Thanks to everyone who reviewed. You guys rock! Here is the next chapter as promised.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything about Harry Potter. That honor still goes to JK Rowling.

Hermione slammed open the doors to the Great Hall. Luckily not many students, or professors, were there yet as lunch had just started. She strode right up to Ron, in a way that scared him. 'Oh no! What did I do now?' thought Ron.

She stopped right in front of him and put her hands on her hips in an I-mean-business sort of way, and Ron braced himself. Except for her genie costume she looked a lot like Mrs. Weasley, and frankly that terrified Ron. "Where is Ginny?" she asked in a surprisingly calm voice. Only her eyes gave away her anger.

Ron sighed with relief that he was not the one she was angry at. "She and Harry went to…ahem…study." He cringed as he thought of what they were, more than likely, really doing. "They said they'd meet up with us later. Why? What's wrong?"

Hermione's hands left her hips and clenched into fists at her side. "What's wrong? WHAT"S WRONG! I'll tell you what's wro--"

Hermione was cut off by someone tapping on her shoulder. She spun around to see a third year Hufflepuff who was only as tall as her chest. "Excuse me, Hermione. I was wondering if you'd like to go with me to Hogsmeade on the next trip. I can go this year you know." As he spoke he stared straight ahead at her chest.

Hermione's face turned bright red, but from embarrassment or anger Ron didn't know. "No I do not want to go to Hogsmeade with you, you midget! Now leave before I stuff you in a bottle!" The third year ran to the safety of his own table before you could say quidditch.

Ron knew Hermione was really mad. He assumed she had been referring to a genie's bottle. The only time her comebacks were that bad was when she was very, very angry. He of all people should know that. He saw that more students were coming to lunch and decided it was best to get her away from people. He stood up and grabbed her arm, pulling her with him.

"Ron, let go of me," she hissed. Ron didn't say anything and just dragged her along. Once they were in the Entrance Hall, Ron led her down an empty corridor. Hermione, who by now was incredibly ticked off, dug her heels into the ground causing Ron to stop. He spun around and, noticing that he was still holding onto her, dropped her arm. His ears turned red and he started to rock back and forth on his heels.

Hermione was too angry to be fazed by his utter adorableness, which usually caused her to swoon. She simply narrowed her eyes at him and reached into her bag. "Ron, tell me where Ginny is right now or I will be forced to hex you," she said as she pulled out her wand.

Even with Hermione's wand pointing at his face, Ron managed to laugh. This only upset Hermione more. Before she could mutter a hex though, he cautiously raised his hand and pried her wand from her fingers. He placed it back in her bag, but then took her bag from her and swung it onto his own shoulder.

"Okay Hermione, what's wrong?" He seemed so concerned that Hermione couldn't help but let some of her anger melt. She let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. She took a few more deep breaths to calm herself down before she finally spoke.

"That was the sixth midget today--"

"Hermione! Midgets? I thought as a prefect you would know better than to call the younger students something like that." He had a lopsided smirk on his face, which made her stomach do a flip flop, even in her state of rage. He loved it when he could throw her own words back at her.

"Fine," Hermione huffed, a slight smile playing at her lips. 'Why can Ron always make me smile, even when I'm furious?' she asked herself. 'Oh that's right…because you love him.' "Today I have been asked to go to Hogsmeade by four third years and two fourth years."

Ron started to laugh, and soon found that he couldn't stop.

"Ronald, it isn't funny!" she shrieked, leaning against the wall and staring at her feet.

"I-know-I'm-sorry," he breathed.

"Do I really look that desperate?" she asked seriously, as she slid down the wall. She looked at him as he came and sat next to her. "I mean really? You can tell me."

Ron stopped laughing and looked her in the eyes. "Of course not Hermione, you look beautiful."

A faint blush spread across Hermione's face and she looked down at her hands. "I didn't want to get this much attention. The only reason I let Ginny do this was so that you--" Hermione froze. 'Come on think of something!' "—all would notice that I was a girl and could be more than just a bookworm." 'Oh nice save Hermione!' She looked up to see that lopsided grin on his handsome face again.

"Well it worked," he said, his ears turning slightly pink again. "Unfortunately it happened to work for everyone."

She snorted. "Tell me about it."

"Well come on. We can still make the end of lunch." He stood up and offered his hand to her. She took it and he pulled her up. "Unless you still want to go find Ginny," he said, smirking.

"No," she sighed. "I guess it isn't really her fault. I mean how could she have known that I'd get asked out by all of those guys. It wouldn't have been as bad I guess if it had only been third and fourth years." She winced when she'd realized what she'd said. She didn't want him to ever find out about that, even if it was her and Ginny's goal.

"What do you mean?" he asked stepping in front of her so she couldn't run away.

"Ummm…well…you see. Cormac McLaggen…he asked me out before Arithmancy." She whispered the last part and made it a point to not look at him.

"McLaggen! You mean the seventh year?" His voice was now an octave higher than normal.

Hermione bit her lip and nodded. She looked up at him, but now he was staring at his shoes.

"W-what did y-you –ahem- what did you say?" he asked after a moment.

"I said no of course!" At this Ron looked up. A smile on his face.

"Really?"

"Yes. Honestly Ron, do you really think I'd go out with someone when they only asked me out because of how I look?"

"Well no, but how do you know that was his only reason? I mean, maybe he's always liked you and all of this just finally pushed him to tell you." He looked up and stared right into her eyes.

Suddenly Hermione didn't think they were talking about McLaggen anymore. 'Could this be it?' "Well I suppose, I would only believe that if it came from someone who knew me well. You know, like a friend. Someone who pays attention to me even when I don't dress like that. Cormac isn't like that. I don't think he's ever spoken to me before today."

"That makes sense, I guess," he whispered, moving closer to her.

"Uh-huh." Another step closer.

"Well, Hermione. I was w-wondering." Now they were only a few inches from each other. She could feel his breath on her cheek. It was warm and calming. He pushed a stray piece of her hair behind her ear, and his hand lingered there for a moment.

"Yes Ron?" she breathed. Her eyes fluttered, and finally closed. She could feel him coming closer, his breath heavy against her lips. 'This is it,' she thought.

'This is it,' thought Ron. 'Please, let her have been talking about me when she said a friend. This is it…'

"There you are--"

Ron and Hermione jumped back from each other. They turned around to see a guilty looking Ginny.

"Uh-um…well I'm going…to-uh…lunch, I guess," stuttered a very red faced Ron. He walked off, with his head low, toward the Great Hall.

Hermione glared daggers at Ginny, who stood smiling apologetically.

"Hermione, I am so sorry. I didn't know."

"He was about to kiss me! Your stupid plan worked!" she screamed. Her shoulders slumped and she whispered to herself, "He was about to kiss me."

"I know, Herms. But come on, you have the rest of the day. At least this is progress. Let's go to lunch."

Hermione nodded her head, but was too lost in thought to actually move. She let herself be dragged back into the Great Hall, with only one thought on her mind. 'He almost kissed me.'

A/N: Awwwww, poor Hermione and Ron. Oh well perhaps in the next chapter…perhaps not. It all depends on if you all review.