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.

Author's Notes:

This is an Alternate Universe Story in the Harry Potter Series in that it branches off from the series before the final Chapter of The Order of Phoenix. Also, the ages of Charlie and Bill Weasley were conceived prior to the announcement by JKR. For the purposes of this story they are Twenty-eight and Thirty, respectively.

This version has been modified from the original NC-17 version, housed at Specifically, explicatives have been modified and sexual situations made less explicit. Any large changes will be pointed out in author's notes. Thank you and enjoy.

Of Hearts and Heroes

Chapter Twenty-One

When Harry stumbled into breakfast with his three friends, he was exhausted, drained, and exhilarated. He had forgotten how good it felt to clear one's mind, focus all one's excess emotions into physical activity, and just pound it out.

The clarity was bloody brilliant, and the ache in his muscles reminded him that he had accomplished something. He was making himself stronger. From the groans echoing from either side of him, as Ginny and Hermione sat down at the kitchen table, Harry gathered that they felt somewhat differently. At least Ron was grinning wearily.

It was hard to believe that Ron didn't enjoy himself after he had challenged Harry to a push-up war that left them both jelly armed for the rest of the morning. Harry had the suspicion that at least some of Ron's tenacity at their competition (which Ron won by the way) was due to a desire to impress a certain bushy haired best mate that they shared. And though Harry would have expected the eye rolling from Hermione, he was surprised and more than a little bit disturbed at the admiration that lurked in her all too warm gaze.

Well, Hermione always did admire tenacity. Harry grinned to himself and earned a questioning look from Ginny.

"Don't look so smug," she whispered to him. "We're all going to be suffering for the rest of the day. You don't think she's going to go easy on us in the magical training, do you? Blimey, this is worse than Hogwarts." She muttered the last bit into a piece of toast that she hungrily shoved into her mouth.

'You should be glad it was that intense,' he wanted to tell Ginny, but did not dare. Honestly, he had no idea how the two of them would have been able to keep the watch and the dreams from Adrianna if it hadn't been. It was ironic that she was teaching them the very techniques that were helping them deceive her.

Harry just thanked Merlin that the minute they had walked into the ballroom-turned-training room, they began mental exercises to clear their minds, exercises that Harry had already learned and was hence relatively proficient at. From there they progressed to grueling physical training that left little room for ponderings.

But still… why hadn't Adrianna discovered their secrets yet? Maybe she already had and just wasn't saying anything.

Overall, she was different now that they were at Grimmauld Place. Things were easier before. Harry had gotten used to his cousin's constant attention. She was always reading his thoughts. He didn't even need to talk if he didn't want to. He just knew that she knew. It was comforting to be unburdened of his darkest thoughts and still be accepted.

Part of him wanted her to unburden him of the watch secret, even as he fought so hard to keep it from her. Why wasn't she listening to his thoughts right now?

It was all Charlie's fault.

That was when 'Drana changed; became distracted. Charlie was pulling her focus away from Harry, he just knew it. The way he was hovering around her all the time, involving himself in all their lessons. Didn't he have his own life?

Crack. Oh, great, now Bill was here. Maybe they'd start telling private jokes and talking in tongues. In that moment, Harry took great pleasure in having a secret of his own.

"Hello," Bill called with far too much mirth, in Harry's opinion. "How's the almost-birthday girl? August 11 is only two days away." He kissed Ginny on the top of her head. "Wow, just about a teenager, huh?"

"I've been a teenager for two years, Bill," Ginny replied heatedly, visibly bristling at her being treated as the baby.

Bill ignored her, humming as he went over and pecked his mother on the cheek. "Morning, Mum."

"Morning, dear," she called, sipping her tea and looking at him, warily, over the ridge of her cup. "You've been coming around quite a bit lately."

He flashed a cheeky grin and sat at the table. "It's all that wonderful cooking."

Harry saw Ginny draw herself up before she spoke. "Oh, poor Bill, the twelve year old not a good cook?"

Oooo, paybacks a bitch, Bill, Harry thought with satisfaction. Teaming up with Ginny was certainly a good idea. Hacking her off clearly wasn't.

Adrianna choked on her coffee as she laughed at Ginny's barb. The approving glance she sent Ginny's way did not go unnoticed by Bill who turned to glare at Adrianna. "She is not twelve…this is your fault, you know," he accused.

She looked at him innocently. "My fault she can't cook or my fault she's twelve?"

Ginny laughed and Bill started to bite out a reply, but Adriana's laughter faded and she narrowed her eyes at Bill, looking at him intently. He flinched knowing something was coming and it wasn't good. "She's a veela!" she accused. "A veela!"

Bill looked a bit frightened. "How did you know that? You need touch to read minds."

"Not any more I don't, and you changed the subject."

"Yeah, Bill," Ginny grinned. "Please, tell us more about your twelve-year-old veela."

"She's not twelve and she's not...she's only part veela," he defended.

"Her grandmother was a veela," Ron supplied. "Oww!" he exclaimed, rubbing his leg, and causing everyone to stare at him. "I must have bit my tongue," he muttered sneaking a glance at Hermione.

His non-girlfriend had her chin up. "She does have veela powers. Isn't that right, Ronald?"

Ron nodded rapidly. "Yeah, she can bewitch you, that one can. Make you do things you never would." He smiled broadly at Hermione, then looked over and gave Bill an apologetic look.

"Thanks," Bill gritted at his younger brother.

"Well, now that it's come up, I've found Fleur to be…" Hermione started carefully.

"Rude," Ginny supplied.

"Well, I was thinking more of…"

"Snobbish," Ginny smiled with even more glee. Bill really should have remembered she was a teenager.

"Yes," Hermione agreed in a contemplative way. "But also…"

"Shallow, self…"

"That's enough Ginevra," Molly told her daughter firmly. "Bill," she asked sweetly. "Exactly how old is Fleur?"

Harry knew it was horrible of him to enjoy this so much, but oh well.

"She's twenty, Mum. And she doesn't use her powers on me."

There were three sets of feminine harrumphs around the table, from all but Adrianna, who instead said pointedly. "She's too young for you."

Molly turned her disapproving eyes on Adrianna. "And that is none of your business, young lady." Bill didn't have a chance to smile in triumph when she continued, her eyes on her eldest. "That is too young for you, Bill."

The accused looked to Charlie who had his eyes firmly locked on his eggs. "A little help here?"

Charlie shrugged. "Against those four, I don't think so. You're on your own."

"Coward," Bill muttered, turning to Adrianna, who he seemed to think was the instigator. It was true that no one had ever blatantly spoken against Fleur until Adrianna arrived. "You haven't even met Fleur, for all you know she could be…" he trailed off with a gesture that in appeared Adrianna was supposed to fill in for herself.

Apparently she did, because she gave him a skeptical look and said, "Please."

The unspoken communication was too much for Harry and he threw his fork down with a clatter. "Would you please stop doing that!"

There was a pregnant pause before Charlie sighed and said, "Adrianna can tell if two people are soul mates just by seeing them together."

"Charlie," 'Drana growled with a look that could kill. "You know what happens when you tell people that."

Ginny and Hermione were staring at her transfixed, a mixture of fear and longing on their faces, while Ron was looking anywhere but at Hermione.

"You mean you can tell who our soul mates are?" Ginny asked carefully.

"Just by seeing two people together?" Hermione sounded strangely breathless. Harry was beginning to understand Adrianna's apprehension.

"See what you've done," she spat at Charlie, and then sighed. "I don't actually have to see them together; I just need to have met both of them."

"Since when?" Bill asked incredulously, for the second time today.

"Japan." Her reply was a little too loud. "Do you see the trouble you've caused?"

Bill smiled roguishly, clearly enjoying the opportunity to pay Adrianna back and get the focus off his relationship. "Not as much trouble as it would be if they knew how easy it was to get the information out of you." He laughed as a bit of bacon bounced off his forehead.

Adrianna was clearly flustered as she stared at her plate and studiously filled her mouth with food.

Mrs. Weasley's eyes were alert with interest. "I don't understand. If you had that information why wouldn't you share it?" Visions of wedding bells and grandchildren danced quite obviously in Mrs. Weasley's eyes.

Adrianna shook her head, a sour look on her face. "The information is dangerous. I can tell you that you and your husband are soul mates, because you've been married for over thirty some odd years. But what if you had known when you were sixteen? How would it have changed you? Would it have ruined things because you felt forced into it, or because the intensity and the forever of it was too much? Or would it have been too easy? Maybe it would have made you compliant, so that you never really learned to appreciate each other, took away all the struggles that were necessary to build the character needed for a long healthy relationship. And what if you knew I had this power, but you weren't soul mates and you asked and I didn't answer? Then you assume, correctly, that you are not soul mates and a happy thirty year marriage falls apart."

She looked miserably into her food and dropped her fork. Molly had watched her calmly and thoughtfully throughout her last speech.

Charlie broke the tension in the room by continuing to explain, softly, "Most people never find their soul mates. They can still have very fulfilling relationships." Then he muttered into his food, "At least that's what they say."

"Adrianna." Harry's eyes were pulled to his right as Hermione very seriously leaned forward and inquired as if she were asking a question in class, "Can you see your soul mate?"

There was more than one sharp intake of breath, as 'Drana's eyes snapped to hers. "No," she said shortly. "I can't see myself, so it doesn't work."

Charlie seemed to be having trouble swallowing as well and he pushed his plate away. They were all going to get indigestion at this rate.

Bill cleared his throat. "On a more pleasant note, I actually came here bearing gifts. A friend of mine has offered me his flat in Nice for a week as a bit of a returned favor as you will. As my 'twelve year old girlfriend' hates the feel of those little pebbles under her feet, I thought Mum and Dad might like to go instead."

"Oh!" Mrs. Weasley had a surprised look on her face as she looked over at her husband.

Mr. Weasley, who had been awfully quiet during the whole meal, smiled carefully at his son, "That's very thoughtful of you, Bill."

"I just figured that you two haven't taken a trip alone in years," Bill explained. "The Portkey is all arranged for August 10, tomorrow afternoon."

"Well, that's lovely!" Molly's hand flew to her chest. She was clearly touched. Then her eyes narrowed, just a tad. "What's this all about, Bill?" Her eyes darted to Adrianna when she asked the question.

But Adrianna was looking at him with suspicion as well. The intensity of her gaze showed that she was reading him.

"Nothing, Mum, I just thought it would be pleasant…and I thought it would be nice if her big brother threw Miss Ginny a Birthday party."

Ginny's eyes lit up and Harry's stomach dropped. He didn't want Ginny's friends coming over and distracting her as well. He needed her.

"Can I invite my…?" she started to ask.

She was cut off by simultaneous "no"s from both her parents and Bill.

"Sorry, Gin," Bill said. "It's too dangerous to invite people not in the Order to Grimmauld Place."

"And even if it weren't…" Molly gave her a pointed look. "You would not be inviting that so called boyfriend of yours, young lady."

Boyfriend? Who said she had a boyfriend?

"Dean…" Ginny started.

Shite, Dean. Harry had forgotten about him.

"Is absolutely not coming," Mrs. Weasley finished firmly.

Ginny was irate. "Then exactly who is coming to my birthday party?'

"Fred, George, Alicia, Angelina…" Bill said and Ginny pouted. Seemed like good choices to Harry. "Fleur."

"She's not in the Order," Ginny exclaimed, but her protest was largely ignored, despite being a legitimate point.

"Don't fight that one, Ginny," Adrianna said with a gleam in her eye. "I really want to meet this Flower person."

Ginny matched her grin. Harry almost felt sorry for Bill.

By mid afternoon Hermione was feeling drained and, to be perfectly honest, a bit on the exhausted side. Her muscles ached and her head throbbed from the strain. Training with Adrianna was intense, but mostly Hermione found it exhilarating. What was making her head pound was the stress of maintaining her focus on training while still taking careful stock of her two teacher's interactions.

That and the strain of keeping her focus off a certain tall redhead who looked devilishly handsome when he was concentrating. His forehead would bead with sweat and his jaw got this determined set when he was trying something new. When he threw Harry across the room with the force of one of his shields it had been…well, downright sexy.

See! That's what she was talking about. It was darn near impossible to keep up with it all!

Regardless of all the distractions, Hermione was quite proud of what she had managed to accomplish today. She could now do the wandless Accio charm without difficulty; she could perform the NEWT level shield charm, and was well on her way to learning the more powerful shield that they were currently being taught. And, more importantly, she had gleaned some very useful information about Adrianna from an extremely interesting interaction she had had with Charlie earlier that day.

Charlie had been standing behind Adrianna as she was instructing Ginny, when he had suddenly accused. "You're blocking me! Aren't you?"

Blocking out what, exactly, was the question that Hermione was still pondering. As far as she could tell, Charlie had just been standing there. Had he been trying to communicate with the Empath?

But Adrianna's response had been even more revealing, when she had snapped at him, "Yes, Charlie, I am. I've been blocking out mostly everyone, recently. It's the only way to maintain my goddamned sanity in this place. Between the hostility, the teenage angst, and the raging hormones…"

Hermione had blushed a bit at that.

"You could never block me in the past," Charlie had protested.

"Yes, well, that was why I was sent to Japan, wasn't it?"

The emphasis on 'sent' was also interesting and Hermione tucked that clue away. After careful observation of the Empath for the remained of the morning Hermione had come to the conclusion that Adrianna was only reading the thoughts of the person she was directly instructing. Which, of course, was extremely useful information.

It meant that Hermione could get away with a lot more than she originally thought she would be able to get away with. It was a simple matter of watching Adrianna when she wasn't watching her and if the woman moved her focus to Hermione then Hermione would look over at Ron and let all other thought flow out of her mind. It was working splendidly, actually, even though it had been difficult to pull herself back to focus on the spells again.

As she watched, Ron created a perfect shield. It shimmered blue-green in front of him. Hermione smiled as she watched the emotions flow over his face. Surprise, then boyish delight and humble pride, leaving him with a half smile that she wanted to kiss off his face.

God, she loved him so much. Was he ever going to love her like that? Hermione thought about the discussion of love the night before. It had never been more obvious that he wasn't ready to be in love…and while she was disappointed, there had been something more.

Being with him felt so right. As if it was meant to be. As if…maybe they were soul mates. The phrase had been haunting her all day, just one more distraction to cloud her mind.

Soul mates. Until today it had been merely a romantic idea. Just like before she got her Hogwarts letter, when magic was still the stuff of fairy tales. And now…she wanted Ron to be her soul mate. The idea that it might be someone else turned her stomach.

It bothered her more than she could express that Adrianna knew. Knew without a doubt if Ron was the one she was meant to be with and was not about to tell Hermione. Although she understood the wisdom of that, it drove her crazy.

"Hermione, you're not concentrating."

Dammit! Hermione turned to Adrianna beside her. She'd missed the Empath coming over.

"Here, hold out your wand. All the worry and frustration you're feeling, use that," Adrianna instructed. "Yes, and the resentment, too. Your passion and focus are your greatest strengths, use them. Imagine yourself thrusting those feelings away from yourself and say the spell."

Hermione did as she was instructed and created the blue-green shield. She smiled at the sight.

"Feel better?" Adrianna asked.

She did; she felt lighter. The throbbing in her head had lessened. "Yeah, thanks."

"Well done, Hermione," Mr. Weasley said in an impressed tone as he walked into the ballroom, taping a stack of letters in his hand. Hermione wished he had come a few minutes earlier and seen Ron's shield.

"What you got there, dad?" Charlie called.

"Hogwarts letters…OWL results," Mr. Weasley replied. Hermione went rigid; she could feel the tension in the room heighten. "Bit late this year. Quite a controversy. Seems OWL marks were significantly lower than usual. In particular, in Defense Against Dark Arts a small portion of students excelled and the rest…well lets just say there were very few OWLS given out in that subject. The parents on the education board were furious, blaming Fudge for assigning Umbridge. In the end, they couldn't do anything about the marks, but there will be more than a few curriculum adjustments this year…"

Yes, yes this was all very interesting, but…

Hermione couldn't stand it anymore. "Mr. Weasley could we just…" She all but tore the letters out of his hand and hurriedly distributed them. She ripped her own open with trembling hands.

She quickly pocketed her prefect's badge and paused, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath before looking at the results. She let the air out in a puff. O… O… O… O…A! Oh, well, that was Divination. Considering she hadn't taken the class in almost two years, she supposed that was to be expected.

She looked up to see Harry grinning broadly. "How'd it go, Harry?" she asked.

"Nine OWLs," he said, proudly handing his letter to Adrianna. It occurred to Hermione that this was the first time he had someone to share his good marks with. To say it meant a lot to him was an understatement.

His cousin smiled at him and took the letter. "That's great, Harry!" She then looked guiltily at Charlie, whispering, "What does that mean?"

Charlie laughed and went up behind her to explain the scoring system. "These are really good, Harry," he remarked. "Even an 'O' in potions."

Harry beamed, even brighter. "What about you, Hermione?"

"Twelve," she replied, trying not to sound to full of herself.

"Twelve!" Ron exclaimed. "You only took ten classes. I know you took the Muggle Studies exam…" He grabbed at her letter. "You passed Divination? Why'd you even take the test?"

"I only got an 'A'" she defended, grabbing the letter back.

"Well, I took the class and I got a 'P,'" he said sourly.

Hermione felt dread fill her, and an anxiety that she hadn't felt about her own marks. The look on his face was not good. He was awfully pale. She didn't want to think about what it would be like if his scores were bad.

She carefully took his letter out of his limp hand, noting with some relief that he was holding his prefect's badge. Looking at the letter she grinned. "Ron this is great! Eight OWLs!" She ignored the yells of congratulations. "'O's in Defense and Magical Creatures. 'A' in Astrology…which isn't fair, since the examination was so badly interrupted."

"Didn't affect you, did it?" he muttered.

"…And 'E's in everything else. This is fantastic!" Hermione could feel herself almost bouncing with excitement. She wanted to kiss him, but knew she couldn't. She squeezed his arm…later.

"'E' in potions," Harry said softly, in a dejected tone. Hermione looked up, confused.

"Yeah," Ron confirmed.

Why was that…? Oh. Oh.

"Looks like you two will be suffering through Snape without me," Ron gave a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I reckon I won't have to finish my summer potions essay."

"Why not?" Adrianna asked, frowning.

"Snape only allows students who get an 'O' in potions into his sixth year class," Harry explained, softly.

Her frown deepened, but she didn't comment. Adrianna handed Harry back his letter, complimenting him again. Then she called an end to their training for the day and walked off with Mr. Weasley to 'discuss something.'

Hermione only caught Ron's back as he ascended the stairs. Her brow furrowed as she looked around the now almost empty room. "Where'd Ginny go?" she asked Harry.

He shrugged and gestured to the stairs. He stuck his hands in his trouser pockets. "Suppose we'd better…you take Ron, I'll take Ginny?"

Hermione nodded absently as Harry ascended the stairs. When had that become the natural choice?

Harry would take Ginny and Hermione would take Ron.

Ron closed his bedroom door quietly behind him, tossing his letter and his badge carelessly on the night table. He sat down on the edge of the bed and let himself fall backwards, so he could contemplate the ceiling.

He wasn't sure why he was so depressed. Ron had actually done better than he'd expected on the OWLs. Better than anyone had expected…he'd seen that look on Hermione's face, the look that said she feared he'd failed miserably.

Maybe it was just this strange bliss that he'd been living in over the last few days. Being able to do these complicated spells…it had given him a false sense of confidence, and being so…happy with Hermione. He'd allowed himself to think maybe, just maybe he was worthy. Maybe he was good enough to be Hermione Granger's boyfriend.

He was a complete and utter idiot. But that was the point, wasn't it?

"Ron," he heard from the hallway.

Go away, Hermione, he screamed in his head.

"It's me."

'It's me.' It's the brilliant beautiful girl that represents everything he'd ever wanted but could never have. The one who got twelve OWLs after taking only ten classes.

"Go away, Hermione," he called back, though he wasn't at all sure he was all that convincing.

"I'm coming in."

Great, she should just do that. He really needed his torment driven home.

Ron didn't move at all as she quietly entered the room and closed the door. He didn't turn and look at her. What was the point anyway? It was all so hopeless.

He felt the bed shift, then saw her lean into his field of vision as she knelt by his head.

"Ron, what's wrong?"

He offered only a grunt in response. How he wished she'd leave him alone.

"Ron, you really did quite well on your OWLs. Eight out of nine is quite good…."

Yeah, but Harry got nine out of nine and Hermione got twelve out of ten. And the bloody prat she was probably going to marry one day would most likely get thirteen god damned OWLs, even if there were only twelve ruddy tests. He'd probably get another one created just for him. The pansy arse.

"Ron, are you listening?"

No! He was mentally pummeling Hermione's future fictional husband. Couldn't she leave him in peace?

She cupped his face in her small, perfect hands and forced him to look at her. "Look at me. You. Did. Well."

"Better than you expected, you mean," he muttered, forcibly looking away.

"Oh, stop being ridiculous. What's gotten into you? Pouting that your good marks aren't good enough. Isn't that my role?"

That forced a wry chuckle out of him and he glanced over to see her smiling down at him. "Is this about being an Auror?" she asked.

Ron looked away again, shrugging.

"Honestly, Ron," she said carefully. "I'm…a little, well, glad that you won't be training to be an Auror."

His eyes narrowed back at her. "Because I'm not good enough, because I'll never make it?"

"No!" she replied sternly. "No, I'm sure you'd be a fantastic Auror. It's just… I'd prefer you to do something more…'

"Appropriate for my intelligence."

"Argh! What nonsense! You are plenty smart enough. Something more safe is what I was going to say."

He looked at his feet.

"I kind of fancy you alive and well and not at all like Mad-Eyed," her tone turned playful and he couldn't keep his eyes from her smiling face. "See, I fancy those legs of yours whole and I like your eyes the way they are and…." She ran a hand down his cheek. "It would be a shame to scar up such a face." She was trying to be light but her voice quivered just a touch.

"But it's ok for Harry?" Ron asked softly.

Hermione shrugged. "Harry's already scarred beyond repair."

An incredulous laugh bubbled out of him. "I'm going to tell him you said that," he teased.

"Not if you fancy your life you won't," she said with a mock primness that dissolved into a smile.

Ron turned over on his side and offered her a small smile in return. She laid down facing him and kissed his forehead. They stared at each other for long moments. He didn't understand why she was there. Why she kept bothering with him.

Feeling selfish, but needing the contact, he moved one hand to softly rest on her hip.

"Tell me," she commanded softly.

And in that moment he could deny her nothing. He sighed, "I reckon I just thought that the Auror thing could be my thing, you know. The thing that sets me apart."

At her look of confusion he flipped onto his back and continued. "The other day we were talking about Percy and why he was such a git. Adrianna said he was like this because all the good identities were taken, because choosing to live the way he does means he doesn't have to live in his brother's shadows. I reckon I thought that if I were an Auror I wouldn't be in anyone's shadow anymore, either. Pretty stupid, huh?"

"Yeah, actually it is."

His eyes snapped to hers. He hadn't expected her to openly agree with him.

"You don't live in your brothers' shadows. You have your own identity."

He scoffed. "Really, what am I that's so special? Bill is the handsome, smart code breaker, Charlie's the dragon tamer, Percy's the ministry git, second to the Minister of Magic, Fred and George are the brilliantly successful businessmen and possibly the funniest wizards in Britain. What am I, Hermione? What am I?"

"You're the hero."

He laughed mirthlessly and resumed his staring at the ceiling.

"Your brothers haven't faced down three headed dogs, giant spiders, and an enchanted chess set. They didn't willfully face their fears to stand by their friends in the forbidden forest, the caves to the chamber of secrets, the shrieking shack, and the Department of Mysteries? Have any of them ever stood up to a murderer, on a broken leg, no less, to save a friend's life? Because I seem to remember it was you."

"I was just following Harry," he muttered softly.

"No, you chose to go with Harry. Harry has to go, but you chose to. And you were the only one that Harry wanted with him at the Department of Mysteries. It's the choice that makes you brave. You go because it's the right thing to do, because you care about Harry and you go without any hope of getting the glory. That's why you're the hero."

Ron swallowed through a thickened throat. "I really appreciate that, Hermione, but everyone knows that Harry's the real hero."

Hermione gave an exasperated sigh. "Fine, then Harry can be everybody else's hero, but you're my hero…and don't even think about protesting. It's my decision, you know. I get to chose whoever I want."

There was nothing to do except kiss her at that point. Ron didn't really have the words to express what she meant to him, so he cradled her head in his hands and tried to show her with slow, wet, open-mouthed kisses exactly how much he treasured everything about her. He did what he could to worship her with his lips and tongue, because no matter what she said he was not worthy of her.

But Ron's attempts to fill her with emotion only served to overwhelm him with the same and he had to pull away before he fell apart with his pathetic-ness. He rolled onto his back and hugged her to him. He could feel her head on his chest raise and fall with each breath. He rested his chin on her head and took deep breaths, willing himself back to normalcy.

It wasn't long before he felt tiny peppered kisses along the underside of his jaw. Ron sighed, it felt so good. He allowed himself to relax as Hermione explored his neck, scarcely believing it was happening.

He felt her tongue touch his ear lobe and he gasped in shock. "Hermione?" He looked down at her face and to find a pleased, guilty smile. She bit her lip. "What has gotten into you today?" She really wasn't acting at all herself. She was a bit more…free… "It's those twelve OWLs, isn't it? You're positively giddy."

She giggled, confirming his suspicions. "I just think we both deserve a little reward. We did work awfully hard."

Her playfulness may have been out of character, but it certainly wasn't unappreciated. Ron pushed all his dark thoughts away and dedicated himself to fully enjoying the experience. Oh, yeah, and rewarding her.

He tilted her head back tenderly and lifted his so he could once again slide his lips over hers. He let out a frustrated groan when they wouldn't fit close enough, his neck not able to bend far enough. Cursing his freakish tallness, he wrapped both hands around her small waist and gently hauled her up, over his body, so that she was lying across his chest and their faces were level.

Mmmm. That was much better; he could tilt his head to fit his lips completely over hers. This way he could taste her entire mouth and get his fill of her wonderful Hermione taste. He loved the way the top of her mouth was silky and smooth but her tongue was like velvet and the way when she moaned so deep in her throat he could feel the vibrations.

Remembering something, Ron pulled back slightly and saying into her mouth, "We forgot the Imperturbable Charm."

Hermione shook her head, breathing harshly. "We need to hear them when they call us for dinner. We'll just need to be quiet."

That was a whole hell of a lot easier said then done when her tongue was in his mouth. He tried to control his groans and instead gripped her waist more tightly. His tongue battled hers for dominance. It occurred to him that this is what all their fighting over the years had been leading up to.

She wound her arms around his neck, slipping them between the bed and his skin, and causing her shirt to ride up, baring her waist to his touch. Without thought, Ron's hands wandered up the sides of her body. He paused in surprise as they accidentally brushed the sides of her breasts as they bulged out, having been crushed tightly against his chest.

Hermione hummed at the contact and gripped his hip. Ron couldn't help but smile into her mouth. She was so bloody fantastic.

Ron allowed himself to discover the sides of the swells that had been the object of his fantasies since the first night that he slept in her arms. He slipped his thumbs between their bodies to get better access. Worried that he might be taking advantage, he pulled back slightly to whisper, "Is this ok?"

Hermione sucked his tongue back into her mouth violently and he decided to take that as a yes. Ron enjoyed the taste of her for a few minutes more before setting himself to the task of getting to know her fabulous breasts. It only took him a few moments to become frustrated as he realized that their current position with her on top was not going to work for the task at hand.

Ron tried to move their position without interrupting the excellent snogging that was happening, but he rolled too quickly; it was fumbling and awkward…and the hand Hermione had clutching his hip wound up dragging across the place where he was throbbing against his jeans.

He bit back a groan and Hermione jumped. Ron's eyes rolled back into his head at the sensation. He was sure that his lip was bleeding he was biting it so hard. When his eyes came back into focus he saw Hermione sitting above him with a frightened look on her face.

"Ron, what was that?"

Shite. Way to ruin the moment. Now she was going to think he was a pervert; that he only wanted one thing. She was never going to let him touch her again. Feeling himself panic he tried a diversion, "What was what?"

That was pathetic, really. Wasn't it obvious what it was?

Hermione bit her lip, "By your leg. I thought I felt something…I did feel something."

"Hermione? You don't know?" Ron didn't know what to say. He was going to have to explain to Hermione about the giant painful erection he was sporting because of her…and he would rather be thrown into a pit of giant spiders.

"Ron?" He watched her turn five shades of pink as the realization began to dawn. Her breathing changed and her chocolate eyes stared to the offending object with wide eyed shock. Unfortunately, his body didn't get the hint that it should be ashamed and it throbbed under her gaze. "I think I…just tell me, ok?"

He swallowed. He could feel the heat radiating off his neck and face. "Blimey, Hermione, It's my….you know….it's my…" he gestured frantically at his groin feeling more and more frustrated. Wasn't she supposed to be the genius around here? "Crikey, Hermione, I'm a sixteen year old boy, what do you think it is?" he asked more harshly then had intended.

When Hermione finally spoke it was in the smallest of voices. "Your… penis?"

Leave it to Hermione to use the most correct phraseology. Ron nodded.

"Is it always like that?"

Like what? Shite, could this get any worse? He was starting to feel nauseated. He shook his head in confusion, but mostly in denial that this was really happening to him.

She gestured to his erection again. "Is it always so…you know…so hard…so big…"

Ron actually started to choke. Did she mean lately, 'cause… "No…I mean, yes…I mean when you're around. No, no that's not what I mean. I mean when we're Practicing, it's generally like this. Damn, Hermione, I can't believe you haven't felt it before." He didn't know what he was saying; must be all the blood rushing away from his head.

It was Hermione's turn to stammer. "No, I didn't notice…Well, maybe I just didn't know what it was …um….I really make you….excited?"

Ron had to laugh at that one. She looked beautifully innocent sitting there and he was the big bad wolf coming to corrupt her. "Yeah, you certainly excite me."

She licked her lips again and looked back at the bulge in his jeans. Was she trying to kill him? "Does it hurt?"

Yes!

"Um, no. It's uncomfortable….but mostly it feels good." He shouldn't have said that.

"And you can't control it at all?'

"Not really."

"Oh."

"Ron?" she asked tentatively. "Would you mind, terribly if I… touched it?"

Could you laugh and choke at the same time? No! His mind screamed. If she touched him, he was done for. "Sure," he croaked.

Hermione nodded, with an intense look on her face, as if she were learning a particularly difficult wand motion…well she sort of was…. Her fingers brushed him and his hips jerked involuntarily. She withdrew her hand and looked at him with shocked eyes. "Show me?" she asked softly.

Something in her tone made his heart clench. She was just…Ron didn't have the words. When he took her trembling hand in his, the very air around them felt odd…sexual yet…something else. He pressed a kiss to her palm without thinking.

Ron took deep breaths to keep himself calm as he gently laid her hand, cupped under his over his erection.

He couldn't stand her touch for long before he wrapped his hand around her wrist and pulled her hand away. She looked up at his surprised, "What?"

Ron didn't trust himself to speak so he pulled himself up, kneeling beside her. He pulled her wrist to her neck and used his other hand to bring her face back to his. He kissed her tenderly.

Which apparently was not what she had in mind. Hermione clawed at his hair and pulled his face closer, thrusting her tongue past his teeth. He moaned splaying both hands on her back as he crushed them together. Ron spread his legs so that she could kneel between them and they could be as close as clothing allowed. But it soon became apparent after a few minutes of frantic snogging that it was too close for Ron to maintain control.

How was a bloke to survive this sort of thing?

Ron carefully laid her back, once again moving her away from that offending bit of his anatomy. He hoped Hermione wouldn't realize why he was moving them. He couldn't take any more questions. He sucked on her tongue to distract her and it seemed to work.

Another long while later she pulled away, gasping for air. Ron was feeling that air was highly over rated and he began attacking her neck and he nipped at it lightly.

"Ron," she called huskily. "Don't leave a mark…not where you can see."

He smiled against her skin. "Does that mean I can leave a mark where it can't be seen?" Hermione's only response was a low humming in her throat. Holy shite, he had been joking.

Not one to let an opportunity pass him by, especially not when it came to this sort of thing, he kissed his way across her collar bone and moved her shirt aside to kiss her shoulder, then down just a bit…didn't want to press his luck, to the fleshy area below. He inhaled a bit of warm flesh and explored it with his tongue and teeth. He was going to mark her as his…

Ron couldn't believe this was happening. He looked down at her with heavy lids, admiring his handiwork. She looked so sexy lying there, eyes closed, curls spread, lips parted, shirt rumpled off one shoulder, breasts heaving…

Breasts heaving. He licked his lips, his mouth having suddenly gone dry. Carefully, Ron laid his hands on her belly, over her shirt marvelling at how small she looked against his awkward hands. He carefully let them wander up, watching vigilantly for signs of resistance.

Before he knew it, he was there, cupping her fantastic breasts, and she was letting him. She was letting him. They were even softer than they looked and more…springy. He moved his thumbs a millimeter at a time, growing progressively bolder.

When he finally grazed her nipple she gasped, arching her back so that she dislodged him. Blinking up at him she murmured. "Wow."

He beamed down at her. Wow, indeed.

"Ronald, dear, are you in there?'

At the sound of his mother's voice Ron jerked away. They stared at each other in horror. Hermione began scrambling off the bed and Ron caught her arm. He shook his head, whispering, "Hide on the bed with the curtains drawn. I'll get rid of her."

"Ron?" Mrs. Weasley called again.

"I'll be right there, Mum."

Hermione pushed herself into the corner of the bed, looking at him with wide, wild eyes. "Go!" she whispered frantically.

That's when she realized that he was still kneeling there, frozen. With growing panic he gestured back to his groin, "I'm having a bit of trouble here."

"Can't you just…"

"No! It doesn't work I've tried!" Horrible images, the idea of his mother finding them, Ron knew from experience that nothing helped. What was he going to do?

"Ron? You alright, dear?"

"Oh for heavens sake." Hermione scrambled over and grabbed her wand and a pillow. She murmured a spell, and then pressed the ice cold pillow to his groin. He gasped and gritted his teeth.

"Sweetheart?"

"I'm coming!" He pushed the pillow away almost violently; a new kind of pain between his legs. Jumping off the bed, he pulled the curtains shut. He ran a quick hand through his hair and opened the door. "Hey, mum."

This mother looked over his rumpled appearance. "Ronald, whatever have you been doing?"

"Um, napping, Mum. Adrianna's been working us awfully hard."

She softened immediately and shook her head. "Too hard, you're supposed to be on holiday."

"No, it's good," he protested quickly. He needed to distract her. "Hey, mum, I got eight OWLs and I was made prefect again."

His mother let out a high pitched squeal, grabbing his face and covering it with kisses. "Oh, Ronnie, that's wonderful! Oh, my baby boy! Eight OWLs I can't believe it."

Yeah, Ron thought, as he hugged her back, and he got the distinct impression that it was more than she expected.

Author's Note:

There was a scene at the end of this chapter where Harry and Ginny discussed the dream and OWLs ect, but Ron and Hermione got carried away and the Chapter ran too long, pushing the Harry/Ginny scene to the next chapter. No worries, it should be out soon.

Several paragraphs of this chapter were deleated due to questionable content. Please visit Checkmated, for the full, NC-17 version. Thanks!