Author's Note

I apologize for the time that it took for me to update this. I'll try to keep it regular, school + extracurricular was just really hectic this past while.

Today I am wearing my Coldplay shirt that I got at a recent concert at Darien Center, NY. Traveled across the border just to hear them :). Best concert of my life. If you don't like Coldplay just see them in concert and I guarantee you'll be converted.

Thanks to charmedtomeetyou, fork-tofu-pinpong-fish, butterflyblonde, gIggLIngIrL3001, Harry94Ginny and griffindor-girl12 and anyone else I may have missed for reviewing!

Chapter three is to X&Y, the title track off Coldplay's most recent album.

GiggLIngIrL3001: This chapter will indeed have some Hermione in it! Huzzah! But I'm afraid there shall be no "Yellow". I don't think I'll use Yellow for a while. I hope I haven't disappointed you. It's not that I don't like Yellow (It's actually me and my boyfriend's song), but I just don't envision it being played to where I'm taking this story. And I would also like to mention that I am jealous of you for living in the UK. I love Canada and all, don't get me wrong (I'm a big patriot), but I think that living in the UK for a couple of years would be bloody marvelous.

Trying hard to speak and…

Ron sat on the edge of Hermione's bed, watching her eyelids flutter as she slept. He wondered what she was dreaming about. He had just left Harry in another room down the hall for one of the Healers to mend his leg. Ron had told him he was going to go visit Hermione for a bit. Harry had nodded with understanding.

Before Ron had entered the room he, had dreamed up a fabulous situation where he confessed his undying love for Hermione and she had confessed hers in return. But now that Ron was sitting by her side (and even though she was unconscious) Ron didn't see how he could ever muster the courage to do such a thing.

Fighting with my weak hand

Ron looked sadly at her bandaged arm. He had been here a few times, not once had Hermione been awake. He had always insisted that the Healer's change her bandage. Perhaps if they kept changing it, he had reasoned, the poison would draw out faster and she would be able to wake up.

Driven to distraction

He knew it wouldn't really help, but he had to feel like he was doing something. He was not content to sit idle and watch Hermione suffer. Oh, he thought, If I had only just got to her sooner.

"Every one knows I'm in love with you Hermione," he whispered to himself. "Do you?"

It's all part of the plan

Ron was shocked when Hermione stirred. She breathed deeply and opened her eyes, staring for a moment at the ceiling, obviously confused at where she was. Suddenly she bolted up right with a gasp. "Harry!" she called.

Ron felt his stomach sink. The first words out of her mouth had been about another boy. It was silly, he knew, but he was also hurt. He looked into her eyes and realized that she hadn't registered that she was no longer on the battlefield.

"It's all right Hermione," Ron said, reaching out to her, forcing her to lie down again. "It's all over, Voldemort is dead. Everything is okay."

The panic in Hermione's eyes began to subside. She breathed deeply. "Oh Ron," she exclaimed, sitting back up and throwing her arms around him. "I'm so glad you're alright!"

"And I, you," he replied quietly as he felt his ears go a stunning shade of red.

When something is broken

"You really need to rest, Hermione." Ron continued. "You got hit with a nasty spell." He gently touched her bandaged arm. She winced slightly. "Sorry," he said.

"It's all right," she replied. She drew back from Ron and rested her head on the pillow. "What happened, Ron?"

The question echoed in his head. "Hmm?" He knew what she meant, but he couldn't bring himself to talk about it. Not just yet.

"What happened during the battle?"

And you try to fix it

Ron looked away. He looked at his feet and explained what had happened after Hermione had been cursed by Bellatrix Lestrange. He told her about the death wave and how they had all thought that Harry had died until he had shown up on the doorstep of The Burrow.

Trying to repair it

When he was finished he looked back at Hermione, only to see that she had begun to cry. She was fidgeting with the sheets, picking at a loose thread, trying to blink back her tears with no avail.

Ron shifted. He never could quite get used to watching people cry, but lately there had been a lot of crying. Ron figured if there ever was going to be a time in which he would get used to it, it would be have been now.

Any way you can

"It's okay, Hermione," he offered. "It's all over now. We don't have to worry about anything anymore."

She wiped her eyes, still blinking furiously. "Oh I know," she said with exasperation. "But we still have much to worry about. Think about those who did die, Ron. Think about how we'll prevent this from happening again. Think about all the prejudice muggle-borns still have to overcome."

Ron gave a half smile. Hermione rarely thought about herself. She was always considering what was best for others. It was one of the reasons he loved her so much. Sure, the whole SPEW think had been a bit ridiculous, he thought, but she did have a point.

I dive in at the deep end

Another tear dripped down Hermione's face. Ron impulsively (before he realized what he was doing, and before he could stop himself) reached out and wiped it away, gently touching her face. She looked up at him. The expression in her eyes was momentarily quizzical, but it faded quickly.

"Thank you," she said.

"For what?" Ron asked. He thought she meant for drying her tear.

You become my best friend

She flung her arms around him a second time. "For saving my life, Ron." He breathed in the sweet smell that was uniquely her.

"Oh," he said dumbly. "You're welcome."

He closed his eyes briefly. Soon she would move away and he wouldn't have an excuse to touch her any more.

But she didn't move. She just held on.

I want to love you but I don't know if I can

Ron moved his hands uncertainly to return her hug. He had never been comfortable with touching Hermione. For a long time he hadn't understood why. It wasn't that he didn't want to be comfortable with her. It wasn't until sixth year that he finally realized how much he loved her.

Cautiously he touched her back. She didn't move in any opposing way so he figured that it was okay to hug her.

I know something is broken and I'm trying to fix it

She buried her face a little deeper into his shoulder and he felt her shudder. Ron knew she was crying again. He rubbed her back gently. "Shh…" he whispered, trying to calm her. "It's alright."

He knew she needed to let it out. Everyone had needed a good cry at some point over the last week and, well, Hermione just hadn't been awake to have one. But Ron felt he needed to do something, just like he had needed the Healers to change her bandages every time he was there.

Trying to repair it any way I can

He pulled back a little, not all the way, just enough so he could look at her face. He placed his hand firmly on her cheek and glanced down at her lips.

"Ronald?" Hermione asked in a low, half-whispered voice.

Oooh, oooh...

You and me are floating on a tidal wave

Together

He didn't reply. As though in a dream, Ron leaned forward and caught Hermione's lips firmly in his. It was bizarre. Kissing Lavender had never been like this. This was… as though the world had gone fuzzy, as though time had stopped.

Her lips were remarkably warm and soft and he held them against his for what seemed like an eternity, but also far too short a time.

She pulled back slowly, not saying anything, but with a little intake of breath.

You and me are drifting into outer space

And singing oooh, oooh...

But Ron hadn't had enough. He'd waited a long time to kiss Hermione, to let her know how he'd felt. What if this was a one time thing? What if she decided it was a mistake later?

He needed to kiss her again.

He moved his hand from her cheek, underneath her hair and around the back of her neck. She tilted her head back ever so slightly and he pulled her forward gently. Their lips connected again and Ron reveled in the warmth and the beauty of the feeling that he felt right down to his toes.

You and me are floating on a tidal wave

Together

Their lips moved against each other slowly and tenderly. The kiss remained innocent and cautious, just like them.

Ron felt Hermione move her hands to reach for his face. He felt her fingers trembling against his skin.

After a long while they pulled apart. Ron rested his forehead against hers and breathed a breath somewhere in between elation and euphoria.

You and me are drifting into outer space…