Disclaimer:

The Characters and situations of Harry Potter depicted in this story are the legal property of J.K. Rowling, Bloomsbury, and AOL Time Warner, and have been used without permission. No copyright infringement is intended. No profit is being made off this site, and is for entertainment purposes only.

This chapter has been revised as of June, 2005 and contains new content. It has also been modified from the original NC-17 version is located at Checkmated, and is rated R.

Of Hearts and Heroes

Chapter Nine

Ginny was awoken from a thoroughly pleasant rest by a shrill voice calling her name. She groaned and pulled a pillow over her head. She felt a pair of irritating hands poking at her shoulders. She did her best to ignore them. "Leave me alone, Mum," she grumbled.

"Ginevra Weasley, wake up this instant." The words were her mum's, but the voice was…Hermione? Oh crap.

The girl rolled over and looked up into the drawn face of her pajama clad friend. Ginny groaned again. "Hermione? What do you want?" It wasn't even fully light yet. If this was about her stupid brother again, she was going to kill him.

"The diary's gone," Hermione whispered urgently.

"The diary?" Ginny blinked at her sleepily. What was she going on about?

"The Empath Diary. You know, the one that belongs to that lunatic dictator that Harry calls a cousin. The one that's her prize possession. The one she'll likely kill me over." Hermione looked frazzled to the point of panic. She had bags under her eyes and her hair was going every which way.

Ginny sat up fully, doing her best to push the cob webs from her mind. "Are you sure?" she whispered.

"Yes! I fell asleep on it for Heaven's sake. It was gone when I woke up. I looked everywhere. The Legend and Legacy of the Empath is gone as well. Do you still have The Lost Art of Empathy?" Hermione spoke quickly and quietly.

It was hard to believe that she wasn't over reacting. Why would someone steal Adrianna's books? "Yeah, it's in my trunk." Unlike Hermione, Ginny didn't tend to sleep with her books.

Hermione was already off the bed and going through the other girl's trunk. There was a frantic quality to every movement she made. As Ginny slid off her bed, she tried to remember if she had anything in there that she didn't want her friend to see. There were certainly things she didn't want Ron to know---

"It's not here." Hermione stared at the trunk with a despondent and terrified look.

Ginny felt her anxiety rise. She was sure she'd put… She scrambled off the bed, all vestiges of sleep leaving her, kneeling next to the trunk as she rummaged through the contents. "It has to be here. I know I put it right here." Harry was going to hate her if she lost Adrianna's book. Hermione he had history with, he'd forgive her.

She stared at the scattered contents of her trunk in disbelief. Why wasn't it here? Ginny stood up and began opening and closing her drawers, even though she knew, she knew, she didn't put it there. Hermione searched the room, under the bed, the window sill, the desk surfaces. After endless minutes of useless searching, Ginny shook her head. "It's no use. It's not here." Now she was beginning to panic.

Hermione's eyes darted around the room. "There's one more book." She ran from the room without warning, leaving Ginny to stare after her in shock.

Grabbing her dressing gown and slippers, Ginny didn't pause to put them on as she rushed after the wild-haired girl. She hopped down the stairs as she tried to put on her slippers and protect herself from the cold stone. "Hermione! Wait!" Ginny frowned. Why was she always chasing after someone?

Hermione was already down the steps of the girls' dormitory and ascending the steps to the boys'. Shite, Ginny thought as she realized where they were going. Harry and Dean's room. Possibly the last place she should be going. Bloody hell.

Ginny reached the fifth year dorm room after Hermione, wondering why she didn't just have the sense to go back to her room. She struggled into her dressing gown, obscenely glad that she had the sense to grab it. She didn't want to be in that particular room without it. Ginny entered the room cautiously, her stomach in knots. She felt a rush of wicked excitement.

Hermione had already pulled back the drapery around her brother's bed. It was too tall a bed for her to reach Ron from the floor so she climbed up and knelt, precariously, on the edge. She gently shook him and called his name.

As Hermione leaned over him, Ron sleepily reached out and yanked her toward him. He took her off balance and she wound up sprawled over him. He blearily called, "Hermione."

Ginny had to press her hand over her mouth to stifle the bubbling laughter that threatened to spill out. He certainly didn't think she was their mum.

"Ompf, Ron," Hermione whispered urgently, trying to wake him.

Ron didn't seem to hear Hermione's tone. Wrapping both his arms around her, he pulled her to him tightly. "Mmm, Hermione," he moaned.

Ginny bit her hand so hard it hurt. Yeah, he found Hermione repulsive. That was it. Her poor friend was red faced and struggling, looking around the room nervously. "Ron! Wake up!" she said more insistently.

"Don' wanna," he murmured, nuzzling, yes nuzzling, his captive's neck. "'Mione."

'Mione, huh? By this point Ginny had at least a summer's worth of material with which to torture her brother when the days got long and boring.

"Ginny!" Hermione called out in desperation. "I could use some help here."

But the redhead just shook her head, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Looks like you're doing just fine." Besides, Ginny was thoroughly enjoying the show.

Hermione groaned and tried harder to push Ron away. It seemed Ron had grown quite strong over the last year or so. He wasn't budging. Did Hermione really want him to?

"What the bloody hell is going on out there?" called a loud Irish brogue.

Ginny froze, the laughter dying on her lips as three faces appeared from behind the curtains of three beds. Only Harry's remained shut.

"Ow!" Ron shouted, releasing Hermione immediately and rubbing his shoulder. Ginny had to wonder exactly what Hermione had done to him in her desperation to get away. Seemed the kitten had claws…or teeth. Ginny bit back another giggle as Hermione quickly scrambled away from her brother.

"Seems we have visitors," Dean stated in a sleep roughened voice. Ginny's heart immediately lodged in her throat, and her attention pulled away from the amusing scene to one more….Oh dear, he was staring at her with such warm dark eyes. She blushed and had to look away.

Ginny pulled her dressing gown more tightly closed and prayed that Ron wouldn't notice the interaction. And Harry that would stay behind his drapery. God, what would she do if Harry appeared now?

Ron was looking at Hermione with panic. A panic that had nothing to do with a missing book. Maybe it was the glint in a certain Irishman's eye, who took the scene in with great interest. Let the teasing begin. Seamus leaned out of his bed, calling merrily, "Well, then, what's this? Right cozy, I'd say."

Normally, Ginny would have expected Seamus to be making a comment about Hermione being a prude or bookworm… or about her current, very uncharacteristic behavior.

However, it seemed Adrianna's speech had gotten to the sandy-haired boy. He was looking at Hermione with what could only be described as appreciation and maybe even awe. As if finding her in a bloke's bed was proof of a hidden wild side. If Ginny wasn't mistaken, there was even a touch of envy on his face when he looked at Ron.

"Nothing! Nothing's going on," Hermione's voice was shrill and unusually flustered as she scrambled off Ron's bed, shooting Seamus a look that could kill.

Seamus smiled broader, eyes intent on Hermione. "It dinna look like nothin'. Dean, it look like nothin' to you?"

Dean smiled playfully at Ginny and turned to look at their red-faced victims. "No, it sure didn't, Seamus. What do you think, Neville?"

Neville blushed as bright as Ron. He stammered, "I didn't see anything, I swear."

Good old Neville. Ginny sighed. It seemed it was time for her to be a good sister and friend. Ron and Hermione seemed to be completely incapable at getting themselves out of this sort of mess. How did Ron survive the twins, again? Oh yeah, he had her.

Ginny rolled her eyes, and gave a practiced grunt of incredulity. "Oh, come now. What could they possibly have been doing? I'm standing right here."

Hermione shot her a grateful look as she regained her power of speech. "We were just here looking for a book." She turned and looked at Ron pointedly. "Remember that book you borrowed. The one you were reading yesterday."

Ron looked confused, but he took the hint that it was important and climbed off his bed. He opened a drawer, "It's right…" A shocked expression came over his face. His head turned abruptly and he made eye contact with Hermione. A silent communication seemed to be taking place. Ginny found it amusing and annoying at the same time.

Hermione gulped. "Is there any place else you could have put it?"

"I know I put it here," Ron insisted, but he was already rummaging through his things.

"So, what sort of book is this?" Seamus asked with laughter, raising his eyebrows suggestively.

"Seamus Finnigan!" Hermione's frustration bled into anger at her classmate. She snapped at him, "Just, just get back to bed and mind your own self."

The Irishman just grinned wider and exchanged a look with Dean. He obviously felt this was an example of Hermione's 'fire.' If Hermione ever found out what Adrianna had stirred up, there was going to be quite a show.

Ron was oblivious to the entire exchange, as usual. He ran a hand through his hair and looked around. "It's got to be here." He strode over to Harry's bed and opened the curtains. "Hey, mate, did you see…"

Harry wasn't there. Ginny felt an initial wave of fear, then she remembered that Harry was rarely where he supposed to be these days. Ron shared a look with Hermione, who pushed past Ginny and started another mad dash down the stairs. Apparently, Hermione was a tiny bit worried.

Ginny followed, running down the stairs, once again, after Hermione. That's what she did, follow. It was her lot in life. It seemed it didn't matter where they were going, Ginny wasn't about to be left behind. It was so sad.

She heard her brother's bare feet on the stone behind her, and Ginny called out, "Wait! Harry's probably out by the lake. You can't go out like that."

Hermione behaved as if she hadn't heard her. Ron dashed past Ginny, his longer strides overtaking hers. He caught up with his friend in the common room and caught her arm, swinging her to face him. When she looked up at him, there was fear on her face.

Ron didn't flinch. He said calmly, "You need to get dressed. We'll look for Harry together."

She seemed to be considering when they heard a soft voice call from the other side of the sofa, "I'm here."

They found Harry sitting on the floor with his knees to his chest. His back was against the sofa, and he was staring blankly into the cool flames of the fireplace.

"Harry." Hermione rushed to him. She hadn't seen Harry like this. He always pulled himself together a bit when he visited them in the hospital. Unfortunately, Ginny had seen this side of Harry often over the last few days.

Hermione started to kneel, but paused, looking to Ron. He stood behind her and nodded reassuringly. Carefully, apologetically, Hermione confessed, "Harry, we can't find Adrianna's books. They're gone."

His only reaction was a brief nod. That was strange. Ginny certainly expected a reaction from that. She wanted to say something, but felt out of place. Hermione and Ron were back. They were a trio again. She wasn't needed.

Hermione moved then. This time, she did fall her knees beside him and searched his face with a concerned expression. "Do you know what happened to them?" she asked, cautiously.

Harry shrugged, his gaze not wavering. "I suppose Adrianna took them back."

"Oh." It seemed all Hermione could manage. Silence followed as she shared glances with Ron and then Ginny. Finally, the older girl placed a light hand on Harry's knee, asking, "Did something happen?"

He shrugged again.

Ron started to ask, "But, why---"

"She's gone," Harry interrupted in a stronger voice

"Gone?" Ginny whispered, almost to herself. She moved closer, around the sofa to join the others.

"Adrianna left. I suppose she took her books with her," Harry repeated matter-of-factly.

Ginny mind raced, trying to remember every interaction she had with Adrianna, everything the Empath had said. Ginny shook her head in disbelief. "She said she wouldn't leave. She said no one could make---"

"Well, she left," Harry said without a trace of emotion.

"What was that shite about helping you, about fate sending her here?" Ginny's voice shook with anger. She felt a burning desire to kill the traitorous bitch.

Harry shrugged yet another time. After a long moment he answered, "She said I'd see her again soon."

"Soon?" Ginny choked. Soon, yeah right. Her fists curled in rage. She felt her brother put a hand on her shoulder to still her.

"Did she say when?" Hermione asked softly.

There was another non-answer from Harry.

"Did she say why, mate?" Ron asked in a supportive tone.

Harry shrugged. "She said it was really important."

Ginny remembered the spinning medallion from the day before. What could be more important than Harry? She didn't buy it. Not for a second.

"Oh Harry," Hermione whimpered, throwing her arms around his shoulders and leaning her cheek against him.

He didn't move to hug her back.

For Harry, the last two days of school passed slowly, uneventfully. He felt like he was just awakening from a strange dream and was having trouble making reality come into focus. It didn't help that reality seemed to come with sharp edges that were determined to make him bleed.

When Adrianna said goodbye, Harry felt hopeful that she would come back for him. But those feelings disappeared as soon as she did, leaving him feeling like he had just awoken from a spell. He was having trouble believing that she had been there at all.

There was no physical evidence of her existence. The books had vanished, her room was back to the way it was before, even the photo album was gone. Harry's friends refused to mention her name and he certainly wasn't going to bring the subject up. On the morning of the last full day at Hogwarts, Dean Thomas asked Harry about his cousin. Harry almost asked him what he was talking about.

Harry whiled away his last days with long walks and chess matches. He spent time with his friends- with them, but still somewhat apart from them. It was as if there was some invisible wall, through which Harry watched them from a distance.

Ron had developed an obsessive need to be around Hermione at all times. Even so, he avoided physical contact with her as if touching her could cause his own death. The resulting strain was palpable. His friends were edgy and snappish, none of which was new to Harry. Yet this time, it was somehow different, and it filled him with a sense of dread and loss.

He may have resorted to avoiding his two best friends all together if it hadn't been for Ginny's presence. She was always there, moderating Ron and Hermione, saving Harry from unwanted questions, making dry, sarcastic comments that held just the right amount of humor and bitterness to make it bearable to him.

Harry wondered why she had appointed herself their babysitter. He did not delude himself to think that it was otherwise. It was clearly work for Ginny. There was an underlying exhaustion about her that no doubt came from the strain of keeping the peace. He hoped she knew how grateful he as.

The night of the Final Feast had been the worst. His friends seemed to think his ban on the Great Hall wouldn't extend to the last 'celebration.' Of course, it had. So, Harry ditched them and instead, he indulged in a whirlwind ride of believing that he might have Sirius back. Not once, but twice, first with a mirror and then with a ghost. In the end, he had spent the remainder of the feast staring out his dormitory window. There he sat still, on the morning he was to go back to the Dursleys.

Over the course of the morning, Harry came to the horrible realization that if he had just opened the mirror from Sirius earlier, the whole Department of Mysteries catastrophe may not have taken place. It was just another way he let Sirius down. No wonder he didn't want to stay on earth as a ghost. No wonder he wanted to move on instead of being with his worthless godson.

"Harry, come on. We have to go."

He dragged his eyes over to Ron. His friend stood by the door with both of their trunks, looking harried. The rest of the dorm had cleared out ages ago.

"They aren't going to let you stay just because you refuse to move, mate," Ron said in a soft, concerned way.

When had Ron become so perceptive? Harry supposed he was right, so he climbed off the ledge and grabbed his wand, pointing it at the trunk. "Mobiliarbus," Harry called tiredly. It was the first word he spoke that day.

As he and his trunk made their way down the spiral staircase behind Ron, Harry thought about how three days ago he dreamed of not going back to the Dursleys at all. He had actually allowed himself to believe Adrianna would rescue him.

It was just like those few magical hours after meeting Sirius, when he believed he could go live with him. Just like that…too good to be true.

Ginny lingered near the entrance to the castle, watching her friends and classmates deposit their trunks in piles to be brought to the train as they made their way to the carriages. Who was she kidding? Lingering? She was hiding in the bushes, waiting for Harry.

Over the last two days, Ginny had completely fallen pray to her Harry Potter Obsession, becoming his self-appointed bodyguard. After Adrianna's mysterious disappearance, she and Hermione had agreed to keep a close eye on Harry, to monitor any fall out from that woman, and to make sure Harry didn't do anything stupid.

Hell of a lot of help Hermione had been and that, as always, was her stupid brother's fault. Ginny was not only left minding Harry by herself, but also playing mediator for the Ron/Hermione fiasco. Mostly, she tried to shield Harry from the insanity that threatened to drag everyone around the non-couple into lunacy as well.

After the incident on Ron's bed, he apparently decided he couldn't allow for a slip up like that again. Ron decided he couldn't be alone with Hermione. Not only that, but he insisted on maintaining a minimum safe distance between them, to make sure no, gasp, touching occurred. This left poor Hermione distracted and miserable.

What was perfectly obvious to Ginny was that all they needed was a good long snog. Apparently, she was the only one it was obvious to, so… she was delegated by her brother to be in their constant presence to buffer him from Hermione and her many charms. Now the prat wants her around.

But that wasn't the biggest problem. Ginny could probably have handled things quite nicely if it weren't for one thing. Her barking mad brother, not only couldn't stand being alone with Hermione, he couldn't stand her being out of his sight. Ginny had to mind them every waking moment.

Yesterday, he had kittens when Hermione slipped off to the loo without telling him. You'd have thought they had been attacked by a hoard of Death Eaters from Ron's reaction… or giant spiders.

Ginny laughed. At least she could still entertain herself. She scanned the grounds again. Where were they? She should never have entrusted Ron with something as important as getting Harry to the carriages. She squeezed her eyes shut. Great, now she was his keeper. Way to go pride, good work.

The irony of this whole situation was that Ginny had been thrown into a position that she had coveted since her first year, the fourth member of the fabulous trio. Who was she kidding? First year? She had been dreaming about being in this intimate group since before she came to Hogwarts, ever since her brother, who had previously been her best friend, had left her alone with only owls detailing his great escapades and his fantastic friends.

Ginny had foolishly assumed that as soon as she got to Hogwarts she would slip right in and join in on the adventure. Well, she had gotten to be a part of the adventure all right, in the worst possible way. All it had taken to get Ron to remember that she existed was to get possessed by a mad man.

Now, here she was, the outsider, a coveted part of the group. Not because they wanted her, but because they were desperate, falling apart at the seams, and they needed her to hold them together.

It was all very sad and she was beyond pathetic, but here she was hiding in the bushes, waiting for Harry Potter and her brother, the adventurer. And Ginny couldn't get her feet to move and go somewhere else.

As she scanned the crowd, Ginny suddenly noticed a figure walking toward her. Oh shite. Dean Thomas.

Ginny had managed to avoid being alone with Dean since the kiss incident. Not necessarily because she didn't want to be alone with him, but because not leaving Ron, Hermione, and Harry alone, didn't leave her much alone time.

She put on a charming smile as Dean neared her, reminding herself that flirting with him was the only healthy thing she had done this week.

"Hey, Ginny." He smiled an adorable lopsided grin, looking at her in a way that made her feel beautiful, wanted. "What are you doing over here?"

Yeah. How to answer that one? When in doubt, be coy. "Nothing much," she said with a flirtatious smile. She may have even batted her eyes, just a bit.

"Really, because it looks like you were hiding in the bushes?" Dean said playfully, taking a step into her personal space.

"Now, why would I do that?" She took a playful step back.

"Who knows? Why does Ginevra Weasley do anything that she does? You're a complete mystery."

"Mmm, mystery. I like the sound of that." Ginny was starting to feel that giddy, intoxicated feeling that came from being sought after by an attractive male.

"A complete enigma."

"Enigma, huh?"

"Yeah," he was biting his lip and looking at her almost shyly. He had this amazing way of being shy and bold at the same time. It was as if she made him nervous, but he found her worth perusing anyway. It was incredibly alluring.

"How's a bloke supposed to know where he stands? A girl sneaks into his room in the middle of the night, gives him a kiss, quite a brilliant kiss at that, then avoids him for the rest of the week. Do you have any ideas on how this bloke should interpret that?"

Ginny blushed warmly. It had been a brilliant kiss. With great effort she gave him an innocent look. "Maybe the girl wasn't looking for the bloke. Maybe she was just looking for something for her brother."

"And the kiss?"

"An accident?" she offered causing him to chuckle. Dean reached out and ran a finger down her face. Ginny shivered and leaned into the touch, struggling to keep her eyes open. "You kissed me," she breathed, losing the pretense of their game.

"You kissed me back." His voice became husky. Dean's eyes were both intense and vulnerable.

"I was just being polite." Even as she said it she took a step closer, putting a hand on his chest. Ginny received a beaming smile for her efforts, making warmth course through her.

"Polite, huh? Somehow, you don't seem the type of girl who does anything that she doesn't want to." Dean leaned closer. Was he going to kiss her already? They didn't have all day.

Ginny shrugged. She was enjoying this. Flirting. Being with Dean was so simple. A bit of enjoyable conversation, a little snogging. No hidden motives, no life and death drama.

"Well, then, if that's true, why have you been avoiding me?" Dean breathed, close to her lips.

"Avoiding?" Ginny whispered, as she unsuccessfully tried to keep herself from licking her lips in anticipation. She curled a hand over his shoulder. "I've seen you everyday."

He smiled, "With your brother in constant attendance. Never alone."

"Alone?" she said with mock indignity. "That would be unseemly." Ginny loved the way his eyes stared at her lips like they were the finest chocolate in the world. "My brother's not here now."

Dean smiled that big, sexy smile. "No, he's not."

With a burst of courage she pulled Dean back two steps into the hedges so they were completely out of sight. Dean chuckled in response and took the move as permission. He cupped her chin and brought his lips to hers.

Ginny sighed as their lips met, giving herself over completely. She loved this. The sweetness, the normalcy, it made her feel like girl. Simply an ordinary girl, desired by a boy.

Their lips slid across one another's. Ginny loved the plumpness of his lower lip and the way Dean's hand pressed against the center of her back. She lost herself in his worshipping mouth, forgetting the stress and rejection of her everyday life. He boldly parted her lips, and she felt his tongue shyly slip inside for a taste.

Ginny felt a flash of arousal, enjoying the sensation. Unfortunately, it was followed by nervous trepidation. Suddenly, reality intruded, and she remembered where she was and why she was there. Harry. Bloody hell, couldn't he even leave her alone when she was snogging another bloke?

Ginny tore herself away from Dean, gently pushing him back. "The carriages are leaving."

He smiled and nodded, his eyes glazed. "Can I write you this summer?"

Ginny blushed, butterflies in her stomach. This was becoming more than a simple flirtation. "I don't know how I could stop you."

"Will you write back?" Dean asked, vulnerable.

"Mmm, probably. You know, just to be polite." She gave him one last beaming smile and pushed around him and out of the bushes. She really needed to find Harry…. and Ron and Hermione, of course.

"Will you meet me in Diagon Alley?" He called out behind her.

Ginny's heart skipped a beat. She turned, it was incredibly appealing to have a boy who wasn't afraid to ask. "You mean like a date?"

"Yeah, like a date."

"You are aware that I have six older brothers, two of whom work in Diagon Alley?" she teased.

"I can handle it."

Yeah, she was sure he could. Biting her lip, she gave a quick nod and called out, "Have a nice summer, Dean."

Ginny turned and ran down to the carriages, her heart beating wildly. She looked around anxiously. Some bodyguard she was, the carriages were already beginning to leave. Shite.

"Ginny!" She spun to find Hermione leaning out of a carriage, gesturing frantically. "Come on, you're late."

She let out a little puff of self-deprecating laughter at the irony of Hermione's statement and hurried over to the carriage. Ginny quickly hiked herself up and into it, falling into the seat next to Hermione, and finding Ron and Harry opposite her.

Harry looked at her curiously and asked, "You run here or something?"

Oh god, he knows.

"No, why?"

"You're all flushed." Harry brow wrinkled.

Ginny gave him the most innocent look she could muster, not sure what to say. She should have admitted to running.

"Where were you?" Ron asked crossly.

She responded with her best sisterly sarcasm. "Saying goodbye to friends." As if it was his business, anyway.

Ron started to squabble back, but Harry interrupted with a small smile, "Well, we're glad you're here now."

Ginny couldn't help but smile back as her heart tumbled… from just one look. How would she feel if Harry kissed her? Oh god, she really was a dirt slag.

"This one is empty," Ron called out, over his shoulder, as he entered a compartment on the Hogwart's Express, carrying Pigwidgeon's cage and his chess set. Harry and Hermione filtered in after him, stowing their respective animals.

Ginny threw her backpack onto the seat. "I need to talk to Luna for a minute. I'll be right back," she called. Ron's anxiety rose as she flitted out of the compartment. It was ok, he told himself, Harry was still there…

"Oy, where are you off to?" Ron almost yelled as he caught Harry half-way out the door.

Harry looked at him like he'd grown an extra head. "To the loo, mate. That a problem?"

Yeah, obviously that was a problem. Ron could only grunt as his best friend left the room. Sometimes it would help if Harry were just the tiniest bit perceptive. Ron was dying here.

Then he was alone with Hermione. He began to feel the same heightening of sensations that had become common whenever he was alone with her. He began to sweat.

Ron actually tripped over his own feet as he turned to take a seat. Tripped and brushed against Hermione's back as she stood on her toes to adjust Crookshanks' cage. It was just the smallest of touches but he felt like he had been burned. Ron pulled away violently and threw himself in the seat farthest away from her.

He looked up to see her staring at him with such a look of hurt and accusation that it made his head hurt... and maybe his heart, as well. Shite. Damn. Her lips were pursed and she looked like she might cry. No, no, don't cry. .

Ron's stomach sank. He had done it again. When was he going to learn? Ron's mouth opened and closed like a mackerel as he searched in vain to find the words to make it better. All he could think was that he was the biggest prat in the world.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. He was in for it now. Ron almost welcomed the inevitable punishing rage. He deserved it. Hermione crossed her arms and became ram-rod stiff. Holy Shite.

"Ron," she began. The careful tone in her voice showed Ron just how bad the situation was. "I know…" she started and stopped, licking her lip. He watched the tip of her tongue transfixed, for a moment he forgot he was in trouble.

Hermione began again in a rush. "I understand that you don't want to be alone with me, but I'm not going to... I know I'm not pretty or attractive. I'm actually quite plain, which is fine. So, you should know that I don't expect anything from you. I mean I don't..." She wiped away a tear.

Oh god, oh god. Ron could only blink as panic sent his mind into a state of disorganization. He tried to take in everything she said. Hermione didn't really think that? Why would she think that? Her tears were making him desperate.

Ron shook his head rapidly, reaching out to her. He had to say something, deny it. Crap. "Hermione, I---"

She shrunk away from him, interrupting sharply, "Don't feel like you have to touch me. I can see how you shudder when you do. I'll just keep my distance and maybe we can go back to how it was before." Hermione frantically reached for her Muggle clothes as Ron stood frozen by his own incompetence and blinding fear. Her voice cracked as she murmured, "I'm going to change." She bolted from the room.

"Hermione, wait!" Ron screamed, suddenly finding his voice. Ron dashed after her, out into the corridor, but she was already pushing through the crowd. Shite. Shite. Shite. Now he felt like he was going to cry. He had to fix this. How as he going to fix this?

A crash came from the hall in the other direction, then the sound of multiple voices yelling curses. It drew Ron's attention and he instinctively pushed his way toward the commotion. Whatever it was, it had to be easier to deal with than Hermione.

Ron arrived to find his fellow DA members had turned Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle into a trio of giant slugs. By the way Harry stood over them, it was clear the Slytherins had been trying to ambush his best friend. He felt a rush of anger at the three, slugs or not. When would they ever quit?

"I must say," Ernie Macmillion said, "I'm looking forward to seeing Malfoy's mother's face when he gets of the train."

Ron tried to smile at the obvious humor of the situation. "Goyle's mum'll be really pleased, though. He's loads better looking now." He gestured toward Harry, whose proud expression was fading back into his tired, pained look. "Anyway, Harry, the food trolley's just stopped, if you want anything."

Harry nodded and thanked the others. He stopped at the food trolley and Ron entered the compartment. Seeing that Hermione was already back, he took a quiet breath, attempting to still his nerves. She looked completely composed as she sat, reading the Daily Prophet. Ron deliberately sat next to Hermione, noticing how her body became like stone.

Hermione looked to the doorway, where Harry was paying for the food. "You don't have to," she whispered sternly. She quickly moved to the seat opposite and away from him, sitting next to the window. She went on reading like nothing had happened.

Ron felt a sense of mounting dread. He needed to fix this. He was running out of time. He slid down the seat until he was across from her, leaning forward, he whispered pleadingly, "Hermione, you don't understand."

She looked up and nodded. "I do understand. It's all right, Ron." Hermione gave him an artificial, serene smile and went back to her paper. Ron wanted to shake her, to make her listen. To what, he had no idea.

Harry entered the compartment, sitting next to him and handling out Cauldron Cakes and Pumpkin Pasties. Neville and Ginny arrived moments later. Before Ron knew it, they were all comfortably chatting amongst themselves. He tried to keep it from being too obvious that he was staring at Hermione.

Now what was he going to do? Ron wasn't going to be able to fix anything while everyone else was here. He could hear the conversation now. 'Hey, Hermione thinks she's repulsive because I can't be alone with her or touch her. What she doesn't understand is that if I do either of those things, I may start tearing her clothes off.'

Shite, he was completely doomed now. Ron leaned back and closed his eyes. Well, he had a five hour train ride to figure out what he was going to say to her at the train station. He just had to figure out a way to make her understand without loosing her forever.

Hermione watched Harry walk away, down the platform with the Dursleys. This was not going to be a good summer for him, despite the Order's reassurances. Even if the Dursleys didn't maltreat him, they certainly weren't going to comfort him.

Too much had happened this year. Harry was bound to spend the summer convincing himself that Sirius' death was his fault and that he didn't deserve his friends. It was inevitable, really. If only that horrible Adrianna hadn't come and made matters worse. Just one more loss Harry was going to have to deal with. Alone. It made her heart hurt.

Hermione would just have to find a way to keep a closer watch on Harry this summer. She took a deep breath before turning. It was time for her to say goodbye to Ron, and she didn't know how she was going to do it.

It had become painfully obvious over the last few days that her touch disgusted him. Hermione must have given too much away. Ron must have figured out how she felt about him. Now, he seemed scared to be alone with her.

Hermione walked over to say her farewell, cautiously. She locked her hands behind her back to remind herself not to touch him. Ron was bent over his trunk. She came up behind him and said, "So, goodbye, then." She managed a small smile.

Ron turned and stood. She saw panic in his eyes. Did he think she was going to jump him? She wondered how she had managed to ruin everything so quickly. What if they could never be friends again?

"Hermione," he croaked in a pained voice, his eyes darting around at their family and friends. Ron was most likely worried she'd make a scene. He needn't be. She had some dignity left.

Hermione steeled herself for a cold, distant farewell. Then abruptly, Ron grabbed Hermione's arm, making her drop her clasped hands in shock. He fumbled for her hand and grasped it tightly. He was pulling her down the platform before she knew what was happening.

Hermione's heart was in her throat as she ran to keep up with his long strides. She had to concentrate to keep from tripping. "Ron, what are you…? Where are we going?"

He ignored her questions, only stopping when their family was well out of sight. When he turned to her, he was bright red and breathing heavily. He almost appeared to be shaking. Ron ran a hand through his already rumpled hair. "Hermione," he sputtered. "Look, you've misunderstood."

Not this again. Had he pulled her all this way just to reject her in private? Hermione couldn't handle this. She couldn't handle a false apology. "I do understand--"

"No!" Ron yelled, making her jump at the ferocity of it. "You couldn't be more wrong. Will you bloody well stop interrupting me and listen?"

Hermione was stunned into silence. Ron opened his mouth to speak, and she waited but no sound came out. Then he abruptly grabbed her shoulders and she tensed. His beautiful cobalt blue eyes darted around her face. When Ron finally began talking he made little sense. "You think I don't want to touch you… you think… Bloody hell."

Ron broke away and spun from her, bending over and covering his face with his hands. He was really behaving quite crazy. It was a bit concerning. He spun back and looked like he was going to try to speak again.

Instead, Ron lunged toward her, his arms circling her waist and crushing her against him. Hermione was forced to put her arms around his neck to keep from lurching as he lifted her off the ground, up to his height. It felt so good to be back in his arms again that she couldn't keep the tears from clouding her vision.

Ron's lips were against her shoulder. She could feel the whisper of his eye lashes against her neck. When he spoke, she felt the words against her skin. It sent shivers up her spine. "Hermione, I need you to understand… to understand how beautiful you are." His voice broke.

"Ron---" She implored, trying to get him to stop. His words caused more emotions than she could deal with.

"No, you don't get it. I know I've been acting barking lately, but it's not… I couldn't let you leave without knowing I think you're gorgeous... too gorgeous."

Hermione was speechless. She wanted to look him in the eyes and see if he really meant it, but his head wouldn't budge.

After long moments, he whispered, emotion heavy in his voice, "I'll miss you." He pressed his lips roughly to her cheek. They lingered. It was the first time he ever kissed her. She stayed as still as she could, afraid to break whatever spell they were under.

"Goodbye," Ron croaked. He set her down and quickly jogged past her and back to his family.

Hermione stared after him, her hand gently touching her cheek where he had kissed her, knowing it was clichéd and not caring in the least. She tasted salt as tears ran over her lips. A million emotions bubbled inside her. She tried to ignore the one emotion that threatened to overwhelm her.

A smile crept over her face. It was hope.

Special thanks to kjcp and Texasmagic at CM for betaing this story