "No, Ron, I don't know."
"Oh, all right then, I'll best be off to bed." He shut his books and stuffed them into his bag. "G'night, Hermione."
She glanced up at him as he scrambled up the stairs to the boy's dormitories, and then whispered, more to herself than to anyone else, "Sweet dreams, Ron."
Half an hour later, Ron lay in his bed, awake. He looked up when Harry walked into the dormitory, and then sat up to greet his friend. "How was your meeting with Dumbledore?"
Harry's green eyes were alight with excitement. "Brilliant. He wants us to continue with the D.A.! Meetings were the best part of last year, and I really missed seeing everyone this summer… I think we should start off this year with something challenging, like the Nevecte Spell or something, I mean it's only the second week of term, I think we could handle it because we don't have loads of homework yet…"
Ron was only half-listening to his best friend's speech. He was once again thinking about Hermione, thinking about how he could partner with her in D.A. meetings, just like last year. He started to smile, thinking about how much he loved Hermione's wide brown eyes.
Harry paused for breath, and looked up at Ron's face. "Why are you grinning like a complete prat?"
Ron immediately shut his mouth. "I'm just really happy that we can have meetings again this year. I mean it mate, you really are a superb teacher. This year will be great…" And as Harry went off on another mini-speech about his lesson plans, Ron added to himself "…especially if Hermione will go out with me."
Dear Hermione,
Everyone else is asleep, and I'm writing this letter my moonlight. Right now I'm sitting on the windowsill, thinking aboout you. The way you laugh so freely, the way you know everything, the way you smile and get excited when you learn something new… I know I'm not going to send you this letter because I'm a big coward, but if you ever read it by some fluke, I want you to know that it makes me happy to think about you. It tears me up inside whenever you are angry with me. Even if I ever find the courage to tell you how I feel, I don't think I could find the words to describe it. I just wanted to tell you (even though you'll never know) that I'm thinking about you. Like always.
Love from,
Ron
The next morning, Hermione Granger awoke with a start. Her dream had been so intense, so real… what was it? She struggled to remember, and as she closed her chocolate-colored eyes, it came to her—Ron. Her dream had been about her best friend, Ron Weasley. Except that this wasn't a friend-type dream. She'd never had a dream like this about her other best friend, Harry Potter. As Hermione opened her eyes and got out of her bed, she remembered some of the details.
She and Ron had been walking across Hogwarts grounds to the home of the gamekeeper, and their good friend, Hagrid. Ron had stopped suddenly and kissed her. As Hermione got dressed for breakfast, she realized that the fact that he had kissed her wasn't the most startling part of the dream. The most startling part was that she had kissed him back. 'It was just a dream,' the sensible brunette told herself, 'it doesn't mean anything.' But as she walked slowly down the steps from the girls dormitory to the Gryffindor Common Room, she couldn't help smiling at the lingering feeling of Ron's lips against her own.
Harry and Ron glanced up as Hermione joined them at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall.
"What took you so long? We been in the Common Room for twenty minutes, waiting for you to come down… We couldn't very well go up to your dormitory, it turns into a bloody slide every time we try! How come you're here so late, you're always awake before us!" Ron ranted grumpily.
"I slept in. It's a weekend, we don't have classes, the two of you," she looked at the pair accusingly, "have done it plenty of times. Honestly, Ronald, you'd think it was a crime!"
"I didn't-" Ron started, but Harry, wanting to avoid an argument, cut him off.
"Listen, Hermione, Dumbledore told me last night that we're supposed to start up the D.A. again! He says that after what happened," Harry's voice caught in his throat, but he continued determinedly, "what happened at the end of last term, it's really important to be able to protect ourselves! So I'm going to need your help, Hermione, and," he turned to face Ron, "Yours too, Ron, to get the D.A. up and running again."
Hermione squealed. "Oh, this is just wonderful, Harry! I really enjoyed the meetings last year, you know, I learned loads!" She gave Harry a hug. Now, Harry was Ron's best friend, but Ron sometimes got a little jealous. Harry was rich, Harry was famous, and in Ron's opinion, Harry was much more handsome. (Ron was completely oblivious to the fact that he had quite a few girls fawning over him because he had become quite good looking over the past few years.) So when Ron saw Hermione giving Harry a hug, he looked down at his toast, suddenly not hungry- a first for him- and even grumpier than before.
Dear Ron,
You're off playing Quidditch at the moment, and I'm pretending to do my Arithmancy homework while really thinking about you. I'm terribly sorry I snapped at you this morning, I really didn't mean to… Sometimes we fight about the silliest things, and I don't know why, and I always feel awful after. Last night, when we were by the fireplace, I really wanted to hold your hand. I thought Gryffindors were supposed to be brave. I wish I had the bravery to grab your hand. Or to tell you how I feel about you. Or to just give you this letter. But I don't, so I guess you'll never know.
Yours,
Hermione
P.S. I had a dream about you last night, it was quite nice.